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Welcome

How to Create the Best Homeschool Schedule for Kindergarten (free printable)

August 28, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, in how to create the best homeschool schedule for kindergarten, I’m sharing tried and true tips for kindergarten homeschool curriculum.

Besides, having a kindergarten homeschool schedule is a must have to help you balance a learning day.

No, don’t create a homeschool schedule for your child, but for you. You’ll want a visual picture of what to teach.

How to Create the Best Homeschool Schedule for Kindergarten (free printable)

In addition, most public schools plan for a nine month school year and include topics like Opening and Discussion in their day. Those things happen naturally with your child in a day.

There is no need to add segments like Opening and Discussion to your schedule.

I’ll explain their meaning in a minute, but the point is to keep your schedule simple and clean.

Do not add fluff to your schedule which can be used by public school to teach the masses.

Kindergarten Subjects

First, you want to start with the subjects that you want to teach in kindergarten.

How to Create the Best Homeschool Schedule for Kindergarten

And standards have changed through the years. However, children this age have not changed in how they develop.

Although the educational world touts more subjects to teach at the kindergarten level, they should not take place of what is developmentally appropriate for a child.

For example, look at subjects some of the state standards tout:

  • math
  • reading and language arts
  • social studies
  • science
  • physical education
  • health
  • art
  • music
  • computer literacy and I even found
  • environmental education

This list even compared to just 20 years ago has changed significantly to include more subjects.

Homeschool Kindergarten

Next, after being familiar with some of the subjects generally taught in kindergarten, you want to check your local state law.

Don’t complicate your schedule by adding more than is necessary to give you a guide.

For instance, Opening is used in public school as a way to start the day the same way each morning. Some schools say the pledge of allegiance, some sing a hymn and others open with a prayer. Some do all three or other things they choose.

Discussion allows children to share their thoughts with their peers.

In addition, many years ago like when our parents were in kindergarten, teachers stood in front of the class and talked with their students. That doesn’t happen as much today.

How to Create the Best Homeschool Schedule for Kindergarten (free printable)

However, while at home, Opening and Discussion happens in a natural way. There is no need to schedule time to talk with your kindergarten.

Again, don’t follow a public school schedule.

Another example of a subject that does not need to be on your homeschool schedule is environmental education.

Children learn about nature and their environment around them by playing outside and by explaining to you what they find on a nature walk.

By being outside together, you naturally teach your child about the world around them just like you’ve been doing to this day. That doesn’t have to be reduced to scheduled time.

Easy Homeschool Kindergarten Schedule

As you can see, the most basic or foundation subjects are the only ones you need to add to your day.

Sometimes I’ve seen working homeschool moms who need to schedule a timeslot for play and nature. This makes sense because their family schedule is full.

However, if that is not your schedule, keep the schedule easy.

Look below at the time needed to cover the basic subjects.

SUBJECTAMOUNT OF TIME
MATH25 MINUTES
READING 20 MINUTES
BUILDING THE 3RS
(READING, ‘RITING, OR ‘RIMETIC)
15 MINUTES
SCIENCE & HISTORY ALTERNATE30 MINUTES
ARTS, CRAFTS, GAMES, AND PLAYING OUTDOORSAS MUCH TIME AS YOU CAN FIT IN FOR THE DAY

As you can see, there is a TOTAL of 1:45 minute formal instruction time.

However, the WHOLE day is devoted to learning. Do not stress over the formal amount of time.

How to Create the Best Homeschool Schedule for Kindergarten (free printable)

And do not underestimate the power of a little every day.

Other Homeschool Kindergarten Resources

  • 60 Favorite Top Homeschooling Materials for Kindergarten
  • 10 Affordable and Complete Homeschool Kindergarten Curriculum
  • How to Effortlessly Blend Kindergarten Homeschool Subjects & Life
  • BEST Free Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum With A Gentle Approach (List)
  • Delightful Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Which Promote a Love of Learning

Free Editable Homeschool Kindergarten Schedule Printable

Finally, I have a free editable schedule you can use for kindergarten.

