The Homeschool View
Labor Day is over, school is in
By Hunter Fell

September 9, 2010

As you know, Monday was Labor Day which means that most students, homeschooled or otherwise, are all back in school.

Factoid: It is illegal in Michigan for public schools to begin their school year before Labor Day

Normally, this is our family’s homeschooling rule too, but due to an increased workload this year, I began school last week. I’ve often been asked the question, “As a homeschooler, what do you do all day?” So that is what I will attempt to answer in this week’s Homeschool View.

So, what do I do all day? Well, keep in mind that I can’t speak for all homeschooler’s schedules, only for my own. Also, there are many methods of homeschooling, but I’ll address that another day. As I consider our school days, they can look very different from year to year - this year is looking much more ordinary than it did last year while traveling the country, but ordinary can be good too. One of the beauties of homeschooling, I find, is its flexibility; but I digress, so let’s view an ordinary school day. Generally I wake up around 8:30 a.m. (remember I don’t have to catch a bus); and after running through the normal morning routine of breakfast and grooming, I have devotions with my family before plunging – OK, so it’s more of a slow dip – into my schoolwork.

Myth Buster: Homeschoolers don’t sit in their PJ’s all day - I’m usually out of mine by lunch, shhh!

On Tuesday mornings I have to wake up at 7 a.m. to get ready to go to Co-op where we meet with other homeschooling families once a week from 9-3 for five class periods. It offers academic courses for Jr./Sr. High students and enrichment classes for those younger; and I am taking Art, Chemistry, Spanish I, and Computer Lab this year, along with having a study hall. The teachers/parents give lectures, labs, tests, etc. during Co-op, and send us home with assignments for the week. In addition to Co-op classes, I am taking English, Ancient History/Geography, and Geometry courses at home.

We’ve attended other co-ops in the past, and some years none; but this is our first ‘Academic’ Co-op, geared more toward college prep, so I'm not sure how much homework to expect or how long it will take me to do the assignments each day, but so far I like it. Typically my school work has been completed within 3 to 4 hours in the past; and that includes my favorite subject, lunch, where we often watch a DVD of some sort while we eat … I love movies! Of course, there are days that are rougher, or just take longer to finish, (or don’t come with a DVD lunch), but since we have no “busy work”, nor spend a lot of time dealing with class disturbances, we can cover more in less time which is a very good thing. Another benefit of homeschooling is that all of my school work IS homework, so once I’m done, I’m done for the day. Since I don’t have to come home from school and do homework, I can spend more time playing with my brothers and neighbors, competing on the Wii, exploring my computer and other interests, or plunging into a good book series – no dipping required … I love to read!

Well, that about sums it up. I hope you’ve enjoyed this ordinary Homeschool View of a day in the life of Hunter Fell.