Whether you are a veteran homeschooler or brand new to it, you might be weighing the pros and cons of following a year round schedule. The beauty of a year round homeschool schedule is the flexibility that it brings to your calendar. While flexibility is the biggest blessing of year round homeschooling, there are a few things you need to consider before deciding that year round homeschooling is right for you. 

Does the thought of avoiding the summer slide and stretching out the learning at a more comfortable pace appeal to you? Do you crave that long summer break and very defined start and finish dates? 

There are many schedules for year round homeschooling; 6 weeks on and 1 week off, 8 weeks on and 2 weeks off, 3 months on and 1 month off, etc…

By using the entire calendar year, you can create the schedule for your homeschool that works best for you because you have 365 days to complete your homeschooling instead of 180 weekdays. 

Making the right decisions regarding your homeschooling journey is important. That is why it is essential that you take the time to research and consider all of the pros and cons.

You must have all of the necessary information in order to make an informed decision. The questions and worksheets below will help you begin to determine whether or not year round homeschooling is right for you. 

8 Questions to Determine if Year Round Homeschooling is Right For You

• Do we need that long summer break to rest and plan?

Some families, like those with extended families that are public schoolers, prefer to take off the summer. This allows them to spend more time together and take vacations together during the summer.  You may just want a long stretch of fun and relaxation without worrying about lesson plans.

• Do your kids struggle with a summer learning slide every fall?

If the nearly 3-month break leaves your kids struggling to remember basic concepts they learned the year before or if it takes a very long time to get back into the swing of things and establish a rhythm then a  year round schedule would likely benefit you. 

• Does a 5 day school week work for you?

Would you like to leave a day or two each week open for errands, field trips, and lazy days? A year round schedule helps you fit everything in without the stress of feeling like you have to cram it all in at the end of the week or year.

• Do you want to space out your breaks and vacations?

Frequent breaks for rest and planning can help you and the children tackle every new round of schooling with a fresh outlook like that of a new school year!  6 weeks on and 1 week off is a common schedule for year round homeschoolers, but it is easily adaptable to any time frame. You can school through the hot summer and take off the entire month of December if it works for you.

• Do you like or need a clearly defined start and end?

If you need a very clearly defined beginning and end to your school year you may struggle with the year round schedule. While it is possible to have them as a year round homeschooler, the shorter breaks may make it seem like there is no end in sight.

• Do seasonal studies appeal to you? 

There are a lot of great hands-on studies, especially nature studies you might miss out on if you skip schooling during the summer season.  Nature walks, journals, learning beach trips, and so much more can be enjoyed during the summer season as year round homeschoolers. 

• Do you find that the kids are bored during school breaks?

A common complaint of kids all year round is, “Mom, I’m bored! Schooling steadily year round helps keep them busy, even if you do a relaxed school schedule during typical school breaks. 

• Do you sometimes feel that there is no time to be a mom instead of a mom/teacher?

I love being both, even both at the same time, but for some having a little separation and one less responsibility for a longer period has a big appeal. Summer break gives you an opportunity to just enjoy the kids without nagging them to finish up their handwriting assignment or math worksheet.

Please remember, that your homeschooling journey is unique to your family. You can make changes to your schedule, method, curriculum and activities anytime you want or need to.

You can always try out a year round homeschooling schedule and if it is not a good fit for your family you can always experiment with something else!  Also, remember that different seasons may call for different approaches to your homeschool. It may be that year round homeschooling is not right for your family this year, but it could be perfect for you in years to come!