Summer Preview - Hacking Third Grade

The summer will provide us with a variety of activities to work our way in to the sub-routine of homeschooling. That essentially means we don't have a routine, which is fine by me... though one might evolve. It also means he can whet his appetite on the things he wants to be learning as well as the things that emerge that I can steer him toward.

F will be at day camp on the days when neither parent is home and we're not out doing other things together. This camp is semi-structured with open activities -- all about choice and not being herded from A to B all day. It has stop-motion animation and filmmaking, chess and sports, outdoor play and all-day dance... I'm sure he'll find something to do and find his niche and he's very excited about it.

Meanwhile I have a membership at the California Science Center, and we have a full summer of camping and cub scout activities, and grandma wants him for some camping and beach activities... there will be a lot less Pokemon and a lot more "real life" going on for all of us!

Hackschooling 101 - Inspiration from Squaw Valley

"Education is not the filling of a pail,
but the lighting of a fire" 

~ W.B.Yeats

I have wanted to home-educate my future children since I was a child myself. As I got older, I studied this concept informally but in depth. I met homeschoolers and unschoolers and was always impressed with their maturity, curiosity, and intelligence. When I began studying for my MSEd, I discovered learning theories, application of the science of learning, and more. I learned how to decode the Common Core and how to evaluate learning materials. And more than ever, I wanted to hack education.

When my son was born, I was working full time and finishing up my MBA. I then worked more than full time. There was no way my son would be homeschooled. I found him a fantastic Montessori preschool where he thrived. I worked my tush off to get him into a very well respected public charter school. I can't complain too much about his formal schooling so far, except that it doesn't fit his needs.

Now I work from home (most of the time) so I can refocus on my son and his education. Inspired some years ago by this TEDx Talk from then 13-year-old Logan LaPlante, I decided to call it "hacking" his education. My son will learn both what his peers are expected to know, but in ways that schools can't accommodate, as well as the many things he wants to know, which will keep his light on.

We love science, so we will conduct this grand experiment in hackschooling scientifically. I'll log his activities, progress, and triumphs here. He might contribute some entries as well. Who knows where this journey will take us? One thing I am sure about - it's going to be fun, and maybe at times trying, but we'll emerge stronger, smarter, and maybe with a model for other families to play along.

Enjoy!