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Back to School: Planning Homeschool Recess

8/31/2015

by Lyn Lomasi; Owner of Intent-sive Nature & Brand Shamans Content Community

Image © Wonderlane; Flickr.com

You have the learning materials ready, corresponding field trips planned out, and have turned your home into a classroom. Everything is perfect. But what about recess? For homeschoolers, back to school time means planning many things. But how do you fit in recess without having a fully stocked gym on hand? For me, it was all about figuring out which types of physical activities worked well with only one to five people.

Make a list of activities appropriate for the number of people in your family. Talk about activities that will work for the number of people in your family. Some easily adjustable activities include volleyball, bike riding, basketball, relay races, jogging or running, dancing, yoga, hiking, and swimming. Have everyone make suggestions and make a list of the ones that can be adjusted (if necessary) for the number of people you have. Take at least one suggestion from each family member to avoid arguments and keep things fair.

Make a schedule that fits all those activities. Now that you have your activities worked out, you need to figure out when to do them all. We like to rotate our favorites throughout the week so that we are never doing the same activity two days in a row. Typically, our school day would always start with yoga or Pilates. But recess time could be anything from basketball, to hiking the trails, or even dancing around the house. As long as the schedule includes doing some type of physical activity every day, that's a good thing. If one or more family members plays on a sports team or has other classes involving physical activity, those may need to go on the schedule. Consider the times they occur and where it would need to be allowed.

Keep a 'free day' where people can do solo activities. A free day where each person can do their own thing (within reason) for recess helps keep things fair. This makes up for the fact that there may be some activities that not everyone in the family wants to do. This way, one child could shoot hoops while another jump ropes and you do your power yoga. Sometimes, even on free days, we may choose to do something together, such as take an extra hike along the trails. The free day should simply be used however everyone agrees on said day.

Alternatively, invest in a family gym membership. If you just cannot keep it together or get everyone to agree on things, consider joining the gym as a family. Many gyms now offer classes for all ages. This means your kids could be exercising by doing the latest hip-hop dance while you attend an advanced yoga class. Younger kids could be doing beginner yoga or tumbling or babies can attend parent and baby stretch or yoga classes. There are likely classes you could all take together as well.

LAST UPDATED: 8/24/2022

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

Discuss favorites from your list. Now that you have a list, figure out what everyone's favorites are and narrow it down to a comfortable number for scheduling purposes. I find it helpful to take votes until the activities are narrowed down comfortably enough to not be overwhelming. If no one can agree via voting, stick a small folded note for each activity in a basket or jar and randomly draw them until you have enough. To make it fair, the basket or jar can be passed around so each person can draw something until enough activities have been fulfilled. Because we have a large family, I find drawing activities to be the most effective at keeping things equal for everyone.

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Back to School: Establishing a Homeschool Routine

8/31/2015

by Lyn Lomasi; Owner of Intent-sive Nature & Brand Shamans Content Community

Back to school time! The fall season brings on new challenges for homeschooled kids, as well as those in a more traditional school setting. It's your family's first year homeschooling and you need to establish a routine. Having experienced the beginning-of-the-year dread several times over, I've learned a thing or two. When you have a basic plan, most things just fall into place as they come. Establishing a routine from the beginning makes each homeschool day much less stressful. If your children learn throughout the summer, like mine often do, then you may already have a taste of what the school year will be like.

Figure out your family's learning style. Will your family be educated primarily at home or will you be on the go? Is unschooling right for you? Montessori, classic, or eclectic? Will you be taking field trips a couple times per year or daily? We like to integrate field trips into lessons where possible. Decide what your family's main homeschool style will be as well as how and where it will be implemented. Use this information to establish your routine by working together. It's much easier to stay on track when you have an idea of the general direction you want to take things.

Consider your existing family schedule. Do the kids participate in dance, karate, basketball, piano, or other extracurricular activities? If so, then you'll need to remember to work that schedule into your homeschool schedule. Prioritize all of the existing activities, chores, and jobs. Is there anything in the existing schedule that can be rearranged or eliminated if necessary? I find it helpful to number each schedule item in order of importance. That way, if something needs to be changed, I can easily see what to start rotating or eliminating first.

Have a family meeting. This is an absolute must to get everyone on the same page. Establish the routine by discussing goals, expectations, scheduling, and more. Give everyone a chance to speak and ask questions so that nothing is left unsaid. It's easier to establish your homeschool routine when it's clear what everyone wants and needs. Take everyone's thoughts into consideration before finalizing anything. While you may not be able to give Johnny that wish of 169 recess days and one school day for the year, you can probably make sure he gets to ride his bike for recess a few times per week.

Make a schedule. It's important to do this during the family meeting so that everyone has input, as far as what's scheduled. It's also essential establishing a routine. If everyone knows how things will be from the beginning, the day to day process will run more smoothly. Be sure to allow time for getting to any destinations outside the home when creating the schedule. For instance, if one child needs to be at soccer practice at 2 p.m, be sure to allow time in between the previous class and getting to the soccer field. Remember that your schedule can be more flexible than in a traditional classroom. If necessary, schoolwork can resume after the soccer practice.

Be clear and consistent about what's expected. Talk about how the schedule will work, as well as what each person is expected to do. Every family member should know the overall learning style and methods being implemented. It should be clear that if you choose unschooling the eclectic way, everyone should stick to that. Unschooling is a bit more flexible, as far as establishing a routine. But rules do need to be laid out, such as the fact that even if the operational mood is relaxed, learning should still be taking place.

