Back-to-School for Homeschoolers Too!

 

We are now entering our fourth year of homeschooling and, quite frankly, I am sick to death of all the whining,crying (my 9 year old son), fighting (both), sarcastic comments and eye-rolls (11 year old daughter).  I don't actually think sending them back to a brick and mortar building is the answer. My running and screaming from the house?  That may be an option.

Even though we homeschool, we tend to follow a schedule similar to public school.  It's what we all seem comfortable with.  Since they both attended school for a few years, I like to do some of the same things that other kids do.  This year, they received a letter that told them who their teacher is and what is expected of them. Please feel free to copy, paste, and print out a copy for your own homeschool, changing the information.  Also, feel free to change some of the somewhat sarcastic nature that my children have come to expect from me but, may not be right for your needs.

August 27, 2014,

Dear ____________,

Welcome Back to The Judd Family Homeschool!  We hope you had a wonderful and fun-filled summer vacation!  You will be entering_____grade in just a few days!  Your teacher will be ____________.

As a student at The Judd Family Homeschool, you will be expected to demonstrate the following helpful behaviors:

1.    Please be prepared.  Make sure all your books, pencils, and pens are ready to go at 9:00AM whether you are at your own school or are traveling to our babysitting location (or appointment, car ride, activity, etc.)

2.    There will be a positive attitude at all times.  Whining, complaining, and irritating other student or your teacher will result in unpleasant consequences. For example, you may lose your allowance or iPod or Kindle privileges.

3.    Work for the week will be presented on the Sunday before.  Please look it over and make sure you know what books you will need.

4.    All work must be completed at the end of the week or it will be done on the weekend.

5.    Some of our lessons will be done together, such as science and some social studies.

6.    No whining about CNN Student News.

7.    No whining about math

8.    Or reading.

9.    Or writing.

10. Please be aware that sarcasm and a poor attitude towards the other student, simply because he or she breathes or looks in your direction, in not tolerated.  Neither is throwing, hitting, kicking, screaming, or scratching.  Those actions are reserved for your teacher to do, alone, behind her locked bedroom door when any of the above happens.

11. Remember you are role-models, not only when representing homeschoolers in public, but in the homeschool community.  Again, no whining.

12. Finally, NO WHINING!

Have a wonderful year and try not to torture your teacher/mother/sibling!

Under this, I wrote in pen, "No wandering around aimlessly."

I hope this can work for you!  I hope it can work for me!