However, I’ve created it where you can BOTH schedule and track if you want to.

Because play IS learning, tracking play learning time will show you how much your child really is learning.

If you don’t want to track, then fill out the form with the schedule that works for you for the year.

If you want to track weekly, you can simply fill it out by pen and add to your planner.

Too, you can add times the column and fill out the rest by pen as you track your child’s learning.

Also don’t forget, I have this Early Learner Planner which can go from Prek almost up to first grade.

How to Create the Best Homeschool Schedule for Kindergarten (free printable)
  • Beautiful and Flexible Early Learner Homeschool Planner

    Beautiful and Flexible Early Learner Homeschool Planner

    $7.25
    Add to cart

How to Get the Free KINDERGARTEN SCHEDULE


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How to Create the Best Homeschool Schedule for Kindergarten (free printable)

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Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

Leave a CommentFiled Under: How To - - -, Teach Kindergarten Tagged With: homeschool schedules, kindergarten, schedules

Day 9: Carpe Diem: Homeschool Schedule by The Day, Month, & Year And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

August 27, 2022 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Homeschool schedule is our topic today. It’s day 9 Carpe Diem: Homeschool Schedule by The Day, Month, & Year of the 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers. 

It almost seems like an oxymoron to use carpe diem or to seize the moment and to plan ahead or schedule in the same sentence.

But that is exactly what learning at home becomes.

At first, your routine feels more like a taskmaster with very little room to seize the teachable moments.

That is normal because you are trying to find a schedule that fits your family.

Day 9: Carpe Diem: Homeschool Schedule by The Day, Month, & Year And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Sharing a tip or two on how to schedule your day, month and year will help you to learn to relax and know when to seize teaching moments.

Tips For Scheduling Your Homeschool Day

Early and first in the day is usually better for most young children.

 I will point out here that I did not say it was always good for the teacher, but  children learn better first in the day.

Tips for scheduling the day

In addition, each family has to decide what they consider “first” in the day for them.

For our family, we are up by about 6:30 a.m. or 7:00 a.m. so 9:00 is a good time to get started.

I know another homeschooler whose husband works until 9:00 p.m.

If they went to bed at 9:30 p.m., like my family, then her children would miss out on spending time with their dad.

Homeschool Schedule

She has adjusted her family “first time” in the day to 10:30 a.m. and that is when her school starts.

There are many times we have slept later and benefited, but in the long run, we get so much more done for the day when we get up earlier and maintain a good night time routine.

A quick but good breakfast allows everybody time to wake up and stay in a good mood for learning.

Pizza Party

Schedule lunch good for your family and it doesn’t have to be noon. Since we rise early and sometimes earlier than 6:30 am. we tend to eat lunch earlier. We prefer to eat around 11:15 to 11:30 a.m.

I will show you a schedules tomorrow that might work for you on how to balance home and school.

Tips For Scheduling For the Homeschool Month

No homeschool hermits allowed. I say this all the time — if it were left up to me, I would just decide to not leave the house for any planned activities during the month.

However, both the kids and yourself need a break.

Tips for scheduling the month.

(One of my earlier homeschool co-ops because we are still meeting in a home.)

A pace that has always been good for us through the years is to allow one field trip per month.

When the kids were younger, I went on more field trips because their academic requirements are less as they should be in the first few grades.

The older your children get the harder it gets at certain times to get away.

Plan ahead by looking at what events your local homeschool group have that are coming up.

Scheduling field trips

(The Mr. had off work that day, so I picked up my nieces so they could join us and we were out the door to NASA.)

In addition, we have planned many family outings when my husband had off work during the month. Try to plan for a least on opportunity to learn outside the four walls of your home each month.

Too, I’m going to switch gears here on you.

Who is Tina Robertson

But before you can appreciate how I can help you here are are a few things about me. Sure, this free new homeschooler boot camp is all about you.

