Back-to-School Season Survival Guide for Homeschoolers đ
Ah, Back to School Season â when everyone else lines up for the bus and youâre still scrambling for that âofficialâ homeschool uniform (aka yesterdayâs pajamas). Fear not, brave at-home educators: Hereâs 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 âFirst Day of Schoolâ 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 âCeremony of Fresh Notebooksâ the first Monday of September, then an encore on the 15th when everyoneâs settled. Bonus: More chances for Pinterest-worthy crafts. âď¸
2. Embrace the Art of Strategic Bribery
Nothing says âlearning opportunityâ like the promise of pizza math night. đ Calculate fractions with pepperoni slices (âThree out of eight slices? Youâve earned two extra marshmallows!â) and watch those reluctant learners transform into fraction fanatics. Just donât let Dad in on the marshmallow trick.
3. Rethink âSchool Uniformâ
Khakis and polos? Pfft. Real homeschoolers rock the âProfessional Hoodieâ or âSocks-with-Sandalsâ look. Bonus tip: Match your coffee mug to your kidsâ pencils for a coordinated âWeâre ready!â vibe. ââ¨
4. Rebrand Everyday Chores as âLife Skillsâ
Laundry? Life Skills: Fabric Science. Cooking? Culinary Chemistry. Vacuuming? Home EconomicsâFloor 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 âWhat was the main moral of that episode?â Pop quiz! Use a whiteboard if youâre feeling fancy, or just scribble on the back of a cereal box. Their eyes will widenâlearning in disguise!
6. Celebrate âRecessââIndoor Edition
Rain? Squirrels? Zombie apocalypse? No matter. Designate a daily 15-minute âRecess Reconâ 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 SpotsâHomeschool Edition
While everyone else is back in classrooms, the worldâs 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. Itâs like having VIP passes to all your favorite field tripsâjust because you schooled at home. đ
8. Master the Art of Flexible Scheduling
Who says math must start at 9 AM? In homeschool land, Math OâClock happens whenever everyoneâs caffeinated. Science experiments can run late if the volcano model is still oozing. And if you decide âToday is a library museum field tripââwell, youâve just mastered unscheduled learning.
9. Create a âHomeschool Hall of Fameâ
Celebrate triumphsâno 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 Itâs 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 âteacher breaks,â and remember why you chose this path (even if it was just to avoid uniforms).
And there you have itâyour irreverent guide to kicking off another homeschool year with laughter, flexibility, and just the right amount of controlled chaos. Now grab that âTeacher of Awesomeâ mug, rally the troops, and get ready to make this your best (and most hilariously memorable) school season yet! đ
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 youâre trying to stick to a budget. Homeschooling on one income or teaching multiple kids can make the costs add up quickly. Thatâs why Iâve teamed up with a group of amazing homeschool bloggers to bring you our 12th Annual Back to Homeschool Giveaway. And we think youâre going to love it.
This year, weâre 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!
