Hey Mama,

We’re on the convention circuit right now. We've traveled from Florida to Pennsylvania, and from Tennessee to Colorado to California. There are times when it seems like a field trip, and other times when it is a fun family activity where we can meet new friends and get reacquainted with old friends. And, of course, sometimes, it’s a zoo and I need my quiet time. (Grin.)  

Take a look at these ideas from The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine (always free to read online!):

“Bringing a Field Trip to Life”

“School in a Suitcase” 

And remember:

"For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6 NASB*).

This life and peace spoken of above is eternal. The one controlled by the Spirit will have PEACE as well as eternal life—and that peace extends to this life, too. Peace can be ours. Now. Despite the trials, the difficulties, the problems, the sometimes "unpeaceful" encounters, we can find peace despite it all because of the Prince of Peace, because of what the Lord has done, and because of this promise—the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Get in His Word, the Bible. That's where you'll find how to have a mind controlled by the Spirit. Mind and heart on Christ today, Mama.

~gena

publisher@theoldschoolhouse.com

*Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Homeschooling in Canada is on the rise. According to the 2015 study from the Fraser Institute, the rate of increase in the number of homeschoolers from 2006 to 2011 was over 29%. Although accurate numbers might not be fully available since many families don't register, it's obvious that homeschooling is becoming more popular and, maybe, dare I say it, mainstream? 

New homeschoolers often have the same kinds of questions. Let's take a look at some of these. 

1. How do I start? What do I do now?

Right away, the questions begin. “How do I homeschool in Canada?”

The first thing to do when you decide to homeschool is take a deep breath. Most of the time, there is first this sense of excitement and then a sudden rush of panic when you make that decision. So take a minute and slow things down. It's ok if you don't have a plan or any idea what to do right away. 

Your next step is to find out what your province requires from you. Homeschooling regulations across Canada are pretty easy (although a few provinces require more than others). Once you find and understand what is expected from you legally, then you can move ahead. 

2.  What curriculum do I use & where can I get it?

Before sinking a chunk of money into a set of books, it's important to look at your child, yourself, your learning philosophy and styles, what worldview you want to teach from, and what kind of budget you have available to spend. Ask yourself all kinds of questions about what you want and need from a curriculum. Research different homeschooling methodology like Charlotte Mason, Classical, Unit Studies, Unschooling, etc. See which resonates with you. Study your child and see how they learn best. When you have all that figured out, research what curricula lines up with your observations. Read reviews, look at samples, talk to people who use it, ask lots of questions, and give it a test run before buying it. Then, when you've found it—get it. (And always look for it on sale!) 

3. Will I ruin my child's chance of getting into a university?

Not usually! Most universities are willing and excited to accept homeschoolers to their school. But, if that is the path your child plans to take, then you will need to be more proactive in their high school learning journey. Make decisions based on what their end goal is and work from there. 

4.  Can I do this?

My answer is, as always, yes. Yes, you can.

But, be realistic. Often, reading about homeschooling or flipping through blog posts about homeschooling can paint this idyllic picture of a peaceful, fun-filled, easy-as-pie adventure where kids happily do their work, finish their chores, and have this amazing family bond . . . But reality can be grittier than that. Homeschooling is real—there are days where your child will sit, arms crossed, scowling about one page of math, or would rather dump LEGOs® on the floor to build than do anything else, or fight each other all day long. It can be very exhausting. 

But there are two important things to remember. 

• Your reason why.  Make sure you write down why you want or need to homeschool in the first place. Make it clear and remind yourself of it frequently. This will keep you from quitting on the hard days.

• It's worth it. The light that pops up in your child's eyes when they “get” something. The joy on their face when they are learning something they love. The special interactions between siblings. The field trips, the memories, the really great days—THESE are the ones that matter. 

So yes, you can do this. I believe in you!

Welcome to Homeschooling in Canada.

~ Lisa Marie Fletcher

Lisa Marie is a mom with 5 kids ranging from 2 to 13. Between teaching the kids, chasing littles, and pretending to clean the house, she works on her site, The Canadian Homeschooler. Her mission is to connect homeschoolers in Canada with each other and with resources that will help them on their journey. 

Years ago, I might have said that field trips were planned to add excitement to our homeschool adventure. Twenty years later, I can confidently say that there is immense educational value in these trips, and they are now part of the core in our learning mission. 

Recently, I went with a group of boys to the World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. I suspect that my son went for the fun of going with other boys.  However, that trip left a deep impression on him. He wasn’t prepared for the somber understanding of what sacrifices were made for our country’s freedom. He left with a historical empathy and a broadened perspective of the cost of war. He came home and began reading dust-covered books in his room on World War II without my prompting. It wasn’t all sobering. We had a lot of fun touring the wing with airplanes and seeing other cool military artifacts. But he left a different person. We now have an army helmet, ammunition box, and such decorating our school room, as well as pictures of military aircraft gracing our walls. Just because of a trip with a purpose.

