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KauaiCatholic
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| Posted: May 05 2009 at 3:26pm | IP Logged
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I started to ask if anyone else does this (or a modified version, at least) but than I remembered to check the archives.  and now I have an entirely new question.
it sounds like plenty of you do this too, but I couldn't tell about the ages or for how long, particularly those who are doing it by choice and not because of extenuating circumstances. I'm wondering, how many families do this all the time, for all ages? or do the older kids need more "traditional" structure?
FWIW, we have developed a 3 months on, 1 month off pattern that is working out really well for us. I plan our unit studies by "terms," which helps me stay organized, and we start a new grade in the fall because I'm a creature of habit. but the rest of the year feels much more relaxed; we can take time off as things crop up, and the shorter terms work well with our short attention spans. (theirs AND mine )
we also live in a state with a year-round PS system (although they have so many breaks sprinkled around, "year-round" sounds much more extreme than it is) and there are always plenty of vacationers and unschoolers around, so we don't look too odd at the beach in the middle of a school day.
but is this only possible because my kiddos are so young? I'd love to hear any thoughts about this ...
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 Viviane
Grateful mama of Jonah Augustine ('01), Sophia Marie ('05) and Luke Dominic ('10)
We can do no great things; only small things with great love. -- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
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LeeAnn
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| Posted: May 05 2009 at 4:45pm | IP Logged
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I've been considering year-round schooling as well. My 11yo is midway through Latina Christiana II and we ended up taking off three weeks in April. Two planned weeks for Holy Week and Easter Week and then an unexpected week for travelling to a funeral. Three was too much. It really interrupted the flow of learning and caused her to lose confidence for some reason. My 9yo came back to her math book and was practically in tears thinking it all looked so difficult--although she'd done it previously without much problem.
In the future I'd like to plan for no more than two weeks off. Of course, our circumstances were unexpected, but perhaps I could have brought along our math and Latin at least to keep up with that during the trip.
I would think that for older kids, it is to their advantage to keep a year-round schooling schedule. Perhaps when they are teens, trying to work jobs or camps or special summer programs into the plan might make year-round schooling difficult. But for most families, I don't see why it can't work in some form, whether it's three months on, one month off or nine weeks on, three off or some other variant.
Our current school year will extend to third week of June, likely, and then we'll take a two week break to visit with guests and then have a short school session for July-Aug until choir camp and VBS. Then we'll jump right into the next school year two weeks earlier than normal because of plans to travel in October for a family wedding.
My kids are 11, 9, 5.75 and 3. Hope that helps!
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my four children are 17, 15, 11 & 8 - all now attend public school - we read many 4Real recommended books at home
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: May 05 2009 at 6:02pm | IP Logged
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Would it sound weird if I said I think kids will thrive on either schedule? I think year round schedules have more to do with how mom operates. Some moms feel less stress by lighter school days all year long. Some moms feel like they are losing their mind if they don't have a nice long summer break.
I think that whatever works for the family is fine. But I do think that having different children on different schedules would be difficult.
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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Mimip
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| Posted: May 05 2009 at 8:25pm | IP Logged
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We do the 3 month on one month off schedule. We started doing it last summer when I felt frustrated with the lost time we had in the summer. It gets very hot and all other activities are at a stand still so we school 4 days a week with an alternating day off each week. This works for us but our children are still small (oldest is almost 9). With all the other activities on hold in the summer, we have all afternoon and evening to go to the beach ( a mere 5 minute drive away) or got in one of our friends pools.
I think that what some others said is very true: What works for Mom works for the kids.
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In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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melanie
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| Posted: May 05 2009 at 10:28pm | IP Logged
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We homeschool year round and always have. Generally we take a few weeks off at Christmas, a few weeks off around Easter, and we end our school year to take July off and start our new one in August. This coming year I plan to try to do three weeks in our lesson plans and then have one "catch up week".
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Melanie
homeschooling Maria (13yo), Kain (10yo), Jack (5yo), Tess (2yo), and our newest blessing, Henry Robert, born 4/23!
slightlycrunchycatholic.blogspot.com
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dawn2006
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| Posted: May 05 2009 at 11:09pm | IP Logged
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We're still early in homeschooling (my oldest is just finishing up first grade) but so far I've adopted a 'year round' mindset for the exact reason that Books mentioned: seems less stressful and lighter.
