By Katie Kubesh
It is so hard to believe that Labor Day is almost upon us, marking the end of summer. It seems like just last week I was coming up with a topic to write about for the beginning of summer! In fact, I had a totally different topic for this newsletter, but looked at the calendar and realized summer will be officially "over" in just a few days. So here goes.my "ode to summer" article.
My family took it easy this summer.we spent time at the beach, attended class reunions, family reunions, and we took a trip to Chicago. We swam, collected rocks, rode bikes, saw old friends, and discovered new ones. One thing we did not do is stick to a schedule. And today I looked at the calendar and said, "Eeeek!" It is time to get organized and get our schedule in order!
Many of you have school year round so this is not a problem. But for many others, this is the time of year when we are all scrambling to buy school supplies, organize lessons for the year, and arrange a schedule that will juggle everything we have "planned" to do. It is time to put away the bathing suits and get out the schoolbooks. So where does a mom even start?
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I have started with a simple clock. A clock? Yep. I bought a $3.77 round face clock at Target that I hung on the wall. I made copies of the clock face at different times of the day. For example, 8:00 is bedtime so I have a copy of the clock at 8:00 with a picture of my girls in their beds. This will be one of the ways I convince them to follow a schedule again, and hopefully, my four-year old will learn to tell time while we are at it!
- Now, the other thing we have been lax on all summer is breakfast.cold cereal, fresh fruit, and frozen waffles that you pop in the toaster have been the quick and easy way to start the day. So the next thing I did was look for some quick, easy, and healthy breakfast ideas that the girls will think is a fun way to start their day. First one I'm going to try is French toast made out of thick bread, cut into cubes, and slid onto skewers between pieces of fruit.French toast kabobs! Someone once told me kids would eat anything on a stick, so we shall see! This fall will be a great time to do the Healthy Eating Project Pack if you haven't already!
- Now we haven't been totally slacking this summer, we did complete quite a few project packs. We were in a summer reading program at our local library so we did a couple project packs to go with the books we read. Oh yeah, and Samantha was stung by her very first bee so of course we had to do the bee project pack (which Samantha was not too thrilled about!). We did not, however, complete each one we started, and they have been tossed here and there.
- So, the first thing I did with our summer projects is put everything in the bottom of a rolling 3-drawer cart. This is our "to do" drawer. In fact, we have all of our project pack supplies in this handy cart. It has nice deep drawers to hold file folders, library books, etc. I also have a spot in there for "odds n ends" I'm going to use on project packs like stickers, maps, flash cards, etc. I keep all of our craft supplies in a bigger rolling cart. I like the rolling carts because we can wheel them around wherever we decide to work.
- Once I have them reorganized I am going to purchase one of the File Folder Pocket Charts and hang this right above the rolling cart so my girls have easy access to their project Packs.
- Next, I made a list of all the project packs we want to complete in the first quarter. I used the Scope and Sequence Chart from In the Hands of a Child (free download) and also the Planning Project Sheet, also free from In the Hands of a Child. I posted this right on the wall about the rolling cart to remind us which ones we are going to be working on.
I feel better already, I've started to get our fall schedule underway around here.organization is the best bet. I have the clock, the breakfast menu, the rolling cart, and the list of project packs. Now, all I have to do is print the projects packs out and have them ready to complete next week. I should probably do that right now, but the clock is telling me it's time for one last swim at the beach! Good thing I haven't put the bathing suits away yet!
For the Healthy Eating Project Pack:
http://www.handsofachild.com/shop/index.cfm?action=ViewDetails&ItemID=106
For the file folder pocket chart:
http://www.handsofachild.com/shop/index.cfm?action=ViewDetails&ItemID=250
For the scope and sequence:
http://www.handsofachild.com/shop/index.cfm?action=ViewDetails&ItemID=375
For the project planning sheet:
http://www.handsofachild.com/shop/index.cfm?action=ViewDetails&ItemID=366
For organization and other tips visit:
http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/gettingorganized/planner.php
http://homeschooling.about.com/od/organizingyoursupplies/qt/supplies102.htm
http://homeschooling.about.com/od/organizingyoursupplies/qt/supplies101.htm