What is Interest-Led Homeschooling?
We recently talked about Interest-led homeschooling at the recently concluded OPHC 2020 and I thought I’d like to bring more clarity about this approach and share what a typical homeschool day is like for our family.
Interest-led homeschooling, simply put, is capitalising on a child’s interests and using them as springboards to introduce and build on new concepts and foster in him the love and hunger for learning.
For instance, among all of our three children, Pablo dislikes workbooks the most, and for years, it’s become an ultimate test of patience for me. Through the years, we’ve resorted to different means such as providing him non-fiction books and novels to read, doing discussions and oral exams instead of written exams, if only to keep the peace.
One thing about this kid is that he is heavily immersed in animation and he’s pretty good at it for his age. He released his third original animation, A Ballet Story, online just a couple of weeks ago. Because of it, he realised for himself that to become a good animator, he needs to study effective storytelling, character development, storyboarding, coding, Physics and Math…lots of Math.
Here’s Pablo’s original, A Ballet Story:
As a result, Pablo saw the value of his lessons. He’s fallen in love with Math, even signing up for Math Gym at Abot Tala Self-Directed Learning Center to better improve on it. Just the other day, I’ve observed him determinedly draft an essay and create a character for a story for his Writing exercises.
We didn’t have to persuade him to like the standard subjects, he’s learned to appreciate their value all on his own. All we did was to support his interest in animation and gave him the space to discover and explore everything else.
View this post on Instagram
Building his Big Ben while waiting for the kuyas. #nogadgetsday #homeschooler
Typical Day for our Interest-Led Homeschool Family
I work from home. I log in for my work at 6AM so I can log off at 2PM. Our kids usually wake up at 10-ish AM and start on their 5B’s soon after. Our 5Bs are as follows: Bed, Brush, Breakfast, Bible and Book.
Fix your bed
Brush your teeth
Eat your Breakfast
Read your Bibles
Read 2-4 chapters of another good Book
Breakfasts at home are seldom complicated. Since I work in the mornings, we always make sure we have bread and spreads ready. We’ve taught the boys to cook and wash the dishes, so they’re pretty much self-sufficient at these hours.
They’re free to play or create or do whatever they like after they’re done with the 5Bs. They usually read their favourite books, draw, write, play, or practice their musical instruments.
We don’t allow them to use their gadgets for games on weekdays. Acceptable gadget use would be for animation, programming, typing classes, or writing stories on Google Docs, but even those are put on restricted hours.
Workbooks in, Workbooks out
We try to work on desk exercises 3-4x a week, but sometimes, we can only work on them twice a week. There are times when we just can’t and there are times that we don’t. It really depends on our schedule and circumstances. We adapt as we roll.
View this post on Instagram
When one of the kids have a gig or performance, I make the rest of them bring their work books so we have something to do while we wait for their brother. However, the busy kid may have to slow down on the academics so he can have enough time to rest and sleep. Besides, we consider these professional opportunities as part of our homeschooling. Kids learn valuable life skills from real opportunities.
For example, a child who does professional voice acting learns to work with a producer, a casting manager, other voice actors and so many other people. He is able to observe how it works inside the studio and familiarise himself with the equipment, their uses, and the processes involved in producing a quality voice recording for a TV commercial or digital ad.
I believe that allowing our kids to accept professional projects is training them for grit. Competition is tough! Our kids are aware that there are many other talented individuals out there who can do just as well or even better than them. They have experienced not being able to win a project or losing one to another child who is better fit for the role, and I think that it’s a good thing because it keeps their feet planted on the ground and trains them not to slack.
View this post on Instagram
As Young Simon (front left) in Kinky Boots. . . #atlantistheatrical #throwback
On some days….
There are times that we choose to watch documentaries on Netflix or Curiousity Stream or Science videos on YouTube over workbooks.
We’ve watched documentaries on the Holocaust, Veganism, Biographies of famous people, and Controversial events. At the moment, they are going through the episodes on the History of Weapons.
We also watch mainstream movies and enjoy them over popcorn! Sometimes, we feel the need to process our kids on what they just watched, other times, we just relax, release and have fun.
