Blog Topic: Homeschool Celebrations “How to End Your Teaching Year Successfully” & Why Celebrations are Important to Learning.
We can see it now… the END OF THE YEAR is on the horizon! You did it. You made it to May and it’s almost summertime.
How can we end strong and in the most effective way to propel the next season of learning?
When I homeschooled I always made celebrating an important part of learning. And… there is SO MUCH to celebrate.
Why Celebrations in learning are important
“A celebration always makes us feel good. So, when we celebrate learning, we make our learners feel good. Celebrating learning has a very significant and positive impact on learners’ memory, motivation, and other cognitive functions. It instils a love of learning. They are more than just feel-good moments. The right celebrations can propel students forward on their education journey. What is important is that celebration of the success of learners is done effectively. When done effectively, it gives our students the drive and motivation to continue doing great work. Effective praise/positive reinforcement is the driver behind student motivation, self-esteem, and creativity.” -Global Education and Learning
Here are just a few things to CELEBRATE….
All the work you did together
All the work your child did independently
New books that made special memories
Specific skills your child learned ot mastered
Friends and other parents that supported your learning
What you learned not to do this year
THESE ARE JUST TO NAME A FEW….there is so much more to celebrate…really!
Every age and stage deserves a celebration…
DAILY
At the end of each learning day do a Verbal or Written REFLECTION of what they learned using pictures or words
Meet for a “daily chat” around the same time and place each day with a special snack or drink.. make it a RITUAL
Make a phone call to someone to tell them how well your child on something… small or big
Create REWARDS for learning and consistency
WEEKLY
Take photos weekly of your most special learning moments. Print and organize them.
Create a “LEARNING JOURNAL” and write or draw about the week’s most memorable learning
Offer rewards for continuing, finishing, or re-doing an assignment during the week
Create a weekly poster of goals and a checklist that your child can mark on their own. Use stickers, markers, or stamped images.
Create an end of the week ritual (ours was a weekly Friday morning big breakfast and a no homeschool day)
MONTHLY
Give your child a monthly report card with positive comments
Write a letter and mail it to your child that tells them how proud their teacher is of their learning. Include a photo.
Create a monthly ritual to celebrate all of their efforts.
Make it public… share your progress with relatives or friends.
QUARTERLY or END OF THE YEAR
Refresh the space with a few new learning materials… notebook, folder, or a writing utensil
Compare old and new learning and verbally share the progress they are making
Make it public… share progress with relatives or friends
Give achievement certificates and write details about how well they did
Create a SHOWCASE of work in a family GALLERY WALK to see everything your child did all year
Congratulations on a completed school year!!!
Check out our Summer BLOG to find easy peasy ways to prepare for a fantastic start next school year over the Summertime!