If all goes as planned, the girls will have just completed 1st and 3rd grade in the local public school before we head out on the road. Since I’ll likely change my residence to Florida, I’m reviewing the 2nd and 4th grade homeschool requirements for that state while I’m planning our curriculum. I’m scouring the internet to find the curriculum that seems as if will work best for all of us – me, the future work-from-home single mama who must also juggle teaching her girls while she works, and the girls who will have had 2 or 4 years of “regular” schooling before changing over to being taught by their mama.

It will be both a learning experience and an adventure for all of us. And although I’m nervous today, and will be when we start sometime next year, I’m also looking forward to the challenge. I’ve got the subjects and days of the week planned out, as well as the amount of time I (loosely) plan on spending on each subject. I’m very interested in Sequential Spelling, but that’s about the only thing I’ve committed to so far. And while I was originally committed to spending less than $200 per child, I feel that if I can save about $30/month between now and then – in addition to buying the pieces and parts of our curriculum I can find, then I’ll be better prepared in case I need to purchase something more expensive.

Unit studies, combined with notebooking and lapbooking, will be something we’ll use to delve deeper into subjects which the girls are really interested in learning more about. I figured since we’ll be traveling we could learn about the 50 states as we go, and begin with Ohio, Florida, and South Carolina. Then, as we move around and visit zoos, aquariums, and museums, they’ll help kick start learning about different types of animals, fish, and history. Reading, for Alijah, will be a breeze as long as she’s interested in the subjects, but I’m not sure how she’s take to reading “for schoool”, and not necessarily for pleasure – although I expect the reading for school to capture her fancy from time to time. On the other hand, I’m not sure what reading for school will be like for Courtney.

Rounding out the curriculum will be physical education and health and safety. I’ll have to figure out a way to get the girls moving on a daily basis – which will also help me get moving – even if it’s only to an exercise tape (in yucky weather). I wasn’t planning on taking the Wii (we’ve had it for a couple of years and have only used it a handful of times), but it could be beneficial. I’m hoping that healthy and safety will be easier subjects for awhile.

I don’t think I’ve missed anything, but I’m not the expert.

What is homeschooling like for you and your family? Are you also a working mom? What are your tricks for homeschooling on the road?