10 Tips on Summer Homeschool

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Are you ready for summer?!

Are you ready for road trips, ice-cream and swims in the lake?

Are you ready for summer homeschool?

Summer homeschool?! What?!

Yes, it’s true, it does exist. I have been homeschooling my autistic, ADHD son (see our full story here) for the first time this past school year and I plan on doing some summer homeschooling this year as well.

School can be tough for a child that is autistic and learns differently. And of course, summer school can be tough too.

I homeschool through a local charter school but the summer is going to be completely on me. I started summer homeschooling when C was still in school. Between second and third grade. Before that, he was enrolled in special education extended school year and began regressing during the summer. Not only was he not growing in any skills or knowledge but he was regressing to behaviors that we had already overcome. It was very frustrating. That‘s when I decided that I would rather keep C at home during the summer, teach him skills he learned, and not let him regress in unwanted behaviors.

Overall I think some kind of planned activities are important during the summer. Kids can easily forget what they learned during the school year. So as parents lets keep our kids busy with fun activities and activities that will actually benefit them in the new school year. It doesn’t matter if you homeschool or your child goes to a traditional school, your child can always learn a little more during summer homeschool.

There are ten steps you can take this summer to make it a successful summer.

1. Calculate how many weeks/days you will actually have to do any teaching.

Make sure to include some breaks, day trips and vacations you may already have planned.

2.   Create a calendar.

You can make one on your own. Buy one from any Target, Walmart or Amazon. Or use the one I created for you in my summer homeschool bundle. Download it today by signing up below.

3.    Purchase lessons or activity books.

You can find many free homeschool lessons online. You can find so many free resources just by using Google. 

I also find great books in Costco and Amazon.

4.     Create a lesson plan of what activities and lessons you want to do and when.

Put them in the calendar. 

5.     Make sure to have a reward calendar ready with an awesome reward your child will love.

No one really wants to do work over the summer. So make sure it’s something worthwhile for your child. Is it a new video game, phone game, ice-cream or pizza party? You can have a daily, weekly or monthly reward.

6.     Have a visual schedule ready.

Maybe you already have a visual schedule for the regular school year. You may need another one that has the activities and times just for the summer. You can print out the icons I put together in the summer homeschool bundle.

7.     Create a list of rules 

You may already have family or household rules. In case they are different for the summertime make sure to have them handy.

8.     Don’t forget to include life skills.

Regular school year may leave little time to learn life skills. Summer–time is a great time to learn new life skills, household chores, outdoor chores, etc.

9.     Consider all your child’s strengths and think about their weaknesses.

Focus on helping them get stronger in the areas they struggle with. It may be something academic or it may be more in the life skills and social skills area.

10.    Don’t forget to have fun!

Don’t make the summer super serious. Enjoy the time you have with your kids and make sure to fit some trips to the park or lake or maybe even an amusement park!

Summer is meant to be a time to relax and enjoy the sun. But it can also be a time for learning. I hope my 10 tips to summer homeschool will help you make your summer a success.

You got this, mama!

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” Ecclesiastes 3:1