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homeschool challenges

The Sticking Power of a Solid Homeschool Schedule

June 6, 2014 | 7 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

The staying power of a homeschool schedule cannot be underestimated for the organized homeschooler. It takes time and self-discipline though to stick to a schedule.

POWER OF A HOMESCHOOL SCHEDULE

Too, I have a bit of trepidation in sharing about this topic. 

It has been my experience that homeschoolers obsess worry about this topic more so than some other homeschooling issues. 

Deep down they truly care how to fit everything in a day, maintain their sanity and identity, and strive to make the homeschool journey a memorable one for the right reasons. 

The staying power of a homeschool schedule cannot be underestimated for the organized homeschooler. It takes time and self-discipline though to stick to a schedule. Click here to grab these tried and true tips for planning a schedule!

Sometimes they feel isolated because they think other homeschoolers manage their schedules better.

Doing what I love to do and sharing with you just two points that help me to organize and what sometimes {not always} comes easier for me, I hope to give you a gentle sweet nudge in the right direction. 

You are not alone in your struggle to make it all fit in a day.

Homeschool Schedule Equals A Plan of Action

Visible Schedule.  Achieving success starts by creating a visible schedule.  I know, you may think that is stating the obvious, but I promise there is a fundamental, but powerful point here. 

Understanding that your schedule needs to be visible is the first step to a well-defined plan of action.

This is a very fine and let me emphasize that again—very fine point—that makes a huge difference between the organized homeschooler and the wanna be organized homeschooler.

Having good intentions by going through your schedule in your mind keeps it just that – a thought.

It is not a call to action or a plan. 

Staying in your mind is sort of like keeping it at brainstorming level or at a mulling over stage. 

Too, if you have a creative solution for a hiccup in your schedule, then you want to quickly commit that to a point of action.

When a schedule is committed to paper (or any other location in your house) it becomes a plan of action.  It has gone from abstract to concrete.  Does that make sense?

Paper method is just one way that a schedule is visible.  It is my preferred way, but it does not have to be your way.

Shocking Invisible Homeschool Schedules

Avoid schedule type mayhem. In addition, what type of schedule you create depends on which family members you want to make aware of it.

Don’t just jump out there in your enthusiasm to organize and create something that hems you in. 

Carefully scrutinize the needs and ages of your household.  It will change and your need for different schedules will change.

Homeschool Schedule

For example, when the kids were little and though I hadn’t moved away from stepping in sync with a public school schedule.

I still presented what worked for them at a very young age which was simply something hanging on the wall to talk about each day.

At that time though I still had my schedule down on paper though it was not necessary to share it with my young kids.

Also, having more than one place or location for your plan of action is a recipe for success. 

How? Because you have just doubled your efforts to help you accomplish each task day by day by sharing it with your children.

Many hands do make the work light or in this case, keep all on task.

Children have a natural bent toward routine.  If you want to be more organized, use that natural bent toward helping you to flow through a day with a better plan of action.

Homeschool Organization Means Communication

As your children grow older, they become self-starters and built in motivators when they don’t even know it. 

On more than one occasion when my sons were very young, they would prod me by asking if it was time to start our school or task.

Temporary Command Center

Then last year, I shared my Woo-Worthy Big Calendar by NeuYear that I had visible in my house for a while. 

Even though I had already started downsizing for our move, a temporary command center was a must.

The ages of my children have now changed dramatically, but the need of a visible place to communicate my plan of action has not.

Whether you put your schedule in a student planner, your homeschool planner, on a wall, on your refrigerator, or a central place in your home, it needs to be visible to accomplish your plan of action for that year.

A homeschool schedule is the backbone of homeschool success and a visible schedule has helped me over more than one homeschool hurdle through the years.

However, a common mistake in creating a homeschool schedule that has sticking power is to plan hour by hour, minute by minute and what seems second by second.

Next, I will share a few tips so that your plan of action keeps you organizing instead of agonizing.

How many places do you post your homeschool schedule?

