Do you take summer break?

Alisha - posted on 01/15/2013

I have a 7 year old daughter and we have been homeschooling for almost 3 years and I have never taken a summer break. I think that we do a more relaxed year round approach in which we can take breaks whenever we want. Kids love fun activities etc. so yea there is no need for a break! No break from reading etc too. Do whatever is right for your family. When it is summer, that is when I have tons of time to get homeschooling done, so why would I stop? For me, I think it's too hard after such a long break to get back into the routine. I think that maybe during summer we would play outside a lot more and not be so intense with the seat work, or sitting down doing worksheets. But some days I only do a few hours of school so summer work makes up for that too. I know some people who only do school Monday through Thursday year round so they always have 3 day weekends, so it's really up to you and it's flexible to fit your schedule.

Stephanie - posted on 04/10/2012

I have a K/1 , a 2 yr old and new one in december. I have been homeschooling year round mainly because it works around my schools schedule.

Tian - posted on 03/15/2012

We do a modified year round schedule. I have a 5th grader, one in Kindergarten and a 3 year old. We take the whole month of December "off" to do fun activities revolving around Christmas and Christs birth. Then we only take 1 month off in the summer to leave room for vacation/breaks when others are in school and locations aren't so busy. Our school is normally finished by lunch anyway at this age.

Lisa - posted on 01/01/2012

When my boys were in elementary school we did year round with breaks here and there whenever we felt like it. As long as we hit 180 days, I was fine with it.

But starting in middle school, they started noticing that their peers in the neighborhood had this huge break in the summer. So I made a deal with them, hit 180 days before the break and they could take it, too. Some years we hit it and other years we do school through June and only take July off. I leave it up to them.

I keep a running total of the number of school days on my planner and the boys pay attention. They start the school year in August so they try to hit 45 days mid October, 90 days by the end of December, etc.

It means a lot to them to have some control over their schedule now that they're teenagers. They can't choose everything (I still pick out the books and subjects - with some input), but I try to give them as much self determination as I reasonably can. It's workinhg well.

April - posted on 11/19/2011

somewhat. My girls are still "TECHNICALLY" learning stuff suring the summer so that they dont forget all the stuff theyve retained during the school year over he summer (its documented proof that public schooled kids lose 20% of everything they learned during the school year over the summer, which is why the first few weeks of the new school year is review for most kids)....I keep their reading skills sharp and make sure they practice writing but I do nothing more bookwork wise.

Alisha - posted on 08/05/2011

I have only been homeschooling for a little over a year and I have homeschooled last summer and this summer, I have so much more time! We do a lot of field trips though, but my daughter is only 5.

Joy - posted on 06/26/2011

We school year round but take breaks as we need them. Some times we take longer breaks than others but it all balances itself out.

Sandie - posted on 06/07/2011

I have always tried to plan around the school year (many of her outside activities run on the school district calendar) but having said that, I also set my own calendar. In one year, we were moving in March, so we completed our school year prior. This year, I will be working for a HR Block and will take the entire month of Feb off from homeschooling and a reduced schedule for March, April and end of January. By doing that, we will be starting during the heat of summer but finish when weather turns nice in late April. Works for us to start in July and finish in April. Then we enjoy the outside while everyone is still in school.

Kim - posted on 06/02/2011

Hi, I have homeschooled all year round ever since I started homescholling 18yrs ago. We take most of our breaks in the winter because we live in south Georgia and the summers are way to hot to be outside. I feel like the longer the kids have a break the more they tend to forget.