One Mom's Cure for Ending the Dinner-Time Battle

"Why does mommy never eat french toast dunkers?  They're sooooo good!"

Came the innocent inquiry at the dinner table.

As I sat there munching on a tuna sandwich while everyone else gorged themselves on maple syrup-laden sticks of french toast, I pondered...

Yes, why DO I get to opt out of eating Dunkers?  Why do I get a free pass from eating something I absolutely hate?!

It doesn't take a genius to figure out the obvious but unfair answer...Because, I'm the MOM...the cook...the person in charge of planning the meals...and I get to choose what we eat and what we don't!

But here's the GOOD and the BAD of that pronounced truth...In this particular case with this particular meal, no one really cared whether MOM ate it or didn't, because they ALL looooooved it.  They didn't worry about the unfair-ness of it all.

BUT

What about those meals that I love and cook but they hate...chicken scallopini, biscuits and gravy, sweet potato casserole, fried okra, black-eyed peas...(Yes, I know these aren't the healthiest of choices, but stay with me here...)

The truth is, as children, they don't always get a choice in what is set out on the table.  I buy the food, I make the menu, and for the most part, I cook the meals.

Up until recently my husband and I have had a "you have to eat everything that is on your plate" kind of mentality.  We tried the "at least eat X number of bites" plan for a few weeks early on in our parenting and realized that all that did was breed "negotiations" and unnecessary whining...at least in our children, anyway.  So, we dug our heals in and insisted that plates must be cleaned in order to be excused from the table.  While this certainly DID curb the negotiations, it didn't always foster gratitude for the food that was laid out.  Outwardly, my children ate their food.  But inwardly, they ate begrudgingly and sometimes with a sour attitude.



Now don't get me wrong.  I believe whole-heartedly that as a mom, I should be able to serve food that was paid for by a hardworking husband and expect that my children eat it without complaint.  The truth is, there are certainly children in this world who would give ANYTHING to be served "gross" food just to be able to EAT a meal...ANY meal.  However, as a CHRISTIAN mom, I choose to parent with truth AND grace.

The truth says, "I am the parent and you are the child." The grace says, "You are a child, but you are unique child with likes and dislikes."

TRUTH

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1)

GRACE

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

For us, the grace part came that night while everyone ELSE was eating french toast dunkers.  The grace came after examining a bit more of the truth.

And the truth of the matter is, I've been served french toast all my life...and I have HATED french toast ALL MY LIFE.  There's nothing you can say or do...no tweaks to the recipe that you can make...that will ever make me like it.  I hate it...plain and simple.

My kids are the same way.  Take my Blonde Warrior for instance.  That child has hated apple sauce from the very first time I ever served it to him.  HATED IT!  I think it is safe to assume that he MAY always hate it.  When he is an adult, he will obviously have the luxury of avoiding it, but up until this point in our family, he HAD to eat it. END OF STORY.

That night, the Hubs and I sat all the kids down and afforded them LUXURY.  We gave them the option of picking ONE "pass" food that they never had to eat under OUR roof.  (Eating at other people's homes is a different story as we should all learn to be gracious and grateful guests.)

Once each person's "pass" was selected, it became a permanent "pass".  In other words, he/she couldn't suddenly choose a new "pass" at each new meal.  In a few years, we might revisit the "pass" list and make necessary revisions should the need arise.  But for now, the "pass" list looks like this...

• The Hubs - any soups or stews with large chunks of tomatoes in it
• Me - french toast dunkers
• Sweetie Pea - peas
• Super Boy - plain brown rice 
• Blonde Warrior - apple sauce
• Greased Lightning - mashed potatoes
• The Newbie - too early to tell

Although I still serve ALL of the foods on this list, I only expect six out of seven mouths to eat all of them.  The added benefit of affording a "pass" at the dinner table has been a change in attitude.  While I can't see into my children's hearts, I have noticed what appears to be a much better attitude about having to eat everything on their plates. 

