My head is spinning

[~Amanda~]

:willy_nilly::willy_nilly::willy_nilly::willy_nilly: <--------------------This is me.

 

I have so much in my head right now, I don't even know where to start to get it down.

 

I'm feeling semi-comfortable with my plan; I find something new everyday to look into and then I wonder how I'm going to incorporate that.

 

What do you do on the first day? Please forgive me, this is my first year, and I'm going crazy with the overplanning of it all. This is so typical of me too. I'm thinking about taking the first day and having them help get everything ready, maybe talk about our quarterly plans/goals, etc, find out what they are most excited about and what not. Then, just sit down and start talking about it? :lol::lol: it seems so easy when you put it down but I'm feeling like I don't know how ... LOL

[creekmom]

If it's your first year, I would try to think of a good "tradition" to start on the first day. Some moms plan an afternoon movie at the theater as a treat- since all the other kids are in school. Maybe doughnuts for breakfast? Picnic at the park? I think it's important that they feel that homeschooling really has benefits for them (especially when their friends are all talking about the excitement of new teachers, friends, etc. at ps). My kids look forward to a treasure hunt on the first day. I buy their new school supplies and a few extra treats (a pack of gum, cool bookmark, their own timer, etc.) and hide them around the house with clues for them to follow. They LOVE doing it! The first week is not a "full load", just enough to get them back into the habit/routine of school.

[Pam B]

You sound like me- and I've been at it for 7 years now.

[Sunshine State Sue]

You sound like me- and I've been at it for 7 years now.

And me. I've been at it for almost 10 years, although I breezed through planning for 7th and 8th. High school is scaring me.

Edited August 6, 2010 by Sue in St Pete

[Tracy]

I'm thinking about taking the first day and having them help get everything ready, maybe talk about our quarterly plans/goals, etc, find out what they are most excited about and what not.

 

:iagree:I think this is a really important part of homeschooling. Your children should be involved in the planning and preparation. They should feel that you care about how they feel and what they think about it all. Maybe you could even have them write about it. What do they hope to accomplish? (And then you will REALLY feel like you are "doing school!" LOL!) And having something written down will give you something to look back on at those times when you begin to realize that something is not working.

 

I think it is inevitable that you will overplan for the first year. But taking some time to figure out what is important to each family member will help you to tweak your plan along the way. (And you WILL tweak!;))

[Chris in VA]

I started with a K'er and a 9th grader, and honestly, didn't know what the heck I was doing.

 

And that K'er is now going into 5th and doing extremely well, and the 9th grader is now in the Cinema program (very competitive) at VCU and made Dean's List all year.

 

Not to brag or anything.:D Just saying, if I can do it, so can you.

 

First day around here now consists of getting a "school cone" which is posterboard rolled in a cone and decorated, and filled with school supplies and fun stuff. Special breakfast, new dress or clothes for the girl (who was the only one homeschooling last year), and lots of positive attitude.

 

I did NOT find a "goal discussion" to be a good first day activity, because we needed something fun and light. Looking over materials worked for us, and doing something hands-on, like a game or a history project. Keeping the day short and sweet helped, too, but not too short, as dd really wanted to START school and not just play around.

 

I also like making covers for our notebooks or our timeline--just something colorful and intriguing. Love the idea to take a first day pic, too.

 

Good luck on your first day!