However, you need to know that I’m not new to the homeschool world.  It has been several years since I wrote this series and I want to update you on my successes. And I’ve helped HUNDREDS get on the road to homeschooling.

Too, I have 3 homeschooled grads. So I’m well past having my oldest kid being 10 years old.

But the best part is that what I have for you works.

Also, look at a few other things about me.

  • I am the author of the book Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers: When You Don’t Know Where to Begin

And I have a detailed self-paced online homeschool Kickstarter course. It is a detailed comprehensive course for first time homeschoolers.

That is enough about me.

This new homeschoolers free boot camp is about you. I’ve not only been helping new homeschoolers in person, but here at my site for years.

Tips For Scheduling For the Homeschool Year

Many homeschoolers enjoy homeschooling year around.

When I first heard of year around homeschooling it made me exhausted to think about it, but that is only because I didn’t fully understand it.

I have several blog articles you can mull over too. Look here at:

  • What is Year Around Homeschooling? Part 1
  • What is Year Around Homeschooling? Part 2
  • Homeschooling Year Round – Chaos Or Calm?

You will find that you have many weeks left over when you can decide to take off during the year.

Look at the year and ACTUALLY Plan.

When you refer to a calendar and put in days you want to take off, holidays and days you want to school, you are more likely to stick to your schedule. 

For example, you have seen the calendars listed on public school websites where they have days in service, holidays and student days off. Well—that is exactly what you need to do the first few years as you learn the rhythm.

I have created a form that helps you to do this. Look at how I planned one year.

Day 9: Carpe Diem: Homeschool Schedule by The Day, Month, & Year And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

By the way, after I update it each year, I keep the updated version at Step 5a. Choose Unique Forms JUST for You.

Perhaps you may want to take off one day per week to catch up on housecleaning.

I have schooled many years with a 4 day week because I enjoyed having a day where I was caught up on laundry, groceries and bill paying.

Deciding a workable schedule now frees your time for seizing unplanned teaching moments.

Scheduling brings freedom and that is why I use the words carpe diem.

Plodding along getting things done that you want to accomplish this first year of school will allow you the freedom skip a day or two of school.

Don’t miss a wonderful opportunity to see a traveling exhibit at the museum that is only in for a week or miss an opportunity to socialize with your homeschool group by watching a play.

Moments like that are treasures and bring a yearning for learning that will carry you through your journey.

Day 9: Carpe Diem: Homeschool Schedule by The Day, Month, & Year And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Avoid being rigid and remember that living and learning will eventually become blurred.

No, you don’t have to give up your routine or schedule, just savor the moment.

Days 1 – 7 of the 31 Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

  • 1 Learn The Lingo and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp (& free glossary)
  • 2: Homeschool Roots Matter and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 3 What is NOT Homeschooling and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 4: Confronting Relatives & Naysayers and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 5: The Wheels on the Bus Go ‘Round & ‘Round – So Get Off! And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 6: Homeschool Hangouts & Socialization Situations And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 7: Tied Up with Homeschool Testing? And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Day 9. Carpe Deiem Scheduling 31 Days of New Bee Homeschooler Blog Boot Camp
comprehensive key
Year Around Schedule Sample

2 CommentsFiled Under: 31 Day Blog Bootcamp for New Homeschoolers, Schedule/Balance Home & School Tagged With: new homeschooler

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

August 26, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Your kids will love this glue and watercolor pumpkin to include in a pumpkin unit study. Too, you can add this activity to my huge fall unit study.

Besides loving unit studies, I love watercolor as a medium for art.

I put the two together to give you a start for your own pumpkin unit study. 

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Watercolor is forgiving. And whether child or adult, you don’t need to be an artist to make wonderful images to display.

If you are hesitant but want to give it a try, then, today’s tutorial is the place to start.

This fall watercolor painting goes great with a pumpkin unit study.

And besides the simple tutorial I have some great ideas for you to create your own study.

Pumpkin Art

This dramatic pumpkin watercolor painting is great on its own as a simple art project.

