Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/54710
That's Hannah, she's home schooled. Hannah Koumakis, 12, Tauranga I live with my mum and dad, my two older sisters and my younger brother. We are all home schooled. Mum is my teacher for most of my subjects, but I go to an art class with a lady called Pauline. We went to school in Auckland but when we moved to Tauranga, Mum and Dad decided they would like to try home schooling, so that's what we did – and we all liked it! Every day in my week is different, but this would be a normal Thursday for me: • 7.00am: Get up, have breakfast and get ready for the day. We all have jobs to do in the morning before we start our work for the day. • 8.30am: We all sit down at the table and talk about our day, then get started on our work. • 9.00am: Piano lesson – my teacher lives just up the road from us so I walk to her house. Hannah with her family — all the kids are home schooled. • 9.45am: Return home and do my piano homework. • 10.00am: Have a quick snack and then into my school work until lunchtime. • 1.00pm: Our home schooling group meets and this could include anything from a trip to the beach, a tour of a factory or place in our area, swimming pool, sports, ten-pin bowling, crafts, drama, walk up to the top of Mt Maunganui, movies... lots of things! As a group we also do most of the things that schools do like cross country, swimming sports, speeches, camps etc. • 3.30pm: Home from there and it's free time for the rest of the day. "I guess home schooling does make us different, but not in a weird or geeky sort of way." I don't have any schedule for when I have to do certain subjects as my Mum sets our work for the week on Monday and we choose what subject we want to do and when we do it. If we work hard at the start of the week, then we can have Friday off! That's just one of the cool things about homeschooling, but there are many more – we have much shorter school days as you can get your work done faster, more holidays, don't have to get out early to catch the school bus, no bullies, and Mum is my teacher. I guess home schooling does make us different, but not in a weird or geeky sort of way. I think that we are different because we are at home doing our school work, which means we are free to do what we want, when we want. Hannah with her brother. Be yourself. No one can say you're doing it wrong – Snoopy www.upstartmag.co.nz 41