The Organized Summer Challenge: Week 21

The Organized Summer Challenge: Week 21

Squeeze every precious moment from this summer by getting organized. Part of the 52-Week Organized Homeschool Challenge

If you’re like most homeschoolers I know, you love summer! You have the freedom to be more relaxed about school, many extra-curricular activities are on break, and you can enjoy the outdoors with your family.

The problem is, we imagine we’ll be able to do so many things with our extra time and then the summer seems to fly by. We can end up disappointed. This week we’ll get organized to make the most of this season.

#1 Discuss last summer’s likes and dislikes

Have a family discussion about what worked and what didn’t last year. What was super fun that you want to repeat and what did you miss out on that you need to plan for?

#2 Complete a summer bucket list

Use your discussion to come up with a summer bucket list for your family. I like this list that is broken down by category, expense, and time required. I really love these lists from 3Dinosaurs that can engage our kids in drawing or hand writing their bucket lists.

#3 Plan summer activities with others

We do a lot of entertaining in the summer and it can become overwhelming if we don’t pencil in some dates and extend invitations.

It’s also important to schedule plans with the kids’ friends. If you don’t, “sometime” will become never.

#4 Plan summer school

Even if you take the summers off like we do, you’ll want to spend some time planning educational activities. We don’t want our students to allow their skills to get rusty from disuse. I want to make sure my kids do Summer Bridge activities, practice their instruments, read, and write.

Homeschool Planning made simple. These planners from A Plan in Place make summer and school year planning not only easy, but fun!

I found the perfect tool for this: A Plan in Place Summer Planners. These are part student planner, part memory book, which will ensure that the summer doesn’t disappear unnoticed. I interviewed the two homeschool moms who created the summer planners for The Homeschool Sanity Show. You’ll love their tips for planning the summer AND the school year. I can’t wait to get my hands on a customized teacher and student planner from them for the fall, too. I am not an affiliate for A Plan in Place. I just love that they understand homeschool moms’ planning needs. I think you will, too.

Besides enjoying time with friends and family outside, I am really wanting to finish a first draft of a language arts curriculum I am creating. What are you really wanting to do this summer?

Be sure to follow the Organized Homeschool board on Pinterest so you don’t miss any organizing goodies!

Here is this month’s printable get-organized homeschool calendar and a list of previous challenges.

May 2014 Get Organized Homeschool Calendar

Organized Homeschool Challenge

Week 1: Daily Devotions Challenge

Week 2: Daily Routine Challenge

Week 3: To-Do List Challenge

Week 4: Memory Keeping Challenge

Week 5: The Decluttering Challenge

Week 6: The Organized Computer Challenge

 Week 7: The Marriage of Your Dreams Challenge

Week 8: The Confident Parent Challenge

Week 9: The Extended Family Challenge

Week 10: The Bring on the Spring Challenge

Week 11: The Spring Cleaning Challenge

Week 12: The Organized Easter Challenge

Week 13: The Serve the Church Challenge

Week 14: The Chore Challenge

Week 15: The Organize Your Finances Challenge

Week 16: The Curriculum Challenge

Week 17: The Friendship Challenge

Week 18: The Family Celebrations Challenge

Week 19: The Organized Clothing Challenge

Week 20: The Organized Vacation Challenge

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