DANDELION SEEDS - Scattering inspiration one seed at a time...

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• Thursday, August 11, 2005 - When Do YOU Start Your School Year?

So, as I was sitting in my livingroom, looking at the mess I call "home", I started thinking about everything I'd like to get done before we start our school year. I have a list... a really long list... and as I began to weigh things out, I started to think, "why do I try to start early every year? Is it for the kids, or for me?"

I'm the classic "get - behind - get - overwhelmed - so - try - to - stay - ahead - so - you - don't - get - frustrated" kind of person, and don't think there's anything wrong with starting school early, or even continuing it throughout the entire year. Infact, that's essentially what I do... I mean, life is learning, and learning is school, right? But I"m talking about the books... you know, the "REAL" learning (according my five year-old anyway).

I began thinking about what my kids would like, and when they would like to "officially" start school. As much as they enjoy school at home, we live in Minnesota, and it's only so nice for so long (or short, as the case may be!). Instead of enjoying the beautiful summer weather, I try to rush getting the school year started so I don't feel behind, reasoning that if I start early enough, the chances of me getting behind are "slim to none" (pause for hysterical laughter

). I think my children would love to be able to tell the neighbors who tease them for being homeschooled, that we don't start until a week after they do.

Now, don't get me wrong... I'm happy for those of you who start your school year early (okay... I'm jealous of those of you who start your school year early... tee hee), but as for me... I think I've been trying to hard to follow my schedule instead of waiting on the Lord's timing and enjoying his beatiful weather. It will be soon enough that the snow will fly and the temperature drop... and we'll have plenty of time inside to do school!

SHARE and Tell!:

When do you start and end your school year?
What are your reasons for doing so?

Comments

•Thursday, August 11, 2005 - School Year

Posted by DreweLlyn

Since I have two children in public high school (see my blog entitled "Fledglings") I try to keep my dd(10) on their schedule. Things just run more smoothly that way. This means we started yesterday. Well, dd(10) didn't do too much yesterday - a little copy work, a little reading, some math drill sheets, a little language. Then she played 5 hours at a friend's house while I sat down in the silence, prayed, and made a plan for our school year. Here is MS we really should do school in the summer (May - September) when it is too hot to go out, and we should play in the winter which is usually pretty pleasant around here except for a month or so *grin*.

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•Thursday, August 11, 2005 - starting school

Posted by dutchmomto3

We start in August,but it is very relaxed. One day we'll do 2 subjects and the next may only be 1. My daughter has decided to add a subject a day. My son on the other had isn't very motivated to start early. If he gets one thing done I"m happy. When September comes they both know that everything has to be accomplished on a daily basis if nothing else is going on at the time.

I like to start in August just so I"m not so rushed the rest of the year and the longer the kids go without doing school the more they lose. In a perfect world I"d do school all year long with specific breaks so the kids wouldn't forget so much. But usually by May we are all ready for a break. When August comes we are all ready get started again.

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•Saturday, August 13, 2005 - Study Schedules

Posted by WingsAsEagles

Ahh . . . the beauty of educating our own at home - we can do it whenever we want! My family and I live in Arizona where the idea of a summer break is ludicrous. There is just no enjoyment in playing outside when it's 115 degrees and melanoma is just waiting for you to get just one more sun burn! We start our study season the second or third week in January, and work until we've completed what we've set out to do. We study away in the climate controlled comfort of our home through the horrible summers. At four days a week, this has us done by September or October.

This has several perks for us.

1. By the time we’re done formal studies for the year, the mornings are cool enough for the children to enjoy playing outside.

2. We can really enjoy the holiday season.

3. My husband and I can layout a plan for the following year, go to our local homeschool convention in July to research, make educated decisions, and then place our orders AFTER the usual July/August rush.

Don’t you love the flexibility?
Mrs. L

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•Saturday, August 13, 2005 - Starting the "School Year"

Posted by EclecticBibliophile

Here in Mississippi we have the opposite problem of Minnesota. Summer is the worst time to take a break. It's just too hot and humid (think of a steamy bathroom after a hot shower) to enjoy the outdoors much.

We school pretty much year-round, with time off when we need it, for business travel, spring fever, or the first crisp, cool days of fall. But I like to designate an "official" end of the old school year and beginning of the new. It varies from year to year. We have started our new "year" in June, July, August, and September. This year we started in August, before I was really ready, because we're doing a co-op this semester with 3 other families, and the coordinator wanted to finish before Thanksgiving. A minor tradeoff in schedule preference for the benefits of being in this particular co-op.

Isn't it delightful that homeschooling gives us the flexibility and freedom to schedule according to our families' needs rather than some arbitrary schedule set by strangers?

Mary Jo Tate
who always celebrates Homeschool Freedom Day (usually with a picnic in the park) on the first day of public school every year, no matter when we start our own school year

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