Unintentional Homeschooling: Join the Club

When we started “homeschooling” in March, I never imagined that we’d still be doing it come September. Well, its now mid-August and along with a lot of other families, we have become unintentional homeschoolers for the upcoming school year. 

I’ll admit, I’m feeling a little intimidated at the prospect of being a full time teacher this year. I did about 1/2 a year of course work in Early Elementary Education in college and quickly realized I’d rather just be decorating a classroom than actually teaching (hence the Interior Design degree I ended up with). 

When we started earlier in the year, the workload was very light, and understandably so. Nobody was, or could have possibly been, prepared for something like this. Now that we are going to be solely responsible for the education of our littles, I’m excited and a tiny bit freaked. I’m sure some of you are feeling the same. 

Our daughter’s district is going fully virtual in the fall but the program offerings are very limited and primarily focused on computer work. We have been looking for an alternative that would incorporate more hands on, immersive learning and less screen time for her for the upcoming school year and we think we’ve found it so I thought I’d share.

This year we are going to be utilizing a curriculum from a company called Bookshark. I know, I’d never heard of it before either. I was tipped off by a friend who’s brother-in-law works for a virtual academy and homeschooling network in the Metro Detroit area. He recommended it for first time homeschoolers like us. 

It is secular, and literature based which basically means there aren’t any religious undertones, so its great for people of all faiths or no specific faith (we’re not judging!) and it focuses on teaching from books that aren’t dry old text books. Blech! There are a lot of Usborne books in the early levels. If you’re not familiar with them, they are spectacular. It is also allows for customization and doesn’t go strictly by grade level which, if you ask me is awesome because sometimes you have a student who is way ahead in reading and a little behind in math and this program seems to allow for that. Plus, its only 4 days a week.  Did I mention it comes with a gigantic planner so you don’t have to create your own lesson plans, and practically all of the supplies you need to support the program and projects are included too?! Say what?!

Our little girl is six and our son is “free and free quarters” and we’re going to be trying this out this year and letting you know what we think along the way so please stay tuned! 

In the mean time, if you’re feeling alone, don’t. There are lots of other unintentional homeschoolers out there this year just like you and me. In fact, I think I’ll start a Facebook group… Come check it out. We’ll laugh together, cry together, learn from each other and bitch about whatever we need to. Join me will you?