Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Tagged: Independent learning, scheduling, student planner

This topic has 16 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 2 months ago by suzukimom.

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February 28, 2011 at 6:05 pm
Linabean
Participant
I hope this is O.K. For me to ask this here! I remember csmamma (aka, Heather- but there seems to be a few of those!) mentioning that she uses a student planner that the student uses for more independence in their schoolwork. I was hoping that she would be able to share with me how this ” self-learning” planner works with a CM education and how I might be able to implement it while still staying true to CM. I don’t know if you have used this with your younger kids or if this is just a HS method of doing things, so I should mention that my kids are still young. My oldest is 8. However, I have recently realized that I DO NOT function well on a pre scheduled set of plans and do much better with basic guidelines and “goals”, so-to-speak, in my mind for our homeschool year. At the same time as I was coming to this realization, my kids (dd8 in particular) started showing signs of wanting a little more responsibility in certain areas and even responding well to being given a little more independence and charge over her schooling. I hope this makes sense! I don’t want to get rid of our family studies though, we enjoy these. I am just wanting to know if I could use a different approach to getting everything done by giving more control to my kids in the area of their studies. So, if Heather is able to give any insight and wisdom in this area I would be very grateful! Thanks!
-Miranda
February 28, 2011 at 9:33 pm
csmamma
Participant
Hi Miranda! You are so sweet to ask me this question! For the record, I’m no expert in this area but will PM you a little later with some of what we do – we’re heading out the door in a few. Also, there are many mammas here who have much wisdom to share relating to CM & self-teaching, so maybe they’ll respond too. God Bless You! Heather
February 28, 2011 at 11:09 pm
Linabean
Participant
Thank you so much for being willing to share! It would also be great for some of the experienced homeschooers who do things this way to add their nuggets of wisdom as well.
I am looking forward to learning exactly how this can work!
-Miranda
March 1, 2011 at 12:39 am
suzukimom
Participant
The webiste with the planner is something like http://www.URtheMom.com   and I have read an article or two on it.
I’m using some of the ideas also using the SCM Organizer…   My oldest is only 7.    I am printing out the daily task-list… and highlighting the things I feel he can do independantly or mostly independantly. On things that I don’t mind if he goes further, I will tell the organizer to show future assignments.
We are doing mostly AO though, and I haven’t figured out how to handle the keeping to the schedule idea of AO (doing the books slowly to get a relationship with it…), when UR the Mom has them going on whatever speed they want… basically the main rule with UR the Mom is that they have to do something in each subject everyday, and to sit down and plan goals etc.
hope that helped a little!
March 1, 2011 at 12:52 am
csmamma
Participant
I just sent you a PM, Miranda.
Also wanted to share one my favorite quotes by Ms. Mason….
“Let children get at the books themselves, and do not let them be flooded with diluted talk from the lips of their teacher. The less that parents ‘talk-in’ and expound their rations of knowledge and thought to the children they are educating, the better for the children….Children must be allowed to ruminate, must be left alone with their own thoughts.”

