Our homeschooling is independent. Which means, we are not enrolled to any school, nor do we engage with a homeschool provider. Alternatively, we create and develop our own curriculum. Each part of this curriculum will be discussed later.
A facilitator of learning does not manage with the traditional practice of teaching. But rather, is meant to guide and assist students in learning for themselves. Which makes our homeschooling seem to be like self-study.
We actually have four facilitators: my mom, my dad, Jehovah God, and his Son, Jesus. As you continue to read, you will know why we consider both Jehovah and Jesus as our greatest teachers.
My only classmate is my sister, Maru and this is our desk:
We share on this table. We are encouraged by our parents not to fight one another. Besides, she is my only classmate and she is my only schoolmate.
When classes are suspended due to the weather conditions, we, at home, still continue our class. I would say that this is still fair. Why do I say so? Well, isn’t it true that most schools–may it be private or public–proclaim to have make-up classes during Saturdays (or even Sundays) to catch up with the missed , say, with those days’ lessons? After all, we are studying in our own home where it’s safe from the drops of heavy rain and inundated streets.
My parents at times ask me to buy some groceries like you know, meat, vegetables, fruits, medicine, rice, etc. And since it’s just one trip to town, it doesn’t consume my whole day so it’s fine for me.
We learn at our own pace but we set deadlines.
Our outputs are put in the blog as much as possible so as to save money and paper and the trees. We don’t wear uniforms or identification cards, of course; we don’t need them. Instead, we just wear anything we put on at home.
House Chores
Of course, this is always included in the homeschooling curriculum. Besides, we’re talking about our own house here, so it is our responsibility to keep it clean and livable.
How we do it: I collect all the garbage and then put them in the trash can. My sister and I wash the dishes and cook rice, alternately. We do the other chores with initiative—dusting appliances, sweeping up the floor, cleaning up the table, etc.
Purpose: Chores teaches us the skills we need once we grow up and move out. Additionally, it helps us be responsible, reliable, and it helps us build a strong work ethic. It also teaches us how to work together as a team, and it reinforces respect at the same time. Most importantly, it helps us improve our planning and time management skills. Besides, it also gives my family a chance to bond.
Morning Worship
Yes, we can download and watch all the Morning Worship videos on jw.org/en, for free. But other than that, we also have our own Morning Worship program every week in Zoom, from Mondays to Saturdays at 8:00AM.
The pattern is simple (the same pattern Bethelites do their Morning Worship). But we don’t need to be very formal—preaching attire will do. The conductor/chairman of the day will start with an opening prayer. After that, he will ask for a volunteer to read the daily text.
Then he will ask the participants for their comments and spiritual gems. After about eight to ten participants had commented, the conductor will also share his comment. Although not a strict rule, the participants should avoid using the embedded comment of the Watchtower on the booklet for his/her comment.
Next, he will ask for a volunteer again to read the Watchtower’s comment on the daily text. Next, we’ll read an account on the Bible, and then try to connect it with the daily text. Finally, the conductor will ask a baptized brother to lead the closing prayer.
And of course, our Morning Worship is never complete without us taking a picture!
Programming with Python and Django
I started learning Python using the app SoloLearn. It’s a great app but it wasn’t able to explain the lessons very well.
So my dad gave me a book entitled: Learn PYTHON 3 the HARD WAY. Yes, I learned it the hard way. If you learn it the hard way, everything will become easier for you. No soldier in the Navy got qualified by having an easy training, right? Same principle.
Anyway, this is a great book for beginners. I was able to nail every lesson from this book, until the Lesson 40, which is about Classes. Zed Shaw even admitted in his own book that he doesn’t get half of this lesson!
I totally understood the basics except Classes. And then my dad suggested that I should learn this by a Bootcamp. When I tried this Bootcamp, I finally understood the lesson about Classes. The sad thing though is that the Python Refresher from this Bootcamp was so brief that the teacher didn’t cover everything that you need to learn on Python.
So I made a category called Learn Python in Zedd’s Blog. Here, I had everything that I’ve learned from SoloLearn, from Learn PYTHON 3 the HARD WAY, and from the Bootcamp I have taken. Check it out!
Purpose: This is what I will use to support myself and I personally chose this course.
Goal: Learn Python and Django. Build a game or an app. Build websites.
Field Ministry
Jesus commanded his discples on Matthew 28:19, 20: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations.” We simply obey him as true Christians. Homeschooled or not, every Jehovah’s Witness has the privilege to preach the good news of the Kingdom “to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.”—Revelation 14:6.
