sv evi

Well, it’s going pretty well so far AND it’s a lot of work! It’s pretty exhausting. We got a printer in Whangarei, so now I can print out math worksheets, rather than making them myself each day. I do most of the homeschooling, and Riki helps out. It is freeing and exciting, on one hand — we can teach them whatever we want to! We can teach them how to cook. We can do tool school. On the other hand, it’s a bit overwhelming. There are so many resources out there…and basically I’m just winging it. As you do, until you figure it out.

We caught a Kahawai fish while trolling behind the boat en route to Tiritiri Matangi.

We also do practical boat stuff — like tie bowlines, cleat knots, and clove hitches, and what the parts of the boat are called. I teach Spanish like I do for my job, standing in a small circle (of 4), speaking only in Spanish, interacting and playing games. I find that I am strictest when we are doing Spanish class, because that is what I’m used to doing for my job — and I expect them to know my expectations — stay in the circle! don’t slouch around on the cushions! But I realize that I need to adjust my expectations a little for elementary aged kids…and not get so frustrated when they get off task. I’m learning! We do reading & writing & typing, math and science. For PE we do yoga and swimming/snorkeling/hiking. For art (so far) we visited Taylor in her art studio one day. For music Riki is teaching Jade ukelele.

Today we learned about the Colossal Squid that they have on display at the Te Papa museum in Wellington. We will go visit the museum next Sunday on our road trip. ** Kudos to my friend Margeaux for passing on this idea!

So far the kids are doing great! They don’t complain about school (except Tomu doesn’t want to do writing), and they do math for fun at night. We’ve only had 3 crying incidents (!). Sometimes they make up math worksheets for each other. The girls made me cards for the first day of home school, and Luz tells me at night “Thanks for being the best homeschool teacher ever!”