Dear Cottonwood Families,
We’re halfway through June, and summer is stretching out in all its sun-drenched, slow-paced glory. If you’re anything like me, you may find yourself caught between savoring the freedom and wondering whether your kids are “doing enough.”
Let me reassure you: learning is absolutely happening, even when it doesn’t look like school.
Whether you’ve planned a light academic schedule or you’re letting the days lead the way, here are a few simple ideas to gently weave learning into your summer rhythm:
Keep it low-pressure with short, meaningful lessons. Think reading aloud in a hammock, journaling after a trip, or tackling one math page before heading to the park.
Not sure where to begin? A great story can be the foundation for rich, meaningful learning. Here are a few read-alouds that spark imagination and connection across different ages:
- The Hundred Dresses or Charlotte’s Web for younger kids
- The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street or Because of Winn-Dixie for middle grades
- The Giver or I Will Always Write Back for teens
Choose one as a family and build on it with a journal entry, a nature walk inspired by a scene, or a discussion over lemonade.
Try a family project like building a birdhouse, planning a picnic, or planting something small. These hands-on experiences build confidence, responsibility, and connection.
Make outings count—a visit to the zoo, museum, or historical site can spark weeks of questions and curiosity. Let your child guide the exploration and see where it leads.
And if you’re looking for a little more structure, try a simple, student-led unit study. Pick a topic your child is curious about and explore it together through books, outings, and hands-on learning:
- Ocean Life – Visit an aquarium, build a paper coral reef, or read up on sea creatures.
- Insects & Pollinators – Go on a bug hunt, observe bees in your backyard, or draw different species.
- California History – Visit a mission or Gold Rush site and keep a travel journal.
- Kitchen Chemistry – Bake something together, talk about chemical reactions, or make ice cream in a bag.
Summer schooling doesn’t need a rigid plan; it just needs presence, curiosity, and a willingness to see the learning in everyday moments.
Stay tuned for our next edition, when we’ll celebrate the wide-open freedom that homeschoolers enjoy and explore how to harness that freedom for deeper learning, creativity, and joy.
Kindly,
Kara