Homeschooling Day in the Life: Jessica, Homeschooling Mom Teaching Through Dyslexia

A homeschool day in the life looks different almost every day, right? Over on our Instagram page, we love to give you a peek into lots of homeschool days regardless of how they change day to day.

Today, we’re going to give you a peek into the homeschool day in the life of Jessica, homeschool mom of four children teaching through dyslexia

We can all learn and be inspired by one another, regardless of our homeschool approach. It’s not about looking good for social media, it’s about the connection going on inside our homeschool walls and sharing with others what works for us.

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We might all homeschool a little differently, but we can always look for ideas from each other that inspire, encourage and equip us in our own homeschool days. So each week we create blog posts for you to access later of each of those “days in the life”. We hope you keep coming back for more inspiration. Keep going, mama! These days at home are so worth it!

Hi! I’m Jessica!

Jessica is a southern born and raised small town girl, bringing up her own children with her husband on their tiny homestead on the central coast of California. She’s intentional about slow mornings, excellent books, adventures with her family, sound theology, and creating beauty. She loves dark roast coffee with heavy cream, colorful autumns, time in her garden, travel, and one on one conversations. 

Quiet + Solitary Mornings or Evenings

Having time by myself in the quiet hours of the morning or evening are greatly beneficial as a teacher and mother. I need the downtime without questions or requests of me. Time for yoga or a walk. Coffee with my bible and prayer. Space to write or paint. It fills me up, so I can then pour out.

Symposium

Our days together always start with symposium. It has been this way since we started homeschooling 13 years ago. It’s a time comfortably on the couch, being fed with read alouds, discussions, world events, Latin and Bible study. I’ve been adamant about keeping our mornings slow, together, and at home.

Dyslexia

Our home education has been shaped by 3 out of 4 kids being dyslexic. Their challenges, and gifts, put us on a course that is different even from most homeschool families. We are heavy on auditory learning since reading can be slow and challenging. Reading is an important part of our studies, but not at the expense of knowledge. Each subject is not dependent on reading, instead we mostly rely on video lectures and audiobooks. To continue strengthening reading and writing skills, we also use the Barton System.

Skills

One of the gifts of dyslexia is their natural physical capabilities, spatial awareness, problem solving, and creative hands on abilities. Because of this, half our day is devoted to this kind of learning. They have structured physical activities including ballet, jiu jitsu, archery, and horseback riding depending on the day (and kid). They have multiple music lessons throughout the week including piano, guitar, ukulele, and voice. They are involved in creative activities in studios and at home like sewing, pottery, candle making, weaving, cooking, 3D printing, etc. And when they are in 8th/9th grade, I have them intern at a local veterinarian’s office to learn numerous valuable skills in a professional setting.

Nature

Being outside is non-negotiable. Time at the beach each week, hikes multiple times a month, and time on our own property soaking up sun everyday is for the health of us all. Learning is always present whether tidepooling or fort building, but it goes much deeper. It’s physically and mentally healing. And creation points to God in a way that sitting in our living room doesn’t.

Homesteading

There is a lot of work that goes into our land and animals daily. Chores that involve our chickens, ducks and turkeys. Weekly tending of our garden or orchard. The occasional check or harvest of the beehives. Along with the chopping of wood to heat our home and keeping the weeds down. It’s a beautiful cycle of the seasons that homesteading pulls us all into.