So, which makes for a better school day?

Knocking out history, readers, math, science texts, some dictation or composition, maybe some art or music or foreign language (depending on the day), updating timelines, studying geography? Thus having the satisfaction of a list of checked boxes?

OR chasing interests where they may lead? Even if that means drawing comics for a week, overdosing on NCIS, mowing lawns for pay, intensely studying Indian sign language from an out of print book, playing "Oh Susanna" on the guitar a thousand times in a row and then singing it in a thousand different ways (but always at hyperspeed until mom says to shut up because she USED to like that song but doesn't anymore), designing cool lego worlds for hours with your friends, making taco salads for dinner for everyone, griping about national politics, watching the birds at the feeder, and making a plaster volcano with dad?

What do you think? I'm cyclically torn.

ETA: Sly asked to do another chapter in Life of Fred: Fractions this morning. Then he asked to do yet another, but I said, "Enough." Next he went and cut and edged the neighbor's yard for $25. After a shower and playing with his baby brother, he worked on his drawing. He's trying to figure out how to draw good abs, Wolverine (from X-Men), and more. He drew a young man in a nice suit too, and when I asked he said it was a young man dressed like Elvis going to a prom. Obviously, he's got an imagination! Next was listening to a few minutes of talk radio on the way in to meet Dad for lunch, inspiring a conversation between Sly and me comparing and contrasting the attributes of economic forms in relation to citizens and govt, including communism, capitalism, socialism, and fascism, and identifying various national gov'ts that practiced each of those, and considering very briefly the current trend in our own nation, for better or for worse. Then while I did some grocery shopping, Sly visited with his buddy "the sushi guy" and some other homeschoolers hanging out waiting for their shopping mom too. He rejoined me at the checkout, where he helped with the self-checkout and bagging. Finally, Sly helped carry stuff in, cleaned his half of the boys room, watched some more NCIS (which always leads to interesting questions and conversations). And now Sly is out fishing with Habeeb and Jman for a short while before dinner. And I'm sure I've left stuff out.

But just in that list we have math, reading, PE, personal finance, personal hygiene, art, cultural literacy, politics, current events, history, socializing, home ec, organization, and nature. But none of those was on my list of boxes to check (not even the math, because it's 'just a supplement!'). Hmmmmm. And the day isn't even over yet. Maybe before the day is done, we'll have a box or two checked off of mom's list! :)