Summer Learning Program 2014

Today is our last day of school!

I spent part of this past weekend planning our summer learning program.

If you want to see how this worked in previous years, you can visit the following posts:

Summer Learning Program 2009
Summer Learning Program 2010
Summer Learning Program 2011
Summer Learning Program 2012
Summer Learning Program 2013

Now that my girls are older, I'm moving away from the themed weekly plans and structuring things a bit differently.

We have seven weeks this summer when we're not out-of-town, participating in camps, etc.  Here's what our schedule will look like for those weeks, including the resources we'll be using.  (Many of the links included in this post are affiliate links.)

• Bible (20 min.):  We're going to work through Bible workbooks from FrontLine Clubs. I have an age-appropriate workbook for each girl; they will do one section individually, then the three of us will discuss the lesson using the Family Discussion Guide.

• Bible Memory (5 min.):  I'm having our girls memorize Proverbs 31:10-31.  They should have a good start on it as they've heard me practice reciting it many times.

• Critical Thinking (15 min.)   I've ordered the following books from The Critical Thinking Co.:  Mind Benders Level 6, Balance Math and More! Level 2, and Crypto Mind Benders:  Classic Jokes.  I'll divide these up between the girls depending on the level of difficulty.

• Typing Instructor (15 min. each)  We've done a little bit with this during the school year, but need to do it on a more regular basis.

• Piano Practice (30 min. each)

• Homemaking Skills:  Ironing and Cooking.  I haven't worked much with my older daughter on ironing, so that's going to be one of her new summer chores.  I also want to get back into our rotation of having the girls alternate cooking supper one night each week; we haven't been as consistent with that lately.  Additionally, they're going to have one baking session together each week.  They'll make a recipe from scratch in one of the following categories:  Cookies, Muffins, Pies, Cakes, Brownies, and Homemade Bread. Obviously they'll be in charge of desserts this summer!

• Read Alouds:  Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls and Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose

Now that our oldest daughter is a teenager, we're beginning a new summer reading program with her.  (I believe I originally heard this idea from Dave Ramsey on his radio show.)  We're assigning her one non-fiction book to read each week.  She has to complete the book and write a one-page report on it.  (She can write it like a regular book report or in list form, i.e. "Ten Ideas I Learned from this Book" or "Ten Principles I Can Apply from this Book.")  I'm still compiling the list of books, but I'll be sure to share it as soon as I complete it.  The first book will be Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris.  As an incentive, we'll pay her five dollars for each report.

These are ambitious plans for our summer, but I'm hoping we get most of it done!

What activities are you planning for the summer?