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Planning, Routines, & Rhythm

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ON INSTAGRAM

@A.THINKING.LOVE.HOMESCHOOL

{ TERM THREE WEEKS 1-2 } What do you do with that one subject which your student is determined not to be interested in? There are so many mysteries in homeschooling our children that sometimes bring the illusion of inadequacy and despair. For years I have mourned over my now Form 5 student who never picked up my passion and profession for science.

This school year, however, things are starting to change. I am grateful for the plethora of resources and support from @the.cmec, especially on the subjects of science. Instead of following a strict (and lifeless) booklist and checklists, we as mother-teachers are trained to decide on which books to use and our pace throughout the terms. So I tried one more time to lay out a feast of living ideas, holding tightly these hopeful words from Charlotte Mason:

“Science… is a vast and joyous realm; for the people who walk therein are always discovering new things, and each new thing is a delight, because the things are not a medley, but each is a part of the great whole.” (Ourselves, Book 1, p.35)

As we are ending this school year soon, it has brought much joy to see the transformation in my student’s learning - the delight in new ideas, the eagerness in applying these new things in her life. Although I know she will never follow my career path, science still matters to her as she continues to explore this vast and joyous realm in her own life.

{ TERM THREE WEEKS 1-2 } What do you do with that one subject which your student is determined not to be interested in? There are so many mysteries in homeschooling our children that sometimes bring the illusion of inadequacy and despair. For years I have mourned over my now Form 5 student who never picked up my passion and profession for science.

This school year, however, things are starting to change. I am grateful for the plethora of resources and support from @the.cmec, especially on the subjects of science. Instead of following a strict (and lifeless) booklist and checklists, we as mother-teachers are trained to decide on which books to use and our pace throughout the terms. So I tried one more time to lay out a feast of living ideas, holding tightly these hopeful words from Charlotte Mason:

“Science… is a vast and joyous realm; for the people who walk therein are always discovering new things, and each new thing is a delight, because the things are not a medley, but each is a part of the great whole.” (Ourselves, Book 1, p.35)

As we are ending this school year soon, it has brought much joy to see the transformation in my student’s learning - the delight in new ideas, the eagerness in applying these new things in her life. Although I know she will never follow my career path, science still matters to her as she continues to explore this vast and joyous realm in her own life.

NEW BLOG POST // Things get complicated when it comes to high school, don’t they? There are just so many options out there on college application and career planning, and I feel like I never have enough time to do enough research in graduating my first student without any oversight. In today’s post, I am sharing what I have learned on becoming my first graduate’s guidance counselor.

Link in bio 🤍 Enjoy!

https://athinkinglove.com/new-to-homeschool-high-school-edition/

NEW BLOG POST // Things get complicated when it comes to high school, don’t they? There are just so many options out there on college application and career planning, and I feel like I never have enough time to do enough research in graduating my first student without any oversight. In today’s post, I am sharing what I have learned on becoming my first graduate’s guidance counselor.

Link in bio 🤍 Enjoy!

https://athinkinglove.com/new-to-homeschool-high-school-edition/

NEW ON SUBSTACK // Despite its discomfort and constant oppositions, this brief season with our teens shall fade. In hindsight, will we be able to tell a story of redemption that drew us nearer to His throne of grace where we received mercy, and found grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16), again and again? May we choose to take up our cross daily, no matter how difficult it is, to hold tightly onto our only Anchor on this earth, and to journey this Lenten season together with our suffering Christ.

Link in bio 🤍 Enjoy!

https://open.substack.com/pub/athinkinglove/p/great-work-great-call-great-joy

NEW ON SUBSTACK // Despite its discomfort and constant oppositions, this brief season with our teens shall fade. In hindsight, will we be able to tell a story of redemption that drew us nearer to His throne of grace where we received mercy, and found grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16), again and again? May we choose to take up our cross daily, no matter how difficult it is, to hold tightly onto our only Anchor on this earth, and to journey this Lenten season together with our suffering Christ.