The staying power of a homeschool schedule cannot be underestimated for the organized homeschooler. It takes time and self-discipline though to stick to a schedule. Click here to grab these tried and true tips for planning a schedule!

Want some more tips about scheduling?

  • How to Plan EVERYTHING in Your Homeschool Video
  • {Homeschool Organization Series} Where do you begin?
  • Must-Haves for the Organized Homeschooler. What to Keep & What to Skip
  • 6 Ways to Organize Your Homeschooled Teen
  • Homeschool Organization – Preschool/Kindergarten Free Morning Routine Flip Cards
  • 100 BEST Ideas to Organize Your Homeschool Area – Storage, Spaces, and Learning Places
  • 3 Ways to Instantly Gain More Time in Your Homeschool Day

Hugs and love ya,

Homeschool Organization The Sticking Power of a Homeschool Schedule

7 CommentsFiled Under: Organization, Schedule/Balance Home & School Tagged With: homeschool challenges, homeschool planning, homeschool schedules, homeschoolorganization, organization, organize, organizedhomeschool, planning, schedules, year round homeschool planning, yeararoundhomeschool

The Ultimate Guide for New Homeschoolers – An Easy Beginning!

April 7, 2014 | 20 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

In preparing the ultimate guide for new homeschoolers a lot of things affected what I selected to include and not include.

My over 20+ years of homeschooling experience influenced this list, but my unique experiences in mentoring new homeschoolers in person for 10 years had an equal weight. You’re getting a two-pher.

Based on years of experience I have unique one of a kind resources for new homeschoolers.

I not only have a self-paced, instant access, online boot camp, but an awesome book. They stand alone in the homeschool world because like I mentioned earlier, they’re not just based on personal experience.

My experience alone may or may not be of value to you, but one-to-one coaching for newbees gives me a one-of-a-kind perspective.

Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp is a companion to the online, instant access, self-paced Boot Camp Course. You don’t need my book to do the boot camp. You’ll get tons of value from either product.

New Homeschoolers Who Want to Avoid Rookie Mistakes

I know you’re interested in purchasing curriculum right now. 

There is a time to purchase curriculum, but go through these resources first so that you make a well-informed choice. I’d like to save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

STEP 1. Homeschooling Begins with Education for the New Educator


It is important to get the help and education you need like just like any new teacher would. Avoid the rookie mistake of jumping in and purchasing curriculum.

What IS and What IS NOT Homeschooling

Deschooling is the MOST important beginning step. Look at Deschooling: Step One for the New Homeschooler (the Definitions, the Dangers, and the Delight)

Video: How to Deschool – Are You Doomed If You’ve Never Deschooled?

Homeschooling works well for ANY child because EVERY child deserves an individualized education, but that doesn’t mean everyone can do it. 

In addition, homeschooling looks different for each family.

Some families have both parents that work, have one full time working breadwinner, or one family could be a single mom. Homeschooling is flexible for ALL those families.

Arming yourself with pros and cons, you can decide how you will handle the naysayers.

Homeschool Stats & Facts NOW Equals Deep Roots

We’re going to talk heart to heart, but we need to go beyond the warm and fuzzy part of homeschooling.

Look at the success of the homeschool approach by reading the stats at NHERI (NATIONAL HOME EDUCATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE ).

What IS Homeschooling

  • biggest difference – parent controlled
  • you can choose all online curriculum, part physical books or mix and match
  • testing becomes the right of the parent who knows the child best and understands that a test is nothing more than a tool
  • conferences are not needed because as the tutor of your children you know what they’re learning. Even if you just begin to homeschool, it doesn’t take long for you to know exactly which subjects your child excels in and which subjects he will need support for.
  • your schedule is adopted based on your family’s needs and not based on an outdated school schedule, which was set up based on a society that was much more agricultural than our society is today. 
  • Being in control doesn’t mean you can’t use something laid out by another company, but then that is your choice.
  • accreditation is no longer a term which homeschoolers fear because they know it doesn’t have anything to do with the value of an education. Be sure to read my article, Accreditation – Removing the Shroud of Mystery.

What is NOT Homeschooling

Homeschooling is NOT school at home. If the public school system is not working now, why repeat it?

