Starting a new school year is sometimes filled with high levels of enthusiasm and high levels of trepidation too....and that's just the average mother's state of mind!  What can we as mothers do to encourage highly effective school years for our children?  I'm starting my seven ideas just off the top of my head.  But please join me, in encouraging one another, as we start the new school year.  Add your seven ideas to your blog and leave a comment here so we can visit your blog too.

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The Seven Habits of Highly Effective New School Years:

Just for fun, mine is organized as a "literature approach":

1.  Plot:  Talk about the year ahead and the goals you and your child might have.  Prioritize the goals to establish how time will be spent toward meeting them.

2.  Setting: establish a learning-friendly environment.  Be sure your student has all the supplies needed to complete their work, keep their work organized, and a work area supportive of their learning style.

3.  Motivation:  model enthusiasm and curiosity for learning in your own everyday life.

4.  Conflict:  minimize distractions to learning whether it be TV, extrinsic activities or noise, and any type of "time-waster".

5.  Character:  Teach virtues, manners and positive character traits as lessons more important than grades and getting ahead in the world.

6.  Climax:  plan to celebrate successes along the way.  Outward affirmations from mom are often most meaningful.

7.  Resolution:  Rewards for high levels of effort, work ethic and academic progress at the end of the year are not bribes in my book.  The corporate world is merit-based...offer your kids a concrete reward for a job well done.

Visit participants at: 

Real Learning

The Common Room

Enjoy the Journey

By Sun and Candlelight

Perspective From the Trail Less Traveled

Karen Edmisten

Every Waking Hour

Studeo

Palm Tree Pundit

Cedar Creek Musings

Hawaii Catholic Mom

At The Moment

Musings of a Mentor

Learning Together As We Go

One Big Family

Trivium Academy

Local Homeschooler

Heidi Homeschools

Dumb Ox Academy

Barefoot Meandering

Northern Moments

Graced By Christ

The Opinionated Homeschooler

Spunky HomeSchool

Routon Family

A4givensinner

Young Mommy

Jam and Books

Elliot Academy of Excellence

Sprittibee

Faerie Dust

Rainbows From Heaven

Celebrate Him

Mandy's Ramblings

On The Road Back Home

Minnesota Mom

Liberty Home Academy

Castle of the Immaculate

Closeacademy

Ann 'Re at Home

Amyable

Bloom Where You're Planted

Homeschooling Is Life

Love2BHome

My Domestic Church

TwaddleMeNot

Writer Mom....Interrupted

Margaret Mary Myers

Related Tags: Seven Habits, planning, school

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Posted by Anonymous

Great list. I don't think that I would change a thing. I love the literature theme. You should send it to Lesley at Heart and Mind for next year's summer issue!

Blessings,
Maureen :)

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Posted by CedarCreekMusings

I love your "literature approach"! I especially think that #3 - Motivation is very important. It is important for us as moms and dads to continue learning always and model that for our kids.

Thank you for inviting me to join in the fun! I've posted my list on my blog. I look forward to reading everyone else's habits (I'm always looking for better ways to do things and I love to get a "peek" into other people's lives!)

God Bless,
Donna

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Posted by mamma1420

Here's my link to the answers Mamma1420's 7 Habits

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Posted by Anonymous

I love your lit theme! I can't wait to work on our list.

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Posted by wadeboysmom

thanks for the invite! I hope to post my list in the next few days! Blessings

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Posted by Anonymous

Hi again:
Sorry I posted a comment before but forgot to sign my name.
Well, my son and I just worked on our list.
http://hicatholicmom.blogspot.com/2006/08/seven-habits-of-highly-effective-new.html
Thanks for the incentive to do this.
Esther

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Posted by HeidiHomeschools

.....for the invitation to participate in the new addition of "7 Habits......"
I posted mine on my blog this evening.
Heidi

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Posted by InjoyLife

to be part of your wonderful theme idea. Thank you, and my post is up.

Sherry

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Posted by AcceptanceWithJoy

Great idea ~ my response is here!!!

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Posted by Anonymous

My post is done and up here:
http://heartkeepercommonroom.blogspot.com/2006/08/seven-habits-of-highly-effective-new.html

Thanks for asking!
~Deputyheadmistress

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Posted by Dewgin

Thanks for asking me to join in! Mine are here
God Bless!
Gina
At The Moment...

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Posted by KyMentor

I love your literature theme. It inspired me to pick one of my favorite 7 Things, type books!

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KyMentor/186775/ some day I will learn how to do a proper link!

I am now going to go read all the other ideas. I think this is such a cool topic. It not only has great ideas (love those), but I learn so much about the person because of their recommended habits.. like people watching from my computer :)

Sandie

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Posted by Anne

Thanks for inviting me to participate. I just posted my list here:

http://palmtreepundit.blogspot.com/2006/08/seven-habits-of-highly-effective-new.html

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Posted by

I read your comment the other day and thought -- I'm not gonna do that -- then, the more I though about it this week, I decided I would give it a shot --my first instinct was to say -1-4 Plan, 5-7 Be Flexible, but I decided I would be a bit more creative - so there it is -- sitting at my blog waiting to be read!

Thank you for inviting me to do this - I had fun...my hubby thought I was being a bit silly!!

Edited for spelling errors.

Edited by dartwns on Aug. 19, 2006 at 12:25 PM

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Posted by Anonymous

Thanks for the invitation. I've posted my response here on my blog:

Barefoot Meandering

KathyJo

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Posted by Anonymous

Excellent post! I wish I truly had a handle on any one of these ;-). http://momof3feistykids.homeschooljournal.net/

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Posted by shanmar

Thanks for the inspiration, and making me take the time to put some of my random mental goals into words.

