A number of homeschool families choose not to take a long break from studies like regular schools do. Still a short break from the homeschooling routine may also require a settling in period for the homeschool students. Here are some back to school rituals that others have adapted successfully into their homeschool classrooms.
A Start of Session Photograph
One of the simplest rituals can be taking a picture and putting it up on the notice board. The homeschool teacher can ask the students to write notes of motivation and wishes to stick up around this picture on the notice board. This gives the children a sense of a new beginning to the next grade. It’s a great way for the entire homeschool classroom to get started off on the new session. It’s a good idea to store this photograph and take another one at the end of the session to mark the changes and growth in the children through the time period.
Cover the New Books
The new textbooks can be covered in talc and the new notebooks, pencils, pens and other items of stationery can be divided up among the homeschool students. Areas designated for their storage can be filled up and the children can be told where they are expected to place their things for the next session. Most of the places will be the same as the previous session, but it’s good to go over it all again after the break. It will also avoid tussles between the children at a later date when they are delving into the space on each other’s shelves
Write and Recite an Inspirational Pledge
This can be a formal event with everyone standing and speaking the pledge. You could include words that ask them to apply themselves diligently, to study what interests them and to perform better than they did the previous year. Have each child come up with one task or skill that they wish to master and speak it out individually after the group has said the first pledge together. It’s a promise to themselves that they are making at the start of the new year.