  • You don’t have to have a chalkboard, dry erase board or even a school room.
  • Some families prefer a schoolroom, others don’t and still others just don’t have the space for one.
  • A school room or lack of it does not make a true homeschooler.
  • Don’t confuse not doing public school at home with not being able to use an online school if you need one.

Look at my post The Great Homeschool Hoax – Public School At Home?

Choosing curriculum is NOT the first step.
(Veteran Tip: Look at Why Buying Curriculum Won’t Make You a Homeschooler – But What Will)

Step 2. Know Local Homeschool Law AND How-to Meet It


Determining what type of curriculum you will be using is affected by the laws of your land. Most homeschool state laws are relaxed meaning you have a good amount of control over the type of curriculum.

Why is that important?

If you have stringent records to keep, then for your first or second year get something boxed or laid out because it eases homeschool stress or record keeping in the beginning when you don’t what to keep and what to throw away.

Go to HSLDA {It’s short for Home School Legal Defense Association} to know the laws of where you live. It has a clickable Map. It’s that important to know BEFORE jumping into purchasing expensive curriculum.

I’m not a lawyer, but having helped new homeschoolers in many different states, I have a good handle on understanding quite a few laws in different states.

Tip: Of course, your local state group is the best resource, but I will help if you’re lost. I want you to get the help you need.

Look at my Big Ol’ List of All-In-One Homeschool Curriculum (a.k.a Boxed) .

Next, instead of choosing only curriculum that public school uses, you want to use curriculum which supports the way your children learn best.

Step 3. Veteran Tip: Curriculum is Organized by Homeschool Approach.

Learn the homeschool approaches first!


Look at the top 5 Homeschool Approaches.
(Veteran Tip: Expand your view of what is curriculum.) Look at 45 Ways to Define Homeschool Curriculum – Is Your Definition Holding You Back?

I am not going to overwhelm you with all of the approaches that have come and gone; the ones below are the most popular approaches in homeschooling. 

First, I have defined the approach and then I give you a link/s as homeschoolers share about the choices that fit their family or to help understand the approach better.

1.
Eclectic/Relaxed/Unschooling Approach
(Veteran Tip: This is really 3 different approaches, but they share some similarities. In the spirit of simplifying your start I grouped them together.)

Though I think that unschooling has received a bum rap in the past, it is more common for this approach to mean more of a relaxed approach and somewhat eclectic. But each family defines what unschooling means for them.

Unschoolers use a real life approach and child-led approach meaning they simply follow the interests of their children to decide what will be learned for the day.

They trust a child’s natural desire to learn and feed that from infancy. A lot of them do not use formal curriculum.

Although it is child-led, many unschoolers use some curriculum. I prefer to use Sandra Dodd’s definition found here at What’s the Difference between Relaxed Homeschooling and Unschooling?

Look at A day in the life of radical unschoolers

In recent years, eclectic homeschoolers have also emerged separate from unschoolers.

Eclectic homeschoolers are homeschoolers who mix and match the characteristics of the different approaches explained here and don’t really hail to one homeschool approach over the other.

Look at I’m an Eclectic Homeschooler. What Exactly Does That Mean?
Look at What is Delight-Directed Schooling.
Look at Relaxed Homeschooling and what it looks like years later.

2.
Charlotte Mason Approach

I prefer the definition at Simply Charlotte Mason: “The Charlotte Mason method is based on Charlotte‘s firm belief that the child is a person and we must educate that whole person, not just his mind. So a Charlotte Mason education is three-pronged: in her words, “Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life.”

Look at Our Journey Westward for a Charlotte Mason schedule.
Look at What Drew Me to a Charlotte Mason Education.

3.
Classical Approach

Susan Wise Bauer is the modern model of classical education and I prefer her definition: “Classical education depends on a three-part process of training the mind. The early years of school are spent in absorbing facts, systematically laying the foundations for advanced study. In the middle grades, students learn to think through arguments. In the high school years, they learn to express themselves. This classical pattern is called the trivium.”

