Papillon Mom Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 With all the talk of where are you in the school year, I'm wondering, what do you ladies consider a school day? I have been counting days where at least reading/writing and math and music practice all got done for my 7yo. But lately I'm wondering if maybe I can count our music lesson/ barn/ speech therapy days? What are your minimum perimeters for school days for what age? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StartingOver Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 If Readin', Ritin', and Rithmatic' gets done, it is a day ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 From when we start to when the work gets finished. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 If we do math and writing, and something gets read by someone, it's a school day! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2blessings Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 My kids are older, but my general rule has been as long as 3 subjects are done I can call it a day. We don't this too often, but if kids are sick, etc. I try to at least do this to get a day in. At 7 years old, I would definitely count what you mentioned as a full school day, as long as overall I was completing what I felt I needed to for the year. Just my .02:) Gina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 If we do anything resembling schoolwork, it's a day, BUT we school year round and I only have to do 160 days for my cover school, and even that isn't defined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2squared Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I think it depends partially on your style. After reading all the many school day counting threads, I decided that we would count days too. I'm not required to count days, but I started thinking I wasn't a real homeschooler or rigorous enough if we didn't count days and get xxx days done. Counting days really, really stressed me out. Like...was it a full day only if all the kids got done with the basics or did everyone have to get through everything? What if one kid didn't get to everything or one kid didn't do anything. What if one kid was sick? What if one kid goes on a field trip and the others don't? So, anyway, I was stressed so I finally decided to stop counting. I know what I want to accomplish this year in terms of material and skills. We are working toward those goals, and I'm not going to stress about how or when it gets done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I am not so laid back, so when we have a schoolday it consists of everything. Spelling Handwriting FLL WWE Math Science History Reading We have co-op on Wednesday which is one 'elective' type class for each of my girls, but they still have to do math, FLL, and usually science or history. I count a 36 week schoolyear to guide my planning. Since DS is in public school, we're roughly going along with his school schedule witih a few exceptions. I have a hard time considering a day to the aquarium to be a school day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dory Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I'm a bit of a perfectionist. It's not a school day unless everything gets done which includes.... History Science Reading Math and Spelling The youngest I only expect to do a little math and reading. Sometimes he does more and that's great and sometimes he doesn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 My son is going on a rockpool trip next week at school and that is a school day. Why shouldn't you count a day at the aquarium? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poiema Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 If learning is taking place, it's a school day. As long as they are keeping up with their work and doing most things most of the time, I think it's fine to have relaxed days here and there. I would definitely count a trip to the aquarium as a school day. In PS its a field trip and counts as a school day. We are going to the zoo this week and it will count as a school day. Generally though, language studies and math would be the bare minimum for me. If it makes you feel better about it, maybe add flashcards or 20-30 minutes of reading on those days. Or a computer math game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I have a hard time considering a day to the aquarium to be a school day. Public school would count it as one. :) They have a few field trips throughout the year, holiday parties, days where they just watch movies (at the end of the semester), etc. They don't work on every subject every single day. Now if you only went to the aquarium and never did anything else, then yes, I'd have a hard time counting that as a school day. But the very occasional "field trip"... absolutely a school day. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazakaal Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 If most of our planned schoolwork gets done, then it's a school day. I also count educational field trips. I'm not required to keep track of days for the government, so this is just for my own records. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2squared Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 My son is going on a rockpool trip next week at school and that is a school day. Why shouldn't you count a day at the aquarium? My 5th grader is going skiing with the PS kids this month, and I can't see that as anything but fun. It is clearly a full school day for them, so I don't see why our more educational backyard play shouldn't be a school day sometimes too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alison in KY Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I will count whole days and even keep track of half days. In general, if we do most of our subjects, it's a day, but if they do like 3 things, and it isn't full math and English, then I'll write in half days. I definitely would count day long field trips. When we take family vacations and are learning something, then I'll usually count it also. If I think it's educational, or PE, then I usually count it. I do tend to school more towards year round, we basically start in July and stop when we need a break...then take June off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaKinVA Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Days when we get through the planned coursework for the day count as a school day. Days we go to the Navy Yard for science activities count as a school day. Days we spend working as a family on projects (we just had one on Monday, we did various projects and did learning centered around scouting badge objectives) count as a school day. Beginning next week, we'll be making candy & cookies as part of our school day...but there is math and science in that. Kids will still do core work those days, as well as personal fitness...so it's not like it's all going to be fun (just the taste-testing parts of it...lol) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mama25angels Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 If we do anything resembling schoolwork, it's a day, BUT we school year round and I only have to do 160 days for my cover school, and even that isn't defined. I agree!