Our Favorite Homeschooling Memories

 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.

We raised and released butterflies for several years in a row

My boys took a free computer coding class

Evan I learned how to make our our pizzas and cook them in a cobb oven


We participated in many science and history fairs with our homeschooling group

Enjoyed several homeschool days at Quassy Amusement park

Went to the Hartford science museum

A trip to the art museum

Our day learning about the Salem Witch Trials in Salem, Mass. 

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!

A "free" day at 6 Flags with their Read to Succeed program

 
Learning to navigate like the sailors at the Mystic Seaport

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!

Building with Keva blocks on one of our many trips to the Ecotarium

Learning about African drumming on one of our many trips to Southwick's zoo

The boys met one of their best friends through these classes at the Providence Children's Museum

That same friend mentioned above set up a Google Earth college level class for us all to take!

One of our favorite days ever was the day we spent on an ocean research vessel with two of our favorite families. We had so much fun and learned SO much!

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). 

Built and ate our own cell models

We built bridges out of spaghetti

We tie dyed our own shirts for three summers in a row (even learned to tie dye using ICE!)

Built our own model of DNA strands

We had so much fun with water balloon art, pour painting, & Splatter painting

We often spent days learning right alongside all our friends and even some of our family members too!

Trip to the Submarine museum with family and friends

Exploring Battleship Cove with friends

Playing with the otters at the Ecotarium was always fun!

Checking out the butterfly gardens with our friends

Touring the Alpaca farm and learning about weaving

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.  

Day trip to Block Island


I hope you'll join us!  Here is our listing of topics for the year:


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Comments

  1. 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

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    1. We 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.

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  2. You have had such an amazing homeschooling journey!! SO much fun and learning.

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    1. We really have! I had no idea what it was going to be like when we first started.

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  3. What 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.

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    1. My 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!

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  4. Your home schooling year was filled with fun learning! #MMBC

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    1. I tried to make the most of every day we had together.

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  5. You 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.

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    1. It 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.

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  6. You surely made so many priceless memories over the years with your boys! Love these pictures!

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  7. I marvel at people that can do homeschooling, what an opportunity for everyone. So many great learning opportunities.

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  8. Love your take on this! You make homeschooling look fun.

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  9. I 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.

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    1. I loved that we could really tailor their learning to their interests (and mine!).

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  10. It looks like you have had a fantastic time home schooling. What wonderful memories you have made. x

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    1. We sure have! I can't believe I only have a couple of year left at most.

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  11. I love that you make homeschooling so fun

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    1. I think the fun goes hand in hand with the remembering... boring lessons tend to go in one ear and out the other.

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  12. Y'all have done so many fun things over the years! I agree with the ladies above... you make homeschool so fun!

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  13. So many great memories of fun and interesting learning! The former teacher in me is loving all the field trips and hands-on learning here.

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  14. So 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.

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  15. Teacher 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

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    1. We 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!

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  16. You 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!

    Shelbee
    www.shelbeeontheedge.com

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    1. Thank you! It has been quite a journey that's for sure.

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