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Structure the
School year
Now that you have begun your homeschooling schedule, there are
various questions that trouble you. Should you study continuously,
take a number of short breaks or a long vacation? What about public
holidays? When should you take a break?
The answer to these questions and many more like these are actually
quite simple: Do whatever suits you best. This is one of the
appealing benefits of homeschooling. You do not have a set pattern
to follow. You do not HAVE to take that autumn break, or close shop
for a prolonged summer vacation. Flexibility is the key here. For
some practiced unschoolers, even a definite curriculum is not
necessary because lessons are a part of their day- to-day life. But
this may not be the case with beginners. Beginners may need to chart
out their activities to fall into a pattern.
Before you plan the structure of your classes, consider some of the
most important issues. What method of homeschooling will you be
following, what is your teaching style and your child's learning
style, what are the work and play schedules, what are your vacation
plans. Some families plan small 1-week vacations at different times
of the year. Other families prefer to go away for a month or more.
Consult with the members of your family, and chart out a holiday
schedule that most suits you.
There are some positive benefits in following the traditional summer
vacation schedule. Firstly, your children can benefit from the
various summer activities, camps and classes. Your child's schedule
will coincide with that of his school-going friends. A summer job
may be possible. A longish summer break also means that both parents
as well as children get a break from their daily lessons. This could
also be a major drawback, as it is sometimes difficult to get back
on track once the classes resume.
On the other hand, there are some advantages to taking numerous
small breaks in the course of a year. Firstly, children do not get
bored since they get time to explore other interests. You can cover
more topics in the extra time that you save. You can also take
family trips and vacations during the less popular periods of
travel. This means lesser crowd and better prices. But beware if
your child becomes restless when other children are enjoying their
long summer vacations.
As far as homeschooling is concerned, you and your family are the
people in charge. Taking care of the individual needs of the child
is the primary focus of this system. So, tailor the school year to
suit your child's needs. Periodic evaluation is a must. Set some
realistic goals and see if you are able to achieve these goals. Most
importantly, avoid burnout - both in yourself and your children. |
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