How to Do Summer School

Summer used to really bum me out.

I think my expectations were too high. Plus, being hot and sticky isn't really fun, right? Is there anyone who enjoys that?

The biggest factor in my summer unhappiness was homeschooling.  I really wanted to be a year round homeschooler but I could only do that if we were homeschooling. There just wasn't any of that going on. I was tired, they were tired. I couldn't find the pencils let alone any workbooks we'd been plodding through.

Something about our summers needed to change.

Thinking back on my favorite summers as a kid brought back memories of bike rides, days at the lake, the luxury of reading an entire book in one day, and endless bologna sandwiches.

That's the summer I wanted to give to my kids.

 

[caption id="attachment_1623" align="aligncenter" width="533"] This was last summer. Capturing photos of Spencer these days is trickier.[/caption]

 

Sometimes us homeschooling people can get a little uptight about learning, you know? We get panicked that not enough education is going on. We begin force-feeding education, demanding that school isn't over until the last page of curriculum is done, and trying to turn every moment into a learning experience. I always know I'm moving into the frenetic stage when I'm the only one listening to my monologues.

Homeschoolers feel that we've got something to

prove to the non-homeschooling world.

 

But we don't. Our only obligation is to our family. The summer I decided to be intentional about having fun was the summer I saw what natural learning looks like. I wanted to carry that feeling over into our 'school' year as well. That would be a little bit of a longer journey - I can share more about that sometime.

[caption id="attachment_1624" align="aligncenter" width="564"] Playing in the creek.[/caption]

Year-round homeschooling is still our thing. Homeschooling has seasons, too, and summers are for relaxing. No one relaxes when they're being told all the things they're behind in.

What summer school looks around here varies. This year I asked each of the boys (the only two people I'm responsible for educating!) what they'd like to work on. Next, I shared what I'd like to work on with them. Here's what we came up with: spelling, reading, and math. 

We are picking projects. I'd like Spencer to learn about small engines, but he's reticent. I'm betting that if I bring home an old lawn mower and start taking it apart he'll join in. Liam is still at that magical age of curiosity. Insects really interest him, especially bees, so we'll be doing some projects around those things.

I'm also sneaking in some writing (thank you Brave Writer) and science and history. Turns out the boys like to listen to a couple of my favorite podcasts and audiobooks, and Liam's new favorite show is "Who Was?" on Netflix.

In other words, there is plenty of learning taking place.

Like most summers, I have had to remind myself to relax, to not get too wound up over what I'd like to accomplish over the summer.

Or what I didn't accomplish during the 'academic' year.

That's another big no-no if you want to keep it relaxed. Summer isn't the time to catch up. That's a mistake I made in the past. If you want to help a child acquire a new skill that's fine, but don't tell them they've got to get caught up. That is the surest way to help them feel like they're failing.

I speak from experience.

Summer school around here is weekly trips to the library. It's me keeping my mouth shut when Spencer is reading until midnight. It's Liam listening to an audiobook while he builds Legos. Summer school is us watching a movie together and having long talks about the animation, or our favorite characters. It's me swinging or bike riding or swimming with them while we swap remember-when stories.

Making a habit of our reading and spelling times can be difficult for me, but that's my problem and not theirs. If I set it up they're generally game, even with a few grumbles. It's especially fun if we're all in our bathing suits on the back porch.

 

[caption id="attachment_1625" align="aligncenter" width="547"] I know it's blurry but it's one of my favorites.[/caption]

 

So that's our summer school.

Meanwhile, we've got a three foot deep pool in the backyard and some snorkels from Wal-greens. We see friends in clusters - lots of days in a row. Then we'll go ten days with it just being us. It's all accidental and pretty perfect. There is complaining and whining and arguments over what movie to watch and who ate the last corn dog. 

Mostly, though, we're just having a great time loving the summer.

 

Be brave, misfits, and enjoy the summer no matter what!