HomeSchool Special Needs Tidbits

Using Field Trips as Part of Homeschooling

When children attend public school, field trips are a mainstay of the school year. It’s good to get the kids out of the classroom on occasion and let them go somewhere where they can have fun while learning. This is one of the things that many homeschooling parents worry that their children will miss out on. That doesn’t have to be an issue at all. In fact, homeschooled children can go on even MORE field trips than those in public schools.

Choosing and organizing these field trips will be left up to the parent that’s responsible for homeschooling. If your children are old enough to contribute to the choices, by all means, let them. They’ll take in so much more of what the trip has to teach them if they’re excited about the destination.

When selecting the best places for your children to attend on field trips, you’ll need to consider several factors. Their ages, subjects they study, and their interests should all be taken into account. If you have any special needs children or children with challenging behaviors, you must also take that under advisement. The last thing you want is a disaster of any kind on your field trip, whether it’s someone getting hurt or something valuable destroyed that you’ll be responsible for replacing or repairing.

Younger children like things that they can touch and play with. Many cities have special museums just for kids to attend where they can touch and learn from the items on exhibit. These include science museums, space museums and history museums. You can also take them to special matinees of children’s movies or plays. If you match the ages and behaviors to the event, it will be enjoyed by everyone.

Older children can be a bit more challenging to entertain sometimes. If you live near a wax museum, zoo, or aquarium, those are often the perfect choices. It’s the older children that you can whisk away on overnight trips to nearby historical locations. Don’t forget to let them help choose and even plan these field trips. You can be sure to have a real success on your hands if they’ve been a part of the planning.

Another way you can work in relevant field trips is through special assemblies at local public schools. Many times, there are public schools that work in conjunction with homeschooled children in their locations. This means that homeschooled children are invited to any special event that they may want to attend at those schools. A lot of schools are able to book celebrities and other popular speakers and entertainers to appear. Your children can be a part of these audiences. Just be sure to check into this with your local school board.

Field trips are actually very important and successful teaching tools. This is true even if you’re taking the kids somewhere that it feels like they’re playing. In fact, fun learning is usually the most effective learning. Keep that in mind.

Homemade Eggnog

Ingredients

Directions

• Separate egg whites from yolks. Place egg yolks in a medium mixing bowl and set the egg whites aside (you can use them for another recipe as they will keep in the refrigerator for two days and in the freezer for up to three months.)
• Add sugar to the egg yolks and whisk vigorously until the mixture is pale yellow and fluffy. Set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, heat milk, whipping cream, and ½ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg over medium heat until just before it boils. Bubbles will form around the top edge of the milk mixture, and it will begin to steam.
• Remove from heat.
• To temper the eggs, spoon one ladle full of the hot milk mixture and whisk it into the egg mixture. Continue adding ladles of the hot milk to the egg mixture until most have been added.
• Slowly drizzle the egg mixture back into the saucepan, whisking as you do so.
• Heat over medium, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to thicken. DO NOT BOIL. The mixture should not be heated above 160°F.
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and bourbon.
• Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to cool for at least 1 hour.
• Serve with freshly grated nutmeg.

Recommended Reading Resources

“It happens almost every day. I hear from a mom desperate for information on homeschooling her child with special needs and learning differences. She is terrified. She’s been told to not even consider it – that the experts need to be the ones in charge of her child’s special education. She’s terrified, yes. But somewhere, deep down, she knows it’s not working. She knows there just has to be another way. This book is a comprehensive look at homeschooling a child with learning differences and special needs. In addition to practical tips and encouragement, it includes specific chapters for those homeschooling children with autism, ADHD, anxiety disorders and other diagnoses.”

“This unique cookbook, written for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disorders, will foster independence and confidence for anyone in the kitchen. The clear photographs, which include all of the small details that a person with autism or a nonreader needs to be successful, are easy to understand. The book features 35 recipes grouped into the following categories: breakfast, lunch, side dishes, snacks, desserts, and drinks. The recipes consist of picture-based directions, and each step is framed for visual clarity. Simple text directions also accompany each step, and the importance of safety is highlighted.”