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I don’t know a single homeschooler who isn’t somewhat organized. In the midst of our hectic days, I think each one of us has some type of system that keeps us on track. Honestly, keeping my homeschool organized each year is what keeps my sanity! Without a system that flows smoothly in my home, chaos would quickly ensue and my motivation to teach my kids would soon point south.
I’ll tell you about some things I’ve found, that when added into my daily homeschool routine, have helped me to either form or keep a habit of organization.
1. A homeschool planner
In order to keep track of my kids’ goals (what they need to do and when they should do them), I really need my homeschool planner. I’ve used a variety of types of planners with different emphases on style and function, and I’ve come to the conclusion that each year my planning life will be different.
Some years I use a digital planner, like Homeschool Tracker, and other years I’ve found my trusty spiral-bound, two-column planner to be most helpful. This past year, I’ve migrated to a combination of Google docs and AOL email for kids, which seems to be most effective for my tween daughter, and also a simple goal-setting and journaling digital file in Google docs that I’ve set up for my preschooler.
This is what fits my lifestyle today, but I’m always on the lookout for more effective and streamlined planners that fit my particular needs at the time. Find what what works for you, and stick with it. A homeschool planner will be one of your best companions as you see your kids’ progress and keep track of your goals for their yearly goals. [Continue reading]
