I may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. :) Click here to go to my disclosure policy.
Welcome to, what I think, is the last week of the Virtual Homeschool Fair hosted by Susan. Last week I spelled out the curriculum that we use. You may remember week one of Homeschool Reason: Bullies and More, and Week Two of Give Us... As I’ve finished this series I realize that I have forgotten two important parts of our schooling: Do it Differently Fridays, Cultural Events, Field Trips and the few odds and ends that pop up.
Do it Differently Fridays:
Fridays we drop everything we’ve been doing and do things differently. No Friday is ever the same. Sometimes the lad uses the day to get caught up if it’s a been a crazy week, but most of the time he works on a research project (for example Caribou, CN Tower) or a Tinker Crate (for example 3d Viewer, DaVinci’s Clock). Sometimes we’ll read tons of books as everyone needs a book reading day, or other times we’ll play around with our lego (Lego Pulleys and Castles). The point is to learn and think differently.
C0-op:
Coincidentally, Co-op Days always falls on Fridays. So six weeks every spring and fall co-op days happen. Days filled with art, phys ed, science, history and so much more. The lad almost always has a great time and the learning mostly goes smoothly. They also host other events such as Lego Nights, Teen Events, and Project Fairs.
Field Trips:
We haven’t done as many of these lately as I would have liked to have done, but sometimes life intervenes with overall plans. We still try to stay involved in learning about our world and the community, encouraging things like Culture, and Museum visits.
Critters:
We have a fair host of critters running around our place. They all provide ample opportunity to learn new skills like animal management, kindness and compassion, reading body behaviour, conduct research and so much more. Currently we have ants in our cold storage hibernating, a new cat learning to mind her manners, rabbits earning us dollars, a snake that entertains and more. Life is fun! 🙂
Art Lessons:
A former member of our co-op group regularly teaches art classes. WaterColours, Acrylics and more. It’s always fun and very interesting.
Outside of homeschooling my son picks up things like Karate classes, Archery and Cadets.
And in the midst of it all.. I find a lad playing minecraft and making games to share with friends. Time for snowball fights and sledding. Walks and theatre and times to read and relax. It’s a good life this homeschooling life don’t you think?
This is the final week of the 7th Virtual Homeschool Fair. Our topic is: Enriching Our Learning.
Note: All posts will be live after 8 am EST on Monday, Jan. 29th.
Celebrating 7 Years of Homeschool Support & Encouragement by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds
All of the Extras by Christy Schaefer @ Unexpected Homeschool
How To Explore Special Interests In Your Homeschool by Jeniffer @ Thou Shall Not Whine
Learning outside of the box by Dana @ Life Led Homeschool
Putting the Heart Back into our Homeschool by Brittney @ Mom’s Heart
Adding in the Fun by Michele @Family, Faith and Fridays
The Electives We Use in Our Homeschool by Amanda @ Hopkins Homeschool
The Fun Parts of Homeschooling by Annette @ A Net in Time
How we add in the fun stuff. by Kim @ Good Sweet Love
Running – for fitness & fun by Lizzy @ Peaches@Home
Adding in the Extras by Jen @ A Helping Hand Homeschool
What About the Fun Stuff? by Laura @ Four Little Penguins
And the Learning Goes On, And On, And On by Lori H @ At Home: where life happens
Let’s See What’s Out There! (Electives and Extras) by Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break
I found, that for us, setting aside one day a week for different learning opportunities didn’t work nearly as well for us as just trying to set one day a week aside for something fun. That way we didn’t feel we had to pass up a field trip or a day out with friends that might have landed on a day other than Friday (which was the day we tried to make Fun). But I do love having one day set aside for art, science, building/ tinkering, field trips, and all sorts of other fun stuff.
Oh I get that. 🙂 I find if I dont set it, it doesn’t happen. We still do field trips and what not, its just another day to learn differently.
I love the art lessons. Of course! And I love that you can take a whole day to just do fun things or catch up. I miss that level of flexibility in our homeschool, although we obviously still have plenty of wiggle room in our schedules!
Having flexibility is how we function best 🙂
Yes, it is a great life! Our co-op meets most of the traditional school year, but whenever we’re off for scheduled breaks, or even unexpected circumstances, we use that day as a Fun Day too. Then of course, sometimes I declare a Half Day or a Day Off just for a change of pace, and see where it takes us!
having a change of pace is an excellent thing to do isn’t it?
I loved learning about your family and what all you do. I keep Thursdays for us free as it is the only day of the week my husband is home and we do Field Trips on that day.Along with all the errands my husband and I need to get done for the week as it is also payday.
doesn’t matter what day of the week eh? What kind of field trips do you like to do?
I love the idea of one day of the week being totally different. Right now we don’t have much of a schedule (my littles only being 2 & 4) but this is great to put ideas away for the future.
with wee littles having a schedule isn’t as important true. 🙂
I love how you said “The point is to learn and think differently.” YES! We already do that as homeschoolers, but we can change it up even more to give our kids a well-rounded experience.
I love having different experiences, keeps life interesting, you know?
You all do a great job of providing him opportunity to grow and express who he is. Love all the options.
we try… sometimes I wonder if I do enough, but he’s quick to assure me that I do. 🙂
Oh my word, I LOVE the idea of do it differently Fridays! I may have to implement that!!
Woohoo! May you be inspired!