In organizing the school materials, I realized that I was going to need new school planner. In previous years I've used the
Well Planned Day, and been very happy. It's pretty, easy to use and allows for planning up to four students at a time. This year, though, I wanted to try something different. I didn't think I'd have enough room to record each day's assignments in the space provided without a complex code system that I would most likely not remember. I'm also the sort of person who simply needs to change things up once in a while. I spent some time checking out different ideas online, fully expecting to have to design something myself, until I stumbled upon the
Life as Mom blog. She very helpfully has designed an ebook planner that is right up my alley, complete with a vision-casting and homeschooling section. She also has a
post about a great way to bind and organize your planner. So, so good - I had to give it a try.
After buying the ebook and printing out the necessary pages, I followed her advice and had some of the pages I would use a lot laminated, bought some
wet erase labels (like the Expo Vis-a-Vis markers), and had it all spiral bound within a pretty pocket folder. So happy!
I laminated pages like the daily to-do list, the meal planning, and the weekly lesson plans. My view for the school section is to have each student's weekly plans made a month or two in advance for record keeping purposes, give them to each child for the week they need so they know what they're supposed to be doing, and use the master copy to fill in my week's plans. That way I can keep my personal records up to date without over-filling my planner with paper. Clear as mud? I thought so.
I'm still working on getting it ready and usable for the coming academic year. I work on it a little at a time, because at the moment I still have time for that. We'll see how long my timing holds...
Anyone else have an excellent planning method for homeschool and/or life beyond? Please share!
3 comments:
I met Jessica at a Worship God conference (before she was famous, ha ha) and she's awesome when it comes to planning! I'll have to check this out in person sometime!
You have an award for your blog over at mine. Play along, or not...it's up to you.
I'm in search for some organizational help. I am "stealing" your (and Jo P's) idea w/ meals and creating a 2 week rotating schedule of meals. Rinse and repeat. Grocery list will be the same b/c we will be boringly eating the same foods (or so goes the plan anyway). We'll see how quickly I become bored w/ that and try a new recipe. ha!
Being a newbie at homeschooling two levels, I think we may need to chat for me to glean some ideas from you on just how to go about doing that. I've talked and watched Jo P. up close and personal for quite a while and like how she attacks it, but I have much less capacity than she does, so I know I'm going to need to find something that works just for me.
I want to remember that's a bit of what I liked about what I read of Jessica's personal planner...it was individualized, right? I may need to look into that. Currently, my brain is in many places (google calendar, a paper calendar in my car, subject list to do's for each boy on the fridge along w/ chore charts for each child on the fridge, etc. It may be a good idea to all "my brain" in one place and carry it on me like another appendage. I've seen so many homeschool momma's in particular have some kind of notebook for that purpose. I think I'm reaching that point where I've got to figure something out like that.
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