heartofdakota.com

Hi, I've got 3 big boxes of HOD books, including DITHOR for 3 children- 1 in Bigger and 2 in LHFG. I would love to hear how others have organized their books. I am really trying to simplify. I have tried so many other curriculums and I have a LOT of books, most of which are on shelves in my basement. I love to be organized but sometimes I have a hard time getting there and finding the time to get it done. Hopefully someone can get my creative juices flowing! Thanks so much!! I love all of the books from HOD!
In Him,
Beth

Hi there!

We just finished LHFHG and PHFHG w/DITHOR and I did like the way I ended up organizing things this year. For LHGHG I just put all the daily stuff (all things we were currently using) into a medium sized bin. Mine was fabric, but plastic would be fine. I just laid them in there and took things out as I needed it and put it all back in at the end and put it away. Very compact and easy to move. All the books we weren't using at that time (which isn't very many with LHFHG) I just put in a drawer in an unused dresser, but you could just as easily put them into any container to hold them until they are needed.

My only other thought would be to use one of those plastic "milk crate" containers (I see them at Walmart or Shopko) and put hanging file drawer dividers into that and then put the different books into the dividers to keep them even more orgainized. I thought about trying that midway through, but just kept what I had. I might try that for using Beyond. not sure.

With my ds and PHFHG w/DITHOR, I got a 10 drawer organizer and put labels on each drawer. I got a great price on it because it was on sale just before school began and also had a coupon, so it only cost me about $20.00 from Shopko. I have also seen them at JOANN Fabrics and some office supply stores. We can take each drawer out each time we need to and bring the subject anywhere we want and it all stores so neatly! I will get one for my dd when she's using more books and is independent like my ds is. Now the problem then is with all the books you're not using. I put mine into the unused dresser and put labels on the front of the drawers to let me know what was where. ie. if i stacked all the unused history books on the left side of the drawer I would put a label "history" on the outside of the drawer on the left side also. Only needed 2 drawers for all of our unused books then. But any container/boxes can work for that also.

Hope that helps even a little!
Michelle

I'm getting ready for Beyond next year. I picked up a little set of plastic drawers from Walmart. They hold our storytime books, emerging reader set, and DITHOR level 2 books. I also have dry erase supplies, notecards for spelling and Bible, and the smaller Beyond books (Morning Bells, Bible CD, Stories of the Pilgrims, etc.) in the drawers. In another cabinet, I have all the books that didn't fit...manuals, science text, etc. On top of the cabinet, I keep our workbooks in stacking shelves...my 3 older DC and I each have a shelf...this makes it very easy for them to get out and put away their own books.

I also color coded our HOD books with a sticker on the spine. DITHOR books are all pink, ER books are yellow, and Beyond books and storytime books are green. This should help as we add more levels. I'll probably store them on our bookshelves in the basement when we're done for the year. I have our books in the basement sorted by type of book...science, art, poetry, historical fiction, etc. We are switching from FIAR and I have all of those books together on a shelf. I also have quite a few history books from when I tried to pull together my own ancient history program. I know what you mean about all the books!

I love the drawer organizing system, even for LIttle Hearts it has been so great. Each evening I go through and get everything I need and put it in the drawer. I do keep our guides in a book tray, as I could only find a 6-drawer system. When we are ready for school I just grab the guide and the drawer system and we are ready to go. It really helps keep the flow going. For example, last night I pulled out the history book, glue, paper, oatmeal, dill weed, foil, and marshmellows from the drawer and we were set to read our story and do our project without any interruption.

I love to organize! The best tip I have is to only have within reaching distance those books which you are using for the year. Any other books can be organized in another area, such as the basement - which you are already doing. The second best tip is to further downsize the books you are using by having 2 tubs for each child. One tub is used for the books being used right now, and the other tub is for books to be used later in the year (as well as the place to put books as you finish with them). So, in your "right now" tub, you'd have the guide, the history book(s) being used, the 1 science book, the 1 DITHOR book, the 1 ERS book, the grammar, the 1 math workbook, the 1 math textbook (or not if using 2B and younger), etc. Here is a post where I took pics of this:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5531

One last thing I've learned is I need to be able to close a cupboard door on them. Sounds silly, but it just lowers my stress level not to see the mess. HTH!
In Christ,
Julie

Wonderful ideas!
Thank you so much ladies! I don't mean to seem dense but can anyone find me a link where someone may have posted pictures of these plastic drawers everyone is talking about??? I am very visual
I love this board! Everyone is so helpful and it is so encouraging!
In Him,
Beth

Hi there!

I thought to post a link, but forgot. Here's a link to one on the Joann website. Remember, they do have coupons available from them and I did get it on sale at Shopko etc.
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/prod ... _02348241a
If you can't see it this way, just google "10 drawer organizer" and you'll find them like I did. Mine is multi colored, but you can get them in all grey etc.
Hope this helps!
Michelle

I have my kids books we are currently using in bins with wheels from Target (one for Bigger, one for LHFHG). They were $8 each. We put them in the closet and wheel them out when it's school time. They keep all their books, plus a pencil, and frequently used supplies (like color pencils), and notebooks in the box. We can pull it around where ever we need to and it keeps it all handy. Other books that aren't used, are stored in small bins by guide or DITHOR level and the kids know they are off limits unless they've been through that level.