Homeschooling, the WHERE of it all

I went to public elementary school in the 1970's.  I remember ambling into the classroom, meeting my new teacher, then scanning the neat rows of desks to find the one that had a laminated piece of construction paper with my name printed in sharpie taped to the front.  I think back now and wonder how I squeezed my tiny heiny into that little desk, open only on one side, and fit my pencil box and brand new Leif Garrett folder in the cubby under the seat.  The first day was exciting.  After that, it was only exciting if the head of the person in front of you became afflicted in some way.   Excessive oil.  Lice.  I remember in the 11th grade, the guy that sat behind me got excited that I learned to french braid.  Sad really.

Sure, when you homeschool, you could do it that way.  IKEA rocks.  Get the desks lined up with color coordinated desk accessories.  Spend money at the teacher store buying colored cardboard divider thingys,  posters of manuscript letters to hang on the wall, folders to do centers (whatever that is)  Clearly, the pastel circles were an unfortunate decorating faux pas that has resulted in an ambiance akin to Easter egg purgatory. 

This is for me.  I love brand new curriculum that's still stiff when you open it.  Complete sets of crayons and glue sticks with lids.  Sharpened pencils all in one place.  It holds the promise that this year will be different.  This year, maybe all the kids will sit quietly for hours as we progress methodically through each subject's curriculum.  In order.  In it's entirety.

This is day 1.  Beginning in the 2nd week I will get blank stares when I ask them to pull out their color coded scissors because they've been lost somewhere in the kitchen, covered with sticky sugar, the result of having been used to cut open freezer popsicles and not returned to their right, very expertly labeled, place.  I will be snapped out of my blind optimism and back into reality that number one son is pretty much fine with school and curriculum any way I pick it.  Number one daughter is probably NOT fine with all the curriculum choices because, in her opinion, if the cover of the book spells SCIENCE that way instead of S-I-A-N-T-S, as it should be spelled, well she doesn't trust it.  And the youngest will stare at the curriculum for less than a minute before he starts flipping it, stabbing at it, shooting it with his finger gun, acting as though he's receiving enemy fire from it, fake dying, resurrecting and re-entering the battle, apparently deaf from the concussion of the imaginary explosions and unable to hear my repeated requests for him to sit back down. 

Notice her face.  She knows this is an exercise in futility and she's only beginning 2nd grade.

But there is hope. I remember once again, that despite my well intentioned plans and curriculum purchases, some of the best learning comes from experiences and talking with experts in their fields of study.  Full immersion.  Curiosity.  Education that involves senses of smell and touch, different kinds of hearing and occasionally taste, not usually engaged by curriculum.

                                                           Maybe science class might look like this:



Or this:

                                                                               Or maybe even this:

Our science classes look exactly like this at Crystal Springs Preserve.  The kids study things like survival training, Florida's native plants and wildlife, biodiversity, symbiosis, water sampling and testing, and orienteering.  Once the kids even passed around skeletons of dead animals to determine if they were carnivores, herbivores or omnivores by studying teeth and eye placement.  A well run program with great content and hands on activities.  Fabulous, and I mean fabulous teachers.  Shout out Sonja and Jessica!
http://www.crystalspringspreserve.com/

The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) also offers science classes, but more often with a leaning more toward the technology side.  They have great classroom environments and access to the Kids in Charge area with plenty of technology related hands on activities.  And again, fabulous teachers.  Kids that show a particular interest in outer space related sciences, dynamics of flight, robotics and computer roller coaster design, this is the place for you.
http://www.campfun.org/

Disclaimer:  Any resemblance to actual socialized kids may be purely coincidental.

Afraid they'll miss out on 'normal things' like riding a bus?  There was a bus there once.  We just asked if we could try it out.  It's not a total experience, it's true.  But I'm grateful. 

In my day, the worst thing I ever saw on a bus is people trying to sell cinnamon toothpicks.

I've heard it's worse now.

Public schools are cutting out the arts.  But as homeschoolers, we have availability to attend performances at the Straz Center, festivals, libraries and local theme parks.  One of our favorites is the Finding Nemo show  at Disney's Animal Kingdom.   We've seen it enough times to have the script and score memorized.  It gives us the freedom to notice the production details.  Who knows what fascination will spark the recognition of a child's career calling?

 Additionally, we are able to bring the arts to others...say puppets to Everyday Blessings, a displaced children's residential home.




