10 Steps to a Happier More Productive Homeschool See Page 8
Top 12 Organizing Tips See Page 18
Getting Things Done See Page 25
ISSN 2379-2841 November / December 2015
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Publisher’s Letter
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Brilliant Publishing LLC Post Office Box 31687, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588 Telephone: 717.571.9233
PUBLISHER / ADVERTISING Publisher
Maureen Williams maureen@thehomeschoolhandbook.com 717.608.5869
AccoUNT ExEcUTIVE Alex Chambers alex@thehomeschoolhandbook.com
Don’t know about you, but it suddenly struck me yesterday that this year has almost gone. What happened? I’m fairly sure that January was just a couple of weeks ago. So I’m guessing that at some point around the New Year, you spent either a short or long time thinking about your homeschool goals for 2015. If that’s the case, how are you doing? Are you on track? Happy? Frustrated...? Because if you’ve achieved everything you aimed for and more, you’re one of the rare ones and I need to speak with you for some tips for the rest of us! If you are anything like me you have spent hours, days even organizing and re-organizing in the never-ending quest of the perfect system. Is there really such a thing? Well after reading this issue I can assure you there are many ideas and so many brilliant tips that we can customize for the perfect system. So grab a cup of tea, find your comfy chair and dig in! I hope you too find the perfect tip and advice so that your upcoming year will be one of organized chaos! For me I’m off to clear off my desk and re-organize. Wishing you all happy holidays and an organized New Year! See you in 2016! As always I thank you for your time and reading The Homeschool Handbook magazine. If you haven’t already, be sure to look up our newest addition to our education division, Digital Homeschool Magazine. It is sure to assist you with all things dealing with online education! Education Matters,
Maureen Williams, Publisher maureen@thehomeschoolhandbook.com 717-608-5869
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EDIToRIAL Editor In Chief
MaryAnne Morrill maryanne@thehomeschoolhandbook.com
Senior Editor
Michelle Donofry editor@thehomeschoolhandbook.com
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Style / Asst. Editor Charity Plata
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coNTRIBUTING WRITERS
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Jeremy Tingle art@thehomeschoolhandbook.com The Homeschool Handbook is published bi-monthly by Brilliant Publishing LLC, Post Office Box 31687, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588 Telephone: (717) 571-9233, Fax: 843-215-7712. Postage paid at Scottsdale, AZ and additional offices. POSTMASTER please send address changes to The Homeschool Handbook, Post Office Box 31687, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588. Volume 6 Number 06. The Homeschool Handbook subscription rates: one-year $19.95 USD, Canada & Mexico $49.95 International $79.95. All subscriptions are non-refundable. Copyright© 2015 Brilliant Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising or editorial material. Advertisers, and/or their agents, assume the responsibility for any claims against the publisher based on the advertisement. Editorial contributors assume responsibility for their published works and assume responsibility for any claims against the publisher based on published work. No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher. All items submitted to The Homeschool Handbook become the sole property of Brilliant Publishing LLC. Editorial content does not reflect the views of the publisher. The imprints, logos, trademarks or trade names (collectively the “Marks”) displayed on the products featured in The Homeschool Handbook are for illustrative purposes only and are not available for sale. The Marks do not represent the implied or actual endorsement by the owners of the Marks of the product on which they appear. All of the Marks are the property of the respective owners and are not the property of either the advertisers using the Marks or The Homeschool Handbook. MEDICAL DISCLAIMER No warranty whatsoever is made by the publisher and there is absolutely no assurance that any statement contained or cited in any article touching on medical matters is true, correct, precise, or up-to-date. Even if a statement made about medicine is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms. The medical information provided is, at best, of a general nature and cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional (for instance, a qualified doctor/physician, nurse, pharmacist/chemist, and so on). None of the individual contributors, LLC members, subcontractors, advertisers, or anyone else connected to Brilliant Publishing LLC and The Homeschool Handbook can take any responsibility for the results or consequences of any attempt to use or adopt any of the information presented in this magazine. Nothing included, as a part of this publication should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine.
