Tuesday Tip

 

Best Tips from Around the Country!

Join the conversations at "I am a Homeschool Group Leader" on Facebook for some great advice, answers and encouragement. You must be a homeschool group leader to be allowed to join. But once on, the discussions are GREAT!

"Homeschool group leaders need support, too! This group was created to provide homeschool group leaders a safe place where they can be uplifted and connected with others who know just how they feel. Members are encouraged to ask questions and share their ideas and insights and advice in a relaxed and positive atmosphere."

Tuesday Tip

Thankful for You

What a beautiful time of year! We get to uplift others and honor the Lord through the gorgeous virtue of gratefulness. Remembering the important role all others have had in building us up lets us see our lives through the joyfully rich colors of humility. This week let your faithful volunteers know how much they have given, how much they are appreciated.

“In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945);
Pastor, Theologian, German Resistance Fighter In World War 

Tuesday Tip

6,975,229,925
people in the world

312,616,045
people in the United States

2,500,000
people estimated to be homeschoolers

75
people estimated average in local homeschool groups

1
you

Best leader tip of the day--Find ways to Learn and improve your people skills. With all the people in the world, you're going to need them! =)

"The heart of the righteous studies how to answer."  Proverbs 15:28 NKJV

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." Proverbs 25:11 NKJV

Return of the Tuesday Tip

A Golden Hour

The best leaders have the best systems. I'm not talking about the most up-to-date electronics but the ways to get things done that really work. The simpler the system, the more effective it is.

One homeschool group leader's task that can naggingly overwhelm is the need to connect with members. The tendency is to either procrastinate or to be controlled by needs. Balance simply with a system of scheduling one hour a week to get as many phone calls done as possible. Make it an hour of power, per se, and let worry be a thing of the past.

Tuesday's Tip

Exhibit Love

Your leadership will be effective with whole families when you genuinely care for people. Homeschool expertise and group management skills are secondary to the power of love.

Learn more of being a servant-leader with our new e-book, One By One: The Homeschool Group Leader's Guide to Motivating Their Members.

Tuesday's Tip

Happy Thanksgiving!

Look over your homeschool group in your mind's eye and choose five people who work behind the scenes or help in small ways who seldom receive recognition. Send each of them a special thank you today. You could say something as simple as, "This season of thanks brought you to my mind. I see and appreciate all the work that you do behind the scenes. I couldn't do [insert activity] without you." Remember to consider your teens, too. Their help sometimes goes under the radar, but their efforts are valuable.

We are thankful for each of you! We are also thankful for these five special ladies who have helped us greatly by reviewing our book, One By One: The Homeschool Group Leader's Guide to Motivating Your Members-- Carol Topp (Ohio), Becky Preble (Texas), Eileen Blanco (Florida), Sheila Campbell (Texas), Heidi St. John (Washington).

Tuesday's Tip

Build Comraderie

Whether you are a new leader introducing yourself or an established leader desiring more connections, let the members know a little about yourself by announcing that you are giving an inexpensive gift (such as a pencil or an over-sized cookie) to every member who wears your favorite color to the next meeting. Compliment each one for their use of the color in their outfit. Not only will it draw everyone closer to you, but it will also make your meeting fun and foster a spirit of comraderie.

Tuesday's Tip

We are going to be on JoJo's radio show this Thursday!

Our friend, JoJo Tabares, owner of Art of Eloquence and host of the Communication Comedy Network, is going to interview us live on the topic of how homeschool group leaders can successfully motivate their members. It's going to be rich, rich, rich!

Join us for an hour packed with free tips and fun. Catch us on the podcast no matter where you live: 11 AM EST, 10 AM CST, 9 AM MST, 8 AM PST

Communication Comedy Network

Tuesday's Tip

We dare you to take the daily GeoBee
Challenge

Be careful, it is addictive!

Tuesday Tip

Motivate

Inspiring motivation within your members and volunteers is doable! We have packed our new ebook, One By One, with the ways and ideas to do it.

Release date is November 1st.

Tuesday's Tip

50-10

To manage your time as a leader, think in blocks of time. Work 50 minutes, then take 10 minutes for yourself. Doing something special for yourself a few minutes every hour will help you feel like a million bucks at the end of the day instead of like a worn-out dollar bill!

Tuesday's Tip

It's All in the Family

Let members and visitors to your group know beyond the shadow of a doubt that your support group is family-friendly. A simple introductory letter each year can reinforce that "this is not just your mama's group!" Let people know that men are invited and ENCOURAGED to attend all meetings and events. Family appeal will keep your group strong for long.

Tuesday's Tip

Stay State Connected Series

Introducing your group to your state or province's homeschool organization provides a way for other homeschoolers to find you easily. It is important to keep your group's contact information up to date with your state group. The effort is worth it!

Tip #1--laws & finding a group
Tip #2--conferences & tools
Tip #3--staying informed

Tuesday's Tip

Stay State Connected Series

It pays to be informed through your state or province's homeschool association. Be knowledgeable and prepared for the changing times by keeping up with their news. What happens to one homeschool family or homeschool group in your area can happen to you or your members. You won't be surprised or caught off guard without a procedure when you stay connected.

Tip #1--laws & finding a group
Tip #2--conferences & tools

Tuesday's Tip

Stay State Connected Series

Your state or province's homeschool organization can support you with time-saving leadership tools. Often state groups provide helpful conferences, educational competitions and informative handbooks that are perfect to share with your members. Here's a list of this year's conferences: calendar. Scroll down on the calendar to see what's coming up the rest of the year.

Tip #1--laws & finding a group

Tuesday's Tip

Stay State Connected Series

Networking with your state or province's homeschool association can benefit your group greatly. For one, their experience and knowledge of the laws of your area can save you time and the pain of misunderstanding what is expected of homeschoolers and homeschool groups. Here's a list to find a group: state/foreign groups. Here's a summary of state laws and list to find an association: state laws & organizations.

Tuesday's Tip

Time Well Wasted

Today's tip is an incredible article written to ministers (leaders in their own right) about how to waste time well. I pray it blesses you as much as it did us in understanding the value of solitude.

Time Well Wasted

Tuesday's Tip

Nametag Fun

With a new school year comes new families to your homeschool group. A fun twist on nametags is to ask each person to add a descriptive adjective to their first name. For example, nametags bearing "Joyous Jessica" or "Harley Davidson Hank" tell you a lot about each person's character or what they like.

Tuesday's Tip

Vision

Do not worry! Tell the Lord that you need His vision for your homeschool group. Then thank Him for all He has done, being specific. Write down every idea that then comes to your mind over the next few days. Establishing the vision of your group is an important first step for its future success.

Tuesday's Tip

Free Online Workshops

When you have new homeschool families join your group, lead them through their beginnng steps at this acclaimed online resource www.educationalsupport.org/workshops. Hank Tate, known as the Grandfather of homeschooling in Houston, can answer so many of their questions through his workshops and give them the confidence they need to get started.