FloridaLisa Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 This month, I graduate our 5th child who's homeschooled all the way through high school. And I couldn't be more excited about focusing on my two youngers. On NOT having the deadlines and testing and locked-in schedules of a high schooler. Next year, I'll have a 5th grader (who needs lots of elbow-to-elbow schooling but likes being a student) and a 7th grader (who loves all things outdoors & science, who's curious, intuitive with math and needs some challenge). I feel like this might be our one free year. What would you do? What have you done? Put together a science club? Travel your state? Set up lots of free reading and exploration? We're not in a co-op. We'll probably outsource math & science for my 7th grader b/c he needs the challenge. But I'm still pondering. I don't have TONS of time b/c I write and work at home. It's flexible however, so I can shift when I work or take whole days off. P.S. Just have to add this...nearly 6 years ago, my husband died suddenly and our life collapsed. One of the side effects of grief is losing your interests and I lost all interest in homeschooling -- for a long time it was just get r done. Didn't even know if we'd be able to keep homeschooling. It feels so good to plan and dream and research like the old days. Just had to share. <3 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 What about focusing on their interests? Hiking, geocaching, nature study, sketching, fairy tale study, etc. Do they want to travel? Build a tree house? Take singing lessons? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaLisa Posted May 26, 2017 Author Share Posted May 26, 2017 (edited) What about focusing on their interests? Hiking, geocaching, nature study, sketching, fairy tale study, etc. Do they want to travel? Build a tree house? Take singing lessons? Well, their mom wants to travel. ;) But yes, I'll be focusing more on them now that we don't have the heavier academics and tied-down schedule of high school. Wondering if there are any awesome hands-on studies or projects or curricula that would be great for late elementary/middle school. Edited May 26, 2017 by FloridaLisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 We really liked the Ellen McHenry science modules. Homeschool in the Woods has some neat hands on history modules for those grades that I always wanted to try but never got to. You could do the US history ones and visit relevant areas in your state. Guesthollow has some nice plans and guides for history and science, too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 (edited) Ooo, I'm so happy for you that your vavoom is coming back!! That's awesome!! I've sort of lost it dealing with the emotional challenges of ds' autism, so I get what you mean. It takes time to come to the other side and be excited about school again. You know, I think I would just start with *1* thing that really interests you. Like really you just need one or two things. My dd is very ADHD, and at that age it was all about the hands-on. Like we'd get cookbooks to work through, napkin folding books, quilting books, stuff you could DO. So hmm, 5th and 7th grade. Would they like to work on cooking? You could make a family recipe book, learn all your favorite holiday recipes, work through skills. My dd used Anyone Can Cook DVD Edition: Step-by-Step Recipes Just for You (Better Homes and Gardens Cooking): Better Homes and Gardens: 9780470500675: Amazon.com: Books and LOVED it. Your kids could take turns. Then once a week they could cook travel meals to go with a country you're studying. Amazon.com: Art Wolfe's Travels To The Edge: Art Wolfe, -: Movies & TV We really enjoyed this series on travel. You could then chain that to photography, of course. :D Could be iphoneography, dSLR, whatever. Even my ds8 is surprisingly good with photography. Then they could take their photographs and make videos using software, adding music, etc. Then they could take pictures of their food and learn to blog. This could really get ridiculous. :) Like the travel your state idea, btw! Someone once pointed out to me that the number of state parks in our state is equal to the weeks in a year or something. Like you could chart it out, but it might be quantifiable like that. Sometimes there are interesting tucks like that that you never really end up in unless you make the effort. I find state parks are so restorative. If your state has cultural districts (German Village, Little Italy, whatever), you could eat dinner in one each week to go with the country you're study. If you have to drive to a city for it, you could hit some cool stops in the city. They could plan it out. :D Another direction would be the arts, like find all the arts events in your state and go to performances (lite opera, symphony, Shakespeare, etc.). During the week you'd read summaries of the stories and prepare. But me, I think I'm all about the food. Maybe save opera for another summer, hehe. The Fiery book of opera stories is terrific. My dd enjoyed it around the age of your older. I'm getting ready to start a younger version by Bulla with my ds now. It wouldn't be too young for a 5th grader. SaveSave SaveSave Edited May 26, 2017 by OhElizabeth 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie of KY Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 I'd make sure math gets done, but everything else can be taught loosely for a year (not forever). Personally, I'd pick some great books and snuggle on the couch for read-alouds. I'd go on family field trips. I'd play board games. I'd also do directed learning. As far as school book-work, I'd have a pile of subjects. I'd simply assign whatever is next and not worry too much about a day to day schedule. If you want to spend all day doing science experiments, go for it. If you want to pick up and go hiking for the day - go. Focus on relationships and learning through