The Homeschool Handbook | November / December 2015
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volu me 06
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issue 06
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2015
inside
The Homeschool
Handbook 18
8 cover story 8
10 Steps to a Happier More Productive Homeschool
special features 3
There’s an APP for That
solutions 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 25
25
Dispelling the Top 7 Myths About Being Organized Kids and Organization Are You Really That Busy? Lesson Planning Top 12 Organizing Tips School Paperwork Storage Helping Your Children By Teaching Them to Help You Getting Things Done
inspiration 26 28
How to Prepare for the Holidays, Homeschool Style Silver Bells – Silver Prayers
health and hearth 29
Peppermint Oreo Bark
resources 30
Index/Resources List
Fo r b r e ak i n g n ew s & t i p s b e sur e to f o ll ow T h e H o m e s c h o o l H an db o o k o n s o c i a l m e di a: twitter.com/@TheHomeschool
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The Homeschool Handbook | November / December 2015
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solutions
Dispelling the Top 7 Myths About Being Organized
MYTH NUMBER 2: TO BE ORGANIZED IS TO BE CLEAN
By: Maria Gracia
T
here are lots of myths going around when it comes to getting and staying organized. Here are the top 7, along with the truths.
MYTH NUMBER 1: BEING ORGANIZED MEANS BEING NEAT. While you can certainly be neat AND be organized, the two terms should never be confused with each other. While you might have NEAT piles, or NEAT boxes piled one on top of the other, or objects lined up NEATLY in a straight line, you may still not be able to find a single thing when you need it. Being organized means you're using a structured system that allows you to find everything you need when you need it, and you get everything done when it's due--without frustration, chaos or stress.
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The Homeschool Handbook | November / December 2015
Once again, while you can be BOTH organized AND clean, those terms should not be confused. Cleaning means that you're removing dirt, grime and otherwise preparing a sanitary surface. But, you can have the cleanest home or office on the block, and still be disorganized.
MYTH NUMBER 3: TO BE ORGANIZED MEANS TO SCHEDULE EVERY MINUTE OF YOUR DAY. While scheduling appointments, projects you need to complete, chores, etc. is highly recommended, you certainly do not have to schedule 'every moment' of your day to be organized. 'Scheduling is the fine art of packing every day JUST FULL ENOUGH of the most useful activities.' Never overload it. Your schedule should always allow you time for spontaneity.
MYTH NUMBER 4: ONLY CERTAIN TYPES OF PEOPLE CAN BE ORGANIZED. While there are a very small percentage of people who 'don't have the ability' to be organized, such as someone with a serious illness, most people CAN be organized. Being disorganized is not a disease, it is a decision. If you truly want to be organized, there are proven systems to help you. Once you know these systems and apply them every day of your life, you will be organized.
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www.TheHomeschoolHandbook.com
MYTH NUMBER 5: BEING ORGANIZED TAKES LOTS OF TIME AND EFFORT. The truth is, it takes a lot less time and effort to be organized, than it does to be disorganized. Disorganization takes more time than you can imagine, and ensures that huge obstacles are always directly in the path of 'getting things done.' Getting and staying organized is not rocketscience. The systems and ideas, once learned, applied and practiced, can become as simple as brushing your teeth or combing your hair.
MYTH NUMBER 6: EVERYONE I KNOW IS ORGANIZED, EXCEPT ME. Beware of this myth. Being organized is both an outer and inner trait. Unless you really know a person well, you really can't come to this conclusion. For example, someone may have a very neat home, but she is never on time. Another person may have an organized home, but his office filing system is out of control. Yet another person may have an organized home and office, but never reaches any of her goals. You are not alone. There are many, many people in the world who need help getting organized in certain areas of their lives--even if it doesn't seem so on the surface.
MYTH NUMBER 7: ORGANIZED PEOPLE HAVE NO FUN. On the contrary, the people who are organized are getting the very best out of life. They are getting things done. They're achieving their goals. They're not wasting time searching for lost items, or re-doing things, or missing appointments. They're finding the time they need to do the things they love, and to spend time with the people they care about.
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www.TheHomeschoolHandbook.com
November / December 2015 | ŠThe Homeschool Handbook
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