In Episode 4, Gina and Christyn discuss the idea of homeschooling year-round…or not…or creating a hybrid calendar that suits your family and lifestyle. So many options!
What are the advantages and concerns of year-round homeschooling? Listen in as Gina and Christyn talk about the lifestyle of learning and the delight in taking a refreshing “iced tea break” in your homeschool year.
1:38 — We enjoy rich conversations at the rink…until the kids come off the ice for a break
2:12 — The idea of homeschooling year-round or finding a spot to take our own refreshment break
3:03 — Homeschools are not tied to the traditional public school calendar, so there’s more flexibility in deciding when the homeschool year starts and stops
3:16 — “Kinda-sorta” – Gina’s take on year-round homeschooling
4:45 — Christyn’s considered it, but ends up doing her own thing instead
5:02 — “Is skating season over?” Never – and that’s the same with learning
5:57 — There is no end to learning opportunities in life, and that idea is reinforced by year-round homeschooling
6:32 — But sometimes you might need an “iced tea” break; find a natural spot to stop for a bit
7:25 — Advantages of year-round homeschooling: consistency/routine; flexibility; avoiding “summer slide”
7:45 — Consistency and routine: Gina and Christyn talk about how that works in their homeschools
9:48 — Discuss the Brave Writer idea that we’re all Classical Homeschoolers in the fall, Charlotte Mason followers in the winter, and Unschoolers in the spring
12:10 — Flexibility
12:55 — Gina discusses “emergency flexibility” – when something comes up and plans suddenly change
13:44 — That’s different from “planned flexibility” – when you factor outside commitments into your school year
14:40 — Christyn reflects on taking planned breaks that are convenient and being able to use the whole calendar year – all twelve months – when planning a school year
17:26 — Avoid “summer slide.” How does that concept look in a homeschool situation?
20:23 — Drawbacks of year-round homeschooling; burnout for students AND parents is the biggest concern
21:30 — Mrs. Frankweiler suggests that while learning something every day is good, we should also have days where we allow what we learn to swell up and touch everything inside us (From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler)
23:40 — William Wordsworth felt that there should be a time of introspection before writing poetry. Check out his “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”
25:13 — In the end, weigh the advantages and concerns and do what makes sense for your family
