Ordinarily, I would say enjoy spring before it gets too hot. Get outside with some informal nature study. But spring hasn’t really hit us here, even in Texas. We are still having 40 degree mornings.
Honestly, I’m sad when the semester is over. We don’t leave the house much and the weekly social and learning experience sort of anchors our week. So, a few of my friends and I are continuing to meet weekly.
Here are a few ideas about what to do after the CC semester is over – specifically some things my friends and I are doing or have done in the past.
1. Keep the weekly meetings going.
Get together with friends (CC or other friends) to keep the learning going. Last summer, I did a Spanish class with two different group of friends. This summer, 12 of our CC families are joining together to study Texas history. (More on that later).
Ideas for Group Study
- Nature Study
- Spanish or other foreign languages
- States (in depth since CC was so fast paced)
- Sewing or other artistic pursuits
- Singing/Choir/Drama
- Poetry Memorization (a poetry club!)
- Book Club (read and discuss together)
- Latin (for older elementary or those already in Challenge)
- Science club (weather, nature, animals, etc)
2. Add a few extra subjects that you didn’t get to during the fast paced 24 weeks.
Here is where we add in some different things, not necessarily every day, just periodically. You can draw from the list of group studies above, but I’ve added a few things below that are not necessarily worthy of doing in a large group setting.
- Hymn study
- Typing
- Computer games to enhance learning (I’m thinking things like Spellingcity.com .)
- Creative writing (Last summer, my daughter and a close friend took turns writing the next chapter of the book they are doing together. This was not an assignment, just something for fun.)
- Pen pal writing and/or card making
- Starting a business (My daughter likes to make and sell muffins, for example.)
- Bible study
- Read-alouds or separate reading
- Writing a few essays that we didn’t get around to during Essentials.
3. Enjoy down time and allow for creativity.
Enjoy a break from the rigorous study and leave room for creativity and productive play. In order for their down time to be “productive,” I need to limit the TV/tablet/computer time. When I allow my children to have free time, I’m often amazed at the things they come up with. Here are some examples of things to encourage your kids to do when they are bored:
- Start a business (even just pretend or very low-key – they will be building skills). They can have a garage sale, cook, create videos (how to, music, whatever), take pictures, organize things, help neighbors or relatives with cleaning/organizing/yard work. They could make things to sell (word working, crafts, sewing, etc). They could plan activities, classes for the neighbor kids or siblings.
- Write a book with a friend (as my daughter did last summer) or on their own.
- Work on their art work or music. (Take lessons or find how-to videos online).
4. Find fun ways to review and learn new things.
- Use audio books or your CC memory work CDs. Play them while the kids are doing various activities such as legos, playdough, drawing, coloring, or crafts.
- Take a list of my schedule and resources from last summer.