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At_His_Feet
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| Posted: June 22 2010 at 6:56am | IP Logged
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I'm seriously considering doing almost nothing for the next 6 months. I've rather over the whole homeschool thing and think that a break might help me to regain my enthusiasm. When I say take a break we would do 3 maths lessons a week, daily spelling (phonetic zoo, mum not required) and some silent reading and read-alouds at a slower pace then at present, and maybe a bit of copywork. Now that I've written it down I guess it doesn't qualify as doing nothing. 
Am I making a mistake? Have any of you done this and did it help you to fall in love with this lifestyle all over again? Am I being irresponsible and should I just get over it and get on with it? What do you think. Honestly!
Tricia.
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Tricia
Mum to 3 boys 17, 15, and 10.
Do whatever He tells you
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Alcat
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| Posted: June 22 2010 at 7:17am | IP Logged
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I understand your pain! I was really there last year. I think you should do it, because you would still be maintaining the basics.
Homeschooling is wonderful, but it is HARD sometimes. As long as your dh has no problems with the plan and you keep a daily rhythm- go for it!!
Blessings,
Alison
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Paula in MN
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Go for it!
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 Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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saigemom
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| Posted: June 22 2010 at 8:03am | IP Logged
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This is what we do most of the time. It gives us so much time for rabbit trails.
I just keep an eye on the reading. If I feel that a particular topic needs some attention we find some books that interest us and add some movies from netflix.
Field trips are wonderful sources of inspiration also.
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Mary K
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| Posted: June 22 2010 at 10:10am | IP Logged
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You're not taking a break, you're easing up on the curriculum with more time for introspective study.
If you're reading includes science, history and faith you'll cover those subjects too. Don't forget that audiobooks. movies and the internet can be great helps too.
God bless,
Mary-NY
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imcatholic
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| Posted: June 22 2010 at 12:59pm | IP Logged
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We had to take long breaks - I have hyperemesis - I can't do anything during my pregnancies. We also moved unexpectedly about 5 years ago and really took off a good 5 months. I think what you're doing isn't taking off it's going into survival mode. You will cont to do the most important subjects and history and science always repeat and come back around.
Beth
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lapazfarm
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Yes! We've taken long breaks for many reasons many times, and I mean TOTAL breaks! LOL! I find that (after an initial cooling down period) my kids get themselves busy in lots of nifty creative endeavors we would never have gotten around to if I had been directing their steps. In fact our "off times" have been some of our very most productive!
Relax and enjoy watching your children explore their own passions for a while. It's a GOOD thing!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
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Erin
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Tricia
Sounds lovely  To reassure yourself I suggest you grab a notebook and jot down what the boys are doing throughout the day. I believe you will be surprised at the learning taking place. Oh when you are writing jot down conversations etc, think outside of the box.
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Erin
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cathhomeschool
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I say go for it too. Burnout happens to everyone (I think!). We've taken lots of breaks for various reasons. Like Theresa said, the kids end up finding productive, creative things to do (especially if you go to the library or have books available, craft/art/building supplies, or whatever else can help your kids "do" the stuff they want to do).
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Sarah
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| Posted: June 23 2010 at 3:36pm | IP Logged
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This was us from Jan through May. However, I wouldn't call it taking time off as word could get out that your kids are truant and they are not. As others have said you are just restructuring. What you are doing is just fine as real life experiences count as education, too. I once remember a beautiful story of a woman who took her son out of school and as I recall he was maybe in 5th grade?? But anyway, at the same time a relative was dying and needed lots of visits in a nursing home. She took that kid there to the nursing home every day and he played cards and visited this man until he died and that's all he did that year. It was a fabulous experience and he learned a ton! Sometimes real life is a better teacher is what I'm trying yo say here. They will be just fine and your desire for more will come back. You are just in need of a breath. Perhaps you have been hard on yourself with too high of standards or maybe you just need some time to nurture yourself. My year this year will look much as yours will as I have a newborn. Its enough. Really.
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At_His_Feet
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| Posted: June 23 2010 at 4:31pm | IP Logged
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Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement. I am going to give it a go. I'll just need to make sure that I don't over do it, by doing too much!
I'd really like to make faith our major focus as I think my ds 12 really needs it, as the secular world is opening up to him, and almsot none of his friends are active christians.
Tricia.
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Tricia
Mum to 3 boys 17, 15, and 10.
Do whatever He tells you
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Cay Gibson
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I'm thinking of joining you, Tricia.
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leanne maree
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| Posted: June 23 2010 at 11:14pm | IP Logged
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Tricia,
As everyone else has said it all, but just do it.
WE have the last 2 weeks dropped everything but maths. and concentrated on a project on ballet. totally open to dd interpretation.
As Erin said you would be surprised by what they actually do do.
I know it invigorates us to do nothing or very little.
If you want to borrow some faith readers, just yell out,
leanne
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AndieF
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| Posted: June 25 2010 at 10:07pm | IP Logged
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Well, not exactly, but we have plenty of time in the year where we do MUCH less. We school year round, but our summers are similar to what you talked about doing, and December is like that (or less), we do very little during Lent, etc.
Setting up our schedule like this has helped me feel like I don't have to a) cram everything in during the school year and b) helps reduce burnout
Andie
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Have you taken 6 months off?
