Schedules, Structure, Accountability...

I have been working on a more structured schedule for school next year.  Both Emily and Michelle needed this, and so do I.  Even though Michelle is in 7th grade this year, she still must have a good bit of one-on-one attention - direction, teaching, etc.

I will be using these two schedules for them.  It was useful to get a side-by-side view on Word to make sure there was no overlap.  The underlined subjects are those that I will be teaching and working on with them.  I will be printing one copy for each day, which they will use to write in their assignments and what they need to work on on their own (OYO).

Organizing the School Room

I found an idea I liked to organize our files and papers during the school day - a major source of disruption.  Identifying sources of disruption and solutions is one of my goals for this summer.  Organizing the school room so that we have easy access to items we use daily will help get us there.  I also liked this idea of using a see-through shoe organizer to put art and office supplies that the kids use.  This way they won't go rumaging through cabinets.  To keep books organized, I'd love this one - if only I had that much free space!  It could be a point of departure and used on a smaller scale.

The Organized School Room

After twelve years of homeschooling, we have accumulated a ton of school supplies, curricula, manipulatives, equipment, and books.  We have a school room that is bursting at the seams, overflowing into our family room, and that is not counting the many books which are scattered in bookshelves all over the house. 

Our school day goes along more smoothly if we all know where our things are, so we aren't wasting time looking for that assignment due or the read-aloud book we should have started on an hour ago.

The red lockers.  We have four of these, and the kids love them.  This is where they keep all their things.  It is an opportunity to teach organization.  I've given them containers for them to put their smaller things, folders, and paper trays.  We have a locker checks periodically, that keeps them motivated, and there's a reward for the best kept locker.

We got these cubicles at IKEA along with the red lockers.  We have two of them, this one is for our school stuff.  I like that we can keep some of the overflow supplies in boxes or baskets, out of sight, it helps make the family room more presentable.  Oh, and the green container you see on top is where the kids put their finished assignements for me to check each day.

This pie safe holds most of our school supplies - art, microscope, index cards...

I keep school manipulatives, markers, crayons and other items the kids need easy access to in these bins.

These shelves hold all the books we are using this year. One of those shelves is designated for library books.  Keeping those organized is key to avoiding late returns and library fines. But on top of those shelves... is the last frontier - UNsightly and UNorganized stash of science lab supplies and puzzles.  I am looking for any creative ideas to clear that space out, or at least make it more presentable.  I'm optimistic!