Category: Education

How Do You Homeschool With A Toddler?

How Do You Homeschool With A Toddler? – Guest Blog Written By Rebecca Miller

Are you wondering if it’s even possible to homeschool multiple children of different ages? How can you possibly teach your 10-year-old math while your preschooler is asking for snacks every five minutes? How on Earth can you practice reading with your 12-year-old while your toddler is climbing on your lap? How do you keep your toddler busy during homeschool? 

As a mom of four, ages 3 to 14. I understand that it can be a challenge! But, my friend, it is most definitely possible! 

Through trial and error, I have found some great ways to keep my preschooler busy while spending time with my older children on their projects.

Here are a few of my favourite ways to keep your toddler busy: 

Make sure your toddlers bucket is full.

Let’s face it – sometimes it can feel as if our youngest is constantly seeking our undivided attention. Sometimes the way they go about getting our attention is not the most discreet.

Recently I added something to our routine that has been a game-changer. When you front-load the day with some quality one-on-one time with your toddler (for example – reading, playing or cooking together). It can fill her bucket and lessen the need to seek connection while you are helping her siblings.

Enlist help from others.

Homeschooling is a family affair. If you have a spouse, talk to them about ways you can share the responsibilities and joys of educating your children. Maybe you can take turns teaching. Perhaps one of you is stronger in one subject and would enjoy taking that on. Maybe your partner can play with the youngest child while you work with the older ones – or vice versa.

If you have family or friends nearby, you may be able to have them care for your youngest for a few hours per week. During the school day. Homeschooling is all about family, you may be surprised how grandma may respond if you ask her to support your homeschooling journey in this way. Another option is to find another homeschooling Mom in your area who would be willing to swap childcare with you. 

Rotate toys for your toddler.

Sometimes toddlers and preschoolers can become overwhelmed when there are too many toys. If you find there are toys that your child doesn’t play with regularly, it can be really helpful to put them away in a closet for awhile. Then when you bring them back out, they can seem new and exciting again. Similarly, if there are toys that are only brought out at “school” time, your child will get excited at the novelty of those toys. Your toddler will begin to associate school time with their ‘special’ toys.

Try some fun ‘Make ahead activity trays/bags’.

Preparation is key, here. When you are preparing lessons for the older kids on Sunday night (or whenever you prepare). Take a few minutes to prepare something for the youngest learner as well. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. A simple baking pan with magnet letters, new Play-doh, stickers and paper or even a tub of rice can be a fun activity! While they are busily playing with their new activity tray, you will be able to help the other children with their book work. 

Utilize nap time.

  This one is pretty self-explanatory. If your toddler or preschooler is still napping, you can use that time to focus on book work with the older kids without distraction. If your child is not napping, you can still add “quiet time” to your routine. Bring out quiet toys or books that are reserved for this special time. And have your child get cozy and rest their body for an hour.

Take advantage of helpful older siblings.

Don’t be afraid to have your older kids take on “sibling duty.” I believe that one of the best parts of having all my children at home is that they can create a strong bond. I also believe children who learn responsibility in younger years, find it easier to become responsible adults. In our family, everyone knows (not that they always agree) that we all have parts to play and “jobs” to do within our family unit. My oldest two are 14 and 12. They take turns watching the busy 3-year-old when I am need one-on-one with one of the others. 

Play school with your toddler.

Younger siblings love to imitate older siblings. While the older kids are working on their worksheets, get out pens, markers and paper and have your little one “do school” along-side their siblings. Stickers, dry erase boards and colouring books are also great ‘school supplies.’

Seek out non-traditional learning opportunities.

Playing board games, going for nature walks and exploring a local farm are all great learning opportunities. These activities don’t involve sitting at a desk. These learning opportunities can supplement your book work and are perfect for all ages. While walking through the forest with your kids, you can point out different types of leaves and birds. Have your toddler point out different colours and shapes in nature. While playing a family board game, your preschooler will learn turn-taking along-side their siblings. Sometimes non-traditional learning activities can be overlooked, but they can really help solidify concepts learned through book work.

Educational Apps.

If you are open to using screens in your home, allowing your preschooler a limited amount of free time on an educational iPad app can be useful and fun. There are many free and low-cost programs that can be a great tool to keep your little one occupied. While still teaching some fun and important skills like shape recognition, colours, letters and numbers.

Including your toddler or preschooler in your homeschool whenever possible is the best way to build strong relationships and a strong foundation for learning. Sometimes, though, it is necessary to give your older children more individual attention. I hope these ideas give you hope that you absolutely can homeschool your children, even if you have a toddler underfoot.

Schoolio Guest Blog

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How to Use a Digital Curriculum

Are you curious why we are so passionate about our digital curriculum? Lately, we’ve been receiving multiple questions about what a digital curriculum is? How can you use a digital curriculum? And what are the best ways to be successful using a digital curriculum? This is why this blog is all about how to use a digital curriculum and why we’re so passionate about it.

Why do we promote and sell a digital curriculum? 

Convenience is always the ideal. This is why the idea of having only physical workbooks in hand is the ideal and preferred method for most families. This is why we are passionate about finding an alternative that will make the family and the environment happy. It should be alarming that roughly 15 billion trees are cut down annually. Researchers estimate that since the onset of human civilization, the global number of trees has dropped by approximately 46%. Find more details here.

Those are some staggering and alarming statistics.

Especially because trees are such an essential part of life here on planet earth, trees and shrubs improve soil and water conservation while storing carbon. They also help moderate local climates by providing shade. Trees act to regulate temperature extremes and provide homes for much of the world’s wildlife. 

Trees are so important and needed. Yet, they are the first to be cut down when we need lumber to build more houses, furniture, and paper for books. This is why we are committed to helping heal the environment. And while we are just a small, start-up company. We are determined to make a difference in the world around us. 

Digital curriculum means: Fewer trees being cut down to provide for single-use books.

That’s important to us. We understand that some families wish to have a physical product in their hands. That ‘pen to paper’ feel is hard to replace. The pen-to-paper ‘feel’ is something that most people greatly value, and we agree. It is essential to be able to use a pencil to learn better writing skills, especially in the beginning years. We aren’t saying you need to throw out ‘paper’ altogether, as our digital curriculum comes with many options.

Partial Printing: 

When you purchase our digital curriculum, you can only choose to print out the worksheets your child needs to practice with. The ‘reading’ and ‘lesson’ parts of each lesson can be used by simply opening the digital curriculum on your iPad. Read and learn together, then have the worksheets printed out – and let them get to work. 

This is a sure way to guarantee that less paper is being used while ensuring that your child is still getting that pen-to-paper feel.

Fully Digital: 

Alternatively, some families successfully download their digital e-books from their dashboard and use their digital curriculum with a tablet or iPad. They then have their child use a Stylus pen or Apple Pen to fill in the answers. Once they have completed the page, they save it. When you choose this option, you are using essentially no paper, which is a massive gift to the environment or your organization.

