[GnomeyNewt]

This is something I've seen come up a lot... that homeschoolers start pretty much anytime during the year. In my head I thought we'd just start in August go through Winter finish up after Spring (when my PS started and ended)? But I see so many starting now or other times. I see some is for ages and for other reasons, but my mind can't wrap around doing school during the summer! We are so cooped up during winter, I practically make us live outside during summer -- which is only warm enough for me about 2 months maybe (I get cold too easy). I know we can do homeschooling outside or wherever.

My DD and DS bdays are close and in the start of the year, around March. And I see a lot of people start around their kids bday, so it makes me curious!

I'm now thinking about seriously starting earlier than August -- So if you choose to not follow "typical" school start/stop, can let me know?

 

[EviesMom]

I think the biggest reason for following the school schedule roughly is that the paperwork you have to file in many states is tied to that calendar. I'm planning to do year-round starting in July and alternating "unit studies" and breaks with less focused learning and some trips/travel. It should work with the school calendar, bc it requests info for July through the following June.

For me, I'm thinking of investigating the questions DD has been asking (like in my sig) for 4-6 weeks with math, science, language arts, social studies, etc. around that theme. When we feel done with a small set of related questions, we'll spend a week or so doing a project/lapbook answering the questions. Then 2 weeks of travel or just catching up on housework and errands and rest. (while I compile resources for the next set of questions). Then we'll start a new question.

 

[LilyGrace]

We start the day after labor day and go until the PS gets out.

It's really easy to do an alternate schedule in the early years, but I'm finding that with a 10yo who has all ps'd friends, it's not worth the energy to keep trying to work when the whole neighborhood is out from dawn until dusk. Summer we end up doing more hands on learning/games - the one year we did a solar oven, played with mentos and Diet Coke, and a whole bunch of other experiments. Other kids could drop by and join in without much hassle.

This year, we'll keep up with a small Latin review in the morning, an easy activity once a week, and let go the rest of the time.

 

[ALittleBitCrunchy]

We start in July and end in late April, although we technically go year round. During the 'school' months we do almost all topics (this year it was history) and it becomes one of our break months. So, we have science, social studies and math done right now. We're almost done with reading and language arts. When we finish, we'll do a month of nothing but reading real books and doing a page in a journal. I'm thinking 20 minutes a day and we'll still be done by 10:00

It's the stuff he needs a little more practice on, which is how we picked it. Then in June, we'll do history - pre-history, actually. Again, small stuff that doesn't take long. In July, we'll start again.

We do it because I like having a head start and we don't spend all day on school, so it's not like we 'miss' summer. That way, if life happens, we can add to the end of the year and still be on track.

So, we don't vary from the school calendar that much, but it's enough. Our schools are Sept-June.

 

[Jennifer3141]

We are starting on DD's 5th birthday, which is in 2 weeks. She's getting her curriculum and lots of extras for her birthday presents. She is thrilled beyond belief to be getting "school" for a present.

We will probably go year round with long breaks in there whenever we get burned out.

 

[sweetstephanie]

We go year round here but we take breaks at odd times. I have two kids with birthdays in October so we usally take a little bit of time off there, we take the week before Thanksgiving off, and we take the whole month of December off. The deal is even during our "off" time we are doing stuff like crafts, reading, unschooly type stuff. During the summer months we change up when we do our work. We usually do our work in the morning, but during the summer we go out in the mornings and evenings when it isn't as hot, and do our work in the hot afternoons. We also don't do it everyday we may miss a day or two a week. I have kept tracked of how many days of school we have during the year and it adds up to way over the 180 days we need. In Indiana we don't have to turn any paperwork into the state so we don't have to worry about having to get certain things done during the year.

 

[Momma Aimee]

taking note to think about

 

[kittywitty]

Well, we learn year round. Some curriculums are seasons based so that is one thing to think about. But if you are relaxed or unschool, then it's not an issue at all.

 

[GnomeyNewt]

Thanks everyone for your response. Helps me put things into perspective. We defiantly are into year round learning too, but we do plan to follow a few curriculum that are sort of laid out for us during the "school year". I guess each year we will just need to evaluate what is going on and go from there. Our state doesn't require that we keep track either of our hours or anything, but we do need to do a "test" or have an assessment at the end of the year, so that I do need to keep in mind.

