Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

Educator, Coach, Life Strategist

Beautiful things (includes activation exercise & printable poster)

I’m in the midst of decluttering our home (again), so I’ve been donating boxloads to local thrift stores, and bagsful to lovely people in my community who distribute items to those in need. Though I declutter all year long, I tend to do it more when ultra-busy or stressed. Which describes this entire year so far. Which explains why my family can’t fit in my car right now.

Perhaps you find it counterproductive to take time away from really important things to spend time cleaning and organizing. I don’t. Since clutter is so distracting and stressful for me, spending time getting rid of it actually frees up space in my heart and head. I can focus much more clearly on other things once all the extra stuff is gone. Just like I can’t work at a messy desk, I can’t function in a cluttered environment, either.

Too much “stuff”actually works against me. You might say (as I do), clutter just drives me nuts.

This isn’t just me. Walk by any book store or search for minimalist bloggers. Many are now recognizing the benefits of having less. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend spending a few hours in the nearest closet or junk drawer.

Great benefits come from having less. I highly recommend an hour in a closet or junk drawer.

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People have their own rules about decluttering. Mine include asking my children before giving anything away, asking myself whether anyone has used it in the last 2 years, and trying to predict if I might feel compelled to replace it after I give it away.

But the most important question I ask myself is this one:

Does it bring me joy?

Whether I’m thinking of acquiring something new or getting rid of something old, the joy question is usually the deciding factor. Because if it doesn’t bring joy, nothing else really matters. Joy is the only reason I’d ever want to move something, clean something, find a home for something, or otherwise keep track of something I own. When I boil it down, joy is pretty much the only reason I ever want to spend money, either.

To me, the joy question undercuts everything else. No joy means less value. Less value means weighing how much inconvenience it causes to me or someone in my home. Or how much inconvenience I’m willing to put up with, if there’s a least some amount of joy in having the item to begin with.

What each one of us finds beautiful is different. But, how beauty affects us is the same. Gazing on something beautiful creates positive emotions, and with time, positive associations. Otherwise, in my mind, it’s just clutter. Practical, necessary clutter, maybe. But without beauty, since clutter has the potential for adverse effect, weighing that is crucial before bringing it into our lives.

Keep in mind, other beings can be beautiful, too. Unless they’re not. Now there’s something big to think about.

Exercise:

Identify 3-5 objects or beings in your home environment. These can be items on a kitchen counter, small artifacts displayed on shelves, or any items found in drawers or closets. These can also be people or other beings you associate with on a regular basis.

One at a time, think how it makes you feel.

Is it beautiful? By what definition?

Does it have a purpose (what is it)? Is its purpose honorable or meaningful in a way that justifies it being in your home?

Does it make you think of something? Is that something pleasant?

How would you feel if it were no longer there?

Use these results to aid in decluttering. If decluttering isn’t possible at this time, use the results to limit contact with certain objects or beings that don’t bring joy.

Still struggling with the concept of reducing clutter and surrounding yourself with beauty? Grab my PRINTABLE REMINDER to aid in the process of eliminating that which doesn’t serve your highest self:

I surround myself with beautiful things

Standing with you as you move toward greater beauty,

As a coach, writer, recovered over-doer and busyness addict, I understand the challenges of creating a balanced, healthy lifestyle while the mind tries to sabotage your success. In my journey to vibrant health, I created a personalized health system of nutrition and supplementation, lifestyle changes, and I retrained my mind and the energy of my body. I view my success as the formula to my happy, healthy life. I now empower other women to create their own personalized formulas, including the tools and strategies just right for them! Amazing life shifts come from our relationships. I look forward to helping you, too!

Making it measurable

Everyone knows homeschooling is personal.  It’s our business.  With few restrictions, we get to choose what we do. And that’s the way we like it.

On the other hand, this is real life.  Despite the freedom, the reality is that after graduation (usually slightly before) someone, somewhere is going to start asking questions.  Certain people are going to want to know what we did all those years.

Don’t kid yourself, parent.  No matter how fervently independent you may have been to this point, there will come a time — when nearing completion or right after graduation – when you’ll have to start sharing, disclosing and proving. Your student will be asked produce evidence of high school completion.  Whether it’s for college admissions, scholarship committees, employers, or somewhere else — it’s going to happen at one time or another.

That’s where quantifying high school comes in.  You need to make sure everything is measurable.

measure

Let me be clear.  I don’t want to dictate your homeschool style.  And I never suggest withholding from a child what he or she really wants to study in whatever way he or she wants to study it.