Your Digital Curriculum is Still Useful, Even if You Had The Workbooks Printed.

Those files aren’t just a waste. You can use the digital files to plan your lessons, look ahead, save for later, and help you stay organized and on track. Having your digital curriculum is also an excellent backup. What if you spill a drink on your paper workbooks? Those digital files are a simple replacement. You don’t have to purchase a whole new book. You can easily print off the pages that were compromised by juice. 

Digital Curriculum Helps Parents and Teachers Jump Right In. 

Our digital curriculum is also beneficial because you have access to it as soon as it’s purchased. That means you don’t have to wait for the curriculum to arrive to begin planning. As soon as it’s downloaded off your dashboard, you will have the ability to get familiar with everything needed to have a successful homeschool year. 

Digital Curriculum is more affordable. 

The curriculum will always be a little expensive because a lot of work and information goes into your curriculum. However, when it comes to a digital curriculum that isn’t printed – those costs become much less. We are committed to making quality home education available for families across Canada and The United States of America. 

How are we giving back with our digital curriculum and workbooks? 

We know that not everyone will want to have a digital curriculum. This is why we have offered a printing and shipping option through our third-party printer. All that paper takes away from our goal to help save the trees. So that is why we teamed up with One Tree Planted. Because we care deeply about the planet and give back to nature. We are investing 1% of monthly revenue to One Tree Planted. By doing so, we are planting trees across Canada and the world. Giving back where we can to help our environment.

Start small if you aren’t sure how you would feel about going ‘digital’ with your curriculum.

Grab a fun science unit like ‘Weather’ for grades 4-6. Click here to check out ‘Weather.’ 

This unique science unit is just 39 pages and covers fun lessons like What Causes Weather, The Sun, The Wind, All About Precipitation, Hurricanes and Tornadoes, Human Impacts on Climate and Meteorology. With this compact Special Interest Unit, your child can learn about the weather digitally. 

Another excellent science resource is: ‘Optics,’ which gives you another chance to try it out digitally. Optics is geared towards Grade 7-8. This Special Interest Unit is only 38 pages and teaches your student about Light and Vision, Transmission and Absorption, Reflection, Lenses, The Human Eye and more. Click here to learn more about ‘Optics.’ 

These Special Interest Units are filled with great content. Choosing to use these units Digital vs. getting printing done will allow your family to try out a fully digital curriculum on a smaller platform. 

If you need more tips on using our digital curriculum, our team is always here to help. 

Tablets and stylus pens can be purchased at any electronic store. Our favourites for digital curriculum use are the iPad and apple pen combo to fill out the curriculum quickly. 

Remember, whatever way you choose to use your digital curriculum, we stand behind you and are here to help you be successful. 

When Your Homeschool Schedule Isn’t Going As Planned.

What do you do when your homeschool schedule isn’t going as planned? 

Autumn is such a fitting season for school to resume. The weather outside matches the excitement that many homeschoolers feel when beginning a new school year. Both the new season and the beginning of a school year are fresh, crisp, and filled with promise. Many excited homeschool parents have their colour coded schedules all ready to go. Some are already diving into their curriculum with their students for the year. Staying on schedule can feel really good, but what do you do when your homeschool schedule isn’t going as planned? 

First of all, it happens.

It happens to all of us. Not just in the category of ‘homeschool’, but in all  categories of life. We all have times that we’ve made elaborate plans, and then plans suddenly changed and those hopes you once had are just a distant alternate reality that didn’t come to fruition. When things don’t go as planned it can become frustrating, overwhelming, and sometimes cause anger.  Because we just want things to work out the way we had originally planned, who doesn’t?

So, what do you do when your homeschool plan falls apart? 

Your amazing colour coded, perfectly planned schedule is now null and void. What now? Do you become aggravated? Because now you have to start over from scratch? Do you try to rewrite the plan? Or do you just throw away the plan and wing it? What’s the best alternative to a broken homeschool plan? 

When a setback occurs for your homeschool or any other area of your life you should always:

  • Check in with yourself.

Clarify what the initial goal was. What were you hoping to accomplish with your homeschool plan? How close did you come to accomplishing this goal? Taking a look at what you were hoping to ‘accomplish’ and how close you came are simple ways to ground yourself in reality and help you not too overreact when things get messy and the plan gets interrupted. Change and scheduling issues are inevitable. Because life is a series of ups and downs, so try not to let this pull you down. 

  • Remember the truth. 

Setbacks and messed up plans are not a reflection of you as a person or a homeschool teacher. Sometimes things just don’t go according to plan, and sometimes they do. Life is a never ending balancing act. It’s really important for you to remember that this isn’t your fault. Sometimes things change, and it’s how we react to the change that matters the most. 

  • Know that you aren’t the only one with the scheduling issue. 

Believe it or not most, if not all, homeschool families experience setbacks and delays when it comes to accomplishing that which they had originally planned. For sure it can be frustrating, but homeschool parents are one-of-a-kind. Strong, brave, and not afraid of a set-back. When things get turned upside down, utilize this opportunity to show your kids that life doesn’t go as planned, and through the set-backs we learn important lessons and test our resilience. 

  • Plan for the unexpected.

When things get off-track, plan for them to get off-track again. Because they will! That’s part of life. Sometimes we can’t control our circumstances, really no one can. There isn’t a single person in this world that has the ability to know when the unexpected will happen. So expect the unexpected, because I guarantee it will happen. 

  • Ditch this false idea that things need to be perfect.

It’s homeschool, not traditional school. It won’t look like ‘real school’, because it’s not supposed to. You probably won’t have school desks, a big chalkboard, and colour coded binders (or maybe you will). You won’t be able to get your kids to sit at their desks in their house for 6 hours. Homeschooling is different, and it is beautiful. You can personalize your schedule, you can decide when is the best time for education to begin and end for the day. It’s not perfect, because it’s not meant to be. 

  • Don’t get stuck in it – move forward.

Things didn’t go as you planned? OK. Let’s move forward. Learn from your mistakes. ‘What happened that threw us off our plan? Did I maybe plan too much?’ Relax your schedule. There are so many circumstances that can occur. Like, the whole family catching the flu, the homeschool curriculum company experiencing printing delays, your child finding a topic they’re really interested in and want to spend more time on. And the list continues. 

Instead of becoming upset and discouraged when your homeschool schedule doesn’t go as planned, focus on the fact that sometimes things fall off track. Move forward. Always, move forward.

 

Additional Resources for you to check out:

Daily Homeschool Planning Tips

Overcoming Setbacks 

Staying Sane When Things Don’t Go As Planned

 

 

Teaching Our Kids About The Election

Teaching Our Kids About The Election – Guest Blog by Meredith Blunt

I’m back! Oh and I am super excited about the resource I have to share today. Have you ever found something as a homeschooler that thrills you to the core? If so share it with us in the comments. I LOVE finding amazing educational materials for the kids and myself. And I’m sure that you do, too. Today’s amazing find is all about teaching our kids about the election! 

