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Choose Peace
Are you the parent scrambling frantically to finish every problem in every book before you can relax for the summer? I encourage you to focus on "choosing peace." Look at each thing you are trying to finish.
Does it need to be done? If you are 80% done with the book, that should be enough. Public schools finish 80% to finish the subject, and so can you.
Does it impact your mental health? Weigh the pros and cons of finishing up. Sometimes subjects do urgently need attention, but sometimes it's not required for your high school credit, and the cost is enormous stress. Weigh the pros and cons!
If something does need to be done this summer, try to have your children work independently. Independently means you don't teach them, they learn on their own. If you need some accountability, have them show you their work from across the room, if necessary.
One mother told me her son had avoided math most of the school year and was hopelessly behind - that's a good reason to continue math during the summer. Only do one lesson per day, not two! Choose peace!
One mother was stressed about starting Latin during the summer. Nope - not worth the stress! Unless you desperately need foreign language credits, choose peace! Skip that during the summer.
A dad asked about reading. Summer is a great time to snuggle up with a book, but don't worry about literary analysis. Grab books from my College Bound Reading List. Save those library receipts! That's how you'll collect all the information for the reading list for the coming year. Choose peace, and just enjoy reading this summer.
Parents often ask about SAT preparation in the summer. I love doing a little SAT prep each day, to keep the skills fresh. It doesn't require parental supervision - it's really like a high school level workbook! Sure, do some SAT prep during the summer. Keep it small, just one section per day, so kids don't rebel. Choose peace - one section per day is only 1/2 hour, not too bad!
Summer is important. Remember to take a break. Think balance. Weigh what is important. Choose peace!
See those cute buttons at the bottom of these blog posts? Those are there to help you share helpful posts with others who might need encouragement. Go ahead and give it a try. I promise that nothing will blow up!
Does it need to be done? If you are 80% done with the book, that should be enough. Public schools finish 80% to finish the subject, and so can you.
Does it impact your mental health? Weigh the pros and cons of finishing up. Sometimes subjects do urgently need attention, but sometimes it's not required for your high school credit, and the cost is enormous stress. Weigh the pros and cons!
If something does need to be done this summer, try to have your children work independently. Independently means you don't teach them, they learn on their own. If you need some accountability, have them show you their work from across the room, if necessary.
One mother told me her son had avoided math most of the school year and was hopelessly behind - that's a good reason to continue math during the summer. Only do one lesson per day, not two! Choose peace!
One mother was stressed about starting Latin during the summer. Nope - not worth the stress! Unless you desperately need foreign language credits, choose peace! Skip that during the summer.
A dad asked about reading. Summer is a great time to snuggle up with a book, but don't worry about literary analysis. Grab books from my College Bound Reading List. Save those library receipts! That's how you'll collect all the information for the reading list for the coming year. Choose peace, and just enjoy reading this summer.
Parents often ask about SAT preparation in the summer. I love doing a little SAT prep each day, to keep the skills fresh. It doesn't require parental supervision - it's really like a high school level workbook! Sure, do some SAT prep during the summer. Keep it small, just one section per day, so kids don't rebel. Choose peace - one section per day is only 1/2 hour, not too bad!
Summer is important. Remember to take a break. Think balance. Weigh what is important. Choose peace!
See those cute buttons at the bottom of these blog posts? Those are there to help you share helpful posts with others who might need encouragement. Go ahead and give it a try. I promise that nothing will blow up!
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208 N Western St.
Amarillo, TX 79106
Phone: 1-888-533-2435
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 9.00 am to 03:00 pm (PST)
Amarillo, TX 79106
Phone: 1-888-533-2435
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 9.00 am to 03:00 pm (PST)
Comments 6
Wow, glad to hear I'm on the right track. We had various things happen throughout the school year, and I had to tell myself not to worry - summer can be a time to catch up without going crazy. There's some ongoing things we're dealing with this summer, so we absolutely must be relaxed, otherwise we wouldn't be able to deal with those things. Some of these things will probably resolve themselves by autumn, some won't. That's OK - there's next summer too.
I'm finding that if I need to skip a day of Latin, so be it - my older child loves to write funny stories in Latin, so that's what happens when I can't teach. I remember at the beginning of my sophomore year I didn't remember all that much of the foreign language I was studying, so something is better than nothing.
Lee,
Finding your site was an answer to prayer. The kids and I have literally been "scrambling" to finish out the year. We still need to finish their math, but we will definitely do so with a more relaxed attitute.
Thanks you!
We were wrestling with this very issue. I needed jr. grades on the transcript NOW to enroll in dual courses. "Mom, I'm not done!" Yes you are. Besides, this week between church camp and mission trip was supposed to be finishing school. Instead we're battling colds. Resting up for mission trip is way more important. I choose peace. Thank you, Lee.
You have no idea how much I needed to hear that! We desperately need the break from school work but I have felt so anxious about trying to get every single page finished! Both of my children have gone to public school in the past so I knew they never finished their books entirely, but my OCD personality tends to take over sometimes. LOL Thank you for the reminder. We are FINISHED with school until August.
Lee,
You just saved my children from a long and painful summer. Thank you for these wise and calming words.
Jenn
Thank You! I needed to be reminded of that!