Homeschooling Resources at Your Fingertips

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Year-Round Homeschooling

by Jessica Parnell | Sep 23, 2016 | 3 min read

Perhaps no three words create such a range of emotions in homeschoolers and their parents than “back to school.” But, did you know that there are many families and countries who do school year round? And, statistics show that year-round homeschooling could be a better option for our learners and for us as teachers and parents. But homeschooling all year isn’t for everyone. If you are considering year-round homeschooling, make sure to check out these pros and cons before making your final decision.

Benefits of Year Round  Homeschooling

  1. One huge benefit of year-round homeschooling is that your kids will be smarter. Why? Because they won’t fall prey to summer learning loss. Studies show that students lose up to 30% of what they’ve learned throughout the school year by taking a summer break. Beat summer learning loss by homeschooling throughout the whole year. Be sure to ward off burn out by taking vacations, having reading-only or science-only weeks, and scheduling fun time throughout your year.
  2. Year-round homeschooling allows you to say goodbye to guilt. Because there’s no hard and fast end date, you won’t feel guilty taking that extra vacation or taking breaks for sick days or family events. Instead, you can relax when the struggles come that interrupt your day, week, or month because you’ll have plenty of time and opportunities to get back on track while your friends are rushing to be done by June.
  3. Year-round homeschooling means you get to keep your momentum and routine going without losing your rhythm. We all have at least one child who thrives on structure and routine. And, if we are honest, we all do better when we know what to expect and keep to a schedule, even if it’s a loose one. Just think how nice it would be to not have to retrain your little ones every August on how to “do school” each fall!
  4. Year-round homeschooling allows you to prioritize other needs and passions during the school week. Your athlete can pursue their dreams in their sport while staying up-to-date on their schoolwork. From sports and music to creativity, caring for a loved one, or extra-curricular activities, year-round homeschooling gives you flexibility so that your non-school passions can stay center stage. This is especially great for new homeschoolers who are learning how to homeschool or those who have children with special needs, who thrive on routine and order and need to fit in therapy and other appointments.

Drawbacks to Year Round Homeschooling

  1. The biggest drawback is burnout. Many students will tire easily, get burned out and need frequent breaks. This means you, as the homeschool parent, will have to be creative about keeping your students engaged with exciting lessons and boredom busters. You’ll also have to understand your students’ feelings to put out potential burnout fires before they start. And, you’ll inevitably hear “my friends are taking the entire summer off and I STILL have to work!” Just make sure they can take some breaks or vacations during the offseason to help them stay on board with schooling year round. And, give them some time to spend with friends too!
  2. Year round homeschooling also means you’ll have to be very aware of where your students are at any given time in their curriculum and plan ahead. If you’re flying through 6th-grade math, you’ll need to plan for what to complete next. Do you move on to 7th-grade work or take a break? Or do you add in a few fun elements, like live online classes? There will be more transitions, decisions, and curriculum planning if you choose to homeschool year round. Working with an accredited homeschool partner can easily remove this stressor as they will do the academic planning and curriculum search for you!

Whether you decide to homeschool year round or take a summer break, you have choices because of homeschooling! You’re in charge of your schedule and have the flexibility to make the educational choices that are best for your family. If you want more information about homeschooling and are looking for more support, find out about how an accredited homeschool partner can help you lay out a homeschooling plan that is tailored to your needs and ensures success.

Jessica Parnell
Hello everyone! I’m Jessica Parnell — mom, homeschool evaluator, teacher, and CEO of Bridgeway Academy. In my 20+ years of experience as a homeschool mom and evaluator, I have had the privilege of meeting homeschoolers that take a variety of approaches to their education. It is their many stories and successes that inspire me in my own homeschooling and I love to pass on the knowledge that I have gained from them to other homeschooling families. The one constant that always remains true is that there’s no such thing as a “cookie cutter child.” Each child is fearfully and wonderfully made and as a result, learns and functions differently. It’s our job to ensure that we’re raising each child to fulfill their individual purpose and when we can teach in a way that inspires them, we are on our way to homeschool success. When I’m not writing or teaching my children, I like to ski, write and participate in triathlons. I graduated from Kutztown University with a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Masters in English and I am currently pursuing a degree in Neuroleadership.
https://homeschoolacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/icon-Personalized-Education-.svg
Personalized Education Like No Other!
https://homeschoolacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/quil-icon.svg
Check Out Our Most Recent Posts