Summer Time = Busy Time

I feel like I have neglected my blog since the kids have gotten out of school but my priorities clearly change during the summer. I have to find ways to keep their minds occupied and learning and their hands working and constructive.

Although my kids go to public school, I home school in a way over the summer. We're learning how to be critical thinkers, how to outline notes and prepare better for tests, expanding our vocabulary, and improving our writing skills.

We use articles from the Internet to discuss current events and form our own opinions or predict outcomes. We then try to filter what we have read and learned against what the bible teaches on these subjects. We are developing biblical discernment this way.

We are reading the Charles Dickens classic, Great Expectations. From this book, we are getting our vocab words and learning how to outline notes, answer questions, and prepare for test.

We are studying the book of Psalms and learning about the character of God.

In practical matters, they are learning how to meal plan, create grocery list, and price comparison shop. They are learning how to read food labels and make healthy choices. They are learning how to maintain a home through daily chores and meal preparations.

One daughter has used her creative abilities to make flash cards of the numbers 1-10 and the alphabet for our 20 month old daughter to use. The other big sister will be creating a picture book for her soon as well. They both take turns reviewing these flash cards with her and reading books to her. So, even our youngest is in a deliberate learning environment.

It requires a lot of effort on my part to coordinate all of these learning opportunities. I have to read everything ahead of them to create the questions and vocab list and then read it again with them. There is much planning and preparation involved and so I am busy. I hope to blog as much as possible but fear this may be less than I am use to over the summer.

Daddy has six weeks off from his master's program in Business Administration so he is homework free for a little while and soon will have a few weeks of vacation, too. We are looking forward to having more of his undivided attention and having fun as a family, too!

I hope your summer is impactful and fun, too!