If you don't use the organizer?

Hi Misty, I just copied and pasted this from another post.  If this is the one you read that wasn’t helpful, my apologies.

I’ll try and explain my organizational system here.  First I plan out my year and semester – what books will be read, how much per term, etc.  After all of that is done, I move to my timetables and checklists.  I don’t bother with what time someone needs to do what, just which subjects are to be worked on for the day.

You can purchase the planner/timetable pages here, though they are not necessary.  I just like the layout:

http://www.tanglewoodeducation.com/corebook.htm

There are two pages I give to each child for the week – one is just a chart with Day 1 – Day 5 across the top, and 7 blocks down for subjects.  The very left column is greyed, and is where I write in the main subject (Literature, History, Science, Biography, etc.)  Then across the chart I write in what is to be accomplished that day (So for History, Day 1 is Canadian History day, Days 2-5 are World History).   

Then to the checklists – I make them up on Microsoft Word.  So in the History section, I have subheadings (Canadian History, World History).  Books are placed underneath the correct subheadings, and are broken up into Chapters and subheadings within the chapters (when appropriate).   I type these out with a bullet (the empty round circle) before each subheading.  Once they are all typed up, I divide the readings up into how much per week.  Every second week I shade in, so the student knows what should be read over the course of a week.

Sample here, under checklist.  There is also a view only sample of the timetable:

http://www.scribd.com/houseofchaos

The kids check off what they’ve accomplished as they complete readings or assignments.  If we miss a day, or even a week, it’s not a big deal because we just pick up where we left off.  It takes a bit of time at the beginning to get it all set up, but is more than worth it for the ease through the year.

I also keep one for myself for family work.

Please feel free to ask questions if this is unclear.

Gaeleen

Oh, please share the schedule/planner stuff with all of us.  I’m really challenged in this area! 

Hi Misty,

I make up thirty six weeks worth at a time.  We usually have three semesters with a break in between each (not for long).  The break can be used for catching up if someone has fallen behind due to lack of diligence (while everyone else is having fun). That way we stick to the semester plan.  Since we started doing it this way – lo and behold, no one gets behind.  We have not run into any major illness or disaster, though – that would be different.

So thirty-six of each of the two timetable/planner pages go into their binder at a time.  I have them facing each other, the chart on the left and the page with Habit, Theology, etc on the right.  If I am really unsure how a particular book or subject will go, I will just fill in a month’s worth and see.  But I’ve been doing this for a while now, so I don’t run into much trouble anymore.

Grade 1 timetable/weekly plan here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/56273518/plan001

On the first page, she checks off in the boxes if she has done her math and reading for the day, and on the second page, if she has found Lake Superior on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, she writes an “M, T, W” in that row.

Checklist here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/56270035/Grade-1-Checklist

So if she has read Chapter 1, Bess, today, she goes to the Reading section of the checklist and checks the circle before “1 Bess”.  With younger ones, I put a labeled divider between sections. One section will be for Reading, one for Mathematics, one for Geography (has maps), etc.

Math U See has a checklist at the front of the book, so she checks off the practice pages as they are completed in that one, and checks off on my list when a whole lesson is completed.

The planner/timetable pages are removed as we complete a week.

The other checklist didn’t upload properly, so I can see why you couldn’t understand it!  I’ll email it to you, and try to load it again for the others.   I’ve uploaded my grade 1’s plan because there’s less on it to look confusing.  Other people’s planning systems are difficult enough to understand without making it worse than it needs to be.

Just a note – I can’t view some of the documents with Firefox at the moment, but Explorer is okay.  Go figure.

The way I have it, although it is planned out to the week, it is flexible because I just have the main subject and book title on the timetable (for example, Reading – First Steps).  Then on the checklist I have the chapter titles (or however I am breaking it down), and we just check it off as we read the chapter or story.  So if we miss reading First Steps today, who cares?   We’ll just read the next chapter or story tomorrow and check it off then.

All of these papers and lists might seem a bit redundant, but the children have really learned to be organized and diligent, and this way they can’t say they couldn’t remember what they had left to do.    At the end of the day, it’s all done with minimal effort on my part   🙂

I am even worse at explaining than I am at planning so I don’t know if this is going to help anyone……but I hope so.  Ask again if there are questions, please!

Gaeleen

I’m not techy at all and I don’t enjoy keeping up with things on machines.  I don’t even program phone numbers into my cell phone!  A friend made up forms that she shared with me.  I just print off enough to get us through the year, have it spiral bound and I’m ready to go.  Each week is a 2-page spread.  On one side are the core subjects that each child will do separately at their own level.  The other side lists subjects we study together as well as places to list things such as field trips, sports, ministry, social gatherings, handicrafts, etc.  I’ve customized it to fit our subjects and activities.  I simply check off what we do each day, listing chapters/page numbers, etc.  I also have sheets for books read, sheets for photos, and the “grades” for each subject that I have to send in to the umbrella school (although they never see those.)  It really becomes a keepsake for the year.

I did a bit of searching, and here is a method that Bookworm suggested 2 years ago…

Consider an index card box. Just make a card for each thing you have on the Organizer. Write the divisions down on it. You could check them off, cross them off, or whatever as you go. Color code the days of the week and put a divider in the box for each day of the week. On Monday pull out your cards. Do what you can do, then refile each card on the next time it’s scheduled. (You might want to keep 1-4 sets of M-F or M-S cards, depending on things) Your finished card will be your record.

I think I’d do this if I needed to give up the Organizer now.

I use forms available for free at donnayoung.org.  She has a homeschool planner on CD which I think is around $20, but also lesson plan forms available for downloading.  I love her site!