Wondering what you should do on the first day of homeschool?
Get pumped and ready with these awesome ideas to make your back-to-homeschool first day smooth and successful!
Are you getting ready for your first day of homeschool?
Me, too! I get so excited about back-to-homeschool time of year and the first day of homeschooling each fall. I love back-to-school season so much!
Prepping for the first day of homeschool
The first day of homeschool is all about the excitement of a new grade level and the joy of learning! The first day is the time to teach the routine and create expectations. In fact, I like to call the first day of homeschool an orientation rather than a true first day of school. And there are some definite must-dos on our list for the first day.
To begin with, I don’t expect a lot of academic instruction to occur on the first day! In fact, I don’t plan traditional lessons from the textbooks at all. Instead, we plan some simple, amazingly fun back-to-homeschool activities that get us all on the same page and help our school year run smoothly.
What should you do on the first day of homeschool?
1. Make it special
We like to make the back-to-homeschool first day super special with lots of fun traditions! We start off the day with a big family breakfast complete with candles representing their new grade level stuck into their muffins or pancakes – and our first day of homeschool song. Yes, we have a song! We also take first day photos, have a big ceremony, and other super fun first day of homeschool traditions to make it special.
2. Break out the school supplies
There are so many ways to do school supplies, but the first day is the perfect time to bust them out. Try one of these ideas to make it fun!
- Gift Bags. Put each child’s school supplies into a gift bag and start the day with “first day of homeschool” presents. My kids get a kick out of this!
- Shopping Spree. A friend of mine takes her whole gang shopping on the first day of school and they pick out their own school supplies then come home and organize them.
- School Supply Scavenger Hunt. Hide the school supplies around the house then let the kids hunt to find them. Fun!
No matter how you do it, new pencils and fresh crayons get everyone in the mood for school and build excitement!
3. Tell them what they’re going to learn
Kids love to know what they’re going to be learning this year. So, give them a quick overview of what they will be covering in each subject over the course of the year. Like this, “In science this year, you’re going to be learning astronomy – which is a really awesome exploration of the planets, stars, and whole solar system!” This can be short and sweet, but it will get the kids excited about the school year.
4. Explore the books
Distribute all the textbooks and materials your child needs for each subject. If you are using a workbox system for homeschool organization, your kids can help put each book into its proper drawer. Allow them time to flip through their books. You’ll see their eyes light up as they find something interesting. Cultivate that love for books and knowledge! If your child has other materials such as audio MP3s or a computer lesson, this is a good time to talk through how those materials will be accessed as well.
>>> Check out – 100 Must-Read Class Books for Kids
5. Learn the routine
Spend a few minutes going over the routine. Explain what to do first, next, etc. Let them know where to turn in work plus how to put books and materials away. Give an overview of a typical, successful school day. Give them an estimate for lunch hour and what to expect at that time. Also discuss how they can know when they have finished for the day and school is over.
In our house, we write out the routine so it’s visual for everyone. Older kids use a checklist and the younger ones use the Workbox completion chart hanging on the side of their carts to complete work. Whatever you use, this is the time to go over it!
You can see a sample of our family’s routine in the Heading into Homeschool Workbook. It’s available for free when you purchase a copy of my book, Heading into Homeschool, and comes with a whole bunch of other homeschool planning docs and goodies. Yay!
6. Go over the rules
If you have decided to have school rules, the first day is the time to go over them! I know some homeschool families don’t have any school rules, but the teacher in me thought we definitely needed some. But we don’t just introduce them on the first day – we go over them repeatedly during the first week and every once in a while, thereafter, too. Once is’t enough!
Even if you don’t have formal school rules, this is a good time to mention any norms for the way school should function in your home. The simple dos and don’ts might be enough in your home. Like no bringing toys to class, or no texting, etc.
7. Sign a school contract
In our house, we use a simple school contract that the kids and I each sign each year. See, one of my darlings is that loophole kid that will find every single way around every rule unless it is explicitly spelled out. So, we sign a homeschool contract! It’s short and sweet but clearly outlines the way we intend to roll – and the first day is the perfect time to go over it, read it aloud, and sign it!
Remember to not only communicate your expectations of your kids, but also share your expectations for yourself as their teacher. You can see a copy of our family’s school contract in the Heading into Homeschool Workbook, too. It’s only available for free when you purchase a copy of my book, Heading into Homeschool. Lots of great planning docs in there!
8. Set school hours
If you plan to have formal school hours, let your kids know when school should begin and end. Even for young children who cannot yet tell time, you can give rough estimates such as, “School will begin each day right after we eat breakfast and brush our teeth.” Kids behave best when they know exactly what to do and when.
9. Go over procedures
Make sure you explain any homeschool procedures, too – which is just a fancy way of saying how you want to handle certain repetitive tasks. For example, you might want to teach that you immediately put away any book after using it. You might need to share login procedures for the tablet or computer or show where the turn-in basket is for completed work.
You may also need to discuss how frequently kids can have bathroom breaks or snack breaks – especially if you have one like mine that conveniently disappears to avoid doing schoolwork. Just think about any probable procedures you need in your homeschool – then talk them through!
10. Have a blast!
More than anything, we keep the first day of homeschool light and FUN! It’s a celebration of new beginnings. But if done right, your first day will set the stage for an amazing year of learning. Just be sure to intersperse the boring stuff (rules) with the fun stuff (exploring new school supplies) and throw in some exciting, new traditions, too!
Have a delightful, fun-filled first day of school and cherish these special moments with your kids!
