Comments on: Your Term http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/09/your-term/ Charlotte Mason method homeschool helps. Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:33:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: merri-ann http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/09/your-term/#comment-4569 merri-ann Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:04:16 +0000 http://simplycharlottemason.com/?p=436#comment-4569 I have a big family and find that with life happening I need plenty of extra days built in. I also want to be outside as much as possible when the weather is nice. We start our new school year in July (the hottest part of the year) and then resume a more relaxed schedule during fall and spring and then pick up our fuller schedule during winter. So, I like dividing our year into 4 3mo. segments. I try to develope broad goals for the year and then plan the details a quarter at a time. I enjoy the structure with the flexability. We to count 4H and many times our gardening, canning etc. We always have more than 180 days. Merri-Ann I have a big family and find that with life happening I need plenty of extra days built in. I also want to be outside as much as possible when the weather is nice. We start our new school year in July (the hottest part of the year) and then resume a more relaxed schedule during fall and spring and then pick up our fuller schedule during winter. So, I like dividing our year into 4 3mo. segments. I try to develope broad goals for the year and then plan the details a quarter at a time. I enjoy the structure with the flexability. We to count 4H and many times our gardening, canning etc. We always have more than 180 days.

Merri-Ann

]]> By: Debbie http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/09/your-term/#comment-4559 Debbie Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:44:21 +0000 http://simplycharlottemason.com/?p=436#comment-4559 We homeschool the traditional 9 months but not during the traditional times. This week, April 14-18th, is our last week of school for 2007-2008. We started school July 23, having already counted 5 days of "school" activity field trips during the summer. My kids also read during the summer. We school normally through the year from then on taking off the day before and after Thanksgiving. At Christmas we usually take off the week before Christmas, the week of Christmas and the week after Christmas (depending on what day Christmas is). This past year we took off from the 19 of Dec. to the 6th of Jan. We school all the way through the rest of Jan. all of Feb. all of March and some of April (depending on if we have had any major periods of being sick). We usually through in lots of hikes and a few field trips in the Spring to break up the monotony but do not take Spring Break!! We add it to our Summer Break. We usually do no "school" from May to the end of July but this year my boys actually have "school" type projects planned for this time. Lapbooks they want to do on their own, and my one ds wants to do Math through the summer to get ahead... we will see if he completes that project... I will do all I can to encourage him. We like having the spring off since the late summer is so hot here and the kids do not go out and since the kids just want to sit in the air conditioning... we start school!!! We homeschool the traditional 9 months but not during the traditional times. This week, April 14-18th, is our last week of school for 2007-2008. We started school July 23, having already counted 5 days of “school” activity field trips during the summer. My kids also read during the summer. We school normally through the year from then on taking off the day before and after Thanksgiving. At Christmas we usually take off the week before Christmas, the week of Christmas and the week after Christmas (depending on what day Christmas is). This past year we took off from the 19 of Dec. to the 6th of Jan.

We school all the way through the rest of Jan. all of Feb. all of March and some of April (depending on if we have had any major periods of being sick). We usually through in lots of hikes and a few field trips in the Spring to break up the monotony but do not take Spring Break!! We add it to our Summer Break.

We usually do no “school” from May to the end of July but this year my boys actually have “school” type projects planned for this time. Lapbooks they want to do on their own, and my one ds wants to do Math through the summer to get ahead… we will see if he completes that project… I will do all I can to encourage him. We like having the spring off since the late summer is so hot here and the kids do not go out and since the kids just want to sit in the air conditioning… we start school!!!

