Next year my husband, daughter and I are heading out on the open road. Our daughter will be 3 1/2 at the time and we were planning on homeschooling her. I'm having trouble finding nice think good workbooks. I'm looking for ones that have lots of learning, includes lessons, isn't regligious based, and offer a variety of books in different subjects. Can anyone help me? We won't have alot of room for text books and things and thought that work books were the way to go. We are also planning on using print out sheets from online. Thanks for any advice.
TAKE ME WITH YOU!!! TAKE ME WITH YOU!!! I think that sounds awesome!!!! What an awesome experience for you and your family. Without alot of room, I would focus more on computer based things...CDs, online studies...etc. Steck Vaghn...ugh..I think I spelled that wrong...lol..has great workbooks. Spectrum are also pretty good. Look up some Scholastic stuff also. For a child that age you won't need alot. Sorry I couldn't be of more help but I wish you the best!
We were wanting to get K-3rd grade gathered up so that way if she excels we are covered and if she is just moving at average speed then we are covered for quite some time. We have considered doing an online based course with her the older she gets.
Contact Kris. Her family traveled in an RV for many years before settling down. She might have some tips and ideas.
We are currently living the life you are talking about. Have been on the road full-time and homeschooling for 6 years. We began our seventh year in May. Anyhow, I would recommend going to one of the wholesale clubs like Sam's or Costco. They have really nice workbooks for all ages and grade levels. I can't think of who make them, I just know they were very colorful, fun, and had a good mix of curriculum.
I don't think you'll need to get a lot of 'heavy stuffs' to homeschool her at this age. Especially so, when your family will be on the roads. I can't think of any good printable resources right now but am pretty sure you'd be able to find them online easily. Just search for "homeschool printables" or something like that. BTW, it may also be a good opportunity to teach your 3 yr old some geography while on the move. Kids at this age are starting to ask a lot of 'whys'. I wish you all the best!
If you want work book styles for the early years you can get Spectrum books, they are not the ones that have teacher books though. If you want a teacher book go with Horizon for phonics and Math But they do have occasionaly 'religious' statements in places. They are just really good!
I recommend looking up School Specialty Publishing. Or go to Amazon and Search "Complete book of...". I know they have a preschool one. One I'm considering buying for my 4 year old. Also, www.starfall.com has a lot of freebies you could print out on your own....even if you decide to buy the whole kit it is SSOOOOO CHEAP!
I'm not trying to sound know-it-all but you have a good 3 YEARS before you need to start worrying about curric. Really, travelling, answering her questions, letting her explore the places you are at and reading her good books will take you through AT LEAST 3 years. That being said I will offer Five In A Row. Very gentle, one thin book at a time, plus the attending kids book. Check out their web site. Have fun, it sounds like a dream!:love:
Yep, as Patty said we travel for years, and decide to buy a house, now we got ants in our pants and want to travel again. It was so much fun and the kids can learn so much, my girls learned so much and the people on the road were a blast and very helpful. First I have to agree with Timkelmom, Sam's have alot of wonderful workbooks for children that young. Second, I wouldn't worry about alot of books at that age, other then reading if you are going to print and a box of crayons. Alot of the places you visit like museum and all will give worksheet if you ask, we never had any trouble with getting any of that stuff, for the girls to do they were all willing to help and give out. I would just read, read, read at that age, and alot of hands on... But, if you want book work Sam's or one of those place have alot of those books. Now don't quote me but I think CrazyMama was selling a bunch of them, she still might have them, you might want to contact her on those books. I don't know if she had them for that young, but it's worth a try. Happy traveling and enjoy there is so much to see and learn in the world that books are not needed, they are nice. we had books but my girls were bigger, we just had a tub one of those plastic ones, each girl had a tub with there school books and work in them. there are alot of cubby holes to put books in RV, believe me I found them, would surprise the heck out of my dh. I am sure Timkelmom knows what I am talking about.
Oh, I would love to do that! I'm still trying to talk hubby into it. I agree with the Sam's club workbooks, they have huge/ inclusive ones for a good price. Also, I would suggest that you not get too far ahead buying wise, because more than likely as time goes on, you'll figure out how your daughter is changing and her learning style, and it might not work with whatever you've chosen. We have been hsing for 2 1/2 years now, and I can't tell how many times we've changed around our curriculum until I found what has fit (wait...have I found that yet?) but I think it's normal. Most hs'ers do trial and error a few different times. All the best and good luck on your journey!
We plan on doing alot of hands on but since there were probably be alot of truck sitting I thought work books would be a good thing to do in the car. Especially math and spelling. My husband and I are going to have her keep a journal and have her answer questions for some journal entries to help with grammer and grammer.
Just keep this in mind. I did not know this until we started to travel, but both of my kids get motion sick in the truck. they can't read or do too much work while actually driving. I really think you should keep it light and fun for now. At 3 1/2 you will be surprised at how much she learns just from her surroundings.
We already do alot of road trips and I always try to keep it fun like if we are going to drive in the country we read our farm book then moo or cluck or bark at all the animals we see..... It's so cute when she moos at all the cows...
yep that is so true mine couldn't read or write when the RV was moving... I have to agree keep it light she is young there will be plenty of time for gramar and all. If you want her to do something have her draw what she sees if she can without getting sick. Also, I forgot in my last post to welcome you the Stonefamily and happy traveling. Just remember one thing that is so important while traveling is you are having fun and enjoying the surroundings. You can learn so much at that age with out all the book work.
Maybe audiobooks as well? You can download a TON at librivox.org - and they are free Maybe pick up some of the books she could listen to AND look at the pictures? Or even coloring pages of what she is listening too......
Before we go we are going to look for some good nature guides, bugs/birds/trees/etc. So that way we can spot the items in nature. We will probably have lots of time to do things because we will be workamping (working while on the road) so we will probably be in some place for a season. I hope we will be able to find other homeschoolers as well as maybe some type of library story time or something where she can get some other kid time. Any suggestions for that?
oh yes, if you are going to work camp, we did that at some of the rv parks if dh had to stay awhile it depend how long we were at the job, I would work in office or where ever... but alot of the parks themself have things for kids to do, mostly in the summer though... and holidays.. libraries are great and once you get to a state you will be in awhile. Google that state and type in homeschool groups and you will be surprise what you find and go from there.
