For homeschool moms, a homeschool organization system is vital to keeping your kids focused and completing your daily learning. Today, Cystral from Sharing Life’s Moments is giving us 5 Keys to Homeschool Organization. If you struggle with keeping your homeschool organized, take a look at Crystal’s tips.
Organization is key when it comes to homeschooling. While homeschooling our kids provides us with loads of flexibility and freedom to choose how we do things, there still needs to be a bit of structure. When a parent takes the time to properly organize every aspect of their homeschooling journey it can be beneficial for all involved. It’s important to have a homeschool organization system in place for record keeping, lesson planning, school activities, and one’s family life.
Record Keeping Tips
One may think that record keeping has to be intense and super complicated. With the exception of a few states, it can be handled with a few simple documents. I have rounded up 7 FREE printable homeschool planners for you to choose from. These planners will help you to have your records organized.
In your planner, be sure to organize and record your weekly attendance and grades. You might also track books each child has read, curriculum you used for each child and even daily time spent on homeschooling.
Lesson Planning
There are several ways to keep track of lesson plans. I personally like pencil and paper still. I get a simple academic calendar from Walmart and fill it out with the assignments that each of my kids have to do for each day.
However, if you would rather be able to keep track of your records online then there are a few choices that I would recommend. I personally enjoyed using My School Year and Homeschool Planet. Both of these options allow you to schedule out your lesson plans with ease. They are inexpensive as well. Of the two, my favorite had to be Homeschool Planet because I could add in personal stuff with less hassle. Plus, it was more user-friendly.
School Activities
Planning field trips to take with your kids is almost a guaranteed must to do when you homeschool. It’s good for everyone’s well-being. It helps to prevent homeschool burnout and cabin fever.
When you are making your homeschool field trip plans be sure to consider the topics that you’re currently learning. For example, if you’re currently learning about certain wars, be sure to check out your local areas to find out what options are available to you.
For example, here in South Carolina, there are MANY places to take my kids to learn all kinds of different things about the Civil War and many other wars. We have loads of museums and forts to explore.
Family Life
I have found that my biggest struggle with staying organized in our family on our homeschooling journey is the family life itself. Without a solid routine for maintaining the house, running errands, and dealing with interruptions, it is near impossible to actually get any homeschooling done.
It is vital that one sets into place a routine of some kind when it comes to when and where they are going to do their lessons. When your kids know that they have to do school work during a set period of time they are more inclined to stay on track. For example, my kids know that Monday thru Thursday from 8 AM until 2 PM, that is when they are supposed to be doing school work. If we get interrupted during those hours, then they know they have to make up that time somewhere else within the week.
Be sure to assign everyone tasks throughout the home. Let your slow cooker or instant pot become your best friend. Remember that your kids learning how to cook, clean, and maintain a home is a life skill they are going to need in life.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
My final bit of advice is don’t sweat the small stuff. Life is going to be crazy as you’re teaching your kids all of the things they need to know in life. Homeschool organization is vital, but flexibility is far more usual in the homeschooling world. Yes, having a place and a time for everything helps ensure that more gets done.
However, kids have a way of being easily distracted regardless how much your child may be willing to learn new things. Kids love to have more options and easily lose interest in the same things over and over. Be willing to explore and learn with them and you’ll find this journey to be one that you’ll all love to be on.
Your Turn…
How do you stay organized in your homeschool world?
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