One easy way to create contrast and drama in a simple watercolor picture is to make the outlines black and raised.

We do this with school glue colored with black craft paint.

The other way to make the watercolor stand out is to cover the entire page and leave no white space.

We are doing both of these today.

First, to make your own pumpkin unit study, always start with a couple of books that draw in your kids.

The Anatomy Series by Julia Rothman is great for so many studies.

They are worth the investment

Here is a beautiful page from Farm Anatomy to research the different varieties of squash.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

They make for great art inspiration as well.

For younger children Pumpkin Jack is a great read aloud, but also teaches about the life cycle of a pumpkin.

Hands-on Activities for a Pumpkin Unit Study

  • Make a pumpkin watercolor
  • Pumpkin Experiments
  • Taste pumpkin in different ways-fresh, canned, seeds, pie, muffins,etc..
  • Bake a pumpkin pie
  • Roast pumpkin seeds

  • Use pumpkin seeds as manipulatives for math.
  • Measure, weigh, and compare pumpkins.
  • Label the parts of a pumpkin-stem, ribs, pulp, tendrils
  • Visit a pumpkin patch and talk to the farmer.
  • Test the density of pumpkins and seeds

  • Draw the pumpkin life cycle
  • Write a poem about a pumpkin
  • Give pumpkin related journaling prompts
  • Make a list of questions for your child to research online or in books
  • Create a fall bucket list – great writing practice

In addition, have your child research about pumpkins. Look at these questions below.

Research Facts about Pumpkins

  • How many different things can be made from pumpkins?
  • What state produces the most pumpkins?
  • How long do pumpkins take to reach maturity?
  • What vitamins do pumpkins contain?

Finally, gather up all your items and enjoy your delicious pumpkin themed unit study.

Begin with this fun watercolor painting.

How to Do A Pumpkin Watercolor Painting

You will need:

  • Watercolor paper
  • Watercolor paints
  • Brushes
  • Spray bottle of water
  • Black craft paint
  • Craft glue
Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

You can create any pumpkin design you like- an entire patch, a side view of a large pumpkin, or a close up view of the top of a pumpkin.

Today, I’m giving you step by step directions for the top view.

Start by drawing your design in pencil until you like the general shape. 

I started with a stem.

Easy Fall Art

Then drew the ribs of the pumpkin starting from the stem and working my way out all the way to the edge of the page.

Keep the curve moving in the same direction all the way around.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Now we are going to create a dramatic black outline and give it some texture.

You want to start with a bottle of glue that is no more than ⅔ of the way full.

This is a great way to use up those partial bottles.

Add black paint and shake the glue and paint up. If need be use a craft stick to stir it a bit more.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Once it is mixed well trace the drawing you made in pencil with the black paint, allow it to dry completely.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Once the glue is dry, lightly spritz the tray of watercolors as well as the entire page with water.

This is a trick I learned that helps the color spread better easier and allows you to layer color. This will create some dimension.

Next, mix orange watercolor and a little brown, black, or red with it.

This will make it a little darker than the rest of the pumpkin.

Go along each of the ribs with this darker color to create shading.

Make sure you do it on the same side of the ribs all the way around so it looks like the light is coming from one direction.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Fill in the rest of your pumpkin with color, adding water as needed.

Once the painting is dry add some more watercolor with less water to deepen the color.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Dry the remaining of your painting and it’s ready to share.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

What do you think? Are you read to get started on a fall themed unit study?

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Other Fall Unit Study Resources

  • Fall Homeschool Learning Resources For Middle School
  • Fall Y’all:Pumpkin Pie in a Bag (Easy Homeschool Co-op Idea)

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: art, fall, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, life science, pumpkin, science

Geronimo Stilton Adventures The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Colosseum Craft)

August 25, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Geronimo Stilton adventures abound. And your kids will love the Geronimo Stilton book, The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time for the next time travel adventure.

Too, I have a hands-on history Ancient Rome Colosseum craft idea for this book.

