This year we got a jump on our school year by being in early August. People were surprised and when they asked 'why' I told them that I like to give myself flexibility during the year.
This is how our year has gone so far....
August 1st - we had our first day. Most weeks after this we did 5 day weeks, but a few we only did 4.
In early September we did a field trip to Hawk Mountain with some friends from church. Near the end of September the kids were able to be a part of making a commercial for Cherry Crest Adventure Farm. Several of our kids participated in the Western equine events at the Lampeter Fair. The next week we went on a fall foliage trip to New England and ended up with so many educational opportunities...we studied the seashore during low tide along the Maine coast, toured a Maple syrup museum, traveled from Vermont to New York on a ferry, hiked in the Adirondacks and experienced Whiteface Mountain and ended the day at sunset on Lake Ontario. At the end of October we went to Florida for my Mother in Law's 90th birthday! We surprised her with us, a family dinner and a party with many, many old friends!
We also managed an evening with Grandpa and his telescope and spent the evening looking at Jupiter and the four Galilean Moons.
Believe it or not we have 71 days of school under our belts, and with the schedule I have planned for the rest of the year, we will hit day 100 of school on December 30th.
This has encouraged me to continue allowing for flexibility in our school year. Frankly we have needed it.
This is the blessing of home education. We can work hard and diligently and yet take advantage of opportunities to serve, travel, work, etc...this is like real life.
So how is your year going? What things have you struggled with? Any tips you'd like to share?
