{"id":51092,"date":"2023-11-21T12:45:44","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T17:45:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=51092"},"modified":"2025-02-07T16:45:30","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T21:45:30","slug":"home-schooling-aboard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/people\/home-schooling-aboard\/","title":{"rendered":"Home-Schooling Aboard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Home-schooling <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n From learning how to calculate \u00adposition to figuring wind and current, home-schooling can look quite different for cruising kids.<\/span>\n Courtesy Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n\n

In the early days, when I thought about what it might be like cruising and home-schooling, the vision went something like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warm, dappled morning light streaming in through the open companionway, my daughters working on journal entries. Me making coffee while gathering items for our morning science lesson, which would, of course, tie into that day\u2019s reading assignment. My husband, Green, working on route-planning and navigation exercises over breakfast. After a snorkeling break (with fish and coral identification, naturally), the girls would do math without complaining, and then we\u2019d hunt for shells, which we would somehow turn into an art project. Visits to town would be prefaced by a study of the area\u2019s history. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There would be lesson plans. We would be organized. Our curriculum would be exciting and relevant, and meet all of the standards from back home. The kids would be engaged and eager to learn.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was, obviously, a fantasy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When an old friend reached out recently with questions about home-schooling while cruising, I hesitated to answer\u2014even after a couple of winters sailing south with the kids to the Bahamas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Eleuthera, <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n When life is more or less a big field trip, opportunities to learn are everywhere. Juliana and Caitlin Brett explore tide pools on Eleuthera, Bahamas.<\/span>\n Jennifer Brett<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

Why did I go silent? Because, while some of our days had included some of the elements I\u2019d envisioned, most days saw the kids begrudgingly sitting at the salon table doing some pages in workbooks, with me imploring them to \u201cget school done\u201d so we could go ashore. If we were underway, forget about it. School took a backseat. I was not quite the teacher I had hoped to be\u2014nor was I terribly creative or organized. I worried that they\u2019d be behind their peers, and that I was failing to embrace the opportunities around us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking for advice that I could pass on to my friend, I reached out to a few veteran cruisers who had many years of \u201cboat-schooling\u201d in their wake. What I discovered was surprising and comforting: What they envisioned wasn\u2019t always what ended up working either, and doubts were common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Worked, What Didn\u2019t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When Behan Gifford and her husband, Jamie, set out cruising with their three kids\u2014who were entering preschool, first and fourth grades\u2014they knew they wanted to \u201cde-school.\u201d This is a length of time with less, if any, focus on formal schoolwork. It\u2019s sort of an ease in to home-schooling where you learn what the kids\u2019 natural areas of interest are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe idea of de-schooling is that we, parents and kids alike, need time to reset on how learning will happen on board,\u201d Behan Gifford says. \u201cHome-schooling on board doesn\u2019t have to include the stress, the approach or many other aspects of mainstream school.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s one of several approaches that I considered for our girls, Caitlin and Juliana, who were in sixth and first grades when we set out aboard Lyra<\/em>, our family\u2019s Reliance 44 ketch. Our approach ended up being eclectic. I sort of based our materials on where they had left off with their classes, with the thought that we would fill in with lessons that I made up, related to our surroundings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"seabirds\" <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The Gifford kids observe seabirds.<\/span>\n Courtesy Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

Other options could have been a \u201cschool-in-a-box\u201d approach where you order a complete grade-level curriculum, and oftentimes have remote support from a teacher or adviser; an online school where kids log in and do activities each day; or unschooling, which lets the kids follow what interests them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gifford family, after de-\u00adschooling with their kids, went with a sort of unschooling approach. \u201cNatural learning felt like a natural fit,\u201d Gifford says. \u201cWe stuffed the boat with primary resources, from field guides to an encyclopedia set to books about the places we\u2019d be exploring together, and let it flow. There were also standard-issue grade-level workbooks, because if a kid wanted to do that, well, then, that\u2019s what they did. Opportunities to learn were everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erin Carey and her family also had a pretty laid-back approach at the beginning. The family left to go cruising in February 2018 when the kids were 3, 7 and 8, and they cruised the Caribbean for two years before crossing the Atlantic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile we thought school was \u00adimportant, we were pretty relaxed and open to finding new ways for the kids to learn,\u201d Carey says. \u201cI decided we didn\u2019t want the school-in-a-box approach because we didn\u2019t want to have to send results home or order books via [snail mail]. We also didn\u2019t want to have to rely on the internet. Our approach completely changed after a couple of years.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Eccles family, whose daughters were 10 and 12 when they set out on the Oyster World Rally in September 2021, began with a more structured approach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we first left Monaco, we planned for the girls to use a full curriculum from Laurel Springs,\u201d Kate Eccles says. \u201cThey offered us a more traditional textbook option rather than online schooling because we knew that Wi-Fi and data would be a challenge, particularly when on passage for weeks at a time. Unfortunately, what we didn\u2019t realize until the girls actually started the schooling was that at the end of every lesson, they were required to do an online test, which of course they were unable to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Reality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Carey says that she needed to adjust her schooling to reality: \u201cI realized that I was not really creative enough or patient enough to make up lessons each day. I also hated wondering if I was doing enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"girl <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n A truth about home-schooling while \u00adcruising? Most of the learning takes place off the boat.<\/span>\n Jennifer Brett<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

