This month's Not Just a Mom link up is all about our favorite family memories. When I think of family memories I immediately think of all our family vacations (which I've already written about here & here). My husband works A LOT and family vacation are just about the only way we all get to spend time together.
However, since I always seem to be talking about our family vacations on the blog, I thought today I'd do something just a bit different. With Ian heading into his senior year of homeschooling and Alec attending high school our homeschooling years are definitely coming to an end.
I thought it would be a lot of fun to look back at some of our favorite Homeschooling Memories!
When my boys were younger it seemed like everyday was a field trip! We checked out so many museums, zoos, aquariums, parks, etc. and enjoyed lots and lots of beach days, hiking with friends, and all sorts of assorted day trips that our lives often felt like one long summer vacation with just a bit of bookwork thrown in here and there.
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| We raised and released butterflies for several years in a row |
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| My boys took a free computer coding class |
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| Evan I learned how to make our our pizzas and cook them in a cobb oven |
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| We participated in many science and history fairs with our homeschooling group |
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| Enjoyed several homeschool days at Quassy Amusement park |
Through homeschooling we got to try so many new things-- trampoline lessons, indoor rock climbing, nature classes, glass fusion, college classes, and more. Many of which were planned by other homeschooling families and were offered to us at steep discounts or even for free!
Each year as I planned our curriculum and bought books I'd also buy us a family membership-- rotating where our memberships were to and using them to their fullest! Many of our local museums offered reciprocal admission to other places nearby that we also made sure to take advantage of. Which often meant that many of the museums began to feel like home! We made friends through classes that were offered-- some that exist still to this day!
We tried out so many wonderful art projects, hands-on science projects, building challenges, and STEAM activities that looking back I feel like we hardly ever did any schoolwork (though I know we did).
We often spent days learning right alongside all our friends and even some of our family members too!
Sure there were challenges along the way and times I truly felt like I was failing my boys. I spent nights awake worried that they'd never ever learn important concepts that just seemed to stump them but mostly when I look back I remember the joy and all the time we spent together laughing, playing, and making wonderful memories.
I never thought I would be homeschooling for the long haul but it became more than a way to teach my boys; it became a lifestyle that we all just fell in love with.
And I wouldn't change one single second of it for anything.
I hope you'll join us! Here is our listing of topics for the year:
Linking up with:
Spread the Kindness,
It does look like every day was a field trip! What fun you have had together. I loved taking my boys to museums when they were younger. The get big quickly. Enjoy it while it lasts! #MMBC
ReplyDeleteWe did got on lots and lots of field trips! They do get big quickly though. I just signed my oldest up for his first college class today.
DeleteYou have had such an amazing homeschooling journey!! SO much fun and learning.
ReplyDeleteWe really have! I had no idea what it was going to be like when we first started.
DeleteWhat wonderful memories you all have. My boys always wanted to be home schooled but the whole idea overwhelmed me. I'm in awe of you and what you have achieved.
ReplyDeleteMy oldest asked me for a few years before I finally gave in and gave it a try; and honestly I'm not sure I would have if my sister hadn't already been homeschooling for a few years!
DeleteYour home schooling year was filled with fun learning! #MMBC
ReplyDeleteI tried to make the most of every day we had together.
DeleteYou make homeschooling look like so much fun and an adventure. I know there must have been stress and worries and questions but it's so amazing to see the bigger journey in this post.
ReplyDeleteIt is so much fun and definitely an adventure. There were absolutely times of stress and worries and questions but it was definitely worth it in the end.
DeleteYou surely made so many priceless memories over the years with your boys! Love these pictures!
ReplyDeleteWe sure did!
DeleteI marvel at people that can do homeschooling, what an opportunity for everyone. So many great learning opportunities.
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you!
DeleteLove your take on this! You make homeschooling look fun.
ReplyDeleteIt is a lot of fun!
DeleteI love how diverse homeschooling is - so many great opportunities for kids to learn in their own unique ways. Those science projects looked particularly interesting - plus all the excursions.
ReplyDeleteI loved that we could really tailor their learning to their interests (and mine!).
DeleteIt looks like you have had a fantastic time home schooling. What wonderful memories you have made. x
ReplyDeleteWe sure have! I can't believe I only have a couple of year left at most.
DeleteI love that you make homeschooling so fun
ReplyDeleteI think the fun goes hand in hand with the remembering... boring lessons tend to go in one ear and out the other.
DeleteY'all have done so many fun things over the years! I agree with the ladies above... you make homeschool so fun!
ReplyDeleteWe sure have! It has been so much fun.
DeleteSo many great memories of fun and interesting learning! The former teacher in me is loving all the field trips and hands-on learning here.
ReplyDeleteYou just can't beat hands- on learning!
DeleteSo many awesome experiences all in one post! I love the idea of rotating/changing up memberships. While not exactly the same, the year at home for virtual learning, I tried to embrace being at home with them and incorporating projects and things outside as much as possible. You've provided such amazing experiences for your boys.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteTeacher and School Principal Me is very interested in how this all came to be. Home schooling is not an unknown at all here in Australia but there are hoops of bureaucracy to go through to ensure the children are following programs of work commensurate with national curricula etc. There are even visits from time to time by the Board of Studies (old name for it) in my state of NSW. However, I am aware of many reasons why families choose home schooling too. In my time as a school principal a Dad came to see if he could enrol his then Yr 5 son who had only ever been homeschooled and we said sure, and the enrolment started off as if he were brand new but of course, he did not go to Kindergarten. This boy loved it and was glad to have shifted to school and I was pleased he could make the choice. it IS essentially about that. Loved reading and viewing this. Thank you for linking up for Life This Week. Next week, the optional prompt is Interesting. My post will be a continuation of Telling My Story as I am wanting to wrap the series up. It's great to have your blogging support on my link up. Thank you. Denyse
ReplyDeleteWe live in a state that has virtually no homeschooling laws at all; the only thing I had to do was write a letter of withdrawal to their respective schools. It was daunting at first but I was a certified teacher myself so I was fairly confident I could do it... though I did have to change my mindset!
DeleteYou have done so many amazing things with your kids during this homeschool process! I really like the butterflies, the pizza oven, and the Salem Witch Trials outings! Thanks for sharing and linking with me, Joanne!
ReplyDeleteShelbee
www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Thank you! It has been quite a journey that's for sure.
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