If you and your family are living afloat, or are thinking about heading out soon, one concern you may have is educating your children. How in the world are you going to do it? Rule one: Don’t panic. Living our crazy life on the go, we are always asked, “Do you homeschool/boatschool your kids? What’s it really like?”
It’s a valid question, and there are many factors to consider when deciding if this path is right for you and your family. So, how do you make that leap to boat schooling and do it successfully?
LET GO OF TRADITIONAL NORMS
Why is it so hard to let go of the idea of traditional schooling for kids? After all, aboard a boat—traversing the open ocean and visiting foreign ports of call—we aren’t living traditional lives. As a society, we have been engrained to believe that our children need to have their butts planted in a desk for eight hours a day in a public/private institution.
When we decided to homeschool our son, one of the most challenging concepts for me to grasp—as a certified teacher— was cutting ties with traditional schooling, and I still grapple with it. I was brainwashed into believing brick-and-mortar schooling was the only way kids were going to learn. I can tell you that not a single class I took to get my certification prepared me to homeschool my own kid! So don’t worry if you don’t have a teaching background. You have already been through the school system and you turned out okay, right?
A NEW WORLD
Things have changed, and so have kids. According to the International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, recent studies show kids in the classroom are less engaged and more bored. This leads to less learning and concept retention.1 Breaking the ties with the idea of traditional schooling may be a hard concept to swallow.
However, it can be done very successfully. Home-schooled children outperform traditional school students Students who are engaged and have a stake in their education will learn more, and enjoy learning.1 The best way to do that is by experiencing the world hands-on, with the people who care about them the most: you and your family.
As Skillademia points out, “This flexible approach turns the world into a classroom, allowing kids to explore subjects and follow their interests seamlessly.”
GET CREATIVE
Remember, there is no wrong way to home-school your child(ren)! The whole goal of schooling is to get them to learn. There is no better way for kids to learn than with hands-on experiences, and application of learning objectives. What that looks like is up to you.
For example, you may be teaching about colors to a young learner. So, highlight all the colors you see from the cockpit. Or you could count fish, birds, ants, etc. You could read a book about being stranded on a deserted island, then go onto the incredible island in front of you and discuss what you would do if you were stuck without food, water, or shelter. Look around and get creative.
For an older student, you could discuss coral types and their roles and significance to the ocean. Or apply mathematics, science, and engineering to building a structure on the beach. There is no better place to learn about the water cycle than living on the water, seeing it firsthand, or learning about the moon and its effect on the tides.
Use your resources as a guide and get your kids out there learning hands-on where you can apply those concepts. They will learn and retain much more of the information. The options are endless; have fun with it!
REALITY VS. EXPECTATION
We all expect our kids to be well-behaved children and good learners. We hope that everything runs smoothly every day, but in reality, that will not happen. Kids will be kids, and they are emotional beings, just like we are. It’s not unusual for you and your learner to have bad days, or for someone to get sick! Somedays, you may want to cry, scream, question why you are doing this, and pull out your hair, and they will want to do the same; other days, it’s smooth sailing. Just like living on the water, some days are lovely with clear skies and calm seas, and other days, you are picking up the hook to move out of the way of a storm. So remember why you are doing this, and remember your family’s goals.
YOU’VE GOT A BUILT-IN SUPPORT SYSTEM
You’re not alone! There are thousands of cruising families that boat school their kids. Having someone to bounce ideas off, and someone to validate your decisions, is going to help prepare you for boat schooling. When you need advice about boats, weather, tides, and where to sail, you look to other people who have done it before. Boat schooling is not uncharted territory; many resources exist for parents and kids.
A lot of parents have concerns about curricula, books, lesson plans and other materials. Your first step is to research homeschooling laws in the state where you are officially domiciled (basically, where you file your taxes), then choose a curriculum that fits your lifestyle.
All states will fall into four categories: no notice/no regulation, low regulation, moderate regulation, and high regulation.3 For example, South Dakota falls into the low regulation model. They only require you to notify the state and local districts of your intent to homeschool. In New York, you must submit a notice of intent, submit an Individualized Home Instruction Plan, meet an hourly instructional requirement, file quarterly reports, and your child annually.
Based on your state’s laws, you can choose a curriculum that will meet the state’s requirements and still fits into your lifestyle. Many parents living afloat choose Calvert Homeschool because Calvert is not internet-based. The company publishes a physical curriculum with materials for your child’s grade level. However, they do not keep records or provide counseling or guidance on your student’s journey. Therefore, you will need to be very organized and ensure you remain compliant with your state’s laws. However, Calvert is reasonably priced, around $500 for a school year’s worth of books. We think it’s a good option for many families.
Another option, especially if you will be in very remote areas, is to go to a local bookstore and choose your books based on your child’s abilities. This is a great option if you are on a tight budget or want a Books for around $10-15 can be purchased, and they will help you teach an entire year’s worth of concepts. This allows flexibility and can serve as a guide for hands-on learning.
Our family uses I worried when we were thrust into schooling our son. I didn’t feel like we could do it alone, so we picked Bridgeway. Not only do they do all of the record-keeping, but we have had an academic advisor to guide us along the way.
