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As a family we decided to do more of a year round types school setting here. There were a few reasons for this. One our children seem to do better when they are on a schedule/ routine and two things are so easily forgotten when you have a long break from school. Let’s face it who wants to spend all kinds of time re-teaching what has already been taught?
However- when you live in a neighborhood with a bunch of kids you simply can not hide the fact that the rest of the children around you are out for summer break. This can make for some very sad children if you aren’t careful. This summer I have actually had to do a few adjustments due to this and the fact that my other work -at- home schedule goes insane.
Luckily I have come up with a few ideas that have kept not only the natives in my home happy but it also keeps this momma happy. As you know if you have found something that makes both the parental and the children units happy then you just may be on to something.
My Summer Tricks:
- Take lots of breaks. Now this doesn’t mean that you aren’t going to do school daily. What it does mean is that you take just a few more breaks throughout your work day then you normally would. We have found 30 mins of work and 30 mins of break time seems to work well for us.
- Lighten the school load a bit. After our oldest did his in of the year testing (that our state requires) we packed up the science and history curriculum. This left us with only two major subjects to work on through the summer. You could just feel the stress leaving the house as I put those books in storage.
- Make learning as fun as possible. Now this one should be a given but honestly you have to step up your A game when you are making them work through the summer. Don’t be afraid to take those lessons outside, practice math by cooking something amazing or having your children act out a story you have had them to write.
- Allow your children to take the lead. I have found that my children are totally fine doing school work as long as they feel that they have had a part in the decision making process. Therefore, we have been doing a lot of unit studies. That way we are exploring something they love while they are still doing the things I need them to do.
- Throw in a few extra field trips.
Don’t be scared to allow learning to go outside the home. Take them out on mini day trips. Have them explore the community or state they live in. More information can be retained when you are on these trips then any textbook can deliver. - Don’t be afraid to change your school hours. Here we get extremely hot evenings. So we have started doing school later. It allows the kids to go outside and get their wiggles out in the mornings, do school in the middle of the day and then hit the pool in the afternoon. I should add this new schedule has made for some pretty tired children at bedtime.
I would love to know some of your Summer school tricks to keep your kids motivated during the summer.
Until Next Time Just Keep Soaring 4 Him,
I would like to invite you to my Facebook group Christian Homemakers in Training where we dive into homemaking, motherhood, marriage and group devotions. After all, we all need a safe place to grow together, right?