Outside the Classroom

I think we spent more time outside the classroom than inside the classroom this week.  I felt guilty about this for about three seconds before remembering that this is EXACTLY why we chose homeschooling in the first place.  Miss M and Mr. J both participated in tennis and badminton practice with our homeschooling group.  Miss M had dance and gymnastics and also a playdate with a friend.  Both kids went to our church's mid-week afternoon program.  Mr. J helped me at our food co-op by carrying boxes.  We ended our week as a family watching Miss M have her first horse riding lesson.  Due to her NF1 diagnosis, she is eligible for therapeutic riding lessons with some WONDERFUL and loving instructors.  What a blessing for all of us to watch her start these lessons. 

A year ago, we wouldn't have been able to do many of these things because Miss M was in school.  There are many things we loved about school, but none of those things can compare to how much we love spending time together as a family.  Next week we'll probably spend a little more time inside our classroom.  I haven't given up on direct instruction altogether.  It's just reassuring to see how much my children learn even when we're not in our school environment. 

Education is not preparation for life;  education is life itself. 
- John Dewey