Not only is this activity a great way to use up some of those Amazon boxes, but it is a great hands-on way to study one of the most famous historical landmarks and Ancient Rome.

Geronimo Stilton Adventures The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Colosseum Craft)

Your child can learn about the advanced building techniques, the events, the people, their homes, clothes, and more through eyes of that fun loving mouse, Geronimo Stilton.

As you peek into ancient Rome through the eyes of Geronimo Stilton in The Second Journey Through Time, he travels to Ancient Rome in the year 45 BCE.

Hands-on History Activity

While the Colosseum wasn’t built until later than is depicted in this Geronimo Stilton story, you can hardly talk about the incredible architecture of Ancient Rome without mentioning the Colosseum.

This gives you the perfect opportunity to talk about when each building was created and perhaps even make a timeline to help make it more concrete. See how naturally a unit study grows from a topic of interest?

Geronimo Stilton gives a colorful and interesting view into the Circus Maximus, Roman mythology, a great visual of Roman attire and a Roman House.

Geronimo Stilton Adventures The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Colosseum Craft)

These would all make great unit study topics taken from The Second Journey Through Time.

The books are thorough on the topics they cover and pull kids in with pictures and words. This is just part 1 of 3 parts of the book.

Also, Safari Toobs are a great addition to hands on homeschool activities.

They can be added to simple or complex sensory bins, used in dioramas, or as art inspiration.

And the toobs set can be a visual for people and landmarks of those times or even to make our cardboard Roman Colosseum come alive.

Ancient Roman Colosseum Facts

Next, look at some Ancient Roman Colosseum facts to share while you’re teaching this hands-on cardboard history craft.

  • The Colosseum was originally called the Flavian Amphitheater
  • It was completed in the year 80 AD
  • In medieval times the colosseum was used as a church
  • The Colosseum is made of travertine stone and thousands of iron clamps.
  • It’s oval not round as it tends to look in photos.
  • Beneath the Colosseum is the Hypogeum, a complex network of tunnels that animals, gladiators, and prisoners were kept prior to events.
  • The last record of gladiator battles in the Colosseum are from the year 435.

These books also make fantastic supplements to an Ancient Rome Unit Study and round it out nicely

Geronimo Stilton Adventures The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Colosseum Craft)

Look at these other books.

Easy Books about Ancient Rome

Where is the Colosseum?  Perfect for read aloud or independent reading time.

Tools of The Ancient Romans – This has some fantastic information as well as hands on activities for the time period.

Again, they make great add-ons for this unit study and to compliment the Geronimo Stilton adventures.

How to Make An Ancient Rome Cardboard Colosseum

Finally, here is what you will need to build your own Cardboard Roman Colosseum:

  • Corrugated cardboard boxes
  • Packaging tape
  • craft paints
  • Straight edge cutter
  • Baking soda
  • paint brushes, sponge brush

You will need a larger box or several to join together to create the largest piece

First, slice your cardboard into a large strip.

Because mine had flaps already on it, I just left one that I trimmed down rather than cutting it off and reattaching it to create the taller portion of the Colosseum.

Geronimo Stilton Adventures The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Colosseum Craft)

I found that if you cut the bottom flaps off the box from the inside so that your hand/knife rests on the bottom it is much easier to cut a straight line.

Peel off as much of your tape and labels as you can.

If some doesn’t come off its okay, the textured paint will help cover these up.

Score from the top to the bottom down the inside the long piece about every 4-6”.

Geronimo Stilton Adventures The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Colosseum Craft)

Make sure you just go through the first layer of cardboard as this will make it easier to create the curved shape of the exterior.

Geronimo Stilton Adventures The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Colosseum Craft)

Paint a basecoat of white all over the box template.

Allow to dry on one side and then repeat on the other. Allow to dry partially before moving on to the next step.

Create a mixture of 3 parts paint to 1 part baking soda. This combo gives a great texture like limestone or plaster to make it a little more realistic.

Ancient Rome Project

I added a little bit of brown to mine to dull the brightness of the white as well. 

