Learning to Homeschool with Four Young Children

When our family moved to Ave Maria a few months ago, we stepped into several new adventures all at once.

We moved across the country from the Pacific Northwest, unpacked our home, adjusted to life in Florida, and began homeschooling our children.

To be honest, homeschooling was something we had thought about for a long time, but we were still very new to it.

Since we moved in the middle of the school year, one of the greatest blessings was that the Catholic school our children attended in Oregon sent us home with their workbooks and learning materials. That made a huge difference for us, because it helped ensure that we could finish the school year on track even while transitioning into homeschooling.

Those resources gave us a wonderful starting point as we began finding our own rhythm at home.

Finding Our Homeschool Rhythm

When I first began homeschooling, I tried to recreate something very similar to the traditional school schedule our children were used to.

We had structured times.
We had specific subjects scheduled at specific hours.
I tried to run our homeschool day much like a classroom.

But over time I realized something important: homeschooling doesn’t have to look like school.

Instead of holding tightly to a rigid schedule, I’ve slowly shifted toward a more child-led rhythm.

Now, at the beginning of each day, I give my oldest a list of about half a dozen things that need to be accomplished — math, writing, reading, and a few other subjects. He gets to choose the order he completes them and the pace at which he works through them.

Some days move quickly.
Some days move slowly.

But the freedom has made learning feel much more natural.

Every Week Looks Different

There are still a few things we hold to regularly during the week.

We attend homeschool meetups with other families, and we try to make regular trips to the library.

But beyond that, every week tends to look a little different.

One of the biggest blessings of homeschooling has been the flexibility it offers our family.

Recently, my parents came to visit us for an entire week. Instead of feeling tied to a strict school schedule, we were able to spend time exploring Southwest Florida together.

We went on nature adventures.
We spent time at the beach.
We explored new parks.

Those kinds of days remind me that learning doesn’t always happen at a desk.

Teaching Three Children (and Holding a Baby)

Of course, homeschooling with four young children is rarely calm or quiet.

My oldest is very ambitious and tends to pick things up naturally. Sometimes it feels like he learns things faster than I can even teach them.

My younger children are still too young for structured lessons, but they desperately want to be involved in whatever their older brother is doing. Most days I can keep them busy with a simple worksheet or coloring page while I work with him.

But if I’m being honest, many homeschool moments look something like this:

Trying to explain a math problem while handing out snacks.

Helping with handwriting while consoling the baby.

Hoping for a nap so I can finally have two hands free to fold laundry or start dinner.

School can move slowly some days.

And that’s okay.

Learning Alongside My Children

One interesting discovery I’ve made is that some subjects come more naturally to me than others.

I personally gravitate toward math and writing, so those are the subjects I enjoy teaching the most.

Art and history, on the other hand, are more of a stretch for me. Those subjects are definitely areas where I’m learning and growing alongside my children.

Homeschooling has reminded me that education isn’t just for the kids.

It’s a journey for the parents too.

Learning Outside the Classroom

One of our favorite parts of living in Florida has been the ability to explore so many beautiful natural spaces.

We’ve especially loved visiting places like the Florida Panther Conservancy and the many old cypress parks scattered throughout Southwest Florida.

These places have become some of our favorite “classrooms.”

Our family has always tried to live a fairly tech-free lifestyle, so being outdoors together is something we value deeply.

The Florida sunshine has made that easier than ever.

The Blessing of Time Together

Homeschooling can certainly be difficult in the day-to-day moments.

There are messy days.

There are loud days.

There are days where it feels like everyone needs something from me at the exact same time.

But when I step back and look at the bigger picture, I can see something beautiful happening in our family.

My children’s relationships with one another are growing stronger.

Their relationship with me and with their dad has deepened.

We spend our days learning, praying, exploring, and growing together.

And that time together is something I will always treasure.

For any moms who might be considering homeschooling, I would simply say this:

It isn’t always easy.

But it has been an incredible blessing for our family.