How do you celebrate the first day of homeschool? - Page 2

[onandon]

I'm loving all of the ideas. We'll be in Maine visiting family soon so I think maybe we'll get to LL Bean and buy a back pack or a new pair of shoes for fall. I love all of the school supplies so I'll probably pick up some special ones. I was trying to decide whether to start during our summer vacation (when CA public school starts) or when we return. Since I grew up in Maine I don't think school should start in Summer, but one of our key reasons to homeschool is so we can travel on our own schedule. Keep the ideas coming!

[mommajb]

I like the Labor Day idea. Dh is a professor and the college always starts classes on Labor Day so that works for us. As a double bonus it is as late as possible this year.

My second oldest started ps in February (other 4 are still at home) and she received a couple schultuete in the mail as we used to live/have friends in Munich. The tradition is alive and well!

Not all the kids took a break this summer but it will be fun to kick things into high gear again. I think turning it inot a celebration wil help us all.

[Princess ConsuelaB]

We never really stop anymore, it's become a lifestyle rather than a schedule by now; but we still do have an "official" first day, it's the same as our district ps first day. We get up(whenever we're ready to get up) and get dressed, I have lunch packed in the girls lunch boxes(usually the only time they are ever used, but it's a ritual and one that makes them feel like they don't miss out ) We pack up our books/materials which usually includes some new goodies(art supplies, pencils, books and fun little things) and head out the door pausing to take a first day picture. Then we walk to the park and spend all day there have lunch in the park, play, do some light school work in the fresh air and introduce our new material....but mostly play We'll take a nature walk too with the girls sketching in their nature journals...they love that part.

Even now, when we no longer really order ourselves by the "school" year it's a tradition that helps refresh us. It feels special for one thing, I remember always loving that "back-to-school" time with school supply shopping(my favorite part...still is) and new outfits and walking to school that first morning....since my girls mostly only envy ps kids silly things like lunchboxes and recess they still get those things this way and having a ritual gives us a psychological reboot what with the first day "excitement"....keeps us from getting burnt out on routine.

Plus the girls just love being reminded of the fact that they are free to be in the park all day while their ps friends are "stuck" in school for 6 hours

[zebrachick83]

great thread!!!! i love back to school time too and i missed it when i was being hsed myself. it's a great idea to keep that part of the school year for our LOs!!!!

[LionTigerBear]

Princess Consuela, I LOVE your tradition! : I think we'll do that with the Schultuete, too. The kids are actually part German (from DH, not me) so that works perfectly. Now, traditionally, is Schultuete done every year or just for Kindergarteners?

[Mila Ayers]

This is my 7th year to homeschool.  I now have a 10th, 8th, and 6th grader and we all LOVE the first day of school!!!   First thing, is my husband either takes the day off work or goes in later and we start out with reading the Bible, having a time of prayer together for the school year.  We also talk about the expectations, rules, etc.    I wrap their books and school supplies as presents to open!!!  They love opening presents - even if they are school books - lol!!  I try to get them some type of fun school supplies like maybe a favorite type of pencil that I wouldn't normally buy, etc.  We then do something FUN!!!  Things we have done in the past are go miniature golfing, field trip to a local museum, field trip to the zoo, picnic at the park, etc.  We usually start on a Monday or Tuesday - so we have the rest of the week to get into our daily schedule  - but the first day - is a day of memories.  And now, with so many years behind us, it is a treasure to listen as the kids share memories of the past "first days of school." 

[MommaCrystal]

Daddy and Grandma take the day off from work and join us in everything we do!

First off, breakfast at a restaurant.  This is pretty much the only time in the entire year that we do this.  Next, traditional first day of school photos by the front door.  After that, some school work.  Finally, a field trip.

We do go supplies shopping ahead of time.  And I do let them pick out a new shirt at the store as well.  This year we'll get some new shoes too, because we need them.

Lot's of fun!

Something else we do - on the first day of school for our school district we take off to the beach.  We drive by the school and wave to it on our way out.  Ok - I'm a former school teacher and I admit, I revel in the idea of not being tied to the rules and schedule of the schools.  SO this last part is probably all about me! LOL!

[zebra15]

We dont have an official 1st day of school.  School happens in 'waves' around here.  3-4 months on, a couple months off.  DS is starting again after, actually just a few weeks off, but a few months of a lighter load.  We did some shopping for office supplies (he refuses to call them school supplies).  My child has an obsession with post it notes and post it flags!

The biggest thing is planning what classes he wants to take online.

FTR *I* dont like to start school until after Labor Day, but thats just me and when was the last time my opinion counted  LOL

[xnwife]

The big sell for learning at home was that DS1 could wear his pajamas. So I bought him new PJs and I will take a picture of him on the first day of school in his new school pajamas.

[cameragirl]

I think we'll take DD to the lake and maybe for an ice cream to celebrate. We'll likely be starting in the next week or two.