March 1, 2011 at 1:21 am
my3boys
Participant
I love that qoute…well, I like a lot of them, but that one is so appropriate for this thread:)
I feel that I am experiencing that with my 12 yo right now (hopefully the way CM intended:) and the Organizer has helped push that goal along. Not trying to stear anyone away from what Heather uses I’m just excited about the fact that the less I ‘talk’ the more they learn.   And the less I do for them the more they learn.  Printing out their list from the Organizer has made such a difference for us/me and I’m sure the more familiar I become with it the better it will benefit our family (that’s my hope, anyway).
Hope that made sense…my kids were talking to me at the same time.
March 1, 2011 at 1:29 am
Cindie2dds
Member
I use the Organizer for my oldest (1st grader) right now. I am so glad to hear of others handing it over to their children. How old do you all think children should be when they are responsible for a day’s work? Right now, she does her math, copy work, reading and handwriting on her own. I just tell her it’s time and she starts with whichever she feels like. I’ve never thought about when to turn over a daily schedule to her. Any thoughts?
March 1, 2011 at 2:24 am
Scherger5
Participant
My 9 year old son is independent on as many things as he can be and checks off his assignments on the print-out himself. My 13 year old daughter is independent on everything (except dictation) and has been for about a year now. For her I am just a “here if you need me” kind of mom.
~Heather
March 1, 2011 at 2:28 am
Cindie2dds
Member
Heather,
Do you just print off the daily assignment from the Organizer and say, “Go for it”? What age did they start doing this? Thanks!
March 1, 2011 at 2:35 am
my3boys
Participant
I have no idea. I suppose it would depend on the child:)
I do know that my 12yo probably couldn’t have handled as much as he does now on his own with the choices in curriculum that I was making before.  It wasn’t so much that it was too hard it was more that there was way too much teacher prep and busywork that needed too many supplies to accomplish (meaning, a trip to Walmart). What he does now he is able to handle (unless he needs help, then he must ask). We still do our family work together (geography/Bible/character/music/hymn/poetry, etc.). He has a private devo he does in his room as well. I just asked him yesterday about his ‘life’ and if he is enjoying our ‘new’ way and he said he loves it. That is coming from a child that is an introvert and I have to just take what I can get when I can get it:)
I have been giving my 81/2 yo his list and what he can do on his own he is responsible for. We are doing Outdoor Secrets and that is something I do with him and my 5yo. But, like you, I give him copywork, reading, some math and….well, can’t think of anything else off the top of my head. Some of his grammar he can do on his own, after the introduction, of course.
Hope others chime in, too.
March 1, 2011 at 2:39 am
Cindie2dds
Member
Thanks, natural progression. I might try to give her a print out starting in the fall and see how it works.

Thanks for starting this thread!
March 1, 2011 at 2:41 am
my3boys
Participant
Didn’t see Heather’s response….it took me awhile to get mine out.
I think I do what Heather does, especially with my 12yo and I can project in about a year my 81/2 will be close to where her 9yo is right now. He kind of likes mom time, but by then he will definitely be more independent….I believe just as a natural consequence to our learning style/home life, etc.
Yeah…that’s an exciting concept. Self-learners is what I had hoped to produce.
I hope this is right….the way I’m thinking about all of this.
One question: Do you wonder if the work is too easy if they can do it on their own?? Actually, I feel like I know the answer to that, but I was just wondering what anyone’s thoughts were on that before I say what I really think and possibly look foolish:)
March 1, 2011 at 3:51 am
suzukimom
Participant
With my 7yo son, it varies from day to day.
He can do copywork on his own now.
His math – some days he can do all on his own, some days have an activity or two that is “teacher”-led.
Violin practice he can do review on his own… although it is now working better if I have my 2 do violin review together, then new-song practice with my daughter (her review ends earlier as she can’t play as many songs) and note reading with her – then new-song practice with my son, and note reading with him. (I dream of the day that they are motivated and capable to do a good practice on their own…)
I had my son reading “Paddington Bear” on his own, as a trial on him reading to himself – but I can see that isn’t working, so I’ll have to have him read it outloud to me…
The rest right now is with help.
As for the Question by my3boys……
I think it depends on the age and reading ability of the child. In the early years, while they work on reading ability… I think they need work that is harder than their ability to read… they need to hear literature more advanced than their reading. etc.    I think at some point, their reading ability gets to the point that it isn’t (necessarily) to easy if they can do it on their own.    ykwim?
March 1, 2011 at 4:11 am
missceegee
Participant
I have two that I’m schooling – dd10 and ds7. Most days, I print the list and give it to them. DD10 does a lot on her own – copywork (her choice), math, devotions, literature (except oral narration), written narration, her history books, piano, grammar, some spelling. DS7 does math, copywork, devotions, his personal literature (Dan Frontier are current favorites).
I am all for independent learners!
March 1, 2011 at 6:02 am
Linabean
Participant
Thank you all for sharing! I was just wondering….does everyone plan out specifics for their kids? Such as they need to do X number of pages in X book and certain subjects only on certain days etc. Or do the kids do any of the planning and goal setting? And if so, what age would they have started doing this at? I am wondering because it seems like the student planner from UR the Mom is getting the student to do these things for themselves. Whereas the SCM organizer is planned and set up by the parent.
Or is their anyone that does not follow a specific schedule for their week, but rather has a general knowledge of what subjects and topics need to be covered in the year and simply take a little more relaxed approach to things? If there is anyone like this out there, how has this worked for you? Understand, I am not talking about doing less work, just doing it in a less prescribed manner.
Thanks again for taking the time to share, I appreciate it!
-Miranda