| Were you born organized, or do you lead a helter-- | | | | would suggest not letting either your catalog or your |
| skelter existence? Are you tired of losing your keys | | | | magazine collection grow too large. They can all too |
| and not finding the papers, books, etc. that you need? | | | | quickly overwhelm you. Replace old catalogs with new |
| Are you living underneath a cloud of chaos? If you are | | | | ones as soon as they arrive. And I would save no |
| a home school parent this can be doubly troublesome. | | | | more than a year's worth of a particular magazine. |
| It's one thing to leave for work each day, being able to | | | | You can donate your old ones to your local library, |
| leave it all behind, it's quite another when you have to | | | | thrift store, or Doctor's office it you don't want to |
| live it 24/7. And home schooling in and of itself causes | | | | throw them away. |
| clutter and disorganization. What with papers, books, | | | | It's also a good idea to keep a shelf for those checked |
| projects... | | | | out library books. Make it a family rule that all library |
| I believe it is critical to be somewhat organized when | | | | books will be stored there. When one is used another |
| you are educating at home. Too much precious time | | | | cannot be taken until the used one has been replaced. |
| will be lost if you're not. Too many hours will be spent | | | | This will help you to keep track of those books and |
| chasing your tail and nothing will be accomplished. You | | | | avoid fines! Another thing I do is to keep a post it note |
| will feel overwhelmed and out of control. Given the | | | | by the computer to remind me when my books are |
| chance your clutter will eat you alive (at least that's the | | | | due. Some people make sure they go to the library on |
| way it will make you feel)! | | | | the same day each week so they will not loose track |
| So what's a person to do? | | | | of their due dates. |
| Get rid of the clutter! | | | | Okay, how about art supplies, science kits, and |
| You must realize that clutter cannot be organized. | | | | manipulatives? Plastic containers are good for these. |
| Start sorting through the confusion and give away or | | | | Sort everything out and store in an appropriately sized |
| throw away those things that do not, "sing to your | | | | labeled container. If you have a spare closet you can |
| heart." Do a little bit each day and you will soon see a | | | | buy freestanding plastic shelves to fit inside. Then just |
| light at the end of your tunnel. | | | | fill up the shelves with your labeled containers. If this |
| Okay, what's next? Being that you are a home | | | | doesn't work you can purchase those plastic rolling |
| schooling family you will have more belongings than | | | | carts with drawers. They come in various sizes. You |
| your non-- home schooling family down the street. The | | | | can sort your materials into the drawers that you have |
| trick is in learning how to store what you do have and | | | | already labeled. These can be stored up against a |
| how not to have too much! This can be quite the | | | | free wall. |
| challenge. There is so much neat stuff out there! So | | | | Now, how about the things you use every day? |
| many books, art supplies, science kits, manipulatives, | | | | Ideally each child will have a desk with drawers. Next |
| maps, and lots of fun supplemental learning tools. It is | | | | best is a table with a freestanding, plastic set of |
| hard to resist it all. But you must. You really must. | | | | drawers near by. If neither of these is feasible give |
| When there is too much available it becomes | | | | each child his or her own plastic crate. Books, |
| paralyzing and you don't know what to do first. You'll | | | | notebooks, and a fully packed pencil case can be |
| find yourself running in circles and not accomplishing | | | | stored in these, then carried to where needed and |
| anything. It is much better to have a few really good | | | | easily stored away when finished for the day. |
| resources that you really want to use, rather than | | | | All right, what's next? Record keeping! |
| having a house full of things you may or may not get | | | | You'll need to find a place to keep all of those |
| to. | | | | important papers. But first, you'll want to decide what |
| But what to do with those "really good resources?" | | | | those important papers are? What are you going to |
| Some families are fortunate enough to have an extra | | | | keep? Possibly lesson plans, attendance records, work |
| room that can be devoted to their home learning. This | | | | samples, report cards, standardized test scores, and |
| is nice, but not necessary. Many families do just fine | | | | high school transcripts. |
| seated around the dining room table, although that | | | | A filing cabinet is a great place for these; a two |
| makes storing the necessary materials a bit trickier. | | | | drawer one will probably do the trick. If that is not |
| Speaking of storage...let's break it down and see what | | | | possible, how about an accordion file folder? Or |
| we can come up with. | | | | maybe a large three ring binder with dividers. It all |
| Books first. How many books do you have? Are you | | | | depends on how much space you have and how |
| trying to build an at home library? Do you visit the | | | | much money you want to spend. |
| public library regularly? How about magazines, do you | | | | Well, I think that about covers it. Organization is |
| have lots or not that many? | | | | important for home schoolers. Clutter must be gotten |
| A bookcase is a good idea. The number of books you | | | | rid of because too much of anything is NOT a good |
| have and how large you want to grow your library will | | | | thing. Plus it's important to find what works for your life |
| determine the size and amount of the cases you will | | | | when deciding what to keep, what not to keep, and |
| need. If you have magazines you can invest in some | | | | where and how to keep it. Follow this advice and your |
| magazine holders and devote a shelf of your | | | | days will glide by with new ease. |
| bookcase to them. This works well for catalogs too. I | | | | |