Summer 2021: Plan and Prep

At this point in the summer, many of us are feeling the itch to get things squared away and ready for both school and home schooling. If you’re new to SLOCA or new to home education, this can seem daunting, but fear not! Over the next few weeks we are going through the archives for pointers to help get ready for the new school year.

From Summer 2014: Plan and Prep (edited for 2021 details)

For both new and returning families, the following suggestions are things you can do in the next couple of weeks to prepare for the coming year:

• Buy your books. The Den bookstore is open Monday – Thursday 9am – 2pm and also online for store pick up at https://thedenbookstore.square.site/. 

• Buy and organize your school supplies. A list of needed supplies can be found online in our Parent Portal. Kids usually think school supply shopping is one of the best things about back-to-school, so this can be a fun outing!

• Put dates on the calendar. Find your SLOCA 2021-2022 School Calendar in the Parent Portal or in the Summer Packet from the end of the year, and make sure all those important dates are on YOUR calendar. Keep your calendar updated whenever new information is emailed, and you’ll stay on top of school events and dates.

• Make or purchase math manipulatives.~Go to mathwire.com and print some of their resources, such as place value mats, ten frames, a hundred board, and more. Bookmark this site – there are a ton of useful resources here for math games and every math topic in their A-Z list.~Gather together a few basic math game items into a basket that’s easy to access, such as a deck of cards, dice, counters, paper and pencils.

  

  • Gather a few supplemental books. These can be placed in a basket or displayed on a bookshelf to encourage reading and the love of learning. Anything from the Summertime reading packet is a good place to start!

   

  • Organize a work space for your kids. Whether this is a dedicated school room, a desk, the dining table, or something else, have a plan in place for where your students can sit and work. Most families don’t work in one single space, but may have a table for writing and drawing, do reading on the couch, take another subject outside or in a bedroom, etc. There’s no need to be chained to a desk all day, but it’s also nice to have a work space prepared.

• • Think about a structure for your home days. This is also a favorite topic of discussion among homeschool blogs, and you can certainly find plenty of ideas online. Without spending too much time and energy, it’s helpful to at least have a loose plan, such as deciding whether or not to use workboxes, a checklist, writing a daily schedule on a white board, etc. Do you like using a personal planner for yourself? Google calendar? Remember, these things can always be modified as needed once school starts.

Talking to other parents is one of the best ways to get ideas about homeschooling SLOCA-style. Ask fellow moms (or dads) what has worked for them in the past, or what they are doing differently this year. This can also be a great opportunity for returning families to come alongside new families and offer support and guidance. For both new and returning families, our community of parents is one of our best resources!

We hope this list is helpful and not in any way overwhelming. It may seem like there’s always more you can do, but choose to do what helps you feel prepared, yet sane. Focus on the love of learning and delighting in your kids, and you’ll be ready for a great year together!

How do you plan for the upcoming school year? What would you add to the above list? Please leave your comments below:

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