We constantly and regularly do this, even today in the middle of the pandemic via many electronic and high-tech ways. This work helps us develop our oral and communication skills continuously.
Goal: Go out in the ministry at least twice a week. Preach the good news of the Kingdom to all the inhabitants of the earth.—Matthew 24:14.
Mandarin Chinese
How I do it: We have this program for learning Mandarin where we repeat a phrase or sentence after a Chinese speaker has spoken them. Of course, their meanings are explained to us as well. To get used of these words, my sister and I should use them in everyday communication as much as possible.
Purpose: As you probably know, there are a lot of China men here in the Philippines and their number continues to grow. Sadly, most of them doesn’t understand English. We also want them to have “everlasting life” from learning the truths from God’s Word, the Bible. (John 17:3) We enjoy speaking using this language.
Goal: Learn how to speak Mandarin and become fluent with it.
Data Processing
How I do it: This is my On-the-job Training given by my dad. If you’re curious about what I do here, kindly click on this link to see these steps: Data Processing Steps.
Purpose: Learn how to process data with the help of Excel and Macro.
Goal: Finish the processing and the importing of the data before 4 o’clock every week. The clients will need it.
History
How I do it: I use Lithium to read this book. I make an outline for every chapter.
Outputs: In a binder.
Purpose: To connect the biblical history to secular history.
Goal: Create a timeline that simultaneously includes all the events that happened in our history-world history.
Language Arts/ Grammar
How I do it: I read The Elements of Style using Xodo. I had every important and good point highlighted when I read this book.
When we had finished studying The Elements of Style, we began reading ENGLISH FOR EVERYONE PRACTICE BOOK ENGLISH GRAMMAR GUIDE, and it’s thick. It is a practice book. This book is like all unit tests about grammar compiled into one big book. We answer each unit on a separate piece of paper.
Outputs: In a binder.
Purpose: Improve grammar.
Goal: Finish The Elements of Style and ENGLISH FOR EVERYONE PRACTICE BOOK ENGLISH GRAMMAR GUIDE. Reduce incorrect spellings and grammars.
Biology
How I do it: I use Khan Academy. I write the important points on a separate piece of paper from a unit in Biology.
Outputs: In a binder.
Purpose: Get a background of Biology before going to Chemistry.
Goal: Finish Biology and then learn Chemistry.
Math
How I do it: I also use Khan Academy for this subject. While we were on vacation, I started doing all the lessons from Early math up to 6th grade. Then when homeschooling started, I was already doing the lessons from 7th grade up to AP Statistics.
I try to answer the unit tests. If I can’t have a perfect score on it, I go back to the quizzes. Finally, after reviewing all these, I started studying Precalculus. It actually took me a long time to finish this review because many of the lessons were not discussed at school.
Purpose: Master all lessons to fully understand more advanced lessons.
Goal: Review all lessons from Grade 1 to 10. Study pre-Calculus and Calculus.
The Story of Western Science
How I do it: I use Lithium to read this book. I highlight important points while I read every chapter. After reading a chapter, I write most of the highlighted points–I filter only the important points–on a separate paper. This is repetition which means all that I’ve read will get absorb by my mind with a higher percentage.
Output: In a binder. But I’ve decided to directly blog about this under the category Western Science.
Purpose: Know how Science, as we know what it is on our modern day, came to be.
Goal: Have a blog published for each person (scientist, philosopher, etc.) mentioned in the book.
Literature Reading and Summarization
How I do it: First, I scan a chapter for new vocabulary words. By the time I find one, I type it down on a new document on Google Docs. I’ll look for its definition (based on the context of usage) on Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary.
But before I copy the definition onto my document, I carefully listen to the correct word pronunciation, and then also read its definition aloud. By doing so, I am not only able to practice my pronunciation, but I am able to commit its definition to my memory as well.
After I’ve finished jotting down all the vocabulary words and their definitions from a chapter, I finally start reading and summarizing the whole chapter.
Output of vocabulary words: On Google Docs. I generously share these vocabulary-containing documents on every chapter of my Moby Dick summary.
Output of summaries: On the Moby Dick summary category.
Exercise
How I do it: I do these exercises every Monday and Thursday:
Purpose: 1 Timothy 4:8 says that “physical training is beneficial.” That’s without a doubt true so I gotta do it, and so should you.
Goal: Maintain physical healthiness and activeness.
Journal/ Blogging
How I do it: I do this on my free times.
To know the Purpose and Goal of this blog, please visit About this Blog.