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Why shouldn't you count a day at the aquarium? I know it is educational and all, but in being specific to the question of what do I consider a school day, I just feel like if we don't do math and grammar then it isn't a full proper school day. I mean, the kids learn stuff on the weekends, too, but I don't count those as school days. I'm not saying it shouldn't be counted as a school day (the aquarium trip), just that I have a hard time counting it as one. Oh! I remembered also why ... because it puts me behind on my Week X, Day Y lesson plans that are already set up like that (like in our science, in WWE, in history) Maybe I should chill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Coming from a state that doesn't require the counting of days (Cali), any day that we got ouf of bed, Monday through Friday, would have been a school day. Unless the children were spending the day with the grandmother, in which case school was closed that day. :-) If I'd had to count days, I would still have been pretty close to that. I would certainly have counted any sort of lessons as well as all field trips, including going to the library. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BugsMama Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Ideally, a complete school day for me consists of: Reading Writing Math Grammar Penmanship Science History Music (we rotate German, art, PE, craft and field trip) HOWEVER- If we do at LEAST reading, writing and math (completely) and any variation of those plus other subjects, then I count it as a school day. Most days we do at least 5-8 things listed, and are at an appropriate place in all of our curriculum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mythreesonz Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 If we are doing any learning it is a school day. Even if it is just a hike if we are exploring what is around us. We don't have to count hours but need 9 months. We school year round I count pretty much every day as a school day. But most days we get at least math or Language Arts done with everything else. We do take a month off for Christmas but I still count most days because we are doing crafts, or cooking(using math etc) We don't do formal learning during that time(math workbook, LA etc) but we do watch a lot of educational shows and attend festivals etc.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5LittleMonkeys Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I'm required by law to do 4 hours, however, the cover school I'm registered with doesn't require any type of documentation to prove that. For me, counting days is really, really difficult since there are days that my oldest two may do all or part of their school but the youngers don't do any...or v\v. I am not keeping a log book of all my children's days. I don't count days at all. We start in July, have scheduled breaks, odd days off, pick up school work\experiments\projects on the weekends occasionally, and call it a year by the middle or end of May, depending on when everyone finishes up their curricula. If I sat down and added up all the days we spent at least 4 hours doing school, field trips, co-op, and devoted time to educational pursuits it would be over 180...probably closer to 190 or 200. Shoot even when we are on a scheduled break my dc will spend time pursuing what I would consider school. Not in the traditional classroom way, but learning content and devoting time to building and practicing skills none the less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 At minimum, math and reading, preferably with spelling and writing. Everything else is optional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poiema Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I know it is educational and all, but in being specific to the question of what do I consider a school day, I just feel like if we don't do math and grammar then it isn't a full proper school day. I mean, the kids learn stuff on the weekends, too, but I don't count those as school days. I'm not saying it shouldn't be counted as a school day (the aquarium trip), just that I have a hard time counting it as one. Oh! I remembered also why ... because it puts me behind on my Week X, Day Y lesson plans that are already set up like that (like in our science, in WWE, in history) Maybe I should chill. I hate when that happens. If it's too hard to squish 2 days into one, we usually take the rest of the week off of that subject or split the week up into 2 weeks until we get back on track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 If Readin', Ritin', and Rithmatic' gets done, it is a day ! Yep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mama27 Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 M-F, if we are awake and I have decided it's a school day, it is. Since we have to have 180 days that's how I do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByGrace3 Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I am not required to count days, but I have my planner set up to count a day any lesson is completed. Usually I try to get reading and math done regardless even if it is a field trip day, but on the occasional field trip that is all day, I count it...public schools would. If I only counted days where we got everything I planned done, we would never complete a day! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByGrace3 Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I know it is educational and all, but in being specific to the question of what do I consider a school day, I just feel like if we don't do math and grammar then it isn't a full proper school day. I mean, the kids learn stuff on the weekends, too, but I don't count those as school days. I'm not saying it shouldn't be counted as a school day (the aquarium trip), just that I have a hard time counting it as one. Oh! I remembered also why ... because it puts me behind on my Week X, Day Y lesson plans that are already set up like that (like in our science, in WWE, in history) Maybe I should chill. I think part of why I don't mind counting the "Aquarium day" is because on those week x day x lessons, I still attempt to get the "Weeks" worth of school done regardless during that week. So we may not have done Thursdays work on Thursday but we did it by the end of the week. Not that you have to do this, but I would be frustrated to have those week x day x lessons split across weeks. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txmommyofboys Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I am not in a state where we need to count days. We learn everyday, everywhere. It is a lifestyle for us. My kids are still you and LOVE learning. They ask a million questions just driving down the highway lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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