There are days that we prefer to play board games.
Before the Pandemic hit, we loved trooping to the park in BGC to play Badminton or run in early evenings, and we especially love walking all the way home.
The boys have ballet on weekends, Hip Hop classes on another day, and theatre workshops on summers. We try to watch as many theatre shows as we can and bring them to museums and galleries as much as possible.
View this post on Instagram
We meet their friends for watercolour art sessions once a week and take them to parties and other fun events, when we can.
And at the end of the year, we usually travel to celebrate New Year somewhere else. We let them try different foods, see different spots and experience a little of life outside the city.
Here’s a video of our trip to Ilocos:
When Pablo became a teenager, we decided to let him sign up for classes at Abot Tala where he goes twice a week to learn from industry practitioners and learn to collaborate on projects with other self-directed teens.
In the last block, he joined Abot Tala online classes on Character Illustration and Anime Appreciation. Previously, he’s attended classes in Entrepreneurship, Marketing & Branding, Photography, Filipino Sign Language, and DIY Food.
Not so typical classes for not so typical learners.
View this post on Instagram
One of the things that we do with the kids is getting them involved in the ministry. It provides for us and our children an avenue to serve the church as a family using the very gifts God has granted us.
View this post on Instagram
The bigger boys taking instruction from dad. . . . #kidsministry #victoryfort #kids
Interest-led homeschooling is not responsibility-free parenting!
Interest-led homeschooling is a lot similar to unschooling in terms of being relaxed, unhurried, and not being curriculum-rigid, except that I think interest-led is the better way to define what we do. In essence, we have introduced different concepts and resources to our kids they wouldn’t otherwise know about had we not step in, so we can’t say we are completely “child-led.”
We do take into real consideration how our children feel about things that affect them and we do our best to respect the persons each one of them are when we make decisions that involve them.
I remind myself everyday that each of our children have been designed to be unique to their purpose and calling.
Of course, there are families who are more radical than others, but that is the freedom real homeschooling offers – the freedom to choose how you want to educate your children.
If I may boldly say so, I think that how we do so depends on our own personal convictions.
In our case, we have taken advantage of what little window we have in our kids’ young lives to influence them and to train them to make Christ the centre of their lives, and to hold on to Him long after we have gone.
35 Comments
Jennifer Villanueva
This is a very helpful and informative post. I’d love to try this with my 6 yr old, and see if it would work. Times like this we need to lear to adapt to the changes. Dahil dito sa uncertainties brought about by COVID-19 most likely parents would opt to go for homeschooling and this post will surely help guide us. Thank you for posting
Tana
It’s so important for kids to have a “why” behind their learning! And when students can exercise control and choice in their education, even better! Public schools are also shifting to personalized and project based learning for this reason.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
it’s hard to sustain when there are over 30 kids in a class…which is how public schools are here.
Flossie McCowald
During the few weeks we had between when our schools shut down and when they resumed their instruction online, this is what we did with our kids to fill the gap. They really learned a lot!
Lucy
We do not homeschool but I always have workbooks handy. During the summer, he will work in these independently as well as he understands he needs to keep his brain thinking (and can’t spend all day watching TV) LOL
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Brain Quest Books are amazing!
Momi berlin
As always, may mapupulot ako kapag i read your blog. Love the idea of the 5 bs. Allow us to make gaya ha, this is a nice way to introduce and reinforce sa kids ang pagtulong sa bahay and at the same time naaalagaan nila ang sarili nila. Thank you.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Yes, gaya away! <3
Maria
This is a great schooling concept. Our preschool is an Emilia Regio style school and that’s their motto for teaching. Everything is child led and the teachers build a curriculum around their students’ interests. It’s pretty cool. I think for too long we’ve been taught that kids don’t want to learn and you need to force them. But sparking genuine interest in curiosity is a much better motivator for learning.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Yes! That is so true. There’s more to learn and explore and discover when they’re interested in it
WanderWoMom
nakaka amaze yung mga interest ni Pablo – not a typical kid – he is definitely a gifted one!
