When I started my summer homeschool year, we still enjoyed summer fun like outdoor barbecues with traditional tasty Texas beef brisket, swimming parties and some putt-putt golf. Besides knowing how to homeschool means you learn flexibility quickly.
Did you know that it was not until my sons started high school that I started my homeschool year in the more traditional month of August?
There are 7 advantages of starting your home school year in the summer for both seasoned and new homeschoolers.
Seven Advantages to Starting Your Year In the Summer
When the first day of school is in August, it feels like a race from the beginning.
1. Euphoric Feeling of Being Ahead.
Being able to dawdle at the beginning of the summer school year feels like a luxury and it sets a relaxed pace.
2. Curriculum Not a Good Fit?
One of the most important reasons I liked starting in summer was that it allowed me time to use a new curriculum for a few months to see if it was a fit for me and my kids.
This is a priceless perk because if it’s not working, nothing is really lost.
There is still time to switch curriculum and keep on schedule.
3. Complete Shipments.
We use many physical books and I get my shipment complete and in record time because companies are not really busy yet.
Too, I am able to telephone and chat if I need to with a curriculum vendor about his or her product because the early part of summer is not as busy.
4.Slower Start Equals Greater Momentum Later.
Another insider tip is that there is no need to start all of your new homeschool curriculum on the first day. Why do we think that we have to do that?
The more children you have the more stressful this can be.
Start with one new curriculum and then gradually fold the others in. Until I started doing that, I was not really reading the instructions on the best way how to use my new gems.
Each week, I folded in another new resource savoring the tips shared, making adjustments to our schedule until we found a schedule that would work for the new year.
5. Meaningful Break from Co-ops and Classes.
A lot of co-ops and classes follow a traditional public school schedule.
This can be a peaceful break from the stress of having to be on the road each week.
With no piano classes to take the kids to or co-ops to attend, those few months of meaningful school without having to break up the day have been some of our best teaching moments.
6. History and Science Immersion.
What do kids clamor for more of and we struggle the most with?
Getting to the best part of homeschooling, which is hands-on activities for science and history.
Taking a few days here and there, without covering any other subject, we immersed ourselves the whole day into history or science projects.
Being able to sprawl out our crafts, books, maps or play-doh for the day and make one activity after the other was a welcomed changed to the fast pace of a traditional school year.
7. School Supplies Binges.
Okay, shopping early before school supplies are all picked over may not be an advantage for those that don’t gush over new office supplies, organizational thinga-ma-jigs, pens, binders and folders.
You know I have a sickness passion for cool supplies, new notebooks and notebook binders.
Don’t give up the fun and long lazy days of summer.
Use them to kick start your homeschool year in a relaxed way.
What do you like best about starting your homeschool year in the summer?
Look at these other tips:
- What is Year Around Homeschooling? Part 1
- What is Year Around Homeschooling? Part 2
- 3 Traps to Avoid When Home and School Come Together Mid-Year
- Top 10 Tips To Getting a New Homeschool Year Rolling
We start in July, and I love it! It allows us to take longer breaks during holidays, illnesses, and anything else that may come up. Not only that, we all get too bored when we’ve gone too long without “doing school,” so we’re al pretty excited when July rolls around. 🙂
Love hearing this Shelly. Us too, we can’t stay away too long….
Very good reasons here.
I don’t start our year in the summer, I end our year in the summer. We school year round. Here in Florida the summer days just get too hot to do much outside unless water is involved.
Starting instead of finishing in the summer may have to be taken into consideration in the future.
Hmmm…. This gets me thinking.
Thanks for getting the wheels turning, Tina!
Brandy @ Our Thrifty Home recently posted…Happy Mother’s Day {early}
So welcome Brandy.
We loved starting in summer because it was like having two celebrations..lol We celebrated at the beginning our year AND we partied AGAIN..lol when everybody started back in August.
But I LOVE the slow lazy start of school and being able to dive into all my new materials without much going on like co-ops and classes.
Tina,
I just had to come back and read this article again. We have been a homeschool family for 6 years now and I’m not sure why I never thought to START our year in the summer. As I said in the previous comment, we ENDED our year in the summer and started again in August.
After some prayer and brainstorming I have decided to try the advice of this post and start our year in the summer.
It seems like a no-brainer to me. I can’t believe I didn’t think of this earlier, but I’m sure glad YOU DID!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Brandy @ Our Thrifty Home recently posted…How to include dad in your homeschool day.
Awww Brandy, I always love your honest comments.
Isn’t that what we are here for? To help each other keep thinking outside the box.
Goodness knows, I have made PLENTY of mistakes and learned.
I think you’ll love this start to your year.
I MISS it but will be able to do it again this year until I have my next high schooler.
I had to switch the last few years because of my first high schooler and then my second high schooler.
I get to start this year in the summer though…