Homeschooling Reconstruction

OK, I’m a woman so I reserve the right to change my mind. And so, I have changed my mind.

I began researching homeschooling options about three years ago. With a Masters Degree in education I figured I should be able to put together a curriculum for the Dudes. I figured wrong. I was totally overwhelmed by the amount of materials available and the cost of them for two kids. It took weeks to sort through and I was still barely scratching the surface. It was wonderful to see the amazing resources available but it was like taking the Lil’ Dude(who claims “his tongue is related to candy”) into a candy store and telling him to choose just one piece. So, I decided to put that project aside for another time.

Meanwhile, I met a woman traveling with her family for a year and she recommended the K12 program. It is a program sponsored by the state, the curriculum is already put together, the materials were free, there is a teacher assigned to you as a resource and they manage all of the records. It was the answer I was looking for to simplify the homeschooling preparations and implementation. So, for the past year I have assumed that this would be the path that we would take.

We recently applied and were accepted into the program. Since that time, we have learned that they will not ship materials outside of the State of South Carolina. We should be in Anchorage about the time the materials ship. The Dudes will also be required to fly back to the state twice next year for state testing. It cannot be done remotely from a testing center. And although the main claim of the program is that of flexibility, they will not allow the students to work ahead and require them to “post” a certain amount of work hours per day. All of a sudden, this is not the answer to our homeschooling needs.

My main goal for homeschooling this year is for the Dudes to maintain their grade levels. Period. I would like for most of the emphasis to be on “road schooling”. The “big trip” as the Dudes refer to it is really a big “field trip”. Spending hours upon hours everyday accomplishing a regimented list of tasks would defeat the opportunity that they have to learn from real world experiences. So, as my life usually evolves, we are on to plan “C”.

As recommended by another homeschooling parent, we will be joining a homeschooling association which requires a minimal amount of paperwork and follow curriculum guides that are available at the local bookseller to give us a framework to make sure the Dudes accomplish the material they need to maintain their grade levels. With those basics covered and no restrictions, I am all of a sudden very excited about the endless possibilities available for learning on the road. We can focus on bookwork on rainy days and long drives and put the books away when we find ourselves in amazing places with the opportunity for unique experiences. Just the thought of the freedom to discover as we go gets my creative juices flowing. It is also in keeping with our support of the Montessori philosophy which the Dudes have been involved since the beginning of their educational experience.

For the first time in the homeschooling process, it feels right. And, if at any point it begins to feel wrong, I reserve the right to change my mind.

“Do you know the difference between education and experience? Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don’t.” Pete Seeger