and Bainbridge Island, have resource in San Diego with an experienced
centers specifically for homeschoolers cruising mom. Annie, from m/v Oso
that may facilitate connections. See Blanco told me not to worry, it will all be
below for information about the Seattle okay. If only I could have internalized
program. her advice back then!
This past year, we have met many
Don’t wait until you leave the dock. families cruising with children. No
If possible, begin your two are homeschooling the same way,
homeschooling journey before your but all have intelligent, happy, well
cruising departure. Both have distinct adjusted kids. We see our children
transition periods and it may ease the and others learning so much by being
adjustment if you go through them cruising kids. They learn from the
independently. Also, you may make Niall likes putting on his lab coat when environment: this past year has given
important discoveries about how well he uses the microscope on board. them a strong base in Spanish language,
a chosen homeschooling approach culture, natural sciences, and reading.
works for you. A Puget Sound family They also learn from each other, as we
we’ve met up with in Mexico, the witnessed as 9-year-old Aeron from
Congers on s/v Don Quixote, benefitted Don Quixote, helped our 5-year-old
from jumping in early. They began of the Pacific.” Our 24 linear feet of Siobhan make progress in learning
homeschooling their three daughters bookshelves are crammed with primary how to read. Both children benefit
almost two years before going cruising. resources, field guides, an encyclopedia from this type of mentoring. Taking on
In the first few months, they determined set, textbooks, and many more books meaningful responsibilities on board
that the highly respected program that to read. Once we crossed into Mexico, also teaches great lessons. Our 10-year
they had chosen was actually a poor it became difficult and expensive to old can stand a watch, and the personal
fit for them. Because they were still in get good English language books. The growth he experiences from this duty
their home base with many resources at leave one/take one cruiser libraries is great.
hand, it was easy to change. Beginning in areas where boats congregate have Investing time in advance to gain
a new path for them would have been plenty of Clive Cussler or Nora Roberts confidence in homeschooling can make
much more challenging if they were on novels, but rarely are there books for it easier for everyone Whatever path
the move and out of the country. children. It’s always fun trading with you choose, opportunities for learning
We weren’t able to transition to other kid boats for fresh reading, but are a natural part of every day; and it
homeschooling before we left. Jamie the quality references that stay on would take effort for your children not
and I were working right up until board are essential. In the last day, to benefit from going cruising.
departure. Our first year probably for example, we have used different
had a more drawn out transition as a references on board to identify fish, a Yahoo Groups
result. We also changed our approach type of heron on shore, and rocks and http://groups.yahoo.com
between our first and second years. As shells from a walk through the midden
a result, it took longer for us to find our near the anchorage. Sailing Kids
boat school groove. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
It all works out. Sailingkids
Pile on the resources. I wish I could have let go of the
I’m not sure it’s possible to have stress of planning and early months The Seattle program is available at
too many learning tools on board. of homeschooling. About two months http://www.seattleschools.org/
Jamie likes to call Totem, “the library into our cruise, I was sitting on a beach schools/hrc/.
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48° No r t h , No v e m b e r 2009 Pa g e 23
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