So you’ve decided to continue homeschooling during summer months, and now you are wondering how in the world you will get this accomplished without going insane. Here are a few tips to help make homeschooling during summer months a pleasure and not a cause for anguish.
First of all, what are your goals for summer learning? Do you want to continue a rigorous academic schedule as you did during the school year? Do you want a more relaxed approach, with the goal of keeping the children’s brains sharp over the summer? Do you want to concentrate on hands-on projects and fun activities that encourage exploration? Any of these are worthy and do-able goals.
Next, make a plan for summer learning. For instance, how many books do you expect the children to read? Plan visits
to the local library accordingly. Most public libraries offer incentive programs to encourage children to read during the summer. You can assign specific books, or allow them to make their own choices.A nice compromise is to allow them to choose their own summer reading (with your oversight to be sure the content is appropriate, of course) but require
one biography per month, for example.
If you are planning hands-on projects, select several in advance and gather materials. Consider including the children in the decision on which projects to do. They will enjoy the opportunity to choose, and they will likely enjoy the project more also.
A family garden provides many learning opportunities in the garden and in the kitchen. If you can’t garden, a trip to a
local farmer’s market can be a great opportunity to learn about the produce grown in your area. Explore new recipes together
with your locally sourced ingredients. Share produce from your garden with friends and neighbors. Bring some of your produce to a local food bank or soup kitchen.
Remember to be flexible and to take advantage of unexpected opportunities as they arise. Your neighbors, friends, and extended family will likely not be concentrating on learning during the summer. Cousins may call and invite your children for a swim or a trip to the zoo. These can be learning experiences too. If you skip too many fun activities due to academics, the
children may dread schooling instead of enjoy it. Make it a point to plan a fun activity of your own and invite friends or family to join you. Learning happens everywhere, not just in your homeschool room!
I would encourage a more relaxed approach rather than a rigorous academic schedule, but if you prefer that method, remember to be flexible. The homeschool parent (usually but not always mom) needs a break too! Perhaps you can scale back to three days of school per week instead of five, or shorter school days.
Remember, you can homeschool through the summer months, and you can emerge with yoursanity intact in the fall!