It’s Election time! 

Here in Canada we are getting ready for a federal election on September 20th this year. As a result, the candidate signs have hit all the roadsides. And the door-knocking is well under way. Some of us have met with our local MP’s and the news is full of election stories. The reality is, if we’re seeing and hearing this, our kids are too.

Which is why learning about our elections history and Canadian democracy is really so important. And is also a great way to bring politics, civics and history to your homeschool curriculum. You can do this while supplementing brick and mortar education.

Elections Canada has amazing educational resources available for all classrooms and teachers. I apologize that my photos can’t completely capture everything I received! All the resources, information, activities and worksheets are available digitally. Or can be shipped to you in English or French.

Be aware each kit contains materials for up to six students. Which is especially good for learning pods. And truly excellent for sharing with members of your local homeschooling groups, too.

Engaging Activities for Kids.

Elections Canada has worked with like-minded organizations that support democracy education. Doing so to create engaging activities and resources for learners from the primary years right through high school. Their collaborators include the Library of Parliament and Provincial and Territorial electoral agencies.

As well as non-governmental agencies like Encounters with Canada, Forum for Young Canadians, MediaSmarts and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. They are great quality and ship very quickly. Everything is budget-friendly because it’s all free! FREE! I love free.

For Kindergarten to Grade 3. 

For our primary learners (Kindergarten to Grade 3) there is a wonderful election simulation activity called “Choosing our Mascot”. It includes clear and adaptive instructions for us educators. As well as all materials necessary and five beautiful illustrated posters. All of which were Created by an Indigenous artist for each candidate. Along with their campaign speech and song. 

Teaching our Kids about the Election

For Grade 4 and Up!

I am having a hard time choosing a favourite kit for students in Grade 4 and up. You’ll find these activities labelled as ‘secondary’ level however are adaptable to junior and intermediate students. Especially the mapping ones! First, let me preview those because I love a good map!

The “Geography of Elections” and “Mapping Electoral Districts” kits are so cool. All the secondary kits begin with great inquiry questions such as “What is my federal electoral community?” And, “How does it compare to others?”.

Geography of Elections includes two huge maps illustrating Canada’s Federal Electoral Districts and the official results of the 42nd general election. This is important because it helps to strengthen map literacy skills. While gaining understanding of the geographic and human factors that help create our country’s electoral districts.

The activity in Mapping Electoral Districts involves maps to use dry-erase markers. They can do this to name and label a country of your imagining with electoral districts. While considering things like population density, languages spoken and shared histories. Map work is a winner in our home!

Teaching our Kids about the Election

Grab your Election kit today!

The kits explore vital, living resources that will help us guide our children into informed voters. And educated, passionate civilians of an evolving and modern democracy, also. With topics ranging from the history of voting rights and civic action in Canada. To becoming a savvy critical thinkers in the online world. This is a big win as a contemporary and impactful component of your home education.


Teaching our kids about the election

About Meredith Blunt:

Everything has a Season – Even Education

Everything has a season – Guest blog by Tawny Stowe

“Everything has a season” … It’s a cliche, but for me it’s also a permission slip! As a homestead mom and an entrepreneur, certain seasons find me a little over my head! This was my first-year homeschooling. And when I began, I had these grand ideals of how to make school happen in my home the way it does in a classroom.

I failed. Miserably.

First I started off with alarms set, I had specific curriculum planned out every day and books set up on the table. I even had specific days for different topics.  At first, my four-year-old was excited and just as quickly he wasn’t. As soon as it turned into a power struggle for our family, I knew something had to change. But being so new to the homeschooling way of life, I didn’t know what!

And then… It happened.

As they say when the student is ready the teacher appears. So as I sat in on a webinar for my business that happened to be led by a homeschooling and homestead mamma of three. In her teaching she fully admitted that as gardening season approaches, her and the kids are done with formal learning for the remainder of the school year. When the demands of the garden increased, all learning revolved around growing food!

 

This was inspiring!

Suddenly, I felt as if the Spring Season was an open permission slip to let the rigidity and routine of learning go. We could slide into a more “unschooled approach” to education.

Then what took place blew my mind!

The power struggles that my family was facing, vanished. It seems getting a five-year-old to put on rain boots and splash in puddles requires zero effort! We went hunting for bugs, exploring wetlands for migrating birds, and spent time talking about the fertility of the Earth as it unravelled before our very eyes. Then we talked about seeds, and land stewardship (okay he’s five we called it tending to our food and forests). We collected garbage, we kayaked and we explored medicines and wild foods as they presented themselves. As I was walking around from morning to night working in the gardens, wheelbarrowing dirt, starting seeds and transplanting seedlings, and raising baby chicks, my son was with me every step of the way.

Another change in our Homeschooling Journey.

So here we are, now watching this season that started as Spring. Moved into summer and is quickly bringing us to fall.  I am pausing to reflect on what I am harvesting from the seeds I planted and tended all summer. Both in my garden and in my son’s learning environment.

My son has outgrown his shyness. He thrived in the natural world talking to plants, trees, rocks, and animals. We spent a summer taking our winter learning of Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe Language) and applying it to our outdoor classroom. We read books, we studied field guides. We had countless campfires helping us heal our Metis roots. Doing so by keeping us feeling connected to the Natural Landscape and all of her beings.

A new cycle is here.

In our way of living, we approach harvest as a time of ending, of clearing and even death. We view death as a necessary part of life because through the completion of one cycle a new one can emerge. Our cycle of complete unschooling is coming towards an end. I sense in both of us a desire to return to the blessed moments of connection we had when we spent half days with some structured learning.

Approaching learning through the seasons gives me permission to bring change (or cycles) into our school approach. And as I round up my first full year of homeschooling, I feel blessed. Blessed to have found a way to weave the healing of my Metis roots with my love of nature’s seasons. This all comes with a desire to help raise a child connected to the land through home learning.

Author Spotlight - Tawny Stowe

About the author: Tawny Stowe is a Metis business owner who works on the traditional lands of the Anishnabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples now known as Arden, Ontario, Canada.

Tawny is a steward of land and resources which allows her to embody her role as the Woodland Priestess helping parents return home to themselves and their children through a (re)connection to the Earth. She teaches a remembering of the Mind-Body-Soul through the sharing of children’s stories, song, food, creativity activities, gardening, spirituality + yoga practices, and nature exploration.

Click here to learn more about Tawny

 

Make Learning Fun

Have you heard of Special Interest Units? The phrase may make you wonder, what exactly that could mean? And why would that be important for your child’s education? Using these compact units of learning can make learning fun for our kids. While also helping our children discover their passions and desire to dig deeper on topics that excite them. It’s so important to cultivate their desire to learn when they’re young, and using Special Interest Units can help with that.