Spring '11

...and crafts.  This time we were cavorting with some public schooled friends.  But you could probably   pick them out in this picture.  I've heard homeschooled kids look weird. 

Number one son has a particular interest in drawing, cartooning and caricaturing.  At Disney's Hollywood Studios, he has the opportunity to take classes taught by actual Disney Animators, tour Walt Disney's museum on the history of animation and talk with caricature artists around the park who graciously share tricks of the trade and offer encouragement.  It's likely that your public library may offer opportunities to learn from real artists as well.  Sometimes large book stores will host an animator whose book is being released.  All great opportunities to learn if you help your kids to have the confidence and courage to ask questions. 

Light desks.  Disney style.

My kids are much more prone to remember the word Keratin and the fact that it's the substance found in hair, fingernails and Rhinoceros horns if they've actually been this close to a Rhinoceros.  The first thing they'll look up when they get home is the number of African deaths attributed to Rhinoceros each year and we'll be sure to figure out in which areas of Africa we should be most careful should we ever go.  Of course, we already got a taste of tribal costuming and music while we ate lunch and experienced the native language when we talked with the African man hand carving walking sticks under the baobab tree.

 Like Busch Gardens, Disney's Animal Kingdom is passionate about education.  At Rafiki's Planet watch there are plenty of opportunities to observe and interact with animals, trainers, scientists and doctors.  Again, who knows what passions are locked up in your child's heart.   Of course, all of these are opportunities to marvel at the diversity of God's creation.  Up close and personal.

Marine science?  The Florida Aquarium has homeschool classes.  They even offer dissection classes for older students so you don't have to store fetal sharks and sea stars in the home fridge.  Sea World has some great learning opportunities too, as does this aquarium at EPCOT.  Because of homeschooling, we're able to go on really slow days, like Tuesdays in September.  The staff are very available and willing to impart knowledge to eager little kids.  Another experience is Nature's Academy where you are able to go on kayak adventure tours with marine biologists.  Some of these trips include snorkling in grass beds, nature hikes and dissections.

  Not only are they learning....they really are socializing. 

Geography....no problem.  EPCOT!

China Coke is not bad.  Costa Rica's too sweet.  Israel Coke is nasty. 

What a wonderful way to spark curiosity about the rest of the world through sampling food, dress, language, culture, architecture, art,  music and live performances. 

Mexico, China, Japan, Italy, Norway (our heritage), England, Morocco, Germany, France, Canada

Good times.

                           Warning:  Studying other countries may lead to the need to costume.
  

We live in a farming community and have the opportunity to visit various farms and observe operations. 
Since I'm a tragic gardener myself, this provides my kids an opportunity to do the hard work of harvesting a crop and preparing and canning the product for storage.  Strawberry jam is more appreciated when you've labored yourself.  And my kids can certainly appreciate that if they relied on Mom's gardening skills, starvation would be a real possiblity.  We're grateful for the farmers.

EPCOT has wonderful interactive experiences to educate little ones and their parents on the latest developments in hydroponics and other alternative/eco friendly/organic farming. 
Interactive.  Hands on.

  

Interactive street performers in fake EPCOT England.  We used our map skills to find it.

Auto Mechanics?

It's a true statement that we're blessed to be able to avail ourselves of some of these opportunities.  But please don't be discouraged if your current budget does not permit some of these choices.  There are plenty of opportunities to explore nature particularly through parks, camping, fishing and the like.  Public libraries and county extension offices are a good source of free learning adventures.  My daughter was blessed to spend a few hours a week with a neighbor learning to sew.  Make the decision to be resourceful.  You can always find or make your own opportunities if you decide to.

There's a whole big world out there, and we're in it.  We're exploring, asking questions, participating.  If we want to learn more, we get a book or go on the internet or find an expert in the field.  The kids do it without resistance because they want the information, their interest has been piqued.   Learning is fun and an adventure. 

 Exposure breeds curiosity.  Curiosity produces an environment conducive to learning without resistance.  

                                                   It's true, sometimes it looks like this:

               And sure, we do math and language arts stuff too....but it mostly looks something like this.

                                           

                                          She probably forgot about her IKEA desk.

And not for nothing, after little people experience Jedi training at Disney's Hollywood Studios, it's really not too hard to get a kid to do Jedi phonics with a Yoda pen.