| Author | |
AnaB
Forum Pro
Joined: April 12 2005
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 281
|
| Posted: Aug 20 2007 at 11:39am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Hello there!
I'm going to try to post this in different boards to get some help. My dh is a pharma rep and has the southern half of FL as his territory (east and west coast). He also has a chronic heart condition. Up till now, he has often driven at least 4 hours to Ft. Myers and then 4 hours back to Miami (where we live) in a day without thinking too much of it. He pops in some sermons in his ipod and he's off. He actually enjoys it. But it's become apparent that his heart is getting more unstable, so for this summer we have traveled with him as much as we can. We were just in Ft. Myers this past week and he ended up spending several hours in the ER for his heart. He may have a trip this week back there and then the following week, he's got 4 days there. We're definitely going with him for the 4 days there.
My children's ages are 11, 9, 9, and 3. We are doing copywork, Latin, teaching textbooks (math-computer based), and lots of reading from different books lists like Ambleside. We are doing MOH for history along with Ambleside books and Apologia Astronomy. We are planning on starting school August 27, Lord willing. When we've traveled with dh this past summer, we weren't doing school. But my challenge is, how do we keep up with school when we are traveling so much? It is so hard to establish routines and habits and keep up with the book work in a hotel room with a 3 year old. We don't school year round (I need at least a month in the summer to order, plan, and de-clutter, and recuperate). But even if we did, I think the trips are becoming frequent enough, that we need to find a way to school anyways.
We do take advantage of audio books, but still there's alot (history and science) that's still dependent on read alouds. I could use some tips. Are any of you in a similar situation?
In the past we have not traveled with dh quite as much, but I think for a while at least, it's becoming necessary that my dh not be alone away from home. Help!
Blessings,
Ana Betty
__________________
His By Grace, AnaB blessed WIFE to Jeff and mama to 4 blessings!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: Aug 20 2007 at 11:55am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We travel with dh several times a year, so we do homeschool all year because that's the only way we can really do everything we need to do (and even then we're still playing catch up often  )....
We just do all the things you're already doing -- audiobooks, etc. -- we do some read-alouds in the car -- I've finally learned how to read in the car without throwing up afterwards (focus on the book and don't look up and down, don't look around, etc. -- it's the motion and constant readjustment of my eyes that makes me sick).
You can also look into educational travel games. I haven't finished our list but plan to buy some soon.
And almost half our luggage is books and supplies. What will make it more difficult this year is the art stuff -- I mean to make art a priority this year and that will certainly make it hard to carry everything! PLANO TACKLE BOXES help a lot though! (I was going to do a post on them for Kim's Loveliness fair but didn't get to finish my post.)
I also have a laptop and we always get a hotel with free internet (sometimes wireless) access. And we try to get in lots of field trips in whenever we're out of town. -- museums, science centers, parks, libraries, etc.
What I try to do is keep up with the schedule, whatever we can do in the car. If they behave, they get to listen to fun stuff (5-yo's favorite on the trip to NJ this year was Mickey (Hey Mickey you're so fine, you're so fine, you blow my mind Hey Mickey!  -- not educational, but worked to keep her happy in between lessons). We also loved Greenberg's lectures on listening to and understanding great music.
One thing that you might want to do is to do stuff you normally won't do at home, e.g., the Greenberg lectures were on my list forever but they never got listened to, so the trip was perfect, we listened to it on the way to the beach!
An example of our day:
We leave early in the morning, no later than 8, let's say. After prayers, I pop in Latina Christiana, we do some declensions/conjugations. Maybe even oral translation. Then break for 5 minutes, then move on to a Greenberg lecture (music). Then maybe an actual Music CD for 15 minutes. Afterwards, oral math. (Or wait to get to the hotel to do worksheets.) Religion/saint read alouds work really well. And the kids are not bothered with reading in the car, so I let them read a science book (which they picked ahead of time to bring) and narrate orally (or wait until we're at the hotel to blog). History is also read aloud; they don't like it when it's factual "boring" stuff, but bios like "Famous Men of Rome" are usually a hit. They're always short lessons, and rewards for listening/participating without whining can include a movie, a stop at Cracker Barrel, etc.
hth,
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
AnaB
Forum Pro
Joined: April 12 2005
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 281
|
| Posted: Aug 20 2007 at 12:50pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks Stef, for your suggestions! I have never heard of the Greenburg lectures before, I'll have to check that out!
I say we don't school year round, but it's more like this year we didn't. My dh has been in the hospital probably once every 2-3 weeks with an occasional 4 week stretch. We're waiting to get into Cleveland Clinic in Ohio to be seen by an expert there, but until then, this is how our life is going to be.
I guess I just need to accept that much of our luggage will be our schooling. We do try to take advantage of museums and nature adventures. I'm trying to also think outside the box. My personality craves order though doesn't always know how to achieve it. I love rhythm and routine, but the Lord has given me a different life and is stretching me. I need help creating a sort of "portable rhythm" to our days and weeks that we are traveling. Thanks so much again for letting me think, ponder, and question aloud!
I look forward to any other suggestions!
__________________
His By Grace, AnaB blessed WIFE to Jeff and mama to 4 blessings!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Tina P.
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1638
|
| Posted: Aug 20 2007 at 12:52pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Ana:
We moved and I have had babies so often in the past that we decided to homeschool all year as well. I actually PREFER to homeschool during the summer because it is NOT my favorite season. The kids come in just wilted and want to lie around anyway, why not with book in hand? 
I successfully caught three of our four heavy schoolers up to and beyond their grade level. The other one, my oldest, is still behind. But I believe we're getting somewhere.
We take breaks on especially beautiful days in autumn and winter (when it snows, we take advantage of it) and take extended holiday breaks.
Oh and you CAN do a lot more in the car than you might think. Your oldest three can take turns reading fairy tales to the littlest. I read aloud a LOT before we had books on tape/CD available to us. And you can discuss the stories after the CD has finished. ID freeway birds (eg: redtailed hawks, falcons, flocks of starlings having been startled from a field ...) and wildflowers that grow close to the road.
Stef has given you a wonderful breakdown as well.
I hope this has helped to answer your question. And we'll definitely pray for your husband.
__________________
Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
Mary's Muse
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
AnaB
Forum Pro
Joined: April 12 2005
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 281
|
| Posted: Aug 21 2007 at 6:31am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hi Tina,
You are right, summer is a great time to homeschool for us in MIami because it's too hot to do much else. This year is the first time I've really taken a summer break. I had alot of planning to do because we are switching gears and starting world history (ancient history) for the first time and I had no resources. It's also been a very hard year with my dh's health--he's been in the hospital every 2-4 weeks, except for a few 5 week stretches. I was so fried. I needed to recuperate.
I will keep more alert to the freeway learning as we're driving along. Great idea.
Today we go to Key West with dh for his work (4 hour drive). Next week, when we were supposed to start school, we'll be in Ft. Myers for 3 days and my parents are coming with us--soo definitely no schooling then. I guess I'm trying to look for an "at home" week to start school so that they can get into some type of routine and be able to do their math and latin and language arts without getting car sick. I will take some read alouds along, I know that will help.
__________________
His By Grace, AnaB blessed WIFE to Jeff and mama to 4 blessings!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Anybody travel with dh?
