5 Tips for an Amazing Back-to-(Home)School

Getting back into the swing of a new homeschool year can be an adjustment for the teaching parent and kids alike. Try these tips for a fantastic first day of school!

1. Start a first-day-of-school tradition

The first day of school for kids in public or private school is usually a big deal. If homeschooling families aren’t careful, we can lose that excitement and allow the school routine to become something that we slide back into each fall.

Make the first day of school exciting for your kids with a fun back-to-school tradition.

If you’re short on ideas, try one of these:

• Have a special back-to-school breakfast at home or at your favorite restaurant. Chocolate chip pancakes, anyone?
• Make first-day-of-school photos. Include simple props, such as a small chalkboard marked with the date and your child’s age and grade level. These photos will make a priceless keepsake for parents and grandparents.
• Take a first day field trip.
• Make commemorative shirts. I know of one family who makes tie-dyed shirts on the first day of every school year.

2. Don’t start everything at once

We homeschooling parents have a tendency to want to jump into the new school year with great enthusiasm. Too much too soon can quickly lead to burnout, however. Our family likes to ease into each new school year. We typically start with several core subjects and at least one fun one (think: art, music, or drama).

Each week, we add a new subject or two until we’re at a full course load.

This is especially helpful for year round homeschooling families since many of our kids’ friends are still on break when we start. A lighter schedule during the first few weeks means we still have time to hang out with friends. By the time we’re back to a full load, most of our friends are back to school as well.

3. Make it a point to get outside

For most of us, there are still several weeks of gorgeous weather after school starts. Don’t keep yourself and your kids cooped up inside! Get outside for a nature walk and start a nature journal. Spread a blanket in the backyard for a picnic lunch and read-aloud time. Take those potentially messy science labs outside. Do a unit on astronomy for science and give yourselves an excuse to spend some time stargazing.

Plan some play dates with friends at the local playground or pool. Even homeschooled kids need recess with their friends!

4. Get your kids in on the planning

Help your kids develop a vested interest in their education by getting them involved in the planning. Find out what topics they’d like to learn more about and what places they’d like to visit for field trips. Discover what hobbies they’d like to pursue and look for ways to incorporate those ideas into your school day as part of their homeschool electives or extracurricular activities.

Ask for your kids’ input on the curriculum you’re using. Sure, they’ve got to learn reading, writing, and math, but how they learn those subjects can provide space for their personal learning preferences. Some kids may prefer hands-on learning opportunities, while others prefer workbooks.

5. Don’t forget the traditional back-to-school fun

Sure your kids may like to do school in their PJ’s, but that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy picking out new clothes. Take your kids back-to-school shopping for a new outfit, a fun lunchbox, or a cool backpack. My kids used to love to take their lunchboxes to the park for play dates and backpacks can be handy for keeping up with each child's schoolbooks and supplies.

The school supplies are on sale, so you might as well stock up. Let your kids pick out a fun binder or stock a basket with new school supplies and a fun surprise to brighten up the school table for the first day.

It is such a privilege to be able to school our kids at home. Let's don't lose sight of that in the busyness of getting back to routine. Try a few of these tips to make the first day of school a memorable one!

About Author: Noah Hanson is a freelance writer and content marketing manager at EssayPromo.codes website. Noah is a graduate of Ringgold High School. He has taken courses at Dalton College and Chattanooga State Technical Community College. He has attended a variety of homeschool seminars and workshops.