Planning Ahead

Recently I have had so many people contact me about my year round school schedule on my blog.  It is a schedule that my friend and I created over three years ago.  It seemed to meet the standards of the 180 required school days and give us much needed breaks during the year for travel and personal use.  I wanted to share that schedule with you and explain how you can make one yourself. 

First, if you use any sort of structured textbook curriculum, you will notice that most concepts are broken up into six week sections. That means that they will introduce, implement and review a new concept every six weeks.  I know that ABeka does this, Alpha Omega, Horizon, Weaver...etc.   So, why not create a schedule that supports that six weeks study period and then take a break?  It is proven that children retain and understand new things better when given a break after a concept is thoroughly explained. I have seen it improve my children's understanding tremendously.  Even when one of my boys don't exactly convince me that they completely understand something by the end of six weeks - By the end of our 2 week break they seem to have digested what was taught and can perform at the level I desire.  This has happened over and over again. So, I encourage you do try something new - it just might do the same for your family. 

If you would like to try the "Independent Year Round Schedule" (six week on/2 week off schedule) for next year, but you do not want to follow this exact one  - you can make one yourself by following the pattern below.  Remember that there are six six-week sessions in a school year (180 school days). 

1. Get our your calendar for the next school year
2. Mark the days you have planned for vacation and so forth
3. Mark off days that you wish to have off during the year (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter...etc)
4. Pick a start date (best if you begin in July or early August)
5. Count out six weeks (This is your first session)
   
6. Mark off two weeks after those six weeks (these are your "off-track" break periods)
7. Repeat #5 and #6 (5 more times for a total of six sessions)
   

You are welcome to use my "Independent Year Round Schedule" that I followed this year - it is posted on my right side bar.  You'll just have to change the dates slightly to fit the new year.  I will have many more suggested traditional year round schedules in my new E-book due to be released the end of June.