Our School Calendar

It is hard to believe we have been on this homeschooling journey for so long. It all started back when Hannah was 5. She is now 23 and expecting our first grandchild! Our youngest is 11 now and that means we could be at this for another 7 years! 19 + 7! Yikes!

Originally, we were on the normal school schedule. But almost 7 years ago, Joshua and Benjamin left Siberia to become Texans. At that point, we were only homeschooling the two youngest girls. When the boys arrived, their initial educational focus was simply learning English and how to be in a family. But, as they grew ready for more "formal" learning, it became quickly apparent that this would be a slow, arduous journey.

There is so much foundational learning that takes place in those first formative years that they simply missed out on. All those hours spent with Mom or Dad reading books, talking to them, doing puzzles or playing games? Apparently, none of that happened. They had just turned 6 and 7 when we adopted them, but their vocabulary was more like a two or three year old, even in Russian. Progress was so very slow at first that it felt like we were in "park" instead of "drive." Some days it was actually "reverse."


It didn't take long before we realized that any break in our schooling caused a backward slide, so we actually spent the first couple of years having school six days a week. On Saturdays, all we did was math, though. It helped a great deal in allowing the boys to "get traction." We no longer have Saturday math, but know if we needed to, we could add it back in.


Over the years, we have continued to keep a year-round schedule because it simply is a better way to educate them. By never really "stopping," we don't have the "starting back up blues." It also prevents those huge transitions into a whole year's worth of new curriculum at the same time. We simply go until we finish one year's worth of work in a given subject and then start the next segment right up. By doing it this way there is a naturally staggered schedule for introducing the next level of each area. Math, for example, is self-paced. The kids work for an hour each day and when they finish their textbook, they immediately receive the next one. It does make it hard to answer the question, "What grade are you in?"

The boys are doing well, gaining ground each month. The girls are thriving. Going through the summer also gives us great flexibility when we do need to take a day off here or there during the year. Because we don't take three months off for summer break, we can take a few days when something comes up in the life of our family and still put in more than enough total days each year.


Educationally, it just makes sense for us.

But more importantly, the discipline of a regular routine helps with their character. The house just runs more smoothly when school is in session. There is a lovely rhythm to our days that helps keep our home more peaceful. 


Year round school is not right for every homeschooling family, but for us it's a great fit. As most kids are getting ready for school to be out, ours are chugging right along with their studies. If you asked them whether they would like the summer off, they would of course tell you, "Yes!" Thankfully, their attitudes about it are actually quite positive. They recognize the benefits, too.