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Posted by LocalHomeschooler

Oh, I'm never any good at these lists, but I"ll try :-)

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Posted by Anonymous

Great idea! I'll get my post up early in the week (busy weekend here). Thanks for getting my brain going!


Lindsey@ Enjoy the Journey
www.justenjoythejourney.blogspot.com

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Posted by Anonymous

This is a great list. I followed your lead and added some of my own on my blog.

(I added your address:) http://heather.shamusyoung.com

Edited by TRINITYPREPSCHOOL on Aug. 20, 2006 at 5:42 AM

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Posted by Opinionated Homeschooler

Thanks for the invite, and some good thoughts for the new "school" year. I've got my 7 up at opinionatedhomeschooler.blogspot.com .

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Posted by spunkyhomeschool

What a great idea! Thanks for suggesting it. Here's my answer

Seven Habits of Highly Effective School Year

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Posted by Christina in GA

Here is the link to my post:

http://routonhomeschool.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_archive.html#4884353651619766114

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Posted by Anonymous

http://justenjoythejourney.blogspot.com/2006/08/seven-habits-of-highly-effective.html

Mine is up now!

Lindsey@EnjoytheJourney

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Posted by a4givensinner

Here's my "list of seven." Thanks for doing this! Lots of great ideas out there!

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/a4givensinner/187041/

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Posted by Karen Edmisten

Hi, Maureen!

Just posted my list at:

http://karenedmisten.blogspot.com/2006/08/seven-habits-of-highly-effective-new.html

Thanks for starting this! What fun and how wonderful to read everyone else's ideas.

God bless, Karen E.

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Posted by youngmommy

Thank you for inviting me to be a part of this. I will enjoy reading everyone's list.
Here is mine....
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/youngmommy/187034/
Enjoy!
-YoungMommy (aka, Christine)

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Posted by

Hi,

I've blogged about this on my blog. Good question!
www.homeschoolblogger.com/jamandbooks

Juanita

Edited by jamandbooks on Aug. 20, 2006 at 2:58 PM

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Posted by Faerie Rebecca

What a great topic, and lots of wonderful responses. I've posted mine on my blog:

http://faeriedust2001.blogspot.com/2006/08/seven-habits.html

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Posted by Anonymous

How funny. Happy Birthday to you, too!

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Posted by 4evrHischild

I titled mine the Seven "P's" of Highly Effective New School Years. You can read it at www.homeschoolblogger.com/4evrHischild.

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Posted by sillysiller

link
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sillysiller/187319/

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Posted by kindredspirit

Thanks for your list. It was great. I finished mine as well.

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Posted by cryskey

Thanks for visiting my blog the other day. I have prepared my list and it is now posted. Thanks for inviting me to participate.

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/cryskey/187584/

God Bless,
Crystal

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Posted by trinaleah

What a terrific idea! I have to say that I have been reading many of the posts that the ladies have put up. Lots of great food for thought! I agree with ALL of them, and it such a great time of year to be focusing on that.

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Posted by Anonymous

The "Plot" works well for us. Girlie Girl has this need to know what's going to happen before it happens. Thanks for sharing this with the Carnival of Family Life!

Kailani
The Pink Diary

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Posted by Helen

http://mariancastle.blogspot.com/2006/08/maureens-trinity-prep-school-is.html

Thanks for putting this together. It's a great idea!

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Posted by Closeacademy

Thanks for adding me to your friend's list. Your blog has been very interesting & inspiring to read.

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Posted by Anonymous

This is a great idea...Thanks for starting it and thanks for adding me to your list (http://www.homesteadblogger.com/annreathome/23818/Seven+Habits+of+Highly+Effective+New+School+Years.html). I'm inspired the topic and by reading everyone elses posts. Ann'Re

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Posted by Anonymous

I finally posted some - although I think my ideas were all taken already! :)

http://amyable.blogspirit.com

Amy

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Posted by Anonymous

I'm sorry, I didn't give you the direct link:
http://amyable.blogspirit.com/archive/2006/08/22/seven-habits-of-highly-effective-new-school-years.html

Thanks Maureen!

Amy

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Posted by

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/andijeane/188224/

Thanks for the invitation. I am enjoying reading everyone's responses!

~ Andrea :-)

Edited by andijeane on Aug. 22, 2006 at 2:05 PM

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Posted by Anonymous

Dear Maureen,
I linked to yours and added my own at my site:
http://everywakinghour.blogspot.com/2006/08/seven-habits-for-school-year.html

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Posted by sprittibee

Here you go!

seven five habits of highly effective homeschoolers

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Posted by KayinMaine

Thanks for the invitation to participate. Here's my link:

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KayinMaine/189121/

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Posted by ByHisGraceInColorado

I just got done with my own list here: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ByHisGraceInColorado/189289/
and I also mentioned you on tomorrows front porch post :)

Very creative! I love you how did it! And your blog is SO beautiful.

Blessings,
Nancy

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Posted by Anonymous

I posted mine here.

God Bless,

Alicia

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Posted by Love2BHome

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Love2BHome/190289/

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Posted by elljazz

I love the graphic too!

Here is my contribution!

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Posted by Fr Tim Finigan

I found my way to your blog via the Castle of the Immaculate, via a comment from my sister (mumofsix) on the 4Real Learning Forum. Your "seven habits" are great. But it is also helpful to have such a good list of homeschooling blogs. I've put a post on my own blog to direct people in England who might be thinking of starting homeschooling.

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Posted by TwaddleMeNot

Hi Maureen, I know this is a bit late, but I wanted to join into the listing fun! Here's the link to mine: http://homeschoolblogger.com/TwaddleMeNot/191182/
Thanks for hosting this!
Melissa

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