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SeaStar
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| Posted: May 25 2015 at 6:17am | IP Logged
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That is the title of my latest issue of Time Magazine (which just shows up at my house...not sure how that came to be  )
The article focuses on the problem American employers have getting their staff to use their vacation days. On average, about 5 days per year per employee go unused.
I feel like I am seeing a similar trend in the homeschool world. Year-round schooling is popular, and that is one thing. But what I am seeing on many blogs, in newsletters, etc, is the trend to "keep working on math through the summer" or "Prepare a summer reading list for my kids".
Do most kids want or need to do math all summer? Did your mom ever give you a book list you had to read over summer break? Is summer vacation dead?
Our summer vacation is short here, just June and July, because we start back to school in the heat of August when going outside to play is pretty miserable, and we like to take some nice breaks during the school year.
Still, I am planning to do zero math with my kids, and they can read whatever they would like. I find myself coming down in the camp of "a break means taking a break". I fondly remember summer days- the deliciousness of figuring out what to do next... take a bike ride, play Trivial Pursuit or cards, crochet something, swim. I would have had a heart attack if someone had brought out a math book. It would have been unthinkable (unless you are Sky Penderwick  )
I think figuring out what to do next is a life skill. All too soon kids have to grow up and go to work, and then there really is no summer vacation. 
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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SallyT
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| Posted: May 25 2015 at 8:26am | IP Logged
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We do take summers off. In middle and high school (and maybe before), I always had assigned summer reading from school, so with that I got no problem. But while I *plan* sometimes to do math in the summers, it really never happens. Not sure I'm even going to try this year.
*I* need a break, and my kids need the fallow time. Summers are always pretty rich, even when they're wide open, and even when we don't go anywhere exciting (which is most summers). I'm unschooly enough to believe that learning doesn't stop when we close the math book . . .
I know a lot of people school year-round to have the freedom to take time off in big chunks throughout the year, which would be my one rationale for doing that, too, if I did. In real life we . . . kind of do both. So far nobody's been too academically injured by having several spring breaks AND a summer vacation, all in one year. :) We do a lot better when we're refreshed, regardless of when and how and for how long the refreshment comes.
Sally
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: May 25 2015 at 9:12am | IP Logged
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SallyT wrote:
| So far nobody's been too academically injured by having several spring breaks AND a summer vacation, all in one year. :) |
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Good to know, since as much as I think about schooling year round for this reason, what you describe seems to be our default as well. I think this is why Melissa Wiley's description of Tidal Homeschooling resonates so much with me.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
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[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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MarilynW
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| Posted: May 25 2015 at 9:23am | IP Logged
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I wrote the following to my local h/s groups last week (title: Reclaiming Summer Vacation)
My kids call me the “Sarah Hale” of summer. I think with nostalgia back to my childhood summers – where we just were free range with no organized activity. We spent all day outside on our bikes, swimming, exploring, organizing our own soccer and ball games – our parents did not have to know where we were half the time. We read great books and formed “clubs”. No tv, no electronics – though we watched great family movies. ( I think of the old movie “Now and Then” – not quite appropriate for kids but a great portrayal of summer) Nobody knew the word “stress”
I try each year to recreate some of that with my children – harder in the suburbs, and harder in a society where it is not really safe for our kids to be free range.
I really encourage you to read a couple of books – “Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child” (Anthony Esolen – really incredibly good book) and Last Child in the Woods (Richard Louv)
I do plan our summers and we have a general schedule (Mass, outside in the morning, inside in the heat of the day, pool/biking in the evening) – we have baskets of books and themes for each work . In the interest of full disclosure – we do Math throughout the summer, my rising juniors will be doing PSAT prep, we do a lot of art and music and read a lot of books together and individually.
This year I would like to organize times for “pick up games” as an alternative to camps – when our kids can just get together and play soccer/baseball/tennis – at the same time each week, same location, anyone can turn up if they wish, no stress or “have to’s” I will send out a note and if you want to be added to the list let me know.
A few year ago we had a great list going on the Torch group for family movies – I am going to find it and send it out again and see if anyone wants to add to it. Also I make lists of summer read alouds and individual reading lists for each child which I would be happy to share.
But for now, although I would rather think about root beer floats and lemonade – I have to focus on finishing up our school year!
Happy dreaming about summer!
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Marilyn
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MarilynW
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| Posted: May 25 2015 at 9:28am | IP Logged
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We love summer vacation in our home. This year I am planning our own "science summer camp" (very simple and fun - a lot of "kitchen science), "art camp" etc. It is the last summer that my teen boys will not have a job and I so want to enjoy them. The twins bought me a bike for Mother's day and I have been out riding with them very early in the morning before school starts. We are looking forward to family bike rides down by the creek. Sitting and reading is our favorite thing to do - we have big baskets of books everywhere....and concocting and consuming floats, shakes and other summer drinks.
