HomeAbout UsContact
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Pinterest
    MENU
    • Start
      • Considering Homeschool
        • Why Homeschool?
        • Reasons for Homeschooling
        • History of Homeschooling
        • Pros and Cons of Homeschooling
        • The Advantages of Homeschooling Your Kids
        • Negative Effects of Homeschooling?
        • Homeschooling and Socialization
        • Famous Homeschoolers
        • Homeschooling Statistics Research
        • Homeschool Sports Opportunities
        • Homeschooling Requirements
        • Is Homeschool Testing Required and Necessary?
        • Homeschool High School
      • Homeschooling Styles
        • Traditional Homeschooling Programs
        • The Classical Homeschool Curriculum Approach
        • Independent Homeschool Programs and Homeschooling Curriculum Choices
        • Unschooling or Relaxed Homeschooling
        • Charlotte Mason Homeschool Teaching Method
        • Eclectic Homeschooling
        • Homeschool Umbrella School Opportunities
        • Unit Studies
        • Homeschool Online
        • Christian Homeschool Curriculum
      • Homeschool Affordability
        • How Much Does Homeschooling Cost?
        • Is Cheap Homeschooling Possible?
        • Cost of Homeschooling VS Public School
        • Free Homeschool Worksheets
        • Free Reading Lists
        • Used Homeschool Curriculum
        • Homeschool Freebies
        • Homeschool Transcripts and Report Card Templates
      • Start Homeschooling
    • Reviews
          • Read Reviews
          • Submit a Review
    • By Subject
        • Art & Music
        • Christian
        • Complete
        • Computer-Based
        • Curriculum Supplement
        • Foreign Language
        • Grammar
        • Handwriting
        • History & Geography
        • Language Arts
        • Math
        • Online
        • Reading – Phonics
        • Science
        • Spelling
        • Unit Studies
    • By Grade
        • Preschool
        • Kindergarten
        • First Grade
        • Second Grade
        • Third Grade
        • Fourth Grade
        • Fifth Grade
        • Sixth Grade
        • Seventh Grade
        • Eighth Grade
        • High School
    • Free Worksheets
        • Math Worksheets
          • Algebra Help
          • Algebra Worksheet Generator
          • Printable Mathematics Activites
          • Basic Mathematics
          • Math Worksheets K-6
          • Multiplication Worksheets
          • Rick’s Math
          • Online Math Problem Generator
          • Free Printable Graph Paper in Various Sizes
        • Science Worksheets
          • Neuroscience for Kids
          • Printable Chemistry Activities
        • Language & Handwriting
          • Free Printable Handwriting Paper
          • Phonics
          • Printable Vocabulary Worksheets
        • Multisubject Printables
          • Free Printables
          • Learning Pages
          • Learning Puzzles
          • School Express
        • Other Homeschool Printables
          • Free Printable Reading Charts for Kids
          • Chart Jungle
          • Kindergarten Worksheets
    • Reading Lists
        • Children’s Classics
        • Kindergarten
        • 1st Grade
        • 2nd Grade
        • 3rd Grade
        • 4th Grade
        • 5th Grade
        • 6th Grade
        • 7th Grade
        • 8th Grade
        • 9th Grade
        • 10th Grade
        • 11th Grade
        • 12th Grade
    • Blog
        • Recent Posts

          • Native American Heritage Month Activities
          • Teaching Tech with Google Education
          • Three Best Sites for STEM Curriculum
          • Sleep well to perform more and better
          • How to Teach Thankfulness this Season
Home Blog 6 Reasons Why I Homeschool Year Round

6 Reasons Why I Homeschool Year Round

BlogNo CommentsJune 30, 2016Indasa Butler

Why Would Anyone Want a Year Round Homeschool?

There are many reasons I choose to homeschool year round. All of them pretty much mirror why I choose to homeschool in the first place. I want to be able to live life WITH my children – not just live under the same roof.

This week, I plan to reboot potty training lessons for my youngest.

We recently returned from a road trip on the US east coast. Her dad really wanted her to join him for Memorial Day weekend. And although all the points on the original agenda were not hit, she still had a blast.

Unfortunately, going on this road trip also meant making some adjustments. Her sleep schedule and previous potty training successes flew out the window. She now wakes at two in the morning and pretty much refuses to use the toilet.

Add to that an older child (who missed you dearly) that alternates between a year round brick and mortar school and homeschool. Plus, visiting relatives – already settled in for their summer break when I returned.

Yet, all of this reminds me of one of the many reasons why I enjoy the option to homeschool year round. For me, it is more flexible than a traditional schedule. When the unexpected things happen in life, I can adjust without missing a beat. Neither do I have to feel guilty about missing two weeks of school.

Why, why, why…

Of course, when I admit that I homeschool year round, I get incredulous looks. And a lot of questions.

