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Amanda Bennett’s July 2009

By Amanda Bennett

Summertime, summertime, sweet, sweet summertime -still some summer left! Like many of you, I love summertime and the break from homeschooling and hectic schedules. For our family, summer is the season for rest and relaxation. No formal homeschooling, no homeschool group meetings, just a light summer schedule for the clan. In fact, the summers have been one of the main sanity-savers at our house.

The perspective that summer offers is priceless for me - time to think, wander, watch kids in the pool without being preoccupied with what we need to do next, and just have fun. Like most teachers, homeschooling parents need a break to recover from a busy year of learning, social and church activities, family adventures, and daily routines. I don't know about you, but I need time to digest all that was accomplished this past school year, and it is important to compare what was achieved to what our goals were for the year.

Summer can be such a healing and regenerating time for the whole family. Here are a few tried and true tips:

Relax
Enjoy your summer break from the routine. Work on crafts and projects that relax and rejuvenate. Read and study your Bible; the lessons there are new every day. Walk through the bookstore and look for a few interesting titles that have nothing to do with parenting or educating. For example, I have always wanted to learn more about Scotland, and I plan to read about Scotland this summer. Two fellow homeschool moms, Tricia Goyer (www.triciagoyer.com) and Lisa Samson (www.lisasamson.typepad.com), have new novels that I can't wait to dive into. I happen to agree with Sir Richard Steele's statement: "Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body."

Celebrate Summer
Part of the fun of summer is the pure celebration of the season. Make some memories, and consider adding a few new traditions-perhaps a bike ride and ice cream sundae party every Friday evening or movie night and popcorn at home on Mondays. Here are a few of my favorite summer activities to inspire you:

• Build tree forts
• Take bike rides
• Savor ice cream treats from the corner gas station
• Slurp root beer floats together
• Blow bubbles
•  Watch the clouds for wild animal shapes while lying flat on your back in the grass
• Conduct art contests with sidewalk chalk
• Enjoy a weekend barbeque with friends
• Smack your lips as you indulge in s'mores or ice cold watermelon
• Laugh through watermelon seed-spitting contests
• Be awed by Fourth of July fireworks
• Make homemade ice cream with the hand-crank ice cream maker
• Run through a sprinkler shower in the yard
• Go to drive-in movies with the whole famil
• Splurge on cherry colas and onion rings at the local diner
• Dream up library day adventures
• Collect board games and extra pillows for sleepovers, and don't forget to take pictures of the fun.
   

Get Organized . . . Again
Last but not least, use this time to plan the upcoming school year. As you start to plan, take a look at your definition of success. What things do you need to incorporate into next year's plan to move closer to this goal? You are working to equip your children with the important tools of reading, writing, and mathematical skills, of course. It is just as important to equip them with the tools to find answers to life's questions, discern truth, and survive in today's technological society.

Some tips that might help with organization:

• Furnish and arrange your home for living and learning. I learned quickly about the value of not putting white curtains on the window by the dining table, where our science experiments were conducted; silver nitrate does not look good on white curtains.
• Keep enough open floor space so that the children can construct train tracks or racetracks around the room and down the hall.
• Put a vinyl tablecloth on your kitchen table for projects such as model assembly, soap carving, volcano building, and gardening experiments. Fun and learning happen all the time, and the kitchen table seems to be the usual gathering place.
• Clear storage tubs that are labeled (dolls, cars, blocks, racetrack pieces, cowboys, etc.) can make life so much simpler for both children and parents.
• If you have to carpet your home, try to choose carpet that blends well with your local soil, or as I say, get "dirt-colored" carpet when possible.
• Build relationships as a family. Even though the frantic pace of our culture squeezes in if we allow it, we need to remember that our family members are more than just individuals who share a common address. Treasure your time together, and work on getting and keeping your priorities in perspective.
• "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established." (Proverbs 16:3)

Homeschooling became much simpler for everyone when I finally understood that there was no single formula that I could follow, day in and day out, that would make our homeschooling experience successful and enjoyable. Once I learned that we were all works in progress, and that no two children were exactly alike, I began to relax and learned to be flexible in our approach to learning. Each and every step and moment is as unique as each precious child.

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."
Helen Keller

This article was published in the Summer issue of The Old Schoolhouse, my favorite homeschooling magazine. Watch for my next article in their Fall issue as I write about Kids and Business – subscribe now and don’t miss an issue!

BIG NEWS and SPECIALS
_______

First, the new Dogs Unit Study!

This unit study is an exciting new adventure from Amanda, including four weeks of daily interactive lessons. Using the Internet as the primary resource, the daily lessons are written at two separate levels, one for elementary grades and one for Jr/Sr High levels. Come along for the adventure as it covers topics that include:

Animal Science
History of Dogs in Society
Pet Care and Responsibilities
Breeds of Dogs
Famous Dogs

Pre-order for only $10.00*
Expected release date:  09/01/09
* through 08/08/09

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Second, receive the brand new "How I Homeschool: Twelve Families Share Their Lifestyle" as a special gift for all CDROM orders over $100, placed by 08/08/09
 
This new ebook (regular price: $12.45) is a valuable tool for homeschoolers, offering insight into other homeschooling families:

Homeschooling Moms share how they: 

• Accomplish homeschooling while in the midst of canning season.
• Use a variety of curriculums and educational philosophies.
• Implement Bible study; both personally and as a family.
• Define “productive free time” and what it includes.
• Maintain their homes and keep up on cleaning tasks.
• Schedule their days, weeks, months, and years.
• Plan for meals and save time with quick cooking or easy re-heating.
• Assign memorization of Scripture and learn the Bible together.
• Handle babies and graduating seniors at the same time.
• Make it to the couch for a moment of catching up with their husbands.
• And so much more! 

To receive this free ebook, "How I Homeschool," just place your CDROM order that totals over $100, and this e-book will be sent to you via email!

Don't miss our Internet Specials...

"To laugh often and love much -
to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children,
to earn the approbation of honest critics - to appreciate beauty -
to give of one's self, to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation -
to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--
that is to have succeeded."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Take care of YOU, and God bless!