After 8 years of homeschooling my kids, here’s what we now do and why. It won’t work
for you and your loved ones, and that’s okay. Maybe you will discover some takeaways to include
into your rhythms and routines. = )
Our homeschool calendar yr runs from July 1 till we end. Generally that is April,
generally Might, generally June. We’re actually laid again about formal bookwork till after
Labor Day. Summer season faculty days for us are all about adventures. Some issues we now have counted
and logged as “faculty” throughout the summer season embrace:
~ gardening
~ walks on the seashore and exploring tidepools
~ swimming
~ hikes with pals
~ summer season camp
~ Trip Bible Faculty (VBS)
~ extracurricular occasions supplied by native museums and organizations
~ state festivals
~ fishing
~ nature walks and nature journaling
~ fowl watching
~ pickleball
~ playground days
~ waterfront concert events
~ subject journeys to locations far-off
~ mini golf
~ following the maps on my cellphone to assist get us to far-off locations
~ artist’s receptions on the native artwork gallery
~ sleepovers with different homeschool pals
~ no matter private pursuits they pursue of their spare time
~ arts and crafts
~ lemonade stands
~ budgeting their cash at carnivals
~ taking part in pool and ping pong
~ story time
~ Bible examine/church
~ journeys to the library
~ snorkeling
~ bike rides
~ journeys to vintage shops
~ taking part in household video games
~ native festivals
~ and a lot extra!
As you may see, there may be loads of studying taking place all summer season, with out it even feeling like
faculty! I usually attempt to give us the month of June off from logging any type of faculty days, no
matter how academic, simply to provide me a break from the report holding and so as to add a extra
relaxed really feel to the times. We love that by the point public faculty begins we now have already logged
20-30 days of faculty. This offers us a lot extra flexibility throughout the yr, and the power to
journey, take snow days, go sledding, have sick days, or simply take days off after we really feel prefer it (all
of which might be counted as faculty days in case you search for the training, by the way in which.)
We additionally are inclined to group 2-5 calendar days collectively to create one “faculty day” value of logged
studying. Nothing within the legislation says {that a} faculty day should happen inside a 24-hour interval. As an
instance, maybe on Monday we attend a one-hour nature journaling workshop on the library,
and we try a few books whereas we’re there. On Tuesday, we go on a one-hour hike
with pals and have a picnic lunch that the children helped pack. On Wednesday, we do a couple of
pages of math and snuggle up for prolonged story time. For elementary and center faculty
college students, we might group all these actions throughout 3 days into one “faculty day” for
recordkeeping. (For us, highschool entails extra rigorous research and information.) Additionally, hold in
thoughts that public colleges take subject journeys, and that journey could final all day and rely in the direction of their
required days, so you are able to do the identical in your faculty. = )
In abstract, education year-round doesn’t need to imply that your youngsters are doing bookwork
every single day. Reasonably than year-round faculty including strain, it could really add pleasure and freedom
and take a variety of the stress off. Hoping this helps as you discover your individual path.
Be light with your self,
Brandi Schunk
Homeschooling mama of two in Ellsworth, Maine