 

[runes]

I was thinking of starting September 2010, which is just 2 months shy of DD's 5th birthday, since many of the classes and activities in our area are very much structured around the school year.

But I've got a year and a half to think about it, so it may change in the interim. I think I might be more of a unschooler at heart, but DH would want a bit more structure and a predetermined "schedule", even if we're the ones that decide that schedule. So we'll see.

: til then.

 

[mommy68]

I started in late July/early August last year and plan to do that again this year. I knew I'd probably get in to a funk in Jan/Feb and I did and nothing much got done during those months.

Our schedule has worked well for us.

 

[onlyzombiecat]

This year we will be finishing one level of curriculum in July and starting the next level in late August probably around the time the ps starts again. In previous years we took more time off in summer.
I do like to try to start the new level around the same time as ps starts. That way dd is entering a new "grade" at the same time as her ps friends.

We could have done more each day this year to catch up so we could finish when ps does here. I asked dd (9) if she wanted to and she really preferred to continue the same pace even if it meant not taking the summer off. I didn't care. I see no point in potentially overwhelming her just to follow the ps schedule when neither one of us care.

BTW, our hs time commitment each day is always less than 3 hours so it doesn't really prevent us from having lots of summer fun.
You may find your own time commitment is not too arduous either.

I'd start whenever you feel like it.

 

[sha_lyn]

We start and end our yr about the same time as the local PS calendar because of girl scouts and other activities we are involved in. We tend to schedule the rest of our breaks to fall at a different time so that we can vacation or just hang out at the mall etc without the school crowds.

 

[Whistler]

If learning is a drag, then I could see not wanting to "inflict" it on your child during the summer. But if learning is fun, interesting and exciting, why not do it all the time? It depends on your style and philosophy, I guess.

 

[LilyGrace]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whistler If learning is a drag, then I could see not wanting to "inflict" it on your child during the summer. But if learning is fun, interesting and exciting, why not do it all the time? It depends on your style and philosophy, I guess.

Well, it's not a drag, but I can't see a 10 year old boy wanting to spend hours with his mom or alone while his friends are playing right outside the front door.

It's not so much about style and philosophy as it is about balance and being social. Summer is more for trips, playing, swimming, sports, and festivals. The kid is more than willing to putter around and figure things out early in the morning, but he's too much of a butterfly to keep to himself when there's social opportunities right there.

 

[Whistler]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilyGrace Well, it's not a drag, but I can't see a 10 year old boy wanting to spend hours with his mom or alone while his friends are playing right outside the front door. It's not so much about style and philosophy as it is about balance and being social. Summer is more for trips, playing, swimming, sports, and festivals. The kid is more than willing to putter around and figure things out early in the morning, but he's too much of a butterfly to keep to himself when there's social opportunities right there.

That's what I meant about philosophy.

If "learning" only happens alone or with mom (say, at the kitchen table) then, sure, it's not a summer activity. But a lot of cool science lessons can happen outside among the growing things in the summer. Social time can include learning and friends can learn together. Swimming, sport and festivals can be educational as well as active fun. To me, homeschool can include any or all of these things.

 

[sweetstephanie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlyzombiecat BTW, our hs time commitment each day is always less than 3 hours so it doesn't really prevent us from having lots of summer fun. You may find your own time commitment is not too arduous either.

This is us too. We usually get started around 8 or 8:30 and are done by lunchtime.

:

 

[ebethmom]

We pretty much follow the school system where I teach violin/viola. They are on a year round schedule with 2 weeks off for Fall, Winter and Spring breaks.

We usually start the week after ds's August birthday. I'm behind on my days, so we won't finish our 180 by Memorial Day. We'll end up going through May, then adding one week in July. We'll probaby focus on cool science stuff for our July week.

 

[mommy2abigail]

We are going on birthdays. So when dd turned 4 and wanted to go to 'real school' I decided it was time to start a kindergarten year. We are very relaxed/eclectic so it's mostly just worksheets at her request right now.

 

[evinmom]

We homeschool year round. We only spend 2 hours a day doing school so it does not interfere with us getting outside at all.