Yep, we’re Year-Round Homeschoolers

Posted by Nikowa Lee | 0 comments

We already get looked at like we’re insane when people find out that we homeschool. But when they find out that we do it year-round you can almost see their jaws hit the floor! On top of the usual questions of socialization & whys, we have the added-in questions about scheduling.

What about a summer break?
Well, we take a 6-week break. By the end, the boys are begging for something to do. That way, we don’t have big gaps in learning & I’m not spending a month in review. Learning really never stops anyway.

Do you take off for holidays?
Of course! And their birthdays . . . and every Thursday.

Don’t you get burned out?
Sure I do. That’s WHY we take so many breaks. So we don’t get bogged down, bored, or too stressed. We want them to want to learn. That’s when they’re truly retaining and not just memorizing.

When do you start – and when do you end – your school year?
We start in mid-June; usually the Monday after Scout Summer Camp ends. Using Homeschool Tracker Plus to enter my required days and holidays gives me an ending date, which usually falls at the beginning of May. Our summer break is May through the second week in June.

How do you schedule your year?
First, I use a digital calendar (online and free). Google Calendar is my favorite, since I use Google for almost all of my applications. I like digital calendars the best because there’s a huge margin of error. If I mess up or plans change (as they often do), I can easily edit the text. No more erasing or white-out.

Here in Georgia, homeschoolers are required to attend 180 calendar days per year, how do you make sure you meet that requirement?
I set up my start date (second week in June). I go through my calendar marking holidays, birthdays, and religious holidays. Then I add in Spring Break (careful NOT to coincide with the local public school system). Each year it alternates between March and April. I’m still way over the 180 day requirement, so I start marking off days here and there. We like to take off every Thursday because we grocery shop on Wednesday night, then on Thursdays, we prepare the food for the week. (cooking, freezing, etc.). Finally, I make sure that I leave at least 5 days as “sick days.” These are our buffer days, because life happens.

No schedule is ever set-in-stone. Life does happen. We have doctor appointments, vet appointments and impromptu field trips. We even take multiple vacations each year. These are a few of the many joys of homeschooling. Learning never ends! Even if we’re not home “hitting the books,” we’re still learning.

Just as an adult never stops reading (think street signs, grocery store aisles, etc.), learning never ends. It’s not an “8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in school rooms only” thing. So why should your homeschool be?

Nikowa is a 2nd year homeschooling mom to two boys. With her “learning never ends” philosophy, they have an eclectic year-round approach to learning. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys photography, organizing, cooking, and reading. She is a #1 LOST fan and watches UGA football too! (Go Dawgs!) You can visit Nikowa at Knowledge House Academy.