Aubrey Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 The kids are finishing up a bunch of projects, & friends & family are coming to eat cookies & ooh & ah. It's our first "open school" type thing & I'm a little nervous, a little excited. The boxes are not all unpacked yet, but I'm only aiming to get the front rooms usable. Kids' rooms will be bonus. So I'll be baking tomorrow (unless I can get dh to do that). Today I'm hanging art work & looking for lost craft sticks. Oh! And since we're doing it on Sun, the kids' costumes are part of the open house: Indians for the girls & the Wright bros for the boys. When asked what he was going to be for Halloween, 9yo went on a 3min rant about how one of the Wright bros wanted to invent a motorcycle & the other one talked him out of it. :svengo: :lol: He's making 2yo be *that* bro. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 I think that is a terrific idea. I wish I could drop in for a moment. This is a wonderful thing to do for the children, and yourself. My best wishes for a beautiful and well-remembered evening. The good work (on all parts) deserves a little recognition and celebration. Cheers to you! Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted October 29, 2010 Author Share Posted October 29, 2010 My in-laws are the type that like to have something visible to support, so I'm kind-of hoping this helps them to be excited about hs. They do try, but when we were applying to teach in Malaysia, mil couldn't hide her excitement. Nevermind the fact that we'd be on the other side of the world & she wouldn't see her dgc for a min of 2yrs--at least they'd have a *school* experience. LOL Anyway, we've been trying to involve them more this yr. There was the Oregon Trail thing, & they got to give the kids advice by telephone. Next mo we'll be reading Angel on the Square, & some of the family's going to read along for a digital book club. Maybe we should add in some fund raisers for a more full "school" experience....:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jujsky Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 What a cool idea! Let us know how it turns out and how you end up setting it all up :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 My in-laws are the type that like to have something visible to support, so I'm kind-of hoping this helps them to be excited about hs. They do try, but when we were applying to teach in Malaysia, mil couldn't hide her excitement. Nevermind the fact that we'd be on the other side of the world & she wouldn't see her dgc for a min of 2yrs--at least they'd have a *school* experience. LOL Anyway, we've been trying to involve them more this yr. There was the Oregon Trail thing, & they got to give the kids advice by telephone. Next mo we'll be reading Angel on the Square, & some of the family's going to read along for a digital book club. Maybe we should add in some fund raisers for a more full "school" experience....:D LOL at the fundraiser :lol: In fact I recently wrote impassioned letters to parents and teachers (the latter to "pitch" the parents for Annual Fund contributions) at our recent Back-to-School Night. Say.....this should be Back-to-School Night if you want to be all "schooly" :D And at Back-to-School Night in addition to all the impressive student work displayed (mounted on colored paper with proper borders :tongue_smilie:) it is nice to get a brief (and that means short curriculum geeks) overview of what the children will be studying this year, the goals and methods. Wow them! Power Point and a projector??? No pressure or anything ;) Bill (who could forward a good fundraiser letter you could adapt to use on the in-laws) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissKNG Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 We've had "Grandparent's Day" at our home school last spring. We gave an update on how my big girl did for the year and a preview of materials she was going to use this year. We also had snacks too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted October 29, 2010 Author Share Posted October 29, 2010 LOL at the fundraiser :lol: In fact I recently wrote impassioned letters to parents and teachers (the latter to "pitch" the parents for Annual Fund contributions) at our recent Back-to-School Night. Say.....this should be Back-to-School Night if you want to be all "schooly" :D And at Back-to-School Night in addition to all the impressive student work displayed (mounted on colored paper with proper borders :tongue_smilie:) it is nice to get a brief (and that means short curriculum geeks) overview of what the children will be studying this year, the goals and methods. Wow them! Power Point and a projector??? No pressure or anything ;) Bill (who could forward a good fundraiser letter you could adapt to use on the in-laws) Um...no goals & methods. One must remember his/her audience. ;) But, yes, the art is framed w/ construction paper borders, although I was boring & only used black. And scrapbook paper for the bigger pieces. (We're using Phonics of Art this yr & I LOVE it!) For fundraisers...forget the impassioned letters & chocolate bars & coupon books. I'm putting the kids' artwork on my blog, to auction off to grandparents. :D Maybe I should specify that Amazon giftcards will work like money? ;) Anyway, it would be fun if you guys could drop by. Just think...you're one body scan & a quick flight away. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted October 29, 2010 Author Share Posted October 29, 2010 We've had "Grandparent's Day" at our home school last spring. We gave an update on how my big girl did for the year and a preview of materials she was going to use this year. We also had snacks too! I'm SO tempted to do watered-down Kool-Aid, to make it more "schooly." But I figure coffee & homemade cookies will be less painful for me. And maybe some authentic Native American food from our craft book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merry gardens Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 What a great idea! LOL on the watered down kool-aid idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2denj Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 What a great idea!! Have a wonderful time!:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iquilt Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 What a good idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 Great idea! Have fun!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 I hope it goes well. I was thinking of doing something similar at the end of the year to commemorate DD's graduation from elementary school. I'd highlight her work the most but have an area for each of the boys too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted November 1, 2010 Author Share Posted November 1, 2010 Other than the fact that dh announced the AM of open house (& Halloween) that he wanted to let the kids carve pumpkins *right then,* it was a brilliant success. (And luckily, there was a bad pumpkin crop this yr, so the pumpkin carving was nixed.) My kids have the best grandparents in the world. I'm sorry for everybody else, lol! Fil sat w/ the littles the entire time he was here, playing trot little horsey & spinning them in my spinning desk chair until 2yo announced that he couldn't take it any more & was going to bed. In the middle of a *loud* party. :lol: Mil & dh's aunt walked around the room, reading every word of everything, asking questions, commenting on *everything,* & completely filling the kids' hearts up w/ the feeling that somebody is immeasurably interested in ea of them. Even dh commented later that this was the first time he's really gotten to see the full pic of what the kids are doing & their enthusiasm, etc. At the dinner table, he asks what they're learning, & they shrug, lol. Dd read her book about immigration, & mil & dh's aunt told her about their grandmother coming over to America when she was 19. My grandmother told them about her uncles & brothers in WW I & II, her experiences seeing Eleanor Roosevelt on newsreels at the theater as a child, etc. My only regret is that we didn't have them over one at a time so the kids could have heard more of their stories. And that my dad & granddad couldn't be there to tell their stories. And that fil & the littles were SO loud. :lol: For *me,* this was a truly meaningful & memorable experience. