Comments on: Getting Started With Home Schooling For Location Independent Teenagers http://www.locationindependentparents.com/2010/getting-started-with-home-schooling-for-location-independent-teenagers/ Live & Work Anywhere...Even With Kids Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Eva Gill http://www.locationindependentparents.com/2010/getting-started-with-home-schooling-for-location-independent-teenagers/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Eva Gill Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:21:38 +0000 http://www.locationindependentparents.com/?p=261#comment-104 Thanks, Carmen and Mike for your thoughts. It sounds like an amazing experience with your family, Carmen. It has been really cool for me to connect and learn from others who are wandering. I'm not sure whether we will be in one place long enough to make it worthwhile to enroll in school while we are underway, typically our longest stops will be two or maybe three months. It would be a great way for the kids to connect with others their age, if nothing else. Your idea of taking just a couple of classes locally might be a good alternative. For us, we are planning to return to public school when we get home, which is why the accredited curriculum is such a big deal. The Waldorf system puts a lot more trust in parents (and the kids.) Perhaps rightfully so, because all of the families involved are making very active choices for their children's learning, which may not be so true of public schools. Although all of the teachers and administrators from the public school system in our area are supportive and excited for us, they don't have any flexibility. As much as I personally love the "unschooling" idea personally, it poses the risk that the girls, especially our high schooler, would have to repeat some classes or a whole grade when we get home. This would break one of the key promises I made to her when we started planning this adventure. Thanks, Carmen and Mike for your thoughts.

It sounds like an amazing experience with your family, Carmen. It has been really cool for me to connect and learn from others who are wandering.

I’m not sure whether we will be in one place long enough to make it worthwhile to enroll in school while we are underway, typically our longest stops will be two or maybe three months. It would be a great way for the kids to connect with others their age, if nothing else. Your idea of taking just a couple of classes locally might be a good alternative.

For us, we are planning to return to public school when we get home, which is why the accredited curriculum is such a big deal. The Waldorf system puts a lot more trust in parents (and the kids.) Perhaps rightfully so, because all of the families involved are making very active choices for their children’s learning, which may not be so true of public schools.

Although all of the teachers and administrators from the public school system in our area are supportive and excited for us, they don’t have any flexibility. As much as I personally love the “unschooling” idea personally, it poses the risk that the girls, especially our high schooler, would have to repeat some classes or a whole grade when we get home. This would break one of the key promises I made to her when we started planning this adventure.

]]> By: Mike Peach http://www.locationindependentparents.com/2010/getting-started-with-home-schooling-for-location-independent-teenagers/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Mike Peach Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:16:41 +0000 http://www.locationindependentparents.com/?p=261#comment-96 Alternatively you could set your children free and let them learn autonomously without the need for the strictures of curriculum based learning. unschooling.com would be a good place to start or just google 'unschooling' or 'autonomous education'. Breadcrumbs scattered. :) Alternatively you could set your children free and let them learn autonomously without the need for the strictures of curriculum based learning.

unschooling.com would be a good place to start or just google ‘unschooling’ or ‘autonomous education’.

Breadcrumbs scattered. :)

]]> By: Carmen http://www.locationindependentparents.com/2010/getting-started-with-home-schooling-for-location-independent-teenagers/comment-page-1/#comment-95 Carmen Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:45:39 +0000 http://www.locationindependentparents.com/?p=261#comment-95 I'm currently on the road for a year with my two teens and 9 year old. At home we are in a Waldorf/Steiner school. We started by speaking with the school about our plans, seeing what they might miss and what they might need to make up. Luckily, my girls have been very good students every year. If they had been struggling I think I may have gotten more resistance from the school about leaving. Instead, we got a high five and assurance that their places should be available on our return. Our first semester we chose to use another Waldorf school in Brazil. I felt this was the best choice for them to be able to learn Portuguese and experience Brazilian teen life. That turned out to be true. However, academically, the school day was a pretty big waste of time for them. Still, I think it was worthwhile in these other aspects. This semester we are in Oaxaca and my teens are homeschooling. We have chosen an online literature course through the University of Missouri classes for homeschoolers. It is designed for talented highschoolers who are ready for university level. Because the math at our regular school is very advanced we chose to travel with texts from home and a plan from their teacher there. They have mapped out what they need to accomplish before our return. Here in Oaxaca they have signed up for portrait drawing, mexican cooking and will likely add Spanish and a dance class later in the spring. They are also volunteering at a local place to work with children of the poor. I can't say how pleased I am with how things are coming together for them. Their time is spent doing what they are truly interested in. The work is challenging but they are really enjoying it. I guess the message from me is - go for it! Be creative and put together something that will really reflect your teen's interests and fuel their love of learning! I’m currently on the road for a year with my two teens and 9 year old. At home we are in a Waldorf/Steiner school. We started by speaking with the school about our plans, seeing what they might miss and what they might need to make up. Luckily, my girls have been very good students every year. If they had been struggling I think I may have gotten more resistance from the school about leaving. Instead, we got a high five and assurance that their places should be available on our return. Our first semester we chose to use another Waldorf school in Brazil. I felt this was the best choice for them to be able to learn Portuguese and experience Brazilian teen life. That turned out to be true. However, academically, the school day was a pretty big waste of time for them. Still, I think it was worthwhile in these other aspects. This semester we are in Oaxaca and my teens are homeschooling. We have chosen an online literature course through the University of Missouri classes for homeschoolers. It is designed for talented highschoolers who are ready for university level. Because the math at our regular school is very advanced we chose to travel with texts from home and a plan from their teacher there. They have mapped out what they need to accomplish before our return. Here in Oaxaca they have signed up for portrait drawing, mexican cooking and will likely add Spanish and a dance class later in the spring. They are also volunteering at a local place to work with children of the poor. I can’t say how pleased I am with how things are coming together for them. Their time is spent doing what they are truly interested in. The work is challenging but they are really enjoying it. I guess the message from me is – go for it! Be creative and put together something that will really reflect your teen’s interests and fuel their love of learning!

]]> By: RTW Countdown: The Business of the Road « Gill Adventures Blog http://www.locationindependentparents.com/2010/getting-started-with-home-schooling-for-location-independent-teenagers/comment-page-1/#comment-94 RTW Countdown: The Business of the Road « Gill Adventures Blog Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:13:43 +0000 http://www.locationindependentparents.com/?p=261#comment-94 [...] it has provided connections that are very helpful. I was recently asked to write guest posts for Location Independent Parents about looking for online school options, and a Valentine’s Day piece for One Travel. I was invited to become a featured blogger on [...] [...] it has provided connections that are very helpful. I was recently asked to write guest posts for Location Independent Parents about looking for online school options, and a Valentine’s Day piece for One Travel. I was invited to become a featured blogger on [...]

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