[metmom]

When we homeschooled, I did math and English every day. I figured literacy was the most important thing to focus on. If they could read and calculate, then they could handle whatever else they were interested in and would tackle it themselves.

We generally did some science and social studies every day as well, but was more felxible about if we missed a day or two.

Art, music, gym, etc were catch as catch can.

We also counted everything we did as school. A trip to the zoo or a museum would count as science or social studies. When we went grocery shopping, I taught them how to figure out the bast deal for package size. That was math.

I think giving them practical, real life experience in using what they were learning both reinforced the lessons and gave them a reason to use their learning so they knew it just wasn’t busy work.

[Jane Long]

Excellent advice and methods.

[arthurus]

I buy $1 discard and donated-for-sale history and historical biographies at the library for my grandsons which the two older boys read for recreation. My daughter questions them on whatever they have read each day and thus they read to remember and when I visit they can tell me all sorts of facts from those books. The nr 2 boy reads some of it to the three year old who can also give back facts even if he doesn't know what they signify yet. I am skeptical of anything denoted "social studies." In public school social studies means there is very little useful education. Daughter has also found an old 60s actual geography book. Daughter tells the boys the info is accurate but dated and it does give them familiarity with the .Structure of the world. They are Orthodox and daily prayer and family ritual keeps them grounded in religion. And everything is recorded and is part of Education. They have a vegetable and flower garden and learn the plants and their value and uses.

See if your public library treats discards the way ours does. It is very useful for "social studies."