Look at the introduction to classical education.

4.
Unit Studies

I also prefer Susan Wise Bauer’s definition of a unit study. “A unit study integrates disciplines together, rather than dividing them into separate “subjects” to be pursued at different times during the school day. Literature, history, science, mathematics, art, music, history, and so on are all studied through their relationship to a core organizing principle.”

Look at Homeschooling Styles: Unit Studies
Look at Unit Studies: Multi-Age, Multi-Subject Approach to Learning.

5.
Workbook, Textbook, also called Boxed and All-in-One in the homeschool world
.
(Veteran Tip:This is the approach you’re probably most familiar with since it’s used in public schools.)

I like the definition at Education Today. “This traditional approach uses graded textbooks or workbooks that follow a scope and sequence. Each subject is covered in 180 daily increments per school year for a span of 12 years. Teacher’s manuals, tests and record keeping materials are usually available.”

Look at the Textbook Approach To Education.
Look at the Traditional Approach to Homeschooling.

Why You Should Start with Inexpensive or an All-in-One Curriculum


 During my many years of mentoring new homeschoolers, I’ve seen them spend thousands of dollars on a curriculum. That is so needless.

Choosing inexpensive curriculum in the beginning gives you financial room to understand what grade level each of your children are truly on and not just choosing the next grade level. Your money goes further because you made a more informed choice.

(Veteran Tip: Another HUGE rookie mistake is choosing the next grade level without truly understanding what your children know or don’t know on his or her grade level.)

Avoid the mind-set that if your children repeat a subject on a grade level or reviews it that they will be behind. Some children jump several grade levels in one year because they repeated material previously not mastered.

A well-defined goal in the beginning should be that your children become masters of their material which means slowing down or going down a grade level when he needs to and skipping a grade level when he has it.

And guess what? In homeschool, we don’t really keep up with grades. 

Oh we do pay attention to grade levels/grades (sometimes) as we move our children on their courses, but the point of it is that children do not develop evenly. They are ahead in some subjects and struggle with others.

Look at my 7 Budget-Friendly Language Arts Curriculum to Pair with Unit Studies (with printable). Look at BEST Curriculum by Homeschoolers for Homeschoolers, Digital Homeschool Curriculum – Big Ol’ List, and Is Homeschooling Expensive.

A boxed curriculum gives you a pattern to follow which a lot of new homeschoolers need. 

From using a boxed curriculum, you determine what you like and don’t like about one homeschool approache over another and that helps to save you money in the long run from too much trial and error.

Don’t make another huge rookie mistake while using boxed curriculum which is to do it ALL.

Do not be a slave to boxed curriculum meaning you need to avoid the thinking that you have to complete the whole thing. Use the parts that you need while you are reading all you can in your first or second year. 

No wow factor happens when you complete curriculum. Completing curriculum does not mean a child understood it. Understanding and completing curriculum are not synonymous.

The end goal during the first year or second year is to find the approach that fits your family best and it takes time.

Homeschool Curriculum Organized by Homeschool Approach – Ewww so Fantastic!

To give you a head start, I’ve taken a few curriculum providers and organized it below by approach so I help you conquer the curriculum conundrum.

Look at the candy store homeschool curriculum providers below that stand ready to help you succeed.

Textbook Approach/All-in-One
  • Easy Peasy All in One
  • A Beka Book
  • BookShark
Classical Approach
  • Classical Academic Press
  • Classical Conversations
  • Veritas Press
Charlotte Mason Approach
  • Queens Homeschooling
  • Ambleside On Line
  • The Good and the Beautiful
Unit Studies Approach
  • Konos Character Curriculum
  • Tapestry of Grace
  • Trail Guide to Learning

Step 4. Homeschool Schedule, Organization, and Lesson Planning


Awww, yes NOW the part that most new homeschoolers have the hardest time achieving and that is how to add in school to an already busy day.

I have had MANY schedules through the years and they were based on the needs and ages of my children and whether I had to work or not.

Look at these tips.

