tests

A fire argues?

Homeschool High School

Conner is approximately a sophomore, but of course, when you're homeschooling, grades are somewhat irrelevant. We've never paid a whole lot of attention to grades and requirements, instead preferring a more natural, holistic approach to learning. We follow the kids' interests and explore the things they are interested in, rather than forcing a certain level of math because that's what their agemates are doing in school.

But now I find myself with a highschool-aged son who wants to go to college in the future. So we are working on some math and biology, so that he will be up to speed when he starts taking college classes.

I bought the high school algebra program from Thinkwell Homeschool and he is working his way through it. He'll probably be finished by the holidays and then he can do Geometry in the spring.

I really like Thinkwell. We have used Teaching Textbooks in the past, but their high school math leaves something to be desired. It doesn't seem to stick after they're finished with it and I don't like the way the tests are on separate discs from the lessons. Too time consuming and too much to lose. Thinkwell is all video lessons and online tests, so no discs to keep track of. It's also easy for me to check his progress and grades as he goes.

A new place for my ramblings

I've really enjoyed blogging about our family travels on The Five Hobos. Now that we're home, for the time being at least, I thought a more general blog would be a good plan. So this will be a general, day-to-day kind of place. Homeschooling, trip planning, local adventures, job hunting, creative financing, etc. 

Since we've been home, everyone is asking what we are doing next. The truth is we don't know. So much is up in the air with hubby's job hunt, the mortgage on the house, where we want to go from here. I'm not sure what to even wish for or work towards at this point. 

One thing Jim and I agree on is we want to travel more. Waking up in the same place every morning is boring. The scenery doesn't change and one day kind of just leads to the next. Some of the choices we are considering are:

1. Keep the house. Jim finds a great-paying job and we continue on like before, with a few more vacations thrown in.
2. Jim finds a great-paying job. We move somewhere cheaper, save as much money as we can, and when we have a good-sized sum saved up, we hit the road again. Maybe work 6-8 months at a time, then travel for 4-6 months, and repeat. 
3. Jim finds a remote work-from-home job and we travel full time.
4. Jim finds a remote job and we spend half the year in Maryland and half the year traveling. 
5. We developed some money-making businesses that we can operate from the road.

For now, we're here. The kids are getting back into the swing of homeschooling, co-ops, socializing with their friends and just being kids. Jim is job hunting and I'm trying to find some inspiration and ideas for working, writing, art journaling or whatever.