6 Things to Include In Your Summer Homeschool Schedule
Are you taking the summer off but are wanting to come up with a simple summer homeschool schedule that adds some structure to your days while keeping the kids busy and having fun?
We typically take the summer off from our regular homeschool routine. It’s a break I find that we all need, but that doesn’t mean we are taking a break from learning. In fact, we’ve found that summer is a great time to do some the extras, like field trips and learning life skills, that can sometimes get lost throughout the year.
Today I’m sharing 6 elements that you can pull from to help you create a simple summer homeschool schedule that works for your family. These are all things we’ve done over the years and are once again looking to implement as we head into the summer months.
6 Things to Include In Your Summer Homeschool Schedule
Here are six simple suggestions of things you can include in your summer schedule that will help to add structure, fun, and learning to your days:
1. Books, Books, and More Books
First, carve time out every day for personal reading. Let your kids cuddle up with their favorite books while you do the same!
Furthermore, in the evenings when it starts to cools down, sit out on the patio together and do a few family read alouds.
Listen to audio books at lunch time or in the car. Start a summer book club. Host a poetry tea party. Do a summer reading challenge. The possibilities are endless for incorporating reading into your summer homeschool schedule!
2. Take Field Trips as Part of Your Summer Homeschool Schedule
Summer is also a fantastic time to take your learning on the road or into your community. Plan a road trip, visit the zoo, go to a museum, job shadow a friend, or pick berries at a local farm.
Every new experience that your kids have is an opportunity for learning and summer break is the perfect time to make it happen.
Need some ideas? Check out this huge list of 200+ Field Trip Ideas for Homeschoolers!
3. Include Learning Life Skills in Your Summer Schedule
Make a list of life skills you want to teach your kids this summer! Some ideas might include: mowing the lawn, pocket knife safety, laundry, cooking, or making a budget.
Life skills are one of those things that produce life-long dividends and are worth every second of your teaching time. Once your child learns how to do another thing independently, they are one step closer to becoming a self-sufficient adult that you can one day confidently send out into the world.
What are some life skills you can incorporate into your summer homeschool schedule?
4. Spend Time Outside as Part of Your Summer Homeschool Schedule
So much of our family’s health and wellness stems from being outside. And summer truly is an amazing time to be in the great outdoors.
From riding bikes and taking hikes, to learning plant names and pointing out constellations, there are so many ways we can take the learning outside.
By prioritizing outside time and making it a part of your summer homeschool schedule, it guarantees a lot of screen-free, healthy and active learning for you and your kids.
5. Add Creativity into Your Simple Summer Homeschool Schedule
Summer is also a terrific time to dive deeper into creative endeavors. Let your kids do those messy crafts they’ve been wanting to try, or take on a building project with your teen.
Perhaps sign up for an art class together or learn how to whittle something from wood. Let your kids try watercolor painting or pottery and see what sparks their interests.
And maybe the extra time that your summer break offers will be the time your kids will begin to develop a life long passion in the area of creativity and art.
6. Incorporate Short Review Packets, Flashcards, or Short Drills into Your Summer Homeschool Schedule
Are you worried your kids are going to forget what they’ve already learned? If so, another element that you can add to your summer homeschool schedule is review packets, flashcards, or short drills.
If a little bit of daily review is something your kids need, why not block our 15 minutes every morning to go over those things?
