Still on the Fence?
Sometimes taking that first step is the hardest. What roadblocks have kept you from making the decision to educate your children at home? Trust that these roadblocks will be removed. Finally, prayerfully, read on. Hopefully, by addressing some of the common homeschooling issues your roadblocks will become pebbles under your feet!
There is no question that a certain amount of organization is required to effectively educate our children at home. It is also true that being an effective parent requires a certain amount of organization!
Homeschooling is most effective when it functions as another facet of family life. It then becomes another block of time to be scheduled along with preparing meals, completing the chores, daily devotionals and family play time. After homeschooling for some time, many families find that things that were once very important to them become quite secondary, especially in light of the overwhelming benefits they see.
So while organizational skills are definitely a plus when it comes to homeschooling, there is no need to fret if you feel your skills are less than perfect. There are many organizational aids to help you get started. Meanwhile, make the most of the skills you have!
Further Reading
- Getting Organized Part 1
Getting Organized Part 2
Getting Organized Part 3
Three articles by Katherine Von Duyke to help get you organized! - Joyce Swann's Homeschool Tips
"There is a misconception that organization restricts freedom and creativity. As a result, many of us reject the notion of being on a tight schedule because we fear that both we and our children will become robotic creatures who move mechanically through the day performing one mundane task after another while both the love of learning and the love of life are extinguished like a candle in a vacuum. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. Organization is simply a means of putting those routine tasks into a framework so that they can be dealt with expeditiously." Article by Joyce Swann at Practical Homeschooling. - Learning to Flow
"How do you know if you are too rigid, way too uptight, controlling, and a big stick-in-the-mud? Structure, organization, and being on top of everything is good and even important, but there is a point that we can move to where we get obsessed and become oppressive. I have recently been asked various questions be mamas who greatly desire to have the Lord's life in their homes and follow the Holy Spirit's leadings throughout their day, but they keep running into difficulties in how to flow with Him and what to let go of and when." Maranatha Chapman helps us keep it all in perspective. - A Real Mom's Homeschool
"How does one keep on track with teaching when one is organizationally challenged? I could attempt to inspire you with Biblical principles and great quotes and examples regarding planning ahead. I could set before you lofty goals. I could even try and make you feel guilty for not being better organized. (Although with my own reputation for using a shovel to clear off my desk, who would take me seriously?) But that is not my purpose. Doing my best in homeschooling is important to me and therefore I’ve had to develop strategies for successfully completing each year. I hope these ideas will encourage you as well." Real tips for real moms from Maggie Hogan. - To Organize or Not to Organize...Do I Really Have To? Colored Storage Bins and Other Tales for the Organizationally Challenged
"Being organized is a character quality that is far too often set on the back burner for various reasons. Orderliness is having everything in its place, organizing and utilizing your God-given resources to their greatest efficiency. 'Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.' 1 Corinthians 14:40." Inspriational ideas for organizing your homeschool from Shari Crooks at Eclectic Homeschool Online.