Homeschoolers, what do you do on you school break?

Question

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Do you take scheduled breaks throughout the year?

We do, mostly so my daughter can take advantage of her friends being out of school. We've spent the morning doing Yoga, writing important things on our new calendars and goofing of online with a friend. I think we'll take the dogs to the park later.

Answer 1

Being unschoolers, we don't really have breaks as such because, whatever the time of year, we're doing what we want to do anyway!

During the conventional school holidays, we'll catch up with those mates that are away at boarding school the rest of the year but otherwise we go on pretty much as normal.

Answer 2

We are eclectic, we do "seat work" 4 days per week involving math, reading/language arts, and writing. The other subjects we do some unit studies, and some leave to unschooling.

We will take breaks occasionall for the seat work/unit studies every couple of months. We'll take off anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks around the 8 sabbats of our religion. That's just because things get so busy with all the festivities, we bake, camp out, go to parties and festivals, etc... We'll also take a few days here and there if something comes up, like a visiting relative or a flu bug comes in the house.

A lot of unschooling still happens, though, during these times. I guess you could say we take a break from the structure, not from the learning. We still go out just about every afternoon whether doing structured work or not.

We usually work on our seat work and unit studies most dilligently in the Summer months though, from June through September, because, here in FL, it's so disgusting outside there are little activities going on. We might take a couple of days of for the 4th of July, but that's it. We'll go to the pool a couple of hours a day, and spend a couple of days a week visiting friends in air conditioned places, but for the most part going out is just gross so we utilize the time indoors to bang out a lot of work on the basic skills and concepts.

Edit: Oh, the sunshine is wonderful from October to May; but too much of a good thing is not always good. Yes, from June to September, it is positively icky, sticky, hot, nasty, yuck.

Of course, I'm from New York City-- I do love where I live now but I will never get used to the heat and humidity in the summer down here.

Answer 3

We operate on the same schedule as our local cooperative which runs on the same schedule as a local university.

On "days off" we catch up on non-coop courses if needed and we play in a variety of ways: movies, concerts, hiking, games, family time, friend time for my son...

We pretty much completely take the summers off just like public school except for reading and apprenticeship work - both are continuous.

My son's "play" tends to be rather cerebral:

For Christmas, my ds got a long-distance directional microphone and specialized software because he wants to capture sounds from nature and compose original music using these sounds.

He also got a clay animation kit and a lego robotics kit (so he can join in a local 4H robotics club).

We boat and fish.

For me, the main hs teacher, I cut firewood and "play" on my tractor (yes, I know, this sounds weird but these activities are sort of zen like and relaxing for me).

Sometimes, mom and I, even find the time to go out just by ourselves!

We want to try Tai Chi (sp?) but just haven't worked it in yet.

Answer 4

My parents really like being out in the woods whenever there's a break -my dad's breaks from work- so I spend most of the time reading and doing my best to catch up with my friends online.

Answer 5

My "school at home" approach to homeschooling has turned into unschooling for the month of December; it happened last year too.  My son is doing a lot of reading, playing in his "combat zone," and watching a little TV.  We are getting out of the house more since the snow has cleared up, talking a lot, and all the while, much learning is taking place.

Answer 6

We do our book work 4 days per week but we are always flexible.  If its a beautiful day outdoors we might take a nature walk instead of reading from our science text or meet with friends for a park.  Take time off when you need it.  Enjoy life!  We usually take off for a month in December and a month during the summer usually in June.  We also never do school on birthdays, and we do take off Christmas, thanksgiving, etc.

Answer 7

We do not look at the school schedules at all, we take breaks when we need them, or when the mood strikes us to go some where.

We look at my husbands work schedule more so than anything else.

Most of our children's friends, with exception of a few ( 3 or 4) are all home schooled; I did not realize that until I just thought about it.

We have a very large home school community in the city as well as the county.

During the day, or after "school" (home school that is) they simply call one another, ride their bikes to each others homes, and play.

Those friends who are not home schooled (teens) get together after work, on the weekends, or at Church.

They do not see each other often because these children are always tied up with home work assignments, or after school activities,  and both parents work.

Answer 8

Well, over most of the month of December we "do school" sporadically, when we have time and feel like it.  We don't insist on taking a specified number of days completely "off", instead we just relax a whole bunch!

The same over Thanksgiving Week, and the weeks between Palm Sunday and Easter, same for summer.  We do a little during those times, but we relax our schedule to allow for special events.

We are a little more strict the rest of the year, but even on "non-vacation" times we still have enough flexibility to take a day and go to the park.  The fact that we do a little over vacation times allows us to take days off now and then during "school times".

The flexibility of homeschooling is great, isn't it Glee?

Peace and God bless you.