Link in bio 🤍 Enjoy!

https://open.substack.com/pub/athinkinglove/p/great-work-great-call-great-joy

{ TERM TWO WEEK 12 } At our house, exam week is more for the mother-teacher to consider the methods, the books, and the pacing of the reading, rather than for the students to get perfect answers and scores. Even though there is still plenty of room for improvements, @the.cmec has taught me so much about offering and assessing exams in different forms:

🤍 My Form 2’s exams are full exams provided by @the.cmec and are mostly independent work. They are not graded as I only use them to evaluate how well she is learning and to adjust our pace/methods if needed.

🤍 As for my Form 5, she is required to take things more seriously - closed-book, tracking the time spent, practical application, assimilation of knowledge across different subjects, etc. After her “blue books” have been turned in, I will grade each subject and work on her transcripts, taking into account all that she has accomplished for the term. We focus on successful work and progress, and then we will use the exam data to set goals for the next term.

During exam week I always do my best to maintain order, quiet, and cheerfulness. Offering a positive attitude, a hug, a prayer, or picking up some of their chores, making them breakfast, etc. Any small acts of kindness are usually much appreciated and bring a smile to their stressful hearts.

My favorite part of the exam is when my Form 5 recited this lovely poem with her sweet voice and a sense of esteem and accomplishment:

A VALENTINE | LAURA ELIZABETH RICHARDS

“Oh! little loveliest lady mine,
What shall I send for your valentine?
Summer and flowers are far away;
Gloomy old Winter is king to-day;
Buds will not blow, and sun will not shine:
What shall I do for a valentine?

I’ve searched the gardens all through and through
For a bud to tell of my love so true;
But buds are asleep, and blossoms are dead,
And the snow beats down on my poor little head:
So, little loveliest lady mine,
Here is my heart for your valentine!

{ TERM TWO WEEK 12 } At our house, exam week is more for the mother-teacher to consider the methods, the books, and the pacing of the reading, rather than for the students to get perfect answers and scores. Even though there is still plenty of room for improvements, @the.cmec has taught me so much about offering and assessing exams in different forms:

🤍 My Form 2’s exams are full exams provided by @the.cmec and are mostly independent work. They are not graded as I only use them to evaluate how well she is learning and to adjust our pace/methods if needed.

🤍 As for my Form 5, she is required to take things more seriously - closed-book, tracking the time spent, practical application, assimilation of knowledge across different subjects, etc. After her “blue books” have been turned in, I will grade each subject and work on her transcripts, taking into account all that she has accomplished for the term. We focus on successful work and progress, and then we will use the exam data to set goals for the next term.

During exam week I always do my best to maintain order, quiet, and cheerfulness. Offering a positive attitude, a hug, a prayer, or picking up some of their chores, making them breakfast, etc. Any small acts of kindness are usually much appreciated and bring a smile to their stressful hearts.

My favorite part of the exam is when my Form 5 recited this lovely poem with her sweet voice and a sense of esteem and accomplishment:

A VALENTINE | LAURA ELIZABETH RICHARDS

“Oh! little loveliest lady mine,
What shall I send for your valentine?
Summer and flowers are far away;
Gloomy old Winter is king to-day;
Buds will not blow, and sun will not shine:
What shall I do for a valentine?

I’ve searched the gardens all through and through
For a bud to tell of my love so true;
But buds are asleep, and blossoms are dead,
And the snow beats down on my poor little head:
So, little loveliest lady mine,
Here is my heart for your valentine!

NEW ON SUBSTACK // “Do you remember what it was like to be a teenager?” God has a great call to use mothers like us as instruments for His great work and greater call for our teens, so that years later they will look back to their teen years with joy, peace, and gratitude. In this lovely month of February, I hope you will open your hearts and awake your Beauty Sense to experience the great joy in each stage of motherhood.

Link in bio 🤍 Enjoy!

https://open.substack.com/pub/athinkinglove/p/great-work-great-call-great-joy

NEW ON SUBSTACK // “Do you remember what it was like to be a teenager?” God has a great call to use mothers like us as instruments for His great work and greater call for our teens, so that years later they will look back to their teen years with joy, peace, and gratitude. In this lovely month of February, I hope you will open your hearts and awake your Beauty Sense to experience the great joy in each stage of motherhood.

