10 October 2014

Carschooling.

 Patrick has another semester of community college and so rather than run about constantly and getting nothing done, I bring the children to the local library during his class time.

That means I can no longer use a different notebook or workbook for every subject, particularly as my surgeon has limited me to lifting 20 pounds for the rest of my life.  (Had three hernia surgeries and would prefer my intestines stay inside my body from now on.)

So I've torn out all the workbook sheets and stapled them into weekly "packets."  When I'm getting ready to leave for the college, I'll put the relevant packets in a hard folder, grab our LIFEPAC science workbook and our pencil case, and head to the van.

I bring sandwiches and we have a "picnic" before heading in and grabbing a table.  Rewards for good work mean the children each get to pick out three books and on particularly long days, they can use the kindle for a little bit before heading back to pick Patrick up for the drive home.

When I'm feeling particularly adventurous, I'll pick a restaurant that looks homeschool-friendly.  The problem is that we need to stick around for several hours.  McDonald's is friendly, as is the local Taco Bell.  I had never been in a Taco Bell before and doubt I will go to another again (barring national disaster and so forth - never say never).  We've also done the coffee shop thing a few times.




6 comments:

  1. Waiting around for hours with kids in tow? I would go nuts! On my own, I could sit in a library and read for hours, but kids need attention, at least a little bit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Hours. With kids in tow. But they have to get the schoolwork done anyway, so it's pretty much the same thing as using my kitchen table, except they get to look around the library a bit. :)

      Delete
  2. I used to wait for Ben when he went to classes at SC Tech. He typically went 4 hours in the morning, came home for lunch and a nap, and went 4 hours at night, 4 days a week. I did this 3 years before he got his driver's license. Now I sit at home ALL DAY without a car. It's slightly less of a pain. I got a lot done, and headed to the school or the city library for hours because they had wi-fi and I could work. The time went fast, it really did...but I understand about not wanting to be in the car the whole time!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really wish "Patrick" would get his driver's license, because he could drive himself to/from school himself, but hey! Making the best of it. :)

      Delete
  3. HI Christine

    This is a big ask but can you expand more on the hows you got Woodgie to actually do handwriting I am back to the worksheets and copying / tracing and he has got the idea of actually doing some of the letters by himself. But other than that we are no where and like everything with autism it is snails progress.
    my email is karnakd9@gmail.com

    Thanks

    Karna

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the article - my daughter is a bit reluctant to get her drivers license even though she is waiting another year (she will be 17 before she can take the test because she has to drive for at least 6 months with a permit. I think I am going to be a bit more emphatic that she NEEDS to get a drivers license. I am not sure how she would get to college without one. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete

Non-troll comments always welcome! :)

Bringing Garbage Home

Some people up the street were throwing this table away. It was in pretty bad shape and one of the legs was off. I've glued the leg back...