Have you ever found a topic that you just couldn’t get enough of? You started digging deeper, doing more research. You became fascinated by this topic and learning about it gave you so much life. You want your child to experience that same passion and hunger for learning, right? So, how? How can we help our kids with digging deeper, learning bigger, and enjoying the process?

Here are some simple ways to make learning fun while helping your child develop a love for their education:

Expand of their ideas and imaginative thoughts.

Your son just came up to you and told you that he wants to drive a Porsche, and be a millionaire with a fast, fancy boat when he’s older.  What’s your initial reaction? To tell him that money doesn’t matter? To explain that we don’t always get what we want in life? Do you immediately think ‘Those are expensive, he could never afford that?’ Or do you say: “Well you’ll have to have a really good job then.” All of these initial thoughts are normal, because you live in a realistic world. Your child however, is living in a bright world where anything is possible. Instead of immediately shutting down his dream, try asking questions instead.

Ask things like: “What colour would your Porsche be?” “How fast would it go?” You can google how fast a Porsche can go together, and then perhaps talk about different speeds, because I guarantee that one day they will be driving and will need to know. “What colour would it be? There’re so many colours, let’s check out the Colours and Light Special interest Unit together to learn more about colours. Maybe we can even pick a colour that isn’t very common, if you like it!” That fast boat that he’s dreaming of, have him draw a picture, and write about where he would travel. Grab a map and explore the oceans with him. Ask him where he’d want to travel to, and what countries he’d like to see with his boat.

You aren’t squashing his dreams, you are helping him cultivate his dreams through joy-filled, education.

 

Make learning fun with Special Interest Units:

There are so many areas of education that can be really dry. Many parents struggle with teaching their children math, not because they don’t know it but because math is one of the more ‘dry subjects’. For some kids, they just love it. For others, it overwhelms them from the boredom of 5+6=11. How can you make learning more fun? Especially with those areas of their education that are beyond boring?

Special Interest Units aren’t just about an interesting topic. They are so much more than that. You can incorporate multiple subject areas under one theme. Math, Writing, Reading, Science, all of these are included in many Special Interest Units. When you mix enjoyable content with basic educational lessons, you have a remedy for a fun and successful learning experience.

 

Helping your child discover interests.

 The world would be a different place if we all did what we were actually interested in. If we all somehow found a way to make a living off of something that we enjoy. But chances are when you went to school you were taught in a traditional form. You were told to get good grades, do well in areas of education, and forget about your passions. Because “Passion doesn’t pay the bills.”

Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut, Sally Reis, Ph.D., states that the key to unlocking a child’s potential is finding that child’s interests and helping the child develop them. Did you catch that? The key to them unlocking their potential isn’t by forcing them to get good grades and then being disappointed when they don’t meet our expectations. Rather, the key comes when they love what they’re learning.

How can they discover their interests? Books, watching educational shows, museums, zoos, the outdoors, and Special Interest Units. There truly are so many ways to help your child find their passion for education while you make learning fun.

 

Be supportive as they find their learning style.

Every child has a unique learning style, or a way that they learn most effectively. The three different styles: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic. Which style suits your child the most? Helping your child determine their learning style will be a gift that serves them their entire life.

Don’t become overwhelmed by the idea of ‘how to make learning fun’, ok? There are so many ways to do it. You can start by checking out our Special Interest Units.

Because we love to make learning fun, so we’ve created a whole bunch of awesome Special Interest Units to help your child learn fun new things while squeezing in important education lessons.

Click here to view our Special Interest Units.

 

Resources used for this blog: 

Big Life Journal – A love for learning

NAEYC – Encouraging your child to lead

Anxiety and School

Anxiety and School – Guest Blog by Meredith Blunt

I am so glad to be writing for Schoolio again. This time about something a little heavier than my last guest blog but a subject near and dear to me. I’m writing this with no expertise (not a doctor!) beyond my own experience as a parent and a human who has moved through the impacts and distortions of anxiety herself. Anxiety and mental health is a huge, personal, and potentially upsetting topic. Anxiety has a daily presence in my life. I am hoping to share some of the most insightful and effective knowledge I have gained from my own research and experience with anxiety and school, as well as from the experts I’ve met. 

Emotional and Mental Health.

Feeling anxious can be a normal reaction to events in our lives that make us feel pressured, stressed or challenged. This is okay. That anxious feeling teaches us to assess our perceptions quickly, make critical decisions and bolster our convictions. However, anxiety that is overtly and constantly present moves into the realm of a disorder. It feeds negative thought patterns. It pushes us to feel constant worry and fear. In these times of growing awareness and knowledge around mental and emotional health, we are gaining a better understanding that children can be just as affected by anxiety as anyone else. We are learning about the factors in their lives that can cause anxiety disorder. Unsurprisingly, school is one of those factors, which is why talking about anxiety and school is so important.  

Anxiety and school, what it can look like:

As parents we’re told to ‘trust our gut’ when it comes to our kids. This is good advice but tricky to follow. We are influenced by so much – our loved ones, social media, literature, news etc. It isn’t unusual for our internal voice, our own wisdom, to get drowned out. Parental intuition is further challenged by the role school plays in each child’s life. As the majority of their time is spent at school, it has an outsized impact on a child’s mental health. Teachers, conflicts with peers, being away from home, and expectations of family are all aspects of school that can be contributing factors to an anxiety disorder. 

“It started out as stomach aches and headaches…”

I noticed the beginnings of anxious behaviour in my youngest back when he was in grade one. It first started out as stomach aches and headaches every school morning but gradually progressed to withdrawal from some interests and sleep disruption. Fearing any lasting consequences of this situation and due to the complete absence of support from our school and his teacher at the time, my husband and I withdrew him from public school and began our first foray into homeschooling. 

Wisdom does come with experience, in our case we had crossed paths with school-based anxiety already and learned valuable information. Three years prior to my son’s grade one year, I didn’t have the confidence to trust what I was seeing and sensing with my eldest as anxiety disorders developed in her when she was around the same age. Everyone seemed to know better and worked to assuage my fears, so I put my trust in them. It’s hard to forgive yourself for mistakes you’ve made as a parent.

We can only do our best with the tools and knowledge we have at the time.

I didn’t know that what I was looking at was anxiety in my eldest. I would see her struggle to connect with peers and I would resort to the traditional well-meaning adages of ‘say hi!’ and ‘be friendly’. We battled over learning from mistakes, and I would feel lost when her reaction to an error or failure was immense defeat and crippling negative emotions. I’d try to get her excited about new things only to see her recoil almost in terror. The kids who sometimes can’t find the words to describe what they’re experiencing are the young people who may be susceptible to anxiety disorders. These kids can end up carrying heavy labels in school settings – difficult, shy, perfectionist, distracted, under-achiever, a weaker student. This is my daughter and not one of those labels was accurate. 

