It's a way of life....

After you homeschool for a little while, you start to understand that "schooling" does not take place Monday-Friday 9-3. It is also not limited to a textbook or a workbook. "School" doesn't take vacation or sick days. In fact...vacations become field trips where PE, geography, history, etc. are covered. Sick days become learning about health, germs and hygiene. It's all a matter of perspective. You soon discover that life is "schooling" and you see the opportunities all around you.

K found a nice size stick out back during one of her "nature walks" and decided it made the perfect bow and arrow.

Here she is showing me how perfect it is for her. She had been carrying it around for a few days before she even thought about gathering sticks for arrows. Once she had arrows, she made a poster and tickets to a show to see the Amazing K. Then she practiced for the show, which included audience participation, comedy and shooting at targets. There was value in that activity that I couldn't have found in a worksheet for her.

Just this past weekend, K found a bunch of feathers in the backyard. Her first thought was to check them out under the microscope.

It actually brought forth quite a bit of "wows" as she studied them for a while.

Then in true K fashion, she bagged and labeled them.

You just never know when a great learning opportunity will present itself, but when you begin to homeschool you realize just how often and how valuable each of those moments can be. Whether or not you homeschool, embrace those special times. The kids grow up way too fast.