Summer Fun... Home School?!

First grade has not even officially wrapped up and already my daughter wants to zip through second grade. Over the summer. With me teaching her. Wow! What’s a not-so-organized, perfectionist mom who doesn’t really do strict scheduling do? Figure it out! If the kid wants to learn and excel, then that’s what we’ll do!

We as a family began working on a summer “bucket list”, if you will, with our ideas and wants for the summer, and our big calendars to plug in the approved items. (It will not be possible to do all the suggested items as the kids want to move-not happening-, and they all want to go to different theme parks. I think we have 4 on our list. Can you say way expensive?!) Anyway, we all gave some suggestions, such as bowling, the beach, make ice cream sundaes, and a water balloon fight, just to name a few; but Bella wants to do home school. And she’s very serious. And adamant. And as a mom, I couldn’t be happier. Sort of.

You see, this is one of those projects that sounds great, and could be fairly simple. Except that it’s Bella’s idea. And she doesn’t do small or simple. Nope. Bella’s ideas are grandiose, and creative, and typically out of my realm of imagination and capability (not to mention way outside of budget!). So we’re working on a compromise. I’m picturing setting aside a little time each day to work our way through an appropriate level workbook that challenges her, and making sure we’re doing daily reading. If I get super creative we may even try a craft or two! If, maybe! She, on the other hand, is picturing setting up our entire house as a big classroom with a gigantic word wall, a separate gathering carpet for “every day counts”, and enough sharpies, markers, white boards, folders, notebooks, etc. to make any elementary school teacher drool.

Fortunately for me, other family adults get to participate in this summer home school fun., so I won’t be going it alone. Mawmaw will be the music teacher, and Papa will be arts and crafts. Daddy will be the PE teacher, and I get the rest. We shall see how this summer unfolds, and I just know I will have plenty of pictures and anecdotal stories to share! If you have any suggestions, ideas, or coping mechanisms I welcome them!

Summer Fun... Home School?!