]]> By: Dolleta Reeves http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/09/your-term/#comment-4558 Dolleta Reeves Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:12:08 +0000 http://simplycharlottemason.com/?p=436#comment-4558 My son is 6 and we have been pretty relaxed gently working on phonics and reading lots & lots of good books (he loves to be read to). We also are constantly looking at nature and read about it and have had all sorts of critter habitats in the house to look at. No real planning or scheduling this past year. We do school on any day except Sunday, working around my husbands day off and town day. My husband owns a retail store and I never know which day he is taking off and he likes for my son to have a light day or no school that day, so that he can work and spend time with Daddy. I think this is great for my son too. We have town day usually on Thurday, run errands and grocery etc., but we also visit my husbands grandmother and minister to her by running her errands and doing her grocery etc. this takes about 3 hours, but we enjoy and it is sooo good for my son. He feels so important and responsible that he gets the mail and grocery shops for Grandma Della. We also take her for doctor visits and to get taxes done etc. She is 100 years old and very important to us. So, it is a little difficult for me, but I really want to be able to do these important things for family and not neglect education. It does weigh on me! After attending your conference in Dacula, and purchasing your 'Planning Bood' I am so excited about doing long and short term plans. I am a planner by nature and operate best when organized. You make it soooo doable! I am organized in other areas, but with school I just felt so inexperienced and their are so many ways to do it! My husband is VERY spontaneous, and I really feel I need to seek his leadership concerning the education of our son, but with my husband's spontaneous way of doing things planning his impossible for him. Soooo, now I can present what I am considering in a more organized and planned out way for him to consider. Thank you so much for helping us with this. We have a wonderful marriage, but this was a tough area for us! As far a sheduling this coming year, we have decided to do school, year round, with lots of breaks. My husband has business and pleasure trips about once per month and likes us to go with him if possible. Since we have a business ran mostly by family members (Paw Paw and uncles etc.) it is a great experience for my son and we consider it to be just as educational as when we we are at home. We also look for educational activities in the area we are traveling to or even just learning about that particular city or area. So, I am hoping it will not be too difficult to plan and yet be flexible around these trips. EEEK! Any helpful ideas?! I want to do a much lighter schedule in the warmer months. We have a 4 acre mini farm and LOTS of outdoor work including a garden, so we really need lots of work outside time. I want to continue mostly focusing on phonics and lots of reading consistently now thru next fall, also enjoying nature and following up on as many (why) questions that my son asked as we can. That is how we learn most things at this point. I want to have my plan for next year done by the end of May and my supplies all planned out purchased etc. hopefully...... My son is 6 and we have been pretty relaxed gently working on phonics and reading lots & lots of good books (he loves to be read to). We also are constantly looking at nature and read about it and have had all sorts of critter habitats in the house to look at. No real planning or scheduling this past year. We do school on any day except Sunday, working around my husbands day off and town day. My husband owns a retail store and I never know which day he is taking off and he likes for my son to have a light day or no school that day, so that he can work and spend time with Daddy. I think this is great for my son too. We have town day usually on Thurday, run errands and grocery etc., but we also visit my husbands grandmother and minister to her by running her errands and doing her grocery etc. this takes about 3 hours, but we enjoy and it is sooo good for my son. He feels so important and responsible that he gets the mail and grocery shops for Grandma Della. We also take her for doctor visits and to get taxes done etc. She is 100 years old and very important to us.

So, it is a little difficult for me, but I really want to be able to do these important things for family and not neglect education. It does weigh on me!

After attending your conference in Dacula, and purchasing your ‘Planning Bood’ I am so excited about doing long and short term plans. I am a planner by nature and operate best when organized. You make it soooo doable! I am organized in other areas, but with school I just felt so inexperienced and their are so many ways to do it! My husband is VERY spontaneous, and I really feel I need to seek his leadership concerning the education of our son, but with my husband’s spontaneous way of doing things planning his impossible for him.

Soooo, now I can present what I am considering in a more organized and planned out way for him to consider. Thank you so much for helping us with this. We have a wonderful marriage, but this was a tough area for us!

As far a sheduling this coming year, we have decided to do school, year round, with lots of breaks. My husband has business and pleasure trips about once per month and likes us to go with him if possible. Since we have a business ran mostly by family members (Paw Paw and uncles etc.) it is a great experience for my son and we consider it to be just as educational as when we we are at home. We also look for educational activities in the area we are traveling to or even just learning about that particular city or area. So, I am hoping it will not be too difficult to plan and yet be flexible around these trips. EEEK! Any helpful ideas?!

I want to do a much lighter schedule in the warmer months. We have a 4 acre mini farm and LOTS of outdoor work including a garden, so we really need lots of work outside time. I want to continue mostly focusing on phonics and lots of reading consistently now thru next fall, also enjoying nature and following up on as many (why) questions that my son asked as we can. That is how we learn most things at this point.

