Why We Homeschool Year Round

WHY WE HOMESCHOOL YEAR ROUND // Let's chat about why and how we homeschool year round. How we plan out curriculum and how we make it work with homeschool groups following a traditional schedule.
Want to know how I am able to earn an income while I homeschool? bit.ly/2FYrIeH

[@Lisa-di1wi]

Most schools don't allow family vacations during the school year due to each state's mandatory school attendance laws. Here in Pennsylvania, where I live at, children have to be in school for 180 days a year. The schools consider family vacations during the school year an unexcused absence. Six years ago, there was a guy here in suburban Philadelphia who took his two kids out of school for five days because he was running in the Boston Marathon. He then got a letter from the school's principal saying that it was an unexcused absence. He said that his two kids learned more in the five days that they were in Boston instead of them sitting inside of a classroom. The schools have very strict attendance policies that they have to enforce. If the kids aren't in school, the parents are notified. The parents could be charged with truancy. They could also end up going to court, or even to jail! Each school determines which absences are excused and unexcused. And if a family decides to take a vacation during the school, the teachers won't give them any make-up work. I have ready some of the reasons why some parents take their kids of out of school to go on a family vacation. It's much cheaper during the school year than it is during the summer and on school breaks. Some of them have jobs where they can't get any time off during the summer. But to the schools, that is just too bad. I also read that if kids miss to many days of school, it affects their state funding. At least this woman doesn't have to worry about the school calling her wondering why her kids aren't in school, receiving a truancy letter, or having a truant officer show up at her door either. I also read that this one woman didn't have kids just so they can be controlled by the school system. And believe me, she is right. The schools today are taking away parental authority over their kids. And I strongly believe that is one of the reasons why parents are taking their kids out of school and homeschooling them.

[@SamanthaA1229]

This is exactly what I was looking for. I’m going to be a brand new homeschool mom to my eleven year old. I bought my curriculum already, math-math u see. Language arts and history-good and beautiful. And science is with BJU. I’m planning on year round schooling, four days a week and starting in early July. But then I heard of CC. I’m very interested to use it as I guess a supplemental education if that possible. CC doesn’t start until end of August, what do I do with all of my curriculum I purchased? What can I teach in July when I start. I’m so lost.

[@hopehomeschool6570]

We love Math U See. I would start with the curriculum you purchased. Consider attending a CC practicum if you haven’t already (we just made a video about it last week) and don’t be afraid to adjust if needed. If you end up with a curriculum you don’t use (happens to everyone) you can always find a homeschool curriculum sale group on Facebook. Someone will want it. My guess is you’ll end up still using it.

[@SamanthaA1229]

Hope & Homeschool so I can still continue with my original plan of doing my own curriculum? I know CC doesn’t cover all subjects. But they do cover LA, history and science right? So how do I teach something like history now and then later CC picks up and they are teaching something else in history?

[@hopehomeschool6570]

Samantha Allison Yes I would continue. It’s a little different with him being 11 because he will be in Essentials. (I don’t have any kids in that age bracket yet.) That’s why I would highly recommend attending a practicum so you can get a better idea of what he will be learning in CC. I wouldn’t be concerned about the curriculums overlapping. If anything it will help solidify everything for him.

[@SamanthaA1229]

Hope & Homeschool you’re awesome. Thank you so much