5 Days of Homeschool 101 - Encouragement

 

Today's topic, in the 5 Days of Homeschooling 101 is encouragement.  Buckle up buttercup, we're going for a ride!

As you  know, all week we've been sharing the inside track to our lives.   Let me tell you a little secret. We've told you all the good things.   We've told you about out great curriculum choices, how well we plan and manage our homes and I'm sure you've swooned over some of the traditions various folks have shared.

What we haven't shared is that sometimes our curriculum just doesn't work, or the kids hate it.   We plan and get it everything scheduled only to have a family member call from 45 minutes away to say that while putting groceries in the car, they've locked themselves out of their car and can you please come (true story, happened this week, and she doesn't even LIVE with us).   We also didn't tell you that while we have a scheduled for laundry, and meals and shopping....sometimes we pull something out of the laundry basket to wear as we rush out the door to an appointment we forgot, and grab a burger off the $1 meal as we go.

Now, you may be wondering where the encouraging part of this post is, right?   Well, it's in the fact that none of our lives are perfect.  While you may think all the "super bloggers" or even the not so super bloggers, like me, have it all together while you're over there swimming in the sea of lost library books, mounds of laundry and a child who flat out refuses to memorize math facts..we don't.   We have all had epic failures, minor inconveniences and have all been in your shoes, some may still be there.   But regardless, take heart!

You have what it takes to do this!  You are enough. 

5 Days of Homeschool 101 - Traditions

 

Here we are in day 4 of the 5 Days of Homschool 101, and we're talking traditions.   I don't know about your childhood, but in mine, there just weren't any traditions.   I mean we had birthdays and Christmas, but there was nothing special that made it "ours".    Now that I'm older (not to be confused with OLD), I've made an effort to make sure there are traditions that will stay with out children long after we're gone.

Birthdays are holidays in our house (unless you are the dad and have to go to work).   We don't do any homeschooling on birthdays.   There are cupcakes for breakfast and the traditional birthday lunch at Cici's pizza.   We have a "family party" as close to the actual birthday as possible so that the grandparents and aunts, uncles and cousins can celebrate with us.

Christmas is full of traditions now.   We always bake lots of cookies and make fudge and peanut butter balls and then drive around and "elf" people who need Christmas cheer...and cookies.  We study various cultures and their Christmas celebrations.   We always make a traditional St. Nicholas Day surprise for our neighbor, who is from Luxembourg.

Typically, the girls and I go out to lunch on the first day the public school kids go back to school.  This is our little way of celebrating our homeschooling choice.   It may not be an elaborate thing, but it's fund and the restaurants aren't crowded!

5 Days of Homeschool 101 - Home Management

 

Home management is today's topic at 5 Days of Homeschool 101.   In some ways this may look a bit similar to my planning post, especially because I use my planner to also manage my home.   (See I told you my planning issue is serious, grins.)

In addition to my planner (above), I also have a system.  Monday, Wednesday and Friday are gym days, we're there by 8am.   Monday and Thursday are also laundry days, so I know to put a load in the washer first thing in the morning and then continue swapping loads throughout the school day until done.  Oh and yeah, our laundry baskets are color coded, it makes sorting so much easier.

During the school year, the girls have a writing class on Friday afternoon.  I drop them off and then hit the grocery store.   I find it's a lot quicker, and cheaper to shop alone.   To make shopping more efficient, I keep a shopping list note pad on the fridge.  I keep at least 1 extra of commonly used items in storage.  Each person is supposed to add to the list when they take the last of any given item, sometimes they forget...they are not amused when they run out of deodorant or toothpaste...so they've all gotten better about using the list, ahem.   I also try to loosely plan menus based on what's on sale, and already in the freezer/pantry.   However, when I find a good deal I sometimes veer off course.

Speaking of meals, I use the crockpot a great deal.  Mid morning is when I usually load up the crockpot with potatoes for baking (wrapped in aluminum foil), or a inexpensive but tough piece of meat that will be tender and delicious for dinner.   Chili, stews and a variety of beans are also crockpot favorites. 

I'm one of the few people who still writes out checks to pay bills.  When bills arrive, I write the due date on the outside of the envelope, and then stick the whole thing in my checkbook, in chronological order.  To allow for delivery delays, I typically try to mail payments out 10 days ahead of time.  On Friday, when my husband gets paid, I sit down and write out our tithe check, then see what's coming due within the next 10 days and pay those bills accordingly.

As you can see, routine is a big thing in our house.   I find that it's much easier for me to manage things if I have a general rhythm to my week.   If you're a fly by the seat of your pants gal, more power to you.   There is no "right" or "wrong"....unless what you're doing just isn't working, then it's time to change your approach.

5 Days of Homeschooling 101 - Planning

 

I'll admit, I'm busy, probably one of the busiest people around.  While some look at busy as a negative, I see it as a positive, because I'm active in the lives of those I love and the world around me.  Planning is one of my gifts, or maybe it's a disease....either way, it's what keeps my life running relatively smoothly, and it happens to be today's topic at 5 Days of Homeschool 101.    

Let me give you a peek into the life of my planners (yes planners, plural).  First I have a simple 2 year pocket calendar that I carry in my purse.   All doctor, dentist and outside commitments are noted briefly here.   This calendar goes with me when I go anywhere.   I can quickly look at it and schedule appointments without having to second guess myself.

My desk calendar (pictured below) is much more involved.   I keep all of the doctor, dentist, sports/dance/club/co-op etc. dates/times here and update this calendar every time I come home and have added an appointment to the pocket calendar mentioned above.    It also includes things like "change contact lenses" and "give. dog meds" on the appropriate day.  If there is an event that requires tickets or directions, those are stapled to the corresponding day.  Paper work that needs to go to an appointment gets paper clipped together and affixed to the next week (so it's out of the way) but with a big note stating "take forms" on the corresponding day.

In the "To Do" column, I list blog deadlines.  If I have a product review, I put a note on the FIRST day it's due (never wait until the last day, something WILL go wrong), and then highlight or squiggle around it letting me know I've at least set up the draft post.  When the post is written/scheduled I note "scheduled".  The day the review goes live, I look to make sure it really did go live (ahem) and that everything is working.   Then I put a big ole check mark over it and I know I'm done with that review.

Lastly, but certainly not least is my homeschool planner (pictured below).   This is where I keep track of lesson plans and all things homeschool.   As you'll see, this one is written in pencil, because sometimes dates and lessons have to be bumped around depending on unforeseen circumstances like a sick kid or family emergency.  I typically plan out 6 weeks at a time and then see what has and hadn't worked, I then adjust the next few weeks accordingly.

 

So you see,when I said busy, I wasn't kidding.   When I said planners, I wasn't exaggerating.   Keep in mind, that this is the system that works best for me.   You may need a lot more white space, or fewer planners.   That is FINE!!  You and your family will have your own rhythm, and that's ok.  However, I do hope you found something useful in today's post.