Thanks for sharing! We do some of the same things. Here are some other things we do, in case it helps anyone brainstorm. I switched to printing their first day of school signs on cardstock. I get one too, and any kids younger than school age. Last year we did handprints with paint on the back afterward. The papers with the handprints are already labeled this way! We use a prize store and each year I make changes to how the rules work and what the prizes are, largely based on evaluating what worked well and what didn't during the previous year. So it's fun to introduce that to them. We've tried different schedule systems (shorter terms, traditional quarters, etc.) for the year and I've always had something for the first week and/or last week to help shake things up and make it more tangible. That might be he week we do art projects, go swimming, skip a subject, do science projects, etc. Also a good time to make any necessary changes to routine, expectations or curriculum. I'm not always able to, but I try to have some time to reflect on all of that for each quarter or whatever unit we're using at the time. (5 or 6 week terms was helpful as a newer homeschool mom and with younger kids, but now full quarters are working better for us.) Out of the ordinary meals. Maybe a family movie night with dessert for dinner at the end of the week. New busy box items for younger kids. (I have one bin inside and a few bins in the garage by category to swap out with periodically.) Extra flexibility with the agenda as we work out kinks. (Something you do during that soft launch month.) I hand out new planners and make sure everyone knows what's expected of them for each day and each subject. I'm sure I have more things written down with my school stuff.
I love these ideas! I have to nail down my ideas. Definitely a special breakfast. I could do gifts 🤔 I need to do pics…so many fun tradition possibilities! 🎉
I thought about the brave conference but we will be travelling for our last event!!! I love the idea of starting a month early!!! I grab bible studies as needed but not thought of grabbing them at the beginning of the school year!!! We can’t take photos in the same location with our adventurous life but we have many photos of them as we are about to start a curriculum!!!
