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Fairly Odd Mother

Frantically waving my magic wand to make wishes come true.

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Homeschooling using the buddy system


I never wanted to go it alone.

I knew pretty much from the start that forming friendships, alliances even, with other homeschoolers would be critical to keeping me on this path.

It's not that I'm weak, I just like the company.

And so, from the first year back in 2006, Krystan* and I agreed to get together once a week. Our oldest girls were little kindergartners then. We were both loosely following the "Letter of the Week" format, and our classes were usually centered around whatever country we were studying that week: B for Brazil or D for Denmark. And Q for Qatar, naturally.

The next year, we launched a plan to do history together using Story of the World. Every week, we'd read the chapter to our own kids and then get together to do one of the activities laid out in the program. We figured we'd start with Book 1 in 1st grade, and keep going year by year, to Book 4.

And, here we are, starting Book 4 in 4th grade! (They should print t-shirts that say "I completed SOTW in four years" but I'm not sure they'd sell enough of them to make any money).

But also this year, we've upped the ante a bit. I have agreed to take over History for both my kids and her kids. We read the chapters on our own at home, and then I lead the kids through the discussion, outline, mapwork and other related activities.

But that's not all: Krystan has agreed to take over Science: Beginner Physics.

My joy knows no bounds.

I really, really do not like science, and I am especially afraid of physics which I avoided in school. Krystan is a nurse which, while I'm not sure this helps with physics, means she is super smaht in science and, thus, much better equipped to take this on than I.

We've made it through week one. My kids loved their physics class. Her kids were awesome to me as their teacher.

And I'm thrilled to have a buddy in all of this.

------------------------------------
* her name has been changed to protect her identity and also because I don't want anyone else to snatch her up for her physics prowess

Labels: , ,

posted by Fairly Odd Mother @ 8:39 PM 

4 Comments:

Blogger Sarah @ Ordinary Days said...

I want a buddy! I want a buddy! :(

9:54 PM  
Blogger Mrs. Q. said...

Well, I lurve science, so I think Krystan made out in the deal!

I'm glad the swap is working out. I'm sure if helps that you have great kids on both sides.

7:45 AM  
Blogger tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

We are doing SOTW individually AND as a group this year! Justin's doing year 1 on his own and the hs group we belong to is doing book 2 as a group in conjunction with the IEW writing program. Very excited to join forces!!

8:40 AM  
Blogger Deb said...

oooh, I want a buddy! I am so dreading history. It just seems so boooooring. Plus also, I am just not the person who can handle making a salt map every day. Science, on the other hand, is COOL!

9:32 AM  

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