Refocus...again!

Year around school sounds horrible to many people.  My first thought was...I'll never get a break!

As the years pass and I learn more and more of about the ins and outs of 'our' home school I try new things. This year I'm trying my version of year 'round school.  I looked online for some good examples to get an idea of how it looks and then just opened up the calendar and plugged in the days. 

I first had to determine what days I wanted off.  From there is was just finding a good starting date and ending date.  After that I thought of how many weeks in a grading period I wanted...was it 9 weeks or 8 weeks.  I really couldn't decide until I starting pluggin' the numbers in...I ended up with an 8 week grading period.  The main reason was that once plugging in the 9 weeks it had me doing school on days or weeks I wanted or needed off and it was easier to change the weeks in a quarter than an extra day off and making it up some other day.  I have 4 quarters that are 8 weeks and 1 short 5 week quarter.  

Let me just say I LOVE THIS NEW SCHEDULE!!!  It's such a light at the end of our school tunnel.

We ended our 3 quarter last Friday.  I tell the kids if they have gotten all there school work done and are up to date on their studies then they have a full 2 weeks off.  So far they have had a little bit of school work to complete before their break.  They still have to do any Co-op work due during this time.

 

I find that it has allowed to get that needed break to keep from burn out.  It also gives me time to pay attention to things that just are a bit out of reach when I'm schooling all day.  This break I will be organizing my filing system, School papers, School book closet, Preparing to sell my car, deep cleaning all our vehicles and many other things that are hard to do when schooling all day.  

You see...we are home schoolers on the move.  

Some days...many days we need to close shop around 2.  That might not sound bad to you but that means all things done by 2...school, cleaning, lunch (and usually dinner), exercise, special one on one talks with who ever is in need, billing, research...on and on.  This is when I wish I could add more hours in the day.  So when I'm asked to do extra's during the schooling days....sometimes it can be a bit too much.  This is why it feels so good when I see a break coming.  I can put a few things off or plan to take a fun trip on those times...

So, do we school all year 'round?  

As home schoolers you know that learning never stops.  Even during TV time you can find someway to learn something.  BUT the short answer is no.  I make it work to start the year early (late to middle July) and Every 8 weeks they get a 2 week break.  The only break that isn't 2 weeks is the November.  This is only b/c they are only in school for 3 weeks and then off for a 2 week Christmas break.

After that they get their 2 week breaks at the end of every quarter closing the year in the very beginning of June:)  This gives them plenty of time for summer camps, fun with friends, and a family vacation.

By the time we get to the middle to end of July they seem ready for structure yet again.  Especially in Texas where it is super hot!  They finish early since it is the beginning of the year and usually a refresher of what just ended.  Also b/c their Co-op classes have not started.  

I will continue this school schedule from now on.

Unwind....As a home school mom I can unwind knowing a refocus time is close at hand.