Welcome to our Declutter Your Homeschool Challenge!

As we go throughout this challenge, I’m going to add new to-dos for you to tackle in your own home.

Let’s get started!

STEP ONE: Throw away trash!

This may sound like an obvious task, but let’s really think about this. What can we throw away right now?

Let’s start with the things that can be tossed from these spaces:

• kitchen counter drop zones
• art tables/art carts
• baskets/containers of supplies
• paper trays/file drawers/desks
• bookshelves
• drawers/cabinets

Clear out the trash! Move quickly!

Maybe the kids can help? Maybe not? You decide.

Level Up: Maybe you want to go beyond the tossing of broken crayons and paper shreds. If so, consider what else could be thrown away.

• Completed work you no longer need to keep (Your kids won’t want it when they move out – I promise…not all of it anyway.)
• Damaged or incomplete resources
• Half-finished workbooks that will never be completed (Maybe your nephews could use them?)
• Books that hold bad memories – like the third-grade math book my son and I never want to see again – not ever ever ever again!
• Projects that have been sitting for months…maybe years (Snap a photo and toss!)
• The science experiment that didn’t work the first time…and probably won’t ever be tried again. Let it go!

What else is headed for your trash pile? Let’s do this, moms!

STEP TWO: Now let’s talk about the stuff you know you’re not going to use!

As you were clearing the trash, did you notice these kinds of items in your space?

They’re not trash…they actually have lots of life left to them…maybe some of them are even new – but you know in your heart of hearts you are simply never going to use them.

• Items that were handed down to you but aren’t a good fit for your homeschool.
• Resources you’ve tried to use but they weren’t helpful to you or your child.
• Manipulatives, games, activities, etc. your kids have long-since outgrown.
• Books your children have read and won’t be reading again.

Let’s tackle these kinds of things!

• Can any of the items be returned? Maybe you don’t have the original receipt but the store may let you trade the item for something else you need for your home or family right now?
• Would you like to sell any of them? Or put them on consignment? (We have a local homeschool consignment store in our area – maybe you do, too.) Is your neighborhood having a Neighborhood Yard Sale this summer? If you decide to sell your items, make sure the decision you make here is something you can get started on right away – you do not want these items to continue to sit in your house. You’re ready to move them out of your space!
• Is there a family member or friend who would benefit from the items you’re purging? Make sure they actually want them before you dump them on them. ha!
• Do you know of any local therapists, therapist clinics, etc. in your area? Trust me when I tell you they would probably be eager to get their hands on some of what you have!
• Does your library accept donations? Maybe you even have a church library?
• Is there a nearby school who would like to have the items you’ve decluttered? When I was a classroom teacher, I used to love when donations would be dropped off in our teacher resource room!
• Have you decided to part with lots of books? Pediatric medical offices love having new books for their waiting areas!

For me, this stage of decluttering was not easy. I made a run through our bookshelves and cabinets…and then I did it again…and again…and again – like peeling back layers of an onion, getting rid of more and more each time.

If you’re able to make lightning fast decisions and move quickly through this part of the declutter, I envy you!

This is the stuff that has been hardest for me to let go, but I finally had to get tough as nails and admit that there were some wonderful items in our homeschool stash that needed to go.

Maybe they weren’t a good fit for us, but remembering that they might be super helpful to someone else out there made it easier for me to let them go!

Level Up: Going through your stuff is going to result in you having some piles sitting around in your space. Commit to getting those piles out your house as soon as possible!

Don’t let them sit – days could turn into weeks and don’t forget your goal here. You’re wanting to DECLUTTER YOUR HOMESCHOOL so you can start the year next year with more simplicity and less overwhelm.

• Did you find some items you know a friend of yours would like o have? Text her and tell her you’re dropping them off on her porch today.
• Want to make your books available for free to families or other teachers who would enjoy them? Put them out on your porch and post in your neighborhood online group: FREE BOOKS ON OUR PORCH. I actually did this with bulletin board supplies I had from my classroom days. A couple of new teachers in my neighborhood snatched those right up!
• Ready to consign some items at your local education consignment store? Plan to go later today or tomorrow – Let’s get this done!
• Planning to donate to a church, school, library, medical office, or therapy clinic? Plan to make that happen THIS WEEK!

Don’t allow these piles to continue to sit in your home – and girl, don’t ride around with boxes and bags in your car for weeks either – let’s deliver these items to their new home!

Declutter your space while making your items available for someone else to use right away! Let’s go!

TO BE CONTINUED…

Let’s Connect:

How are you doing so far?

I can’t wait to hear – and while you’re at it, share this challenge with a friend!