Homeschooling, one gentle step at a time.
You don’t need to be a teacher. You need love, patience, and a simple plan. Here is how our family homeschools in The Philippines, the books we read, and what we use for each level, so you can start at your child’s pace.
The Charlotte Mason way
What is homeschooling?
Homeschooling means you, the parent, guide your child’s education at home instead of sending them to a classroom. You choose what to learn, how to learn it, and how fast to go.
For many families, and especially for children who learn differently, that freedom changes everything. A child who struggles in a noisy room of 40 students can blossom with short, calm lessons and a parent who knows exactly what they need.
You don’t need to be a teacher. You need love, patience, and a simple plan. We’ll help with the plan.
Homeschooling may be a good fit if…
- Your child needs a slower, gentler pace
- Traditional school hasn’t worked for your family
- You’re waiting on an assessment and want to start helping now
- Your child learns best by moving, touching, and exploring
- You want learning to be part of everyday family life
Two paths to homeschooling
In The Philippines, families usually homeschool in one of two ways. Both happen at home. The difference is who keeps the records, who does the teaching, and how much support you get.
With a provider
You enroll your child with a DepEd-recognized homeschool provider. Your child learns at home, and the provider guides and supports your family.
- Official school records and report cards
- A curriculum or lesson guide to follow
- Regular check-ins and assessments
- An easier move to a regular school later
Independent
You plan and teach everything yourself, with no school or provider involved.
- Full freedom over what and how you teach
- You choose every book and activity
- You keep your own records
- A placement test may be needed to join a regular school later
Providers offer two ways to learn
Parent-led Our pick
You teach your child. The provider gives the curriculum, guidance, and assessments.
Teacher-led
The provider’s teachers lead the lessons, often online. You support at home.
Why we chose a provider, parent-led
A provider gives us structure, official records, and support on the harder days. Going parent-led means we teach our son ourselves, at his pace and the Charlotte Mason way: short lessons, living books, and lots of time outdoors. For our family, it’s the best of both worlds.
— The Somera Family
Requirements and fees differ from provider to provider, so it’s worth asking a few before you enroll.
Charlotte Mason: a gentle way to learn
Charlotte Mason was a British educator who believed children are whole persons, not empty containers to fill. Her method uses real books, time outdoors, and short, focused lessons. It’s gentle, flexible, and works beautifully for children who need extra time.
Living books
Stories written with heart by one author who loves the subject. No dry textbooks, just books that make ideas come alive.
Short lessons
Lessons of 5 to 15 minutes, ending while your child is still interested. Attention grows a little at a time.
Narration
After reading, your child “tells back” what they remember, in words, drawings, or actions. No quizzes, no worksheets.
Nature study
Time outdoors every day: watching ants, touching leaves, noticing the weather. The world is the best classroom.
Habit training
Small, daily habits like attention, kindness, and tidying up, built slowly and patiently, one at a time.
A feast of ideas
Poetry, music, art, and handicrafts, sprinkled through the week so learning feels rich and joyful.
Made gentle for kids who learn differently
How we adapt Charlotte Mason for children with ADHD, autism, or language delays:
Even shorter lessons
Start with 3 to 5 minutes. Stop on a happy note, and grow from there.
Every kind of telling counts
A word, a sound, a drawing, or pointing at a picture. It’s all real narration.
Movement between lessons
Jumping, animal walks, or a quick run outside help the body get ready to learn again.
The Parents’ Shelf
Before we teach our children, it helps to fill our own cup. These are the books behind the Charlotte Mason way, written by Charlotte Mason herself. They’re free to read, and you don’t need to finish them all at once.
Volume 1: Home Education
Her first book, for parents of children under 9. Short lessons, time outdoors, narration, and good habits, all in her own words.
Read free →
Volume 2: Parents and Children
Warm, thoughtful essays on family life and on you, the parent, as your child’s very first teacher.
Read free →
Volume 3: School Education
For when your child is ready for a little more: how to plan lessons and choose books as they grow.
Read free →
Handbook of Nature-Study
For parents who don’t feel like nature experts. Look up one bird, bug, or plant at a time, right before you go outside together.
Read free →Busy day? Just read a few pages.
One short chapter a week, maybe with your morning coffee, is plenty. These books were written over 100 years ago, so take the ideas that fit your family and gently leave the rest.
Find your child’s level
See what our family uses for each subject, with a gentle Somera ebook and the books we pair it with.
Form1Form 1: Grade 1 in The Philippines
English, Filipino, Mathematics, Science, Nature Study, Araling Panlipunan, Music, Arts, P.E., Health, and GMRC.
More levels are coming soon. We’re adding them one at a time. Looking for free books to read together? Visit our virtual library.
Not sure where to start? Get our free guide.
Guiding Growth: 14 Days to Connect With Your Child at Home. One small, gentle step a day, made by parents like you.