whatever you choose to do. I may sound too unstructured and I don't really mean ignore teaching, but I'd put the focus on the family and teach along the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaLisa Posted May 26, 2017 Author Share Posted May 26, 2017 We really liked the Ellen McHenry science modules. Homeschool in the Woods has some neat hands on history modules for those grades that I always wanted to try but never got to. You could do the US history ones and visit relevant areas in your state. Guesthollow has some nice plans and guides for history and science, too. Great reminder, Aurelia, to look at Ellen McHenry. I've bounced on and off her site for a while. This might even be good for summer science! Ooo, I'm so happy for you that your vavoom is coming back!! That's awesome!! I've sort of lost it dealing with the emotional challenges of ds' autism, so I get what you mean. It takes time to come to the other side and be excited about school again. I love how you put it, OhElizabeth! Yes, it feels good to feel good. They would both actually LOVE the cooking theme and if we're ever going to really get to some of the neat parts of our state, this is the year. I think that might go to the top of the heap. Thanks for dreaming with me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaLisa Posted May 26, 2017 Author Share Posted May 26, 2017 I'd make sure math gets done, but everything else can be taught loosely for a year (not forever). Personally, I'd pick some great books and snuggle on the couch for read-alouds. I'd go on family field trips. I'd play board games. I'd also do directed learning. As far as school book-work, I'd have a pile of subjects. I'd simply assign whatever is next and not worry too much about a day to day schedule. If you want to spend all day doing science experiments, go for it. If you want to pick up and go hiking for the day - go. Focus on relationships and learning through whatever you choose to do. I may sound too unstructured and I don't really mean ignore teaching, but I'd put the focus on the family and teach along the way. I wholeheartedly love your first sentence. I'm definitely a math every day girl but I would like to just b r e a t h e a little this year and enjoy the freedom and delight-directed learning homeschooling allows. It's a balance, I need for them to have some structure so I can get my work done but I also want them to explore/create/discover while they've still got a bit of kid in them and college apps aren't looming. Thanks, Julie. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 I totally forgot you're in Florida! Ecotourism stuff would be cool... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyforlatin Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 We started running, walking or playing frisbee twice a day. It was my one goal for middle school, just taking a break throughout the day to go out and exercise. After my surgery last year I really wanted to make a change and get in more exercise for myself and for DD. She was already swimming daily, but there's something about going to the park every day and seeing the changes and noticing the details. And just walking and running with a Nike app to let me see how much we accomplish each day. And whenever we see something in the park that I can't answer, I have her google it later; so bam, nature study. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2_girls_mommy Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 My 7th grader absolutely loved her Thinking Tree journal for delight directed learning this year. It guided her through how to work through her chosen topics. We only used it for part of each day, doing my curriculum the rest of the day, but she loved that part of the day. And this month since she has finished up most of her have to stuff, she is using her journal full time as her school. She put together her own topics to study from a stack of books I brought home from the thrift store and what was on our shelf. I love your idea of traveling more. I would do state parks and camping and nature reserves and days at museums as much as possible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaLisa Posted July 10, 2017 Author Share Posted July 10, 2017 We started running, walking or playing frisbee twice a day. It was my one goal for middle school, just taking a break throughout the day to go out and exercise. After my surgery last year I really wanted to make a change and get in more exercise for myself and for DD. She was already swimming daily, but there's something about going to the park every day and seeing the changes and noticing the details. And just walking and running with a Nike app to let me see how much we accomplish each day. And whenever we see something in the park that I can't answer, I have her google it later; so bam, nature study. I'm just getting back to this thread! Thank you for weighing in. Yes, part of what I want for this coming up year is margin in our days to get outside and walk to the little country store or run/bike through the park because those kinds of moments just aren't there for us in high school. My 7th grader absolutely loved her Thinking Tree journal for delight directed learning this year. It guided her through how to work through her chosen topics. We only used it for part of each day, doing my curriculum the rest of the day, but she loved that part of the day. And this month since she has finished up most of her have to stuff, she is using her journal full time as her school. She put together her own topics to study from a stack of books I brought home from the thrift store and what was on our shelf. I love your idea of traveling more. I would do state parks and camping and nature reserves and days at museums as much as possible. Travel is definitely going at the top of the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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