We have gone on several types of field trips, but my family’s favorite options have been touring local businesses or factories. My adult children still remember one of their favorite trips was touring a local coffee roaster. I was surprised how much factual information was still retained!

Occasionally during these ventures, we will encounter information that isn’t Biblical or conflicts with our worldview. This is an incredible opportunity to open discussions with your child.  Encourage them to use their resources and examine the information in light of God’s Word. This has been some of the best bonding times with my children. It stretches their apologetics and sharpens critical thinking. 

The opportunities to enrich your child’s learning experience through field trips are limitless! 

    * art museums

    * natural history museum

    * science museums

    * parks and visitor centers

    * theaters 

    * zoos

    * historical sites

    * Game and Fish Dept.

    * Often local news stations welcome visitors and groups for            tours.

    * planetarium

    * farms

    * fire department

    * State Capitol

    * lumber mill

    * veterinarian

    * botanical garden

     

These places are usually inexpensive, if not free, and designed to stimulate curiosity and actively engage the student in a way that a textbook can’t.  Sometimes these places offer hands-on activities. This opportunity can produce an appreciation and relevance of what they are learning at home.

I am a firm believer in integrating field trips into your curriculum. Not only does your family get to experience amazing time together, it also imparts greater understanding of the world around them.

~ Kerry

Kerry Tittle is a mother of 9 children and an 18-year homeschool veteran. She was the founder of ReformationKidz Publishing that was lost to a natural disaster. Her desire is to honor Christ while encouraging parents during the hard years of homeschooling.

I’ve often said that if I ever write a book, it will be titled, Homeschooling by the Field Trip Method. We absolutely love taking field trips and are always on the look-out for opportunities to enrich our unit studies. Choosing which field trips we will take during the school year is almost as important as choosing which curricula we will use.

Field trip opportunities will vary from city to city, and state to state, but most everyone has access to some kind of trip opportunity. You may just need to think outside the box a little. Here are some ideas to get you started:  

1. Tour your state capitol building. This is a great opportunity to learn about the history of your state and how government works. It’s likely that your capital city also has a historical society or history museum. 

 

2. Visit a local historical site. Every state has a history, and most will have a state park, war site, pioneer village, or other place of historical significance for you to explore.      

 

3. Bring history to life by attending a war reenactment or renaissance fair.  

 

4. Do you have an animal-lover in your house? Call your local animal shelter for a tour.    

 

5. Visit the birthplace of a famous person from your state. Look for presidents, war heroes, inventors, artists, musicians, military heroes, politicians, and sports heroes.   

6. Visit an old cemetery and see if you can find the burial spots of your local heroes.  

7. Take a civic field trip. Tours of your local police or fire department, post office, airport, or campaign headquarters can usually be arranged with a simple phone call.  

 

8. Call around to local dentists, chiropractors, and veterinarians and ask for a tour or educational class. Many community workers love to talk with children about what they do, and your students just might discover a passion. 

 

9. Museums of all kinds make for wonderful field trips. Looks for science centers, children’s museums, historical museums, natural history museums, toy museums, sports museums, and art museums. Watch for traveling artifacts coming to a city near you!  

 

10. Explore ocean animals at a regional aquarium, or learn about your local animal habitats at an animal rescue hospital. Visit a zoo to learn about animals from around the world.    

 

11. Learn more about the solar system by visiting a planetarium.  

12. Find an active archaeological site, and volunteer to help dig!

 

13. Factories will often offer educational tours. Look for factories that produce cars, food or drink, toys, furniture, or other local industries.

 

14. Is your state or city known for something unique? Baseball bats, horses, silly string, Coca-cola? Explore the history of that topic. If your town is known for something, chances are there’s a museum, park, or site of some kind to visit and learn more.  

 

15. Get together with some friends and learn about local farms. We’ve picked apples and pumpkins and watched how maple syrup is made!

16. Look for educational opportunities at local colleges, especially those with agricultural programs. We have visited schools growing cotton, operating dairy farms, and training in woodworking, as well as some with art and history collections.  

 

17. Finally, plan a vacation around something your family is interested in. Because of our intense love of history and government, Washington, D.C. is our favorite! What’s your family’s passion? Even a trip to the beach can become an amazing learning opportunity. 

More than anything, have fun! For added educational value, have your students write a brief synopsis of the field trip for their notebook or portfolio. Don’t forget to take pictures!

~ Marcy

Marcy Crabtree is a Christian homeschooling mom to one teen son. An encourager at heart, she is passionate about cultivating relationships with other moms and spends much of her time doing so both on her blog, Ben and Me, and in social media.