60-day returns • free shipping on USA orders $129+
How to decide about how to structure the year (terms/weeks/days)
- This topic has 8 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 8 months ago by
.
Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
- Posts
We didn’t use CM this year but we did do a whole year approach 4 days on and 3 days off. We have to do 180 days per state laws but this year I didn’t divide the year up into terms (although, I think it would have been better if I had). I was not very structured (this is for Kindergarten). I’m contemplating next year and trying to decide whether to do 4 or 5 days next year. If I did 4 days, I would divide the year into 4 terms — each of 45 days (10 weeks of 4 days a week and the 11th week would include all 5 days). The reason I like doing 4 days is that I can schedule 1 playdate a week and not worry about doing school that day — and I can also use the extra day as a make up day if we are sick one day, etc. However, I like that the 3 term school year would be 12 even weeks of 5 days — one day I would want to do an “artsy” day of studying an artist, doing some paintings, nature study and doing a shorter math lesson that day, etc. Could you share what works for you. My kids are young — I will be hsing my 1st grader and the rest are younger ages/preschool/infant.
I am doing a modified AO type, so I’m doing 3 terms of 12 weeks. (We do a 1 week break between terms… – next year i plan to add an “exam” (cm style exams) week after each term too.
That said, we are also doing 4 days a week usually. I use it as an incentive for them to get their work done… on Friday if everything is done, we have a math lesson (there are 5 a week in our program), and then we do something more fun. It will usually be nature study, but is sometimes a field-trip type activity, or swimming at the Y, or something like that. It does make the 4 days slightly longer – but it is generally only 1 extra reading a day or so.
Just wanted to add, in summer we do a light school. Last year (our first year) it was super light as we had a baby born in our family in July…)
The basic plan, is doing a little math – maybe a couple of times a week – continue good reading, lots of nature study (of course), and I think this year we will tackle the Drawing with Children. I might choose to do an apologia science course, as a lot of them just fit better in the summer here in Canada than in our snowy winter!
We do year round schooling, I guess, but I do a 5 day school week. I follow an AO type schedule with 3, 12-week terms. (I did AO year 1). Last year we started on June 1st, and got in the first two terms before Christmas. We took off the month of December, and had just a week or two left of school this year, but due to some child behavior issues we’re ending school early and focussing on those things. I really, really need to have an official start and end to school, which is why I don’t want to use up my breaks with 4 day weeks. Does that make sense? Ideally I like to have 4-5 weeks of “summer vacation” that takes place in April-May. I, as the teacher really need the break, but any more than that is too much for us.
I generally like to plan our schedule with 3 Terms, consisting of 3 months on 1 month off. For us, this works well with our climate and yearly routines. I also enjoy planning 1 term at a time, taking the month off gives me time to gather books & prepare for the next – also gives room for some much needed R & R ;).
Term 1: Sep, Oct. Nov.
December Off
Term 2: Jan, Feb., March
April Off
Term 3: May, June, July
August Off
We are doing 5 days/wk, 3 weeks on, 1 week off. We have a month off in June as the break between beginning and ending the school year. Plus an additional 3 weeks off in December.
Thank you for all the feedback! I think I’ve decided on 5 days a week, 3 days on/1 week off except for 2 weeks off for Christmas and ending early in April to have 3 weeks off at that time until the next year starts. (I go May-April). Thanks again for all the replies, they really helped me out!
I’m new here. What does AO mean? We do year round homeschooling because we travel ALOT. I’m realizing I need to be a bit more scheduled in my approach. We just do school every weekday until we travel… then we pick it up again as soon as we can. The kids are at or above grade level, so I’ve never kept track of how many days we homeschool per year. As long as they are progressing, I haven’t been too worried about it. I was thinking of putting math worksheets and schedules in a manilla envelope and having the amount of things I would need for one 12 week term in that envelope and then just working through that until we finish it. Then I’ll know it’s time for a break. It’s my way of having a schedule that isn’t attached to days or dates but is based on the work. I’m trying to find a way that works with my personality of not wanting to use a planner, but still wanting to have some accountability to stay on track. I’ve started to work through planning what our next year will look like and it’s been hard for me to visualize it. I’m going to keep experimenting and see what we come up with. Any ideas?
Thanks
@Becks, AO stands for Ambleside Online. Many of the moms on this forum use their schedules and recommended resources as their CM homeschool curriculum. I don’t personally use it, so I’m probably not the best person to know whether it’s helpful or not. Also, this site offers a fabulous planning resource called Planning Your Charlotte Mason Education. It’s a workbook and DVD combo, but you can order just the workbook or just the DVD if you like. I have both and have used it every year.
@jessica2002, Like botanicalbecky, we do 3 weeks on, 1 week off yearround. I try to schedule our weeks off to coincide with Christmas and Spring Break. Additionally, we take off the entire month of July as our “summer break”. That’s when I start planning and ordering books for the upcoming year. I do take days off here and there, such as the kids’ birthdays or if one of us is sick. It still works out that I’m usually on schedule, even with those extra days. We took off 2 weeks at Spring Break this time, so I chose not to take our scheduled week off in April. That’s how you make up the slack
Blessings to you both,
Lindsey
Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
- The topic ‘How to decide about how to structure the year (terms/weeks/days)’ is closed to new replies.