Homeschooling Highschool

One week of highschool under our belt. Having survived Asherel's first week of 9th grade in my rusty homeschool, we leave now for a week at the beach. I think this is a schedule every highschool should adopt- a week of traditional work, a week at the beach for field work. I guarantee that more kids would graduate under this plan.

If I am creative, I might even be able to justify some high school credit out of the beach week. I don't think anyone could argue that skim boarding, body surfing, and beach bicycling should go towards her PE credit.  The huge sand sculpture we always construct will surely span several academic fields, including earth science, engineering, and fine art. And of course, there is the obvious pursuit of biology in examining jelly fish, starfish, and dolphins.Astronomy: as we look at the millions of stars that you can't see from a suburb of a large city. Geometry: spatial orientation and angles calculated in order to fit all the necessary items in the car, leaving enough space for us to sit down.  Botany: the diversity of plant life and its difference from region to region. Specific study question-  at what latitude do palm trees first appear, and why? Geography: the topography, states, cities, and major rivers in the Atlantic southeast. History: the Native American tribes that once populated the area, as evidenced by the names such as Cootiewootchie river (Or something like that.... I am a little fuzzy on my highschool subjects, which is why I need a trip to the beach.) Public Speaking and Debate: "Why can't I have the triple scoop covered with gummy worms? Let us analyze the pros and cons together." Comparative Literature: Arby's sign, McDonalds sign. Government and Law: Do not feed the alligators. Penal code URN4it.  Economics: Horseback riding on the beach- $45 per person. Bike ridinig on the beach- free. Discern the most appropriate economic decision for a family with no current income.

So, in the end, I don't think I will even need to list this week as a vacation. I suspect it will be the most educational week of our school year. Which reminds me, once again, why I love home school. The world really is our classroom. I just hope we remember to have fun with all the subjects we need to cover this week.

Colossians 4:5
⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Good news and Bad news

Today's headline in our local paper was not encouraging to a family like ours, with the husband in finance laid off and looking for work- Bank of America to cut 3500 jobs!
Oh goody. Now the glut of jobs in finance that numbered about 0 last week will be negative 3500. The good news is, God specializes in impossible odds. The bad news is I was already a little worried.
Fortunately, our yearly beach vacation is locked in, and already paid for. We can run away and hide our heads in the sand for a week...in deep, white Hilton Head sand. Dog sitters are lined up, neighbors watching the house, car packed.... we run away tomorrow.

Fourteen years ago, we went to a free weekend on Hilton Head, with a little catch. We had to listen to a Time Share sales pitch. We thought it was worth a free weekend at the beach. The problem is, they were very convincing, and the weekend ended up being far from free. We bought the timeshare. This was so out of character for my conservative, frugal, careful husband that my sister, Holly , told me the timeshare buy was more of a shock than my news that at age 40, after 9 years of thinking babies were no longer in our future, I was pregnant.

But, for the past fourteen years, our family has had a guaranteed, glorious week at the beach, at a 3 bedroom palace. Back then, I had no idea that kids really did grow up and move away, and develop a life that was separate from Mommy and Daddy. They were always there, and it just seemed they always would be.

Of course, that is not how it works. Sadly, I know that now. But one of the most wonderful things we did together every year, as a family, was spend that week with each other on the beach. Financially, I am pretty sure it was not the smartest move we ever made. But in other ways, it gave our lives a common memory of joy that I hope will shore us up when times are not so merry, or when we are scattered far afield. We would have always found reasons why we should not have spent the money for such a wonderful vacation. Instead, we knew that no matter what else was going on in the world, we would have that week together watching the sun set over the ocean, the dolphin leap in the early morning surf, and the warm sand tickle our toes as we constructed giant sand sculptures together.

3500 jobs cut. I threw the paper aside. I have packing to do, and sometimes it is best to snatch joy while you can. It is the gift of God, and should not be disdained.

Ecclesiastes 8: 15
¹⁵ So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.