•  10 Goals and Purposes of Orientation Week

 •  How To Use These Orientation Week Suggestions

 •  "Why Do We Have To Learn This Stuff?"

 •  Choose a theme and Bible verse for your back-to-homeschool Orientation Week and/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 whole family 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 that each one is part of his family and home school. Then he can present and explain his vision for the family and for this homeschool year. See Newsletter #313 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, Do your work cheerfully).

 •  Explain the principles from God's Word that are behind your rules 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 21 Rules of This House by Gregg Harris, posted on his blog.

 •  See the biblically-based charts, such as the "If-Then Chart," 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.

 •  Read about seven supply items that make planning and organizing your homeschool easier – and fun!

 •  Help each child set up a notebook or section of a notebook for each subject or unit.  In it he will keep his class syllabus (see #14 below), assignments, notes, etc.

 •  Pass out supplies to your children with any instructions 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.  The safest option is to 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.

 •  Explain to your children the benefits of working together, each doing his part on time and going the second mile.  Find and memorize related Scriptures.

 •  Familiarize your children with your updated chore chart (with or without allowance attached) or take time to make one with your children.  See Doorposts' "Service Opportunities Chart."

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

 •  See "7 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 as well.

 •  Your older children can also help teach your younger one.

I have received The Teaching Home for many years, decades actually, from the hard copy issues (which still have a place on our bookshelf) to this current e-mail format.

We have taught our six children through high school and a couple through some college level material.

As our children have matured, they have expressed gratitude for many aspects of their homeschooling experience.  One such experience was their responsibility of teaching a younger sibling.

This responsibility was not only for academic subjects, but also life skills (cooking, cleaning, changing a tire, preserving the garden harvest) for both our sons and daughters.

Having to impart understanding and skill to another person requires a high level of mastery of the subject as well as investment in the student.

It was a character training environment for both of them!  It also has played a part in their love and concern for each other as adults.

Thank you for the volumes of wisdom you have shared.  May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ continue to guide and equip you.  – Christine L., Vermont

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

 •  For example, 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."  These are great goals for Christian homeschool families to adopt.

 •  Discuss goals and objectives, individually and privately, with each child and explain how each goal fits into the big picture of his personal 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 #313.

 •  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 "Why Do We Have To Learn This Stuff?" in the sidebar at left.  It lists 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 for each course 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).  See Newsletter #287.

 •  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.

 •  Present your collections of educational audio and video resources (such as those carried by Sing 'n Learn) to be used for occupying students' "down time."

 •  Have children practice their music (guitar or piano:  Jean Welles Worship Guitar Class) or art (How Great Thou Art).

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

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

 •  See the DVDs offered by Franklin Springs Family Media that set forth a vision for the fullness of a God-honoring family life.

 •  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!

Our family has enjoyed homeschooling for over 20 years.

Our first day of school starts with a scavenger hunt.  Each clue our children find leads them to a new item we have purchased for them and another clue.

School supplies, pencils, markers, sharpeners, but also books and crafts that go with that year's subject of study, are cleverly hidden throughout the house or yard.

As I go through the exhibit hall at our annual homeschool convention, I look for books, art supplies, hands-on projects, games etc., for example paint-able nesting dolls for our Russia Unit Study.

Our children have looked forward to first day of school with eager anticipation, building excitement for the studies to come.

As this summer comes to a close, our last child to homeschool is already asking if we will still do a hunt, though just for her.  Of course we will; I have been collecting so many cool things!

Submitted by Rosemary, California.

How about a few days, or the night before school starts, Mom holds an open house night for your family.

Dad could take the kids out to dinner, or somewhere, for a few hours while Mom sets up the school room for the year.  When Dad returns, the kids get to "meet the teacher" and explore the school room.

This would probably work best for first year homeschool families or very young children.  It might get a little redundant for older children.

Submitted by Stephanie B.