I've found that they are much more willing to eat "gross" foods with a smile simply because we've afforded them the LUXURY to avoid those food items that are they have deemed "REEEEEAAAAAALLY gross".  

We've chosen to PARENT.  

But, we've also chosen GRACE.

"Gentle Schooling" Summer Plans 2013

While we are not un-schoolers throughout the majority of the school year, we ARE eclectic homeschoolers who find value in parts and pieces of ALL homeschooling methods...including un-schooling.  I am by nature a "stick to the plan" kind o' girl.  But, come summertime, my plan morphs into an UN-plan. (This post contains affiliate links.)

Our workbooks and lesson plans get tucked away, but there is still much learning taking place.  It just comes a bit more organically.  While I don't want to revisit the intense schedule and concentrated studies that the school year brings, I also don't want all our hard work over the last nine months to evaporate by the summer sun.  So, I choose to institute "gentle schooling" during these warmer months.

Here's what our "gentle school" looks like for 2013...

Quiet Time

Our Good Morning Board has been packed away for the summer, but our routines have remained the same, especially our morning devotions.  I don't require a time frame for our routines, however.  They just all have to be completed some time that morning.  In other words, we don't jumpstart quite as quickly from June to September.

Pleasure Reading

In addition to enjoying one of our 2013 read-alouds and handwork (sometimes) together each afternoon, the older two boys each have to read out loud to me for at least 15 minutes.  These minutes are recorded on their library summer reading program chart.  I don't require my daughter to read out loud to me anymore as she is a proficient reader and is rarely NOT reading a book for pleasure.  

Also, during the longer days of summer, we extend "bed time" by at least an hour for pleasure reading with the following stipulations.  

1. You have to BE in bed at the normal bedtime.
2. You may stay up late to read books for one hour.
3. If you get out of bed for something other than an emergency, you automatically forfeit your extra-late bedtime.
4. If you are not old enough to read, you may look at pictures books in bed.

This has always been a win-win situation for everyone.  My kids get to stay up later...which they love, especially in the summer when it is not actually dark at their normal bedtime.  AND, they WILLINGLY read great books ALL SUMMER LONG.

Skill Building

I had just ordered Secret Keeper Girl Kit 2: The Gift of True Friendship to use for our Summertime God's Girl Club when Sweetie Pea asked if I would help her make a quilt for her new baby cousin.  Of course I am always happy to help her sew, BUT, I knew that making an entire patchwork quilt would be a summer-long endeavor.  After talking it over together, she and I decided to put the girl's club on hold for the summer and focus our efforts on some great one-on-one sewing time.

My daughter isn't the only one who will build some skills this summer, however.  I have always used summer as a time to teach new chores to my children so that they can start the school year out prepared to do those tasks independently.  (I haven't quite decided what those new chores will be yet, but I'm sure one glance around my house will provide plenty of inspiration!)  Additionally, my two older children will continue to hone their culinary abilities.

Summer Science Project

For the past five years, my children have enjoyed doing a summer-long science project.  It has been a great way to learn about the creation that only grows during the GREEN parts of the year.  Our projects  have always been biologically-themed and are pretty specific to one type of nature specimen. This summer, we are studying flowers which has mainly consisted of...

1. Picking wildflowers as we find them.
2. Identifying their unique parts with the help of a wildflower field guide.
3. Sketching them in our nature journals.
4. Pressing them in our botany press purchased at the used curriculum sale of our state homeschool convention.
5. Attending the gardening-themed summer events at our local library that coincide with the "Dig Into Reading" collaborative summer reading program.
6. Planting flowers around our property with The Hubs.  (This is actually an annual tradition he shares with my daughter.  But since we are all focusing on flowers throughout the summer, they both invited the boys to join them for the planting/potting.)

Other "Gentle Schooling" Activities

With a lighter schedule, we are able to sneak lots of games into our day, both traditional board games and on-line review games.  

Also, our short afternoon quiet times give each of the kids plenty of opportunity for individual exploratory learning.  While my daughter is not working on any independent projects throughout the summer, the discovery basket items have offered her several suggestions to consider for next year.

