Homeschooling when the weather turns nice

Homeschooling when the weather turns nice is not all that easy. I am certainly not as interested in doing our homeschool when it's so beautiful outside. I want to get out and tend the garden, clean up the animals from the long, cold winter. I want to clean up the yard and explore.

My children are certainly more interested in their sports and being outside. So we get up a little earlier and get our work done faster, so we can get outside sooner. As long as their getting their work done it doesn't matter how short of a time it takes. Most homeschooling days with one child takes about 2 hours. I have 2 main homeschoolers so it takes us about 4 hours. Although somedays do take longer.

We are Sonlight curriculum homeschoolers. And Sonlight has the option for a 4 or 5-day schedule. We opt for the 4day schedule. The literature is not all that easy for us to keep up with and yet we love it. So we take that 5th day for catch up or a day off depending on how much we get done otherwise. I love homeschooling. If we can't finish something due to sickness or unforeseen circumstances (like having a baby), then we have the entire summer to finish that subject or project or book. In public schools they are penalized for poor attendance. Not in homeschooling.

We have to answer to the school system here in PA, but as far as their requirements we exceed them. Just because we do not finish a book, project or something doesn't mean we didn't school our children right.

My children get a richer schooling experience than some public school children because they get to experience in the context of life rather than being told they'll use it... one day.

Spring flings out of cabin fever

It's getting warm outside. The sun is shining more, the birds are singing, the flowers are coming up out of the ground. Time to take your homeschooler out for walks. Time to nature walk. Get a bird book. Each state has one. Barnes and Nobles has them. Not real cheap though. Usually you can find one cheaper through the Amazon link on Applemama. Get a book to help you identify flowers too. Lots of homeschool science curriculums have that included in your studies. In Sonlight Curriculum 3rd grade Science has them learning all about plants and animals. Great stuff.

I've been so ready for this nicer weather. Here in PA we've had a pretty bad winter. Although not as bad as others I've heard. We acquired another rabbit and duck today. Owning animals is a great opportunity to build your child's character in so many ways. They learn to care about another life other than their own and also learn to manage responsibilities.

Feel blessed and free that you have the right to homeschool. Germany and Sweden are fighting for their rights. They are being imprisoned for do so. We may have to answer to the public school system, we may have the ability to just write a letter of our intention to homeschool under religious exemption, but either way, we have the freedom to do so. There are no laws that say we cannot homeschool our children. I know Virginia is reviewing their laws of religious exemption. Pennsylvania is deliberating their laws on the same, but nothing is iron-clad that we can't claim it.

Call it a blessing to be able to homeschool. Our children are our legacies and we must do our best by them. If the public school system is not meeting the needs of your child then you have that option to homeschool. I know quite a few people who have wonderfully intelligent children who just aren't learning to their full potential in the public school. The public schools can only do but so much with the multiple learning styles they have in children. And not every teacher can cater to every learning style. A teacher is as good as their imagination. And who knows your child better than you do?