LAST UPDATED 8/24/2022

* I originally published this content via Yahoo Contributor Network: http://web.archive.org/web/20140806195145/http://shine.yahoo.com/back-homeschool-establishing-routine-190300503.html

Back to School: Must-Have Accessories For Homeschoolers On The Go

8/17/2015

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

It's back to school time! Homeschoolers on the go need to always have certain items on hand. But do you know what they are? If your homeschooling family is like ours, it will make learning so much easier if you keep certain on the go accessories around. Whether you need materials to save the lesson for later, study while on the move, or create memories, my family's experiences may help.

A compact digital camera camcorder adds to the lesson. Kids who are encouraged to film and take pictures of specific items and lessons can get a double lesson. It also serves as a great memory for later. We like to take pictures of the nature we view, places we go, as well as just fun moments that we have. This helps us recall the lessons we learned together as a homeschooling family. But it also gives us great family memories. Sometimes lessons happen when you least expect them. Always having a camera ready can help you capture those moments. A cell phone with a good camera will also work.

Never forget your library card at home. Even if you hadn't planned a trip to the library, it can come up at a moment's notice. Homeschoolers on the go often learn right at the library. But how many times have you been on a homeschool excursion and need to get a book to accent what you've learned? What if the library is closer to you than your house? Do you really want to go all the way back home, just for a library card? Never forget library cards for all family members. One trick I like to use is to place the library card (and other important cards) on an I.D. necklace or bracelet. This way, it's less difficult for everyone to forget theirs.

Collection slides and petri dishes are a must. Homeschool outings to the lake or pond can produce some interesting results. The same can even be said for a drainage ditch, walking trail, and even just a city walk to the store. Specimen or petri dishes and collection slides come in handy in many instances. Homeschoolers on the go should never leave home without them. Collecting specimens is just one more way of being able to continue the lesson at home. If you have a microscope, they come in handy even more. We've collected bugs, leaves, moss, pond water, and more all because we had some type of collection dish with us. Nature happens all around us.

A small laptop or tablet serves several purposes. Need a place to take notes? Perhaps you just showed the kids a certain dinosaur and need some follow up questions or activities? We've used the laptop to watch educational movies, research something relevant to the day's studies, and even to take notes. All of the above and more contribute to laptop being a must-have for homeschoolers on the go. Smaller notebook computers or tablets may be better than the full-sized versions, as they are more compact for easier traveling. Look for thinner, lightweight models, if you don't already have a small computer to use.

A fully charged cell phone keeps you prepared. Ever get lost on the way to a homeschool field trip? Don't have GPS? No problem. A charged cell phone that has Internet capabilities can help. Cell phones with GPS or even capabilities to visit online maps can be used to tell people where you are, as well as lead you to your destination. Then, of course, depending on where you are going, you may need to call and talk to that company. On the less cheery side of things, cell phones also come in handy if something goes wrong. Cell phones with cameras will also eliminate the need for a separate camera.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Shine/ Yahoo Contributor Network

Back to School: Benefits of Holding Homeschool Outside

8/17/2015

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Back to school...err, homeschool! It's that time of year again, when kids are learning more and studying for longer periods of time. For many homeschoolers, school never truly ends, but it can slow down during the summer. If you want to try something different with the kids this school year, consider the benefits of holding homeschool classes outside.

Fresh Air & Breeze is Great Stimulation

One great benefit of holding class outside during homeschool hours is the fresh air. Kids can smell the fragrance of fresh flowers, plants, and other aromas. The mental stimulation can be a great educational motivator. Students also may enjoy feeling a warm or cool breeze as they concentrate on their school assignments. Move desks outside or simply lounge on a picnic blanket or in a tree.

Outdoor Scenes Correlate Well With Hands-On Learning

Many hands-on learning activities will be done best outdoors and if class is held outside it's easy to combine hands-on learning with study materials. For instance, when a child studies the life cycle of a butterfly, rather than only read about it in a book, a child could actually observe butterflies outside. When studying the way in which plants grow, children can plant and grow their own gardens and see how that relates to what they are learning. There are many ways to use the outdoors in classroom studies. ChildrenAndNature.org is one organization dedicated to connecting children and nature (and contains news, resources, tips, and more).

More Room to Stretch While Learning Outside

Stretching between school assignments is necessary for students. Holding class outside gives even more room and freedom to do so. There will be much more room to stretch or even do a mini yoga session for focus and relaxation. Kids can stretch on a patio or even in the grass. They even can take a few minutes to play on a playground or elsewhere in the yard if they need a break between lessons. While this is also possible for an inside homeschool class, it’s more roomy and convenient to do so outdoors.

Calming Learning Setting

Holding class outside can make for a great calming setting for the kids to learn the lessons in. The swaying of the trees, the fresh air mentioned above, birds chirping, and other outdoor sights and sounds can help soothe and relax the kids. When kids are calm, their minds are more likely to be prepared for learning.

Fun for Students

Some kids may just love the idea of having homeschool outside. The idea of being outdoors instead of inside at a desk or table may simply sound fun to students. Even though education will be taking place, why not make it fun as well? When kids are in an enjoyable environment, they may be more likely to pay attention to their school lessons.

Variety in Scenery

If your kids are getting bored during a homeschool class, it may be time to add some variety. Holding class outside is one way to do that. Try holding class outside in the backyard, at a park, at the zoo, at the library, at museums, and more. Holding class in a variety of places may help hold a child's interest and keep him or her excited to learn.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

Back to School: Planning Homeschool Recess

Back to School: Establishing a Homeschool Routine

Back to School: Must-Have Accessories For Homeschoolers On The Go

Back to School: Benefits of Holding Homeschool Outside

Heart 'N Mind Homeschool Journal

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