As the big Back to School push is happening everywhere, we’re already on week 8 of our homeschooling year. Don’t ask me exactly how many weeks ago we started… let’s just say it was a little longer than that!
I’ve had some reservations about year-round schooling, but after reflecting on our progress, I can see that it truly works well for our children’s education—and for our family’s lifestyle.
We’ve done this before, often taking very little time off in the summer. Last year, though, a summer break was necessary with all of our traveling and family visiting. A full summer break every other year seems to be the rhythm God has set for our family.
Life Happens
As soon as we finished last school year in May, we took a three-week break to focus on our remodeling projects. It was supposed to be just a week, but installing and removing flooring turned out to be a bigger task than we expected—and we had a small delay with our order of planks.
Life happens.
Even during that break, our kids still read, did daily math drills, visited the library, watched documentaries, created art projects, and wrote letters. They have embraced a lifestyle of always learning, and it’s such a sweet relief for this momma when they want to learn—even when I don’t have a formal schedule on the calendar.
Finding Balance
In our official years as homeschoolers, I’ve mostly been a “school at home” mom—mimicking public school with boxed curriculum, worksheets, and lots of reading. I believe it’s healthy to have a plan and stick to it as closely as possible after preschool.
I do adore the idea of unschooling, but here it only truly works in preschool and kindergarten, when learning is all about playing and exploring.
I love structure, organization, and planning as much as I love a good Snickers bar—and for those who know me, that’s a lot!
Celebrating Life’s Moments
We’ve also learned to be flexible when life calls for it. My birthday landed the day after the 4th of July this year, so we took Tuesday off, then decided to take the rest of the week off to enjoy the beautiful weather. Later, my son celebrated his golden birthday, and we gave the kids the week off again.
Life is meant for celebrating and savoring.
Even on “days off,” I still require daily reading and math—it doesn’t take long, but it keeps the habit alive.
Our Approach This Year
We haven’t settled on a slogan for our school year yet, but if I had to pick one, it would include the words: Simple, Growth, and Waves.
We’re scaling back from hard and fast routines, focusing more on creative growth with a simplified approach, and embracing that learning comes in waves. Some weeks are full and structured, and others are more relaxed—then we cycle back.
Year-round schooling gives us the flexibility to adjust when life happens, keeps our minds sharp, and allows for lots of field trips. Some favorites include museums, art centers, zoos, and factory tours.
Prayerful Guidance
Whatever approach you choose for homeschooling, do so prayerfully. Evaluate what works for you and your children. If it’s working, continue. If it isn’t, make changes.
For a gentle, practical read that will help simplify your homeschool day, I recommend Simplify Your Homeschool Day: Shorten Your Day, Sweeten Your Time. It’s not a big book, and it’s written in a way that is easy to take in. I was able to read it in one sitting and refer back to it each year for a little extra inspiration.
Homeschooling is a journey, not a race. Embrace the flexibility, savor the moments, and remember: God is guiding both you and your children every step of the way.
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