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Dawn Farias | wife to Ariel | mom to Gabriel 9, Daniel 7, Elizabeth 5, and Michael 3 | blogger at Be Absorbed | native Texan but currently living near Seattle
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: May 06 2009 at 12:08am | IP Logged
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We do year-round here too.....gives us the flexibility to takes days or weeks off when there are things to do and be enjoyed, people visit, weather is good, holidays, etc. My kids are 8 and under too, so I don't have a lot of experience with how my kids react to it...as they get older.
I would tend to agree that it's what mom prefers. I don't like long breaks, getting out of the routine, etc. But, I do like having the flexibility to just drop everything, simply because we can, and I feel rejuvenated.
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mom2mpr
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| Posted: May 06 2009 at 6:48am | IP Logged
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We have been trying to year round school here but did better in VA where there was milder weather.
I like year round school because the kids don't lose learning and it allows us flexibility with our schedule. I don't have any planned breaks,except a vacation to FL in the winter. We break when family visit, we are having a bad day, when we want to do something special, etc. And, it usually takes us a few weeks to get back into the swing. For example, our 1 week FL vacation yielded 3 weeks off from school, between prep, getting caught up with sleep, improving attitudes and moods, and unpacking and cleaning. It can be exhausting 
Being here in Ohio has been bad for us. Everyone we know here takes summers off, and who wouldn't, they are beautiful. Being cooped up all winter and seeing limited sunshine is very hard for us. We are actually more efficient now and in the fall. December, January, February, March are REALLY hard for us. I would take those months off but our friends are diligently working so they can have summers off.
Sigh..anyhow, those are my experiences...i do love year round school...
Anne
Oh, and my kids are 11 and 6.
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melanie
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| Posted: May 06 2009 at 6:56am | IP Logged
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Oh, and I wanted to say that all of mine do the year round thing. In fact, some of our public schools around here are even year round. I haven't seen any need to switch for my oldest. The only issue may come later if we enroll her in any courses through MODG...she may have to follow a more traditional calendar for those, not sure how that works.
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Melanie
homeschooling Maria (13yo), Kain (10yo), Jack (5yo), Tess (2yo), and our newest blessing, Henry Robert, born 4/23!
slightlycrunchycatholic.blogspot.com
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melanie
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| Posted: May 06 2009 at 7:10am | IP Logged
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"Being here in Ohio has been bad for us. Everyone we know here takes summers off, and who wouldn't, they are beautiful. Being cooped up all winter and seeing limited sunshine is very hard"
This is probably a big reason why we do homeschool year round...the weather. We live in the south. Summers are ugly and nasty and we are indoors or at the pool most of the time. We actually get a lot of school done because our other activities are on summer break and no one wants to play outside! Much better for us, weather-wise, to have time off in the spring and fall.
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Melanie
homeschooling Maria (13yo), Kain (10yo), Jack (5yo), Tess (2yo), and our newest blessing, Henry Robert, born 4/23!
slightlycrunchycatholic.blogspot.com
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Sarah M
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| Posted: May 06 2009 at 10:34am | IP Logged
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I totally see this decision being based on where you live and how the weather works for or against you. Here in the Pacific NW, we get rain, rain, and more rain, but in July-September the weather is absolutely beautiful (especially September!). So we don't stay inside much then. But in March and April, when everyone else seems to be outside, digging in gardens and playing outdoors, we are cooped up indoors, hunkering down while the rain pours and pours. So I'd say do what works for your family and your location.
Also, most of my kids' friends are public-schooled, and they like to do things (like take 'spring break' or have a 'first day of school') like their friends do. I try to accomodate that because I don't want them to ask to go to public school  .
For what it's worth, Viviane, I'd say do whatever works best and is least taxing on you!
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: May 06 2009 at 12:32pm | IP Logged
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My husband teaches college year round, and since he uses our only vehicle, our schedule tends to mimic his. We live in semesters. Plus, when he's off, there tends to be a bit more spontaneity.
We tend to be fairly relaxed homeschoolers, but I do set semester goals and then see what's realistic as we go along. For instance our goal for the spring semester was to have my oldest finish up Singapore Math 1A, but things have been really hectic since the college Spring Break between the mandatory Holy Week stuff for my husband's RCIA and the start of tee-ball season. We haven't had any formal school time at all in about a month.
So probably, I will reset that goal for the end of the summer session. She's slightly ahead of her grade level anyway. And she was getting to concepts that I think were going to be difficult for her, so now her brain has a little more time to develop and prepare for it. That's one thing I like about year-round schooling is that we can take those breaks when life happens or development needs to.
Of course, the big joke among unschoolers is that they never get a break from schooling. They tried to have a national No Unschooling Day, but they couldn't get the kids to stop learning.
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Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: year-round school for all ages?
