I’ve been seeing a big issue recently in the homeschool world that has been generating much discussion. D0 you homeschool through the summer, or do you take the summer off? I should qualify that schooling here is meaning official book and curriculum schooling. Not the ever day, life learning we should be teaching/doing continually as parents.
In one camp, schedules prevail, children need to be kept engaged, and free time often equals trouble. The other side finds school books packed up, kids running about on their own, and loads of free time. Both tribes have equally important reasons and facts by their side; both have equally important pros and cons.
As a homeschooler of 4 years and a mother of eight, I usually find myself in the schooling camp. But not because I abhor the “B” phrase (I’m Bored!), but because of a whole different demon. We have school during the summer because we have yet to finish our curriculum for the school year. In fact, I was asking around with my homeschooling friends, and this predominant theme began to arise. Most were teaching a modified “summer school” because they were behind. But then one friend asked, “Behind what? Who says you are behind?”
And I have learned, my justification for teaching my kids is not in the tests they pass, or the accolades they are given. Honoring my Father, who has set this task before me and called me to be faithful, is all I have to do. For the condition of my heart, and theirs is far more important than if they are the smartest child on the block.
We have a pretty relaxed schedule during the school year (otherwise we end up fighting it – and each other), so I stretch it out through the summer as well to make sure that everything evens out. Plus, my kiddos DO tend to get into things that I would rather they didn’t if I don’t provide some sort of stimulation/direction for them from time to time. =)
The past few summers, we have always worked until the end of June (when grandparents normally come to visit) and take of just a few weeks in July. By the end of July, my kids are ready for a routine again and ask when we will begin schooling again. This year though, due to us packing to move, we have had a longer summer and you can tell! We are so ready for our routine again. 🙂
I so understand working around moving! We are just finishing up some things, and were going to start the school year mid-August, but we may be moving again (however, not cross-states!), so it may be a September start for us. While I have never been one for strict schedules (they make me cringe), I am finding that with so many kiddos, I need more routine to keep up with it all and to not loose myself.
We are very mindful of being diligent (i.e., keeping to our scheduled days unless a major incident gets in the way, which rarely happens), but I also prevent the whole “being behind” thing by not worrying about when we finish a book. For example, I don’t believe we have to start a new math book on September 1 and finish it by May 31. We do math every day, but sometimes things take longer to comprehend and master than a week per lesson…and I’d rather have my kids really understand than just “covering material” to say we finished. Likewise with other skill subjects, such as spelling; some lessons go quickly, others slowly. We finish all our schoolbooks – just not all at the same time. I am never “behind” because it’s not about when we finish but how we learn.
Exactly! It’s taken me four years to figure this out, but it is wonderful to let go of the guilt and just be about learning. I have a tendency to throw diligence out the window, so there is a balancing act, but I love not worrying about how much time something is taking, or if life is “getting in the way”!
I couldn’t have put it in better words than Tina H. did above, except I’m always tense about math since we’re working hard to get to where we’re at and after the summer we usually have to repeat quite a few lessons due to .. The break.. I did busy my 7 year old with the summer bridge activities though and really like it.
We tend to do unit studies in the summer, usually on places we plan to visit. Two years ago, we did a unit study on Colonial America, Jamestown and yorktown and then visited Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. This year we are studying the Civil War and planning a trip thru Virginia, North and South Carolina and a week in Georgia.
How cool!! I’ll have to add that to my folder of ideas! There could be a whole new realm to vacations and time spent together!
We homeschool all year long. Part of that is because we take our curriculum at a longer, but I won’t say slower pace. Our core curriculum (Time4Learning) has more material available than our local public schools do, and we tend to complete every piece of curriculum. Unlike public school we don’t let things drop off at the end of the year. The other reason we tend to school through the summer is that it is so blasted hot! Where we live, the fall and spring are so much nicer weather-wise, so our breaks are more during that time, so summer is not really a time we can afford to break. Last year due to my mother’s health and the need for me to take a more active part in her care we didn’t do summer school and I will tell you that I witnessed, first-hand, the brain drain of summer on my daughter. It took us weeks to get geared back up to productive learning in the fall. Short breaks more often works better for us than a long break during the summer. We also made a move and took all of June off and some portion of July to pack, make multiple trips between the two states, and unpack. My daughter is ready to get back to school, she said her brain was contracting!