{"id":3490,"date":"2015-08-05T08:21:26","date_gmt":"2015-08-05T14:21:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nosidebar.com\/?p=3490"},"modified":"2018-08-19T02:06:54","modified_gmt":"2018-08-19T07:06:54","slug":"homeschool-hacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nosidebar.com\/homeschool-hacks\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Simple Back-to-School Hacks for Homeschoolers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Going back to school (or not going back to school for that matter) doesn\u2019t have to be overwhelming. Keep things simple by starting slow and by using the resources you already have available.<\/p>\n
Focus on what\u2019s right for your family, right now. Choose what fits your priorities and goals, and let go of everything else — I promise you won\u2019t regret it. So here are five tips for starting off your school year right.<\/p>\n
1. Simplify your supply list.<\/strong><\/p>\n Beware the back to school sales! They\u2019re so tempting, and who doesn\u2019t love a good trip down the office supply aisle? Remember that you have to store and maintain whatever you buy, though. You can just say no to most of it.<\/p>\n Since you don\u2019t have to buy everything on a classroom supply list, only choose what you know you\u2019ll use. Leave everything else behind. If you turn out to need something later, you can always go back.<\/p>\n You might not get a rock-bottom back-to-school-sale price that way, but you also won\u2019t have spent time and money on supplies you\u2019re never going to use.<\/p>\n 2. Just say no.<\/strong><\/p>\n Since your schedule is flexible and a little unusual, you may find that other people ask you to do all sorts of things you don\u2019t have time for. There are more classes and co-ops and lessons and enrichment activities out there than any family could handle.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to do everything all at once, and you don\u2019t have to start everything at back-to-school time. You can decide what your goals and priorities are for this season. Those get a \u201cyes,\u201d but everything else can take a \u201cno\u201d for now.<\/p>\n If you need a \u201cno\u201d script, try one of these:<\/p>\n 3. Combine activities.<\/strong><\/p>\n Multitasking is distracting, depleting, and doesn\u2019t help you get more done faster. That\u2019s not a great strategy. Instead, sometimes you can combine activities into single tasks that help pare down the to-do list faster.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not multitasking, it\u2019s just getting more out of each single task.<\/p>\n 4. Know your library. <\/strong><\/p>\n If you don\u2019t already know what your local library has to offer, this is a great time to find out. Can you request books online? Renew books online?<\/p>\n Do they have a collection of ebooks, audiobooks, or educational movies to choose from? Are they part of an Inter-Library Loan system that allows you to request books from other libraries?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ll be using library resources often, set up a system to remind yourself to request, renew, and return books. Schedule a weekly or monthly library trip, or set reminders on your phone to keep from drowning in late fees.<\/p>\n Choosing one shelf or basket or book bag in your house to store all library materials can be smart, too, so you\u2019re not stuck hunting for missing books on their due dates.<\/p>\n 5. Use your tech.<\/strong><\/p>\n Instead of learning new systems to keep track of school things, just use the tools you already know in new ways.<\/p>\n Pinterest<\/strong> — can be used to organize videos, articles, printables, or lesson ideas.<\/p>\n Goodreads<\/strong> — can be used to create book lists by subject, by grade level or by student.<\/p>\n Evernote<\/strong> — can store your to-do lists, you archives, or your ideas.<\/p>\n Instagram<\/strong> — could become an instant art gallery or portfolio for your child\u2019s work. Once you photograph it, you don\u2019t have to save every piece of paper or project.<\/p>\n A simpler back to school season is possible. How are you keeping things simple?<\/p>\n Help your homeschool friends out by sharing this with them:<\/strong><\/p>\n The No Sidebar teams appreciates you. #smiles<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Going back to school (or not going back to school for that matter) doesn\u2019t have to be overwhelming. Keep things simple by starting slow and by using the resources you already have available. Focus on what\u2019s right for your family, right now. Choose what fits your priorities and goals, and let go of everything else […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5996,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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