Homeschooling abroad part II "no books"

OK,  so I addressed the issues I have faced home schooling abroad concerning books in my last blog, but what about schooling with no books?  Can it be done and what options are there?

Recently Maggie enrolled in an online school for some extra classes while we were hanging out in Israel.  This seemed to work out great.  She only needed the computer and time!  She took a Spanish course and a Baking 101 class. She loved it!  There was every class available to choose from.  Anything from Math to Art courses. She was able to log on any time of the day and work at her own pace.  This was also nice for me because it gave her someone else to be accountable to.  She would do her lesson on the computer and then test at the end of a unit.  She would then wait for the teacher to correct and grade her then email/post her results.  This particular school would send a certificate at the end of the class.  This might be helpful for college if you needed the records. There are many online schools now and  this can be done anywhere. This might be a good option for older kids if you have consistent internet.  It would definately be one I would choose. 

I need to remember that this incredible journey we are on has been school in itself, without books. When we moved to Costa Rica they had automatic "Spanish Immersion". Actually every country we have been in has been a language immersion in itself. We are learning basic vocabulary in every country, and learning to recognize different alphabets.  So far we have had introductions to Spanish, Greek, Turkish, Russian, Hebrew, and "British English". Levi is getting good at remembering and figuring out familiar words that he hears a lot. Maggie seems to have a knack for figuring out alphabets.  She was reading most words in Turkey and Greece before we left.  Ever tried shopping in Greek? You can double your time in the store trying to figure out what is what!


Speaking of shopping,  this brings up money and exchange rates.  Our children have now been exposed, taught and educated in Greek, Turkish, and Irsaeli money.  Which by the way is...the Euro, Turkish Lira and the Shekel. They have had to learn the exchange rates in every country. Non-stop math going on in your head at all times. Some days after shopping my head hurts! The other day Lily (6) saw a U.S. quarter and said "What kind-of money is this?"


We are learning geography and cultures up close.  Not only identifying and becoming familiar with these countries on a map but experiencing them. They have rode a camels in the Turkish desert, eaten a Turkish Kofte and a Doner Kebap, and bought spices in the Turkish Bazaar.  Not to mention swam in the Sea of Galilee, eaten an Israeli Felafel, and touched the Western Wall, in the Old City, during Sukkoth.


This is just a touch of what they are learning just by traveling. In all these things, I know it is giving them independence and confidence just to try new things and problem solve.  They are experiencing things that so many kids will never get a chance too...I am grateful for this opportunity and this is part of the reason we took  on this adventure to begin with.


So there you have travel-schooling at it's finest!


~Rachel