After a cruising pause during the pandemic, the family continued on to the Mediterranean, where they cruised for almost two years. \u201cFor the second time around, we went with the complete opposite kind of curriculum,\u201d Carey says. \u201cWe signed up to an online school called Acellus. The kids simply had to open their computers and log in, then watch videos and answer questions based on those videos. In theory, it sounded amazing. It took all of the teaching out of the equation for us, and we never had to worry if they were working at the right grade level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This went OK for about six to eight months, and then, the younger kids got bored. The oldest son continued with Acellus, and the family added writing assignments because they felt that the program lacked in that area. They moved the two younger kids into a program called My Homeschool, a curriculum that emphasizes high-quality literature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aboard Lyra<\/em>, our girls kept up with their workbooks, and I kept my fingers crossed that they would fit in with their classmates once we returned to land. A difference in our situation compared with the other families is that our timeline was much shorter. Our girls wouldn\u2019t get too far off course, but we never really were able to settle into a good rhythm with home-schooling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eccles\u2019 family came to a similar conclusion. \u201cA huge part of the Oyster World Rally for us as parents was that we would expose our children to alternative forms of learning,\u201d she says. \u201cThe bulk of our days included learning to sail, to log coordinates on charts, and participate in SSB calls.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her kids also learned to prepare meals, organize provisions, and live in a \u00adconfined space. Patience and hard work were emphasized, and they developed a sense of responsibility by being on time for their watches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey experienced firsthand learning about wildlife, not only in the oceans, but also on land all around the world, from the Galapagos to the Gili islands, and were exposed to an array of different cultures and religions,\u201d she says. \u201cSure, we knew that the girls possibly might return to regular life weaker in certain areas of the curriculum, however, we felt that the rally really was an education in itself and an experience of a lifetime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lessons Learned<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There is no \u201cbest\u201d way to home-school on board. What will work for your family might look completely different from the family down the dock, and you will likely go through times when you doubt yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"weaving <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Mairen Gifford learns how to weave a pandanus mat in Fiji.<\/span>\n Courtesy Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

\u201cKnow that the first steps into home-schooling will be uncomfortable, and the approach you take probably won\u2019t work out quite the way you imagined it,\u201d Gifford says. \u201cThat\u2019s OK. Reset, and try again. You can always stop, breathe, and reset from the place you find yourself. Most cruising families do this\u2014sometimes a few times\u2014to different degrees. It\u2019s a lot of pressure felt by parents. It\u2019s often not pretty to navigate the delicate roles of parent and teacher or learning facilitator, but we have yet to see dismal failures as long as parents are keeping minds and hearts open to continue trying until they land on the right balance for their kids and themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eccles agrees: \u201cGet the kids reading as much as possible. If you can, get them used to using e-readers because this will save a lot of time trying to find bookstores as you go around the world.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also try to see everything that you\u2019re doing as a learning or teaching \u00adopportunity, she says, and enjoy the adventure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Things to Consider<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The pandemic changed many aspects of daily life, especially school. \u201cHome-schooling has blossomed,\u201d said Melissa Robb, home-school advocate for ENRICHri, a Rhode Island home-school support group. \u201cIt was already on the rise, steadily, across the country, really, across the world, but throw in a pandemic along with a plethora of social issues, and it skyrocketed. With the higher numbers comes more resources in the marketplace and locally via libraries, businesses and museums.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This availability of resources has been a game-changer for cruising families, but the options can be overwhelming. Before committing to a full curriculum, ask if your kids can try a few lessons to make sure it\u2019s a good fit. Also keep in mind that many of the \u00adonline-learning options require a robust internet connection (and unlimited data), and some courses have a set class schedule. This could all work well if you\u2019re at a dock with great Wi-Fi, but less so if you\u2019re actively cruising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources include the Kids4Sail Facebook group, made up of cruising families around the world. It has a frequently updated spreadsheet with common curricula that cruising \u00adfamilies are using.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

World Book<\/a> has textbooks and workbooks in all subject areas, as well as digital resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outschool<\/a> can help with everything from a one-time drawing class to weekly Spanish lessons. Because these classes are over video, Outschool requires high-speed internet access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Voyaging With Kids<\/a><\/em> by Behan Gifford, Sara Dawn Johnson and Michael Robertson (available in print and e-book) is a treasure trove of information for any family considering going cruising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lesson Plans Ahoy<\/a><\/em> by Nadine Slavinski, third edition (available in print and e-book) covers a variety of subjects and can be adapted for kids ages 4 through 12.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jennifer Brett is a <\/em>CW editor-at-large.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When it comes to educating the kids while cruising, these parents learned that flexibility, and sometimes changing course, is key.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":51096,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Jennifer Brett","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"","hydra_display_updated":false,"arc_story_id":"","arc_website_url":"","arc_subtype":"","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":true,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","ad_settings_ads_on_this_page":true,"ad_settings_automatic_ad_injection_into_the_content":true,"ad_targeting":"","sponsored_image":false,"sponsored_url":"","social_share":true,"alternate_title_newsletter":"","alternate_content_newsletter":""},"categories":[165],"tags":[2044,252,202,197,1967],"class_list":["post-51092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-affiliate","tag-cruising-with-kids","tag-living-aboard","tag-people","tag-print-october-2023"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51092"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51092\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51096"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}