  • Should You Switch to a 4-Day Homeschool Schedule?
  • The Sticking Power of a Homeschool Schedule
  • Lesson Planning Backwards! Part 1 of 2.
  • Homeschool Lesson Planning Backwards Part 2 of 2.
  • 100 BEST Ideas to Organize Your Homeschool Area – Storage, Spaces, and Learning Places
  • Homeschooling Year Round – Chaos Or Calm?
  • How To Create a Homeschool Schedule That You Can Stick To
  • Top 10 Tips for Maximizing Space in (Really) Tiny Homeschool Spaces
  • How Far Out to Homeschool Lesson Plan?
  • Homeschool High School The Must Cover Subjects Part 1
  • Homeschool High School The Must Cover Subjects Part 2
  • 7 Advantages to Starting Your Homeschool Year in the Summer

Video: How to Homeschool Lesson Plan EZ by Tina Robertson

I have one of the BEST organizing tools in the homeschool world and it is the 7 Step Homeschool Planner. You build it yourself using my beautiful forms.

Video: Scheduled & Lesson Plans A Bit Like Chemistry New Homeschooler Boot Camp by Tina Robertson

And yes, I am going there next and that is homeschool socialization.

Step 5. Homeschool Socialization


We do crawl out from under our rocks.

Okay, seriously the homeschooling world is brimming with activities. Albeit, they vary from area to area. The point is your children can be involved in as much or in as little you want them to be.

If you haven’t already heard from the homeschool critics, you will. Some new homeschoolers get hit pretty hard early on in their journey by well wishing family members with questions and then sometimes you will receive plain down right criticism. 

It can be hard if you have tender feelings on top of being antsy about succeeding. 

Look at these links to grab some gracious and quick replies!

  • Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination?
  • 100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education
  • Is Homeschooling Making the Grade? It’s in and the Grade is ALL Fs!
  • How Do I Socialize My Homeschooled Kids? Are We Really Talking About this AGAIN?
  • What to Expect When You Expect to Homeschool (25 Silliest Questions Ever)
  • 100 Ways to Silence the Homeschool Naysayers (Maybe!)
  • 12 Easy Ways Homeschooled Teens and Tweens Socialize

How-to Extinguish Any Possible Spark for the Love of the Learning


I know you can’t wait to dig into curriculum because you may feel it is the very proof that you need that you are now an official homeschooler. 

I admit that I love the stuff myself too and curriculum buying can be pretty addicting.  It is something that I still look forward to each year as if it was my very first time.

How can you determine if the curriculum you choose will make a good fit for your family?  True, some of it is trial and error, but some of it is not. 

I have you covered with some tips on how to not extinguish the love of learning.

  • What If I Choose the Wrong Homeschool Curriculum
  • A to Z List: Middle and High School Homeschool Electives
  • You’ve Pitched the Homeschool Curriculum – Now What?
  • 10 Signs. Know When to Walk Away from “Perfect” Curriculum.
  • Mixing It Up: How to Combine Homeschool Approaches (Without Losing Your Mind)
  • Stop Switching Your Curriculum, Switch Your Course of Study
  • How to Know What A Homeschooled Child Should Learn Yearly?
  • How to Teach Homeschool Preschool From the Inside Out (And Preschool Skills)
  • Homeschool High School The Must Cover Subjects Part 1
  • Homeschool High School The Must Cover Subjects Part 2

Keep in mind that if you use a text book approach now because you feel comfortable with it, it is okay. 

The Ultimate Guide for New Homeschoolers by Tina Robertson. A homeschool mom of 20 years experience AND who taught workshops for years to new homeschoolers. Don't Miss this!

However, if you have a child that is extremely burned out on this method used in public schools, you will want to implement some other approach from the beginning because you don’t want to turn your child off to homeschooling in the first few months.

So your teaching style and homeschool style will change as you meet the needs of your kids and utilize your strengths to be the best teacher for your children.

remember you’re not teaching curriculum, you’re teaching a child.

AND I have OH SO MUCH MORE for you!!! Here is my category on my site Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus with tons more tips for newbies.

Can I help you with something now?

