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Homeschool Organization – Why You’re Still Drowning in Clutter

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Homeschool Organization - Why You're Still Drowning in Clutter @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Getting rid of the kids is one option for homeschool decluttering. (okay, okay). Today, I’m sharing homeschool organization – why you’re still drowning in clutter because understanding why we save things helps us to part with them.

The Big Four Barriers to Homeschool Decluttering

Telling you that I have a regular routine to declutter and why you should too won’t have one ounce of meaning or motivation to you unless you understand why we all keep clutter.

On top of that, homeschooling just adds another layer of stuff to what we already have in our home.

Before we can address workable solutions, we need to conquer our fears, which are the barriers to homeschool decluttering.

Look at these four reasons why you can’t let go of clutter.

ONE// The one day thinking.

It for sure is the most crippling mindset, which is one day I will need it.

TWO// It may be worth something one day.

This is especially hard for us as homeschoolers because a lot of us by nature are frugal or thrifty, but can that be misguided thriftiness?

THREE// My ________ (insert family relative here) saved it for me all these years or gave it to me.

My mom and I are real close, but unlike me she saves everything. She had things from my high school and elementary years which were sentimental to us both.

However, she didn’t just have a few things, but tubs and tubs of them. I have no room to store them, but I am thankful for technology today because I am able to capture numerous photos of them.

FOUR//  It’s worth too much to just throw away.

The somebody, somewhere in the world will be able to use it that can’t afford nice things is another mindset setback for decluttering.

You and I both know as teachers that before we can correct negative behavior with children or find a solution to their problem we have to understand and identify the behavior first. Decluttering our homeschool is similar.

Confession time. Which one are you or do you want to silently stalk here? That is okay too because I will be addressing each of these barriers in upcoming articles with solutions and tips.

You won’t have to wait too long for some help, look at these articles right now.
5 Homeschool Things to Toss By the End of Summer, Top 10 Tips for Maximizing Space in (Really) Tiny Homeschool Spaces and How a 31 Day Menu Plan Makes You a Healthier, Better & Smarter Homeschool Mom + Free Editable Planner.

Hugs and love ya,

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15 Top Homeschool Posts, Tips and Ideas of the Year – You Picked Them!

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15 Top Homeschool Posts, Tips and Ideas of the Year – You Picked Them Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I love this time of the year because not only is it a time of reflection, but about brand new beginnings.

I have now completed two years of blogging and am loving every minute of it.

Without you, I would not be as motivated to share what I do.

15 Top Homeschool Posts

So thank you first for following because you are my inspiration for writing and sharing what I have learned so far in my journey.

What I did today was round up the posts, inspiration and ideas that rocked your world this year.

It’s true you love homeschool planning, organization and unit studies as much as I do or at least you want to pursue them some more this next year.

Looking Back to Make Tracks Forward

Also, it seams like many of us have strong opinions too on the difference between homeschooling and schooling at home. Be sure to look at each post below by clicking on the link under the image.

And if you’re new to homeschooling, be sure you go through my Free 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers.


Hugs and you know I love ya into next year,

Tina Signature 2015c

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Homeschool Blogging Basics – Day 1. Purpose

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Purpose, Plan, Performance, Persistence and Payoff.

5 Days of Homeschool Blogging Basics.

Day 1 Purpose.

Homeschool Blogging Basics. Purpose, Plan, Perfomance, Persistence, Payoff @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool PlusHomeschool and blog. Who’d do that?

I use to think that too, but I didn’t realize that I already was homeschooling and blogging before I jumped ship to the WordPress platform.

Let me back up though because in my 5 days of beginner how tos about homeschool blogging basics, I want to share not only how stoked I am about blogging, but also share tidbits of experience that I’ve learned as I finish up my second year.

Some of you have loyally “followed” (saying this loosely and you’ll see why) since I had articles over at my New Bee site and Dynamic 2 Moms site (not WordPress platforms).

I was sharing tidbits, but my purpose was not growing my audience.

I wasn’t focused on building my blog audience because I was conducting live homeschooling workshops then.

Yes, I know it sounds insane that I didn’t have a place for folks to sign up, but again my purpose was different then. I was mentoring to a local group of homeschool moms in person.

Mission to Mechanics of Blogging

What I am trying to say in all this background information is that the step to building a blog successfully is to zero in on a purpose for your blog. That is the starting point.

See, when I had a purpose, then I could formulate a plan.

Too, I knew that I had to have a platform and host that spoke seo (search engine optimization, which I will explain on Day 3. Performance), but that also gave me credibility as a blogger. And no, I don’t like techie things.

Pageviews Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus First Few Months

A mission though along with understanding some of the basic mechanics of all those technical things are what spurred my blog to reach close to 75K page views within four months of starting.

No, I didn’t know it then that reaching page views like that wasn’t normal within the first few months of blogging.