Paint this on thickly, tap with brush and do some areas thinner and thicker to create an aged effect.

You only need to paint this on the outside of your structure but you can do both if you like. Allow to dry completely.

Geronimo Stilton Adventures The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Colosseum Craft)

Draw on the many windows with a pencil and then paint them in.

This technique is easiest and the best choice for younger children. You could make it even easier by using a paint pen or just a black sharpie to color in the windows.

For older children you may choose to pencil in the windows and have them cut them out with a sharp blade.

Geronimo Stilton Adventures The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Colosseum Craft)

Another option is to cut out a bunch of hte rounded windows and let your child glue them into place.

Curve your cardboard template into a circle shape and tape the back seam, you can use clear packing tape or box tape on the inside.

Geronimo Stilton Adventures The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Colosseum Craft)

Other Geronimo Stilton Adventures:

  • The Race Against Time Geronimo Stilton Activities: Fun Edible Spine
  • Geronimo Stilton Adventure The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Mayan Craft)
  • Geronimo Stilton The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy
  • Easy and Fun Who Is Geronimo Stilton Rodent Notebooking Page
  • 10 Fun Things You Can Teach Using Geronimo Stilton Books

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: book lists, books, Geronimo Stilton, hands on history, hands-on activities, history, history resources

Day 8: Organize Your Home – Then School and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

August 24, 2022 | 7 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

How to organize your homeschool is our next topic. Today is day 8 organize your home of the free 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers. 

In my dreams when I embraced the homeschool world, I had thoughts of my children sitting in glass jars on my shelves.

They wouldn’t have any needs and my house would stay tidy while I had time to learn all I could about the homeschool world.

Back to reality, I soon realized that I needed a plan for our learning and living space before I could crack open a book.

Day 8: Organize Your Home - Then School and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

A well laid out house helps you to successfully accomplish all of your well laid out lesson plans.

Many homeschoolers have tried to ignore the fact that we must have our house in order first before we school only to find out later it weighs heavy on their minds.

Tears and fears follow because the day to day grind of homeschooling has finally set in, but the needs of our family does not stop.

Organize Your Homeschool

The time to declutter and set your house up for a lifetime of learning is now.

Before you visualize ideas of homeschoolers’ homes that look like Martha Stewart, I want you to understand that homeschooling organization is not the same as organization for the whole world.

Sure, there are lot of concepts that can be used from the volumes of books that exist on organization but reality is that homeschoolers have unique needs.

Along with unique needs comes equally unique solutions.

Your view of organization affects your success. The definition can weigh us down or inspire us.

We normally fall into one of two groups when it comes to organization.

And that is those that obsess over it or those that are indifferent toward it.

A balance attitude about organizing our home is needed.

Organization is in its most simplest form means a “place for everything. If you don’t assign it a spot, it could either turn to clutter or weigh you down. There is joy in assigning the things in your home a place.

I will talk about setting up a learning area and organizing your routine over the next few days, but I want you to focus on that “mental to-do” list you have in your mind for your home and routine.

New to Homeschooling

Look at this chart at a few of the things you will want to assign a place for the week or month. What can you add to this list?

time to schooltime for heavy house cleaningtime for light house cleaning
time for meal planning time for meal cookingtime with your spouse
time to organize lightlytime for self-caretime to lesson plan
time to work in or outside the hometime to buy groceriestime for baking
time to run errandstime to homeschooltime to pay bills
time to care for aging parent/
family members with special needs
time to train children to be organizedtime for exercising

I wish I knew each of you individually and could come into your home and get to know you over a period of a year like I did with a lot of my new bees, but that probably won’t happen.

3 Easy Ways to Prioritize Homeschooling

What I can do is share with you what has worked for hundreds of new homeschoolers which I have helped.

1. Focus on the area or rooms that stress you now.

Nope, it is not the school room for a lot of homeschoolers who answer me genuinely, but a lot of times it  may be your bedroom or even the kitchen.

