What subjects would you not take a long break from?

[teachermom2834]

I am winding down our school year and planning for a new baby. We will likely start up again mid June. We have finished most of our curriculum and would like to spend the month of April on the art/ music we've neglected and doing extras, read alouds, etc. We will continue math during this time because I just can't get comfortable with taking a long break from math.

 

Besides math, are there any subjects I should be wary of taking 3 month break from? My kids are 2nd and 4th grade. We've used IEW this year for writing. Am I going to regret setting that aside for so long? We don't do a foreign language, or I would probably not want to set that aside for so long, either.

 

We've always schooled year round and this is the longest break we've taken. I am just nervous about it, I guess. I think we're all in need of a break, though. I want to be able to take it with a clear conscience.

 

Thanks,

Marie

[LisaKinVA]

Math

 

I would also continue with some copy work and probably IEW to a degree -- just to keep it fresh.

 

You might try using Abeka's Oral Language Exercises to reinforce grammar/sentence structure (takes less than 10 minutes and can be done across multiple grades).

 

Pretty much everything else can be handled through read-alouds, independent reading. Enjoy the new baby and your break!

[angela in ohio]

I would keep up daily writing, be it IEW or copywork or something else.

[Sue G in PA]

My dh taught in ps and said that math was THE subject that needed the most review come September. Dc lose so much ground after a 3 mo. break. Other than that, I am making my dc read every day for 30 min. to an hour (depending on age). Summer reading program at our library helps w/ that. Writing will be covered through the continuation of our family newspaper/newsletter. Each dc writes an article every 2 weeks for the paper. It's not "structured" writing like IEW, but it is writing. You could do IEW over the summer...just not as much. Perhaps 2x wk. I don't know the ages of your dc, but you could do grammar informally through oral reviews ("dc, show me the nouns in this sentence or show me all the adjectives, etc.). If they are diagramming already...I would certainly have them practice that on a white board at least once a week. My dd11 forgets the upper level diagramming from week to week. Keep it fresh. Other than that...enjoy your break and your new baby!

[...................]

Math facts

Greek Flashcards and Write out alphabet every day

 

And a summer bridge book which covers the basics in every subject.

 

Oh- and read for 20 minutes every day.

 

Also here I must do handwriting every day because my son has a LOT of letter reversals and problems with writing. He forgets how to write 30% of the alphabet in 2 days. I shudder to think what would happen after two months.:001_huh:

[Ann@thebeach]

I'd make sure each got a set time of reading in each day and the older one does writing of some kind at least a few times a week-maybe a journal or letters?

 

If the 2nd grader can do some copywork a few times a week I bet that would be fine.

[TracyR]

Totally agree . At least keep up with math and grammar , and handwriting . Everything else is just gravy :>) Enjoy your new little one :>)

[LunaLee]

Reading, but only for fun. No formal narrations or anything. And some kind of writing-copywork or maybe even just journal writing.

[Plaid Dad]

In our case, math and Latin. It's too easy to lose significant ground in those subjects at my dd's age.

[Beth in Central TX]

In the grammar stage, I did not take a long bread from math or reading. We usually continued daily read aloud and flashcards at a minimum during our summer and Christmas breaks.

[Jenny in Atl]

We don't stop math, reading, writing, Latin, and Spanish.

[elegantlion]

We don't take a break from math or reading. We did between 2nd and 3rd grade with disasterous results.

 

We will also continue with grammar just because we won't be finished by year end.

[susie in tx]

One of my girls was a math fermenter, so we would take math breaks when she was younger.

 

However, I've found that my girls do much better if I have them doing some handwriting at least a couple of times a week.

[WTMindy]

We don't stop math, reading, writing, Latin, and Spanish.

ditto

[Trivium Academy]

Reading, Writing/Penmanship, Foreign Language and some type of math. nt

[kRenee]

At that age the only thing I continued was math flashcards. I did IEW with a 2nd and 4th grader and they did not forget anything over a 3 month break.

[Verena]

Around here that would be math, reading and a little writing- either copywork or writing something about a composer or artist (I'd tie that in with your art/music studies).

Enjoy the relaxed pace- I can't wait until summer so that we can have it, too :-).

[Ellie]

The dc are going to keep reading on their own, or *you* are going to read to them; no need to do anything formal there. History and science...you don't really get "behind" on these. Not grammar, either, really; it only takes a little review, or reminders.

 

But math...yeah, ya gotta keep that going in some form.

[Dayle in Guatemala]

Math and reading. We don't take a break from those for a long period of time.

[Jenny in Florida]

nt

[Testimony]

I know that I should probably include writing, but as my writing leader always said, "a good reader makes a good writer." So, always have them read. Reading covers a multitude of areas. Also, when my father was very sick with the cancer and I was going to my parents house a lot. That's all I could do was have the children read every day and do math facts. You would be surprised how much they learned last year and I did not know it.

 

Blessings,

Karen

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/testimony

[nmoira]

Math and foreign language.

[Karenciavo]

Latin, math, writing

[sadiegirl]

I would keep reading on your schedule...readers and read-a-louds both for the vocabulary. Definitely math stay on course.

[pixelroper]

we are keeping math, latin & greek flash cards, CW, reading

[teachermom2834]

That gives me something to think about. I should have mentioned that dc are very good readers and read hours per day without prompting so I wasn't worried about their reading. I couldn't stop them from that if I tried.

 

I will also be sure to keep them writing- though it will probably be more informal than our usual studies.

 

Thanks for all the responses. They were very helpful. I am looking forward to a break.

 

Marie

[Wendy in ME]

Latin and math.

[Karen in CO]

it took us too long to get into a good groove. I would list reading too, but nobody takes a break from reading do they?

[Guest Lorna]

reading, writing, maths, any language and science

[Jackie in AR]

Math and writing.

 

And a language, if you were doing one. I made the mistake of allowing my dss to take a few month off from Latin; I'll never do that again as there was much review needed.