Back to [home]School Traditions and Ideas
We are still on summer vacation and August 3rd will be our first day of Kindergarten and Pre-K (which is when the blog posts will pick back up again). I would really like to start some first day of school traditions but I need some ideas! Please share your ideas and traditions by leaving a comment. I will add your ideas to this post!
Ring A School Bell
Big Snail said that we have to ring a school bell (a cow bell he got for Christmas) every morning. He is so serious about this that we can't ring the bell yet because it is only for school. He has decided that I get to ring the bell on the first day to wake everyone up in the morning...and to announce the first day of school. But after that, the "best" student gets to ring the bell to announce the day. His seriousness about this bell thing is super cute!Wrapped Presents
We are building the excitement here by not letting the kids see our new back to school stuff and supplies [not the stuff they picked out for themselves in "Back to School shopping] until the first day of school. When it is time to do that activity/lesson, the kids get to unwrap it! Alicia also says to wrap up school stuff for throughout the year.Time Capsule
We are going to make a time capsule of everything we do on the first day of school and open it on the last day of school.
Self-Portrait and Autobiography
We are going to draw a self portrait and write a story about ourselves. We will answer questions like, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" and "What is your favorite food."
We have a Not Back to School day around here. The first day the public school buses run, we sit on the front porch and wave. Then we pack up our swimsuits and go have ice cream sundaes for breakfast at our Not Back to School swimming party!
We have a Not Back to School day at the local amusement park on the first day of public school. It's a blast and amazing to see so many homeschoolers all together.
So...that's what I have so far. PLEASE help a momma out and share your ideas!!!
First Day of School Picture & Interview
by Karin Katherine
I think its great to take a picture of them on the first day of school and put it in an album with a sample of their handwriting or artwork (if they aren't writing yet) and then "interview them" about their favorite things, what they are looking forward to about school and whatnot. Then do the same thing on the last day of school. Its great to compare!by Karin Katherine
We have a Not Back to School day around here. The first day the public school buses run, we sit on the front porch and wave. Then we pack up our swimsuits and go have ice cream sundaes for breakfast at our Not Back to School swimming party!
We have a Not Back to School day at the local amusement park on the first day of public school. It's a blast and amazing to see so many homeschoolers all together.
Special Breakfast
by Basia and lvlc
by Basia and lvlc
In addition to the self-potrait, why not take photos of the children too. Perhaps you can take a photo in the same spot each year. Also, why not start the day with a special breakfast?
We ALWAYS had a special breakfast. It was oatmeal with grape juice! I started this tradition with my son too! :)
I teach five year olds in Northern Ireland. On the first day of school we introduce the school survival kit. Basically it's a little canvas bag with some items that generate lots of appropriate discussion about caring and sharing etc:
an eraser - we all make mistakes but can fix things too
starburst sweet - we are all stars here
a sponge - we soak up knowledge
chewing gum - we stick together
a tissue - we help each other if we're upset
There are other ideas for contents to be found online :) Some teachers make individual kits for every child!
We ALWAYS had a special breakfast. It was oatmeal with grape juice! I started this tradition with my son too! :)
I teach five year olds in Northern Ireland. On the first day of school we introduce the school survival kit. Basically it's a little canvas bag with some items that generate lots of appropriate discussion about caring and sharing etc:
an eraser - we all make mistakes but can fix things too
starburst sweet - we are all stars here
a sponge - we soak up knowledge
chewing gum - we stick together
a tissue - we help each other if we're upset
There are other ideas for contents to be found online :) Some teachers make individual kits for every child!
Schultuete
by Such Lovely Freckles
A Schultuete of course. :)
Wiki: When children in Germany set off for their first day in school upon entering first grade, their parents and/or grandparents present them with a big cardboard cone, prettily decorated and filled with toys, chocolate, candies, school supplies, and various other goodies. It is given to children to make this anxiously awaited first day of school a little bit sweeter.
Both my children will receive one of those this year. Usually you only get it when you start first grade. But who cares! :) Let's start every year with a biiig surprise.
And here's a link.
Picture of Pirate Schultuete
You can learn to make your own here.
To celebrate the fact that we don't need backpacks, I thought about letting each child pick one out and then donate it to a local school of children from needy families.