  • Why would I choose to school through the summer?
  • Don’t my kids miss being able to visit with friends and family during the summer?
  • What will I do when they are older and want a seasonal job?
  • How do I handle vacation time? Do I even allow for much vacation time?
  • How do I possibly determine their grade level?
  • What does a year round homeschool give you that a traditional schedule does not?

flexibility

  1. As I said before, one of the reasons I enjoy this schedule is because of its flexibility. Because it allows for a certain amount of wiggle room.
  • I don’t have to fight so hard to get it all done
  • If the kids are having a meltdown or the house is in utter chaos, I prefer to spend my time doing housework or soothing upset children. Plus, my kids learn better if the house feels calm and orderly.
  • I can spend time training. I may need to focus on teaching life skills and I want to be able to give them undivided attention… that includes potty training and sleep training.
  • I don’t have to sweat the small stuff as much. I am a busy work-at-home mom who likes to knock out her to-do lists. I enjoy being able to handle the housekeeping (cooking, cleaning, budgeting), the homeschool planning, a job working remotely, a consulting business and three foster cats.

consistency

  1. Another reason I like to homeschool year round is for the consistency.
  • The kids don’t experience any summer learning loss (ideally). As we continually review the material, it stays fresh in their minds.
  • We understand better what material we need to work on if someone (including mom) is struggling – which helps us determine approximate grade level.
  • There is no adjustment period for getting back into a school routine. By choosing to homeschool year round, we don’t leave our routine for long.

we love our vacations and breaks

  1. The kids enjoy how vacations and breaks are scheduled.
  • We can space our break times out so that we can have more of them!
  • We take several smaller breaks throughout the year (my preference) versus one or two larger breaks so that we don’t experience burn-out as often. Plus, the kids love the quick excursions.
  • We can vacation in the off-season–which means cheaper rates and fewer crowds.
  • We take more time off for Christmas! As my oldest alternates with a year round brick and mortar school, it works out that we can enjoy Christmas/Winter break until the beginning of February.

extra-curricular activities

  1. We can find MORE TIME to enjoy extra-curricular activities.
  • We can join a co-op, or just interact with other homeschoolers without feeling that it is taking from our learning time.
  • My oldest is able to explore music lessons with no guilt of taking away from ‘school time’. (Only one activity at a time, though because this solo mom doesn’t want to wear herself ragged.)

less time needed to “do school”

  1. Three words…four day weeks!
  • I am able to take one day off a week to plan for – or revamp – the upcoming week’s schedule. I also use that “off day” to schedule and plan for my consulting business, private music lessons and household maintenance.
  • The kids get a day for independent fun study like cooking, model toy trains or photography.

real life happens

  1. And when (not if) all the pre-planning falls apart; it encourages me to be reminded that (for our family) a year round homeschool works because real life is happening all around us – CONSTANTLY!
  • Our family is constantly learning, constantly exploring, and constantly trying new things.
  • For us, homeschool is a lifestyle. It is our life all year. It is not just 180 days. It is not 8-10 months out of the year.
  • When my kids contribute to the ‘real world,’ they won’t be taking 2- to 3-month long vacations from work. Why would they do it for school?
  • We move to another country. Babies are born. The foster cat unexpectedly gives birth to a litter of eight! We change jobs or careers. We catch colds. We sleep train our kids. We potty train our kids. Real. Life. Happens…Every day.

I Plan to Homeschool Year Roundhomeschool year round

I am a huge planner so, in order for me to smoothly hit all 6 of these reasons, I needed a planner that would fit my family’s needs. Unfortunately, when I decided to homeschool year round, I was shocked to find there were few January to December planners. Most academic homeschool planners catered to the traditional school schedule of Fall, Winter, Spring. Yes, I enjoy flexibility, but I also want to be able to schedule the year without waiting on a new planner to be published. Then, hoping it isn’t a new and improved version that no longer has‘the thing’ that I am used to having that makes my ‘real life’ run smoother.

It wasn’t until recently that I began to see planners for those that homeschool year round.

On a Budget?

Because there are homeschoolers on a tight budget, I want to also include recommendations for the many FREE yearly planners. A lot of them forego the pre-printed dates so that homeschoolers have more flexibility in planning. Of those, I recommend:

The Homeschool Mom Planner (2016 AND 2017 in one PDF)

The 2016 Homeschool Planning Calendar by The Frugal Homeschool Mom

Our Homeschool Planner by Homeschooling on a Dime (2015 AND 2016 in one PDF)

 

But hey, if my suggestions don’t suit your family, there is a bumper-crop of highly recommended FREE planners here. I’m sure at least one of them will suit your family’s needs.

So, this week, as I chase my daughter around the house in our unconventional potty training sessions, I am thinking of my fellow homeschoolers. My desire is that you find the flexibility and freedom in whatever schedule you decide is best for your family. (If anyone knows that one-size-DOES-NOT-fit-all, it is you.) And that you always keep in front of you your WHY – your reasons – for making (or adjusting) that decision, if ‘real life’ requires it.

: homeschool planners, homeschool year, homeschool year round, year round school
Previous Post 7 End of the Year Homeschool Activities Next Post Summer Homeschooling

Related Articles

Home Management for the Homeschool Mom

October 15, 2016Indasa Butler

Should You Homeschool Over the Summer? The Pros And Cons

May 28, 2019Homeschool Curriculum

Ending your Homeschool Year

June 20, 2016Nicole Williams

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Curriculum Descriptions

Read Reviews

  • 7 Generation Games As a Homeschool Resource to Teach Math
  • Math Whizz for My Girls
  • Draw then Write
  • Vocabulary Spelling City is One of Our Favorites
  • Funtimes Tables! Fun Times Tables
  • K5 Learning as a Supplement for Homeschooling
  • Astute Hoot: Homeschool Games That Teach
(Read All Reviews)

© 2008 – 2018 Home Curriculum

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact