priorities

I don't have all of the answers when it comes to homeschooling.
Sometimes it feels like I don't have any.

I think we all just do the best that we can, hoping and praying that at some point our kids do learn how to throw a baseball, use hair gel, and buy new pants when the old ones come up past their socks.

When we started this adventure - back when Punk was only three, there were goals: allow our kids to explore the world beyond the classroom, encourage them to learn at their own pace, teach them the value of work, build their social confidence among all age groups and make learning fun. We still have the same goals. I still contend that those are probably the most valuable skills a person can glean from any education. However, after 18 months in the public school system, I find myself constantly second guessing the best way to achieve these goals.

Is it better to use multiplication flash cards, or to have the kids make a triple batch of brownies? Do organizational skills start with a clean room, or a well written daily planner? Do we learn geography best from a map, or cruising across the country?

Although I suspect that the truth lies somewhere in the middle, the reality is - I don't know. I won't know until Kooka is finishing her dissertation and says, "I hated when you made me write my spelling words, but I have not misspelled 'embarrass' since the fourth grade." Or when I ask Punk if he knows the capital of Colorado, and he says "Is that the place where we rode up the mountains on that really scary tram?"

Only then, will everything come to light.

So in the meantime, I'm asking my friends for assistance.

If you were to homeschool your child and had a bit of extra money after covering the basics, what would be the best way to invest in your child's education - great books and curriculum; extra curricular activities - music lessons, karate, dance class; travel experiences; or technology (computers, software, etc). Again - I assume that the best scenario is to share the wealth - spread it out a bit, but every family has their priorities, and I am curious to find out yours.

The poll is in the upper corner of the blog - it's completely anonymous. Thanks!