Our homeschool has always been very goal oriented. Every year so far, we have surpassed most of our goals by a lot, but fallen short by a week or two in one or two minor areas. In the summer, I like the kids to have a few little things to do. The first couple of years it was fifteen minutes Mavis Beacon Typing per day. After that it was always always Rosetta Stone Spanish. We did art, too, but that kind of did not count because it was too much fun. So, every year I get the idea in my head that the fifteen minute per day thing should be used to make up for the one or two minor areas where we fell a little short on our goals. It usually takes me a week or two to remember that it absolutely stinks to have to work on hard academic stuff all summer long, then return to full time homeschool in the fall with a high level of enthusiasm. It took a day and a half long road trip to come to my senses this summer (Thanks to the Steljes Family!).
After meeting I sat and corrected a bunch of Christian’s math. I realized that it was time for a break for a break. Both the kids will still continue with their math, but at a much lower key than I had originally planned. I was going to have them start French as well as continue with their Spanish this summer. Well, this weekend, we saw the kids playing with all their friends and realized that homeschool is not just about academics. The heavy academic stuff can wait until fall. Right now, we are going to concentrate on swimming, art, a visit or two to the beach, a visit to see friends and family in Oregon, some music, maybe a play or two, a barbecue or two, and generally just a lot of hanging out together. The funny deal is, we will probably be way more recharged in the fall and will benefit academically, too!
it will be interesting if you see a change in results, attitude, etc? Let us know. (I know the summer break does amazing things for the boys – they learn far better in fall than they do in winter or spring. It’s documentable – although it may not count as much since it’s public?!)
I can certainly say, because we have talked to virtually every student in our school, that time off in the summer is HIGHLY beneficial, especially to our teachers.
Ruthie
Wow! What a paradigm shift for you! Your kids are so far ahead of the bunch and they will be doing so much ‘academic’ stuff, that YOU may not call academic (cracked me up when you said that art didn’t count cause it was too much fun – there’s an engineer’s brain talking for sure!) And even if they don’t do one math lesson during the summer, they will come back strong. Let them swim, play, have friends over to cook some food you have never eaten before, do some volunteer work, and bless others with their talents, etc, etc. They will be okay. Also, whether you believe it or not, you also need a break. Get some of those projects out of the way for yourself that you have had on the back burner. Take off that school teacher hat off and hide it away for awhile….or better yet, give it to Lorena and let her decide when it is time to resurrect it. You may not get it back till the fall!
I wholeheartedly approve of this message. As long as I am able to attend at least one barbecue! (Will work for food…)
I know, I know Karen and Ruthie! The odds that my anal retentive ways will not kick back in to start us all off on some very organized projects are almost zero, but I will do my best. I think if I concentrate on the food thing and get Troy over to help, the odds will improve greatly. Especially if there is a lot of red meat involved.
I think that sounds great. I will be playing in the garden so much, there’s no chance of me striking up anything huge for the summer, but we are going to continue reading, spelling for Joe, Pioneer Tuesday fun and letter writing.
Lynn
I’m not real sure what makes the difference, if is a reduction in stress, in OR it could have something to do with Sun, but I kind of wonder if it has more to do with the opportunity to explore wherever their imagination takes them. I do know that these kids have an imagination – mine was never very good!