Back-to-School Season Survival Guide for Homeschoolers 📚

Ah, Back to School Season — when everyone else lines up for the bus and you’re still scrambling for that “official” homeschool uniform (aka yesterday’s pajamas). Fear not, brave at-home educators: Here’s your roadmap to surviving back-to-school season without losing your sanity (or your favorite mug).

PLUS…read to the end for a FUN AMAZING GIVEAWAY!!

1. Declare a “First Day of School” Ceremony… Twice

Sure, public school kids have one big photo op on Day One. But you get to enjoy it all month! Host a grand “Ceremony of Fresh Notebooks” the first Monday of September, then an encore on the 15th when everyone’s settled. Bonus: More chances for Pinterest-worthy crafts. ✂️

2. Embrace the Art of Strategic Bribery

Nothing says “learning opportunity” like the promise of pizza math night. 🍕 Calculate fractions with pepperoni slices (“Three out of eight slices? You’ve earned two extra marshmallows!”) and watch those reluctant learners transform into fraction fanatics. Just don’t let Dad in on the marshmallow trick.

3. Rethink “School Uniform”

Khakis and polos? Pfft. Real homeschoolers rock the “Professional Hoodie” or “Socks-with-Sandals” look. Bonus tip: Match your coffee mug to your kids’ pencils for a coordinated “We’re ready!” vibe. ☕✨

4. Rebrand Everyday Chores as “Life Skills”

Laundry? Life Skills: Fabric Science. Cooking? Culinary Chemistry. Vacuuming? Home Economics—Floor Care Edition. Suddenly, your chores routine reads like a college course catalog. Who knew dishwashing could earn an A+?

5. Implement Surprise Pop Quizzes… on TV Time

When your child drones on about that one scene in their favorite cartoon, fire off a sudden “What was the main moral of that episode?” Pop quiz! Use a whiteboard if you’re feeling fancy, or just scribble on the back of a cereal box. Their eyes will widen—learning in disguise!

6. Celebrate “Recess”—Indoor Edition

Rain? Squirrels? Zombie apocalypse? No matter. Designate a daily 15-minute “Recess Recon” where everyone abandons books to bounce on the couch, solve escape-room puzzles, or choreograph marshmallow toss drills. It counts as PE, trust me.

7. Score the Empty Fun Spots—Homeschool Edition

While everyone else is back in classrooms, the world’s best playdates are wide open. Hit up the local playground (no queue, no tag-team kids), snag free-entry mornings at museums, and dominate the splash pad sans traffic. It’s like having VIP passes to all your favorite field trips—just because you schooled at home. 🎉

8. Master the Art of Flexible Scheduling

Who says math must start at 9 AM? In homeschool land, Math O’Clock happens whenever everyone’s caffeinated. Science experiments can run late if the volcano model is still oozing. And if you decide “Today is a library museum field trip”—well, you’ve just mastered unscheduled learning.

9. Create a “Homeschool Hall of Fame”

Celebrate triumphs—no matter how small. Completed that dreaded grammar worksheet? Gold star. Remembered to carry the one? Trophy. Successfully negotiated a snack-to-screen-time ratio? Hall of Fame induction! Because in homeschool world, every win deserves a mini-parade.

10. Remind Yourself It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

Back-to-school excitement burns out faster than a Sharpie marker in the sun. So pace yourself: invest in good coffee, schedule weekly “teacher breaks,” and remember why you chose this path (even if it was just to avoid uniforms).

And there you have it—your irreverent guide to kicking off another homeschool year with laughter, flexibility, and just the right amount of controlled chaos. Now grab that “Teacher of Awesome” mug, rally the troops, and get ready to make this your best (and most hilariously memorable) school season yet! 🎉


Giveaway ends July 18th at 11:59pm ET.  Winners will be drawn and emailed the following day. The winners will have 48 hours to respond to email to claim the prize.  By entering this giveaway you will be added to the email lists of the participating bloggers. Please be sure to read the Terms & Conditions upon entering the giveaway.

We know that preparing for a new homeschool year can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to stick to a budget. Homeschooling on one income or teaching multiple kids can make the costs add up quickly. That’s why I’ve teamed up with a group of amazing homeschool bloggers to bring you our 12th Annual Back to Homeschool Giveaway. And we think you’re going to love it.

This year, we’re giving away three $250 gift cards, and the best part is that you get to choose which homeschool curriculum company the gift card is for. No matter which curriculum you use, this giveaway is designed to help ease the cost of your school year.

The giveaway runs from July 9 through July 18, so be sure to get your entries in.

To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter form below. I know there are quite a few entries, but each blogger has generously contributed to make this giveaway possible. And remember, the more entries you complete, the better your chances of winning.

We hope this giveaway is a blessing to you and your homeschool this year!

a Rafflecopter giveaway