In mid-September, we started homeschooling again after a short summer break. This past year of "roadschooling" ...traveling from Florida to Maine and being able to experience so much U.S. History with our boys...it truly has been an amazing opportunity and blessing!
This year we have one FIFTH grader...wow...time flies!
one fourth grader...
one kindergartner...
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| (Caleb had fun learning to spell with Cheez-its!) |
...and our youngest is in preschool!
For several years we have enjoyed using My Father's World curriculum. It really has worked well with our four boys. This year, we are studying Rome to the Reformation. On the first day of school I came out wearing a toga, and well...you can see in the photo below the boys had mixed reactions! Ha!
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| One rainy afternoon, the older boys made an arch with pudding and cereal boxes! |
Some of you might be wondering...what is it like to homeschool four young boys in an RV? (You can read my previous posts on "roadschooling" by visiting the right side of the blog under the "Labels" section and just click on the "Homeschooling/Field Trips" posts. ) There are some days that homeschooling in an RV can feel cramped and there is not enough room for everyone to use the table or spread out (OK-that is honestly EVERY day!). So- on the days when we just need to spread out (or when I am about to pull all of my hair out!!) we take a field trip and visit the local public library. The only down side of traveling full-time is that we cannot check out books at the library because we are not local residents. So- when we do visit a public library, we usually spend a few hours there while the boys read books during our visit.
Most school days, the boys are divided into two groups. The older boys do school at the table while the younger two play in the back room in the RV or do some activity on the couch. Then, part of the time when I am teaching the younger two boys, the older boys go back to their beds to read.
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| Making clay tablets |
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Learning shapes and colors |
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| Caleb's Creation Book |
We often do some subjects, like science projects, together as a family. This fall, we have been studying the human body and one day we put together a human "cell" made with jello...
The fun part was putting the gummy worm, peas, beans and a grape in the gooey jello to make the different parts of a cell...
The past week we have been studying all about bones. When I realized this lesson involved going to a butcher to get some raw animal bones, and then cutting them open...well...I decided this would be a GREAT science project for Alan to take over and teach the boys! (I get queasy at the thought of it! Just...eewwww!!!)
Sometimes we all do a craft together, which can be challenging with four different ages!
We have also made raisins from grapes...
This was a learning experience! The book made it sound like it would take just a few days in the sun for grapes to turn into raisins. Our grapes must have been really big, because it took about 2 weeks for them to shrivel up!!!
Then, there are days when I surprise the boys with something crazy fun...like writing our spelling words in shaving cream!!!
Yes- many of our days homeschooling in an RV can be really challenging, cramped and CRAZY!! But- when I really stop and think about my life, I am truly grateful for this past year on the road as a family. Life has not been perfect, and there have been lots of opportunities for each of us (especially me) to learn & grow in the areas of patience, grace, and gratefulness! During this season of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my many blessings...family, friends, good health, a warm bed, electricity, running water, and the list goes on and on...
May you and yours have a very blessed Thanksgiving!
Jill and the boys:)
