Many people with mold illness (CIRS, bio-toxin illness) are finding the joys of recovery through camping and traveling. Others just love to travel or have picked RV life for fun. If you are traveling with children and would like to try homeschooling, here are some tips for you to consider:
1. If you have lost curricula to mold, the Home School Foundation has grants for which you can apply. Local groups such as the Salvation Army may also have programs for help with school supplies.
2. Many digital options are now available, including e-book textbooks, entire courses on CD-ROM, audio books, and Kindle books. Many classic books are available on amazon for free, for the Kindle app. (The Kindle app is free to download on many devices including laptops.)
3. If your children are very sensitive to ink like mine are, take photos of pages of ink books you have purchased and delete the photos when done. Use the computer for most if not all writing compositions.
4. Enjoy learning opportunities when they happen. On the road, many of us see wildlife, scenery, and sometimes even museums which can be great for learning. Some children may enjoy taking photos (and later arranging, editing, etc.); others may enjoy extra research on what you see. Traveling can broaden horizons more than textbooks. Or just enjoy the day and write it down as a field trip.
5. Put books with spines upward in boxes or totes. This way no shelves are needed, and books can go from car to RV to blankets in the grass.
6. Keep track of lesson plans or hours or days (if your state/area requires) on computer.
7. Try solar cooking while camping and kill two birds with one stone. 🙂 Or actually 4 birds: learning, cooking healthy, saving fuel, and getting dinner done.
8. School year-round, so you do not have to worry if a couple weeks go by where you are too busy for much learning. Children tend to remember better without a long break anyway. They also learn through daily experiences.
9. Celebrate special days even on the road, like first day of school, 100th day, last day. We always do a treasure hunt on the first day and ice cream sandwiches on the last day.
Christa Upton Black Hills Picture Books Edgemont, SD 57735