Hugs and enjoy this plethora of information intended to set your feet firmly on the road of new homeschool beginnings.

This blog hop is organized by iHomeschool Network, a collaboration of outstanding homeschool bloggers who connect with each other and with family-friendly companies in mutual beneficial projects.

20 CommentsFiled Under: Begin Homeschooling, Choose Curriculum, Homeschooling, Kick Off Your Homeschool Year Tagged With: homeschool anxiety, homeschool challenges, new homeschool year, new homeschooler, new homeschooler homeschool organization, newbeehomeschooler, newhomeschoolyear, ultimate guide

Does Homeschooling Leave You Stuck At Home?

March 18, 2014 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I was so inspired by this information that I had to share: “Does homeschooling leave you stuck at home”?  I guess you could view it that way.

Do you know that it never crossed my mind to view homeschooling this way.  Don’t get me wrong, I like to keep the roads burning up with activities as much as the next active mom.  But, I have always thought of homeschooling as a privilege, a blessing and one that I have savored.  True, there have been times I felt stuck with kids (I was. lol), but then again that was my choice.

I have always felt like the freedom of homeschooling lifts any burden that I may have thought I was going to have.  But I have never felt hemmed in.  Is that how you feel?

Does Homeschooling Leave You Stuck at Home?

What about you, do you feel stuck at home?  Do you feel like you gave up everything to homeschool?
Homeschooling
Source: BestMastersinEducation.com

Check out my 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers!

31 Days of Boot Camp For New Homeschoolers @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Hug and love ya,

2012Tinasignature History Makers Notebooking Pages – Famous Persons from Ancient to Modern – Set 2

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Begin Homeschooling Tagged With: homeschool challenges

Must-Haves for the Organized Homeschooler: What to Keep & What to Skip

September 26, 2013 | 4 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Must-haves for the organized homeschooler are not the same must-haves for other stay at home families.

Think about that for a minute because priorities become real clear. The point is we share living and learning spaces and what we skip and what we keep are different.

By sharing must-haves for the organized homeschooler, I want to ease organization for you.

Must-Haves for the Organized Homeschooler: What to Keep & What to Skip

I do not want you to create a must-have list of things which don’t work.

Organized Homeschooler

We stop agonizing over organizing and what becomes a hobby for some folks (oh yes, I could so go there but I try to keep myself reined in) and the realities of the things that actually need to be organized becomes two very different things.

When You Homeschool and Agonize  Organize

There is a difference in the ways we approach an idea, task or project IF we want to accomplish organizing that fits our homeschool lifestyle.

Our homeschool lifestyle cannot be dismissed as some small undertaking so it requires  a measure of finesse that a lot of books, blogs and websites on general organizing just don’t understand. We are not sending our kids off somewhere, but we are living and learning in shared spaces.

Look at my list below because we don’t have to give up organization and don’t want to; we just learn how to do it differently.

5 Must-Haves for the Organized Homeschooler: What to KEEP

Homeschool Keeper 1. Menu Planning.

Menu planning for 30 days has grit, it’s the only way I menu plan.

It’s not easy if you normally menu plan for 7 days. However, I encourage you to menu plan for 30 days because you do not have to plan again so quickly.

You get a whole lot more return for your time when you menu plan longer. Taking an extra 15 minutes or so in the beginning of the month gives back more time in the month than it takes up.

For example, I turned this into a year long project. Take one year and plan something for every day of the year for recipes that your family like.

This plan will keep giving back for year after year because you’ve created 365 meals and the best part is that you have meals already created.

I color coded every 7 days so that you can see one glance at a time. I plan for 30 days, but shop weekly. So seeing the whole week at one time speeds up the process for myself.

Grab this editable recipe form on my page DIY Easy Home Management Binder.

Homeschool Keeper 2. Chores Assigned to Each Family Member.

I could not do what I do or even school for the day if my kids did not help. Teaching them requires time, but the payoffs are huge.

Ideally, I would love to tell you that I trained them so that now they do all my grocery shopping, but really they have learned some valuable life skills that I can’t check off in my planner.

