Okay, honestly. Are you sitting there wondering what in the world  is a funky fresh back to back to homeschool celebration? It’s that type of back to homeschool celebration idea every homeschool mom needs in order to get back in the groove after a super awesome summer break. You know what I mean. I’m that mom. You’re that mom. So let’s get to it.

Here are your 11 Funky Fresh Back to Homeschool Celebration Ideas.

Funky Fresh Back to Homeschool Countdown

Okay, to make the list, the idea had to have 2 criteria. First, it had to be funky. And by funky I mean it had to be something your kids enjoy, but also might roll their eyes at. (If you allow your kids to roll their eyes. Which of course, no self-respecting homeschool perfectionist ever would.)

Second, it had to be fresh. Fresh as in new and not your typical back to homeschool countdown lists.  And of course, it had to be a back to homeschool celebration.  Are you ready, mama? Let’s do this thing.

1. Host a Popcorn and Movie Party

Don’t dust of those homeschool books just yet. Mom, you have the power to make a back to school celebration they’ll remember all year long. You can host a popcorn and movie party. All day.

Here’s some help:

• 25 Movies Families Can Watch Together
• Movies for Educational Purposes in Homeschool Highschool
• Talking About the Movies
• Choosing Family Movies in an X-rated World
• Movies, Media, and Teaching some Discernment
• Using Movies as Curriculum
• Missions, Movies, and Lifeschooling
• Top 50 Kid Friendly Movies
• Podcast: Top 50 Christian Films
• Top 30 Family Films for Older Kids

2. Matching Tee Shirts

Visit your local Hobby Lobby or Walmart and grab some low price tee shirts, tee shirt paint, markers, or even tie dye. Put a tablecloth down on the kitchen table and let everyone go to town designing their own back to homeschool celebration tee shirt. If you want them to match, add your homeschool theme or Bible verse. Voila! Insta worthy.

3. Write a Homeschool Anthem

You can totally do this. Pick a familiar tune, such as your state song or favorite hymn. Change out the words to reflect your unique homeschool. Keep it fun and reverent. Dad can vote on the winner (if you’re the competitive type family), or treat everyone to a trip for soft serve ice cream to celebrate.

4. Start with a Field Trip Someplace Weird

Search out an unusual and  unique to your region field trip spot and make a day of it. It doesn’t need to be educational. Fun is the name of the game. It can be food related, someplace you love to go, or someplace you’ve never been.

If you really can’t stand the thought of someplace unusual, you can still use this idea, try this article, Homeschooling by the Field Trip Method.

For the adventurous moms, (you know who you are):

• Only in Your State
• Stress Free Field Trips
• Mini Vacations & Fun Day Trips
• Best Summertime Day Trips
• How Tech Can Help You Homeschool When You Travel

5. Host an Open House

I know, you’re thinking NO WAY. After all, you get enough flack over homeschooling. The last thing you want to do is invite the naysayers in! I’m not talking about that type of open house. I’m suggesting you organize your homeschool stuff, go ahead and have your first week of homeschooling, and on that weekend invite the welcoming grandparents and family members over to celebrate with you. Show off your best sample from last year or the week and let your more outgoing kiddos share a poem, picture, or paper. Go ahead and brag a little on all those color coordinated binders.

Need some insight or tips? Here you go:

• Grandparents and Homeschooling Highschool
• Podcast: Grandparents Who Homeschool
• Grandparents and Homeschooling
• Raising Honorable Kids

6. Paper Shredding

Every year should be a fresh start for your kids, and for you. Why not make it official? You can pick up an inexpensive paper shredder from Walmart or Amazon for the event. Explain to your students that last year was last year. It’s time for a fresh start. Allow them to pick something from their last year’s work, or write a list that only they read. One by one shred the list or work. When the little ceremony is done, give thanks in prayer for new beginnings.

7. Audio Book Bonanza

If you’re looking for a non visual way to have some non bookish back to homeschool celebration fun, try audiobooks. Let the kiddos draw, craft, play legos, play a board game, or rest while listening to audiobooks. Our family enjoyed Lamplighters, Laura Ingalls, Where the Red Fern Grows, and Your Story Hour.

Need some more audio inspiration? Listen in:

• Audiobooks in Homeschooling
• The Importance of Fun

8. Homeschool in Reverse

Be a student in your own homeschool for the day. Let the kids take turns as instructor. Encourage fun and parody. It’s worthwhile to establish ground rules so parody doesn’t get taken too far and feelings aren’t hurt. But, if you’re a family who enjoys and thrives on this kind of fun, let me tell you, you’ll learn heaps about how your kids view their homeschool experience. Keep an open mind and heart.

9. Different Decade Homeschool Day

I could’ve called this one Homeschool Appreciation Day, for truly we stand on the shoulders of giants in homeschooling. Pick a decade when homeschooling wasn’t legal in your state, or when legislation was oppressive. Don’t scare your kids, but do help them see how the freedom to homeschool was hard won. Give thanks in prayer for the freedom to legally homeschool.

Grateful to homeschool research list:

• A Brief History of Homeschooling
• Homeschooling is Legal, Here’s Why

and Internationally:  Finland: Heroic Single Mother Withstands School Officials

10. Christmas List Making Homeschool Style

Who doesn’t love to shop or make a wish list? Collect catalogs from homeschooling vendors, visit Amazon.com, visit your favorite homeschool website, or even buzz the Walmart with notepads in hand. Give each student a budget then make a wish list of items related to learning that you’d love to have show up under your make believe homeschool tree.

11: Back to Homeschool Giveaway

Hey, $250 buckaroos isn’t anything to sneeze at. 🙂 Enter to win the gift card and snag some funky fresh  stuff for your homeschool. Or spend on yourself, Mom. We won’t tell. Best of luck! (Be sure to subscribe to our emails  where everyone gets a FREEBIE & where the winner will be announced!)

Have an awesome, funky fresh back to homeschool celebration. Send us pics! We’d love to celebrate with you.

PS. Some day we can chat about why Homeschool Karaoke didn’t make the list. 🙂

*This article was written for The Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network by Gina Glenn, copywriter and podcast hostess of Mommy Jammies Podcast.

It’s Back to (Home) School time!!

It’s that time of year, when many homeschoolers are busy preparing for a new school year.  Some of you may have already started your new year, and some of you may have never stopped!

I’ve gotten together with a great group of bloggers to make getting ready for the new school year just a little bit easier and hopefully a little less stressful on your wallet.  How does $250 sound in helping you buy curriculum, books, games, puzzles, and educational supplies?  Two people will win a $250 gift card to Christianbook.com!!

We know homeschooling can put financial strain on families – whether it’s from living on one-income or buying curriculum for your children – the financial aspect of it can be stressful.  Our hope is that we can bless a couple of homeschool families (although we wish we could bless many more) so they can buy the curriculum and supplies they need.

To enter for your chance to win, simply use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.  Now I know that is quite a few entries for you, but each of these bloggers has generously chipped in their own money to make this giveaway possible, so I hope you will take the time to do all of the entries.  And hey, the more entries you do, the better your odds are of winning!

Giveaway ends August 16th, 2019 at 11:59pm ET.  Must be at least 18 years of age.  Must be a resident of U.S. or Canada to enter.  Selected winners will have 48 hours to respond to email notification to claim their prizes or another winner will be drawn.  By entering this giveaway, you agree to be added to the email lists of the participating bloggers (see the Terms & Conditions on the Rafflecopter form for the complete list).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PPS. For more funky fresh (and also serious, sigh) homeschool fun, join the Podcast Family Facebook group.

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