Summer Goals

My husband received this slingshot as a gift from our church a year or two ago and Monk has only recently become taken with it. He spent the last two afternoons looking for anything he could shoot out of it. Whatever it is that falls from our Sycamore tree works well, the kids have always called them "chickens". He's also been eating plums then launching the pits. He called me out earlier to show me how he can shoot these various objects over the house. I said, "That's great, Monk, but what if someone is walking by out front and you hit them?" He just looked at me blankly. Obviously he hadn't thought of that. Or hopefully he hadn't thought of it! Anyway I thought this picture appropriate for my post on summer goals. We want to aim high this summer, just like Monk with his slingshot.

Amy at Raising Arrows recently posted about homeschooling year round. That doesn't sound too fun to me (more power to her), but I do have some educational goals for the kids over the summer. I definitely don't want to waste time in the fall trying to clear the cobwebs from the kids' brains. But I also want them to have a more fun and relaxed schedule this summer. Here's what I've been thinking in terms of. I'd love your suggestions.

Monk (10)- I've often regretted introducing Monk to video games. He was 5 and we were going to a family reunion in Florida. I was concerned that I'd be busy with his younger sisters on the plane and that I needed something to help keep him occupied. So, we bought him his first Gameboy. I should have known what I was starting. I played lots of video games as a kid, and even in college I was playing computer games when I should have been studying. I remember even having a watch with a space shuttle video game built-in. My dad and I still reminisce about The Incredible Wizzard, though I can't recall which game system it was for. I'm sure my dad still has it in his attic. Anyway, the point is with my video game issues (so glad I've outgrown them :) I should have known Monk was going to get addicted. The system we use during the school year is no plug-in (tv, video games, computer, etc.) until the weekend and that time is very limited on Sunday. So, basically he has Saturdays to play video games when we're not at a swim meet or busy with something else. Last summer we just sort of let it go and it got out of hand. So this summer we're going to try something different.

1. 1 hr of reading pre-selected books earns Monk 1 hr of gaming (maximum of 2 hrs/ day).

2. This is the summer for Monk to learn to type. I thought a computer typing game might serve as adequate motivation.

3. We used Summer Bridge workbooks last summer and I was thrilled to find a Christian version of these books through BJU press. They're called Vacation Stations and I bought one for each of my homeschooled kids. They only work through 2 pages per day over a period of 10 weeks.

Twinkle Toes (9)- I don't do a very good job of helping Twinkle Toes hone her skills. The problem is she's extremely artistic and creative and well, I'm not. I'm determined that Twinkle Toes learn to crochet or knit this summer. She's left-handed so my Granny had a hard time teaching her. Maybe I can find a youtube on crocheting for lefties or something. She'll also work through her Vacation Stations workbook.

Measle (6)- Since Measle was too young for the Sonlight core we did this year I struggled with juggling her reading time with that of the older kids. I'm hopeful she'll be reading chapter books with confidence by summer's end. I've ordered several new books to encourage her in this capacity. She'll also complete two pages per day of Vacation Stations. (She's actually begging me to let her start now, so I'm having to hold her off.)

American Boy (4)- Time for the big boy to learn to swim. He spends many hours around a swimming pool and he's very excited to start swimming himself. I like to put them on the swim team at 6 so this is the summer to begin lessons. I'm also going to start working through Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons with American Boy this summer. I don't know why I started so early with Monk and not with the girls. Oh yeah, I was working full-time when the girls were 4. American Boy knows all his letters and is so stinkin' smart. I know he's ready. Every few days he reminds me, "Mom, remember you're going to teach me to read this summer?" It's very cute.

Baby Lu (18 mos.)- Dare I hope to get Miss Lu potty trained by the end of the summer? New Baby is coming the first week of October, so that would be nice.

Me- I'm gearing up to read the Bible in 90 days again starting June 1. I'll blog more about this as we get closer to summer.

Big D- I'm sure Big D would appreciate my not making any goals for him this summer. So I won't. But if I were, finishing the dollhouse would be nice. Yes, the one we gave Twinkle Toes for CHRISTMAS! My dining room/homeschool room for Monk has been turned into a workshop pending further notice. I'll have to post new update pics on the dollhouse- it now has electric lights!

Whew! What are your summer goals?