Here's an exciting educational environment that's probably going to make school haters more enthusiastic to learn. Some parents have started teaching their children in the most unconventional location: the wilderness.
The Guardian tells the stories of the Tartaglias, the Means and the Princes. These families have taken school to an exciting campus and have joined their kids for the ride.
Brooke and Joey Tartaglia's family hails from Arizona but the couple decided to move into a remote village in Papua New Guinea. After choosing to live outside the comforts of modern civilization, Brooke took the role of a teacher to her three children, who were then, five, three, and one.
Using an American curriculum called Christian Light Education, the three children were homeschooled at their house in the jungle. Their daily schedule starts at 9 in the morning where the children would do school work on their chosen subject listed for that day. Afterwards, they would enjoy lunch in the woods before proceeding to an afternoon of history and biblical lectures. Playtime starts when school finishes at 3:30 pm.
The arrangement of the Means is different. The family lives in Wakulla, Florida and visits remote locations for months in a year. Unlike the Tartaglias, the Means don't follow a curriculum or a daily plan. They teach Skyla, 7, what she sees in every learning environment she encounters for the first time.
The parents are biologists and when they're out in the wild, Skyla tags along and learns about scientific research and ecology. The family says that the world is their classroom.
Another couple is Daniel and Clair Prince of United Kingdom. Their homeschooling is different in a sense that they do not only travel within the country, they explore the world with their four children, aged nine, seven and a four-year-old twin. They have visited Cambodia, Croatia, Dubai, Italy, Australia, Thailand and the U.S.
The couple teaches their kids through experience. For them, this helps their children understand and retain information easier.Homeschooling does have its benefits but it also has its share of risks.
According to RaiseSmartKid.com, homeschooling helps children perform better academically. One-on-one tutoring means more attention is given to the needs of a student. Also, since homeschooled children work alone, they become more independent. Once they move to a regular school and have group works, they know how to decide for themselves without having to consult others.
In homeschooling, the pace of lessons are dependent on the student's speed to grasp information. Homeschooled children don't have to wait for others when they've already mastered a lesson. One of the best perks, as well, is that homeschooling encourages children to study hard not for grades, but for the knowledge.
However, as per MiddleSchool.net, homeschooling also has its drawbacks. "Homeschooling is a full time commitment," the site writes and parents should devote time and effort to give their children quality education. This is not easy for single parents, working parents and stay-at-home parents who have to transform into teachers.
The cost of homeschooling is also expensive. This includes costs of materials, curriculum, field trips, books, and hardware among other things. Of course, there is no price to pay that can buy friends for homeschooled children. Children won't be able to interact with kids their age at a regular basis compared to kids who are sent to school.
Remember that the stories of the couples featured above are exciting and fun that you and your children can also enjoy, should you choose to homeschool them. Just don't forget to consider the price these people have to pay for their children's homeschooling. Ask yourself what you think is best for your children at present and for the future. Share your thoughts on the Comments section below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates.