What I’m saying is, there will be someone on the other end, hand held out, waiting for a transcript, a list of completed courses, a final credit count, a diploma, a test score, or some other measurement of your child’s high school years.  And it’s your job to provide it.

In high school, remembering to record what your student does, how he did it, where he did it, the number of hours he did it, or how well he did it, becomes crucial.  Only by carefully tracking experiences can you count them, measure them, label them, and put them on a transcript.

Only by carefully tracking experiences can you count them, measure them, label them, and put them…

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So important is the record-keeping process in high school, that it can make or break the student’s immediate plans after graduation.  I’m not trying to scare you.  Actually, I guess I am trying to scare you.  Just try to imagine recreating the last 8 or 9 years of homeschool completely from memory — that’s the kind of horror you’ll face at the end of your child’s high school years if you haven’t bothered to track and measure.  Which really, really stinks for your student, since you may underestimate something crucial — something that’ll cost her something important, like an acceptance letter, a scholarship, a job, or something else.  Or, you might omit something entirely, something that really needed to be there, like a requirement for the next stage of your child’s life, making it impossible for him to proceed.  Or, you might inadequately describe something, so that even though your child did it, those looking in from the outside aren’t able to tell.

When homeschooling high school, please, please write everything down.  Establish some system, no matter what it is, of keeping track of what your teen is up to.  If it’s well-organized, all the better.  But even a box or bin where you drop random notes throughout the year is better than nothing.  These notes will make the difference between a successful finish and a major disappointment for your kid.

…even a box or bin where you drop random notes throughout the year is better than nothing.

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Then, as you record things, make it a habit of measuring them, too:

Measure whether certain requirements have been fulfilled.

Measure whether it is enough of something or requires a little bit more of something.

Measure if the quality was high enough.

Measure if the experience will at least minimally satisfy the criteria of what the student needs for the next stage.

Measure whether someone looking in from the outside would consider what your student did to be worthy of whatever-it-is they have to offer.

One of the things I do is help parents measure high school.  Usually, I work with those who haven’t kept detailed records, have no idea of the worth of certain experiences, or don’t really understand what their child has actually done.  I help sort through facts, document experiences and put together evidence of completion.  I help them measure.

I love doing what I do.  But, you can do this yourself, too.  Start early and remain consistent throughout the high school years.  You’ll get it.

Want ideas for record keeping, measuring experiences and how to award credit?  I’ll list some articles for you, below. Don’t forget to read them and follow the links inside, as well.

If you still need help, let me know.

Marie-Claire Moreau, Quick Start Homeschool

 

Awarding credit three different ways

Record-keeping made simple

Comprehensive high school binder

Credits explained

Earning credit for life skills

 

MCM thumbDr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago.  The founder of many homeschool groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast.  Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, or with no educational background whatsoever.  A liaison for regional school-to-home organizations and a homeschool leader in Florida, Marie-Claire also mentors homeschool families nationwide. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, and many other events.  She currently writes for audiences at Quick Start Homeschool, which she founded in 2010, and as a guest writer on other sites as often as she can.  Her articles have appeared in CONNECT magazine, on Homefires, at Circle of Moms, and she has contributed to hundreds of other blogs nationwide.  Dr. Moreau can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

 

Record keeping made easy!

No matter your style of homeschooling, you’ll want to keep track of the things you do.  From subjects the kids study to the list of books they’ve read, it’s nice to have a record of the learning year.

Many families enjoy recording all the things that happen during homeschool, and do it as a way of documenting the childhood years.  But, it’s important to note that many states actually require homeschool records, too.  That’s why it’s important to have a system in place for dropping papers and tracking dates in case you need them again.

There are lots of different ways for keeping homeschooling information.  It can be helpful to hear how other families do it, before creating a personalized system of your own.

 

Record keeping made easy! {Quick State Homeschool}

 

These are 3 easy ways for families to store important papers, and keep track of the learning that occurs each year:

Tote, Box or Bin

A popular way to keep track of important homeschool “stuff” is by dropping it in a large box, tote or bin.  Keeping things stored in one place means they’re always available in the same spot every single time.  While this may not seem like the most organized way to store projects and paperwork, it does guarantee that kids always have a place to leave things for mom or dad, and save things that are important to them. Plus, it makes sure that nothing important ever gets thrown away or misplaced throughout the year.  Ask any parent who has spent an entire day searching for a single, very important homeschool piece of paper, and you’ll hear how valuable this really is!

