Studying history in Rome :)

Studying history in Rome :)

One question I was constantly being asked while I traveled was…” What do you do about school?”  Although in my mind this is a fairly simple question to answer,  I have realized that not all families are comfortable with my approach.  So I will address this question from 2 perspectives. The question becomes this…  How long do you plan to travel? And What will your plan be (education) when you stop?   However you answer these questions…one thing is the same, keep everything you do SIMPLE! Whether you do traditional schooling or unschooling your life will change dramatically! Keeping it simple will make traveling as a family more enjoyable!   For me this question was easy.  We have always homeschooled from the start (even before we traveled) and this has worked for our family! Other families have not.  So, taking on the schooling of their children is a new learning curve.   If you plan to travel for a set time and know that when you stop,  your children will be moving back to a school setting,  you may want to keep that style (relaxed) as you travel so that they will transition back into a classroom easier.  I would however suggest keeping it as light as you can. You would be surprised how much children learn that is not from a traditional textbook.  Remember that traveling will also be an education in itself in different ways.  Not to mention it is emotionally and physically exhausting. So keeping a light school load is more practical and you will find that you are fighting less for them to keep up with things.  I would suggest Math, Reading/Language Arts basics, History and Science!  Maybe cutting down the lesson and problems by allowing your child to do the odds or the evens. AGAIN, remember that the lifestyle change will be emotionally exhausting in itself and that they are learning more than book work! Some families have had success with online programs. That way you also keep down on the book clutter as well. There are such sites as Switched on School House , or K-12, or Connections Academy. There are many online tutoring sites as well. Khan or Sylvan.  We knew a family that talked with the school and the school actually GAVE them the books to use! Sounded like the school was supportive with travel and this family had the intent of returning to the same home/area. 100_2203 I, on the other hand tend to lean toward a more “Charlotte Mason” approach and love hands-on learning.  I have been, in fact, quoted as saying…”I hate workbooks” or “Just skip that!” When we left I had HIGH HOPES of getting lots of “Book schooling” done thinking we wouldn’t have much of a social life and lots of extra time.  Ha!  But that was quickly done away with.  The lifestyle itself is so much change and in some ways emotional overload that we were ALL exhausted. New places,  smells, language, foods, routine, more physical,  constantly learning and facing new situations was tiring!  I quickly adjusted and simplified my school to what was happening around us.  Our kids read sailing safety books,  nautical knots, navigation book, language and guidebooks. I encouraged them to journal and READ! 2 of my favorite geography books for elementary are A Trip Around the World and Another trip around the World.  These books had crafts,  simple language lessons, cooking projects and facts!  Keep in mind that there were many countries that we traveled to that were not in the book,  but fun books like this kept learning fun!  We mostly stuck to Math and Reading.   So in the end, my advice is this….whether you are going to school Traditionally or relaxed….KEEP IT SIMPLE! Remember that the character lessons they are learning through experience and watching you are a HUGE education in itself!

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