A Homeschool Summer

As a homeschooling family we are asked a lot of questions about how it all works. This time of year the biggest question seems to be about summer break and if we take one or not. Our answer is yes and no. Hubby and I both have the philosophy that learning is a natural part of life and occurs continually. Just because you are not sitting at a school desk with a book in front of you does not mean you are not learning. We have an eclectic approach to homeschooling in that we have some traditional learning with actual lessons via books, internet, etc., but we also use life as lessons. In the summer months when the other students in the area are off for summer break we also take a break from some of the more structured lessons. This is a great time for T to explore even more of his own interests and learn.

During the summer we still have a short practice of math each school day; this is to help T retain those skills. He also still does a daily journal entry – it can be about anything at all. Reading is always on the agenda and I think this summer rather than a certain number of books, I will instead opt for a certain amount of hours total for him to read. Again, the reading can be his choice because I want him to enjoy it and not feel forced by the whole experience. We are trying something new with his vocabulary words from the current school year over this summer. T has made a master list and posted it to the fridge. Throughout the summer, each time he uses, hears, reads one of the vocab words he will make a tally mark next to the word. We also have a section to tally curse words at the bottom – this has been an issue lately so I want to try and help him curtail it. For each vocab word he earns 25¢ and for each curse word he will have a loss of 10¢. At the end of the summer we will add it up and he gets paid. I normally don’t do money rewards, but as a teen with expensive hobbies this motivates him these days.

This week he started a list of things he would like to do and learn about this summer. His biggest area is always computers – learning languages, coding, hardware repair/replacement, building his own pc, etc. New to his list was building helicopter models and visiting some aviation exhibits. We also have a big air show in St. Louis at the end of summer that he wants to attend. Our neighbor has also offered him a “job” tuning up lawn mowers. T has some experience with this and is excited about the potential to earn some extra money while learning at the same time.

My biggest goal for the summer is staying cool! I really am not a fan of the hot weather so I tend to stay inside a lot and T is like that much of the time as well. We will get out and do a few things outdoors though. We have a great Renaissance Fair and there is Shakespeare in the Park and several other fairs over the summer. My wish is always that it is a cool summer day when we do those things – but in St. Louis it is usually hot and humid. I can still wish though.