Year-Round Schooling

“Do you school year-round?” I’ve gotten this question & heard it a lot lately (probably because traditional schools are letting out for summer).  For us, we absolutely school through the summer.  I know is doesn’t work for everyone and that’s totally cool with me (I know you know your family best, and doing what fits your family best- you’re awesome- rock on!) This is our 3rd summer of schooling & I’ll share why we choose to school this way:

ONE-  It works for us! My kids flourish with the rhythm of learning.  When we go without the structure, we have a tendency to forget some character traits & educational skills we’ve worked on
TWO- Summers are hot in TX- This girl still has not adjusted to TX heat. It’s too hot to be outside.  We actually make our most progress during the summer months.
THREE- Freedom- When we school year-round it doesn’t mean we don’t take breaks. We do, just not when the calendar dictates.  Because we school in the summer, when it’s cooler in the “winter” we have field trips galore; we go to the beach during the week, in the off-season (yippee for off-season prices).
FOUR- Intensity decreases- The daily pace is more relaxed, and we are less pressured to complete content during the traditional 9-month calendar.  We never have to school 7 hours a day during the year because it’s spaced out over a longer period of time.
FIVE- Environmental learning- I don’t want my kids to think learning only happens Sept-May.  I’ve been intentional to develop a lifestyle of learning, not determined by the calendar or the environment.  Learning is anytime anywhere. I don’t want “lazy learning” to develop, instead I want curiously to shine whenever the mood strikes.

While these are my reasons, I do not think schooling year-round is the only way to incorporate these concepts, this is just how we make it work for us.

The Small Things: June 2019

Oh hey, remember me? I really fell off this blogging platform.  Like I really fell off.  I think this has been my longest blogging break.  Or maybe I better just accept that every time I come back to this blogging space it will be after a long break? 

If we were to go for coffee, either in a coffee shop by ourselves or around my kitchen table, what would I tell you?  I would share with you about the small things in my life that are just making life easier or more joyful.
 recap: January ~ February ~ March ~ April ~ May ~ June ~ July ~ January

"What is the ONE thing?" I get asked often what my number one favorite school resource is (click here to see them all), & it is this hundred board. We use it all. the. time. I love that it's wooden & versatile. I have the Montessori color letters & numbers, but I also use mini erasers, jelly beans, rocks, sea shells, etc. with it also. We use it for: counting to 100, counting by 2's, 5's, 10's, addition/subtraction, more vs. less, even vs. odd, patterns, the alphabet, sight words, vowels vs. consonant, word families, spelling, uppercase vs. lowercase, sorting & even fine motor. I love that I can use one item to cover so many concepts that grow with my children. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is something that you are loving right now? 

Obligatory Blogger Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this review; I just really like this product.