It’s officially summer in our next of the woods and I’m sorry to report that our summer school efforts have almost completely fizzled out. I mentioned school this morning and the kids turned to mush and rolled around on the floor moaning.
DRATS!
Emma told me today that our school was soooo boring and that she wasn’t learning anything. I’m not quite sure what she wants me to teach (molecular physics?) but I’m sure it’s not the math facts that she needs to work on.
I just can’t compete with recess and hot lunch.
I’ll now have to come up with some sort of incentive to get the kids going. If I can get Emma excited again then I’m pretty sure that Isaac will follow. I think the biggest problem is getting breakfast done and out of the way before 9:00 so we have time for school. The neighbor boys start knocking down the door right on the stroke of 10:00 and once that happens there is no hope for starting school.
I think that means no sleeping in for me. Aargggg. I thought that was what summer was all about.
My party girl, Emma wants to figure out a way to celebrate Summer Solstice today. I thought maybe we’d just set up the wading pool in the backyard and call it good but I think she’s looking for something bigger… a festival with merry-go-rounds and cotton candy? a sunset bonfire dance with bells tied around our ankles? A giant pancake made in the shape of the sun?
Any ideas for the struggling mommy?
My name is Manda and I love creating 
Fairy wands, fairy basket, and sun candles: http://rhythmofthehome.com/summer-2010/summer-solstice-celebration/
Rent one of the Midsummer Nights Dream movies and watch it with the kiddos. There are a whole bunch of film adaptions: http://www.netflix.com/WiSearch?oq=&v1=midsummer+nights+dream&search_submit=
Or there are kids versions of the book: http://www.amazon.com/Midsummer-Nights-Dream-Kids-Shakespeare/dp/1552091244 Maybe at the library?
And this one: http://www.amazon.com/Midsummer-Nights-Dream-Bruce-Coville/dp/0803717849
Celts used to make bonfires on summer solstice – is it warm enough for a picnic up the canyon & a fire?
All Year Round is a Waldorf book you might find at the library – it has summer solstice ideas in it.
Here’s a blog with ideas: http://eileensplace.blogspot.com/2007/06/summer-solstice-ideas-for-children.html I like the pixie sticks idea.
I’m thinking Emma would love any and all things fairy.
Right now we have a List of Summer Fun that we are adding to and looking over, planning excursions and such. That’s about all I have today (it’s a highly braindead sort of day).
Here is my comment that it won’t let me add to your last template post:
Thanks so much. You seem to be a kindred spirit of templates (with lots of photos, careful about the page split for printing… how DO you do your printing, by the way?). Keep up the good work.
If math, I’d just let her “help” cook and bake – my 6yo and 4yo love helping measure things out for soups and cookies.
Or fold laundry counting towels, how many fit on each shelf, how many is too many sets of underwear/socks for her dresser drawer, how many of each kind of dish they unload and put away from the dishwasher, whatever.
Another thing I’ve been eying myself is Wrap-ups for at least my 6yo because he’s very hands-on and I figure it could only help his math, and The Learning Palette because it’s also hands-on and has interchangeable subjects and such.
We homeschool, but if it involves sitting down and staying still-ish for more than 30 seconds or actually calling it school? My 6yo does a similar pouty, rolling around on the floor kind of thing. So I just sneak things in. We practice writing/drawing by making cards to send to daddy or signs I “forget” to put out for house showings. Practice counting with planting things in the garden or putting away crayons or underwear. Practice reading/recognition with road construction signs that are *everywhere* right now. All kinds of randomness. Just need to look outside the box so to speak.
We love wrap ups! Love all Lanna’s suggestions – less sit down boringness and more real life learning!