Wiki: When children in Germany set off for their first day in school upon entering first grade, their parents and/or grandparents present them with a big cardboard cone, prettily decorated and filled with toys, chocolate, candies, school supplies, and various other goodies. It is given to children to make this anxiously awaited first day of school a little bit sweeter.
Both my children will receive one of those this year. Usually you only get it when you start first grade. But who cares! :) Let's start every year with a biiig surprise.
And here's a link.
Picture of Pirate Schultuete
You can learn to make your own here.
New Ideas for the Backpack
by Alicia and Heather O
I read an interesting article too about how some homeschool kids miss classic school things, a new backpack, etc. So one mom does a backpack, but fill it with fun stuff that regular school kids don't usually have time for. Field trip coupons, "I need a break today" coupons, fun games just for the sake of it, etc.
To celebrate the fact that we don't need backpacks, I thought about letting each child pick one out and then donate it to a local school of children from needy families.
Make a Field Trip Notebook
by heathermommie
I suggested to my sister that we get the kids together & have them each decorate a notebook. After it is finished we will take it on our field trips to draw & write about the trip, or paste clippings in.
So...that's what I have so far. PLEASE help a momma out and share your ideas!!!
Enter to win my products here:
12 friends said...:
Hi,
I teach five year olds in Northern Ireland. On the first day of school we introduce the school survival kit. Basically it's a little canvas bag with some items that generate lots of appropriate discussion about caring and sharing etc:
an eraser - we all make mistakes but can fix things too
starburst sweet - we are all stars here
a sponge - we soak up knowledge
chewing gum - we stick together
a tissue - we help each other if we're upset
There are other ideas for contents to be found online :) Some teachers make individual kits for every child!
In addition to the self-potrait, why not take photos of the children too. Perhaps you can take a photo in the same spot each year. Also, why not start the day with a special breakfast?
Since we don't have any definite beginning or end, I can't really offer any ideas.
I think the self-portrait idea is really cute, but because G is so self-critical of his drawing it would probably turn into a traumatic experience for us. I may gently suggest it anyway and keep my fingers crossed. ;)
Such cute ideas! We have a Not Back to School day around here. The first day the public school buses run, we sit on the front porch and wave. Then we pack up our swimsuits and go have ice cream sundaes for breakfast at our Not Back to School swimming party!
I think its great to take a picture of them on the first day of school and put it in an album with a sample of their handwriting or artwork (if they aren't writing yet) and then "interview them" about their favorite things, what they are looking forward to about school and whatnot. Then do the same thing on the last day of school. Its great to compare!
We have a Not Back to School day at the local amusement park on the first day of public school. It's a blast and amazing to see so many homeschoolers all together.
I sure hope by the time we start our true homeschooling I will do all the things you listed...what fun!
I like the present wrapping idea, but I think it depends on what you got. I for example buy stuff for the entire year, even stuff I know he won't be ready for or isn't in the lesson until the other half of the school year. For that I'd have wrapped presents though out, instead of everything the first day. It'll keep the homeschool fresh a bit too, as the year starts to seem bland.
I read an interesting article too about how some homeschool kids miss classic school things, a new backpack, etc. So one mom does a backpack, but fill it with fun stuff that regular school kids don't usually have time for. Field trip coupons, "I need a break today" coupons, fun games just for the sake of it, etc.
A Schultuete of course. :)
Wiki: When children in Germany set off for their first day in school upon entering first grade, their parents and/or grandparents present them with a big cardboard cone, prettily decorated and filled with toys, chocolate, candies, school supplies, and various other goodies. It is given to children to make this anxiously awaited first day of school a little bit sweeter.
Both my children will receive one of those this year. Usually you only get it when you start first grade. But who cares! :) Let's start every year with a biiig surprise.
And here's a link.
http://shop.ziegfeld-berlin.com/products_pictures/schultuete%20pirat_big.jpg
We ALWAYS had a special breakfast. It was oatmeal with grape juice! I started this tradition with my son too! :)
To celebrate the fact that we don't need backpacks, I thought about letting each child pick one out and then donate it to a local school of children from needy families.
I suggested to my sister that we get the kids together & have them each decorate a notebook. After it is finished we will take it on our field trips to draw & write about the trip, or paste clippings in.
My sister & I are still cooking up ideas for that day!
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