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 Wonderful :hurray: Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 What a wonderful experience all around! Thanks for sharing, Aubrey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissKNG Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 I'm SO tempted to do watered-down Kool-Aid, to make it more "schooly." But I figure coffee & homemade cookies will be less painful for me. And maybe some authentic Native American food from our craft book. I had regular cheese/crackers and cookie stuff. Nothing huge!! For this fall, I'm going to send the Grandparents some progress reports and do another open house in the spring! Your open house sounded GREAT!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
74Heaven Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 We had a "Homewchool Open House" a few years ago and invited all our long time neighbors and all the aunts and uncles. My sister's son was about 4th grade and he had a sign called "Stump the Noah" and he had a can with strips of paper with questions on it - math facts, history, science, etc. that guests could ask him. I think you got candy if you stumped him? It ended up being really fun and we joke about it 7-8 years later. One of the neighbors still jokes that it was so refreshing to see the kids' papers had "red pen" marks on them because nowadays she said (I have no idea?) that teachers don't use red pens because it hurts a child's morale. We also had cookies and juice and coffee and each kid had a table with their exhibits, workbooks, sports ribbongs, trophies, etc. I wish I had the energy to do this every year, lol. IT was fun and it did "legitimize" homeschooling for some of the relatives! Lisaj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 (edited) What a great idea. Have loads of fun! :001_smile: eta: Ooops - just read the updated post. Love this: "Mil & dh's aunt walked around the room, reading every word of everything, asking questions, commenting on *everything,* & completely filling the kids' hearts up w/ the feeling that somebody is immeasurably interested in ea of them." Just wonderful. Edited November 1, 2010 by lisabees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Jessica* Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 Other than the fact that dh announced the AM of open house (& Halloween) that he wanted to let the kids carve pumpkins *right then,* it was a brilliant success. (And luckily, there was a bad pumpkin crop this yr, so the pumpkin carving was nixed.) My kids have the best grandparents in the world. I'm sorry for everybody else, lol! Fil sat w/ the littles the entire time he was here, playing trot little horsey & spinning them in my spinning desk chair until 2yo announced that he couldn't take it any more & was going to bed. In the middle of a *loud* party. :lol: Mil & dh's aunt walked around the room, reading every word of everything, asking questions, commenting on *everything,* & completely filling the kids' hearts up w/ the feeling that somebody is immeasurably interested in ea of them. Even dh commented later that this was the first time he's really gotten to see the full pic of what the kids are doing & their enthusiasm, etc. At the dinner table, he asks what they're learning, & they shrug, lol. Dd read her book about immigration, & mil & dh's aunt told her about their grandmother coming over to America when she was 19. My grandmother told them about her uncles & brothers in WW I & II, her experiences seeing Eleanor Roosevelt on newsreels at the theater as a child, etc. My only regret is that we didn't have them over one at a time so the kids could have heard more of their stories. And that my dad & granddad couldn't be there to tell their stories. And that fil & the littles were SO loud. :lol: For *me,* this was a truly meaningful & memorable experience. :001_smile: It sounds like a smashing success! Supportive family is the best! This is such a lovely idea, and I'm totally stealing it! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted November 2, 2010 Share Posted November 2, 2010 So did you get any fundraising benefits? ;) Oh, what's the Oregon Trail thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapbookbuzz Posted November 2, 2010 Share Posted November 2, 2010 This is hysterical! But I do love the Open House idea. If I get my way and we get back to homeschooling come January, I will make sure to have an Open House for the gp's that winter here in the desert. Bill, can I have a copy of that fund raising letter? :^) (Seriously.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted November 2, 2010 Author Share Posted November 2, 2010 So did you get any fundraising benefits? ;) Oh, what's the Oregon Trail thing? Oregon Trail Simulation I bought it on a whim, & it's been *brilliant.* Ok, I was joking about the fundraising, but *if* I were really to do that, I don't think I'd do it in person. That's what email is for! (And Amazon Wish Lists) :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty in Pink Posted November 2, 2010 Share Posted November 2, 2010 I think that is a great thing to do for your children, Audrey. Best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable evening! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivka Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 What a fantastic idea! I'm so glad it went well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebastian (a lady) Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 What a wonderful idea. I'm so glad that everything worked so well. And I'll bet the littles felt very loved on by your fil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Inna* Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 What a great idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer3141 Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 This was a brilliant idea and I'm so glad it turned out so well!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 I am so inspired to do the same.:001_smile: Playing with that idea of auctioning off the kids' artwork as a fundraiser...:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TanuvasaMama Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 I am so inspired to do the same.:001_smile:: :iagree: I LOVE this idea!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keptwoman Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 That is such a fantastic idea! Well done, it sounds like a massive success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 I got warm fuzzies reading your report of Open House :) How wonderful for your kids! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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