The following is a post from contributing writer Kris Bales of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
While I’ve thought about it many times over the 9 years that we’ve homeschooled, we’ve never actually tried year round schooling. It sounds nice, but it has just never quite suited our family. Even though I’ve read the benefits of year round schooling for other families, with three summer birthdays and a late-July curriculum fair, I could never seem to make the schedule work.
Enter Trail Guide for Learning. Our new curriculum, with its six-week units, lends itself so easily to a six-weeks-on/one-week-off schedule.
I kept toying with the idea. As I lay in bed trying to sleep one night, I even mapped out a tentative schedule in my mind. (And I wonder why I suffer from insomnia.) When I got up the next morning and looked at the calendar, the schedule worked just as well on paper as it had in my mind, with one minor adjustment.
(Yes, I am OCD enough that it bothers me that, because of Thanksgiving, it will be five weeks on, one week off, one week on, Christmas break.)
Step One: Figure out schedule. Check.
Step Two: Get the kids on board. I expected some dissension – especially the part where we’ll start school the second week in July instead of the first or second week in August.
There was none. Something about getting a week off at the end of every unit appealed to everybody – even the oldest who isn’t using Trail Guide. While they were a little disappointed at our abbreviated summer break, the appeal of those weeks off during the school year was too strong.
Their only stipulation was that we still get to go swimming during the summer. Hey, every kid is entitled to PE class, right?
So, it looks like we’ll be jumping on the year ’round school bandwagon this year. Wish us luck!
If you’re taking a second look how you schedule your school year, be sure to read these suggestions for scheduling your homeschool year and creating a homeschool schedule.
On what type of schedule does your family’s homeschool operate?
Kris is the sweet-tea-drinking, classically eclectic, slightly Charlotte Mason mom to her three Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She chronicles her nearly 90 pound weight loss and transformation from morbidly obese couch potato to half-marathon runner on her fitness blog, Eclipsed.
In past years we have always gone down to half days during the summer, completing 2 full days every week of the summer. I found this to be just enough school to keep their minds going. However, this year we are actually taking our first extended summer break. We started our break Memorial weekend and plan to go back to school for full days the first Monday after the 4th of July. Going back early will give us 3 extra weeks to take off during the school year.
That’s basically been our summer schedule this year, too, Victoria — except we started our break the week before Memorial Day. That’s my older daughter’s birthday week, so we try to be finished by then.
As the second week of July looms in our very near future, there has been a little grumbling about a short summer break, but I really do think this is going to be good for everyone and that we’re all going to enjoy those extra weeks off during the school year.
All I know is that, for the first time in several years, I’m not grumbling as much about resuming school as the kids are. I’m not wishing away my break either, of course, but I’m excited about the possibilities for this year.
Last year was our first year homeschooling. Once summer got here, I hated to see it all end. We took a little time off before the actual end of last year. So, we started back on May 28 with flexibility being understood for summer activities. So far, we love it. The kids didn’t like being bored. They prefer to stay busy and have some time off here and there. We love it.
Mine won’t admit to being bored, but I can always tell that they are after a few weeks. Like your kids, I think mine will be much happier with the extra time off spread throughout the year.
Can’t wait to hear how it goes! I have a 1st and a 2nd grader this year but I am hoping to begin using Trial Guide next year! I think the year-round schedule would be perfect.
Great job, Kris! I’m definitely a supporter of year-round learning too! I’d love to hear how things go so keep us all posted. Also, I’m doing a series on summer homeschooling on my blog at http://www.noagendahomeschool.com/blogs/news/6149480-how-to-homeschool-this-summer. Check it out and hope all goes well for ya!
We’re really excited about Trail Guide. It’s been a great fit for our family. I hope your family enjoys it as much as we have when you get there.
We have schooled year round for the past three years. The issues we always ran into were 1) not enough time to prepare for Christmas 2) spring break (first week of April) is ALWAYS rainy and 3) my kids get bored by mid–summer. Considering all of those factors, we switched to a 3 months on, 1 month off schedule. We take 3 one month breaks, in December, April, and August. Lots of cleaning, organizing, decorating and gift-prep time, plenty of time to actually enjoy sunshine in the spring, and not too much time to get bored in the summer. It’s a win-win for us and works really WELL. Of course with that being said, we’re probably cutting off the last 2 wks. of July this year because we are remodeling our kitchen the first week of Aug. and have to do tear out and paint! But I can live with that. :)
We have year round school for many reasons. Having a special needs child, she NEEDS to keep learning and reviewing for her memory. We are able to go to therapy/doctor appointments whenever. Being a military family, it’s nice to know that we are able to move or vacation before/after daddy comes home from a deployment without it getting in the way of our schedule. When I feel like I need a break I can take it whenever it’s needed before I get burnt out. (I’ve learned that lesson!) When the kids get sick or need a break, they can have one as well. It’s easier to go on a vacation when not very many people are out and about, which comes in handy for lines at Disney World. Year round school makes it possible for our family to live and learn and be flexible. I love it.
We’ve used the “seventh week off” as a Sabbath routine for a couple of years now, and it really is a welcome respite when that seventh week appears on the calendar. I’ve modified it so we still take a longer summer break, but it works well and we all seem to benefit from the scheduled rests. (And I’m SO with you on the awkward Thanksgiving-through-Christmas scheduling ;)!)
I’m so glad that’s not just me! ;-)
I always say that I want to do year round schooling . . . then May hits. And I’m just ready to crash. During the year we do 1-2 month blocks, with a week off in between, and we still manage at least a two month break. We’re year round learners anyway, so I don’t stress about it all anymore. Basically I put the math books away for two months and follow their interests with things like sewing, art, and science during the summer.