50 Days of Home School

Have you started school yet?  I made the executive decision to start my high schoolers but let my others wait until after Labor Day.  I needed just a bit more time to get organized.  After our family's summer of doctors, surgeries, and even a hospital stay, I wasn't quite ready to jump into school when I thought I would be.  My plan to start during Shark Week got all busted up when my husband developed an infection after surgery.

I have always preferred to start after Labor Day - that just makes the most sense for us - but since I have a senior this year, and graduation is in May, I kept telling myself we needed to start earlier.  Finally I realized he needed to start earlier, not necessarily all of us.  Duh.  :)

It's remarkable, the peace (and productivity) that comes from giving yourself the space you need - especially calendar space.  With this one additional week I've been able to get our school closet organized, finish the paperwork for our umbrella school, order some of the books the kids need, help our oldest get going with college, practice our new schedule, finish reading our summer book to the kids, entertain company three different times, catch up the laundry, and work on some projects around the house.  We will be in a much better place when we start school next week rather than if I had pushed and tried to start sooner.  (Plus the kids have spent their time visiting the library, reading, coloring and making art projects, doing some math practice tests, working on stuff for co-op, and learning verses for AWANA - most people would call that school anyhow.)

I wrote this sample of schooling a while back and I thought it might be useful to you.  You are welcome to it and can tweak it however you want.  There may be things your children already know or things they are not quite ready for.  Use it in a way that fits your children and your school.  I hope you enjoy it.

50 Days of Home School

1. Teach your children the difference between then and than.
2. Show your children how to write a thank you note.  Choose someone to thank and put it in the mail.
3. Pick a passage of scripture to memorize (large or small).  Begin learning it with your children.
4. Have the children draw self portraits.  Frame them and hang them in your home.
5. Bake up something fun in the kitchen.  Have the children double the ingredients for fraction practice.
6. Have the children learn The Pledge of Allegiance.
7. Begin reading The Boxcar Children.
8. Teach your children about to, too, and two.
9. Choose an insect and learn all about it.
10. Go on a run/walk with your kids today.  Drink lots of water when you get back home.
11. Teach your children the correct way to set a table.
12. Practice math facts today (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division).
13. Have the children pay for their breakfast, lunch, and dinner using play money.
14. Learn all about the Pilgrims.  Read a book, make a craft, etc.
15. Teach your children about they're, there, and their.
16. Visit a museum.  Have your children journal about something new they learned.
17. Have a Spelling Bee (with prizes).
18. Complete a jigsaw puzzle.
19. Have your children write a one page essay on what they want to be when they grown up.
20. Learn about the life cycle of a frog.  Get some tadpoles if you can.
21. Teach your children what a noun is, and a verb, and an adverb and an adjective.
22. Make sure your children can correctly write their full name, address and phone number.
23. Talk about Stranger Danger and come up with a special code word today.
24. Choose a President and learn all about him.
25. Read a book about a missionary.  Write letters to a missionary also. 
26. Visit a zoo.  Have kids journal about what they saw and heard (and smelled). 
27. Start memorizing Periodic Table of the Elements with your children.  It's fun!
28. Have a tea party and practice table manners.  (No elbows or talking with food in your mouth!)
29. Learn the names of the planets.
30. Plan and practice for a Family Talent Show.  Send out invitations if you'd like.
31. Paint pet rocks.
32. Teach your children about your and you're.  (You're welcome!)
33. Practice telling time with an analog clock.
34. Visit a nursing home.  Show love and compassion to the older folks there.  Bring smiles!
35. Begin reading Heidi.
36. Have the children make up a Math test for you to take.  They have to grade it too.
37. Read the story of Creation in the Bible.  Make creation posters.  
38. Choose a country and learn all about it today.  (People, food, clothing, customs, etc.)
39. Visit the Fire Department.  Go home and study all about fire safety.
40. Have the children write stories to read aloud after dinner.  Extra credit for illustrations!
41. Schedule a cleaning at the dental office and learn about teeth today.
42. Hike.  Have the children write about what they see when you reach your destination.
43. Teach your children an old hymn.  Together find out all you can about the author.
44. Begin reading Where the Red Fern Grows.
45. Study how Christmas is celebrated in different countries.
46. For today, put together kits to give to the people at stoplights and gas stations asking for help.
47. Spend the day outside with a magnifying glass.  Have the children journal about each thing they observe.
48. Have your children learn The Star Spangled Banner.
49. Bake muffins, share some with a neighbor, and read If You Give a Moose a Muffin.
50. Visit a Recycling Center.  Help the children set up a recycling station at home.

If you have any questions about my 50 Days feel free to ask.  I will be happy to help you in any way I can.  This is part one of three.  I will post another one in a month or so.  If you follow along you will have 150 days of homeschooling taken care of.  The only request I have is if you use this will you let me know?  (And if possible share it with someone - thanks!!)

Have a cozy home school year!