Summer Fun/Fulfillment II:

Plan Homeschool Goals

Homeschool goals and organization are important even during vacation.

Man's chief purpose is to live...not to exist.
I shall not waste my days, trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time.
Jack London

Summer is a lovely gift that is filled with potential for exploration, growth, fun and family time.

However, without school or a defined structure, it's sometimes easy to feel at loose ends. The days can fly by without really any direction. One wonders, "What did I do today?"

Correcting this is easy. Harness the looming hours of vacation and channel them into fruitful living. This will require three sheets of paper.

First, think about and discuss what you want for the family. Then write and post your goals and the corresponding ideas to achieve them. Put the sheet an obvious spot so that it is constantly before your eyes. Refer to it often throughout the day.

Second, a flexible outline is a must. (Weekends can be free but still refer to the goal sheet for ideas.) Design a time frame for the weekday. The aims you listed (as described in the first step) dictate the daily schedule. The schedule is the means to fulfill your homeschool goals. For example, if prayer and reading are important, then time must be allotted to each.

Below is a sketch of one of our days:

6 a.m.--Mom

• Mass, prayers
• exercise
• errands
• straighten house, laundry

--Children

• swim practice

12 p.m.

• lunch
• chores
• reading together
• special projects--art, science, field trip, etc. or
• family game/activity

2:30-3:30 p.m.

• quiet time--reading, naps

3:30-5:00 p.m.--Mom

• fix dinner
• finish chores

--Children

• piano practice
• play outside

5:00-6:00 p.m.

• dinner
• clean-up

6:00-9:00 p.m.

• family activity--(baseball, soccer, etc.)
• gardening
• family prayer
• reading, game

9:00 p.m. to bedtime

• quiet time
• Mom and Dad time

The third paper is a worksheet to keep track of how daily activities fulfill the goals set.

Please note: Even if your youngster is older and has a job, the evening plan can still be the same.

Set homeschool goals. Using these techniques will ensure that the summers are indeed a balance of relaxation and rejuvenation... lively times of growth, development, and festivity.

Please also see the articles #1 and #3 (links below) to get the most from your summer "free" time.

Summer Fun/ Fulfillment I--Goals

Summer Fun/Fulfillment III--Track Activities

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