learnaswego.com

Let me wholeheartedly recommend a book by Rafe Esquith “Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire,” published by Penguin Books. While written primarily for teachers, this little book is bursting with suggestions, information and inspiration to gladden the heart of every roadschooling and homeschooling parent. In particular, his chapter on “Goin’ Mobile” offers practical ideas on how to prepare for trip and take away the greatest value from the experience.

I recently heard Rafe speak and saw a performance by his students, the Hobard Shakespeareans. The children, fifth graders, grabbed the heart of the large audience by their naturalness, self-possession and spirit in speaking the Bard’s words, even though English was their second language.

Anyone wanting more information can check out the website www.hobartshakespeareans.org.

I suspect that one reading of “Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire” will convince anyone that anything less than excellence in education is not acceptable. I wish it had been available before Ryan and I took off on our year.

It’s true. After weeks, months of piles of papers, revisions, a stunted social life, doubts, promised deadlines, always one more thing to do, the revised-titled “Roadschooling Ryan: Learn As We Go” was brought to light of day the last of November.

Available through www.amazon.com, www.barnesand noble.com and www.iUniverse.com.

Now comes the next part–finding those people who really need or want to read it. So I begin a process totally new for me…going out to sell myself and “Roadschooling” to book stores, parent groups, newspapers, tv and radio shows.

I will continue to travel– without Ryan, because he’s a young man on his own– but now more for business and humanitarian reasons. As I pass through various locales across the continent, I will stay on the lookout for great educational possibilities, partly to satisfy my own curiosity, partly to throw out suggestions.

I invite readers of the book and this blog to send in comments, suggestions, and requests. More than that. I am asking that you help me find newspaper reporters, radio and television hosts, other hosts for readings and book signings who would find this to their taste. A media kit, along with other information, is available on my website www.roadschoolingryan.com.

I am available for consultation to those parents who think they might want to do the same thing. I know you’re out there. I met you. Talked to some of you. If not for a school year, maybe a month or two? A few weeks?

Go on. Have a great year. Hug your kids (or partner or parents or friends or all of the above) and keep your eye out for the next surprise. Down the road, of course.