Link in bio 🤍 Enjoy!

https://open.substack.com/pub/athinkinglove/p/great-work-great-call-great-joy

{ TERM TWO WEEK 11 } As much as our brains need regularity and routines to accomplish academic goals, my children and I all crave for the spontaneity and space in order for our creativity and imagination to thrive. I am grateful that we have a term break this week to reset and recharge:

🤍 Catch up a few missed readings of the term
🤍 Print out Exam 2 for next week
🤍 Start prepping for Term 3
🤍 Think through my son’s program
🤍 Renew our 2026-2027 @the.cmec membership
🤍 Design new cover for next school year
🤍 Stock up our pantry, meal planning, and a few tasks that my husband told me to do
🤍 My Form 2 explored more handicraft projects
🤍 My Form 5 decided to start Exam 2 early

Every year around this time of the year, I second guessed myself if we should try out a new homeschool program. But NOT this year! We have enjoyed our rich and deep texts while allowing our students’ personhood and special interests to thrive. The teacher’s training and support has brought me so much clarity and peace into the high school years. I look forward for my son to join us as Form 1 next year, and I highly recommend @the.cmec to everyone looking around for a true Charlotte Mason program.

{ TERM TWO WEEK 11 } As much as our brains need regularity and routines to accomplish academic goals, my children and I all crave for the spontaneity and space in order for our creativity and imagination to thrive. I am grateful that we have a term break this week to reset and recharge:

🤍 Catch up a few missed readings of the term
🤍 Print out Exam 2 for next week
🤍 Start prepping for Term 3
🤍 Think through my son’s program
🤍 Renew our 2026-2027 @the.cmec membership
🤍 Design new cover for next school year
🤍 Stock up our pantry, meal planning, and a few tasks that my husband told me to do
🤍 My Form 2 explored more handicraft projects
🤍 My Form 5 decided to start Exam 2 early

Every year around this time of the year, I second guessed myself if we should try out a new homeschool program. But NOT this year! We have enjoyed our rich and deep texts while allowing our students’ personhood and special interests to thrive. The teacher’s training and support has brought me so much clarity and peace into the high school years. I look forward for my son to join us as Form 1 next year, and I highly recommend @the.cmec to everyone looking around for a true Charlotte Mason program.

{ TERM TWO WEEK 10 } We ended this term and the first month of the year with a sense of excitement and accomplishment, as my Form 5 student punctually finished all assigned readings and turned in many poetic narrations. Here is one she is really satisfied with:

MEN OF JERSEY | POEM BY FORM 5

“Men of Jersey! To arms! To war!
Why cower ‘neath the cellar floor?
Think ye that bolt or bar or key
Can cast out shameful infamy?

Men of Jersey! To arms! To war!
Thy brothers call from fields of gore
They call from out the frozen mud
While you, in horror, fear the blood.

Men of Jersey! To arms! To war!
Arise and bolt the door no more!
Arise and heed the mighty call
Arise, or under England fall!”

For years I witness how her self-education shapes her personhood and fuels her dream of becoming a writer. Armed with a stack of writing over the years, and still more “book ideas” bubbling in her mind (especially at two o’clock in the morning!), she has finally gathered enough courage to take her first step and started publishing her beautiful work on Substack. You are invited to follow my daughter’s exciting journey on her platform:

Substack | An Old-Fashioned Garden 🤍 Link in bio

{ TERM TWO WEEK 10 } We ended this term and the first month of the year with a sense of excitement and accomplishment, as my Form 5 student punctually finished all assigned readings and turned in many poetic narrations. Here is one she is really satisfied with:

MEN OF JERSEY | POEM BY FORM 5

“Men of Jersey! To arms! To war!
Why cower ‘neath the cellar floor?
Think ye that bolt or bar or key
Can cast out shameful infamy?

Men of Jersey! To arms! To war!
Thy brothers call from fields of gore
They call from out the frozen mud
While you, in horror, fear the blood.

