Things To Do For Summer: To School Or Not To School?

Are you a mean mom? You know one of those moms that plans schoolwork as one of the exciting things to do for summer break. With summer fast approaching it is time to think of things to do for summer to keep your littles occupied. Otherwise they will be sitting around, staring at you, waiting for you to break into a song and dance to keep them entertained.

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Let’s talk about ways to handle summer break. For us, we are already a few weeks in. But I know some of you are looking for ideas before you start your break. I am seeing this question pop up in a few places, so let’s talk about all the things to do for summer with kids.

3 Different Ways to Plan Things to do for Summer

Just like there isn’t one way to school your kids,  there isn’t one way to handle summer break either. Here are 3 different ways to plan summer break.

1. Typical things to do for summer

When you were in school or your kids were, you typically didn’t do anything except take a break over summer. If you are working in an office, your kids probably ended up in daycare. Or if you are home, they stayed home and played.

Usually, these days are unstructured and unplanned. And if any school happened it was probably just the library reading program, but nothing more.

2. School Year Round

This involves no official summer break, but you take numerous breaks throughout the year. The typical schedule is 6 weeks of school with 1 week off. Usually, with a longer break around Thanksgiving and Christmas, and few more weeks in the summer to go on vacation. This is the schedule followed through the whole year. So your homeschool doesn’t have an “official” first day of school or end date. Once a grade is finished, you just move to the next one without a long break in between.

3. Hybrid Summer Break and Summer School

Another option for summer break is to do a hybrid of both. You would add some schoolwork for the summer, but not necessarily a whole curriculum. This is a great time to focus on some areas that need strengthening. Or a fun time to explore subjects that your child is interested in.

Discover the Greatest Artists or Explore the World! There are so many fun and interesting subjects you can add for the summer.

There are numerous websites that your kids can find a number of classes that spark their learning and interest. Here are a few favorites: Skillshare, Art Hub for Kids, and Google Arts and Culture. For more ideas check out 10 Online Learning Sites to Make You Smarter.

Things to do for Summer—Books, Books, and More Books

This is my favorite way to handle summer. Adding books for the kids to read. This summer they are doing 5 book reports. Yes, this totally makes me a mean mom. Any other moms with me?

Here’s the plan. They picked 5 books. I got final approval, but they picked the books that interested them. I was only going to veto a book if I thought it was too easy. Otherwise they are free to choose any book to read and then write on. I also want them to enjoy reading and be confident that they can learn anything from reading.

The purpose is to really focus on reading comprehension. This was really inspired by a Jordan Petersen video regarding The Best Way to Learn Critical Thinking.

The books reports are just for the older kids, but the first grader will still be reading this summer. Instead of book reports, he will do narration to see that he is comprehending the material.

Things to do for Summer—Book Lists by Grade

Here are some ideas for books to read over the summer

High Schooler

• The Sable Quean: A Tale from Redwall By Brian Jacques
• The High Rhulain (Redwall Book 18)
• The Rogue Crew: A Tale from Redwall
• The Book of Lost Tales Part 1 and Part 2 By J.R.R. Tolkien
• Rangers Apprentice Series by John Flanagan
• The Royal Ranger Series by John Flanagan
• Path of the Ranger Series by Pedro Urvi
• Anne of Green Gables Series by L. M. Montgomery
• The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein
• The Best of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton

Middle Schooler

• Order 66 By Karen Traviss
• Pixar Storytelling by Dean Movshovitz
• Inspiring Entrepreneurs By Connor Boyack
• The Man Who Created Narnia by Michael Coren
• Star Wars: An Imperial Commando Novel, 501st By Karen Traviss
• Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales by Nathan Hale
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• Kingdom Series by Chuck Black
• Redwall: The Graphic Novel by Brian Jacques
• Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leininger Craven

Upper Elementary

• Nancy Drew By Carolyn Keene
• Live From Brentwood High By Judy Baer
• When Calls the Heart By Janette Oke
• The Boxcar Children Series by Gertrude Chandler
• Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
• Adventures in Odyssey: The Imagination Station Series
• A-Z Mysteries by Ron Roy
• Superfudge by Judy Blume
• From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Lower Elementary

• Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
• Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant
• The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
• Pete the Cat by James Dean
• George and Martha Two Great Friends by James Marshall
• Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
• One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey
• Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire
• Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

Mom’s Reading List

Yes, I have a reading list. There are more books on it, but I will give my top 5, going to read this summer, books. Check out more reading recommendations for mom.

• Midnight Library By Matt Haig
• Firefly Lane By Kristin Hannah
• The Exodus By Leon Uris
• Miss Marple: The Compete Short Story Collection by Agatha Christie
• Zion Covenant Series by Bodie and Brock Thoene
• Zion Chronicles Series by Bodie and Brock Thoene
• At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

Stories Brought to Life

If you prefer audio books or want to get your kids off screens. Then these Radio Theater show will do the trick.

• Chronicles of Narnia
• At Home in Mitford
• The Legend of Squanto
• The Secret Garden
• Ben Hur
• Anne of Green Gables

Conclusion

There is no mommy guilt with whatever you decide. If you want to do nothing this summer then do it. I look forward to summer break as much as the kids do. You really need to take a break if you are feeling brunt out. Use this time to recover and get ready for next year. Your kids are probably just as burnt out as you are.

But if you are seeing some areas that would benefit from extra help, then use this time to hyper-focus on these specific areas.

Whatever you decide to do, be sure to make time for fun for the whole family. There are so many things to do for summer, enjoy it!

What are your plans for summer?