We officially start homeschooling for the 2022/2023 school year next Monday! This is my last week for preparations and organizing. I'm trying to get everything together and ready to go.
I'm expecting a baby the end of September, plus I have a preschooler, so I really felt the need this year to have the boys be mostly independent in their work. We chose curriculum with this in mind. As I've been looking through their books and getting familiar with everything, I've kept that concept in the forefront of my thoughts - independence.
Here are a few things I'm doing to prepare to kick off our school year.
The thing I've been doing that I think will be one of the biggest helps this year is getting the boys a box for their science supplies. This subject calls for the most supplies for both of them. I know that if I don't have what we need on-hand, it will be pushed aside and not done. Both of their science books have three different sections for the year. I went through the first section in both of their books and made very extensive lists of the supplies they need. I've been buying and collecting the things they will need and storing them in one of our empty bins on our school shelf. This way, when they have an experiment (which is several times a week each), they will have everything they need right there. Other than perishable items and craft items, everything will be in this box. After they are finished with their first section, I will do this for the second section as well.
I've also been organizing our school shelf. The boys each have their own shelf for their books, and the bins contain loose items that we need. I made sure their books are accessible to them and placed where they won't get lost. They will grab the books they need for one subject at a time and put them back on the shelf when they are finished, grabbing the next subject. Last year, we had bins for all of their books, and it got messy and disorganized. The bins their books were stored in also tore, bent, and even broke. By having their books upright and visible, I think this will curtail some of the mess and disorganization.
I purchased more pencils, markers, colored pencils, crayons, and glue sticks. I went through our pencil caddy and threw away small and broken pencils, dried out markers, and broken crayons. I went through the boy's pencil boxes from last year and decided not to give them a pencil box this year. I put the markers, pencils, crayons, and so forth in the caddies we have to be used by all of us this year.
I've ordered the picture books Zeke will need for his preschool and restocked some of our art supplies - jewels, googly eyes, paper, and glue sticks. I'm starting to print out worksheets to supplement his curriculum and keep him busy when he begs for more schoolwork like his brothers.
Mercie will be attending a small, private school this year, so we purchased the supplies she needed. They're in her backpack, ready to go on the 22nd of this month! We still have to buy paper towels, toilet paper, and a few things like that.
I set up Silas's account with Nicole the Math Lady. He will be using her videos along with Saxon Math 7/6. It's ready to go, and we may do a few lessons this week to show him how it works!
Monday, I plan to have a fun kick-off morning with a big breakfast and some gifts. I haven't totally decided what I'm doing this year, but I always want the first day to be special, something to look forward to.
We plan to get six or so weeks under our belt before Zoey gets here, so we're hoping we get a good routine going by then. That way the boys can continue with homeschooling while I'm recovering!
What do you do to kick-off a new homeschool year? Link up your "K" posts this week!
I love seeing how people organize their homeschool supplies. Have you used a cart before? I thinking of investing in one for my kids because right now I have piles of books everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI just recently bought a cart from Michael's and I'm really liking it. I have three kids, so each kid gets a shelf on the cart for their school books.
DeleteI have not used a cart, but I have seriously thought about it! I have the little shelf for Zeke in my dining room, and almost everything else is very easily accessible in the next room.
DeleteWow. Looks great. I used to plan more and organize everything, but now my daughter does it all herself. Enjoy this time while you have it. Time goes by so fast.
ReplyDeleteTime does go by quickly! Hard to believe I will have a senior, freshman, 7th grader, 5th grader, and preschooler!
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