How Three Hours a Day Opened a World of Learning and Music
Hey there! I’d love to share my experience homeschooling my daughter in Florence, Italy.
It’s been quite a journey, and I’m so grateful for the time we’ve had together. So, here’s how it went: I taught my little one all the school subjects, spending about three hours a day, five days a week, throughout elementary and middle school. It might not sound like much, but boy, were those hours packed! The best part? This schedule left her with tons of free time to explore her passions. She dove headfirst into music, especially the violin. You should hear her play now – it’s amazing what kids can achieve when they have the time to really focus on what they love. Now, being in Italy, we had to follow some rules. Every year, I’d dutifully notify the mayor of Florence (that’s where we live) about our homeschooling setup. It’s because the mayor’s responsible for all the kiddos in the city. I also had to keep in touch with the director of the school we chose as our reference point. This was super important because my daughter needed to take proficiency exams there each year to move up to the next grade and keep her options open for the future. I’ve got to say, those exams were nerve-wracking at first, but my daughter always aced them! We worked hard, stayed organized, and it paid off. When she finished eighth grade, she took the big state exam and passed with flying colors. That was our ticket to high school! Throughout this whole adventure, the school leaders and teachers at our reference school were just fantastic. They were so supportive and understanding – it really made a difference. Now, here’s the kicker: my daughter’s in her fourth year of high school, back in the public school system since freshman year. And you know what? She’s still knocking it out of the park with her grades! It just goes to show that homeschooling can be a great foundation for kids. Looking back, I’m just so proud of her and grateful for this experience. It wasn’t always easy, but it was definitely worth it. If you’re thinking about homeschooling, I’d say go for it – just be prepared for quite the adventure!