We live 2 ½ hours from our nearest relatives. Though that may not seem very far, it is far enough that we don’t see each other often. The grandparents, great-grandparents and aunts and uncle in our family don’t really get to see our children grow and change, and they have no clue what it is we do in a school day! While I do keep a blog and email photos, many of the older members of our family do not use the internet and those who do give me a long blank stare at the word “blog.”
This year, to help them gain some insight into what this homeschool thing is really all about, we are hosting an “open house.” No, we won’t be hosting family in our home, instead we will be mailing dvd’s of our children’s work and pieces of our year. We are combining photos of projects and field trips, scans of handwriting samples and nature journal pages, video and audio of memorized poems and math facts and a tour of our homeschool spaces to bring our classroom to each member of our family. This is especially exciting for some of the home-bound great-grandparents we have.
There are many ways to create an “open house” for your homeschool without actually hosting one. (But wouldn’t it be so much fun?!) You can upload photos into a Picasa web album or Kodak album and share it. You can create a Smilebox. You can create a video and share it on Facebook or email it. You can create a photo slideshow on a cd that can be viewed on a computer or dvd player. Or you can even go old school and mail out some real photos. Snapfish offers some great deals on little books you can have printed and they often give discounts if you purchase more than one of an item. There are so many options!!
These “Open Houses” are also a great way to store your children’s work. The DVD or CD can be slipped inside of a portfolio of original work to chart progress and enjoy for years to come. Imagine having audio and video saved along side all those great pics! Later, they could be assembled for a real graduation open house or just kept along with the family home videos.
How do you share your year with friends and family?
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What a great idea!
.-= Morgan´s last blog ..The Amazing Bead Manipulative =-.
Great idea! When we lived near our family I once hosted an Open House in our home. Now that we are traveling, the kids often mention how it would be nice if so and so could go here with us, or wouldn’t it be nice if grandpa could see this? I never thought of putting together a DVD. What a great way to show them exactly what we are learning about!:)
.-= Tonya´s last blog ..Just What Can this Copier-Scanner-Printer do Anyway? =-.
Excellent idea! We used to do open houses when we lived near the grandparents, but had quit. I’m going to have to so this!
Amy
.-= Amy @ Raising Arrows´s last blog ..Staying the Course in Child Training =-.
I think this is a great idea, one I’ve considered implementing, but I’ve got no one to invite. (LOL) I guess that’s why I blog.
.-= Jimmie´s last blog ..Math Poetry =-.
Awesome! I am remembering this technique (it’ll also help convince skeptical relatives). Thanks!
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..PW, eat your heart out. =-.
I Love this! We could actually do a live open house, most of our relatives are pretty close! But a DVD like you described would be priceless. Can’t wait to make one of my own :) Thanks!
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