Educating Friends & Family About Homeschooling

I am signed up for Homeschool.com's bi-weekly E-zine and a couple weeks ago they sent out a great article written by Ann Simpson that I wanted to republish for all my homeschooling friends!


How I Educate My Family and Friends About the Decision to Homeschool
By Ann Simpson

Ten years ago, when I started to homeschool my children, I think my family thought I had a screw loose! They thought it was such an odd decision on my part and they always wanted to know why? The topic of my qualifications were brought up, over and over again, as were the questions:

1) "Do you think you might be harming the kids?" and,
2) "What about the kids' socialization?"

Now, ten years later, I don't think homeschooling is the issue it once was. In the last decade, homeschooling has become more mainstream. People get it now. They understand the shortcomings of the public school system. They've heard that homeschoolers do really well on standardized tests and get into excellent colleges. They've read articles and seen news spots about how successful homeschooling is. As a result, I don't have to explain as much anymore. But still, when family and friends ask, I tell them the following:

• I came to the decision to homeschool my children after being a substitute teacher in our local school district. Before being in the schools, I thought learning occurred all six hours of the day. After being in the public school system, day in and day out, I realized just how little learning occurs throughout the day. I really had no idea that kids were in school for six hours, but less than half of that time was spent on academics. Also, I had no idea, how disruptive a classroom of 22 students could be, or how a class could be held hostage by three or four children that just didn't want to learn. I didn't want my children to be stuck in such an environment.
• Before I started homeschooling my children, I actually had my kids commuting 50 miles a day (there and back) to attend a school I really liked—so you can see that education was always important to me. It's funny too, because I was sending them to a small school out in the country, that I affectionately called "The Little House on the Prairie" school. In reality, a true Little House school would have been in my home, around my kitchen table! Isn't that how education has occurred for centuries?
•  Yes, I can be my own children's teacher! After all, who loves my kids more than I do? Love and affection combined with learning—you just can't beat that! And really, haven't I been doing it all along? I was there when my children learned to walk and talk. I taught them how to use the potty, how to button a shirt, and how to treat others with respect. I taught them their numbers and ABCs. Who is better qualified to continue teaching my children, but me?
•  Besides, homeschooling isn't so much about teaching, as it is an entire journey in learning. It is a journey that occurs 24/7—not from 8 am to 3 pm Mondays through Fridays. I now realize that my children learn from every experience and situation they encounter. Grocery shopping is a learning experience, as are chores, baking a cake, and helping others.
•  And as you all know, socialization is NOT a problem. My kids are in community sports, the scouting program, they have jobs, and they have mentors. Believe me; they know how to interact with others!

So now when people ask about why I homeschool, and really, they don't ask that often anymore, I cite all the above. But I think nowadays when people ask, it's usually because they see the value in homeschooling, and they're interested in doing it too.

Times...they are a changing!

Start off the New Year By Getting Organized!

I did a giveaway with Bonnie on my old blog and I'm happy to provide a guest post from her today about organization! She has lots of good tips & tricks so be sure to check out her website listed at the bottom of the post.

Start off the New Year by Getting Organized!

January is National Get Organized Month

By Bonnie Joy Dewkett

Every year you say you are going to do it; get organized and get rid of the clutter and junk that is preventing you from enjoying your home and spending more time with your family. However, every year your New Year’s resolution falters your home becomes increasingly disorganized and full of items you don’t need and don’t use. This January, during National Get Organized month, take back your home and your free time by using these organizational tips:

In the Closet

Problem: My closet is too crowded, and I seem to wear the same clothes every week.
Solution: Only have one season’s clothing in your closet at a time. Even if you feel you can fit more, don’t. This will allow you to view all of your choices for the season at one time, and you are less likely to have items go unworn.

Problem: You are not sure if you should get rid of some clothes.
Solution: Turn all your clothes in your closet to face one way. As you wear them, turn the hanger around. If you haven’t worn an item by the end of the month, donate or sell it.

For the Home

Problem: Instead of staying home and enjoying time with your family, you have to go shopping because a light bulb burned out.
Solution: Buy household items such as light bulbs, batteries, toilet paper and paper towels in bulk. Buy a specific set of shelves for your basement, garage, or pantry to house your supply.

Problem: You are caught off guard by birthdays and other life events.
Solution: Buy greeting cards in bulk every few months. Make sure to join a greeting card company’s preferred member club so that you can take advantage of the benefits they offer for buying numerous cards. Also, purchase and utilize a greeting card organizer so that all of your greeting cards are in one place and you can determine if you need to purchase more of a specific type of card.

Problem: You run around to purchase last minute gifts.
Solution: Purchase gift cards when you visit restaurants, department stores, etc. Keep these cards in your greeting card organizer so you have a one-stop card and gift shop in your home.

Problem: It takes you hours to sort through all of your junk email and mail.
Solution: Pick a week or month and for each piece of email or junk mail you receive during that time, take the time to contact the company to opt out of their email list, mailing list etc. You will also be helping the environment.

Problem: You waste time preparing to clean by collecting all the products you will need.
Solution: Create a cleaning basket with all the necessary products fro each floor of your home. Superstores sell baskets with handles designed for this purpose.

Problem: You lose a button on your favorite blouse and you know it came with spare buttons, you just don’t know when you put them.
Solution: Create a button bin. When you buy a new item of clothing, label the buttons (for example: Sally’s black blouse) and immediately add the items to the bin.

In the Kitchen

Problem: It is a busy night and you can’t figure out what restaurants deliver.
Solution: Keep take out menus in a three ring binder. Organize them alphabetically or by cuisine for quick decisions and a quick fix on a busy night. Also include an envelope of dollar bills for tips for delivery drivers.

Problem: Making portable lunch for your kids and family takes too much time at night.
Solution: On the day you grocery shop enlist the help of family members to make baggies of healthy snacks, fruits and veggies. For the refrigerated items use a plastic tote to store all of the choices in one location. For non-refrigerated items, use a bowl or a glass jar to make choices quick and available to kids for healthy snacking.

Problem: Every week you add the same items to your shopping list.
Solution: Create a master list with the items your family needs every week, such as milk, bread, or peanut butter. Make copies of the list and keep them on hand. Make a line for the date on the top.

The most important thing to remember about getting organized is that although it may be time consuming and even stressful now, an organized home will allow you to live a less stressful life and will even allow you to spend more time doing the things you love.

- Bonnie Joy Dewkett, CPO® is an organizing expert, author, and motivational speaker. Her company, The Joyful Organizer®, creates and implements organizational systems for the home or office. These changes allow her Customers to create calm from chaos at work and at home. Bonnie has achieved the prestigious designation of Certified Professional Organizer, CPO®, from The Board of Certification for Professional Organizers. She is a member of The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and has published The Joyful Organizer's Guide to a Joyful Move which is available on her website http://www.thejoyfulorganizer.com.