How to Home School While Traveling December 05 2011, 0 Comments
When I first told my family and friends that my husband and I were packing up and taking our sons around the world with us, they thought we were crazy. A few years and a crash course in home schooling later and we know it’s one of the best things we’ve ever done. Here are some of the things that kept us on track along the way.
You’re Not Alone
You might sometimes feel as though you’re alone in the crazy world of home schooling on the road, but you’re not. Next time you get a wobble when booking flights to Thailand for you and your kids or wonder whether you should think twice about your trip to Amsterdam, remember there are other people in the same boat, and check out blogs like Raising Miro or The Little Travelers for inspiration.
Keeping to a Schedule
I think my single biggest piece of advice to anyone thinking about home schooling on the go is to create a schedule. You’ve no idea how easy it is to lose whole days, weeks and even months until you’ve been on the road a while. Keep yourself on track by setting out a manageable schedule for you and your children, and make a series of deadlines and goals for you both to follow – wherever you are.
Think About Time
One of the great things about taking education into your own hands is the fact that you can be more flexible about the amount of time you spend studying each day. One-on-one attention can make it far easier for you to cover ground more quickly than you would in the classroom, so you can relax a little when it comes to putting aside time per day. But don’t forget that while your little ones will be learning as they go, you’ll need to make sure they also understand the importance of discipline.
Using Lesson Plans
Lesson plans saved my life when we first started on our adventure. Without them, I don’t know if I would have had the confidence to get the boys really engaging with my early lessons. By following a plan I always knew what was coming next, and that gave me faith to keep going and get them involved in even the subjects none of us were keen on. You’ll find plenty of example lesson plans online, and after a while, you’re sure to end up able to write them yourself – I’m sure I could knock a few up in my sleep these days.
Finding a Quiet Space
This has always been the biggest challenge for us – finding somewhere suitable for lessons. Overall, I’ve found that when we’re staying in hotels or renting a holiday home, we’re best working there first thing in the morning, before the rest of the world really gets going. Now the boys are a little older, and quieter, I also try and find the local libraries as soon as we hit a new town.
About the Author: James writes for cheap flights comparison site, Skyscanner.net
