Life Learning Lab - Transition to Homeschooling

I've been asked several times over the past month, "So how is homeschooling going?" Moving out of our house of nine years, arriving in a foreign country, and starting homeschooling for the first time two days later, would probably not make it onto any "Recommendations for New Homeschooling Families" lists. However, there we were, with a math and reading curriculum, a few art supplies and spiral notebooks and lots of hours in the day. The first few weeks were definitely a jolt for all us. The kids were used to long, summer days in Michigan with little required of them and I was used to well...nothing here. Everything was a new routine to discover, even down to where the silverware is kept and how to drive on the roads. Why not just throw homeschooling into the mix too, right?

As a family who has a natural curiosity about life and learning, parts of the transition were natural. We already read, learn and do projects together. However, because I love to take advantage of "learning opportunities" I find it hard to know sometimes when to call the school day over and actually how to even define what is "school". There is so much to glean and so much potential in each day, that sometimes I struggle with whether I should be doing more to prepare or enhance their learning.

Honestly, I didn't have time to do a lot of research on best homeschooling techniques, but what I did read and from my education background I knew it was valuable to keep our goals in mind as we approach this year. Here are some of mine:

• Bond deeply as a family through shared experience
• Appreciate and learn from a new culture
• Learn about and from our surroundings
• Exposure to Spanish
• Spend time learning and discussing God's word
• Modeling for our children a growing, dependent relationship with Christ
• Learn and use technology
• Foster creativity and critical thinking
• Spend time regularly reading and writing
• Nurture a family culture of gratitude and of trying new and possibly uncomfortable things

It is perhaps important to mention some of the things that are not on this list:

• That we follow all the grade level Common Core standards
• That we cover all the subjects every day
• That they have regular, peer playtime
• That they participate in formal extracurricular activities like organized sports or music lessons
• That each day will be filled with well thought out, hands on learning experiences
• Spanish fluency

I find identifying some of my limitations helps me to keep my eyes focused on the goals we have determined for this year instead of feeling guilty about all the things we aren't doing.

Our days are filled with some routine: spelling, handwriting and grammar practice, Bible verse memorization and devotionals, writing, and sometimes math. We read aloud together every day and they read on their own as well. However, some days we have lessons related to this incredible giant ecology-lab we are living in. We'd love to share some of our favorite lessons with you along the way!