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Yes, he is special. 🙂
emborromeo
This interest-led homeschooling is great. Makakapagfocus mga kids sa mga bagay na they love to do. I agree mas namomotivate rin kasi kapag interesting para sa isang kid ung lesson or activity. And ang galing ng animation ni Pablo!
dang
Homeschooling is a great alternative ngayong pandemic. Though we are not into homeschooling before, I find it more convenient and safe. The sad part for me is, I don’t have the time to look for my kiddos in doing their modules. But your post gives me the idea on how to introduce it to my kids. Thanks for the input.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
There are several methods in homeschooling and modular is just one of them. I believe that if a material doesn’t work for your child, find another.
blair villanueva
Homeschooling is actually great coz parents will have the opportunity to guide their kids and get to know them well. Exploring their interest also gives a bonding relationship.
Pinaynursemeetsworld
Homeschooling is something new for me. But I guess, it is safer and practical especially at this time. I believe that it has certain good and bad sides depending on how parents and the kids would handle the new method. Homeschooling would be my option next year if COVID still exists at that time, I would rather keep my daughter at home and doing homeschooling rather than having her expose to Covid.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
well, yes, keeping your daughter at home makes it safer, but it shouldn’t be your primary reason why you homeschool. you may want to look into distance learning, which is doing work at home but having online classes.
Nicole P
If you find that you have a thin patience when it comes to teaching your kids though, I think you should consider distance learning as what Ms. May has said. We are currently enrolled in an all online learning set up and while I do have to assist when it comes to laptop set up, it is nice that there is a teacher that can explain to my kid the theories and how to’s as when I tried to do it I am not an effective teacher due to my anger management issues ?
Ivan M. Jose
Insightful and interesting. It makes sense, following an interest-led approach. I mean, it’s the same for us. We concentrate on things that most interest us. Your child has a gift, an artist at a very young age.
clang
Napakainformative naman ng post na ito. I’ll share this with my relatives and friends na may mga anak na, baka sakaling makatulong sa kanila at makakuha ng ideas para sa mga anak nila.
Caren
Interesting post especially halos lahat homeshooling na dahil sa pandemic. And amazing ng interest ni Pablo hindi gaya ng ibang bata na puro laro lang
Rae
I am not home-schooled but my niece is! I have observed that she is reaching her full potential! It is really helpful too when parents are so hands-on!
Hazel
Aww I love 5B’s that you shared.. I think it’s important to instill these 5B’s in anyone’s lives, especially young kids. I also like how they are so independent at such a young age. 🙂
Christianforemost.com
Wow!!!!! Now, i feel like if i grew up like this, j would have had so much passion for learning. I agree that we should lean the kid’s learning to what they’re interested in and also think outside of the box. There’s so many options and opportunities out those you just showed us!!
dorry lyn
Thank you for sharing this, very helpful especially that my kid is new to homeschooling.
Ann
In Japan, home schooling is not the typical way but they are taking steps to go through, with the Covid infections get tough (not that way pa naman) they really has to adapt！
Ma. Theresa Martinez
Kudos to you mama. Ang galing kasi hands on mo nagagawa yung interest-led. My eldest has ASD so I need to guide him and he his interests sometimes cannot be followed. Like how he will play with the wheels of the car, sabi ng therapist fixation na daw yun at walang natutulong sa kanya. Haay the struggles.
Jowell (@FLINGeros.PH | @FoodFlings.PH)
It is really a gift also for parents to listen to their children and know what their needs are which lead to this, a very happy and learned child. It is essential to know the basic arithmetic but it is most essential to learn also things that a child loves. Kudos to you mom!
Mumshie Nica
Your boys are really talented! I watched Pablo’s animation and I can say that he’ll have a bright future ahead of him. I’m an ex-programmer at hindi biro ang animation! I hope I can be a mom like you. I also have 6am shift at hirap na hirap ako with my clingy toddler, and without a helper
EINz
Very good naman… how I wish I can implement consistent schedule for my kids. Guilty ako ngayon for letting them have more screen time after their online class.
=(
Owen ponce
Love all the activities,you are really tutok to your boys ❤️
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback: