Plan ahead

The first step in organization is figuring out everything you have that will be used during homeschool. Planning ahead will often take off a big slice of stress. Get out a notebook or sheet of paper and take inventory of everything you use for schooling. Individual lists and lengths of lists will vary. Once you have your list, on a separate sheet of paper, group the alike things together. Check them off on your first list as you go. Be sure you are including furniture, craft supplies, and books (no need to list every book; just list them in categories like board books, fiction, non-fiction, simple books (non-chapter), first chapter books, readers, chapter books, etc...). Once you have that done, you are ready for the actual organization part.

Create a space for school

When homeschooling, if possible, you should have a separate space for school. The space can be an entire room if you have the space (I recommend this) or if your space is limited, you can make the spot in a room it will blend well with (home office, playroom, child's bedroom...). This will eliminate the stress of trying to figure it out each day. Remember that sometimes your children may want to do certain assignments outside or on their beds. This is fine, providing it's an assignment that your child feels comfortable doing at a space other than the desk. Also, sometimes assignments will be done during field trips and other school related outings. The school spot is just the "base", so to speak. This is the spot where the kids will be able to read, write, do crafts, do projects, do experiments, study, and listen to lectures. The area must be comfortable, quiet, easily accessible, have all materials handy, and be kept clean and ready to use.

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Choosing furniture

If you haven't yet purchased furniture or don't have anything in the house you can use, here is a breakdown of what I suggest. However, keep in mind that all households are different and what works for one person may not be universal. I suggest getting a desk that contains a drawer or compartment for storing basic materials (pens, pencils, stapler, scissors, glue, paper, notebooks, etc...). If you have more than one child, you may choose to use a desk-like table that will seat all the kids and store the supplies in separate drawers for each kid. This is ideal, but don't worry if it's not in your budget. You can always opt for using the kitchen table and keeping all supplies close by. I also suggest using an armoire that has shelves and drawers on the part outside of the doors. You can store craft supplies, messy items, items with small pieces, and items you don't want babies and toddlers to touch inside the doors. You can store the books on the shelves and papers, folders , and other supplies in the drawers. If this won't work for you, then you can also use regular tall bookshelves and a file cabinet. Store the "door items" inside plastic totes on the top shelves. Arrange the books on the lower shelves and store the papers, folders, and supplies in the file cabinet.

Scheduling

Once you have decided on your space, arranged your furniture accordingly, and put everything away, it's time to organize your daily tasks and schedule. Your schedule should include all the classes your child takes each day, break and snack times, and recess times. Don't forget to include electives and field trips. Sometimes you may stray from the schedule for some unplanned learning activities. But having a general idea of what you are doing can really help avoid stress.

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

As homeschool becomes more popular and widespread, there are many questions that people ask. As a mom who has educated her children at home, as well as enrolled them in traditional school, I have been asked a fair share of questions regarding educational methods at home. With more people homeschooling, some people may wonder if groups of homeschoolers should buy big buildings together. In fact, when a group of readers were asked for back to school concerns,theBarefoot asked this very question. So, why don't homeschool parents form a school together? There are many answers to that question.

Social Interaction With the Outside World
Contrary to what some may believe, social interaction is very important to most parents of children who attend school at home. The ability for kids to interact with the outside world during the day, rather than being restricted to a building is one reason that using a traditional school building may not appeal to some homeschooling families. It can provide a great opportunity for children to socially interact with kids their age, as well as a variety of age groups. This type of outside world interaction could be a great preparation for when kids graduate and get out into the "real world."

Differences in Curriculum and Learning Styles
One of the main benefits to homeschool is the ability to choose or develop a custom curriculum plan for each child, based on his or her needs. Not all homeschooled kids will be using the same curriculum. For this reason, it may be more difficult to hold school in a building in a traditional class setting. Since everyone may not be using the same plan or methods, parents and other teachers might all be talking at once. This could be a very distracting and confusing learning environment that may even hinder the educational process.

