No birds, how about school?

I wanted to tell you my bird story today but it has been cloudy all day and even though I tempted them with peanuts, the birds were few and far between. And I want to have a picture or two to tell my story.

 The squirrels and chipmunks, however, enjoyed the treats.

 I would like to talk about school, instead.



 For the first time ever I have decided to try (I said try) schooling over the summer.

It didn't go over so well with my little student, however. She assumed she was getting a summer break and then I sort of dropped a little bomb on her yesterday.

"Summer break? No, daaahling, we are going to keep doing some school every day during the summer."

"Huh?"

I won't bore you with the histrionics that ensued.

Eventually she got over herself and we did a little math, handwriting, and state history. She even enjoyed herself a little during the study of Delaware. Today we did a little more math (started a new book), phonics, some handwriting and more state history.

In my opinion, it's totally doable, especially with one child (we can just pretend like those other big kids aren't home, which isn't hard since they sleep half the day).

But we have never done year-round school in our house. We have always, since day one of homeschooling, had a child in school-school. and so we followed the school calendar and schooled for nine months, broke for three months, give or take a week or so.

I can see the benefit, however, of schooling year-round, like not reviewing so much math and English, and having easier days every day. We can concentrate our efforts on social studies and science during the summer months and work on Language Arts, math and Latin during the school year. We can do more sewing and cooking during our weeks (not every day, just a couple times a week). I am not really starting a new year in most subjects except math, and that's just because she finished her grade 4 book and I happen to have the grade 5 book I think we'll use. Mostly we'll finish up what didn't get done, like state studies and some science, and start a new phonics book as well.

I just wonder, if not having a summer break will be particularly hard on us, or will it be better? I have nothing to which to compare. I like summer breaks, but they are sooooo long...longer than the winter drudgery. At least in the winter you can snuggle up on the sofa together and read or sew or watch movies (I'm a winter kinda gal). In the summer it's so hot it seems between having to drum up something to do and the heat, I'd rather just go to bed (or drink maragaritas).

I just wonder what you do? Have you done both? And if you do school in the summer, what do you do? Start a new year? End the year? Stuff that didn't get done during the year?

Just curious...