 "School" is over for those of us who do not homeschool year-round. But LEARNING never stops.
But get ready because kids are going to say, "There's nothing to do!" Here are a few things that summers are perfect for:
Reading - You will find that many kids who do not like to read are struggling readers. This is all the more reason that they need to read consistently throughout the summer. Reading isn't a "school subject" but it's a skill for life. And it can be fun. Even some good readers don't always like to read, but they should still do it. Reading is great way to build a knowledge bank. This will make writing much easier later on Nothing in; nothing out. Music - Teach your children to be producers and not merely consumers. There are so many studies out there proving the multiple benefits for those who work at mastering an instrument. Maybe they don't want to play the piano, but they might try somethig else. A guitar? a flute? the harp? Swimming, hiking, sewing - Physical activites are a good idea for everyone. These are just some possibilities. There are also sports, dance, horseback riding, fencing....the list is endless. Writing - Many children love to write imaginative stories. Give them some tools and let them go! Give them some colorful pens and paper. Show them how to bind their story into a book. Or learn to type, add graphics, and print out the story. Share with the family. There are so many kinds of writing. If they don't like to write stories, have them write something - a journal, a joke, a recipe, a clue, advice, etc... Visit a museum - Curators work really hard to put together engaging exhibits. The whole family can learn interesting things if you slow down and spend time reading the plaques and really observing the exhibits. I think our museums are one of America's strengths. Bible study - What's more important than studying the Bible? NOTHING. Summer is a fine time to dig in. If your kids do this alone, be sure to have a time of sharing and conversation about what they are learning and what questions they may have. Volunteering - Just about anywhere you look there are needs. What can your FAMILY do together? These are just a few of my suggestions. I could write a book. Do you think I should write a book? LOL.  As homeschoolers, we are perfectly leveraged to customize our children's education. The sooner you break out of the government school mindset, the better. Your schedule is what you make it. Your curriculum is what you choose. Your pace is what you decide. It's called FREEDOM!
This means that you do not have to follow a traditional path. For example, you might desire for your children to study four years of high school English, but that doesn't have to consist of American Literature or British Literature. or our College Prep Writing class. Although they are worthwhile studies, and The Inspired Scholar does offer those, you could also fulfill a high school English credit with our Intro. to Linguistics class, which we will be offering this fall 2026-2027. The Inspired Scholar is an unapologetically Christian organization. We have not minimized or whitewashed our lessons to reach a broader audience or for fear of offending. A true education must include God, the God of the Bible. This means that our instruction teaches through the lens of the Word of God. As Christians, we know that mankind did not develop from apes nor were they un-evolved cave men who could only grunt. God made Adam fully formed with intelligence and speech. The Bible also explains where all the languages came from. Our Intro. to Linguistics class will teach about language through science and the Bible. A sampling of the fun topics we will explore:
 One of the wittiest persons ever to have lived is unquestionably, Mark Twain. It takes great powers of observation and skill with words to be witty. But if you do not understand satire, you might not appreciate his brand of humor. Satire is the poking fun of human weaknesses and foibles. It helps people to see themselves a bit more objectively. The glitch, however, is that some people mistakenly believe that the author doesn't regard problems seriously, or even worse, that the author agrees with some negative aspect of human behavior.
This is what we are up against with The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The objection for some to this book is the use of the 'n' word. It is unfortunate that this issue has overclouded the big picture. Readers must always look beyond to the message of the book as a whole. Those who have read this book and Twain's other writings know that he is not encouraging a derogatory attitude toward black people, but just the opposite. As a matter of fact, the most important message of the book is about how Huck struggles with doing what is right in the eys of the law vs. doing what is morally right. Heroically, he chooses to do morally right by helping Jim to his freedom. So why on earth would Twain use the volatile 'n' word in his book? It isn't as if he sat down one day and thought, "I think I'll write a book that insults black people and makes everyone mad. And if I am really lucky my book will make it to the list of banned books." He was writing a book that was set in a particular time and place. The 'n' word was part of the culture and it was a way for Twain to satirize, or to bring to light, the ugliness of the treatment of black people. It would be like trying to stage a play of The Scarlet Pimpernel but not using a guillotine as a prop, because it killed people. The guillotine was a major factor and part of the setting of the French Revolution! It is no secret that good writers write about what they know. Twain lived during the Civil War and afterwards. His father kept slaves. Note, that it was his father that kept slaves, not him. In any case, he was intimately acquainted with that way of life and the attitudes of the time. He is qualified to write about it. Twain skillfully uses satire to help us to see our behavior in a non-threatening way. We must face the truth before we can change it. Yet when people feel attacked they cannot listen to the message. Humor defuses a situation. Twain't story is a most entertaining one. A person who wants to expand their mind and grow as an individual should not avoid reading Huck Finn. If the only works a person reads are those he agrees with, where is growth going to come from? It is in wrestling with contrary ideas and philosophies that sharpen a person's ability to think, to reason, and to draw his own conclusions. Is this not the mark of a truly educated person? The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an American Masterpiece that should only be shelved in your mental library.  The Inspired Scholar appreciates our military and the numerous sacrifices the whole family makes. They protect our freedom and our way of life.
