As we try to get ready to live in a really small space, without the guarantee of resources nearby, I'm trying to make our system as mobile as possible. Often as not, I have something that needs to be done during the day so we have to do school in the car. I have a small (a little bigger than half page) notebook which is the central organizer, with schedule pages, blank paper and completed assignments. I like the small size but we've been needing more space on the pages so we may just go with a standard 8 X 11 binder next time.
We've started using Singapore math, which is all in soft cover books -- I had them punched with 3 holes so they can be filed.
We are doing the Writing Road to Reading Method for English, which can be taught out of a single textbook. I feel the grammar portion isn't enough so i'm developing a program for Grammar for David. (For Arthur we're working through the First Language Lessons book) I've been against the idea of using workbooks for everything and depending on "programs" for everything, but they consume a lot less space and usually contain all the supplemental materials.
When we leave Texas again I want to have everything either printed out or prepared as a PDF file and stored onboard the computer. Maybe too ambitious but it would make things a lot lot easier. Without a game plan, I waste too much time trying to decide what to do. But I like the spontaneity of taking our subject matter from the environment. So we need to strike a balance.
I've recently discovered "The Baldwin Project" which has on its website complete copies of books for children, most of them very old (public domain) and out of print. We have read "Stories of Beowulf" and selections from "Church's History of Britain". We can either read them online or print out the files on scratch paper and toss them when we're done.
For copywork and composition, we are using French paper I bought in Morocco. I have never found anything like it in the US for learning cursive. It is divided into a grid of 1/2 cm vertical lines and 2 mm horizontal lines. I've found a website where you can print out custom grid paper. So unless we visit a country that stocks French imports, I think we will make use of this resource when our paper runs out. My laminated sheet at the front of the binder is made from a sheet of this writing paper, so I can demonstrate things with dry erase pens. For math, I am using grid paper, which is great for all kinds of math applications.
I don't want to use my limited supply of school paper for scrap so I have a stack of one-side-used office paper which I cut down to size and punch holes. Art projects are a little problematic to keep. The kids are constantly making projects with paper, many of which don't fit into the standard 8 X 11 folder. I'm going to try scanning the little things into the computer, and taping the big ones to the wall. Don't know how that will fit into a quarter berth..
We're almost finished with our geology unit (the rocks have to go back to the museum tomorrow). We've amassed a little stack of data sheets and drawings, and picture and movie files. With a digital camera, it's relatively easy to keep records of science projects in a small space, provided we don't need to keep the results of our experiments. I have come to the conclusion that we really will want to have some kind of internet access when we go.
Last week we joined the Denver Natural History and Science Museum (my kids have both posted about it in this blog) and have been using it for school. The lending library is free, there is a beautiful atrium with tables where we can study and a huge park outside where we can run around. And the zoo is next door. So far we have only gone one day this week, but now that our projects with the rocks are done, I plan to go back to the museum and zoo. Although a membership is not cheap, it's less expensive than a lot of classes. Being able to go for free, anytime, makes it possible to drop in for an hour to study one particular animal, or stay all afternoon and not study anything in particular. The zoo especially is much more fun when you know you don't have to see everything in one day.