I want to have my plan for next year done by the end of May and my supplies all planned out purchased etc. hopefully……

]]> By: Heidi Betts http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/09/your-term/#comment-4556 Heidi Betts Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:56:56 +0000 http://simplycharlottemason.com/?p=436#comment-4556 This year we have used basically the 9 months on and probably 3 months off, but am considering 3months on 1 month off...we'll see This year we have used basically the 9 months on and probably 3 months off, but am considering 3months on 1 month off…we’ll see

]]> By: Mary Beth Akers http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/09/your-term/#comment-4555 Mary Beth Akers Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:48:21 +0000 http://simplycharlottemason.com/?p=436#comment-4555 We "school" year-round. Our basic schedule is 8 weeks on, 2 weeks off, with 4-day weeks in the summer. We are very flexible; if something comes up which justifies missing lessons, we take the day from our 2-week break. During the break, I try to get some meals in the freezer and tend to some deep cleaning that I tend to neglect when we're busy with lessons. It works very well for us. We never get out of our routine for very long, so don't have a readjustment period at the beginning of the year. We rarely have to waste time reviewing skills we have forgotten. And we can miss a day here and there without fretting about how we're going to make it up. We “school” year-round. Our basic schedule is 8 weeks on, 2 weeks off, with 4-day weeks in the summer. We are very flexible; if something comes up which justifies missing lessons, we take the day from our 2-week break. During the break, I try to get some meals in the freezer and tend to some deep cleaning that I tend to neglect when we’re busy with lessons. It works very well for us. We never get out of our routine for very long, so don’t have a readjustment period at the beginning of the year. We rarely have to waste time reviewing skills we have forgotten. And we can miss a day here and there without fretting about how we’re going to make it up.

]]> By: Jennifer http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/09/your-term/#comment-4554 Jennifer Sun, 13 Apr 2008 19:46:15 +0000 http://simplycharlottemason.com/?p=436#comment-4554 We'll be starting our 9th year, and follow the "if Daddy works, then we school." We generally are are a lot lighter during December-mid January and the summer (July-August). We’ll be starting our 9th year, and follow the “if Daddy works, then we school.” We generally are are a lot lighter during December-mid January and the summer (July-August).

]]> By: Jenn4him http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/09/your-term/#comment-4553 Jenn4him Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:56:52 +0000 http://simplycharlottemason.com/?p=436#comment-4553 Hello. I am really enjoying this series on planning. To answer your question, we do stick to the traditional 9 months with 3 months off, although learning never really ends, just the record keeping! I will "bank" days in the summer of particularly educational days. Those banked days come in handy for things like sick days, doctor appointments, or a bad case of spring fever! I love your website. Thank you for all you do! Jenn Hello. I am really enjoying this series on planning. To answer your question, we do stick to the traditional 9 months with 3 months off, although learning never really ends, just the record keeping! I will “bank” days in the summer of particularly educational days. Those banked days come in handy for things like sick days, doctor appointments, or a bad case of spring fever!
I love your website. Thank you for all you do!
Jenn

]]> By: Bunnie Claxton http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/09/your-term/#comment-4552 Bunnie Claxton Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:07:18 +0000 http://simplycharlottemason.com/?p=436#comment-4552 We school year round, but take time off when "life" situations require it. We took 2 weeks off to pass a cold around to every family member, one week off for most holidays (other than December, which we learn and play, but don't consider it school) as well as a few week long vacations each year. We try the characterize our everyday life as fun learning and that is "life" for us; life long learning is meant to be a fun journey! We school year round, but take time off when “life” situations require it. We took 2 weeks off to pass a cold around to every family member, one week off for most holidays (other than December, which we learn and play, but don’t consider it school) as well as a few week long vacations each year. We try the characterize our everyday life as fun learning and that is “life” for us; life long learning is meant to be a fun journey!

]]> By: Kathy Stypula http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/09/your-term/#comment-4551 Kathy Stypula Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:25:19 +0000 http://simplycharlottemason.com/?p=436#comment-4551 I have been doing lessons five days a week pretty much year round, but we take off two weeks in December to do all our Christmas things and usually take off the first week in January. We also take days off for short trips throughout the year that turn into a learning experience too. August is usually a short month for us. too, and we take off another two weeks. I have been starting the year in January since my son's birthday is the end of December. I have been doing lessons five days a week pretty much year round, but we take off two weeks in December to do all our Christmas things and usually take off the first week in January. We also take days off for short trips throughout the year that turn into a learning experience too. August is usually a short month for us. too, and we take off another two weeks. I have been starting the year in January since my son’s birthday is the end of December.

]]> By: Kimandtheboys http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/04/09/your-term/#comment-4549 Kimandtheboys Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:09:15 +0000 http://simplycharlottemason.com/?p=436#comment-4549 9 month on, 3 months off, because of older children in public school. 9 month on, 3 months off, because of older children in public school.

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