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We all see it – everywhere. Facebook feeds are filled with first day of school pictures. Staples and Office Max’s flyers are loaded with sales. Department Stores are loaded with new, fun, colorful clothing. You can’t escape it. During August, the world screams BACK TO SCHOOL!
“Not Going Back to School” Celebrations
When my daughter was little, before we “officially” were school age, we had a special back to school breakfast outing at (then) her favorite place in the world, IHOP, where she could get pancakes with all the toppings she wanted!
When she got a little bit older, and we had a circle of homeschooling friends, we celebrated in the park with a picnic lunch and play! We called it, “We have our park back again day”!
As she climbed up the years in elementary school, we recognized the first day “back to homeschooling”, with an organized fun afternoon of roller skating or ice skating with friends at a local rink.
And during middle school, we celebrated in two ways…. First, yes, we braved the “school supply” shopping crowds and I actually allowed her to get some new “supplies” that she would use for various classes and co-ops as well as a “back-to-school” celebration via these same co-ops, which always involved home baked goods and great conversation.
Celebrate and Create Memories
Some families school “year-round” so it is hard to say “when” the official first day of the year is – with this said, I would pick out the first day that your local kids go back to school. Take a family picture. Take individual pictures. Have them hold up signs with their age and the homeschooling year (2018 – 2019). Make a production out of it. Celebrate. Have fun! Create memories!
Although our kids might not realize it yet, having some sort of tradition to mark the beginning is so very important to their development. It will create that memory that will give them the warm fuzzies about homeschooling.
Eva Goldstein-Meola is not only co-founder of Open Tent Academy, but an instructor as well as a former homeschooling mother. She has lived in New Jersey, Florida, Western Massachusetts, Northern Virginia and now resides just outside of Jerusalem. Eva holds a Master’s Degree as a Consulting Teacher of Reading and Writing, IEW certification and a Bachelor’s Degree as an Elementary Teacher. She has also been involved in education since 1986 as a Private Tutor, Teacher, Reading Specialist, Homeschooling Mother, Homeschooling Teacher and Business Owner of an Online Education Consortium.
In addition to teaching, Eva enjoys cooking, baking, playing Settlers of Catan, traveling with her husband Jonathan, Broadway Musicals and reading. Eva teaches a variety of literature and IEW writing courses for Open Tent Academy.
Some other articles by Eva:
Homeschool – In Less Than Four Hours a Day
Gap Year – Gaining Experience Before Higher Education
OTA – Helping You Homeschool Better
A Novel Idea – Teaching With Literature
Top Reasons to LOVE Online Learning
Top Ten Reasons for Learning a Foreign Language
Morning Routines: A Necessary Evil
It’s Never Too Early To Think About Summer Programs
Ten Ways To Improve Your Child’s Reading Skills