Filing System

Another way to store homeschooling data and work samples is in tabbed file folders.  Instead of putting everything into one giant box, file folders help organize related materials together, making for much easier access later on.  Depending on the family and the homeschooling style, files could be created for every child, every subject, or both.  Additional files can be created for other things to save, such as web sites for school use, books completed, special projects assigned, activities done as a family, legal documents, grades or test scores, photographs of the children, flyers and pamphlets collected while on field trips, or anything else that is important enough to save.  Since larger projects cannot fit into folders, taking photos of projects or storing them somewhere else may be necessary.  Note: If file folders are not available, large envelopes, stacking paper trays or rolling storage carts with drawers can be used instead.

Digital Collection

Digital technology makes it possible to store vast amounts of homeschooling data in one small space.  Taking digital photos of projects and people, and scanning individual documents is a third option.  While this could be time-consuming at first, developing a habit of working primarily online, and saving work electronically will eventually reduce the amount of time it takes to create digital records, ultimately eliminating the need to use paper at all.   To satisfy the desire to have a hard copy (to display on the coffee table or show grandparents), some families like to create a photo collage, scrap book, or other showcase for every child, and have it professionally printed (think SnapFish or Shutterfly) as a book or spiral-bound journal at the end of each year.

Great ideas for organizing homeschool records found here!

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No matter what kind of record-keeping system is used, the kinds of things that homeschoolers save are always the same.  Typically, homeschoolers tend to hold on to things like:

  • written work and practice problems
  • completed workbooks and worktexts
  • creative projects, like artwork, photography, music, videos and more
  • state, district, legal and other important homeschool documents
  • test scores, placement indications, evaluations, curriculum recommendations
  • storage media containing work
  • a book list, driving log, list of field trips and other lists
  • pamphlets, ticket stubs, brochures and other memorabilia collected throughout the year
  • transcripts, report cards, grades
  • class descriptions, course syllabi, names of books/curriculum used
  • journals written by kids, notes or lesson plans developed by parents
  • lab reports, research papers, other specialized assignments
  • records of learning accomplished in a day, week, month or year

In one of my books, I devote whole chapters to homeschool record-keeping, household organization, lesson planning and more.  I cover everything I talked about in this article, plus I’ve included sample forms, charts, and schedules, too. To see that book, click here.

Happy homeschooling!

Marie-Claire Moreau, Quick Start Homeschool

For more like this, click:

Storing homeschooling memories

Comprehensive high school records

Workbooks versus worktexts

To organize the entire homeschool year, you might like:

Plan Your Own Homeschool Curriculum — the guide to an organized homeschool year using only the materials you choose

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago.  A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast.  Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever.  A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT,Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide.  Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

Teacher Planning Days (for homeschool parents)

HS teacher days

 

Homeschool parents wear many hats over the course of 12-15 years.  Taking on the roles of Principal, Guidance Counselor, Head Teacher, Book Keeper, Chauffeur, Psychologist and Social Director (all at the same time), the responsibility is enormous.

With responsibility comes accountability.  And though some states don’t require formal schooling or detailed records, homeschool parents still always have many things to track and do.

 

That’s where Teacher Planning Days come in…

 

In school settings, classroom teachers use planning days to fill-in progress reports, inventory classroom materials, reach out to parents and catch up on other activities that are impossible to complete during the school day.

Homeschoolers can use the same strategy for catching up.

 

Homeschool parents need planning days, too!

 

In our home, my planning occurs throughout the year as needed, but the most intense planning happens in July.

During the year, my planning days consist of things I can do in a day.  This includes grading papers, printing lessons, updating transcripts, replenishing supplies and other smaller things I knock out quickly.

But in July, I perform all of the larger tasks that need doing — the stuff that takes longer than a day.  That includes creating student portfolios, boxing up work from the year, selecting curriculum for a new year, revising school schedules and household charts, organizing shelves, reorganizing furniture, and other jobs that take a lot longer.

For a couple weeks every July, my kids get a vacation.  They rest, catch up on interests and hobbies and basically do whatever they want.  During that time, I consult with them about making choices, choosing classes, resources they like best, what they were able to complete in certain courses, and what else they’d like to study next year.

I devote that time every year to our family and our homeschool efforts.  It’s perhaps my busiest time of the year.  Don’t worry — I take personal days off whenever I need them throughout the year.  But in the month of July, I work really hard.

As I write this, I am in the midst of planning for our upcoming school “year”.  My desk is littered with scribbled notes and incomplete projects, my computer screen has a full width of tabs open, and the floor around me looks as though I haven’t filed a sheet of paper in ten years.

