August 3, 2022 – Organizing Your New School Year

Hey, Mama!

Gena Suarez, Publisher of TOS

Cherish the Chaos

Hey Mama,

Is it me, or is summer JUST flying by? Where did it go? Seems like yesterday was Easter, and now here we are in August, beginning to think about the new school year yet again. It’s a crazy whir right now, this life. But the day is coming—it is—when we are old. Really old. As in (if we are blessed with long life) great grandkids. With that may come some loneliness, some longing for the “good old days” when we were in our 30s and 40s and felt like we were more in control of our lives, more able to take the bull by the horns and make things happen—to call the shots, to make the lists and do the tasks (even if life was wildly crazy or had serious challenges).

So if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed with curriculum shopping and back-to-school planning and getting your homeschool classroom organized, take a deep breath and remember that you will one day cherish these wild, wacky, busy days. And if you need a little guidance, these articles from The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine might help:

Back to School: Ten Homeschooling Concerns by Deborah Wuehler
Craft a Peaceful Year with Time Maps and Routines by Janice Campbell
Getting It All Together by Jennifer Story

Don’t worry so much about every little detail. You are doing it right. You are definitely putting in the time so that these kids grow into responsible, loving, caring (and maybe even frazzled like us) adults. And that is actually a good thing because—guess what, Mama—it happens to be real, as is, realistic. Nothing fake about it.

So stay true. Authentic. Down to earth. Real. The full deal. Nothing phony, no airs. Why make your children stumble later? Give it to them straight. That’s you, Mama. Straight shooter, no-nonsense.

Keep walking. Focus on your blessings. Read the Bible and pray unceasingly for your kids. Model Christ always. Be thankful for the memories you’ve made this summer. You may feel a bit harried now that it’s soon reaching its end, but you’ve got this, Mama. And look at those monkeys of yours. They eat well; they laugh hard; they pick themselves up and start again; they know they’re loved because you have made sure they know that very well. They are yours. Walk confidently. Well done; the Lord’s hand is on your head.

-gena

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The Canadian Schoolhouse

Reminders for Routine and Rhythm

Preparation is key to start off right in any task you set out to do. Getting back to that routine of whatever your family does for learning time takes some easing into. Start booking in time now for simple educational activities to mimic your school day schedule. Fill it with things like reading and worksheets for reviewing last year’s subjects. Try to work on establishing a routine every day so that the official back-to-school schedule will be easy to do when September comes.

Planning and Organizing Tips

As the parent, you have some prep work that you’ll want to ease into as well.

• Gather your curriculum and plan out your year. Make schedules for yourself and get the older kids to make their own schedules as part of their education time. Planning and organizational skills are important ones to learn! 
  
• Download a custom schedule builder for one week or nine weeks.
  
• If you’ve got the time, get activities, crafts, and games that go with your curriculum prepped and ready, so when you get to them you’re not scrambling to cut things out and get things going.
  
• Throw out anything old that you know you will not be using in the coming year. Unless you’ve decided to keep books for the next sibling, consider donating or re-selling your old books to make room for the current ones.
  
• Clean your workspace. It will make the atmosphere more inviting when everyone has a clean workspace to start off with.
  
• Get your kids involved with organizing the workspace. Maybe last year they were okay with working on the couch, but this year they might prefer working at the table. 
  
• Get stocked up on school supplies – because everyone knows pencils magically disappear every year! Make sure you have lots of paper, notebooks, pencils/pens, and craft supplies. With your pre-planned schedule, you should be able to make a shopping list quite easily.

Lastly, but most importantly, pray together as a family for a good learning year. Ask God to open the minds and hearts of everyone to receive wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.

About the author

This article has been written by homeschooling staff writers of The Canadian Schoolhouse (TCS). Enjoy more of our content from TCS contributors and staff writers by visiting our themes page that has a new theme topic added every month!

Jodi Riddle

Pillar of Faith
Jodi Riddle – Do You Have a Plan?

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:40 to “Let all things be done decently and in order.” The context was pertaining to a worship service; however, it is a good principal to follow in our school year as well. I believe that as you head into a new school year, it is in everyone’s best interest to at least have a plan.

Things like knowing the subjects you will be covering, materials you may need, and any curriculums/books that will be used are in everyone’s best interest. It’s also a good idea to have some kind of planner to organize your thoughts and track ideas and progress. This helps you feel confident in what you will be teaching, but also can give the student some assurance to know that there is a plan. (Kids DO like stability whether they act like it or not.)

However, with all of that being said, if you are a major organizer, you will also need to allow room for flexibility. Plans can be altered, curriculums/books can change and subjects that prove to be a wrong fit, can be replaced with others.

The bottom line is have faith that God will lead and direct no matter how organized you are. If your heart is to teach your children, God will equip you along the way with whatever you need.

About the author

Jodi started her journey with TOS in April 2016 and serves as the Operations Manager. She and her husband, Duane, have been married over 30 years and have spent over 20 years in the ministry. Along with being a pastor’s wife, she homeschooled her 3 (now grown) sons for 18 years and also taught in the private and public-school settings. Jodi enjoys teaching, playing the piano, and making cards. Her heart’s desire is to serve others and use her gifts to glorify the Lord.

Do you long for an organized homeschool? Does time or money prevent you from achieving these goals? At SchoolhouseTeachers.com, you’ll find resources to guide you, like the Help Me Get Organized course. This course provides homeschool parents with fresh and creative ideas that can be easily implemented into everyday life, all while staying on budget. Get help with organization today!