Any homeschooling family knows that the process of learning takes up most of your time. Getting things organized may the key to success for some families. We've compiled tips and ideas to make your homeschooling practical and a good fit into the rest of your life. As a bonus, we take a look at some of the ways you can save money while learning together as a family.
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| Organizing Tips |
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An organized home may seem impossible when you have kids around all day long, but it can be done. Here are tips and ideas that will help your household run smoothly.
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| Avoiding Burnout |
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Everyone faces it at one time or another. Read through these tips for inspiration and ideas to combat homeschooling burnout, both for parents and children.
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| Money Savers |
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It is a fact that homeschooling will cost you some money. But there are ways to keep costs down. In fact, you can homeschool quite inexpensively and how much you spend is really up to you. Browse through these resources, tips, and ideas to help you save some money.
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| Housekeeping |
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Doing the household chores can seem like a burden when you have so much else going on. There are some strategies to help make this burden lighter. Read through these ideas and tips on keeping your home clean and how to get the whole family involved.
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| In The Kitchen |
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What's for dinner? That is the age-old question every mother has faced, day after day. Browse through these menu planning ideas, recipes, and strategies for getting food on your table without all the hassle.
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| Chores |
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With children learning and playing (and, let's face it--making messes) all day long, chores become an inevitable hurdle for the homeschooling family. Here you'll find everything from printable chore charts to chore organizers, along with helpful ideas on how to get kids to do their chores and how to divvy them up to make it fair for all.
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| Lesson Planning |
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Don't know what to teach today or how to get everything done? Explore these resources for planning your lessons and get ideas on how to help your homeschool day run smoothly.
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| Record Keeping |
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Record keeping can be a great way for you to see how you and your children are progressing, as well as a means to meet state requirements for reporting and administration of your homeschool.
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| Calendars |
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You can use calendars to keep track of activites, plan your lessons, keep your records, and organize your life.
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The Clutter Connection |
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Edward and Nancy Walsh |
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Clutter seems to have become a way of life, and homeschoolers have a great excuse to collect anything and everything vaguely related to education. This is ironic because, as Dr. Montessori discovered, a cluttered and/or chaotic environment hinders normalization/education. This problem can arise when the materials 'take over' and the attitudes and method fall into second place. An orderly, inviting environment is more important than a large variety of trays and/or materials, especially for young children. It is better to have one or two that demonstrate each concept well.
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Encouragement Forum at vegsource.com |
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If you are feeling burned out or need encouragement, this forum is for you. Share your struggles and get help, ideas, and support from those who have walked in your shoes. |
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Messy Homeschoolers |
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Mary Kenyon |
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Mary Kenyon discusses the challenges and joys of parenting and homeschooling children in what might be called a messy home. She details how she provides a rich learning environment and deals with the clutter by placing her goal of a happy and healthy family first. |
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Developing a Homeschool Budget |
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Barbara L.M. Handley |
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So, how much does homeschooling cost anyway?
As much as you can afford.
That isn't a very comforting answer, but it is a realistic one. Some families reportedly homeschool on as little as $50 a year. Most likely you will spend more than that. How much, exactly, is going to depend on the resources you have available and your children's needs.
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Chores |
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HomeschoolStories.com |
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A homeschooling mom shares some simple ways to encourage children to help around the house based on the principle that one should never do for one's children what they could do for themselves. This leads to a more smoothly running household and the children's sense of pride in their own work. |
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