As probably anyone who has ever homeschooled probably would tell you, there is a constant trial and error over everything from curriculum to schedule. We originally followed the regular public-school schedule because that just seemed logical. That was what I knew. That was what Jude's friends did obviously. Having gone from my own school experiences, to college, to teaching public school, to having kids, honestly, my entire life has run on a fall semester, spring semester, summer break schedule.
But then you learn, as with so many things in homeschool, that you can literally do what you want. Curriculum itself is generally designed in 160-180 days, but how you divide that up those days can vary tremendously. Do you want to do 4 days or 5 days? Six weeks on 1 week off with a summer break? 9 weeks on with a 1-week break? You name it. Endless possibilities.
Because Jude was so used to living in the summertime, no school mentality, he expected breaks then. My younger 3 have no such experiences. They have had a new schedule every year honestly. I've noticed with them that having some number of structured activities is good for their brains, keeps them grounded and just honestly, they enjoy it. They start fighting when they get bored, break things when they get bored, etc.
This past year, we did take July off because we had just arrived from California, I had just found out I was pregnant with Baby 5, and so many other things were going on. But we started back in August trying a work the first 3-4 weeks of the month, take the last month off of school schedule. I feel like this schedule has the potential to be easy because I can generally guarantee the week off with coincide with Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is such a nice feeling to just have to push through for 3-4 weeks knowing you will get a break soon. It provides regular breaks, so there are still full weeks of just sheer abandon for the kids.
It's been great as the teacher/planner because I can choose things to focus on for a month at a time, jot out a road map, get a bird's eye view without trying to plan out an entire year or semester. Since I plan by the month, I have also been able to adjust each month's activities to something more manageable. Not surprising, I bit off more than I could chew originally. But with each month that has passed, I am able to fine tune those extra bits to something that I know I can do that month. This will particularly important as we get to March/April when we do welcome a new baby. I am hoping we can just take a week or two and then soft pedal through the main subjects, leaving the lagniappe behind. But who knows. I know enough about babies to say just because I've done this 4 times doesn't mean I will understand what to do with this particular baby. I've yet to have one that didn't throw me some curve balls.
Regardless, coming off our September break, gazing ahead to our upcoming October month of school, I am really loving this way of scheduling. I find it so lifegiving and manageable. It's great for little kids for sure. Their little brains with getting mushy towards that last week of September. Hopefully they will be able to focus again tomorrow. It's great for me too. It's just a lot to homeschool 3 kids. Beyond homeschool and getting dinner on the table, it doesn't seem like there is much time. But knowing that break is coming at least allows you to get to those leftover things eventually.
(Jude is on a more normal schedule, at least for now. Mainly this is due to him starting in September because up until mid-August we had planned to send him to public school. Even without that, things are just different with high school.)
Am I saying that I finally found the perfect homeschool schedule. Doubt it? It's highly possible that not having a big chunk of weeks to take off will bother me. It's highly possible that next year we will do something different. But right now, it suuuuurrrreeee feels like this schedule just flows.
