Homeschool: How and Why We Started...Part II

It's now August, 2019 and we're as excited as ever! Let's All Get R.E.A.D.I.N.G was ready! Back to school shopping, in the most budget-friendly way, was done! Lesson plans were made and ready to execute. Our learning area(s) secured: Any- and everywhere!

I quickly learned that my children thrived most through field experiences, known as field trips in the traditional school setting, and hands-on learning. So we did just that. We started with weekly themes to keep us focused (well me), and to give us a topic to explore for the week. I had, and have, goals to "world school" my kids. Learning through activities and adventures is exactly how I knew we'd learn best. Check out our digital 2019 HS journey on Facebook @#HomeschoolersRock and #LetsAllGetREADING.

My favorite week, among many others, was #MuseumWeek. We visited a different museum in Atlanta each day, which included The Atlanta Cyclorama at the Atlanta History Center, the King Memorial, The Atlanta Children's Museum (with a special visit to Centennial Park), and Fern Bank from what I remember. Pick any month in the fall of 2019, and you would be able to visibly tell we were enjoying our newly found "way to learn".

I enjoy(ed) HS because not only do we learn our way, we have our own schedule, that I can flex around my tutoring schedule, and my kids with their learning interests. That includes what, when, and where. Although we started school when the county students did, we decided we would school outside of the public school calendar, so we continued our learning journeys even when school-school was out. Hooray, for a #EarlySchoolYear!

Now hop in our time capsule as we catapult through the holidays, and into the new year. "Happy New Year! Happy New Homeschool Year! It's [2020] going to be great, we said. We can't wait for more field trips, we said. All of the playdates and #ParkTours we'll go on will be epic, we said.....

"Please have a seat, stay safe, use wisdom, and quarantine." ~COVID-19

Quarantine crushed our spirits a bit.....ok, A LOT! Our new homeschool definitely took some getting used to as we adjusted with the rest of the world to keep learning while also staying safe. The abrupt stop to going....well, anywhere, was definitely a challenge. For a while, we had to get back to paper and pencil basics and forge through book work and worksheets, as the advice then was to stay indoors.

The inside couldn't contain us long as spring approached and warmer, sunnier days shone through our windows. I'd like to introduce you to #SunShineTime! Everyday at 2pm as weather permitted was dubbed for outside exercise and exploration. What a novel idea to get the students, and myself, out. of. this. house! We are blessed though. Because as the world came to grips with a new normal, and teachers, students, and parents began their "new" roles in education, we were finishing up our year.

Time hop from Spring 2020, through the start of another Homeschool year, and we're managing and making the best of our new learning situation like our peers. There are more resources-free ones are my favs!- than ever before because there are more families out there just like us! We really didn't know there were so many homeschool families until we started. But now, we really feel like a part of the community because there are more of you out there who are #JustLikeUs! We've changed our learning topics this year and have found interest in coding, gaming, science experiments, hikes, and cooking. We are still #TrainChasers, but that's an adventure story for another time.

Happy learning, guys! From all of us here, at Let's All Get R.E.A.D.I.N.G. Where we're always Ready to Engage in Activities Deemed to Inspire Natural Growth.

Did our story resonate with you? What is your story? Please share with us your homeschool 'why'. And while you're at it, share them on your favorite social media platform.