11 Tips for Starting Off the First Day of Homeschool Right, According to Experts (2024)

The first day of homeschool is not a time to overdo it and overwhelm everyone involved. “The first day back to homeschool is a shock to everybody's system. Focus on just three to four subjects for your first week, and then add the rest of the subjects the following week. This helps everybody to ease back into a school routine without being overwhelmed,” says Lauren Schmitz, the blogger behind The Simple Homeschooler.

Rainy and cold weather will be here soon enough, so why not ease into the new school year and enjoy the warm weather that remains by moving some lessons outdoors. “These probably won't be the hardest or most intense lessons of the year, so if your child is a bit distracted, it won't be the end of the world,” says Theresa Bertuzzi, co-founder of the international early learning center Tiny Hoppers. “This should also give your child positive vibes about school. If they're happy during school hours, subconsciously, they might actually start to enjoy the whole idea of it — making the rest of the year just a bit easier.”

Designate a study space in the home that is quiet and conducive to focus. “It doesn’t need to be anything fancy — a small desk or folding table that is outfitted with everything [they need] to help them complete their work successfully,” says Meredith Essalat, a San Francisco-based principal and author of The Overly Honest Teacher. Their space should also have access to an outlet for charging, and a white board or calendar. “When the school day is done, be sure to have them straighten up their desk in anticipation for the next day,” she says.

Children will feel invested and ready to learn if they feel they have ownership over their experience, so talk to them and incorporate feedback about how they absorb material. “Help your child understand himself or herself as a learner,” suggests Anastasia Betts, VP of curriculum planning and design at Age of Learning. She suggests phrasing the conversation like, “Did you notice that everything was harder after 10? I think your body was hungry. Let’s see what happens if we stop for a snack at 9:30.”

When children break from academics for the summer, they may get a little rusty — this is what educators call the summer slide. “This is why the first couple of weeks of school are reviewing concepts taught in the previous year,” notes family literacy educational consultant Jenna Dowd. “So much of the new content your child will learn this year is dependent upon the content that they completed last year. Work through the reviews with care and make sure that they can complete it with mastery before moving on.”

Establish your homeschool’s routine right from the start. “Routines help learners know what to expect and create smoother transitions between activities. They help learners focus on their current activity without worrying about what is coming next,” says Khan Academy’s chief learning officer Kristen DiCerbo. “Create a routine you will follow each day, walk through it with your child, and start it on your first day.”

Setting measurable goals gives students and teachers alike something to work toward. “They are even more effective in motivating us when we set them ourselves,” DiCerbo says. “Work with your child to set short- and medium-term goals. Let them provide input into both what the goal should be and how big the target is.”

Set up not just your kids for success, but also yourself by resisting the urge to compare your own homeschool setup to other homeschoolers’ highlight reels on social media. “Social media is full of super-moms who can do it all — or who can, at least, seem to do it all, one Instagram-filtered photo at a time,” Betts says. “You don’t have to be as scheduled or as freewheeling as anyone else. The perfect learn-at-home setup is one that is suited to your family’s needs.”