Adventures in Home Schooling

Jalen is in 8th grade. We both love home schooling, although he does miss being with other children.

Oh my heart.

First day tradition.

We have done a lot of science experiments. Jalen does some with our co-op group and we do some at home.

Taking the m's off M&M's.

Jalen ate some of the test materials.

Co-op experiments

Chlorophyll

Turning bone into rubber.

Demonstrating how muscle cells work.

Myelin sheath - nerves

Our co-op group took a field trip to visit Jennifer Bullock and Massi Bernasconi at their art restoration lab. The kids were completely fascinated and we stayed way longer than planned. It was amazing.

Pieces Jennifer is working on.

Water tables where they clean the artwork.

The chemistry behind the restoration.

I think these were drying tables.

Massi restores documents. 

He has to go through books like this page by page.

He makes his own paper and books. So cool!

He is also restoring this cute car that I can't remember what it is called.

Jalen and I went to an 8th grade job fair where he got to see lots of possibilities for what he can do in the future. Currently he wants to be a glass blower. Not sure where that idea came from, but I think it's cool.

We made Pan de Muertos for Día de los Muertos.

We took a fieldtrip with our co-op group to the Riverwalk. What a beautiful walk.

Me with Navey Nymeyer - such a bright girl!

Our co-op group this year has been fantastic. We meet together once a week. It's a good mix of kids and the classes have been great supplements to Jalen's education. He gets his science labs there and is in  book club and life skills groups I lead. I also teach an elementary Spanish class.

For one of our co-ops, we went to the Beebe's compound. They live on an amazing piece of land with gardens, chickens, goats, a huge playground, a pavilion, etc. It's a paradise. Three families live there - two sisters and their parents.

Jenn Beebe and Rachel Luz put together graham cracker houses and we decorated them at co-op. So much candy!

We made ornaments.

The kids were able to roam wild and free.

There was a hay ride.

Nicole Weldon made snowmen out of white donuts. So cute!

We made s'mores and some kids roller skated.

It was an amazing day!

The next week we met at our house and had a Christmas in Latin America activity - my favorite!

There were a lot of people in our little house.

I gave a presentation on some of the Latin traditions and how they're different from how we celebrate here in the States.

I made a rosca de reyes for the first time and it turned out amazing. Phew!

We also made luminaries, which everyone seemed to enjoy.

I love sharing my love of Latin America with other people, especially children. And I love homeschooling Jalen. It's been a huge blessing to our whole family.