School at Home

While a lot of our friends home school, there are many more of our friends who do not.  We get quite a variety of questions asked by our non-home schooling friends, or by others (such as the shopper in line behind me at the store that sees my kids during "normal" school hours).

One question that always strikes me as funny is "Where do you do school?"  Umm, well....we home school, so we do it at home.  No, I really don't answer that way because I know the intent of the question.  We school all over the house, outside, in the van, at the store, at other places of business, etc.

Seriously, school is never "out" because there are always opportunities to learn whether you are explaining what insurance is for (after stopping by the insurance office), teaching price comparison at the grocery store, explaining how a check at the bank really is like money, or going on a walk in the woods.

But for those that wonder where we do school at home I tried to capture some pictures over the course of a few days.  The majority of our book work is done in our family room.  We have two computer desks there, but more often you will find us sitting more comfortably on the couch (in the family room or living room), or sitting in a chair by the warm fire, reading on the deck (or in a tree or on a swing), on a bed, at the dining room table, or in the guest room at the computer where we have typing, Chinese, and Japanese "class" set up.  This, by no means is a conclusive list, but that's where it happens for the most part.

Honestly these pictures look kind of boring to me, but I tried to capture the kids when they were focusing and not posing for the camera.  We do a lot more besides "book work" or reading such as games, science experiments, map work, etc., but these pictures capture a part of our schooling at home.  It is a blessing to be able to learn alongside my children and to observe them growing and maturing every day!

Michaela started a drafting class this semester, so we have a drafting board set up in the guest room.

Helping Johanna with spelling...

Math at the desk....

or by the fire....

Michaela's bedroom desk...

English at Mom's desk...

Spelling and journal in the family room....

Reading lessons with Ami...

Ami's charts