May. 15, 2007 - Making the Most of Summertime

Summertime is just around the corner!  While some homeschool moms (like me) try not to be distracted by the gorgeous weather as they press-on with the "schoolwork," others are excitedly looking ahead to the finish line of yet another school-year.  I wrote this article a couple of years ago for my homeschool group and spent some time expanding it this afternoon.  It is intended to be an encouragement to you and me; not something that will become burdensome and overwhelming.  I pray that it blesses you and assists you in making the most of summertime so that you are even better prepared to work dilligently when the school bell rings once again.

Making the Most of Summertime

For many home educators, summer is the time to catch up on all the things that we’ve “put off” all year long.  Unfortunately, many of us fail to plan and find summer over all too soon and our “To Do List” not any shorter than it was at the beginning of the season.  Let us purpose to be more proactive in our summer plans; to be deliberate and reasonable in setting goals.  Pray always for God’s strength, wisdom, and discernment as well as the ability to glorify Him and serve Him joyfully.  Ask that He would lead you and guide you in spending the summer wisely.  God is faithful!  Be encouraged that in working diligently, the coming school year will get off to a better start and should run more smoothly. 

Personally

• Read a book (or two or a dozen).  Make sure to include something fun in addition to all those how-to homeschool books! 
• Establish healthy habits.
  • Rise early.
  • Have a daily quiet time including prayer and Bible study.
  • Exercise and Eat Right.
• Catch up on correspondence.
  • Clean out your inbox.  Reply to e-mail.
  • Send out a “Christmas in July” letter.
  • Write overdue thank-you notes.
  • Call an old friend.
  • Write an old-fashioned letter on pretty stationary. 
• Get a family picture taken.
• Give yourself a manicure or pedicure.
• Spend time on your hobby.  Get together with friends to scrapbook or stamp.
• Schedule overdue dentist, doctor, eye doctor…appointments.

With Regards to Child Rearing

• Invest time in training.
• Work towards first-time obedience.
• Teach and encourage good manners.
• Establish good habits.
• Be consistent in biblical discipline.
• Train them how to do chores and housework. 

In the Realm of Academics

• Continue to provide stability for children who thrive on routine.
• Complete unfinished work from the previous school year.
• Work ahead to create more breathing room in the coming school year or so that you can enjoy vacations at other times in the year.
• Tackle subjects that do not fit easily into your standard curriculum (State History).
• Focus on problem areas or develop strengths.
• Regularly review core material to prevent memory loss (Math Facts!).
• Read great books together, encourage your children to read independently.
• Participate in the library Summer Reading Program.
• Have fun with a summer unit study.
• Encourage letter writing.
• Plan and prepare for the coming school year.

Spiritually

·        Memorize Scripture verses or passages individually and as a family.

·        Worship together through praise songs and hymns.

·        Establish consistent family devotion times.

·        Pray together as a family. 

·        Study the Bible.

·        Participate in (or even lead/host) a Women’s Bible Study or Book Club.

·        Go on a short-term missions trip or prayerfully support someone who else who is going. 

In the Home

Tackle Projects

• Go through your house and make a list of home improvement projects.
• Pray over and itemize the list in order of priority.
• Choose one or two big projects and a few smaller projects to complete.
• Map out a plan as to how to get them done.

De-clutter

• Focus on one cupboard, cabinet, closet, room at a time.
• Use three boxes: Put Away, Give Away, Throw Away.
• Remember to keep an eternal perspective and don’t cling to earthly things.

Clean 

• Tackle the deep cleaning projects you’ve neglected.
• Go through the house room by room with a critical eye and make a list.
  • Baseboards, Windows, Blinds, Walls, Cobwebs in corners, Dusting…
  • Incorporate your kids in these projects and train them how to clean.
• Create a workable plan to maintain cleanliness throughout the year.

Get Organized

• Create a workable filing system for dealing with paper.
• Create a realistic schedule/routine. Consider
  • Devotions/Bible Study
  • Housework
  • Academics
  • Projects & Hobbies
  • Exercise/Physical Fitness
  • Ministry
  • Extra-curriculars
• Make a chore chart. 
• Make a Master Menu & corresponding Shopping List.
  • Peruse recipe books and experiment with healthy, “quick & easy” meals.
  • Plan weekly or bi-weekly meals, list every ingredient needed to make each meal (don’t forget breakfast, lunch and snacks), make your master shopping list from these meals.

Be Creative

·        Plant a garden.

·        Sew something.

 Have Fun

• Plan day or weekend trips to interesting places.
• Enjoy the swimming pool.
• Go on a picnic.
• Visit a state park and hike through the woods.
• Go bike riding; pack lunch.
• Get together with friends you haven’t seen in awhile.
• Host a cookout; invite a new family you don’t know very well.
• Stay up late catching lightning bugs!
• Go on vacation.
• Take a road trip.
• Go to/serve in Vacation Bible School.
• Go on a date with just one of your kids.
• Go on a date with your spouse.
• Find a drive-in movie theatre and take the kids to a family friendly movie.

What do you do with the kids while you’re catching up?

• Enlist the help of family.  Can the kids spend an evening, night, day, week or long weekend with their grandparents or other relatives?
• Swap with friends. 
• Enroll them in a week of day camp.
• Involve them:  be creative about ways that they can participate.
  • Reward them or pay them for extra work they do to help.

May. 15, 2007 - Excellent!

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May. 16, 2007 - yes the battery will die - sorry!

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May. 16, 2007 - Love it!

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May. 18, 2007 - great ideas