This is extremely simplistic and almost too stupid to mention, but you never know what ideas will work for someone else, so I'm going to share anyway.
I have downloaded a dozen (at least) free homeschool planners over the years, and never really fallen in love with one. We don't use a boxed curriculum, so my days aren't planned out for me, and several of my chosen curricula aren't scripted at all. Keeping track of when to do what, and knowing how long each book is going to take, has been a constant struggle . . .
. . . UNTIL I started using my very own grocery-list system! Last time I ordered from Rainbow Resource, they were kind enough to send me one of those magnetic pads of list paper. (I imagine you can probably always find them in holiday themes in the Target dollar spot, too.) A few months ago, in trying to figure out Owen's journey through the Miquon math program, I put one day's activities on each line (for about a month's worth of school days), then tucked the list inside the book as my bookmark. When it's time for his math lesson, I pull out the book, open up to the list, and do whatever comes next on the list, marking them off as I go.
It worked so well that I started using the system for Levi's language arts program, which is very nebulous in its organizational structure. He's nearing the end of level one, so this morning I sat down and made our list for August out of the next grammar book.
I have downloaded a dozen (at least) free homeschool planners over the years, and never really fallen in love with one. We don't use a boxed curriculum, so my days aren't planned out for me, and several of my chosen curricula aren't scripted at all. Keeping track of when to do what, and knowing how long each book is going to take, has been a constant struggle . . .
. . . UNTIL I started using my very own grocery-list system! Last time I ordered from Rainbow Resource, they were kind enough to send me one of those magnetic pads of list paper. (I imagine you can probably always find them in holiday themes in the Target dollar spot, too.) A few months ago, in trying to figure out Owen's journey through the Miquon math program, I put one day's activities on each line (for about a month's worth of school days), then tucked the list inside the book as my bookmark. When it's time for his math lesson, I pull out the book, open up to the list, and do whatever comes next on the list, marking them off as I go.
It worked so well that I started using the system for Levi's language arts program, which is very nebulous in its organizational structure. He's nearing the end of level one, so this morning I sat down and made our list for August out of the next grammar book.
It's ready and waiting when we're ready for it, the first chapter's planning completed. Levi also has two lists of his own, one for Bible reading and one for summer supplemental math. He knows he has to complete the list by the end of the month (we did this in June and now again in July), but it's up to him how fast or slow he completes it. If all the bubbles are filled in early, he's done for the month. If he still has several left to do at month's end, he has a long school day ahead. It's teaching him responsibility, and I don't have to nag: I just remind him once a day to check his list!
Again: super simple. Nothing to it. There are dozens upon dozens of similar planning sheets out in the world, but this little pad of paper was free (with purchase, of course). And it's colorful and has fun bubbles to fill in. :) I do master-planning of everyone's school as well, but for the day-to-day stuff, this is working beautifully for now!
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