Men of Jersey! To arms! To war!
Arise and bolt the door no more!
Arise and heed the mighty call
Arise, or under England fall!”

For years I witness how her self-education shapes her personhood and fuels her dream of becoming a writer. Armed with a stack of writing over the years, and still more “book ideas” bubbling in her mind (especially at two o’clock in the morning!), she has finally gathered enough courage to take her first step and started publishing her beautiful work on Substack. You are invited to follow my daughter’s exciting journey on her platform:

Substack | An Old-Fashioned Garden 🤍 Link in bio

NEW BLOG POST // Have you ever wondered what roles a mother teacher play in high school education? How do we guide and prepare our students in self-government and self-education so that they will be ready to embark on their own journey four years down the road? On the blog today I sharing with you my imperfect, less-traveled journey in becoming a prepared teacher, guide, philosopher, and friend to my high schooler, as I ponder on how the methods of Charlotte Mason education apply in the high school years.

Link in bio 🤍 Enjoy!

https://athinkinglove.com/the-teachers-part-during-high-school-years/

NEW BLOG POST // Have you ever wondered what roles a mother teacher play in high school education? How do we guide and prepare our students in self-government and self-education so that they will be ready to embark on their own journey four years down the road? On the blog today I sharing with you my imperfect, less-traveled journey in becoming a prepared teacher, guide, philosopher, and friend to my high schooler, as I ponder on how the methods of Charlotte Mason education apply in the high school years.

Link in bio 🤍 Enjoy!

https://athinkinglove.com/the-teachers-part-during-high-school-years/

NEW BLOG POST // My Form 5 student’s first poem, “The Poet’s Call,” has just been published on my blog! It’s a creative project that we have been talking about for some time, and finally made it happen. It’s rewarding to see her writer’s heart flourish and one step closer to her dream.

Link in bio 🤍 Enjoy!

https://athinkinglove.com/the-poets-call/

NEW BLOG POST // My Form 5 student’s first poem, “The Poet’s Call,” has just been published on my blog! It’s a creative project that we have been talking about for some time, and finally made it happen. It’s rewarding to see her writer’s heart flourish and one step closer to her dream.

Link in bio 🤍 Enjoy!

https://athinkinglove.com/the-poets-call/

{ TERM TWO WEEK 8 } I often wonder how a mother can love and educate all her children well, fulfilling her calling and duties with delight, while still managing her home and all other areas in life. The truth is, although we are limited in our energy and capacity, the Creator still calls us “qualified,” for He is the one at work, and we are merely His “principal agent in the development of her child.” (Vol. 1, pg.3) Thus we entered this term imperfectly, and I am amazed at what the Lord has done in my children’s education, without much of my own careful attention and effort. It is in the midst of my inadequacy and limitations, God gets all the glory as we make our way intelligently towards our goal:

“It is only as we recognize our limitations that our work becomes effective: when we see definitely what we are to do, what we can do, and what we cannot do, we set to work with confidence and courage; we have an end in view, and we make our way intelligently towards that end, and a way to an end is method.” - Charlotte Mason, Vol. 2, pg. 33

{ TERM TWO WEEK 8 } I often wonder how a mother can love and educate all her children well, fulfilling her calling and duties with delight, while still managing her home and all other areas in life. The truth is, although we are limited in our energy and capacity, the Creator still calls us “qualified,” for He is the one at work, and we are merely His “principal agent in the development of her child.” (Vol. 1, pg.3) Thus we entered this term imperfectly, and I am amazed at what the Lord has done in my children’s education, without much of my own careful attention and effort. It is in the midst of my inadequacy and limitations, God gets all the glory as we make our way intelligently towards our goal:

“It is only as we recognize our limitations that our work becomes effective: when we see definitely what we are to do, what we can do, and what we cannot do, we set to work with confidence and courage; we have an end in view, and we make our way intelligently towards that end, and a way to an end is method.” - Charlotte Mason, Vol. 2, pg. 33

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." — Colossians 3:23-24

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