Finding Your Own Way in Planning

The Homeschool Review Crew regularly does round up posts where we all talk on one topic.  Pretty neat huh?  It's a neat way to come up with a blog post without having to search out ideas.  :)

The topic for this month is
Schedules, Routines and Extra Curricular activities

Which one works for you ? 
How do you make a Schedule / Routine ? 
FREE Schedule / Routine printable resources. 
What do you add to this schedule and why ? 

Now I don't know about you, but I am not much of a schedule planner, make a list of what needs to be done ahead of time type of person.

I do have a lad who is though.  He loves having a list.  And my sweet hubby .. well, he thinks I should plan things out more.  :)  I am learning slowly that planning somethings out ahead of time is not a bad thing.... but I do lose details, it's horrible.

So this topic leaves me feeling a bit AHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did think I could tell you some of the things that we actually do though.

For instance, you see this scrap of paper?

I have learned to ask my lad what he hopes to accomplish in the course of a day.  That way I know what he wants to do and how to encourage him to plan to get there.

I have also learned to tell him what I want to do, and then he knows what I might ask him to help with and if he needs to make some adjustments.   Knowing what Dad needs to do outside of the home whether it be for work or the family helps us in our planning as well.   Doing this day by day helps us to get done what we need to do.

We cross off what we have done so by the end of the day we know what we've yet to do that we can consider doing the next day.

A NEW thing we are trying this year is getting my lad to keep track of his homeschooling using the HEY MAMA Planner.  You can review my review here. 

I am hopeful that if we organize his schooling, he will get done
1. what HE is most interested in
2. what I need for him to do
3. for less fuss because he'll be able to move things around, work ahead, and so forth. 
4. We can actually see what a PLANNED four day week will look like.

Just so you know, if you join SchoolhouseTeachers.com (affiliate link) you are able to download that planner for free?   Seriously, the Schoolhouse is doing a great sale right now.  You can buy a year and then get a year free!   Mind this only is good til the end of the month, but isn't that great?   Each year you get to download the planners and have access of over 275 courses!!!!!

But that planner aside, it's great for planning out what you need to do now or in the future, you may find yourself wanting some more specific planners.

If you need help with lesson planning As We Walk Along the Road can help you.

For instance you may wish to make a unit study: here are some link that will help you in the creation of your very own.  :)   Living Montessori. Our Journey Westward.

Planning to one extent or the other is something we all need to do.  Whether it's long term planning, by the month or just day to day.   With an official planner or on a scrap piece of paper.   Just do what works for you.  Try out different things and see what fits you best.   And just so you know... if you aren't a planner, it's good.   Listen to your children's needs.  Figure out what works best for them and/or if they need to learn a new skill.   Just work with it.   Don't let others pressure you into doing something that doesn't fit well for you.  DO NOT though let discomfort close the door on a skill that might prove very beneficial to you in the long run.   New skills...even in planning, aren't a bad thing.. really!  :)

Link goes live on Sept 10.