We should share our summer reading lists...
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Marilyn
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SallyT
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| Posted: May 25 2015 at 9:34am | IP Logged
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Full disclosure here: My high-schoolers have done school in the summer in the past, mostly on their own initiative, to get ahead.
And we are schooling into June this year, which I haven't done in a while. But we will take off a substantial chunk of time.
Sally
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MarilynW
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| Posted: May 25 2015 at 9:41am | IP Logged
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Just adding - I find that summer vacation has to be intentional - if I don't plan things then they don't happen. And more especially for things for ME to do - this year I am trying to figure out how to be consistent with my journalling, I want to knit and crochet etc etc
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Marilyn
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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: May 25 2015 at 12:17pm | IP Logged
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I've noticed with our scout pack and troop that is near impossible to get parents to take off for scout activities. There is a day camp for the cub scouts but parents must volunteer and attend with their scout. Our pack has not been able to do it because we couldn't get a few parents to take 1-3 days off and rotate through to volunteer. Six years ago we had plenty of volunteers. Most were moms at home which is a very rare now in our area compared to 6 years ago. Some of the other parents would take a day off to help fill in and it worked out. No more!
I do have some activities for my boys to do during the summer (reading list and math review worksheets) but it is not formal and very little and not all summer. It keeps them busy otherwise my crew would play video games or be on a screen all day long. If I had creative kids who could entertain themselves without devices I wouldn't have to give them summer school. This wasn't a problem when they were younger. They will spend a lot of time outside but the weather doesn't allow for much. Our weather varies greatly but it's rarely nice.
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Cassie
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SeaStar
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| Posted: May 25 2015 at 12:26pm | IP Logged
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Interesting, Cassie. Here it is nearly impossible to get adult volunteers in enough numbers for VBS. Most parents are either working or just want to drop off the kids and enjoy some free time.
I'm with Sally, I need a break in the summer. And it it sad, as Marilyn said, that kids can't free range nearly as much as in the past.
As much as I need a break, I can imagine my kids do, too. I am just the driver for all the school year activities, but they are the ones doing them in addition to school!
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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ekbell
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| Posted: May 25 2015 at 1:01pm | IP Logged
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We spend a lot of time in winter with days too cold (or ice covered) to spend much time outside and a lot of time in summer too hot to work in our normal work area without air-conditioning (which we don't have).
So we do have a fairly complete summer break (with rules about screen time).
Our neighborhood is such that I'm willing to let the children wander as soon as they are road safe as long as I know where they are going.
About the only 'school stuff' I do during July/August has been some science/art stuff added to bedtime reading. There has occasionally been additional catch-up work for a child who's been dilly-dallying during the school year.
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Erin
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| Posted: May 25 2015 at 10:12pm | IP Logged
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Well our summer holidays here are only 6 weeks (shorter than yours) but by golly I take them. Forget about the kids needing a break, mama needs a break!
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Erin
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3ringcircus
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| Posted: May 26 2015 at 1:06am | IP Logged
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We are schooling through the summer this year. We just got some good situations going with Spanish lessons (our extended family is Spanish-only and the kids need to work on it before they lose it), and LA tutoring. And, I'll be assigning a good portion of the work they already to.
But...my kids don't do a whole lot of work during the school year. They have a lot of trouble getting focused, and have some real learning & attention issues that go beyond "typical boys". We don't have the kind of rigorous academic calendar that lends itself towards needing a lot of down time. We are casual and spontaneous. Sooo, they will do Cub Scout camp for one week, 4 weeks at afternoon camps at the local University, and a small amt. of schoolwork (and some swimming!) in the mornings. That will leave a few un-scheduled weeks and we'll play it by ear for those.
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Christine
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knowloveserve
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| Posted: May 26 2015 at 1:58am | IP Logged
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I love this thread.
I had planned on doing "1 subject a day" through summer to mitigate the guilt I feel about having 2 "spring breaks" and 2 "Christmas Breaks", oh and the extended Thanksgiving Break... and the kicking off Lent break and the 2 month health crisis that slowed us down this year... etc. Plus, I don't think I can do more than 2 more weeks of regular school right now anyway. We've got a couple books to finish but the weather is great and the natives are restless... summer here is starting in early June.
I had thought we'd do LoF math twice a week. Shakespeare once a week and writing once a week. Or doing an IEW-intensive summer just so I stop worrying about my 12 year old doing nothing more than copywork/dictation for Language Arts. Just one subject a day isn't too much to ask is it?!?!
But summer is a special time... and that unscripted freedom really is priceless. I live in a neighborhood where there are regular, ongoing pick-up football and baseball games in the park across the street. Lots and lots of kids, most of them fellow-parishoners. It's closest thing to the free-range 1950s life anyone could hope for and I desperately don't want to take that for granted.
