Yes, We Kind of Home School

It's complicated. Usually when people ask you where your kids go to school, it's an easy answer. You say the name of the school or that you home school. That's it. You move on. Not us.

Last year we decided we needed a change. Public school worked out for many years. However, last year we realized it wasn't working so well for our family anymore. We decided to look at alternatives. Private school wouldn't change the crazy schedule that was burning us out. And I was very leery of winging it with home school because I knew I didn't have the time required for picking out curriculum that would suit my students.

In our neck of the woods a new opportunity opened up for us. A local charter school offered an online school with an iCafe where the students could go to as often as needed for help. In addition, they offered an hour of each class a week for the middle and high school grades. Elementary had an option to be on campus twice a week.

We decided to try this out for this school year. So, we are home schooling, kind of. The kids don't go to school in the traditional sense. Neither do they home school the way most kids are home schooled. Now try to explain that to someone. When I do, there are almost always a lot of questions that come up after that. Sometimes I just say we home school. Other times I say we do an online school. But then, when I tell my them I have to go pick up my kids from school they are confused. Like I said, it's complicated.

Now that we are over halfway through the school year, I have to admit that we are enjoying this change. We like that we are at home for most of the days. Being able to go to school a couple days a week is also great for everyone in the family, including mom. Speaking of mom, not having to be responsible for the curriculum or teaching all of it has been helpful.

All in all, kind of home schooling is working out well for our family, even if it's hard to explain.

Field Trip