Setting Up a Homeschool System

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Day 23 of #Write28Days Challenge

One of the biggest benefits of having a homeschool system all set up is that it removes decision fatigue from us, homeschooling mothers, just like a homeschool routine.

While the homeschool routine tells the children what to do when (for example, start school after breakfast), the homeschool system tells them what is expected during school. 

Flexibility

As I mentioned in the post Setting Up a Homeschool Routine, the children have the  flexibility to decide what subjects they want to start school off. Most will choose to get the more challenging subjects done first, having learnt to Eat That Frog. But they have to work within the framework I have set up for them using the MOE curriculum.

Setting Up a Homeschool System

Before I dive into this long post, I must state upfront that we use and love the textbook style of homeschooling. Some people believe this is not true homeschooling and so be it. By God’s grace, we were led to this style and it has worked well for our children.

You can still use this system for your non-textbook homeschool by tweaking it. Just remember not to be the bottleneck in your homeschool system.

Setting Up a Homeschool System: Primary School

We have chosen to use the MOE curriculum because of PSLE although we did not begin that way. We had originally started with BJU Press Homeschool but realised by the time my oldest was about Primary 2 that our child would not be able to clear the PSLE benchmark for homeschoolers if we continued with BJUP. At some point, we would have to switch to the MOE curriculum.

Going with the MOE Curriculum

Many homeschoolers do the switch. But I decided that I would not because, with a houseful of children depending on me, it seemed more prudent to just use MOE curriculum from the start instead of switching over at Primary 4 or 5. Besides the fact that I was creating more work for myself, I also did not trust myself to cover the gaps which happen when switching from one curriculum to another.

I use the recommended MOE textbooks as the backbone of our school but do not rely on them because they only provide a skeletal outline of what is required to clear PSLE. If one should just follow the textbooks, one would think one’s child would clear PSLE with flying colours. He will not.

Assessment Books & Tuition

The textbooks provide only the most basic of information. You need to supplement heavily with assessment books and national schools’ test papers. On top of that, some of us may still need tuition.

My System in a Nutshell

Once I have bought the assessment books, I plan* the year out. Children in Primary 1 and 2 study only English, Maths and Chinese. From Primary 3 onwards, Science is added to the mix.

1. Look at work listed in their homeschool planner. Each child gets his or her own printed and bound homeschool planner set out in 6 week blocks because we school 6 weeks on, and take 1 week off.

At the start of each day, the child is required to look through the planner and complete the work listed there. It is set up in a very simple and basic excel sheet. Get our Weekly Homeschool Planner Printable.

Grading & Corrections

2. Hand up work for corrections. Once completed, the work is handed to me to grade. I try to grade their work as soon as possible so that the work is still fresh in their minds. Corrections are done on the spot. This ensures that mistakes do not get a chance to become habits which are much harder to erase.

Sometimes when time is short, I will allow them to grade their own work or they grade each other’s work.

I even pay my older children to grade and explain the Maths homework of the younger ones. It is a blessing to have older children who are good in Maths and Chinese – subjects that I am weak in.

Teach Independence

This system has been set up from Day 1 of our homeschool and I see no need to tweak it since it has worked well. The moment they are ready to start formal school, they are inducted into the system.

They start school anytime and with any subjects they prefer. But once they are done, they have to hand it to me to grade and get their corrections done before calling the homeschool day done.

No Hovering

I do not sit beside a child and hover over him or her. Yes, there has been a child or two who would at times need me to sit in the same room to ensure that no daydreaming or playing happens during school time. But by and large, they do their work as required because they are familiar with the system and have been following it since Day 1.

Setting Up a Homeschool System: Secondary School

The children move on to Abeka Video Streaming Homeschool Curriculum once they clear PSLE. Compared to other online schools like the Potter School (TPS) or BJU Press Homeschool, Abeka can seem boring since it is a video stream of a real class happening in Abeka Christian School. But it gets the work done and I don’t need to worry about accreditation or scramble to get their transcripts recognised.

The homeschool system at this stage is even more simplified since I work myself out of the loop even more. Abeka has its own planner set out for each grade. The children just follow it.

Taking Ownership of Their Schoolwork

Just like in Primary School, they decide when school starts and with whichever subject they prefer. The online teacher will assign homework and quizzes/tests for that lesson. Abeka provides a copy of the Teacher Manual that lists the homework and quizzes/tests they need to take. This way, I can keep tabs on them easily.

Having chosen to take the quizzes and tests digitally, the load on me is very much lessened. The onus is on the child to complete what he needs to complete while I just supervise and keep tabs on their progress so that I know when it is time to order the next grade up and when to register for SAT and SAT Subject Tests.

Benefits of Having a System for Homeschooling

Setting up a system for homeschooling can be a pain in the beginning because it seems so rigid and unspontaneous. But you get to enjoy the benefits once the system is in place. There is:

• a reduction of decision fatigue,
• no need to constantly remind the children to hand in their work,
• no need to remind the children go through their corrections, and
• I forget less things and drop fewer balls.

If you have read my post on switching over from a more eclectic curriculum to Abeka, you’ll know that I had to rush my oldest to get on track to completing Grade 12 before NS enlistment because I did not have my systems in place. It was a mad scramble and thanks be to God that we made it.

The Homeschool System Needs to be Tweaked Yearly

At the start of every academic year, I will go through the system and tweak it for that year’s needs and requirements. For example, the need to prep for SAT or the need to choose an elective for a certain grade. The system, like our routines, are never carved in stone. It is dynamic, changing with our needs.

*I will not be covering homeschool planning as it needs to be a post all on its own. Let me know by commenting below if you would like me to give details on how I have done it through the years.

I will see you tomorrow as I cover our system for book organisation. See you!

Related Links

After Grade 12, Then What? Homeschooling Beyond PSLE
Choosing our High School/Secondary School Curriculum
Our Homeschool Schedule
Eat That Frog

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