•   Choose a theme and Bible verse for back-to-homeschool Orientation Week or for your school year (e.g., "Study To Show Yourself Approved unto God," II Timothy 2:15).

•   If you are going to do a unit study, you could use its topic for your theme.

•   Or use your school motto or Family Mission Statement and Bible verse (e.g., "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord," Joshua 24:15 or a variation of it, such as "Preparing To Serve").

•   Have a planning meeting beforehand, gather ideas your children want to include, and assign each child a part.

•   Gather your students for a prayer of dedication and a song chosen for your school or for this school year that reflects your theme or school motto.

•   Have Dad make an official Welcome Speech after dinner as everyone sits in the living room.

•   Dad can tell his family how happy he is to have them in his home school and his vision for your family and this homeschool year. See Newsletter #80 on how to write your family's mission statement.

•   Write out your family's rules and consistently require immediate, cheerful obedience.

•   A few principles can cover most rules (e.g., Honor the Lord, Respect and Obey Parents, Be Kind to Siblings).

•   Explain the principles behind your rules from God's Word so that your children understand that they are obeying God, as well as you.

•   Add and explain appropriate consequences for each broken rule and consistently apply them.

•   See information about child training and discipline in Newsletter #45.

•   See the biblically-based charts at Doorposts.

•   Some of these (brush teeth, practice the piano, help with dinner) can be added to your chore chart.

•   Younger children are usually motivated by stickers or stars to help them establish good habits.

•   Read about how to establish good habits in Newsletters #89 and #90.

•   Walk through your home with your children, showing them the locations of study areas, reference and school books, supplies, and free play areas.

•   Make sure there are properly labeled places for all books and supplies.

•   Help each child set up a notebook or section of a notebook for each subject. In it he will keep his class syllabus (see below), assignments, notes, etc.

•   Pass out supplies to your children with any instruction for their use (e.g., messy art supplies) and their storage locations.

•   Type up, tape to computer, and discuss rules for safe use of the Internet, including the length of time your child can sit at the computer.

•   Filtered Internet service is a good start, but is only the first step in providing protection for your children.

•   See 10 guidelines for safe computer use. Safest — keep Internet use in an open area, often frequented by family members or be with your child when he is on the Internet.

•   Discuss principles of how to study: concentration, preview, reading, note taking, review, drill of certain facts, etc.

•   Show where to look up information in reference books in your home library or on the Internet.

•   Familiarize your children with your updated chore chart (with or without allowance attached) or take time to make one with your children.

•   Review expectations of exactly how and when each chore should be done.

•   See "Ways To Teach Responsibility through Chores" in Newsletter #45.

•   Assign one of your children to be Teacher's Assistant for each of your classes. Your assistant can be in charge of books, supplies, special activities, supplementary videos, etc. This will (hopefully) help you and get your child more involved.

•   Dad and Mom could prepare one or more devotional times to share their goals for the spiritual growth of the family. Examples:

•   Both Pensacola Christian College and Bob Jones University conduct Evangelistic or Revival Meetings as part of their Orientation Week.

•   BJU's handbook explains that their rules are intended to help students by "promoting holy living by removing as much as possible the influences of worldliness and evil from a student's life while he learns to walk in the Spirit," so that the student may "develop in his likeness and usefulness to Jesus Christ."

•   Discuss goals and objectives with each child individually, and explain how each fits into the big picture of his future.

•   Ask each child what he thinks should be different in his life at this time next year.

•   See information on setting goals and objectives in Newsletter #81.

•   Present an overview of what your children should expect from each class.

•   Preview the classes, discussing the purpose of the class (how the information learned will be used), the goals (what the student will learn), and the content (outline of topics).

•   See a list of practical uses and applications of knowledge in various subject areas.

•   Introduce one of the year's courses each day during the week.

•   Present a written syllabus that includes a course outline, book list, units/chapters, supplementary materials, assignments, and planned dates for units, tests, and activities as well as methods of assessment.

•   If you don't have all this information now, write what you do have, especially for the first unit, and leave space to add more later.

•   Go over your schedule (or take time to write out your "time budget") and explain the times for classes, meals, chores, family devotions, and Lights Out (regular bedtimes).

•   Post copies of your schedule in several places where all can see.

•   Explain your Master Calendar and the procedure to place an engagement on the calendar.

•   Write out a list of activities for students to do when you are giving another student individual attention so that they can use their time constructively and work independently (e.g., older children can take turns supervising young ones or big sister or brother might do some of the tutoring).

•   Give older children their own lesson plan books so they can carry on with assignments while you work with younger students.

•   Make a picture list of acceptable activities younger children can do when they are waiting for your help, such as puzzles, coloring, etc.

•   Plan a dinner, a picnic, a special tea, a dessert reception, a pizza party, or anything festive that your family would enjoy together.

•   This is a good event to share with another home-school family.

•   Find a video that will both entertain and stimulate interest in your upcoming studies, e.g., history, science, or geography.

•   Take photos of each child and your whole family together, frame, and hang them.

•   Buy matching T-shirts, with or without your family's or school's name, motto, verse, or logo.  These are great for field trips and to build team spirit!