explains , “ Initially [ we homeschooled ] for the freedom to travel and we were only going to do it for a year ,” Linde recounts . “ But once we decided to ‘ do it ’, it morphed into many reasons .”
That reason is the ability not only to choose what their children learn but also when . There is no specific structure to the school day , so learning can happen anytime , anywhere .
The Morales ’ are a military family stationed in England and registered homeschoolers in Florida . Mom , Lynn , explains they use this to their advantage , visiting various historic sites like Stonehenge , the Tower of London and towns like York , which hosts historical remains from both the Romans and Vikings .
Morales also gives her children the opportunity to delve into their own unique interests . “ We recently took an educational trip to Malaga , Spain and let each child plan an excursion from the flat we rented ,” Morales shares . “ One child chose Flamenco dancing and going out for paella . Another chose the Picasso Museum , and another chose a fort built during Muslim reign of southern Spain and going to see the ruins of an ancient Roman Theater .”
Then , there ’ s Mandi Saunder , a homeschooling mom of two , who began the process of teaching her daughter at five so they could travel the states in an RV . “ We did it for three and a half years , and it was richly educational ,” says Saunder , who was also a homeschool student in her youth . “ We went to so many places ; from the Florida Keys to Toronto and from the tip of Long Island to San Diego .”
When traveling extensively , Saunder notes true friendships can be hard to manifest . But she wouldn ’ t change any of it . “[ My daughter ] graduated a year and a half early because of homeschooling ,” Saunder observers . “ I don ’ t believe we could have fit in as many experiences in as many places had we gone the traditional route .”
Misconceptions
A glaring myth is that homeschool children lack crucial social interactions with peers . But many homeschool parents opt for instruction pods ; a small , cultivated cohort of similar-aged children who follow the same lessons and agreed upon curriculum . This offers the children socialization and group environments while parents can rotate who instructs lessons . sessions for various age groups . If extracurricular activities are important to your family , homeschooled students are still welcome to participate in local school teams .
Resources and where to start
Seek educational resources locally . Many organizations , like Catty Shack Ranch and The Alligator Farm offer group discounts . Marineland offers unique themed educational days for students each month , while the St . Augustine Aquarium offers grade-level appropriate field trips . Nearby farms like Wesley Wells Farm and Amazing Grace Family Farms offer field trips and homeschool days to educate about agricultural practices .
If a homeschool environment could be ideal for your child ( ren ) and family , start with these county links to get the facts on how to begin the process and stay compliant with federal , state and local requirements .
Florida Home Education Contact for Flagler County
Legal Requirements & Homeschool Regulation Resources
🎓
🎓
* Home school does not account for / include virtual / remote learning students .
There are also numerous social media groups for ideas , insights and support . Groups often have regular meet ups or excursions to ensure children are engaging with peers and learning interpersonal skills essential for life . Libraries host workshops and story
FEBRUARY 2022 | 19