This isn’t a simple or easy topic to discuss. When we talk about anxiety in our children it hurts. When we give voice to these massive concerns for our kids – ranging from sleep deprivation and disruptive emotions to self-injurious behaviour and suicidal ideation – they become part of the world. The bigger, open, judging world. This is hard, really hard. We live in times where more pressure than ever is on families to be relentlessly picture-perfect at all times. If we pull back the curtain, what will people think of us! 

Here’s what people think – “Whaaaaat! That’s my kid too…that’s me too! I thought it was just us”. They really do. 

So what do we do as mums and dads? We get help. Help for our kids and help for ourselves. We learn how to listen, how to respond, and how to reach out when we feel overwhelmed. We adapt our parenting skills to the needs of our kids.

Here’s some favourites from my range of resources:

(I have no professional affiliation with these links they are just ones I like a lot). 

Books:

Helpful Apps that my family loves: 

Support groups:

It can be a wonderful, positive surprise, how generous and loving groups like Schoolio Families can be! 

 Therapy*:

  • Cognitive-behavioural therapy has been reliably successful in my experience. 

Learning the skills for when anxiety shows up:

I don’t know about you but I’m feeling a little worked up thinking and writing about anxiety and school so I’m going to regain some calm. This is the first suggestion I always make when talking to friends and other parents about anxiety in our families. Our kids need to know they are fully capable of being in control of their emotions. They are eager to learn the confidence and skills needed for anxiety when it shows up. Where those skills begin is awareness of the most basic of bodily functions – breathing. 

As anxiety builds, the more shallow and rapid we breathe. This is a prehistoric response from our brain, telling our body “There’s danger! Time to flood everything with oxygen and get the adrenaline going so we can get the heck outta here!”. There’s no sabretoothed cat stalking us but our body’s response is sufficient for us to cope as though there were. When we learn to identify this behaviour, the next step is to take control of the perceived threat by controlling our breath. 

Check your breathing.

Sometimes known as Paced Breathing, you inhale through your nose for 4-6 seconds, hold for 2-4 seconds, then a controlled exhale through your mouth for 6-8 seconds. It is totally cool if you can’t breathe for those exact seconds yet. The calming key is that longer exhale. With it you are releasing the excess oxygen and adrenaline which gives you control of the situation and yourself.

Another great one, especially for our little littles, is Box Breathing. Hold the image of a square in your mind. Each side of the square is equivalent to four seconds. We breath around the square. Inhale for 4 seconds, hold our lungs full for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, hold our lungs empty for 4 seconds. 

Putting in the practice of identifying the moments when we need to take that pause and breathe is worth it, whether you’re a kid or a grown up. 

It’s important to foster our mental well-being as caregivers because there are challenging emotions that come when your child is embattled with anxiety or any differences from the neurotypical. Guilt, doubt, resignation, disbelief, avoidance, anger, sadness to name a few. Those difficult feelings are valid and deserve reflection. 

A personal favourite expression regarding this is you have to put your own oxygen mask on before helping another. This doesn’t mean if a family member is in crisis you hold up a finger and say “Just a sec! I need 20 minutes for some *me* time then we’ll get to working on what’s happening with you ok?” …none of us would do that – it’s ridiculous. 

What it does mean is that every day we take space and time for ourselves.

What that space and time look like is dependent on you! For myself, my go-tos are walking and re-learning to run. The activity gives me the space and time to enjoy my own progress, and focus on it. Exercise isn’t the only activity that works, I encourage you to find the right activity for you that allows you to restock your emotional stores so you are better prepared to cope with whatever challenges the day brings. The singular purpose is to fill your happiness quotient. It’s also good behaviour to model, demonstrating that you find contentment and success in just being you and doing something for just you. 

I hope I have done some service to the impactful and encompassing topic of anxiety and school -age children. I would genuinely love to generate a supportive on-going discussion centred around advice, patience, familiarity, education and humour. Whether you and/or your child are experiencing what you suspect is anxiety or you are interested in mental wellness, remember we are not alone. 

*I fully acknowledge that financially viable and timely access to therapy is critically lacking in Canada. If you have the means, please consider advocating and supporting improved access to mental health professionals and programs in your region. Getting help should not be as difficult as it is.

Schoolio Guest Blog - Meredith Blunt

Debunking Homeschool Myths

Homeschooling has become so much more mainstream in the last decade. Despite that fact, there are still so many homeschooling myths. A couple weeks ago we posted a blog about the #1 myth surrounding homeschooling, which as you probably guessed it, is the thought that homeschooled children aren’t socialized. A belief that drives homeschooling families crazy. Aside from that myth there are still so many other myths that are just so far from the truth! That’s why this blog is dedicated to debunking homeschool myths.

As stated above, the #1 myth surrounding homeschooling is that homeschooled children aren’t socialized, we already busted this myth with great detail. Click Here to Read  Now we will jump to the next series of myths that drive homeschooled parents crazy.

Homeschool Myth #2: Not very many people homeschool their children.

That’s a myth. If you read the blog about socialization and homeschooling then you will know right away that that’s a myth. Why? Because there are literally millions of children being homeschooled worldwide. Why has homeschooling become such a popular option? It’s so easy to blame the pandemic, because yes that has caused a huge rush of parents to homeschool. But realistically parents have been turning to homeschooling for a while now because many parents have found that homeschooling puts their child’s needs and goals at the core of their education.

Myth #3: Homeschooling families all fit into the same mould.

That’s a nope. In fact, there are many, many different types of homeschooling families. Each is unique in their own way. There are families where the mother just stays home and teaches while the father goes out and works. There are single parent homeschoolers, there are families with so many kids, there’re families with one kid, there are different cultures, there are religious homeschoolers, there are secular homeschoolers. The differences are pretty distinct, but their reasons are often relatively similar.

Homeschool Myth #4: Children that are homeschooled don’t learn as much.

Most, if not all, homeschool programs are extremely thorough and detailed. When you choose to homeschool your child, they have the opportunity to learn in a way that is unique to them which often will be much better than the alternative. Homeschooling is customizable right from the teaching, to the schedule. Because of the customization and flexibility, children have the opportunity to move at a pace that works best for them.

Myth #5: Homeschooled children can’t function in the real world.

That is for sure going to be debunked. Because homeschooled kids spend every day in the real world. The belief that homeschooled kids spend all day sitting at home is false. The reality is that homeschooled kids get so much more time outside, they learn so much about their surroundings when they’re learning from home. Traditional learning often has kids sitting in one room for hours in a day. Homeschooled children spend lots of time out and about, interacting with their community.

Homeschool Myth #6: Homeschooled kids don’t get into College.

Do you think that’s true? I know for a fact that it’s not. Because I was homeschooled, and I was accepted into University just fine. I’ve been debunking homeschool myths my entire life. But don’t just take my word for it, because statistics show that Homeschoolers have a higher rate of attending college than any other group of children. 66.7% of homeschooled kids, compared to 57.5% of traditional public-school children. Even some well known colleges seek out homeschooled kids because they recognize their unique qualities and skills that they often have, like being self-motivated and self-disciplined.

