Starting School ~ those first days …

Many moms around the world worry about the first days of school.  Homeschool moms worry about starting homeschool too, and new homeschool moms worry even more.

May I offer some gentle advice?

• Just start slowly.

• Don’t try do the complete schedule.

• Ease into your schooling.

• Go gently.

Just remember that the professional teachers spend much of their first weeks of school doing orientation; they hand out new books, explain note-taking, give an overview.  They don’t jump straight in with the full program.

Here’s some tips that I still use after all these years:

Set up your school area the night before:

I like to do this as a surprise for the kids!

• Put tables, stationary and books/workboxes/or files in order.
• Write a welcome note on the whiteboard or prayerfully write to each child and place a personal note on each child’s place.
• Arrange the CD and music player ready with your song or praise and worship for circle time.
• Get into a simple “Early to bed & early to rise” routine.  Chat and pray with each child before bedtime.

On your first day:

• Wake half an hour earlier than the family, make yourself a cup of tea, have your quiet time and pray.  Commit your plans to the Lord and surrender all to Him.
• Gently wake the kids and get them into their morning routine and chores.  (I like to have a “test-run” a day before school and start the school morning routine a day earlier than the actual day.)
• Have a simple but nutritious breakfast, or go ahead and make it something special!
• At the agreed starting time, start school.
• I like to start each year in a circle or on the couches.  Start with a chat about the year, the themes, some planned highlights and goals.  Let the kids talk about what they expect, what they are afraid of, what they look forward to. Ask them to use one word descriptions to express the qualities they want to see from their mom/ teacher and of themselves. (We wrote all these words on a page and stuck it on the board.)
• Then pray about all these things.
• Sing and learn a memory verse for the week.  Make it fun!  Chose something really simple and easy.
• Now chose what you will do the first week.  Please don’t try do a full curriculum or timetable.  Either just do some basics – 3Rs (Maths, Reading and Handwriting) or just do your Core (History, Literature study)for the first week.  Tell them that next week you’ll add the rest of the subjects, but this week they must just do their very best with the easy schedule.  (They may beg you to do it all!  If they seem relaxed and the work done was excellent, then, by all means, do your full plan.)  If things are really awful and stressed, just cuddle and read together
• Try have a lovely tea break with some healthy snacks.
• Include some fun & games in between lessons if they get fidgety.

Make these precious moments matter:

• Take some “First Day” photos of each child.
• Prepare a special breakfast.
• Ask Dad to give a “Welcome To School” speech. (My hubby is our homeschool “Principal”!)
• Give each child a small gift – some stationary/ stickers/ new hair accessories for their first day.

I trust this encourages you.

Blessings as you plunge in, Nadene

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