We aren’t year round homeschoolers, but we do continue to learn all summer…as most homeschoolers do. It’s all about creating a learning culture within our family that isn’t restricted by hours, days, or seasons. I thought we’d be able to “check the box” on year round homeschooling. Our summers are brutally hot, so it seemed like a good idea to take extra time off during the spring and fall. Well…that doesn’t work out. However, we don’t follow a traditional school calendar either. We mix it up as needed, but we usually slow down during the summer and follow a relaxed summer homeschool routine.
Why I Need a Relaxed Summer Homeschool Routine
I have three main reasons why we don’t do a full school routine during the summer even though it’s crazy hot here.
Neighborhood kids, family vacations, and camp
I try to have most of our main school work done by the time public school kids break for the summer. Many homeschoolers struggle with how to deal with those kids coming over during school time during the summer. I don’t like following the public school calendar, but I also don’t like the idea of my kids inside while their friends are out playing. I think summer fun with friends is more important than most of our structured school work.
Summer camp is well…during the summer. My two girls each get to pick a week long camp and they’re usually not during the same week.
Then there are family vacations. Sure, we can visit family during the traditional school year, but their cousins are busy with school and sports. We like to visit places during the school year to reap the benefits of visiting places off-season, but we save visits to extended family for the summers.
Those three reasons make consistent structured homeschool plans very difficult to accomplish during the summer. I’ve stopped trying. We approach this season with a relaxed summer homeschool routine.
Homeschooling During the Summer
Morning basket changes a bit. I don’t put together a pile of books around a few topics for a structured morning basket time. However, I still read aloud during breakfast, lunch, and other parts of the day. I may gather a few books that I’d like to read to them throughout the summer, but they get to choose most of them. Reading to kids while they eat is a great way to have their attention. Plus, then I get to eat in peace while they run off to play.
Related Post – Morning Basket Tips to Get Started
Readers for the Kids
They both have to read for 30 minutes a day, but I’ve never had to enforce it. They are free to read whatever they want during the summer. I try to encourage quality books, but I’m okay with the occasional twaddle. Check out the Summer Reading Challenge Free Printable at the bottom of this post!
Science Experiments
We finish up any experiments that didn’t get done during the year. We also do quite a few of what I call “child-led” experiments. I’m sure you know the kind. Your kid wants to mix a little of everything they find in the kitchen cabinet and refrigerator to see what will happen. Hint…just don’t let them add cat food and set it out in the sun for days!
Math
This is one subject that really suffers during long breaks for most kids. During the summer, I add in extra games and fun. They’re still practicing math, but they don’t mind at all. Check out our favorite ways to practice math to help change things up.
Language Arts Projects
My kids are always coming up with writing project ideas even if they don’t always look like “official” language arts activities. They love to make lists, surveys, quizzes, to-do lists, and, of course, write stories. Now that they’re older, they’re starting to do non-fiction writing on topics that spark their interest. Summer is the perfect time to let them create their own language arts projects if you follow a more structured approach during the school year.
Art
They have unlimited access to art supplies and are free to create. There are times that I’d wish they’d ask before digging out the paint, but they’ve been good about not making too much of a mess. Your mileage may vary. We also love taking art outside when it’s not too hot or digging out supplies first thing in the morning before we hit triple digits! I love to keep our favorite art books on hand for easy and fun projects. Check out Art Treasury, Complete Book of Art Ideas, and Never Get Bored Draw and Paint for tons of awesome art projects for kids.
History and Science
We use Bookshark for these subjects, which follows a 36 week schedule. We keep doing these lessons if we don’t finish up before summer break. The kids don’t mind at all because those are their favorite subjects.
Subjects We Slacked On
For most subjects we stop when our school year officially ends, except if it’s something that got pushed to the side too often. We’ll keep doing those lessons and projects into the summer.
Related Post – A Day in the Life of Our Homeschool: 2nd and 5th grades
Educational Fun that Isn’t School Work
We take a lot of time off during the year for “extras” that are high on our list of priorities. Summer is a great time to keep up this routine of heading outdoors to explore nature with friends, following child-led interests, cooking together, and playing games. Without as much structured school work, we have even more time to create awesome memories having fun and learning together. As my kids get older and I worry less about “being behind”, we find more time for these spontaneous adventures.
Summer is for park days!
Create a Relaxed Summer Homeschool Routine
Math, reading (to themselves), and read aloud books (that I read to them) are the three things we do most days. I try to be ready with delight directed projects so that we can jump in when the inspiration hits. Ask your kids what they’d like to do during the summer and be ready to run with it! Are there any projects they’ve been excited to do? Start collecting supplies and books once they give you some ideas.
Even though it may look like we cram a lot of school into our summers, it really is a relaxed routine once we get into it. I don’t put time limits on anything (unless we have to leave for something), so they’re free to work on something as long as inspiration stays with them. Once they lose steam, we put it away and move on, or we can be done for the day. Most importantly, creating a relaxed summer homeschool routine allows us the freedom to participate in traditional summer activities with our friends and family who have more traditional summer schedules.
This is so helpful, thank you!
I’m glad you enjoyed it!