Distance Education - has anyone used this?

Why don't you speak to someone involved in Home School about this, they may have a solution to your problem.

Oh excellent choice of touring rig too ;-))

Baz.

We used Distance Ed (SA) years ago when overseas and the kids did very well. Got through the work much quicker than in a class with 30 others so they found it a bit of a drag to go back to school and have to have lessons after lunch! Many projects and activities would fit naturally into the sightseeing you would be doing.

As for the itinerary problem perhaps you should follow this up with someone higher up the food chain. Many itinerant workers use Distance Ed and I shouldn't think it would be too difficult for you and the teachers so long as you stay in the one place (or within reach of one post office) for a reasonable length of time every now and then so mail can catch up with you and you can update the teachers of addresses. You should't need a whole year detailed itinerary but, for the system to work, you probably would need to plan a few weeks ahead. Grade 4 should not present many problems. If distance Ed seems too difficult and you plan for your child to return to his current school you could get a copy of the program, projects, textbooks etc and do it yourself. This does take a bit of effort and commitment to a reasonably regular routine but avoids hassle with mail etc. At that level so long as you can keep up with reading, writing and arithmetic there should be no problems. With all that he would learn on the trip as well he would benefit enormously from the individual teaching and would probably be well ahead when he returned. He couls keep in touch with teacher and classmates through postcards etc, a great reading/writing activity. Keeping a trip diary/scrapbook would also be a valuable execise.
Goos luck Lynne and John

G day,
not sure if still available but i used to do school of the air on my parents property in the Gascoyne aria in WA & i think this would be fully mobile as long as they were aware of where to post school packs (you would need a hf radio)

Hey Ozrover...give us quick run down on your rig...is it the Td5 or V8 and what do you think of it..on road..off road...and economy?

I'm thinking of getting one...maybe

Thanks in advance

That sounds like a good plan for Distance Ed. It is a pity your local school is so unhelpful but I am sure you will be impressed with Distance Ed. It really won't take a lot of time each day so long as you get a bit organised. Just be confident in your ability to teach Connor - after all you taught him a lot before he even saw a school! Relax and enjoy the experience and don't get too uptight about lessons. You don't want any conflict to develop. Keep it interesting and stop or change activities when he is tired. Remember that what seems very hard today will seem easy tomorrow or next week! Also it is not necessary to be always sitting at a desk or table to be learning! Be flexible. And it is not necessary to be perfect at everything all the time - for him or you.
Have a wonderful time. Connor is so lucky!
Lynne and John