With Bridgeway, you have many options to choose from. You can select book learning solely, or if you are going to be coastal cruising and have access to the internet, you can . You can customize your curriculum to meet your family’s needs, and kids can get school credit for almost anything. For example, if you have a student interested in game design or getting their captain’s license, those activities can count towards elective credit. They even have resources for children with learning disabilities. This option may not be the best for you and your family if you live on a tight budget, as prices run in the thousands of dollars a year, but they are fully accredited. With full accreditation and record keeping, I know my son can transfer to almost any public or private institution if we ever decide that will be his path.
MEET YOUR SUPPORT NETWORK—OTHER PARENTS
Whatever program you choose to homeschool through will also have resources and groups for you and your children to join, and there is a specific Facebook group called “Boatschooled” that can help with any questions you face. If you hit a problem or a snag, another parent is bound to have run into the same problem and can provide advice.
When you are at an anchorage, meet up with other boats with children. Not only is this excellent socialization for your kids, but allows you to talk to the parents. Ask them what they are doing, if it’s working, and if they have any tips. Chances are you will find many people in the same situation. The cruising community is incredible, and love to share. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and use those veteran boat schoolers as a guide. They have been through it, and there is no reason for you to go at it alone.
With all of this in mind, remember to stay true to your family’s goals. There is a reason you chose this lifestyle. So let go of the social norms, get creative, and find others living the cruising lifestyle to lean on! Know there is no wrong way to boatschool your kids, so don’t let the fear of homeschooling stop you from getting out on the water!
Work Cited
- International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education September 2020, Volume 13, Issue 1, 117-125
- https://www.skillademia.com/statistics/homeschooling-statistics, Andrea Mercado February 14, 2023
- https://hslda.org/legal
8 Fun Ways to Teach Kids While You’re “Out There” • • •
Back-to-school season is the perfect time to focus on making learning fun for your kids! Although boating is a great way to escape reality, it can also be used as a tool to explore and learn about the world around us. For instance, many of us appreciate nature more when we’re out on the water. And although we may not realize it, we utilize lessons about geography, math, and other subjects when operating a vessel, fueling up, and performing other boating tasks. In this post, we’ll explain how you can make learning onboard fun for your kids!
1. Use “red right return” to teach left from right. This famous saying could’ve been one of the first concepts you learned when you began boating. The alliteration is a reminder to keep red navigation aids on the starboard (a.k.a. right) side when returning from the open sea or heading upstream. It’s a simple concept that young children can comprehend, especially if they’re learning left from right.
2. Use markers to teach ABCs and 123s. Small children love to count numbers and sing their ABCs. Conveniently, all sorts of markers have numbers on them, so you can use this as an opportunity to help your child practicing counting. For instance, ask your kids to look for specific numbers. Or, ask them to recite each number as you approach the markers. Use the opportunity to explain what the numbers mean, too. Older kids who are proficient readers can read aloud signs about hazards and obstructions.
3. Teach them to plot a course. Middle-schoolers are old enough to understand distances between home and a favorite anchorage. They can hone their math skills by learning how many nautical miles there are between the two and what a nautical mile is versus a mile on land. In addition, you can show them how to use your chart plotter or nautical maps to plan your next outing.
4. Calculate fuel consumption. Are you struggling to make math seem fun to your child? Next time your family heads out on a boat, have them help you calculate fuel consumption for your trip. First, tell them how many gallons of fuel your boat holds. Then, have your boater-in-training calculate how much fuel you’ll likely burn on your next trip based on the average consumption. Double-check the numbers together to see if they were correct after the trip.
5. Examine aquatic life. Budding biologists will love lessons about all of the marine life that you can see out on the water! For example, you can use a dropper to collect water from the lake or ocean and check out the liquid beneath a microscope. All sorts of cool microorganisms will suddenly become visible. If you don’t have a microscope, no worries. Sit down together at home to look up what flora and fauna inhabit your boating area. Then, try to identify as many of them as possible while onboard. If you enjoy fishing, use this as an opportunity to teach your kids about the importance of catch and release, promoting sustainability.
6. Identify cloud formations. Finally, make learning fun on your boat for mini meteorologists by teaching them to keep a watchful eye on the sky. Cloud movements tells us what direction the weather is approaching, and the types of clouds reveal when the weather is changing. Overall, cloud colors, shapes, and sizes are all scientific signs of weather and atmospheric conditions. On your boat, you can teach kids about these weather conditions and make a game out of naming cloud types.
7. Make safety fun. As you likely know, promoting boating safety is key. Teaching your kids about safety best practices can save lives, but you can also make it fun. Ask them to help you make a safety checklist before you head out on the water. This check list can include life jackets, flotation devices, fire extinguishers, and signaling devices, among other items. By promoting safe boating, you can ensure that your family members are safe, and that your kids are gaining knowledge that they’ll keep with them on future boating trips.
8. Enroll them in a youth boating program. If your kids show an interest in boating, why not sign them up for a youth boating program? These programs teach kids beginner boating skills and can provide an excellent foundation for recreational boating.
By incorporating these lessons into your next boat day, you can make learning fun for your kids!
Courtesy: Discover Boating