And frankly, I need a long, sustained break too. I've been spiritually bruised and beaten this year and desperately need some time to think and rest and find the love for this vocation again...
Maybe I should scrap the books and just hope real life fills in the gaps...
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Ellie
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jawgee
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| Posted: May 26 2015 at 7:46am | IP Logged
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Our summer is largely unscripted, but we do take 20-30 minutes first thing in the morning to do some math. I also make sure that my kids are reading a lot during the summer. We do those things so as to not lose skills during the long break.
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Monica
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Martha
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| Posted: May 26 2015 at 8:18am | IP Logged
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I think those employers lie. I've never heard of an employer having a hard time convincing employees to take paid vacation days. What I have seen a lot of is employees never getting approved for vacation days or feeling so threatened with job insecurity that they dare not use them.  Also, vacation time is rarely used for vacation. A batch of the flu is easily a week unpaid. Maternity leave is unpaid. Many people don't use their vacation time bc they fear they will need it for things like that.
As for scouts and such. I'm done by summer. All year long it is constant commitments. Meetings and coops and camps and so on x10 and by summer? Done.
We tend to school year round, but not as heavy a load. Maybe a couple hours a day four days a week. And the rest of the time? NOTHING. No outside commitments other than mass. No meetings. No deadlines. No driving all over town constantly. Just swimming, hiking, biking, knitting, gardening, enjoying movies and popcorn and board games and general making time to do all the leisure activities that summer allows.
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Martha
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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: May 26 2015 at 10:59am | IP Logged
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Erin wrote:
| Well our summer holidays here are only 6 weeks (shorter than yours) but by golly I take them. Forget about the kids needing a break, mama needs a break! |
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This is the problem with summer vacation in the US. 12 weeks is just too long. I need a break! I can handle 6 weeks and would let me kids (and myself, lol!) run wild for that long and not think twice about it. 12 weeks is way too long to run wild, at least for mine.
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Cassie
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SeaStar
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| Posted: May 26 2015 at 11:32am | IP Logged
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Martha-
The article does say that many employees work in such competitive environments that they feel they really can't risk losing their job/a promotion/etc by taking time off.
I have to wonder (ducking here to avoid flying vegetables)... are we, as homeschool moms, also somewhat competitive and putting pressure on ourselves to keep doing, doing, doing with our kids? Do we look at the next blog or facebook post and compare ourselves (always negatively) with others and feel we have to do more? That we are failing our kids?
If so, we should stop!
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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Martha
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I don't know many home schoolers who I think are very competitive academicly, but 'busy' competitive? Yes. Absolutely. They volunteer and participate in just about everything under the sun all year long and while what they do might change in the summer, it's all just as busy, or busier.
I get a lot of looks about refusing to do that. And my kids get some pity stares, which they find confusing bc they look forward to finally having a time where they don't have to be somewhere doing some planned event but can just Be for an extended period of time.
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Martha
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: May 26 2015 at 12:43pm | IP Logged
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Personally, I would rather have lazy days of late Spring because I find summer heat oppressive, but the summer activities we like to do are in summer, of course. We do two weeks of German language camp every year during the first two weeks of August, but I like to count those weeks as school. Then we've made a tradition of spending 1-2 weeks with family, lately at Lake Huron, during the second half of the year.
And this will be our first year to do swim team, which is 6 weeks during the summer, and I anticipate it will be really busy. But, then, we don't do any other sports practices or teams the rest of the year, so I feel like this is an opportunity for busy that keeps me comfortable in my non-busyness during the regular school year since I do believe that sports/discipline of the body is part of a well-rounded education even though it isn't one of our "things" we are naturally drawn to.
Anyway, given the schedule, it just makes sense to think of the new school year as starting after Labor Day, and yet, I really wish I felt like we had enough time in July to get a good start then because I'd much rather be inside doing table work then rather than May, and because of that, we always end up taking most of May off anyway.
So, I guess my own thoughts towards doing math through the summer has little to do with rigor and more to do with my lack of discipline the rest of the year.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
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[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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JodieLyn
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What I like about swim team is the morning practices. My kids would want to be sleeping in if they didn't have that. So it doesn't really feel like it takes up much time because so much of the everyday is over and done with by getting us up and moving early. Of course the weekends are busy but they're a good type of busy. yes we need to be somewhere and are busy during the meet.. but there's also a lot of late afternoon/evening time when we're just hanging out with each other without stuff to have to go and do.
So Lindsay, you may still find that your hot afternoons are a good time to add in something inside. Not to be busy but because it sounds like you're stuck inside from the hot weather.
I like remembering that schools used to conform to the schedule for living rather than living conforming to school schedules. Agrarian areas would have school during the winter and middle of summer so that kids were available for spring planting and fall harvest.
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Whatever Happened to Summer Vacation?