Update: Yes, they did ALL my grocery shopping and half of the cooking as they grew older. Now, with so much available on-line they still help put groceries away.

Grab this editable chore chart too over on my page DIY Easy Home Management Binder.

Homeschool Keeper 3. A homeschool planner like my 7 Step DIY Homeschool Planner.

Do I need to tell how my heart goes pitter patter when I prepare the 7 Step DIY Homeschool Planner each year?

There is NOT another like homeschool planner like it because YOU organize it each year for your EXACT needs this year.

Using my printables with tons of options at every step, you create a UNIQUE one of a kind planner.

If you’re not a paper/pen gal, you still want some way to easily track your school work.

Homeschool Keeper 4. Command center. Even if it’s simple or temporary.

It’s one thing to have plans in mind, but communicating to the rest of the family is how to effectively carry out plans.

This area can include all upcoming activities for the family and even a Home Management Binder.

Many plans or routines fail and can be traced back to lack of communication.

A physical place at the house where everybody can see what is planned is useful in keeping my family up to date.

Also, I use and love Cozi, which is a free family calendar app.

Each week the calendar is sent o everybody’s email or phone. I love this now that I have teens because we could be going a lot of different directions during the day. Not just that, but the boys can see what is coming up too and learn to plan.

However, one place in the house where all family members pass by for the day was more effective.

Reminders from apps can be out of sight and out of mind; a command center in the house is a way that all family members can stay organized and be mindful.

Homeschool Keeper 5. Place to organize the overflowing amount of books, supplies, and crafts which come with the full time job of homeschooling.

Though I highly recommend having a homeschool room, I know that is not possible with everyone.

In addition, I was told I would never use a dedicated school room. That was not right either. Look at my tips Dedicated Homeschool Room or Dining Room Homeschooler.

Twenty years later and I’m here to tell you I used it very often. So much advice I’ve learned depends on families circumstances at the time.

When I started all of my kids were preschool. I needed pint sized furniture and I needed ways to train them to a habit and to get them ready to learn and focus.

On the other hand I have also had many years of my homeschooling where I couldn’t have a school room. I loved our homeschooling years just as well.

However large or however small area you have, I recommend that you have a place to corral all the clutter so that your home remains a place for relaxing family evenings.

5 Must-Haves for the Organized Homeschooler: What to SKIP

What to Skip 1. Reading organization books from those who don’t live our homeschool lifestyle.

Skip organization books that do not include homeschool parents as an author. I’m not saying you can’t glean some tips.

But if you are struggling in this area, then a book written for an audience that does not have the same demands we have  on our time could end up discouraging you instead of inspiring you.

What to Skip 2. Extensive record keeping.

I’m not saying to throw caution to the wind, but record keeping for the right reasons is key to being organized.

For example, fear of the homeschool law changing is not a good motivator and we’ve brought undue stress to our organized day.

Trying to keep all records to provide proof when your state law does not require record keeping is undue stress. It’s one thing to keep it for you, but another if you need to meet the law.

However, record keeping becomes important in the middle and high school years.

Look at my videos How to Successfully Begin Homeschooling Middle and High School (facebook or here for YouTube) and How to Stay on Top of Record Keeping – Seriously!

Also, I have some detailed tips here Homeschool High School The Must Cover Subjects Part 1 and Homeschool High School The Must Cover Subjects Part 2.

What to Skip 3. Stressful Schedules.

I’m an organized person, but that still didn’t help me to find a balance until several years of homeschooling.

Some years, I was able to schedule hour by hour because it suited our pace.

However, most years, a flexible schedule was needed to accommodate slower learners, my toddler, and preschooler.

Your youngest learner is your TRUE scheduler.

Skip a stressful homeschool schedule in favor of a peaceful schedule.

What to Skip 4. Perfectly picked up house.

Having a perfectly picked up and clean to my standards mindset was the hardest for me to let go.

Learning to let go of that mindset helped me to stay organized although it didn’t feel that way in the beginning.

Accepting a kid cleaned house was not only key to my sanity, but now that my sons have all graduated it trained them for valuable life skills.

