First Day Of School Activities for Homeschoolers

The first day of school is a milestone for children and parents alike, but what if your child isn’t attending an in-person school? This post will share ideas for celebrating the first day of homeschooling, including planning your year with lessons and activities. The first day of school activities are just as important for homeschoolers as they are for other kids!

First Day of School Pictures

First, take pictures of yourself and your kids on the first day of school. While this may seem like a no-brainer, it’s easy to forget about snapping a few shots of the big moment—especially when you’re busy setting up and introducing your kids to their new lessons and routine.

Next, take pictures of your classroom. This is also vital for creating a visual record for you later down the road when you want to reflect on how much things have changed since then (and believe me: they will). Take at least one shot from each angle in the room so that if any changes are made, like adding more chairs or desks, you can reflect back with nostalgia on how it used to look!

Finally, get some good shots of all those fun activities that accompany starting new classes! Whether it involves putting together puzzles together or just hanging out around the house together playing games while getting ready, these are all memories worth preserving forever!

Games

Games can be played in various ways, from solo to group play. They can reinforce concepts already taught and even help kids learn new concepts or skills. Games make learning fun for kids, meaning they are more likely to remember and retain what they have learned. Some free learning games you can weave into your day between lessons can be found on ABCya and Education.com. You can also weave in playing educational board games and card games with your learners. By doing so, your child will have a better time at school!

Introduction to the Year

I like to start the first day of school with a short introduction to what we will be learning and how. This can be a review for previous years or stand-alone if you start from scratch as a new homeschooler this year. As you discuss your expectations for the year, share some rules (like no Minecraft until school is done). If you take video lessons, the video teacher will probably introduce themselves at this point as well. Don’t be afraid to change your routine. What you planned out and thought might work for your school program this year might not work. I planned our homeschool year all summer long. Working on the “perfect schedule” that would incorporate important video-based lessons, games, fun, and essential learning. However, by day three, I threw it out! It didn’t work for us. So, that night I got one that did. We now use a game “game-based” Minecraft homeschool schedule. You can download a prefilled schedule for second grade and a blank one to fill in your own routine below. But basically, we play the Minecraft levels during our homeschool days. We move pieces up the levels when we get the tasks finished. When we reach the Minecraft portal or treasure chest, we are done with homeschooling for the day! Honestly, it was a simple tweak for our homeschool, but it keeps it fun!

Keep It Fun

Whether you’re new to homeschooling or just looking to shake things up, there’s no time like the first day of school to get acquainted with your kids’ interests.

As a parent, it can be easy to fall into a routine of schoolwork-schoolwork-playtime-bedtime. If a child is struggling with an area you’d like them to improve in (or if they’re the kind who gets bored easily), consider giving them some extra time at home with their favorite activity: art classes, music lessons, or even video games. It doesn’t need to be complicated—just make sure it fits your schedule, and everyone feels comfortable doing it! These activities act like a reward and motivator for kids.

Start How You Want to Go

The first day of school is the most important day because it sets the tone for your year. If you start with a good attitude and positive mindset, it will be much easier to keep that up throughout your homeschooling journey.

One thing I wanted to change was our reading time from 20 minutes to 22 minutes a day. We keep track of reading time with a timer bookmark! Small shifts like this are best done at the beginning of the year when the changes are accepted as part of entering a new grade.

Another thing I wanted to add was five minutes of active learning after each video lesson. This will help reinforce what they learned during their lesson and give them another chance to answer any questions that might come up during the videos.

Set up a Classroom Space

Ideally, you’ll already have your classroom set up for the first day of school. But even if you don’t, creating a nice space can help lessen the anxiety and provide an encouraging environment for your child on her first day of school. Here are some things to consider:

• Decorate the room with seasonal decorations and pictures from previous years. This helps students feel more at home in their new environment and familiarizes them with what’s coming up next. You can also use the artwork from the previous year or fun stuffed animals.
• Organize the bookshelf with books that correlate to each subject area (like math textbooks, writing materials, etc.). This makes it easy for students to access resources when they need them during class time or homework time later in the evening.
• Clean off desks so that they are ready for use right away!

There Are So Many Ways to Celebrate the First Day of School for Homeschoolers

• Celebrate with a party.
• Celebrate with a special lunch.
• Celebrate with special snacks and drinks.

There are so many ways to celebrate the first day of school for homeschoolers. You can use these ideas as inspiration or create your own activities to engage your kids in their learning. Most importantly, you have fun together and keep it positive!

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