A few years ago, I found myself heavily researching homeschool. We even homeschooled for a short time, and I genuinely loved every second of it. We made some sweet memories in our homeschooling endeavor, and I found that it changed a whole lot about the way I mothered my children. It was the mothering style that had drawn me into the homeschooling lifestyle.
I often think of ways that we can incorporate homeschool into our daily lives – because that really is what homeschool is about. It’s a shift in a lifestyle that is simple and lovely, full of imagination and learning in a big, beautiful world. At least this is what I found in each homeschooling family I researched.
As the summer drew closer, I realized I was going to have to get a bit more structured to entertain all the ages of my children each day, and that’s when the light bulb went off. Summer would be the perfect time for me to incorporate those principles I found to love so much in homeschooling homes. It was the weight, and organization into subjects that didn’t pull to me as much, but with summer school, I can fill in the gaps wherever I choose.
I pulled out my old homeschooling schedules and notes and pulled from that a summer schedule that will suit us. This may be tweaked a bit here and there to establish what best fits, but here is what our schedule is like so far:
8am Breakfast and scriptures (I’ve been surprised by how well my older girls are reading along and understanding the scriptures!)
8:30 Light reading (poems), bible verses (Harlo had the great idea to try to memorize an article of faith each week)
9:00 Journaling (I’ll be setting writing prompts for the girls to journal each day)
9:30 Piano (we use a kitchen timer and set practice goals each week)
10:00 Life Skill (house chores first, followed by things like learning laundry, baking, meal prepping, grocery shopping.. whatever else we might be doing that day)
We will break for some exercise, lunch, and some play time, and then resume with reading in the afternoons.
I am hoping to establish a little book club with my older girls over the summer. Perhaps we can each read the same book, or read one book together, and discuss it each week. The girls are on similar reading levels now and both into chapter books. We are loosely following Charlotte Mason’s reading list. I love the Charlotte Mason method and have been so inspired by her teachings and have tried hard to incorporate her lifestyle methods into our home. This will give us that little boost we needed. 🙂
I sit the littlest ones at the table with us to listen to our reading and discussions each morning, Grae has her own summer journal for doodling, practicing her shapes, name, etc. They eat and play right along with us at the table as we discuss.
When Major naps, we’ll do our reading time and Grae can enjoy that as well. This is also when we’ll do crafts or an activity that requires no one-year-olds ;). The perk about “mom school” is that its really no pressure. Anything is good enough. The goal is to occupy my children’s day with wholesome structure, learning, and lots of time together. Anything we want to learn about this summer, I’ll add it to our “mom school” list.
The rest of our days will be filled with exploring and playing and looking for opportunities to learn wherever we are. – And even if some days land us in front of screens, at least we did something with our days, dang it!
What things are you doing with your kids this summer? I’d love some more ideas!
Michele
I love this, Cass! I’ve been plotting what I want to do with the Cs once their vacation begins, and this is a great template.
Cass Miller
I’d love to hear any ideas you come up with. You’re such a great mama!
Liz Shelley
Such a great idea! We would love to join if Mom school involves any field trips!
Cass Miller
Definitely!!
Tammy
You are seriously my mom hero. I feel so lazy compared to you. I sure hope to encorporate some of this into our summer. It is so easy to go about our day and realize at the end of it not enough quality time was spent together. Summer is a great time to make learning fun
Cass Miller
Oh you are MY mom hero! You’re so good about getting out with your kids. But it’s so true, too.. the days just slip past. Hoping to at least maintain some decent habits and make a few memories over the break. 😉
Kandie
Here’s an idea Cass…My kids who are in 6th, 4th and 2nd grades do a reading log challenge during the school year which requires 10 books for one month (chapter and/or not chapter books). It is broken up into 2 fiction, 2 non-fiction, 2 fiction realistic, 2 fiction fantasy, and 2 non-fiction informational. By mid month they hand in hopefully half the books read and are expected to do a project on one book of their choice from their log. An example would be a compare/contrast diagram how a character is similar, different, etc. Or what’s the problem in the book, who was involved, how did they solve it, how would you solve it. Then by the end of the month all books should be read and another project handed in, usually more crafty and less writing. A book we just got done reading (we read a chapter or 2 at bedtime each night together) and want to read again is Pagemaster. It was such a fun book that even I loved. And who knew there was a movie too! But the book…AWESOME!!
I love this mom school idea. Makes me wish I was a SAHM again. This work thing is for the birds!! Structure and routine makes for happy kiddos and it’s fun when it isn’t “school” even though it kind of is LOL. Build those memories mama! They will never forget 🙂 Can’t wait to hear some other ideas too!
Cass Miller
Love that reading log challenge idea! I was thinking that my girls would love to do some book reports, so I will definitely be taking from that idea. Thanks so much! And I’ll be ordering Pagemaster as well! xo
jules
I’ve been planning summer school for my girls these last few weeks. I think I’ve figured the reading, writing, and math-ish bits. I’m hoping to do nature journals and possibly summer journals. I absolutely love the idea of doing a “life skills” section. I’m going to add that in, so thanks. We’ll also do swim lessons, piano lessons, hopefully swimming and biking, and lots of weekend beach days.
Randi G
Sounds a lot like our regular homeschool days! You could so be a homeschool mama without much of a change from what it sounds like. What’s holding you back from jumping in!? I’d love to clear up any misconceptions. (I can’t help but want to recruit everyone, don’t mind me.hehe!)