Feeling Scattered and Unorganized

It sounds to me like you’re doing fine.  I think there is randomness in every homeschool, which is what makes it fun and interesting. You sound a lot like me–always wanting a concrete schedule, wanting to know what’s next all the time, wanting to plan, plan, plan! I probably won’t give you much comfort, but I can help you out with your library problem. My librarians are so wonderful and willing to help, and I’m sure all libraries are that way.

Anyway, I went to our head librarian back in the summer and told her that I was brand-new to hsing and that I would be checking out a lot of books but wouldn’t have time to come in and browse a lot. She kindly gave me her e-mail address and said that I was welcome to e-mail her with our book/DVD/CD needs. So far, my library has been able to find every resource I have needed (either at the library or through inter-library loan), with the exception of Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock. (I have since learned that that resource is actually available online for free.) I sent my librarian a long e-mail back in August, detailing each term, what would be studied, what books I knew I would need, and what our dates were for each term. We’re now wrapping up our second term, and I have yet to need to remind the library or have to go in and look for what I want/need. They always call me the week before a new six weeks begins to let me know they have books on hold for me! They have gone out of their way to inter-library loan several of my needed resources. For the subjects that I knew I wanted to study but didn’t have a clue about which resources to use(like picture study and composer study), the library pulls several books and allows me to go through them to determine which ones I want and which ones I don’t. They’re also wonderful about recommending books or movies that I’m not familiar with or would’ve never thought of.

All that said, my best advice for homeschooling moms is to make friends with your librarian! I couldn’t do this without them. I hope that helps a little!

Lindsey

My personality does not lean toward randomness at all!  I would go crazy not having things planned for the entire year by August.  I know not every person is like that, but addressing your worries about being so random, I think it is a personality trait that can be both good and bad (as is my trait of organization!).  My biggest tips for being organized (if you decide you need to be more so) would be

1)  Have a daily planner to consult as you go through your day.  Mine shows a week at a time and is fairly blank so I can put what subject I want where it makes the most sense to me.  I follow scm’s curriculum guide for subjects but like to pick and choose specifics based on my children’s learning styles so I use some from scm, some from other CM sources.  I try to do as much combined work as possible just adjusting my expectations per child.  I plan the entire year by August in my daily planner, including locating resources so I know where to go when I need something.  I put a sticky not on each week with reminders for things I need in the upcoming week like reserving library books or buying art supplies. 

2)  During the school year, all of our daily work is kept in a box where we do most of our school work-that is where the planner is too so each morning it gets pulled out first.  I then pull out what the planner says I need that day. 

3)  Sunday nights during the school year I spend changing the items in the box for the upcoming week, making copies, bringing art supplies up, making sure I don’t need to leave the school area for anything while I am teaching so we do not get distracted.  The weeks are then pain free as long as I don’t forget anything! 

The planner is key for me.  I do not use the scm one and have not even looked at it (sorry Sonya!) but may for next year.  I think the key for a good planner is that it makes sense to you. 

If your kids opporate well with randomness I would say you are doing fine and not to worry.  If they seem easily distracted or like they are getting confused jumping around then maybe some more order would work.  I loved the planning series on the scm blog starting in May 2008.  I printed each one out and followed them through and it made so much sense.  My mom also always told me to start each year by writing specific goals per child, educational, spiritual, emotional, habits, etc.  You can then look back to see what needs work and what goals you met.  This can help fine tune your days knowing what you want to concentrate on more. 

As far as the library not having what is stated in the curriculum, I find for science and history I can often find something comparable.  With art/composer/poetry type things that don’t have a specific order to them I just check out what they have available at the time and do them in the order I can get them. 

I hope this doesn’t confuse you more, but I love love love to organize and know I need to be more random to keep things fun and interesting so don’t get down on yourself for having a trait that will keep the kids interested and be grateful you recognize areas you want to grow in since that can be hard to admit.  You love your kids and that is number one for a succesful year to me.

It sounds like you know the personality of your family, so what you’re doing may be working for all of you…even if it seems random. I am a very organized person, but sometimes you have to leave room for spontaneous moments too (like drawing George Washington or discussing wooden teeth!). I planned my whole year back in August, but I have found myself tweaking the plan too. It’s nothing to worry about. The children don’t know I’m changing things up (or adding things!).  As long as I can keep a calm and collected attitude in front of them, they don’t know I’m feeling unorganized. If I have one of those unorganized days (or weeks, which is very rare) I just take an afternoon while they’re playing and re-group. I did this a couple of weeks ago, and I’m all set! 

Don’t think you have to keep a rigid schedule down to the minute, if that’s not your or your family’s personality. If it were your personality, then you’d already be doing it because we tend to follow our personalities anyway. I hope that’s helpful! And I still encourage you to talk to your librarian and see if she’d be willing to be your best homeschool friend!

Lindsey

Your “problems” are not crazy!  I would hardly call them problems anyway.  Even though I have my plan for the year, that is only our 3-4 hours of daily school time.  The rest of the day the kids spend acting out stories or using their stuffed animals as the science projects.  We have not studdied George yet but I am sure the wooden teeth will make a huge impression!  As far as your extras go, here is an idea:  We do school in the kitchen/dining room and I have emptied out one drawer on kid level as the “activity drawer”.  That is where I put magazines articles, puzzles, magnet scenes, and all the fun extra stuff for the week/month.  Some things relate directly like our Egypt coloring book and some are pure fun like Dr. Suess flash cards.  I change things weekly and when they have free time or when I need one ot do something while I work with another I tell them to choose something from the activity drawer.  Maybe a basket or tote would work for you.  I also think you sound like you are accomplishing a lot and the kids are learning.

Amanda,

I’m so glad you got it all sorted out. And I’m glad that you were able to see some of the “hidden” fruits of your labor! It really does help just to take an afternoon (or a day) every once in a while and go through everything to re-group. I got so much accomplished on my last re-grouping day that I think I’m going to start doing it once a month! 

Glad everything is better,

Lindsey