Benefits Of Year-round Homeschooling
A question that I have been asked a lot lately, as the summer is approaching is, “Will you take the summer off, or will you school throughout?” In the past, I have always taken the summers off. There were times when I occasionally peppered some lessons throughout the summer but for the most part, we took a break. This year, I am doing things differently. I do plan on schooling throughout the summer but on a modified schedule. Instead of schooling five days a week, we may end up doing two or three. That way it does offer a little bit of a breather but also keeps my kids sharp and retaining what they are learning. I have found that it can be difficult to get back on schedule at the end of the summer, so we are going to continue throughout. It also reflects the “real world” more accurately, and after all, isn’t that what we are trying to prepare our kids for? Let us dive into some reasons why year-round schooling may be beneficial, and something for you to consider.
The first reason that we will look at is, year-round schooling offers continuous learning. With shorter breaks, our kids are less likely to forget what they have learned, and they can focus on continuing to learn new concepts instead of reviewing old material which usually happens when you “start” your new year. This approach helps children retain knowledge better and reduces the need for extensive review sessions.
We have all heard the saying “A body in motion stays in motion”, well I will say a brain in motion stays in motion. Now, that does not mean we will not take breaks. We certainly will pepper breaks in throughout the whole year, but I feel year-round schooling helps keep our kids fresh and prevents them from forgetting what they have learned. This approach also allows children to work more at their own pace, which can lead to better retention and understanding of the material.
The second reason we will discuss is flexibility. When we are not married to the idea of fitting in 180 schooling days from the months of September to June, it takes some stress out of the equation and allows us to be more flexible with our time. If your family decides to take a vacation in the middle of the “school year”, you can. If you are a big skiing or snowboarding family, you can take more time off to do those kinds of activities without feeling guilty for taking time away from a September to June school schedule. Again, instead of taking summer break all at one time, you can pepper it in throughout the year.
Thirdly, Year-round homeschooling can reduce stress for both parents and children. With a more relaxed schedule, our kids can take breaks when you or they feel it is necessary. This may also avoid burnout feelings that can arise with a traditional school calendar. It also helps alleviate the burden of feeling like you have to cram all of the material in 10 months. Having a whole year helps you and your children process the curriculum and take away the “time constraint” stress.
The fourth reason is, Year-round homeschooling can improve focus for kids who may struggle with attention issues. With more breaks sprinkled throughout the year, kids can avoid the boredom and distraction that can occur with extended time off. Additionally, children can work on individual projects or subjects during their breaks, which can help them maintain focus and avoid distractions.
Now do some people like their big summer breaks and want to keep them? Sure! The bottom line is, you do what is best for you and your family. There is not one right way to homeschool your children and that is what is beautiful about this. You tailor your program to your children. Regardless, Mom and Dad, you are doing great! It does not matter the method of homeschooling you do. What matters is that you do what is right for you and your children.