Homeschooling In The Summer

In the summer schedule I have an hour a day reserved for our learning time. Do I intend to homeschool all summer?  No.  Is there a definite break? Yes. Learning happens all of the time.  Not just when it is scheduled.

Homeschooling in the summer is really relaxed.  It is more of a review for us so that next year the first few weeks will not be spent backtracking.  It is not something that I adhere to everyday, because if we are at the pool I don’t do learning time. We don’t leave early to get our assignment done for the day.  That is a day for the kids to be kids and enjoy free time. Not scheduled at all. The pool day that is, not everyday or we would have chaos.

For attendance I do count the days, but if we miss a day or two that is ok.  Reading our library books or attending scout camp should supplement some learning.  I want my children to remember their summers as fun, free, warm and full of doing whatever whenever. It is a time to stay up late. Too chase lightning bugs…then they ask about the lightning bugs and how they light up.
That is learning too…right? Learning how to schedule our own time and be accountable.  Independent thinking.

It is easy to homeschool a few days a week in the summer because if we hit sickness, or incur a road obstacle in the school year when a break is necesssary we can take a break.

The other day we were planting our garden and pulling weeds. Ko and Ka were having so much fun digging, helping and getting dirty.  Let me tell you, they were dirty. But they learned how to prepare a garden. Plant seeds. Pull weeds and tend to plants. As I was pulling up weeds in my flower beds, I ran into a few worms. You all know how little boys love worms.

So I called them over and told them to grab the worms to take to the garden. This was great fun…not for me because I  will not touch one. But then I explained that our garden needs worms to nurture the soil. Ko and Ka still remember that worms help our garden to grow.

Benefits of Homeschooling in The Summer

What I am seeing as a benefit to homeschooling in the summer is:

1. Children open up their minds more to ask questions.

Nothing is required or forced. No schedules, no workbook pages, just natural curiosity. Their curiosity, not what they are being told to think about, or learn about.

2.  It is easy to go outside and work on school.

The best part of summer is waking up when it is warm and going outside. That is my favorite part. We love to work outside at our picnic table.

3.  Shorter time and no schedule.

Not having to follow a schedule and keep pace with curriculum is nice.  Using the books is fine, but if work is not finished it just waits until the next day.For our days I do have a summer schedule but it is way more flexible than our school year. If something needs to be changed or moved, it gets moved. No activities other than baseball are for the summer, othere than vacation. Of course for me, our vacation will incorporate something of learning. I love history and hope that someday they love it too.

Reading books opens the doors to questions, thoughts and discussions so library day is always fun. The kids play, learn, and enjoy themselves.

Alot of homeschoolers are starting to school year around with a breaks in between.  If you homeschool in the summer your comments are welcome.

Cheers,

Michelle