Check out these statistics on homeschooling: Click here

 

Myth #7: Homeschool parents aren’t qualified to teach.

This is a sore subject for a lot of homeschooling parents. Because they’re tired of being underestimated. The truth is, that parents are the best teachers for their children. Parents teach their children to talk, walk, eat, read, and function in the world around them.  Contrary to popular belief, parents are actually the most qualified to teach their children. Parents choose a professionally crafted curriculum which aids and guides them on their teaching journey, so they are more than qualified to teach.

Homeschooling isn’t for everyone, and that’s ok.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with traditional learning and there’s nothing wrong with homeschooling. Both are different and important. Whichever avenue of education you choose for your family, be sure not to judge the other group of people and the decision they made. They are doing what is best for their family unit, just like you are. The general rule is just, be kind!  I hope you’ve enjoyed debunking homeschool myths with us! Let us know what homeschool myths drive you crazy?

 

Sources: 

Back to Homeschool

There’s an office-supply company locally that uses a parody of the Christmas song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” to advertise their back-to-school sales every year.  And getting ready for starting your homeschool year can be the most wonderful time of the year! To make sure it’s a great year for you and your kids, here are a few things you can do to start off right.

1.   Before you start your homeschool:

Plan ahead

Before you start your homeschool year, take a moment to grab a calendar. Things will go a lot smoother this year if you do a little bit of planning, especially if you’re a family that thrives with predictability.  So, on your calendar, plan out your school year dates. What day will be the “official first day” of your homeschool year? When is the “last day of school”? And when is your fall vacation break, Christmas break, spring break and any other days off?  Mark them all off on your calendar.

Create space

Next, gather up all the resources — books, curriculum, paper, pencils, etc — and put them where you can find them. You don’t necessarily need a dedicated homeschool room, but a dresser, shelf or cupboard where all the supplies and resources live, will help immensely.  Give your homeschool a home base, so that you can find stuff when you need it.

Get supplies

Finally, it’s time to go shopping. Just because we homeschool doesn’t mean that we can’t take advantage of all those back-to-school sales!  There’s just something about freshly sharpened pencils, brand-new glue sticks and crisp, blank notebooks that excites my kids about getting started. So, take the kids and go back-to-school shopping.

 

2.   Get ready:

Clean out

Now that you have a plan and supplies, it’s time to get ready for school. Start with cleaning out the shelves from last year, if you haven’t already. Get rid of the old worn-out pencil sharpeners, the crinkled and torn papers, and the tiny bits-and-pieces of eraser lying around. Straighten up the books, sweep out the pencil shavings, and tidy up the paints and math manipulatives. Then you can put all those fresh new supplies away, ready for that first day.

Plan ahead

Next, do yourself a favour and plan out your first month of meals, at least. Starting a new school year can be busy, because it’s not just our studies that begin again, but all the extra activities do too! So, if you’ve got kids who will be doing swimming lessons, soccer, and Spanish classes this fall, you’ll probably be busy driving on top of everything else. Who has time to figure out what’s for dinner?  Plan ahead.

Stock up

And stock up on snacks for the new school year, as well. If your kids are anything like mine, they’ve been used to raiding the fridge anytime they like over the summer, while fresh fruit and veggies are in ample supply. Keep up the good habits by stocking up on healthy snacks now, so that they (and you) aren’t tempted by more convenience foods later.

Make a note

Speaking of all those extracurricular activities, pull out your calendar again, and note down when those start dates are. Do you need to get new shoes for soccer? Are fees due for Scouting or piano lessons? Make a note to yourself of the extra costs and supplies you need to get. And you’ll also want to check for potential field trips or special events you want to attend with your homeschool community.

Adjust your routines.

And finally, it’s time to start adjusting your routines to accommodate a less casual day. If you’ve slipped into later bedtimes, less frequent baths (because they’ve been out at the splash pad or pool anyway!) and meals have been more “grazing” and less “sit-down”, you may want to start those habits again with your family. If you have a “school year” routine and a “summer” routine, take the time to adjust yourself and the kids from one to the other.

 

3.   “Not Back to School”

 

In many homeschool support groups and communities, homeschooling families will celebrate with a “Not Back to School” party, potluck or picnic. These are awesome ways to connect with your community and celebrate homeschooling! And because we aren’t sending our kids to school, we have the flexibility to enjoy the last days of summer at parks, playgrounds, splash pads and trails without the same crowds.

 

Check with your local support group for dates and locations!

 

4.   It’s the First Day of homeschool!

 

Homeschooling doesn’t mean you can’t do those cute “first day” traditions that public school parents do.  Make your first day just as memorable and fun!  Maybe you spend the day in pajamas? Or maybe there’s a special “first day” breakfast you make? Grab a fun sign and take pictures with the kids! Create your own special traditions to mark that first day.

 

5.   Keep going.

 

Maybe your first day isn’t as fun as you hoped. Or maybe those first few weeks are a little rough. Homeschooling is all about the flexibility. So, keep going with your homeschooling, even if your first few days and weeks don’t go according to plan.

Don’t rush

There’s no need to rush on getting things done. So, it’s ok to take your time, and let the kids adjust to a new routine. Whether it’s your first year, third year or 18th year of homeschooling, not everything goes well the first time you do something. That’s normal. Take a deep breath, remind yourself why you chose to homeschool, and keep going.

Stay consistent

Follow the kids’ lead here. Sometimes it’s not going well because something isn’t working. But sometimes, it’s just a transition issue! It helps if you can stick to a routine as much as possible, and keep the house rules and expectations as clear as you can. When things change, sometimes kids start testing our patience again, just to see where the boundaries are. Stay consistent, and keep going.

Play with them

Take time out for play too! Public schooled kids get recess, and our kids can have much more. Homeschooling doesn’t have to be an all-day thing. So, go outside, break out the board games, or grab the craft supplies and have fun with your kids too. If the day has been hard, maybe a snuggle and a movie will lighten the mood.

Throw it out and start again

If your first days have a few bumps along the way, that’s ok. It should smooth out soon. But what if it doesn’t?

 

Well… homeschooling is about flexibility! Don’t be afraid to throw it all out, regroup and try again. Reach out to your support group, or favourite blogger, and get encouraged. Keep going!

 

Guest Blog - Sarah Wall

Sarah Wall is a pro at teaching her older kids and homeschooling teens. She also helps homeschool mamas do the same. After leaving an abusive marriage with 5 young children, launching a successful business, and creating a support community with several hundred members, Sarah believes there’s always a way to achieve your goals. It’s just about finding the right support. So, if you’re contemplating homeschooling teens, or middle schoolers, she believes that you can accomplish it.

Click here to learn more about Sarah Wall 

 

 

Curious about how to start homeschooling in Canada? 

Click here to read ‘How do I start Homeschooling in Canada?’

