School is out for summer! At least it is for the local schools and the majority of my homeschooling friends. Yours truly, however, will be plugging along throughout the upcoming hot, sweaty months! Can I get a hurrah?
*chirp chirp*
I didn’t think so.
If all goes according to schedule, we will finish up our “year” just in time for our annual off-season family vacation at the end of September. Yup, you read that correctly– September!
One of the many benefits of homeschooling is being able to choose the type of schedule that works best for your family. Many follow the traditional September through May calendar. Others have school all year long with a one week break thrown in every 6 weeks– and perhaps even the entire month of December off. Since I am about as trendy as my husband’s work schedule is predictable (he works for the airlines and only knows his schedule a month at a time), we school every day that we can and take breaks whenever something fun (or necessary) presents itself.
The downside to my kind of scheduling (ahem, besides the whole finishing in September thing!) is that it is very easy to always feel behind. I am positive that many of you can relate to this feeling, no matter what type of schedule you use. But why do we feel like that when we have made the requisite calendars and charted our goals appropriately? While I can’t answer for everyone else, I can speak for myself when I say that my problem lies with pride and comparison.
It kind of hurts the old pride when we school year-round on purpose, but others may view us as just being lazy and not getting it done. Y’know, like people who claim to homeschool but they aren’t really teaching their children anything. After all, if we were schooling instead of playing video games and eating ice cream all day, we wouldn’t still be in school when it’s already June (or July or August), would we? I also get myself in trouble when I look at how little Johnny is in 2nd grade and already doing quadruple digit division… whereas my 2nd grader is just learning his times tables. Maybe I am failing my kids? Ugh, we are so behind! Maybe if we have school 6 days a week and then add night school to 3 of those days– then we will be where we should be?!
All of these crazy thoughts are simply distractions and discouragement from staying the course and not enjoying this journey of homeschooling. I can get over the ridiculous comparisons and be confident in our schedule because of several things:
-I’ve prayed about it.
-I have a plan and goals that were already decided upon (ahem, last September).
-My husband and I are in agreement.
-We remain diligent, even in the face of discouragement and temptation (like being invited for the third time in a week to go to the lake or beach– it’s all about balance!).
So for all of you year-round homeschoolers out there, stay the course and do not be discouraged! Don’t fall into the trap of comparison and don’t let your pride be wounded because other people don’t understand why your family keeps a different schedule.
And for those of you that keep a traditional schedule, don’t forget that even though we are still hitting the books, you can still invite us to do fun things with you (oh please, oh please, oh please!). One of the biggest perks of going year round is that we can take advantage of opportunities to spend time and do things with our friends. And when it’s the end of September and you are already a couple weeks into your new school year, don’t be hatin’ me just because I’m lounging on an uncrowded beach somewhere. I’m just sayin’… count yourself invited!
Marsha is proud to be the Mrs. to David for over 12 years. They have been homeschooling their rowdy boys in the Lone Star State for the past 5 years. When she’s feeling like a slacker, you can find her drinking coffee, reading a book and writing at her blog — and sometimes all at the same time! You can find Marsha at Our Homeschool and Other Such Happenings.
I enjoy reading your posts. I agree that pride and comparison inevitably lead to discouragement. We tend to follow a traditional school year, though we’re trying to do a subject a day in the summertime. The kids are reading books they like and applying what they’ve learned this past year.
Lisa V.’s last blog post..Tackle It Tuesday – Birthday Party
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I’ll give you a Hurrah! and an Amen! I know how you feel. We homeschool year round, too. I have gotten the looks, and thought the what ifs, but we all really do love having school year round. I had planned to do August 1 to July 31, but then read a little spot in our state law that said a school year was defined as July 1 to June 30…so even if I’m over interpreting, I figured I go with that…I don’t want any trouble. Enjoyed this article. Thanks for the encouragment! You make me smile.
Misty (elvisgirl)’s last blog post..Spring Break
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I agree whole heartedly!!
) We have had all kinds of schedules through our 14 years of homeschooling. This year we will be doing some school with some of the kids. As a matter of fact I just got my sons math and we have already started!! 
) My daughter will soon be getting her Algebra 2 and she really wants to get a jump on it. I also have already ordered our history and we may start that too.:o)
One size does not fit all, and many times sizes change within the same family. ;o)
Lesley’s last blog post..Walking the Tracks
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I am so glad someone has said it out loud. I have felt behind all year this year but its because I am comparing myself to others. We took a big chunk of time off during the winter months because my oldest was having some anxiety/behavior issues which I think are resolved for now. We will be doing some school througout the summer. I am really bad about comparing, I look at my 7 year old who struggles with reading and I am fearful someone will judge me because of it but then my oldest eats up knowledge in books and could give a speech on how to raise and train parakeets, or what the diff types of sharks there are. I know it will come together and someday I wll look back and say “why did I worry so much”.
Thank you once again for voicing my thoughts. Bev
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I totally agree. We HS to a very odd schedule. And it’s very flexible as opportunities for fun arise. Why not HS during the muggy, hot summer? I think it’s the perfect time to stay inside and read books and do hands-on projects. Save fall and spring for the outdoor fun and travel!
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Since I’m just about to START my homeschooling journey I enjoy reading articles/posts about these sort of things. It’s kind of nice to be able to learn from the experience of others before I even get started. Your articles are always interesting to read too.
CoCo’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
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We have toyed with the idea of year-round schooling but then decided we do kind of fit the mold. Instead of hard core subjects during the summer months we catch up on reading,biblical studies, projects and things that don’t seem ‘schoolish’.
I love the vision of lounging on an uncrowded beach in September. Wish I could join you!
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We homeschool year round as well! My children do better with a daily morning school routine, with later afternoons off. My middle schooler is taking HS electives this summer (my eldest is in college) and my youngest finished BJU 1st grade in April and began 2nd the next Monday (and was proud as he could be!)
We use Alpha Omega for our older ones, because their computerized calendar makes schooling year round so much easier! When taking an unplanned day off to go visit Grandma or a museum, simply mark that day off on the calendar and it reschedules the remaining workload around it! Love it!
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I’m glad we aren’t the only ones that take December off – and we have been known to take off September during the peak of hurricane season to do nothing but weather (I’m a hurricane buff).
This is the first year that we have TRULY schooled year round but we are using ACE for the first time and I misjudged the number of pages that needed be completed. It’s working out fine though and the kids are usually done early enough in the morning to be able to do something fun the rest of the day (yesterday they played in the creek all afternoon).
Thanks for the reminder!
Kathryn Lang’s last blog post..The Key to Choosing the Right Path
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