Terms
I’m happy. I’ve had the school calendar system in pencil for two years, but now it’s all pressed and prettified and ready to dance.
I’m planning on schooling year-round, with a six-week-on, one-week-off rotation, with a couple longer breaks sprinkled in. My favorite thing about the year-round plan is the built-in time for regrouping, for reorganizing, for long library trips and housecleaning and freezer cooking.
Summer Term: first full week of July through mid-August Harvest Term: end of August though end of September Autumn Term: second week of October through the week before Thanksgiving Christmas Term: Thanksgiving through New Year (light school focusing on holiday memory, books, and crafts) Winter Term: January through mid-February Spring Term: late February through March Easter Break: 3 weeks in April (school plans for next year made and books ordered) Verdure Term: May through early June (take school outside often and finish up with zest) A Midsummer Morn’s Break: 3 weeks in June (pre-read books, plan out, organize paperwork)
So, this plan has 6 6-week academic terms, a 3-week holiday term, and a total of 13 weeks of break. Our state doesn’t require homeschoolers to keep a certain number of school days or hours, so I haven’t taken a government school calendar into account and don’t know how many weeks/days they require. But Ambleside recommends 3 12-week terms, and a brief flip through a few curriculums I have on hand seem like they will fit nicely into these segments. 6-week blocks for year-round schooling is fairly standard, from what I have seen.
So, now I must maintain focus on the current term and hold out the carrot of first-grade planning and book-buying as the prize of completing it in April. :)
I love the term names! Especially “Harvest Term” which occurs during my favorite time of year. I haven’t completely decided what to do during the summer. Last year we took a break in June and then did school until our baby was born at the end of August, then took a break until he was six or seven weeks old. In other words, we organized around HIM rather than anything else. It is extremely hot here all summer, so I was thinking about doing light schooling in the afternoons since it mostly unbearable outside. Hmmm…Thanks for getting me thinking.
It’s generally the same here (Eastern WA) in July and August, so it seemed more practical to have chunks of break while the weather is beautiful. Plus, I like having breaks (and running errands and going to parks) while most others are in school! :)
I was browsing your blog quite a bit this morning looking at your first-grade stuff. :) It’s pretty handy that you’re a year ahead of me!
Funny. Until last month, my (younger) sister was homeschooling my nephew, who was a year older than my son and also had similar aptitudes. So I suppose you have her to thank if anything helped you. We can call it Trickle Down Homeschooling. :)
The gift that keeps on giving….my two oldest are one year behind Hans and Jaeger, Mystie (coincidentally they are “H”annah, 5, and “J”acob, 4.) Your year-around schooling intrigues me; I just don’t know if I can give up the long, albeit unnatural, summer break that is so ingrained in my “rhythm.” These posts are so helpful!
Well, we started Summer Term today! I’ll be posting how the term schedule works for us, I’m sure. :)