As others are taking their long awaited breaks from school, this family jumps into high gear next week, after enjoying a more leisurely spring schedule with lots of outdoors time. I had a conversation with Sarah, who inspired me to take a bit of a different approach for my summer schedule.
We will start our work at 9am and finish at noon. From a list of things that need to be done, they get to choose what to do first, second, third etc. We will cross off whatever has been done. Friday is our unschooling day, during which they get to work on anything they want to.
We will do this for four weeks, then take one week off, then start over. It seems to make no sense to me to take a 3 month break during the summer. The kids will forget everything they've learned, and at some point will get bored. At the beginning of the new school year, they'll have to redo work from the last school year. Where's the use in that?
The materials we're currently using are Math U See, Critical Thinking books for reading, grammar, writing, social studies and more, Hooked on Phonics, Bob Books, Handwriting without tears, and a couple of other workbooks.
And then, thanks to Rooster X and his lovely better half, we are finally going to start a "work for screen time" for our kids. We have taken a pretty relaxed approach to the kids' screen time, and it has totally backfired at us. So much for Extreme Unschooling. Sorry, folks, it ain't workin' for us. The kids get to do small, medium, and large chores to earn a certain amount of screen time. They're not in love with the idea, but they both understand. I'll report how that works out for us.
The nicest thing about this summer, though? Park days!! Long afternoons at the park with a bunch of really cool homeschoolers. There's simply nothing better than that.
And, what's going on in your lives this summer???
We a doing something similar. I've always thought summer break was silly, learning is year round.
ReplyDeleteWe will do a laid back version, just enough to reinforce what's been learned :) Jack has 2 review like books for 1st graders, then his journal, and then reading. Not too much, he can do it on his own, and when he feels like it, as long as he does a little each day. Working good so far :)
Other than that, we have lots of little activities planned for here and there. We shall be busy! We had a day camp thing going on for 3 days next week, lots of library activities and programs, and other summer activites that the community is putting on. Lots to do!
I can't get beyond the beach...t-minus 5 days and counting! After that, I figure we'll garden, work on the bees, can veggies and work on the house (which is 25% gutted right now...)
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking the other day about a school plan for this summer. Today is the last day for my girls... late I know. Since Mae missed so much school this year from being sick, her reading and writing have slowed down more than I would like. I'll have to check out some of the books you mentioned. Beside that, we hope to spend lots of time outside, the beach and of course gardening!
ReplyDeleteHappy Summer!
My daughter is done this Friday she has 8 weeks off we are travelling and having visitors. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI never understood the big summer break. Although my kids go to public schools, we still do things over the summer to keep their minds active. They have a reading list (so many books have to be read on the list), amoung other things.
ReplyDeleteWe are taking a trip to the beach this summer.
We tend to do less field trips and outings over the summer when the schools are out (it is too busy!), but the school holidays are only 6 weeks in the UK.
ReplyDeleteI think this summer I am going to use my Time Out schedule - http://www.homeschooling-ideas.com/homeschool-schedule.html and do lots of read-alouds, and messy crafts. But I really liked your four weeks on, one week off idea so may well do that too!
We don't do a set summer vacation, we're learning every day. But we do more play time when the weather is nice outside.
ReplyDeleteLove that 4 weeks on 1 week off schedule. We aren't taking a long summer break either, but time off once and a while is needed. We have to do some catch up with math. How do you like Math U See?
ReplyDeleteLisa :)
Summer breaks never made any sense to me--July is just when my middle child's brain seems to kick into overdrive so we always do school in the summer. We tend to not get much done at home during the fall though as we are always out and about then. I really like a 6 weeks on 2 weeks off schedule but it doesn't match up with anything else in our lives so I am not sure if it is going to work long term. Let us know how your schedule works for you. My kiddos start-up next week after 3 weeks off (*I* just needed that one extra week lol).
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