 

How Do I Start Homeschooling In Canada?

How Do I Start Homeschooling in Canada?

Homeschooling has become an extremely popular alternative to traditional education in the last 10 years. There’s no doubt that when homeschooling is done correctly, it can be an incredible experience for homeschoolers.  So, how can you start homeschooling? What legal aspects do you need to be aware of? Is there some way to ensure that you will be successful at homeschooling your kids? We have the answer to your ‘How do I start homeschooling in Canada?’ question!

How Do I Start Homeschooling in Canada and be Successful?

Wanting to homeschool, but feeling overwhelmed is totally normal. Unfortunately, it’s human nature to second guess our decisions. Especially when it comes to our kids, their futures and well-being. Let me assure you, if you want to homeschool, you have excellent resources, and have the ability to make it a successful experience for your family. Then, there’s no reason to worry.

How do I start homeschooling in Canada?

We’ve heard your questions of ‘How do I start homeschooling in Canada?’ and broken it down into 10 simple steps to get you started.

Step 1: Shift your mindset about learning schedules.

Homeschooling doesn’t look like traditional education, because it isn’t traditional education. So often new homeschoolers think that they need to make their homeschool day look exactly like a traditional school day. Thinking that your child needs to be working on school work all day, is false. We forget that in traditional school, kids have recess, lunch, activity time, and spend so much time waiting for the class to settle so the teaching can begin. Your homeschool day doesn’t have to look like that. Most homeschoolers only spend 2-3 hours on workbooks a day. The rest of their education is hands on, life learning. That doesn’t mean that they are missing out. Because, they aren’t! They are getting the same amount of educational learning as children in traditional school. It’s truly mind blowing how one-on-one teaching can take the hours upon hours out of learning.

Find out how to schedule your homeschool by clicking here

Also, it should be noted that homeschooling doesn’t have to happen at the same time as traditional school. Some homeschool families find that their learning vibe is better in the evening, on weekends, or even in the summer. Your schedule, is yours. You and only you know how your children learn, and when the best time of the day is for them and you to reach maximum potential for learning. Don’t be bogged down by this idea that your child must start workbooks at 9am and finish by 3:30pm.

Step 2: Find out the legal aspects of homeschooling in your province/state.

Every province and state have different expectations for homeschooling standards. It’s best to check and make sure you following local guidelines. Don’t let that stress you out though, even following legal standards, you will still have so much flexibility for your child’s curriculum, and learning schedule. We have a few blogs on some different province guidelines.

Click here for Saskatchewan 

Click here for Alberta 

Click here for British Columbia 

Click here for Manitoba 

Click here for Ontario

Step 3: Chat with experienced homeschoolers.

Chances are you already know a homeschool mom. And, you must know that most homeschool moms are eager to share how to be successful with homeschooling. Why? Because it’s working so well for their family, they want everyone to experience the freedom and peace that comes with home-learning. Find a local homeschool group in your area, or search out some awesome homeschool groups online. There are so many incredible sources.

 Step 4: Choose your homeschooling style

When it comes to home education, there are so many different styles. The Classical Method, The Charlotte Mason Method, Montessori Method, Unschooling, School-at-home, Unit Studies, Eclectic Education, and more. What style suits your family best? Do some research and find out. Here’s a list of all the different methods of homeschooling, their benefits and drawbacks. So you can make an educated decision.

Click here to learn about different homeschool styles.

Step 5: Choose your curriculum

There are so many different styles of homeschooling. First, figure out which works best for you and your family. Once you’ve determined your style. Select a curriculum that goes along with your style and also the standards that you want for your children’s education. There are so many options out there, so be sure to do your research and find what is very best for your family.

Click here to learn about how to choose the best curriculum. 

Step 6: Get familiar with excellent homeschool teaching strategies.

There are so many books out there, ask around and find out what some of your homeschool friends are into. Search out homeschooling podcasts for tips, and tricks, to make your homeschool teaching career successful.

Step 7: Set up social opportunities for your children.

The last thing we want is for you to feel overwhelmed or alone. That’s why Step 3 is so important. When you chat with other homeschool parents, you will have the opportunity to set up homeschool playdates, homeschool co-ops, sports, arts, and more. These activities will give your child and you a chance to chat with other like-minded people and help your children make lifelong friendships.

 

Step 8: Set learning goals with your kids.

It’s important for you to know what you want from the homeschool year. But what do your kids want? What do they want to learn? How do they want to learn? Ask them! Let them get involved in homeschool planning for the year. When you get your kids involved in these decisions it will help them gain interest.

 

Step 9: Get Familiar with your curriculum.

Once your curriculum arrives, unbox it. Check it out. Let your kids see the new books, and make a plan for what you will need for the first few units of their workbooks. (If that’s the style you choose). Do you need a ruler? Pencils? Paper? Make sure to have it all on hand for each lesson.

 

Step 10: Begin homeschooling, and have fun!

Please don’t stress yourself out with this idea that you need to be perfect in order for your children to learn. You are doing an amazing job. So, dive into it! And enjoy it! Don’t worry about what your neighbours think or say, or how your parents think it’s crazy that you are keeping them home to learn. Keep your mind on the truth. You are doing an awesome job! And your children are going to be just fine!

 

One Tree Planted Partners with Schoolio

SCHOOLIO PARTNERS WITH REFORESTATION NONPROFIT ONE TREE PLANTED

A Promise of a more sustainable future for kids around the world

TORONTO, August 9, 2021 – Schoolio, a Canadian education startup. Recently announced a partnership with One Tree Planted in August 2021. In the last year, over ten million trees in more than 28 countries have been planted. All thanks to the nonprofit, One Tree Planted. With this new partnership, Schoolio aims to get closer to its goal of creating a better future for children. As a result, we at Schoolio are doing so by contributing 1% of all sales toward reforestation efforts.

“Partnering with One Tree Planted is an ideal collaboration for Schoolio.” Said Sathish Bala. Sathish Bala is founder, and Chief Executive Officer, at Schoolio. “We started our business with the objective to create a better future for kids. This new alliance with One Tree Planted will expand our aim to a greener and more sustainable future. The reforestation efforts conducted through this partnership will help combat the consequences of climate change. Doing so by reducing the carbon footprint and bolstering struggling ecosystems.”

4 goals of this new partnership:

Supporting global reforestation efforts.

Tackling climate change and reversing nature loss by restoring ecosystems.

Raising awareness about environmental concerns, climate change, and it’s setbacks.

Empowering families to take sustainable actions.

We’re joining hands to combat climate change.

