Tips to Organize Your Homeschool

Whether you are a new homeschooling family or have been at it for years, you will find that organizing your homeschooling life is important to your household. Following are some tried-and true organizational tips:

- Organize materials and personalize the workspace
Find an organizational method that works for your family. We use lots of folders (for each subject and a special folder for portfolio purposes). Others may find see-through cubbies work for art and science materials. Just because you are homeschooling does not mean your child should not have a space that is personalized. My boys love football so we display posters of their favorite teams. I allowed them to select their desks and notebooks, thereby engaging them in the planning process. Have your child draw a picture to hang in their workspace or create a pencil holder to use on their desk. Encourage them to put materials away at the end of each school day.

- Put reference materials in one place
Encyclopedias, almanacs and other reference materials are best in a central location. This allows easy access for everyone and encourages your student to use them. It cuts down on the mad scramble throughout the house when you need them.

- Use a calendar or some type of planner
Regardless of your homeschooling method (unschooling, classical, Charlotte Mason, etc.), it is important to keep track of your household events. Hanging a calendar in the kitchen works and lets everyone know of upcoming appointments and events. Older children may find using a personal planner is helpful and gives them a sense of responsibility for their schedule. Take the time to update the calendar regularly. There are also a number of online schedulers available for home schoolers.

- Cook ahead or use a crock pot
Mealtime was a stressful time in our home, simply because I did not plan properly. Now I use an online website to plan meals weekly. I prepare most meals on Saturdays and freeze them for the upcoming week. Crock pot meals are also a favorite for all of us. I love them because I can put ingredients in the crock pot in the morning and without a lot of fuss, we can have a home-cooked meal in the evenings.

- Chore chart
Consider using a chore chart for your children. We post ours on the refrigerator and the chores rotate weekly. Conduct an online search for a free chore chart.

Above all, be flexible. Tweak your organizational processes as necessary and keep your children involved in the planning.

Regina has been a home-based entrepreneur since 2007, after the birth of her youngest child. Her virtual assistant business has provided administrative services to clients worldwide, primarily real estate investors. Her top-notch organizational skills have helped real estate professionals close on numerous properties across the United States. As a freelance writers, she has written articles regarding home-based businesses and an E-book for aspiring virtual assistants.

Website: [http://www.diaryofahomeschooler.com]