Tips to Help Your Homeschool Run Smoothly

This is the time of year many homeschool parents organize their school area, choose curriculum, and plan for the year.

As you do this, you might also be dreaming of a perfect, stress-free homeschool year.

While I can’t guarantee a perfect year, here are a few simple tips to help your year flow smoothly.

Tips to Help Your Homeschool Year Flow Smoothly:

Printing Frenzy

In past years, it seemed like I was always having to run to the computer and print a worksheet or a test for someone. Now, I print it all out before the school year starts and place it into hanging folders (one folder for each of the 36 weeks of the school year.

Organize the Chaos

During the summer, we go through last year’s school books and put away the books and materials we aren’t going to need for the following year. If I know we won’t be needing it ever again, it goes in the “to sell” pile.

For more ideas on organizing your homeschool area, check out this homeschool room organization article from Saving Talents.

Avoid the Over-Scheduled Blues

In the past, I know I have sung the over-scheduled blues because we signed up for too many activities. Watch out for self-regulation red flags in your kids–it’s their way of telling you that they are overwhelmed.

Smarter School Work Scheduling

Hopefully, you already have a weekly schedule. If not, create one and post it on the wall for your kids to see. Not only does it help your kids to have a sense of routine, it stops them from asking you “what are we doing today?” four hundred times each morning before breakfast.

Make Sure the “Littles” Are Occupied

Read this article about keeping the preschoolers involved and happy while the “Bigs” do school.

Share the Ride

Carpool! Since we live 20 minutes away from pretty much anything, we try to find others in our community going to the same classes we attend. This gives me a chance to stay at home occasionally with the other kids, but when it’s my turn to drive, I have a change to get to know those kids better.

I hope this helps you with your homeschool year planning. May it all go smoothly!