Homeschooling Chronicles - Snow Days

This year, the country has been besieged by angry, Old Man Winter. His fierce temper has blanketed most of the nation in heavy, white snow. While school children have enjoyed the treat of snow days, many adults have long since ceased to view the snow as a novelty.

On one of these many snow days, I went sledding with my children. We enjoyed the exercise and being outdoors in the crisp air.  It was a nice alternative to our inactivity inside of the house.  One of my neighbors asked if we were taking the day off.  I quickly answered, “No, we’re taking a break, but we still have to do several assignments.”

She shrugged, but I was left pondering if we did actually have to do the assignments. This is the age-old question homeschoolers face. How do I handle situations like this? Do I follow the local school calendar? Do I take a day off and add one on at the end?  As I try to figure out the right course, I have often been plagued by questions like these. As a general rule, I want to continue our school lessons for a variety of reasons. Mainly, I have found that disruption usually leads to more disruption. Inevitably, I am bombarded with excuses as to why we should wait one more day to resume our studies. Once we are off of our regular schedule, resuming it becomes more difficult. 

On past snow days, I have continued with our study schedule, allowing for a break in the morning and afternoon.  These breaks are a usual part of our routine. But, when there is something exciting like snow, I increase their duration. Where I live, snow is rare. Therefore, I indulge my children by allowing them extra break time to play outside.  They get exercise, and I get a respite and a chance to catch up with housework. 

However, I’m not just being just a nice person by giving them time to play in the snow. I slip in curriculum requirements with a sly sleight of hand.  I have asked them to measure snow drifts, test the temperature of snow, and chart snow depths. I have also asked them to incorporate a physics activity by having them build a snow fort, and analyze its construction. We’ve even clocked how fast we can run on packed snow, versus loose snow.

The balance I've achieved between school work and merriment may not totally assuage my guilt, but I feel content.  I watch my children dress in snow suits, wooly hats, and gloves, and venture out to traipse around in the fresh morning air. Then they come into the warm house to sip a special treat, hot chocolate. At this point, they are ready to focus on their lessons until afternoon. Then they don their dry winter clothes and return outside for new adventures.  Snow days can sometimes be the best kind of day.  It reminds homeschooling parents that there is a lesson in everything, even playing in the snow.