 Quick, simple and easy: we’ve compiled a back-to-school check list for home school moms to use to help you prepare for the upcoming school year. Whether you homeschool year round (like we do now) or take summers off, there’s generally a "first day of school" or first day back to work somewhere in there. We hope this list of things we do to get ready and set for back to school are helpful for you, too. We all have days that we’d rather hang on to in hopes of avoiding the upcoming inevitable. Since we usually can’t, here’s how we prep for back-to-school. (1) Clean House Self-explanatory but often avoided during busy work weeks and school days. Take a few days to get your house in order, literally. Vacuum, dust, wipe, scrub, deodorize, sanitize, and everything in between.  (2) Organize Books If you’re like us, you have books and book shelves and book cases everywhere. Set aside some time to pass on those books you’re sure you no longer need, and make space for the new set to come. It seems that by starting with the organization of books, other parts and pieces come together, too. Start with the books and see where the cleaning process takes you. (3) Gather Back-to-School Supplies There’s always something you’ll need this year that you didn’t need before. Nothing says ready like preparation. Check your science curriculum and see what supplies you may need soon. (4) Start Planning Lessons We customize lesson plans using My Father’s World Curriculum as the spine and branch out to various sources for all supplemental subjects we choose to include each year, generally centered around our son’s interests. It usually takes a week to create lessons for the upcoming year, and since we homeschool year round, our work schedule is…I’ll explain in #5. But, don't procrastinate! Start planning NOW.  (5) Update Calendars Now is the best time to add on your digital or wall calendar all pre-planned field trips, activities, support group meetings, vacations, sporting league schedules, etc. We school year round so I take time to plan out our "three weeks on/one week off" schedule throughout the year. Our weeks off usually work around major events or activities. (6) Schedule Meal Menu Days We’ve found it works best for us to have a general menu theme for each day of the week. For instance, first Monday’s are soup days, Tuesdays - chicken days, Wednesdays - Hamburger Helper, Thursdays - open, Friday’s - pizza. Second week we’ll add in other themes like Italian, seafood, beef/pork, etc. Weekends - free for all! Having a general "schedule" of main meal ideas keeps all of us on one page, and narrows down the plethora of choices per day. (7) Celebrate Check List Completion After you’ve done most of the above items on the check list, set aside some time to celebrate its completion by treating yourself to something special on a smaller scale. Be creative because the ideas are endless. This celebration is set aside for you, the planner, organizer, teacher, counselor, short-order cook..  (8) Celebrate BIG One Last Time Once school starts back, tv and late nights and video games are even more limited. We like to enjoy a “back to school” celebration of some kind each year, just because. (See our previous article on “5 Ways to Shake Back-to-School Blues.”) Time passes so quickly, and kids grow up so fast until you have to set aside special time to "celebrate good times, c'mon!" You'll make wonderfully fantastic memories, together! Tada!!! Quick and easy list as promised. Not as easy to complete as it sounds, but definitely doable and executional with focus and determination. Schools starting back soon ANYWAY, so why not be proactive and start off on an organized note? We hope this gets you inspired to prep for the upcoming school year. Let us know in the comments section below how it turns out. Follow us on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter for daily fun holidays (Dilly Days), recipes we enjoy making, and other artsy activities and academic projects. Remember, be inspired and enjoy! :) "If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat! Just get on." Sheryl Sandberg Enjoy three more of our favorite "back-to-school" related articles below. Comments are closed.
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