Being an organized homeschooler means knowing when to delegate which is not always easy. However, a good enough picked up house while being clean allowed us to move on with our school day.

What to Skip 5. Overflowing amount of clothes.

Lastly, when my kids were young, I realized the more clothes they had, the more they seemed to plow through them.

This always equaled to not only more laundry, but tiny mounds of messes everywhere.

So I realized less is more; I reduced my kids’ wear to less than half.

As you school longer, you realize that you don’t need as many dress clothes for activities outside the house. Unless, your kid are attending a five day co-op which is more like private mini school your kids need just a few sets of dress clothes each.

Having less helped me to organize more and gave me freedom to do the things we love the most.

Must-Haves for the Organized Homeschooler: What to Keep & What to Skip

Not giving up your homeschool freedom begins by knowing what to keep and what to skip as an organized homeschooler.

What are you must-haves and what have you skipped to be organized?

  • Homeschool Organization – 12 Unconventional Ideas for Storage
  • Homeschool Organization – Why You’re Still Drowning in Clutter
  • Homeschool Organization Motivation – 11 Gadgets To Get You Going
  • 100 BEST Ideas to Organize Your Homeschool Area – Storage, Spaces, and Learning Places
  • Top 10 Tips for Maximizing Space in (Really) Tiny Homeschool Spaces
  • Homeschool Organization – Preschool/Kindergarten Free Morning Routine Flip Cards

This is also a blog hop. This blog hop is organized by iHomeschool Network, a collaboration of outstanding homeschool bloggers who connect with each other and with family-friendly companies in mutual beneficial projects.

Hugs and love ya,

Must Haves for the Organized Homeschooler

4 CommentsFiled Under: Home, Homeschool Space, Homeschool Tools, Storage, & Accessories, Organization Tagged With: homeschool challenges, homeschool lifestyle, homeschoolchallenges, homeschoolmultiplechildren planning forms, homeschoolorganization, homeschoolplanner, homeschoolstorage, organization, organizedhomeschool, schedules

When does homeschooling become "normal"?

May 21, 2013 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

As moms when we lack sleep because of endless hours nursing the baby, shuffle a family schedule to line up with dad’s chaotic work schedule, or have our own health issues gnawing at us, a ‘normal'” school schedule can seem a challenge to say the least. It seems to be some elusive lifestyle that alludes us.

When does Homeschooling become normal

Tied in with that feeling of wanting to be normal is the negative thought that only through normalcy will we accomplish anything or succeed at homeschooling.

Focusing on things that we have no control over, but realizing that we are just like everybody else will help curb negative thoughts. We all struggle from time to time, you are not alone. If you are new, you might get more woes in your first couple of years of homeschooling. Seasoned veterans might experience challenges several years down the road after they have enjoyed many blissful years.

The point in dealing with these struggles is to realize that when our time, energy, minds and hearts are focused on ONE thing, like succeeding in homeschooling, we don’t have time to focus on what we cannot do. There is no room in our minds for negative thoughts to drain us of priceless energy.

Habits are formed by a lot of hard work and determination. This is the same for our habit of thinking. By allowing negative thoughts to creep back into our minds, and they will from time to time because we are just human, it will take our FOCUS off of succeeding.

True, we may wish our present stressing circumstance to go away. However, it is more realistic to realize that it is our minds we have control over and nothing else. Work hard at forming the habit to be more positive in our thinking.

Avoid extremes when you are going through hard times and want your homeschooling life style to return to normal.   Remember that circumstances are TEMPORARY at most.

Accepting your present limitations, keeping your mind singularly focused on what you CAN do will energize you.

Support groups, family members, a fellow homeschooler and being around other people who have a desire to succeed in homeschooling will keep your fire raging when you feel you’re smoldering.

Homeschooling never becomes normal, we MAKE it happen each day, one day at a time.

Be sure to go through my Free 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers.

Hugs and you can do it,

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Leave a CommentFiled Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: fearless homeschooling, homeschool, homeschool challenges, homeschool crisis, new homeschooler, newbeehomeschooler

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