Homemade Summer School

The Vermont landscape in Summer, near Mrs. White's Home.

The school year has ended for the season. Many of the grandchildren are here visiting. I enjoy having them for entire days at a time, during the summer months.  We need a routine and a plan to keep things running smoothly here at our humble Vermont Estate.  If children are idle and bored, they get into trouble.  

We spend the morning doing a little baking. One of the children always helps me in the kitchen while the others are drawing and coloring at the table.  In the kitchen, we gather ingredients and preheat the oven. We divide up the recipe and we each get an area at the counter to measure and stir. Then we combine the ingredients at just the right time.  Once it goes into the oven, we join the others at the table to do projects while we wait for our morning treat.

We read and color and draw pictures. We play board games like Scrabble, Boggle, and Battleship.  These all require thinking and analyzing. The children are learning great skills as they play games at Grandmother's house. 

When the snack is ready, we clear the table of games and papers. Then we set out the napkins, cups, plates, and silverware. Everyone has their own special seat. Everyone knows where they are to sit so there is no arguing or fighting.  I ask my helper to ring the little dinner bell we keep on the hutch. Then we go to our seats and happily settle in for prayers and eating.

The table is cleared once again and we get out some school books. We have spelling words, math drills, and write sentences and stories.  Then I check their work and they fix any errors. They do handwriting practice and do some drawing.  They solve problems on math worksheets while taking little breaks to sharpen pencils. They get scrap paper to write out all their work so I am able to see how they came to their solutions.  While all this is going on, the youngest is talking, playing, and laughing. We stop to talk to each other and help those who have questions. Then we pack up the books and put them all away. The school work is finished for the day. 

It is time to go outdoors. We have a large playground with slides and swings. This has been on our property for many years. My own children played on it when they were younger. Now all the grandchildren get to enjoy the fun. We have beach balls we keep on the porch. I will say to some of the little ones, "go get the balls."  They bring them back to our play area, and they kick and toss the ball to each other. They run around the playground playing games like "Math tag" (which we made up), "Freeze tag," and do races.  (In "Math tag" the player who is "it" tags one of the players, who has to freeze.  The frozen player is asked a math question. The player is not free to run until he solves the math problem.)  The children run and swing and climb and play. Then it is time to go indoors for lunch.

A simple meal is prepared and then we rest with books or games.  Little ones rest or take a nap. It is the quiet hour.  We often watch something on DVD, such as "Red Boots for Christmas" or "Ziggy's Gift."  Then it is time for the afternoon snack.

We enjoy a little treat of ice cream, pudding, cookies, or crackers and fruit.  Then we go back outside to enjoy the freedom and the beauty of nature, quiet days of home, and being with the family. 

There are chores to do as we sweep, wash the table and highchair, and tidy up the toys. One of the children is always available to help me take clothes out of the washer and put them in the dryer. We divide up the work and happily do the jobs of homemaking.

Soon it is time to prepare dinner. More of the family arrives home and we have a big dinner all together on peaceful summer evenings.

This is an old fashioned, homemade summer school. We are grateful for the privilege of staying home and the joy of being with family.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Temporary Hardships - Rich and Humble Living.

Reality and Wisdom - Retirement Planning for the Poor.

Inspired by D.L. Moody's Mother - Poverty in the 1800's.

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Mrs. White's special book for homemakers:"Introduction to Home Economics:  Gentle Instruction to Find Joy in Christian Homemaking."

Find stories of home life, with photographs of my home, in this encouraging book. 

 Paperback, 200 pages.