It could be the kids’ rooms that have built up clutter over time with toys, t shirts and tee ball equipment. Spend time now making those areas inviting.

Day 8: Organize Your Home - Then School and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

When I started homeschooling, I had a huge clean out of my kitchen and pulled a good amount of “pretty” items  off my table because there was no way I had counter space to do those upcoming science experiments.

Plus did I really need 9 pie containers in my kitchen taking up valuable space? I needed to make room for upcoming supplies that I would need.

So this has everything to do with homeschooling because the adage is true if momma is not happy, not much gets done, including homeschooling.

Did I mention how liberating it is to throw away clutter? I lost 10 lbs in 5 minutes. Okay, it just felt that way.

Day 8: Organize Your Home - Then School and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

2. Think NOW – How will my children store their short term {papers done today) and long term {after one or two months?

I took time to set up color coordinating notebooks for my children. One color per child.

By labeling the notebooks or labeling and using a file folder if you have younger children that cannot open a notebook, you are requiring that your children practice organization right from the start by putting away their material for the day.

For long term storage I started off using expanding folders and now that I have homeschooled for many years, I have a tote in our attic, but it is organized by year. In addition, I have pictures and school work on external hard drives.

Day 8: Organize Your Home - Then School and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Take pictures of what you want to throw away and keep what you can’t part with for the sake of memories.

3. Begin to Set the House Up for Learning and Living

When I first started schooling I shared with you on Day 3: What is NOT Homeschooling how I had brought in a small couch and changing table to the school area. 

I also made snacks ahead of time and kept them on the bottom shelf of my refrigerator so that all the kids could reach them if I was helping another child.

I also got rid of things that would require a lot of time dusting. True, a lot of things were not down on tables because I had a young household, but then again I didn’t create work for myself by cluttering it up with lots of things that took time to dust.

Cleaning out your pantry and your refrigerator, having a well stocked pantry and even something as small as having cleaning supplies in each bathroom instead of tromping back/forth to the place you keep most of them will save you precious minutes and energy each time you have to clean.

Also, addressing how and where you will store homeschool supplies well before you start school allows ample time to focus on the way you prefer your home to be laid out.

It can be stressful to try to shove all the curriculum and supplies in your home when you may be swamped with teaching later.

Our view of organization makes a difference. Do we view it as a straight jacket and no fun or the calm we feel after a goodnights rest? Take baby steps.

New Homeschooler

Throw away 5 things and then do the same thing tomorrow. Since our homes are an intrinsic part of ourselves and our family.

The secret to any significant change is to be consistent and take small steps. Failure is okay, it is just a learning experience and a tiny step in our journey. What counts is continuing the journey despite failures!

Instead of following the routine of another homeschooler, have a “visual tracker” of your family’s rhythm for the day and then assign a “place for everything”. You’d be surprise at what you find out from just tracking a week.

After you track for a week, ask yourself:

  • Am I really getting out of bed at the time I think am?
  • When am I really  folding laundry?
  • How much T.V. are the kids really watching?
  • Without being overboard and taking away all their devices, where in my day am I going to allow math time and then afterward some game time?
  • Am I running to the grocery store too often because I am unorganized?

Did you miss the first week?

Day 8: Organize Your Home - Then School and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Days 1 – 7 of the 31 Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

  • 1 Learn The Lingo and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp (& free glossary)
  • 2: Homeschool Roots Matter and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 3 What is NOT Homeschooling and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 4: Confronting Relatives & Naysayers and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 5: The Wheels on the Bus Go ‘Round & ‘Round – So Get Off! And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 6: Homeschool Hangouts & Socialization Situations And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 7: Tied Up with Homeschool Testing? And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Organize Your Home - Then School - 31 Day Homeschool Boot Camp
Organize Your Home - Then School - 31 Day Homeschool Boot Camp

7 CommentsFiled Under: 31 Day Blog Bootcamp for New Homeschoolers, Home, Organization Tagged With: new homeschooler

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