But, within a week or so, I’ll be finished with all of the “big stuff” and ready for another great year.   All curriculum will be ordered, shelves cleaned, used books listed for sale, new schedules typed up, and the list goes on and on.

A lot of work?  For me, yes.

But, the payoff equals peace of mind, organized days, and well-equipped spaces for everyone to live and work during the year.

 

How can YOU use Teacher Planning Days?

 

Throughout the year, use planning days to:

  • catch up on homeschool record-keeping
  • file paperwork where it belongs
  • read an e-book or listen to a lecture
  • insert items into a scrap book or photo collage
  • research a specific topic or resource
  • review procedures with your students
  • tidy up areas in need of attention
  • order a book
  • organize a binder, a junk drawer or a snack area
  • empty your Inbox
  • organize or swap out schoolroom toys & manipulatives
  • label boxes, bins or folders
  • phone a contact to get some questions answered

During longer planning periods, you may:

  • develop a filing system
  • create charts for doing chores, putting things away or explaining procedures
  • organize your homeschool library
  • create a study area
  • attend an event, workshop or conference
  • empty a closet, creating homeschool storage
  • make a list of resources to teach a specific subject
  • train children to complete new chores
  • look back over what worked (and what didn’t) the previous year
  • meet with other homeschoolers for support
  • create centers around the house
  • read a homeschool, education or parenting book
  • start (or finish) a transcript
  • obtain teaching materials for the next year

 

Remember:

 

Planning days are  about re-grouping and re-organizing for the coming days and weeks.  That means, they can be used for anything you need to keep going strong.  If cleaning off a kitchen counter is what your kids need to make progress, use a planning day to do just that.  If going to a warehouse store to stock up on toilet paper is what your home needs right now, you can do that too.   Whatever it takes.

Planning weeks (or longer) are about getting ready for the next phase, the next season or the next full year.  Do whatever it takes to prepare for those, too.

 

And, finally…

 

Never feel guilty about taking a day “off” for planning.  Think of these days as insurance for a better homeschool year.  Some parents call these days “Professional Development” days. (I love that!)

Planning days can be sprinkled throughout the school year randomly, or inserted into a schedule on a regular basis (e.g., the first Tuesday of every month).  Another way (a strategy I use in our home) is to drop everything and declare a planning day any day one is needed.

Whatever it takes to be successful.

 

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Are you a planner?  How is homeschool planning done in your home?  Have any of these ideas encouraged or inspired you to try something new?

 

Leave a COMMENT!  

Or, drop a link to something you’ve written about planning, too!

 

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“Dollar store” schooling

dollar store schooling

Maybe the dollar store isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of purchasing homeschool supplies.  But, where else can a person find number dice and flash cards, poster board and acrylic paints, a magnifying lens and modeling clay, mechanical pencils and index cards — all on the same day, all in one trip, and each for just a buck?dollar store 1

I continue to be impressed with the variety of items now available at dollar stores.  The selection of “teacher” supplies and basic office supplies is tremendous!  My local store also carries sticker books, grade-level workbooks, small reference books and [sometimes] children’s books, too.  I have also purchased decorative printer paper, awards certificates, shapes and cutouts, felts, dry erase boards, classroom prizes and many other items there, too.  When buying for large groups of students, I appreciate how much I save on large quantities of these kinds of classroom items.

I often get inspiration from looking at dollar items through the lens of homeschooling.  Loads of fabulous projects can be completed using dollar items alone.  Over the years, I have purchased dollar items for everything from decorating science fair display boards to crafting projects for our homeschooling co-op.  And though some items have not passed the quality test (I don’t care for dollar store white glue, for example), it is a resource I often turn to first, before paying full price anywhere else.

dollar store 3

Anyone organizing a homeschool library, workbox system, classroom centers, art supplies, or creating unit studies should always check the dollar store first.  Most stores carry colorful totes, containers and bins — in all shapes and sizes.  Baskets, tins, boxes, and magazine holders are great for homeschool projects and portfolio storage, too.

dollar store 4

Though I don’t recommend relying exclusively on dollar store items for homeschooling, there are certainly many items worth trying.  What a great way to stock the school room and save money, too!

If you haven’t visited a dollar store lately, I strongly encourage you to stop by your local store.  Do go with a budget in mind (it’s easy to spend $20 without even realizing it!) and make sure the items you select are things you’ll really use (and won’t add additional work or stress to your day).

You might also like:

Stockpiling homeschool materials — should you or shouldn’t you?

How to get free and cheap homeschool stuff

Go-alongs

 

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