How to Occupy Kids When You Are Teaching the Other Ones

By Linda Wooldridge

Creating a school box that contains Lego blocks, crayons and coloring pages is a great way to keep a child occupied, while homeschooling other children. Provide fun activities and assignments for preschool children with tips from a homeschool teacher in this free video on education.

VIDEO: How To Display Your Kid's Artwork

DadLabs demonstrates a great solution for displaying your kid’s artwork in your home. Using curtain rods from Ikea and some cool hanging clamps, you can create a rotating gallery to feature your kiddo’s brilliant art.

How To Display Your Kid's Artwork on Howcast

VIDEO: How To Decorate Your Locker

I know we don't normally HAVE lockers if we're homeschooling, but I liked the decorating ideas of this video so much that I thought maybe homeschoolers might wanna see it all the same. I have a couple teenagers in public high school now, so I know they'd be interested in this one. Enjoy.

How To Decorate Your Locker on Howcast

Adding homeschool to your traditional school life

By Sarah Wilson / San Jose Homeschooling Examiner (CLICK to read more)

"Homeschoolers often incorporate aspects of traditional schooling into their curriculum. Whether it be workbooks, assigned reading, structured study time, or scheduled lessons, homeschoolers take what fits their child’s needs and adapt it accordingly.

So why can’t parents of traditionally schooled children do the same? The answer is, “They can!”

First, parents need to understand what homeschooling is not. It is not a simply explained teaching style. It is not an easily followed lesson plan. It is not something you 'do.'

Instead, it is a way of approaching learning that is impossible in a classroom setting crammed with 20 to 45 students. It is observing your child with the goal of understanding just how he learns. Some good articles can be found at A2Z Homeschooling. The point of this exercise is to figure out how your child needs information presented in order for it to stick. Perhaps she needs to gather it on her own. Or, he may need to experience it. Or, she may need to move around while hearing new information. Or, he may need to teach it to someone else.

Keep in mind that in order to maintain classroom management, children are often taught in one style. If a child doesn’t fit that style, she may create problems in the classroom or act out in other ways. If this is your story, you must look beyond what you’ve been told and really see your child. The schoolteacher is not the parent. The principal is not the parent. The school counselor is not the parent. The thick manila folder people keep slapping under your nose is not the parent. You are. Take some time to really learn what makes your child tick. It will make a world of difference in your lives together, homeschooling or not.

Parents always want how-to books to figure out this homeschooling thing. And there are loads of books out there to read. One good list is at A2Z Homeschooling (this is an excellent site). Another is on the Gifted Homeschoolers Forum site (many resources are not 'gifted specific). As your child is already in school with a curriculum being taught, do not bother with homeschooling curriculum books. The last thing a child who has been in school all day needs is more school."

Back to school shopping for an organized homeschool

By Jeanne Noorman / Grand Rapids Homeschooling Examiner

CLICK to read more

"Plastic crates are inexpensive and portable storage for your homeschool books and curriculum.

We’ve all heard the saying, “A place for everything and everything in its place,” but what do you do when the everything outgrows the places?

Bookshelves and inexpensive plastic crates can become a homeschooler’s best friends, and now is the best time to buy them. With back to school and off to college sales going on, Meijers, Target, Walmart and K-Mart carry a wide assortment of shelves and school storage items, and the prices are reasonable, so if need be you can purchase several.

“The key to good organization is not a one-size-fits-all method,” says Karen Ehman, homeschool mom and author of The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized. While some homeschool families sell their used books each spring, it is common for homeschool families, especially those with children in multiple grades, to accumulate and keep a multitude of books from year to year."

How to Decorate with Chalkboard Paint

How to Decorate with Chalkboard Paint | eHow.com: "Chalkboard paint is so fun to decorate with. You can use it in the kitchen for bulletin boards and recipes. Chalkboard paint is perfect for kid's bedrooms and playrooms. And it's even fun for furniture and repurposing thrifting finds.

The most popular color for chalkboard paint is black, but it comes in virtually any color you can think of. Just visit your local paint store and pick out your favorite color, come home and let your imagination guide you!

Here are some ideas to get you started."

How to Create your own Home school Materials List

How to Create your own Home school Materials List | eHow.com: "This is my own home school materials list. You can add or remove as you want. We all have several items we love to purchase for our kids and also it varies from grades and subjects.

Remember the more subjects you teach your child, the possibilities are you will need more materials than this one I created myself."

How to Create a Choiceboard

How to Create a Choiceboard | eHow.com: "Choiceboards are great tools for teaching children to structure their free time and to be more responsible for their choices. Not all choiceboards are created equal though. This will show you how to create an effective choiceboard in a few easy steps."

Howstuffworks "How Homeschooling Works"

Howstuffworks "How Homeschooling Works" by Katherine Neer is a fantastic resource for those of you pondering whether or not to homeschool your child. You'll find helpful tips on getting started, various homeschooling "methods," and links to other great homeschooling sites.

Picture: Photo courtesy A to Z Home's Cool
A homeschooler getting some schoolwork done