[homesteadmamma]

From about the middle of April until the end of the school year in June, I struggle with teaching the kids. I want to be outside in the garden, playing with dirt and planting flowers. I don't want to be in the house teaching.

How about you, do you find this time of the year difficult? If so, how do you get around it. (Teaching outside is not an option here, we just have too many winds and it would distract my kids something fierce.)

 

[Heather]

Absolutely!! School work has to be done and then you look out the window and want to be out there so bad...I think I'm worse than the kids!! We actually started last year beginning a bit earlier in the day so we were done earlier. Also once it gets closer to planting time, my ds does his reading outside in a tree, on the patio, laying on the lawn, where ever he can find a spot. We get high winds off the lake so it's not like we can take a bunch of loose papers outside but for reading a book or doing his woodworking we are fine!!:smball:

 

[DawnM]

LOL Now that you mention it... it does get a little harder to keep the focus from here on in. We start heading out to the deck as soon as possible and take advantage of the nice weather.

I remember being in school in Ontario as a child and loving the times we were taken outside under a tree to read, or be read to, or to sketch for art class. We also seemed to do more fun, hands-on activities as we wound down to summer. I try to do that with my daughter now. Also, more 'major project' type things that can be worked on at her pace. Keeps the interest up.

It's been a looong winter this year - I can't wait to hit the deck on a regular basis.

 

[qponfanatic]

I try to have the heavy academic subjects finished up by about March. We do more outside activities like working in the garden and count this towards their industrial and agricultural arts credits. We do start in the summer though with school so we can get our schooling done this early.

 

[Strawberry]

Yes, it is harder to get school work done when there's nice weather. For the last few years we have started our school work a week earlier than normal and I push academics hard right through the winter. The dks will be finished their math around the 7th of May and their other subjects within a week after that.

Now that the weather is warmer we doing more physical activities. Starting this week we are playing tennis twice a week with another homeschool family. Once every week or two we are planning to go swimming. The kids also do quite a bit of volunteer first aid duties for school track meets this time of year too. Next week they are volunteering three days for a sports meet. It does make things a little busier for me but we are quite happy with the schedule.