Flexible Learning Environment
Some homeschool parents choose this form of education because of the flexibility it provides. Children in a homeschool environment have the unique opportunity of being able to learn everywhere. Class does not necessarily have to be held behind four walls, sitting at a desk. Math and nutrition might be taught in a combination lesson at the local farmer's market, for instance. Of course, some learning will still be completed with paper, pencils, and books, but there is often more flexibility in a “home” learning environment. This flexibility could possibly be one reason some homeschool parents would choose not to hold school in a traditional school building.

What About Homeschool Co-Ops?
There actually are some homeschoolers who choose to learn together. This type of arrangement is often called a homeschool co-op. Usually in these arrangements, the classes are offered as a supplement to what the kids are already learning in homeschool. The classes are usually held only on certain days, still leaving room for the flexible learning environment that home school can provide. There also are homeschool co-ops in which a group of parents work together to form a teaching plan. In these type of arrangements, a parents who specializes in a certain area may have the opportunity to aid other students in that area.

Which Method is Best?
When deciding between public, private, or home school (or various homeschool options), the answer will differ for everyone. That's often why parents choose to homeschool. They likely have come to the conclusion that not all children have the same educational needs. What works for one child may not work for another. Education is about providing a child with the best learning opportunities possible. For the most information to be gained during learning, a child's individual needs, as well as the available options, should be taken into consideration.


Note: A special thanks totheBarefoot for asking this question. He's a freelance writer and IT expert who writes about a wide range of topics. His content subjects include politics, writing, news, relationships, and many more. Expect his work to be entertaining, informative, and engaging.

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*I originally published this content via Yahoo Contributor Network

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Back to school! The first day or so of elementary school is usually hectic, whether kids are in public, private, or home school. Supplies are being collected and inventoried, everyone's adjusting to the schedule and routine, and the kids may need something to keep them busy. While parents and teachers are busy gathering supplies and preparing for the school year, kids can enjoy these and other back to school activities and art projects. As a mom, homeschool teacher, and former nanny, I have created and organized many back to school crafts, art projects, and activities, many of which have been geared toward elementary students. Here are a few that students might enjoy.

School Time!

Many people may remember playing "school" as a child. Here's a fun back to school activity to introduce your kids to the concept of school time. This is especially beneficial for kids who haven't yet started school. But, in my experience, most elementary students like playing school, even if they're already in school.This game is best played with a group of friends or family members for the most interaction and real-life experience.

Materials:

• small chalkboard
• chalk
• pencils
• paper
• an area for students
• a teacher area

Instructions:
Choose one person as the teacher. Everyone else (if there are other kids) will be the elementary students. Set up an area just like a classroom and have the "teacher" hand out the supplies to everyone. The teacher gets to teach a lesson to everyone, using the chalkboard. It can be a serious lesson or can also be something fun like instructions to draw animals. To make it the most realistic, require kids to raise hands when asking questions. This activity can last as long as the kids are willing to play. Be forewarned that some elementary students may want to play all day.

Fill the Backpack

In this fun back to school activity, elementary students will race to place school items a backpack, mocking the act of preparing for school. This fun back to school activity prepares a child for the act of getting ready in the morning. While it probably won't be quite as hectic as in this race, there will likely be some mornings when kids are rushing to get ready.

Materials:

• school supplies
• miscellaneous household objects
• backpack or bag for each kid

Instructions:
Give the elementary students a list of school supplies and a set amount of time to collect one of each school supply provided. The tricky part is that all supplies will be placed jumbled up with miscellaneous other supplies in two or three different areas. Whichever student loads his or her backpack with all of the items fastest wins the game.

My School Through Art

Kids like to create art that reflects their own lives. Allow elementary students to paint a picture of their school or classroom. If they haven't seen it yet, take them to see it or ask them to be imaginative and come up with a picture of their ideal classroom. The only materials required for this fun back to school art project are paintbrushes, paints, art paper, and the imagination of the child. Some kids are not so neat with paints, so smocks or aprons may also be a good idea.


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*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network