Post by Charity on Sept 5, 2005 10:57:32 GMT -5
Many homeschoolers have already started school and many are returning to homeschool this week. Getting oriented for the year is very important. This is from the teaching home magazine.
Goals and Purposes of Orientation Week
Orientation is "introductory instruction concerning a new
situation." It could accomplish some or all of the following
purposes.
• Give a more "official" status to your home school.
• Help students (and teacher) to settle into the school routine.
• Start your year with a balance of fun and informative activities.
• Introduce the various studies and activities you plan for the
coming year.
• Make your children feel settled and informed before the
academic year begins.
• Stir curiosity and provide motivation for learning specific
topics.
• Inspire efforts to reach goals.
• Explain your expectations and procedures to your children.
• Provide a special opportunity to discuss all aspects of your
family's life -- what you will be doing, why, and how.
• Establish your home school routine to smooth the way for your
child's enjoyment of his study experience; if he is happy, he
will study better!
• Stir your child's excitement about your coming year.
20 Orientation Week Activities
1. Theme
• You might choose a theme for your orientation week or school
year (such as "Study To Show Yourself Approved" or
"Preparing for Our Tomorrows," etc.).
• If you are doing a unit study, you could use that for a
theme.
2. Annual Opening Ceremony
• Make a fanfare with students gathering for the pledge of
allegiance to the American flag, a prayer of dedication,
a song chosen for your school or for this school year.
• Have a planning meeting beforehand, gather ideas your
children want to include, and assign each child a part.
3. Welcome by the President
• 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 why. Read some Scripture.
4. Review of Rules
• Write out your family's rules (even the obvious ones such as:
Honor the Lord, Respect and Obey Parents, Be Kind to
Siblings, Do Chores without Reminders, Pick Up after
Yourself, etc.) and consistently require instant, willing
obedience.
• Explain the principles behind your rules from God's Word.
• Add and explain appropriate consequences for each broken
rule and consistently apply them.
5. Reinforcement of Personal Habits
• 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.
6. Tour of Campus
• Make a map of your home (or have your children make one with
you) showing where study areas, school books, and supplies are
(supposed to be) located.
7. Notebooks 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.
• You might need to take time during your orientation week to
go shopping for needed school supplies.
8. Information Technology
• Type up, tape to computer, and discuss rules for safe
(supervised) use of the Internet (including the length of
time your child can sit at the computer).
• 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.
9. Volunteer and/or Part-Time Employment Opportunities
(For a "Sense of Community and Volunteerism")
• This is where you unveil your 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.
10. List of Leadership Opportunities
• Assign one of your children to be "Assistant Teacher" for
each of your classes. Your assistant can be in charge of
books, supplies, special activities, videos, etc. This will
(hopefully) help you and get your child more involved.
11. Issue a Spiritual Appeal
• 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."
• Dad and Mom could prepare one or more devotional times
to share their goals for the spiritual growth of the family.
12. Personal Goals
• Discuss goals and objectives with each child individually, and
explain how they fit into the big picture of his future.
13. Purpose, Goals, and Content of Classes
• Present an overview of what to expect from each class.
• Go over the list of classes, discussing the purpose of the
class (how learned information will be used), the goals (what
the student will learn) and the content (outline of topics).
14. Preliminary Class for Each Course
• 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.
15. Schedule
• 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 a copy of your schedule in several places where all can
see it.
16. Professor's Time
• 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, working 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.
17. Welcome Party
• This can be a dinner, a picnic, or a "reception" with a
special dessert.
• This is a good event to share with another home-school
family.
18. Movie Night
• Find a video that will both entertain and stimulate interest in
your upcoming studies, e.g., history, science, or geography.
19. Photograph Session
• Take photos of each child and your whole school together.
• Frame and hang them.
20. T-Shirts
• Buy matching T-shirts, with or without your school's name,
motto, or logo.
Goals and Purposes of Orientation Week
Orientation is "introductory instruction concerning a new
situation." It could accomplish some or all of the following
purposes.
• Give a more "official" status to your home school.
• Help students (and teacher) to settle into the school routine.
• Start your year with a balance of fun and informative activities.
• Introduce the various studies and activities you plan for the
coming year.
• Make your children feel settled and informed before the
academic year begins.
• Stir curiosity and provide motivation for learning specific
topics.
• Inspire efforts to reach goals.
• Explain your expectations and procedures to your children.
• Provide a special opportunity to discuss all aspects of your
family's life -- what you will be doing, why, and how.
• Establish your home school routine to smooth the way for your
child's enjoyment of his study experience; if he is happy, he
will study better!
• Stir your child's excitement about your coming year.
20 Orientation Week Activities
1. Theme
• You might choose a theme for your orientation week or school
year (such as "Study To Show Yourself Approved" or
"Preparing for Our Tomorrows," etc.).
• If you are doing a unit study, you could use that for a
theme.
2. Annual Opening Ceremony
• Make a fanfare with students gathering for the pledge of
allegiance to the American flag, a prayer of dedication,
a song chosen for your school or for this school year.
• Have a planning meeting beforehand, gather ideas your
children want to include, and assign each child a part.
3. Welcome by the President
• 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 why. Read some Scripture.
4. Review of Rules
• Write out your family's rules (even the obvious ones such as:
Honor the Lord, Respect and Obey Parents, Be Kind to
Siblings, Do Chores without Reminders, Pick Up after
Yourself, etc.) and consistently require instant, willing
obedience.
• Explain the principles behind your rules from God's Word.
• Add and explain appropriate consequences for each broken
rule and consistently apply them.
5. Reinforcement of Personal Habits
• 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.
6. Tour of Campus
• Make a map of your home (or have your children make one with
you) showing where study areas, school books, and supplies are
(supposed to be) located.
7. Notebooks 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.
• You might need to take time during your orientation week to
go shopping for needed school supplies.
8. Information Technology
• Type up, tape to computer, and discuss rules for safe
(supervised) use of the Internet (including the length of
time your child can sit at the computer).
• 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.
9. Volunteer and/or Part-Time Employment Opportunities
(For a "Sense of Community and Volunteerism")
• This is where you unveil your 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.
10. List of Leadership Opportunities
• Assign one of your children to be "Assistant Teacher" for
each of your classes. Your assistant can be in charge of
books, supplies, special activities, videos, etc. This will
(hopefully) help you and get your child more involved.
11. Issue a Spiritual Appeal
• 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."
• Dad and Mom could prepare one or more devotional times
to share their goals for the spiritual growth of the family.
12. Personal Goals
• Discuss goals and objectives with each child individually, and
explain how they fit into the big picture of his future.
13. Purpose, Goals, and Content of Classes
• Present an overview of what to expect from each class.
• Go over the list of classes, discussing the purpose of the
class (how learned information will be used), the goals (what
the student will learn) and the content (outline of topics).
14. Preliminary Class for Each Course
• 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.
15. Schedule
• 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 a copy of your schedule in several places where all can
see it.
16. Professor's Time
• 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, working 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.
17. Welcome Party
• This can be a dinner, a picnic, or a "reception" with a
special dessert.
• This is a good event to share with another home-school
family.
18. Movie Night
• Find a video that will both entertain and stimulate interest in
your upcoming studies, e.g., history, science, or geography.
19. Photograph Session
• Take photos of each child and your whole school together.
• Frame and hang them.
20. T-Shirts
• Buy matching T-shirts, with or without your school's name,
motto, or logo.