One Tree Planted and Schoolio are joining hands for what is one of the most significant methods. That method is to combat climate change together. Both the two organizations aim to plant trees to effectively improve air and water quality around the globe. “A simple act of planting trees can provide crucial ingredients for 25 percent of all medicines. While also yielding a thriving habitat to over 80 percent of terrestrial biodiversity.” Says Matt Hill. Matt Hill is the founder, and Chief Environmental Evangelist, of One Tree Planted. Social impacts of planting trees consists of creating jobs for over 1.6 billion people. This will empower residents, especially women, in underdeveloped nations. While also supporting communities adversely affected by environmental damage.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to work with Schoolio on such an impactful project.” Adds Hill. “Truly, we admire their commitment to creating a greener and more sustainable future for the present and upcoming generations. Our partnership is a prime example of how a positive change for our planet can begin with one simple decision.”

Allowing customers to be involved.

The partnership between Schoolio and One Tree Planted allows customers to be coherently involved in global reforestation efforts. Schoolio will donate 1% of our revenue to plant trees globally. Then local partner organizations and community volunteers plant trees in areas marred by deforestation.

About One Tree Planted:

One Tree Planted is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. That is on a mission to make it simple for everyone to help the environment. And they are doing so simply by planting trees. Consequently, projects by this amazing nonprofit reach around the globe. These projects are done in partnership with local communities and knowledgeable experts. Firstly, they are creating an impact for nature, people, and wildlife. Secondly, reforestation helps to rebuild forests after fires and floods have occurred. Thirdly, providing jobs for social impact.  Most importantly, restoring biodiversity through reforestation. Understandably, many of their projects have overlapping objectives. However, this creates a combination of benefits. That then contributes to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Do you want to learn more about this amazing nonprofit? Visit: onetreeplanted.org

More about Schoolio:

Schoolio is a Canadian education startup company. We provide parents with a range of customizable in-home learning solutions. One of our main goals is to empower parents to be teachers for their students. As a result, we have created easy-to-follow curriculum for Kindergarten to Grade 8. Therefore we have been engaging millions of students with the best learning foundation materials around. Which then brings us to another huge goal of ours. And that is to spark a love of learning for everyone. Our hope is to do so while empowering children to be fully prepared for their futures. Learn more about our exclusive products: https://schoolio.io/shop-grades/

 

Media Contact:

Nirmala Jadoonanan

PR Executive nirmala@schoolio.io

Ways to Make Your Back to Homeschool Fun

10 Ways to Make Your Back-to-Homeschool Fun – Guest Blog by Rebecca Miller

As Fall approaches, many parents are gearing up for their kids to go back to school. I often breathe a sigh of relief that, as a homeschool mom, I dodge the frantic crowds doing their back-to-school shopping. However, as September rolls around and I begin to see all those cute “back-to-school” photos on Instagram. And start to hear about first-day-of-school traditions, I find myself wondering are my kids missing out? Here are 10 ways to make your back-to-homeschool fun.

From my experience:

As a child, I remember my parents always took us out for breakfast to celebrate the first day of school. It was a tradition we followed for most of my public school years. I remember the smell of my new crayons and writing for the first time in a brand new notebook. They are fond memories.

Naturally, I began to lament that my children don’t necessarily have those memories of the first days of a new school year. That ugly mom-guilt started to seep in. But then I started thinking, there’s absolutely no reason they can’t make special start-of-the-year activities! We can make our own traditions as a home learning family!

Even if you homeschool year-round like we do, there is something about Fall that just seems like a fresh beginning. So, whether it’s your first year homeschooling, or your tenth. Here are some ideas for fun ways to celebrate the new school year with your family.

10 Ways to Make your back-to-homeschool fun:

 

1. Make a fun breakfast

As I mentioned, one of my favourite memories was getting dressed up in my new school clothes and going for breakfast with my family on the first day of school. This is something we, as homeschoolers, can also do. Another take on that is to make breakfast together. Does your family love chocolate chip pancakes? What about strawberry waffles? Whatever your favourite breakfast foods are, coming together in the kitchen to create a special breakfast together is a great way to connect, and create memories for the first day of “school.”

2. New school supplies

One of the nice things about homeschooling is that you don’t necessarily have to go to the expense of buying new pens, pencils and crayons each September. We usually use things we have from last year. However, it can also be fun to buy some special extras – maybe some glitter pens, a new colourful notebook or sketchbook, or some new paints. You can set all the new school supplies in a pretty basket on the table for the kids to discover in the morning.

3. New books

I don’t know about you, but I get super excited to get a new book. Do you have a favourite read-aloud or a book your family has been wanting to read? It can be a novel, a book of poetry, a picture book (no matter the age of your kids) or even an audio book. Wrap the book up like a gift and have your learners open it in the morning. Then you can all grab a cup of hot chocolate and sit around and read your new book together.

4. Hit the park

One of the best parts of Fall for homeschoolers is having our parks and playgrounds to ourselves again. During the summer they can be crowded and some kids can become overwhelmed (and adults, too). Its always fun to call up a few homeschool buddies and meet up at the park on the first day of school. Maybe bring a picnic and make a day of it.

5. Hit the road

For some families, the first week of school means a road trip! Remember, homeschool doesn’t have to look like school. The flexibility of educating at home, means homeschooling families have the opportunity to take advantage of trips when other families can’t. Pack up the kids, the dog and the bikes and head to the mountains. You can go camping, hiking, fishing, whatever your heart desires. Remember, it’s about making connections and memories.

6. Visit your favourite museum, science centre or planetarium

Just as the parks empty as kids go back to public school, so do museums and libraries. Which is your favourite “field trip”? Is there a place you haven’t check out yet? Maybe you have a local zoo that you didn’t get a chance to check out, or a botanical garden. Sometimes the cooler weather of the Fall can make the experience even better.

7.  Spirit Week

Do you remember having spirit week at public school? The first week of homeschool can be a great time to have your own Homeschool Spirit Week. Brainstorm with your learners what they think might be fun, or surpise them with a list of what to expect for the week. For example: Monday is wacky hair day, Tuesday is backward day etc.

8. Have a board game day

In our homeschool, we love game-schooling. Gameschooling is where you use board games to teach different skills. Sometimes we learn things without even noticing, because we are having fun. How fun would it be for your kids to come into the family room in the morning and see a variety of games set up to explore? Pick some of your family favourites and maybe grab a new one to try!

9. Go to a matinee

A fun tradition to start (and one that might make your kids feel like their public school friends are missing out!) is to go to a weekday afternoon movie. Look through the movie listings at your local theatre and pick one that your family wants to see. Going to a movie on the first day of school sounds like an awesome tradition to me.

10. Make a vision board

Each year, I set out poster board, glue sticks, magazines, pencil crayons and scissors. I have the kids envision what they want to learn about and get better at this year. What experiences do they want to have this year? What goals do they have? The kids then go through magazines and cut out pictures of things that symbolize their goals for the year and draw pictures and words that describe those things as well. You can hang the posters up or take pictures of them to refer to later in the year.

 

This Blog was written by Rebecca Miller from Heart Based Learning. 

Check her out on Instagram: @heartbasedhomeschoolers

Click here for more information on Heart Based Homeschoolers.

More information from Schoolio before you start homeschool.