Do you feel like you’re living in a mess? Do you need help organizing your homeschool? Sometimes it can feel like life gets caught up in a whirlwind of events. Consequently, it leaves the average person feeling major overwhelm and less than. But you need to know that you aren’t alone and that this is a normal experience for many, many families. In fact, dear homeschool mom, know that while it’s common it doesn’t have to continue this way.
Thankfully, there are other homeschool moms whose feet have been on this familiar path. And, some of them have taken loving steps to come along the side of other homeschool moms who are struggling. From time to time, we all need some encouragement and guidance from others.
5 Steps to Organizing Your Homeschool
Foundations
Each family is unique. Now that we have this little reminder, you’ll need to make a clear vision for your personal family and homeschool. This will help you analyze where your struggles are and how to find the method of organization that best suits your family.
Decisions
While there are countless options out there for homeschooling, you can find the one that best suits you. Sometimes the mess is related to the fact that a curriculum doesn’t match up with who we are. For example, perhaps you aren’t an arts and crafts type of parent and it adds a stress-mess because you don’t know what to do with all of those supplies. Or, you aren’t sure how to limit supplies to the basics. Also, an overactive schedule can create a time-mess for your family. Sooner or later, something’s going to give. Why not sit down now to rework these areas for the benefit of you and your family?
Ideal Space
When you think about your home environment, does it offer a presence of peace? Or does it provide a place of rest? Is the space functional? Are surfaces used for their intended purposes? With these questions in mind, it’s important to wisely utilize the space you have.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to spend extra money for organizational tools or systems. Once you learn how to look at your current space through a new lens, all sorts of opportunities may present themselves. The china cabinet cupboards below may make an excellent space to store some math manipulative tools. And the coffee table with drawers may be an excellent place for your current literature books. Or a book basket on the floor may be attractive next to your sofa.
Student Organization
What good will all of your efforts do if your students don’t know how to function within the changes that you are making? All of a sudden things are different and may make them feel like they aren’t in Kansas anymore. Straightaway, they’ll need to understand why you made the changes you did. You’ll need to help them see how the new flow best suits the family. As a result, they’ll become independent with utilizing space and their schedules. Remember to be patient with them and encouraging as they adapt to the new routine.
Usually, changes can make kids feel uncertain and out of sorts. For the most part, if you include them with some of the decision making for changes it can help them feel secure. Also, giving them the opportunity to choose what they want to practice getting used to first can help with the transition.
Organizing Records
This is another area with tons of options. To begin with, not everyone is a paper enthusiast. Though the thought of keeping records makes many people cringe, it must be faced.
Usually, homeschool moms have a common list to go by. Consider all that you may keep track of:
-
-
-
-
- Attendance
- Booklists
- Book reports
- Courses
- Field trips
- Grades
- Homeschool co-ops
- Homeschool elective classes
- Sports
- State test records
- Tests for lessons at home
- and more…
-
-
-
Finding a Mentor
Whether you’re a natural at organization or not, homeschooling can present a little chaos in everyone’s life. This can result in even the most organized homeschool moms being thrown off the course of tidiness. In due time, you may find another mom in your homeschool community who will be able and willing to mentor you or help give you a fresh perspective.
In the event that she doesn’t happen to be in your life during this season, don’t despair. There are mentors and online courses for organizing your homeschool. Mess doesn’t have to rule your life. You don’t have to be consumed by it. There is hope. Kim Sorgius from Not Consumed is one such mentor. In her course, Organize My Homeschool, she offers practical suggestions laying a firm foundation no matter your homeschool or curriculum style.
