We are going to be on the road in a couple weeks more than we're used to, and I was hoping to use the travel time for some schooling. DS can read in the car, but it makes me terribly car sick to do so. To spell him, I would like to use some audio books....but our vehicle is old enough we don't have an MP3/iPod input. I tried a couple of those gadget where it will (supposedly) play through the stereo, but with the iPod volume all the way up AND the stereo volume all the way up, we could still barely hear it. I have a set of portable speakers, and they work turned up loud, but have to be pointed directly at the children (so I can't really hear what's going on...). I guess we just have a loud, noisy vehicle. But the installed stereo can be heard fine (of course, it has speakers throughout). I can't be the first person to face this, and I was wondering if anyone has come up with any creative solutions. Thanks.
Do you have a CD player in your car? It takes more space than an ipod, but just put the audiobooks you already have on disc, or borrow several from the library.
I have used the CD player in our car but also each girl has their own iPod so they each picked several books to listen to on their own. We also used dry erase boards for them to do spelling and writing simple sentences. We have a laptop also and we have them do CD Roms as well and watch educational videos of the areas we are going to visit. I also copy worksheets and have folders made for each child with work in them, they can do it in the car or in the hotel, its up to them but it has to get done that day. We do the Junior Ranger programs and park ranger lead classes at all National/State Parks that will be visiting in the area. I try not to do more then 3 hours of "school" work while we are on vacation/ road trips.
@Jen - I will have to check and see if the CD player (we do have one) will play MP3 files (I bet it will) and if I can use a computer with a burner (I use a netbook - no CD/DVD drive. @Shelley - I was hoping to be able to stick with what we're already using (not purchase something new), but I'll check it out...
@Crystal: I make a binder up for each child each week, and I was kind of going to "bank" pencil/crayon/paper activities for the long drive days. I do have a netbook, but no CD drive. When the boys use it, we're usually online. Maybe I will look around for shareware/freeware I can download for them. We have dry-erase books the kids like to use, and also these water-writing boards that are a little less messy. Those would actually be great, but they take up a lot of space. OTOH, they are nice firm writing surfaces. Hm. I am going to have to *really* think this through!