I am grateful too that an elite group of homeschool bloggers, iHomeschool Network invited me to part of their group early on and no doubt has contributed some to my growth.

It takes quality content to grow fast and of course being part of a top-notch blogging group with camaraderie like iHN only spurred me on to learning faster.

Okay, I told you I ran from technical things (still do), but I had to stop and face the technical guru in me because start up choices made a difference in my blog growing faster.

The bottom line is you have to answer what is the purpose of your blog and what is the best way to get there.

At this point too, I want you to know that I had a purpose other than just having a place to track my homeschool journey.

Writing this series is about me wanting more than just a place to share my homeschool journey when I started my blog.

I am not sharing tips about using any blogging platform and just using my blog as a diary. I wanted more.

When I decided to step back from conducting workshops in person, I still wanted a voice in the homeschooling community. That is one of my purposes for blogging.

Too, I knew that my personal experience was far beyond helping just new homeschool moms.

There are many blogs of homeschooling journeys starting out, but I had one graduating son and the second son behind him.

What good does keeping this experience to myself do? The seasoned veteran homeschool moms can seem to be far and few between.

Also, one of my greatest loves for planners and how uniquely I organized it was something I couldn’t wait to share with a larger audience.

Purpose to Passion to Profits

I sharpened my vision because sticking to my purpose is what holds me day to day blogging.

What about profits? Oh sure I am all for them!

A genuine blogger would tell you that in the course of being passionate about their purpose that if they could make some blogging dollars, it would be a sweet payoff. (pun intended, okay, okay)

However, profits simply cannot be the first purpose. From passion comes profits.

Let me say that again. From what you are most passionate about comes profit. I’ll explain why in a minute.

Percolating Blog Purpose

I love coffee any oh way you serve it up and like coffee, my purpose started percolating. It has to percolate for a while to get the right brew.

Look at these points to answer about your purpose.

  • Do I want my blog to be a place to share just about my journey? If so, then many of these thing I am saying won’t apply. I wanted more so I approached it professionally.
  • Do I want to go from passion to profit? If so, start with the right order. Give first.
  • How will I give back to the homeschooling community? When you are generous, people know that and flock to your blog because you have been gracious and generous in giving of your time, tidbits and experience. It’s important to me that my blogging voice express just who I am because I do care about people other than just profits. Don’t just blog about general things that everybody knows. You are not giving away all your experience when you hone in and give the specifics about how to solve a problem whether it’s homeschool related or not. Think about giving first.
  • What will my blogging topics be about? There is a WHOLE array of things that fall under homeschooling, from how-tos, to crafts, to special needs, to curriculum to homeschooling overseas to homeschooling an only child.
  • What is your purpose regarding topics?
  • What is your passion that you could write endless topics about? I will expand on this in Day 2. Plan.

You know my fond love for quotes because they are like tiny bullets of dynamite and I fill my mind with inspirational quotes daily.

So this is one quote I have shared in one of my workshops and it really applies here to Day 1. Purpose.

If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.
Lewis Carroll

Or in this case, if you don’t know where you are going any old platform, host, or theme will do. Think about it!

First comes your purpose, then passion by giving back. I will be talking more about profits on Day 5. Payoff.

And grab this free Mission Statement for your blog planner.

It comes from my Forever Blog Planner set. Of course,  I love my Forever Blog Planner.

Collage Forever Blog Planner @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus store

Homeschool Blogging Mission Statement @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Download the Free Homeschool Blogging Mission Statement

Stick around, I am just getting stoked and have so much more to tell you!

Hugs and love ya,

Tina Signature 2015c

Also, check out iBlog Pro, Proud to be a Co-Author

Take your blog to the next level. Grab iBlog Pro and start blogging like a Pro today!

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.

Visit us on Pinterest, Twitter and Google Plus. And of course, click the image below to visit all the other blog articles from the homeschool moms of the iHomeschool Network.

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2016 New Year New Goals Form – Free 7 Step Homeschool Planner

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

It may seem insane, but last year when I looked for this form to put in my planners, updating it got away from me with the move overseas.

2016 New Year New Goals Printable @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

This year, I had it on my to-do list to get a 2016 New Year New Goals Form done really early so that I would have time to not only add it to my planner, but to reflect on it before the end of the year.

Curriculum Pages for Planner

Besides, I can’t make goals spur of the moment or without having time to really think about. Call me slow, but on some things I just am, or is that quick now? okay, okay.

The reasons I originally created it are still some of the same ones this year:

  • I need more general goals.
  • One to three general goals make it doable instead of a whole long list that I really can’t reach.
  • I wanted a place to also put what I want to do less of. Sometimes I hyper focus on accomplishing instead of letting go. Do you ever do that? Letting go of what I can’t control is a great stress reliever and reminder that I am just human.
  • I wanted something that I could put both in my homeschool planner and my blog planner.