America is still the best country on earth! We value life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We have the highest standard of living and opportunity. We do not live under kings or dictators, but under a Constitutional Republic with elected representation. It is not perfect, but no place has a perfect system. We do have the best there is. There is a reason people still want to come here. My father served in the Navy as a medic during the Vietnam War. He has told me many stories, mostly good ones and some funny ones. I don't think he could bear to relive or recount to me the bad ones he lived with. He once told me that he could not visit the Vietnam Memorial in Washingrton, D.C. because he might see a name he would recognize and it would bring back bad memories. In honor of my father, who passed away in 2024, I wear this beautiful pin that commemorates 250 years of the U.S. Navy. To honor all of our military, the Inspired Scholar offers a significant discount on tuition to active-duty military. If you are not sure about what the discount is, just ask! Email: [email protected]  The arrival (or intrusion) of artificial intelligence into our daily awareness has us asking all kinds of questions, one of which is: Is history study needed in an age of AI?
Of course, it is, because history is more than just a bunch of random facts. A person needs context. History needs to be anchored in the big picture. It is a story, after all. In a similar manner, a map gives context, the big picture. I am not referring to the type of map you have in a GPS. When you zoom in for detail the area becomes smaller. Zoom out and you have more space, but less detail. An old-fashioned paper map helps you to see the "lay of the land." You can see where the major cities are and how they are oriented to each other. A study of history is the same. One event flows from a previous one. A study of history can answer the "whys" for us. Hopefully, we might learn from the mistakes of history as well as giving some guidance for the future. A STUDY of history causes students to think, reflect, observe, and question. A quick AI answer does none of that. Furthermore, an AI answer is someone's interpretation of a historical event. AI is not independent; there is a human intelligence behind it. Whose? The Inspired Scholar teaches an American History class that centers on the Civil War, and the events that shaped and changed the United States and still affects us today in many ways.  God is love. (I John 4:8)
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Last night I had the privilege to drive down to Buchanan, VA for a presentation on the artist Edward Beyer by the Botetourt County Historical Society. It was quite well-attended. On the left is one of his pictures of the Natural Bridge in Virginia. Displayed were prints from his "Album of Virginia" (see picture on the right) and the Natural Bridge is one of many. Unfortunately, the colors here look washed out, but it is not really like that. The colors are much more vibrant.
Edward Beyer was born in Germany in 1820 but spent a few years in Virginia depicting in his paintings the Antebellum South. He was a graduate of the Dusseldorf Academy of Art. Virginians would recognize many of the places he painted, but one of the things I found intriguing was his paintings are like a snapshot of Virginia life then (1856-1857) of places that are familiar to us today and yet not.
It is so easy to give your kids an education in art. This event was free and I went home with a book about Beyer and his paintings (of course!) Have a conversation with the others present. Have a conversation with your children about what they learned or what stood out to them. By talking to someone who happened to be on the board of the historical society, I learned that the original painting they had on display had been restored (and rescued) because of a flood back in the '80s. I had commented on how well-preserved the painting was considering its age and that is when I learned that it was indeed well-preserved as it had been through water up to the ceiling!
This little outing could be extended by having your children learn more about where the artist got his training and this particular style of very detailed art. Maybe your children could imitate his style?
Why does it matter? Are your kids going to be an artist? Maybe not. But kids need knowledge of the world and this is one interesting way to do it. They need to make connections which only happens with lots of experiences, reading, and interactions with people and places. Foster their curiosity.
In addition, we spent some time traipsing over the historical swinging bridge spanning the James River. There is history behind this bridge, but that's for another day!
Edward Beyer was born in Germany in 1820 but spent a few years in Virginia depicting in his paintings the Antebellum South. He was a graduate of the Dusseldorf Academy of Art. Virginians would recognize many of the places he painted, but one of the things I found intriguing was his paintings are like a snapshot of Virginia life then (1856-1857) of places that are familiar to us today and yet not.
It is so easy to give your kids an education in art. This event was free and I went home with a book about Beyer and his paintings (of course!) Have a conversation with the others present. Have a conversation with your children about what they learned or what stood out to them. By talking to someone who happened to be on the board of the historical society, I learned that the original painting they had on display had been restored (and rescued) because of a flood back in the '80s. I had commented on how well-preserved the painting was considering its age and that is when I learned that it was indeed well-preserved as it had been through water up to the ceiling!
This little outing could be extended by having your children learn more about where the artist got his training and this particular style of very detailed art. Maybe your children could imitate his style?
Why does it matter? Are your kids going to be an artist? Maybe not. But kids need knowledge of the world and this is one interesting way to do it. They need to make connections which only happens with lots of experiences, reading, and interactions with people and places. Foster their curiosity.
In addition, we spent some time traipsing over the historical swinging bridge spanning the James River. There is history behind this bridge, but that's for another day!
Renee Metcalf
Where will you find me when I am not teaching?
Dancing
Hiking
Sewing
Reading
Writing
Thinking (uh oh)
Dreaming (uh oh again)
Learning
Traveling
Attending a ballet or play
Enjoying tea and treats
Playing with Donahue, the dark Irish warrior (also known, as kitty).
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