Publish Date: Monday, December 14, 2009
Hard at work on a History lesson
Hi everyone! Lately I have received a lot of questions about how homeschool works on the boat, so I decided to dedicate a blog to my school day aboard Three@Sea. I always try to do school first thing on the boat, so I get up, have a cup of tea, and then get right down to work down in the salon. At the beginning of the year I get a big box of books with EVERYTHING I need for a 160-lesson school year, with eight tests. I literally mean everything: books, lesson manuals, tests, answer keys, work books, supplies — everything. The following subjects make up my curriculum:
- Math
- Spelling
- Science
- Reading
- History
- Art History
- Art
- Grammar
- Composition
- Geography
- Language (Latin)
Dilly helps me map Mexico's economic regions
Geography, and Science. Art and Art History come once a week. I have language every day as well, and I am learning Latin, which I LOVE! My curriculum is “self directed”, meaning that I basically teach myself with support from Mom and Dad. School usually takes me about three to four hours per day. Sometimes I’ll do a double session just to stay a little ahead, and then I might be at work for five hours, depending on how rigorous the days I do are. Every twenty lessons I take a series of tests in every subject. We then send those tests into Calvert School to be graded and sent back.
Dad helps with a study guide for my geometry test
Rome in History, than History is my favorite subject. If we are learning about astronomy in Science, than science is my favorite. If we are learning algebra in math, than math is my favorite. At the moment, Geography is my favorite subject because we are studying about all the places we have gone, and have yet to go. Although I LOVE to read, Reading is currently my least favorite because we are reading a rather tedious book called Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson. I’ve come to enjoy it at least a little bit though (I lied…it’s pretty unenjoyable).
If reading is that unenjoyable (and some authors do leave a bit to be desired), then do what I did with A Tale of Two Cities, way back in my school days. Read it aloud (with an audience?) and give each character their own flavor in the telling of the tale. Telling stories aloud has fallen from favor in recent years but it really does make a difference in both understanding and enjoyment of literature.
Try it you may find you like the story after all.
Thank you Ayla, my girls will be happy to read about “Boat Schooling”. We are going to start next year. It was great meeting you in Beaufort and thank you for the great cookies, I really enjoyed each one. Keep on baking !!! We are in the Virgin Island right now and having a great time. All the best Stephan
Can we send geometry questions to the captain? If the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides, then what time do I change my fuel filters?
Hi Ayla! You can always try reading Mark Twain stories, which tend to be funny at times. “The Mysterious Stranger” story is sad, which was probably written when his wife and child died, because it is a look at humanity and religion. I recommend Dean Koontz “Odd Thomas” stories. It is a tale of a unlikely hero that is gifted with being able to see the dead. It is dark at times but also very humorous. Very good reading material when you have time to read for enjoyment and not schooling. Mark Twain was a class I had in High School way back when. Great American storyteller. Good luck with your homework and best wishes for you and your family on your travels!
Dear ayla,
wow that is so cool!
I would to see you in person some day.
I will be going around the world soon
with my mom,dad,my cat phoenx,and my cat Sydney.
I will have a 55 foot boat when I go around the world.
Please write back
Love,Amelia xo