It has been one month since we crossed The Atlantic to the Caribbeans, and next came Christmas and New Years celebration. Now we finally feel a bit more settled and can establish routines for homeschooling and activities. This is roughly our daily schedule.
815-915 Math class (with Grant)
920-950 Zoom Chinese class (with tutor in HK)
950-1020 Spanish on Duolingo app (girls wanted to continue learning Spanish after studying in Cartagena)
1030-12 English writing (with Nana) and Special projects (with Delphine & Grant)
Afternoon Free time
- Hang out with friends
- Water sports - swimming, snorkelling, stand up pedal board, magic carpet, wake boarding, donut, etc.
- Baking
- Playing games and Minecraft
We are also experimenting with a new way of learning. While on anchorage, since all the boat kids are always spending time together, we got the big kids together to work on a project about sea turtles and the younger kids to do a project on pelicans. They have to work in teams and do their research using reference books on our boat and the internet, organise the information and put into a presentation format of their choice (powerpoint, videos, drawings, etc). The kids will then present to their families.
Hopefully we can learn the following -
- Homeschooling can be quite a lonely experience. This way kids can collaborate and work in teams while cruising.
- Learn independent research work. We gave the kids a rough structure and guideline, and let the kids decide on the content and how they will present the work.
- Learning a special topic that is related to their immediate surrounding and experience
- We have South African+HK Chinese, Canadians, Germans, Swedens and Americans working together. Kids are definitely learning about cross cultural collaboration and overcoming cultural and language barrier.
- Presentation and multimedia skills.
Most importantly the kids seem to be having a lot of fun doing the projects with their friends!