Written by Kris Bales of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
I‘ve started to notice a pattern here. I’m always the one telling you to slow down and reminding you that it’s okay not to do all. the. things.
Just a couple of months ago, I suggested that you dump your writing program. At Christmas, I said it was okay to cut yourself some slack. Last summer I suggested that you slow down and make memories.
See? It seems to be a recurring theme – one that either makes me the voice of reason in a go-go-go society or just a slacker.
Let’s go with voice of reason. I like that better.
I’m getting ready to do it again. Because especially in summer, we need to give ourselves permission to just be.
We need to take a lesson from farmers, who know that to restore fertility to soil, sometimes you need to let the ground lie fallow.
Photo by Pixabay
What does letting the ground lie fallow look like for a homeschooling family this summer?
Instead of working to shore up your child’s weak area, let it go.
Don’t drill the math facts. Don’t hire a reading tutor. Don’t go over the spelling concepts.
Chances are, your child is just as aware as you are of what his weak area is. Maybe it’s stressing him, too. Maybe he needs some time for all you covered this year to percolate in his mind.
Perhaps he needs to become developmentally ready to tackle that difficult concept. Perhaps he needs a little bit of time away from the subject to avoid developing negative feelings that will be hard to overcome.
I’m not saying to ignore the problem area indefinitely, and some kids certainly do benefit from focusing on a problem area over the summer.
However, if you’re sensing that you and your child would benefit from taking a break from it this summer, listen to your instinct.
Let them indulge in too much media.
I know, I know. Some families don’t do much screen time at all. If that’s your family, just ignore me.
For my teenage son, staying up late with his friends playing X-box Live is one of the best parts of summer. (And his friends agree.) I don’t mind because I know they’ll be back to their normal schedules before too long.
I also know that he is getting close to adulthood when the responsibilities of work and family will make that sort of indulgence a fond memory. I’m okay with letting him enjoy it for another summer or two.
My girl and her BFF like watching TV or Netflix together via Skype. I can only imagine how much fun my best friend and I would have had doing that. So during the summer months, I let it slide.
Let learning happen naturally and spontaneously.
Put the fun summer unit studies aside. Take a trip to the children’s museum or the science museum with no particular agenda in mind other than enjoying the day with your kids.
Visit that nifty nature preserve or historical site while you’re on vacation, but go as their mom, not their teacher.
Go outside and look at the stars. If they’re interested in identifying the constellations, go for it. If not, that’s okay.
Let them send Grandma or their pen-pal a letter without correcting their spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Just be glad they picked up a pencil voluntarily.
There is nothing wrong with having a plan for summer learning. There is nothing wrong with doing a fun summer unit study, keeping the math skills fresh, or having a summer reading plan.
Photo by Pixabay
But don’t do those things because you’re negatively comparing yourself to someone else. If you know in your heart and mind that you and yours could all use a break this summer, take one and don’t feel guilty about it.
Sometimes the ground needs to lie fallow for a season. And when the soil is replenished, it goes on to produce a bountiful harvest.
Do you have summer learning planned or is this a year for letting the ground lie fallow?
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For us, it’s a bit of both. Having a more relaxed schedule all year means we do a little math in the summer, and once a week, the kids will do history and science. They have plenty of hours for rest and recreation, but won’t backslide on their math skills. My 15 year old for one is pretty adamant that he hates forgetting math, so they’re on board with it.
You’re doing what works for your family. That’s the important thing. Enjoy!
Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers’s latest post: 5 Things I’m NOT Going to Do this Summer
Love this! I have a 9 and 8 year old and I feel like I need to teach year round. Your plan sounds much better!
Enjoy your summer!
Our oldest isn’t done with school until June 22 (he goes to a STEM high school), so we plan to keep at it until then. With the oldest home I’m sure we’ll relax even more than our already relaxed schedule. 😉 We’ll save school for the rainy days. They’re only kids once!
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Yes, childhood is so fleeting. I wish I’d realized that when mine were a bit younger. Enjoy your summer!
Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers’s latest post: 5 Things I’m NOT Going to Do this Summer
***Sometimes the ground needs to lie fallow for a season. And when the soil is replenished, it goes on to produce a bountiful harvest. ***
I love that. That’s going to be my summer mantra. While I did plan to continue short lessons in math for the summer, so far it hasn’t happened much, and that’s okay. There will be plenty of time for that when we start up again. I had thought of making my kids do some summer reading programs but thought the better of it. If they ask to, that’s great. But if my goal is to get them to love reading, why would I force them to do it on their break? I don’t remember reading much on my summer vacations either. That was always a time for being outside with friends. As an adult, though, I’m usually reading about three books at once at any given time, so there’s hope for them, too!
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I think it’s great to plan for short lessons over the summer – as long as you’re okay with them not happening, like you said. Who needs guilt and stress during the summer? 🙂
Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers’s latest post: 5 Things I’m NOT Going to Do this Summer
I love what you share here about letting learning happen naturally and spontaneously. I think that’s such a good reminder. We do school year round here, and I enjoyed this reminder about how important it is to schedule in spontaneous days and how vital that steps is to my kid’s overall education. You’re absolutely right that kids learn best naturally and having the freedom and space to let their mind explore. Thank you for sharing this article! I couldn’t agree more.
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Yes, that freedom to explore and learn spontaneously plays just as important a role in education as formal learning.
Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers’s latest post: 5 Things I’m NOT Going to Do this Summer
Ah. Your words have blessed me so much. I love the balance I learn from looking to the farmer – there are seasons of mega work and seasons of waiting. Letting some things rest for a season = genius. Thank you. 🙂 I know I don’t need permission, but thank you for being a voice of assurance anyway. My daughter will learn to spell correctly…someday, but probably not this summer. 😉
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You’re welcome! Yes, she’ll figure out the spelling. There’s no telling what she might learn/create/do this summer in her free time. Enjoy!
Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers’s latest post: 5 Things I’m NOT Going to Do this Summer
This is excellent! I have used the “fallow ground” analogy for years to support my reasons for not schooling in the summer. One thing I have learned is that I need the break just as much as my kids do. It makes me a better and happier homeschool mom come fall.
I LOVE this analogy and I could not agree more! Besides scout camp for everyone I always try to have a very free summer, full of spontaneous adventures and plenty of time to just be!
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Ok, Ok, I’ll put away the math and spelling. 🙂 My children thank you.
I totally agree with you here! Summer is such a special time because you have so many opportunities to embark on new adventures with your little ones, and this time doesn’t necessarily need to be spent brushing up on academics. Summer should be used as a break from stress for both you and your children. I really like your perspective! Thanks so much for sharing your input!
I love this. I’ve been “slacking” on summer work lately and worrying that we weren’t going to make any forward progress on my son’s reading this summer. …and maybe that’s okay. Thanks for the permission to relax.
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My kids are probably a bit older t 12 & 14. We tend to let them set the pace at this stage. The older is taking university courses already and the younger tends to have bursts of “studying” and then long lulls. Summer isn’t much different for us than the rest of the year, except that’s when many of their buddies who go to regular schools are more available. We have more sleepovers in our place and over at their friends’ so that does contribute towards some change in schedule and a more “lax” atmosphere.
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I love this! I always have a problem finding the balance between the mom role and the teacher role. Recently I had some good friends remind me that it’s okay to slow down and take a break. Too many times I have let my fields be overworked, only to cause the farmer, and the crops, to become dried out and lifeless. Thank you for being a voice of reason in an over scheduled world, and once again reminding me that fun & rest can have a place in the homeschool life.