Ideas for keeping homeschooling fun: Prioritize your field trips

by Andrea Hermitt | More from this Blogger

30 May 2009 08:26 AM

Homeschoolers know that the word "home" in homeschooling is hardly descriptive. We spend a great deal of time driving around to different activities for sports, enrichment activities, co-ops and more. To our surprise, we sometimes become focussed on creating a wealth of well rounded classes and activities, that we actually forget to schedule field trips.

In my case, you would think that seeing my daughters interest in theater that we would have seen several plays. We have not. This past year she has participated in two plays, and that and her academics have taken up so much time that we have not sat down to enjoy a performance. After auditioning for an Arts program for high school homeschoolers, we were told that seeing a few shows should be a priority for this summer and into the next year.

You really have to prioritize your activities to find out where you can fit field trips into your homeschooling program. I know that the ones we have gone on in the past year such as Bodies and Titanic gave us a wealth of information that we would have never learned from just studying a book. As high school homeschoolers, our time is short and precious so I think the only way we will get in field trips is to go ahead and schedule a block of time (such as every other Friday afternoon), and demand the kids get their academic work done beforehand, even if it means a couple of late nights doing school work in order to find the time to see a show or visit a museum.

You may think that after a year or two of homeschool field trips that there isn't anything else to do or see in your area. But if you stay connected with other homeschoolers in your area, you will easily find new field trip option for your homeschooled child. You should look for:

• Traveling shows and exhibits coming into your town
• Plays and performances by homeschool groups in your area
• Events sponsored by other homeschoolers
• Local Science and art museums have change exhibits often
• Keep up with your community theater schedule
• The Library has guest authors and storytellers
• Local amusement parks and zoos have homeschool days
• Take day trips to the next city or state to visit their exhibits and shows

Read:

Keeping Your Homeschoolers Inquisitive

Just because it does not look like education

*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.

* Have you seen the homeschooling curriculum glossary?

Learn more about Andrea Hermitt

Andrea Hermitt is a native New Yorker currently residing in GA. She has been married for over 16 years and has two teenage children.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger