Back to School Fun

July 24, 2012 by

The following is a post from contributing writer Stef.

I am a public school graduate.  I remember the many “first day of school” photos with my new backpack full of fresh supplies and clean (yet to be dented) lunch boxes.

Homeschool students do not have to miss out on the back to school excitement.  They can experience it in a different way.

Tips for Making Back to School Fun

1. Special Breakfast – I pick up a few gooey frosted donuts and chocolate milk for special morning as we discuss the new school year, curriculum, rules, and expectations.
2. New Supplies – Both boys receive a little brown lunch bag full of new markers, colored pencils, paints, stickers, etc.
3.  Decorations – Hang a few balloons and later have a balloon popping contest.
4. Banner or Sign – Go crazy with washable paint and write “1st Day of School” on your tile, or create a banner.
5. Have Fun – We have been known to pile into the car for a trip to the library and on the way drive past a school and honk the horn (once or twice).   Or we may or may not have stood in the front yard and waved at the school bus.

Advice for Mom

Be excited.  It may just be another day for you, but you set the tone. Homeschooling is a privilege not a chore.  Get creative! Do something different.  A few ideas for the first day of school include:

  • Go on a field trip
  • Wear something silly
  • Give stickers or other rewards
  • Play music
  • Pray for the year together
  • Set goals
  • Order pizza for lunch (or cook a frozen one).
  • Most importantly… smile !

How do you celebrate the 1st day of homeschool ?

More posts from Stef

About Stef

Stef is a homeschooling mom to two energetic superheroes. She believes in hands-on interest-led learning. Married to a busy traveling golf course architect, they have taken their homeschool on the road to enjoy many field trips. Stef is the Author of Educating Laytons, Conference Coordinator for The Titus 2:1 Conference, Creator of The Homeschool Village, and Homeschool Community Manager for The Happy Housewife.


This post may contain a link to an affiliate. See my disclosure policy for more information.

11 Comments

Comments

  1. Tara H says:
    July 24, 2012 at 10:41 am

    These are great ideas, Stef! I struggled with our homeschool last year (we have 5 boys ages 3-10) so this is what I needed to see to get some motivation!

    Reply
  2. Rachel says:
    July 24, 2012 at 10:50 am

    This is my first year to homeschool my 5 & 6 year old boys. We started this summer, so that we can take a break when our new little girl arrives in August. I never thought to make it special for the first day of homeschool. I think I might do that when we start again after teh baby is born. Thanks for the idea!!

    Reply
  3. Christie says:
    July 24, 2012 at 4:05 pm

    We had our first day yesterday! To make it special, I bought a movie-sized box of candy for each boy and wrapped it with a cute message. (A spin on the candy posters that are so popular on pinterest right now.) My 6th grader received a box of Junior Mints, with a hole cut out of the wrapping paper so that you could see the word “Junior”- the message read, “Have an awesome time in ‘Junior’ high!” (Couldn’t think of any candy with the word middle for middle school, but it was close enough.) My 2nd grader loves Whoppers malted milk balls, so his box read “Have a ‘Whopper’ of a time in 2nd grade!” Both were very happy to have a special treat for the first day, especially since we start earlier than many of our friends.

    Reply
    • Stef says:
      July 30, 2012 at 2:59 am

      that’s brilliant Christie – I love that idea!! I just might have to “steal” it. We start early too here in FL … it’s just too hot to do anything else!

      Reply
  4. Karie Johnson says:
    July 25, 2012 at 2:15 am

    Such great ideas! Thanks for sharing, I look forward to do some of them this year!

    Reply
  5. Emily says:
    July 26, 2012 at 7:55 pm

    We celebrate the first day of school by having a special breakfast like pancakes with chocolate chips or chocolate milk or something fun. Then we head to the yard for pictures (just like I would if they left for school). We do one of each kid separately, then all together, then with the teacher and then with the principal (daddy of course). Then we say the pledge outside and head in for school. We pray over the year and then go over our curriculum and admire all the new school supplies!!! I also print off some first day of school pages from the internet (coloring pages, word find, puzzles…). We typically go out for dinner that night to celebrate.

    Reply
  6. Kelly Thomas says:
    July 26, 2012 at 8:44 pm

    Each year I bake a simple, fun “Back to School” cake and keep it a surprise until the end of the day. I’ve done a chalkboard, a pencil, and a piece of looseleaf paper. Better start thinking about this year’s cake:-)

    Reply
    • Stef says:
      July 30, 2012 at 3:02 am

      WOW Kelly – how do you keep the cake a secret? I’d be drooling from the smell. Love the idea – a pencil, that’s so creative !!

      Reply

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