Get Organized For next School Year: More Tips

There are a ton of things you can do now to ensure you are ready and raring to go for the upcoming school year- you will be organized on the outside, even if you don't feel like you are ready on the inside. Over the past several years of homeschooling, I have found a few things that really help me get ready and stay organized throughout the year.

1. Get your routine in place: This goes for you and your kids. Not only should your kids have a daily routine, but you should have a daily and weekly routine for yourself. Know what you need to do every day, week, and month to stay on top of the game. While a simple list will probably suffice for you, these routine pocket charts are perfect for the kiddos.

2. Share Your Plan: Let those closest to you (grandparents, husband, aunts/ uncles, etc) know when you will be starting school and what the schedule is like. This way, they know when your kids will be in school- grandparents won't just show up asking to play with the kids.

3. Make A Plan: What happens if, for some reason, dad or someone else has to take over the school for a day or a few days? Create a folder with routines, morning time, where to find things, etc. Also, let them know where the days' lessons are. These substitute folders from Carson-Dellosa Publishing help keep everything together and organized for impromptu days with a substitute teacher. (There are several different designs, I just love the Aim High line). This can also serve as a reminder spot if your kiddos need to be taken to activities outside the home.

4. Get the kids organized for learning away from home. We keep the kids backpacks always ready to go. When we have appointments or somewhere to be, I can just slide a folder with worksheets and any books they need and we are ready to go. We keep supplies, paper, and a "desk" in it all the time- though I'll be switching to storage clipboards soon. This makes things so much simpler because there is no grabbing supplies at the last minute and the kids already know where everything is. Either a pocket folder or file folder works for this. When it isn't being used, the file folder storage pockets are a perfect place to keep them handy!

5. Decide how you will track progress. Whether you are testing, using assessments, or just tracking progress, decide now what you will do to track what your student is learning. Choose your portfolio/ journal type as well and keep it up through the school year. These data tracking items from Carson-Dellosa could be a huge help!