Face it--no matter how distracted, artistic, or relaxed you may be personally, there has to be at least a basic level of organization to your homeschooling. Someone said, "If you don't know where you're going, you'll likely end up somewhere else." We can't let that happen with our kids' education!  

But being organized doesn't require a minute-by-minute schedule for every school day. In fact, we found two very simple principles will get you on your way:

1. Plan your weeks early. When you look at the school term ahead, go on and divide up your books and materials into week-long blocks. That will let you know if you have enough time--or enough material--to accomplish what you need to.

2. Plan your days just a week in advance. A friend in the military told me the best strategy is only valid until first contact with the enemy--then you have to adapt! Real life doesn't respect our plans. It's less frustrating to keep your plans broad (by the week) until it's time to actually do them. Then you can adapt for unexpected illness, a neat opportunity, or some other disruption.

These help you manage your time and your curriculum ... but what about your environment?

Every homeschooler quickly discovers that family-based education doesn't have to follow institutional styles.  You don't have to buy a little maple school desk and a chalkboard for the wall unless you want to! But give yourself room to be creative with your teaching environment, too:

1. Would an easy chair make school easier?  You're not confined to a desk any more than your students are! Melanie taught six grade levels at once while nursing a baby. A deep armchair with a footstool made it easier to do both!

2. Can you reach your students when they need a hand? We have a small child-size table Melanie put at her elbow. Students who needed hands-on help, like those using math manipulatives, would take turns sitting at the table.

3. Can you reach your materials easily? The best arrangement we found was to put the chair and table in the corner of the room, with bookshelves on either side. That way, Melanie or the kids could easily turn and get the next book or folder without leaving their seat.

4. Does Mom have to do everything herself? Some mothers feel compelled to do all the housework even while they run a private school in their homes. We found it much better to make a chore list and train the children to do the routine tasks. That honors Mom's role as a teacher by sharing the work she has to put off in order to instruct the kids.

Don't feel trapped into another person's patterns. The goal of home education is really home discipleship, and that can take all kinds of arrangements to make teaching and learning as comfortable and natural as possible. Keep track of where you're going, plan enough to stay on course, and make the most of your time as your children's teacher--in every aspect of life!

Yours in the battle,

Hal and Melanie

Are you married to your best friend?  Too often we forget what we already know about making and being a friend when it comes to our marriage-our closest earthly relationship! Our book My Beloved and My Friend: How To Be Married To Your Best Friend Without Changing Spouses is a great gift for engaged, newlywed, or even veteran couples like us. Check out our webpage at www.MyBelovedAndMyFriend.com to read a sample or order yours now!

 Andrea Carter and the Trouble with Treasure (book and guide) 

 

YOU can WIN the book and lapbook!

TO ENTER: Email Heather with your name, mailing address, and phone number for contact purposes, with the subject line, "Andrea Carter" for a chance to win* the these two books for your family!