Creating it early gives me time to ponder on goal setting.

I feel too like I can get a jump on the new year because the end of the year is always busy for me. I figured you may still be putting your curriculum planner together and may want to stick this in a place or two.

Grab it below.

2016 New Year New Goals Printable @ Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Don’t forget! If you want to start building your homeschool planner, I take you step by step with OVER 300+ free downloads and options.

7 Easy Steps – “Tons of Options & Pretty Color”

Step 1. Choose a Pretty Front/Back Cover

Step. 2. Choose Calendars/Appointment Keepers

Step 3. Choose Goals/Objectives

Step 4. Choose Lesson Planning Pages Right For You!

Step 5a. Choose Unique forms JUST for You!

Step 5b. Choose MORE Unique Forms JUST for You!

Step 5c. Choose MORE MORE Unique Forms Just for You!

Step 6. Personalize It

Step 7. Bind it! Love it!

What do you think? Can you use this form early?

Hugs and love ya,
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Homeschool Organization – Preschool/Kindergarten Free Morning Routine Flip Cards

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Homeschool Organization

Homeschool organization is something that should be fun. Even the sweetest littlest homeschooler deserves fun and cool organizing tools. Look at my other tips for how to homeschool kindergarten.

And this is one organizing tool that I wished I had when my boys were in the preschool and Kindergarten years.

It is only after training them that I can look back and see what would have worked and teaching homeschool organization starts from the very beginning.

Guess what? You get the benefit of what I know now and I am so excited to share these morning routine flip cards.

Mr. Senior 2013 following his rouinte @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus. Homeschool Organization - Preschool/Kindergarten Free Morning Routine Flip Cards

{I surprised Mr. Senior 2013 as I caught him following his routine and hanging up his shirt. He was 3 years old here.}

The printable is based off the chore or routine that my boys did or that I was training them to do.

Too, I moved away from calling them a chore chart because it was more of training my boys to follow a routine. 

I wanted them to see what came next in the morning and learn to follow it.

Though I used many chore charts on the wall, a flip card on an “O” ring was a much better idea because they flipped the card as they were finished and were ready for the next day.

Hang the O ring cards on a hook in their room and not much wall space is required.

Homeschool Organization Preschool Morning Routine @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

23 Things that can be included in the Morning Routine for a Preschooler or Kindergartener

Look at these things that a preschooler or Kindergartener can do to help around the house and create a routine too.

It’s the best way to start teaching homeschool organization. This is the age that most kids love to learn new things and want to help you around the house.

Again, all of these are based off my chore charts I created through the years and I have added my list here for you.

  • make their bed
  • toilet paper call or refill the toilet paper roll or add more underneath the cabinet
  • get ready for the Bible read aloud
  • hang their clothes up
  • water the plants
  • computer time
  • feed the dog/pets
  • practice or listen to music
  • brush their teeth
  • empty trash baskets
  • fold their clothes and put away in the drawer
  • eat breakfast
  • put their books away in their bookshelf
  • put their toys away
  • sweep
  • set the table
  • take their dirty clothes to the laundry room on wash day
  • fold clothes
  • help wash dishes or work outside
  • change out the hand towel in the bathrooms
  • dusting
  • unload part of the dishwasher
  • wipe down counters, walls and/or baseboards

With all this being said, I did make the mistake of making my list too big each day.

I learned that 5 things to do each day was enough to help train my boys.

So I created these flip cards with only five spaces on each day.

Creating Routine Flip Cards for the Littlest Homeschooler

Here is how to use them:

  • I created 2 sets of flip cards so that the days can be mixed and matched for more than one child.
  • There are 7 days with the names of  the days of the weeks.
  • At the top of the card for each day is a happy face for them to mark off if they completed the routine.  There is a sad face too but hopefully you won’t need to use that picture.
  • There are two pages of pictures for you to cut out and glue on the correct day.

One reason I didn’t add the pictures to the flip cards is because the routine changes each day. 

Also, when my boys were that young and ready to climb in my lap, we would read aloud first.

Bed making didn’t come until after they ate breakfast and brushed their teeth.

Each child is different and your routine is different from mine because you know your child.

So you choose which 5 things that you want your child to do each day. One day they may begin with watering the plants and the next day you may want them to take their laundry to the laundry room on wash day.

  • After you print out how many of each page that you need, glue them on each day of the week and laminate it.
  • Then punch a hole and put it on a O ring. The beauty of this is too that your child can hold it and walk around with it. Then flip it to the next day and they are ready for the routine of the next day.

This is what I have found ideal after I trained my boys and it is what I would have preferred.

I was only able to do this with my last son but then again, my printable skills were not so hot then, but I still created it.

I hope you can use the printable I have now made and will enjoy many years using them.

Download the free printable routine flip cards here.

Hugs and love ya,

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