The WakaNahannis at Sea: Bomeschool: Year 2

As you can imagine, our first school year was not your typical land-based year. For starters, it commenced in August 2016 and ended almost 14 months later September 29, 2017. As we made our way down to the East Coast of Canada a year ago, we were pretty diligent about sticking to the books on most of our calm travel days. However, from November to March, we were consumed with boat projects, trip planning, provisioning, weather watching, socializing, and ocean travel. Any school routine we had got thrown out to sea. In those five months, we logged 30 school days compared to 90 days their land-based buddies had completed. Yikes...

I had most of the books and materials prepared for the year, but I had not quite mastered how to weave all the subjects into a varied and interesting school day. It seemed all I could do some days was to get them to read, write something and complete some math before some boat chore took over our life. Sadly, science, social studies, music and French waited in the sidelines for their entrance.

Volcano models after visiting Montserrat

Focusing on project

Art

By April 2017, we got back into stride and developed more of a daily routine. School was held in the morning, and afternoon was left for playing with friends, dinghy sailing, and onshore trips. Science, social studies and music made the cut and got back on the roster. French occurred when we were in French-speaking places and with Francophone friends. I was able to leave schoolwork with the kids and John to go grocery shopping or run errands. It was strange in June when school was out for most kids, and we were in the swing of our second half of the year.

Despite what your mother tells you, it helps to do math lying on your stomach

Science class

Building bridges

Geometry with sticky tack and toothpicks

Once we got to our "summering" spot here in Grenada, school became easier as our new boat friends were schooling each morning and were eager to meet at the beach when school was over. During our home stretch, we did 31 days of school in a row without a break. Wavey even managed to squeeze in her "Pioneer Day" where she simulated life of the early settlers by washing her own clothes, making butter, baking corn bread and mending clothes.

Washing her clothes

(Well, maybe the early settlers did not wash with their feet while wearing a bikini)

Making cornbread

Making butter by shaking cream in a jar

Spreading homemade butter on freshly baked corn bread. Yum!

Second last day of Grades 3 and 6. Spelling tests and lunch at Grenada Yacht Club

We ended "classes" on Sept 29th, a few days before John's Mom Lois and sister Liane arrived. We had a lunch out, got reports cards, and celebrated with our friends.

Last day of school. Having a smoothie at the mall

Taco night on Nahanni V with Millie, Sienna, Nathan and Mac

Mac, Simon, and Nathan chilling out at the Tiki Bar in Prickly Bay waiting for their pizza

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Bomeschool Stats School Year 2016-2017

"Staff" on site: 2
Student to teacher ratio: 1:1
Days absent: 0
Days late: 24 (I know...really!)
Days of school completed: 186
Average time of daily instruction: 3 hours
Number of Fieldtrips: 58
Number of hissy fits - Students: 112 Teachers: 36

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After a wonderful visit with John's family (more on this visit on next blog), we spent a week doing some chores and hanging out. Our two week fall vacation was fantastic!

Visit with Lois and Liane

On October 17, 2017 we got back at it. Simon moved into Grade 7 and Wavey into Grade 4. Books that arrived with Granny cracked opened and we transitioned to using a few new e-books on the iPad. For me it was a continuation of writing lesson plans, scheduling units and marking. The kids were thrilled that teacher Daddy is picking up more Science and Coding for this coming year.