Jude AgbayaniI have shared in my earlier post that my husband and I were contemplating on moving to a different homeschool provider. Last week, we took the plunge and enrolled under Peniel Integrated Christian Academy (Homeschool).
The principal, Teacher Au, briefed me on their requirements and what she expects from the parents. When she learned that we have homeschooled for some time, she was confident. She said she wouldn’t have any problem with us with regards to complying with what the DedEd requires of homeschoolers.
Getting the curriculum
Every year, I find myself doing researching, asking around a good curriculum for Jacob while computing for the next school year’s budget. Being a frugal mom, I make sure that the curriculum I use for our first child can still be used by Jianne, our youngest.
I have kept Jacob’s first-grade curriculum for four years in the cabinet and has survived two moves already! One of the great things about homeschooling multiple kids is that the curriculum gets passed on the next child. Or I could then sell it to another homeschooler!
With Peniel, they use local textbooks. Though they are an open curriculum homeschool provider, my husband and I decided to try their local books. It’s not bad. It had colorful illustrations and the paper was nice and white. Jacob is very vocal about the books that he’d like to use so we listened to him. Though I’m not a fan of the other books that he likes, I will heed his suggestion.
Before heading home, we went straight to the bookstore to buy plastic covers and other school materials. Even though we had a full day, I was so excited to cover the new books. Covering books have been my favorite thing to do ever since I was in elementary. Even when I was in college I would still neatly cover my books with plastic and put my names on them 🙂
After enrolling, the principal sent me a copy of their homeschool manual, the Department of Education’s K-12 requirements, and other helpful tools which I could use for both kids.
Learning in Filipino
Aside from being under a new provider, I have decided to change the medium of instruction in Social Studies from English to Filipino because I learned very recently that sixth-grade students are required to take the National Achievement Test or NAT. This test determines the mastery of the student in English, Math, Science, Filipino, and Sibika (Social Studies). I was in panic mode when I heard this because we have been studying Social Studies in English and nobody told me that during the NAT, Social Studies would be in Filipino.
Instead of forcing our son to learn SIBIKA in sixth grade, I opted to shift him now to prepare him for the NAT. Both kids have difficulty in speaking and studying Filipino, more so Social Studies in the Filipino language. This is going to be challenging indeed!
We only started school this week, and so far it has been a pleasant two days (by God’s grace!) I was convinced to do the shift because of the many positive feedback by other friends who also made the shift. I do hope this would lessen the stress as they say in our homeschooling journey. But then again, it does not matter what curriculum I use or under what provider I am enrolled in, it’s still God who oversees everything and plans everything for our family. He will be the one to equip me, urge me, and inspire to be the best parent-teacher for my children. With the support of my husband, fellow homeschoolers, friends, and family, I know we can make it!
Philippians 1:6 says, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Happy homeschooling!
