Should I Homeschool in the Summer?
Do you homeschool in the summer? Should you homeschool in the summer? How can you homeschool in the summer? These questions are always floating around at this time of year, as regular schools are starting to let out. It has to be an individual decision made by each family, based on their schedule and needs.
My opinion is that a highly structured, full-time program for children can be reserved for the “regular school year,” but that learning doesn’t have to stop. Children need to have a lot of free time to run and play outside and can learn a lot that way. Then a little bit of structured activity can also benefit them.
Children learn a lot of social skills when playing with other children and planning games. At the same time, they are working on their gross motor skills. Practice research skills by looking up new games in books at local libraries.
Science abounds in summer. Kids can observe animals and plants in the environment. Experiment with feeding the animals and trying out different kinds of plants. Hike local nature trails. Find animal tracks and look them up. Taste different kinds of produce grown in the garden. Keep a weather journal or make a summer timeline of favorite activities each day. Try different kinds of experiments each day. Choose a fun science experiment book and make it a goal to get through a certain number by the end of summer.
Look up every available summer reading program in your area. Check out local libraries, bookstores, restaurants, and more for their incentives. Maximize their rewards by applying the same books to multiple lists. Enforce a mandatory quiet time of one hour after lunch every day for reading to fulfill these goals. Allow the children to choose the books.
Research favorite topics and make a project. Try to make a card game or board game based on a favorite book. Create a diorama of a favorite scene. Recreate the art of a favorite master.
Keep a journal of favorite activities and trips. The writing practice is beneficial, plus children will be grateful for the memories when they are older. Let them take photographs of their experiences to add to their journals.
Take the art supplies outside and allow for big, messy projects.
Some children who were struggling with different topics may need some daily practice, such as in the math area. Keep this as a short review each day, so that the child doesn’t tire of it.
Also remember to simply relax and do nothing. Lie outside on blankets, looking for shapes in the clouds and counting the millions of stars. Literally take time to smell the roses. Watch ants collecting food and spiders building webs. Embrace their childhood.
Andrea Coventry has been working with children of all ages for over 20 years. She is a Montessori child, now Montessori educator, who also writes on numerous topics. For a full listing of websites, visit here. Follow her on Twitter @AndreaCoventry. For Montessori information, follow @MontessoriWrite and visit the Facebook page here
What great ideas! We always enjoyed summer reading programs through our local library every summer. And the journal idea is great way to create memories and keep up writing skills.
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