Why We Don’t Follow a Traditional School Calendar

One of my favorite things about homeschooling?

We aren’t tied to the traditional school calendar.

When we first started, I felt like we had to match the public school schedule — start in August, take summers off, and follow the same breaks. But the longer we’ve been homeschooling, the more I realized: we don’t have to do it that way.

We homeschool year-round, and take breaks when our family needs them. Sometimes that’s a week in the spring to garden and plant. Other times it’s a long weekend for a family trip, or a break in the middle of winter when everyone’s energy is low. Or even a random day during the week, when the errands need to get done.

Why it works for us:

• Flexibility. Life happens — and I love being able to shift our days without “falling behind.”

• Less burnout. We never feel like we’re sprinting to the end of the year just to crash in the summer.

• More real-life learning. Everyday activities become part of school — cooking, gardening, caring for animals — all count as lessons.

We still hit our learning goals, but the pace feels more natural. I’m not rushing to check boxes just because the calendar says so.

If you’re new to homeschooling or just feeling burned out by the traditional schedule, give yourself permission to do what works for your family. That’s one of the biggest freedoms homeschooling gives us — our school, our rules.

What’s your homeschool calendar like? Do you stick to the traditional schedule, or do your own thing? Check out our instagram, to drop your schedule!!