Summer Schooling? No Way!

It might seem early to start thinking about summer, but I have many parents enrolling and inquiring about my six week summer workshops. Even if you don't want to commit to summer workshops, consider how no school during the summer may be affecting your children.

One of the great blessings of homeschooling is flexibility in scheduling when we teach and learn. While many homeschool parents still operate on the "school year" schedule, I am finding that more and more of my students' families are schooling year round. Many families do this because allows them to take vacations at times other than in the summer, but there are definitely other reasons to do some schooling in the summer.

1. Loss of knowledge and skills - as a teacher, I see it every year. I don't need statistics, although there are plenty out there, to notice how many of my students return to class and need "refreshing" when it comes to skills. As a writing teacher, I have to review punctuation and grammar rules every September even for my returning students.If you view writing as a life skill rather than a subject, then you can imagine how important it is to use that skill regularly to keep it fresh.

2. Change in attitude - in particular, my reluctant readers and reluctant writers get out of the habit over the summer. For some of them, it takes a full quarter or about eight weeks to get back into reading and writing regularly. Since they don't enjoy it as much as other students, they're inclined not to retain the habit over summer. Often, Moms with this type of student will let them "just be kids" over the summer to avoid dealing with the complaining. I do understand, but in the big picture, consistency is vital for reluctant students to succeed.

Even if you don't want to officially "school" during the summer months, consider a few activities that could keep your children moving forward with writing or reading skills.

• Join or start a summer reading program/group. Most public libraries have reading programs which offer rewards and other incentives for reading regularly. If the library incentives don't appeal to your children, you could set up your own rewards system. Then make sure to schedule time regularly for reading, even if it's just a few days a week. If you read at the same time, you'll also model the importance of reading to your children.
• Visiting readers - sometimes it's nice to have someone else read to you. Periodically, consider having a special friend or family member come read with your children. Or have your children visit someone and read aloud to them. Children in hospitals and homeless shelters as well as the elderly in nursing homes enjoy being read to and it also provides an opportunity for an older child to serve.
• Throw in some creative writing activities - consider summer journaling, scrapbooking or notebooking different events, trips, etc. for the summer. The writing does not need to be lengthy or detailed to keep up skills. A paragraph written a few times a week could serve as a reminder of how to maintain those oh so important writing skills. For families with multiple children, a summer newsletter where each child contributes can be very fun. Add some photos and graphics, then share it with friends and family electronically or in print. A summer pen pal can provide practice in both writing and social skills. Plan a summer get together and have your child write up the invitation, create a shopping list, design a menu and more. This will also demonstrate how important writing skills are in everyday life.
• Enroll your child in a summer workshop - I offer all types of classes in the summer, from Author studies to creative writing to writing intensives, that I don't offer the rest of the year. With six week sessions, students can enjoy a variety of experiences or just spend part of the summer keeping up with reading and writing skills.

However you choose to spend your summer, maintaining consistent learning practices will help most children succeed all year round. A little bit of a schedule allows children to keep a routine but still feel the freedom so often associated with summer. 

God bless,