And of course, the children get LOTS of time to enjoy the out-of-doors.  Because my kids spend their winter "P.E." time completing Denise Austin's Fit Kids and Leslie Sansone's Walk the Walk videos, I make it a priority to put all the five-and-older kids in some sort of team sport during the summer.  It's a nice chance to not only get some exercise, but also an opportunity to learn a sport that would otherwise be difficult for a homeschooling family to learn.

As I mentioned in our Summer Bucket List, the children have helped me plant a Back-to-Eden garden and will continue to help me kill...I mean grow...several tasty greens.  (I've come to the conclusion that I am a green-thumbed girl trapped in a black-thumbed body!)

So, that's just a peak into our summer "gentle school."  

How do you keep the learning going throughout the summer months?

5 Days of Scheduling Your Entire Homeschool Year {Day 5}

For the last four days, I've hopefully laid the groundwork for you as you seek to plan your homeschool year with purpose.  While I would love to sit down over coffee with each of you and help you navigate how best to do that with your specific curriculum selections and styles of homeschooling, I think we'd all admit that would make for a pretty busy Friday.

That being said, I thought it might be helpful to address some of the questions I hear most often regarding scheduling.

FAQs of Scheduling

When do you start scheduling? How long does it take?

We end our school year on the last weekday in May.  With the exception of a few un-schooling activities, I generally try to take all of June OFF of homeschooling and give myself a chance to regroup and refresh.  (Although, if I haven't ordered all of my curriculum yet for next year, I use the emptier days of June to do that.)  Then, starting in July, I begin my scheduling.  I take one subject and one grade-level at a time...working on it here and there whenever I get a chance...usually at night when the kids are in bed or outside in a lawn chair while their playing in the sand box or riding bikes.  I rarely ever get an opportunity to just sit and schedule for an extended period of time.  Each year it takes me just a bit longer to schedule than the year before as I am usually adding one more child to the roster.  Somehow, it all gets done by mid-August and I can start gearing up for the big first day!

What about delight-directed learning?  Doesn't scheduling inhibit natural curiosity of a topic?

I would argue that scheduling actually ENCOURAGES that style of learning. One quick browse around my blog will show you that there is no lack of DELIGHT going on here.  Because the foundation of our day has been laid in a well-ordered schedule, we have the time to add LOTS of embellishments. At the risk of sounding argumentative, I'd challenge skeptics to tell me how much time is wasted each UNscheduled school day trying to figure out what should come next.  Isn't it a better use of your time to employ each one of those precious moments in LEARNING...not figuring out what needs to be learned?  I'd rather stockpile that time for my children so that they can use it to explore their own natural interests.

In addition, by only laying a very skeletal plan for the entire year for certain delight-directed subjects like history and science, I can be free to change course every few weeks if I or my kids get the notion.

What if your children get sick or you have to miss a few days?  What happens when you get behind schedule?

Please let me reiterate what I shared earlier in the week.  A schedule is just a guide.  It is not the gospel.  It is not written in stone, only in pen.  Do my kids get sick? Yep!  Do I ever get behind? You bet!  In fact, due to a month-long flu bug that waged war on my household this past winter, we missed over a week of school in one big chunk.  Gasp!!!  

That is real life.

Now that we've established that, the next thought looming in your head, I'm sure, is what happens to all my pretty, well-ordered pages in my planner?  

I schedule buffers.

As I've mentioned, I purposely plan in a handful of vacation days each quarter of our school calendar which are designed to be used as either a "teacher inservice" day or a "get caught up" day.  In addition, we only do traditional school FOUR days a week.  The fifth day is used for co-op and piano lessons.  That being said, there are still a handful of hours on that fifth day that could be...if need be...used to make up a few subjects.  In other words, I grant myself a few buffers when I am creating my school year calendar.  If I happen to get behind, I continue forward motion in my schedule even though the dates may not match the ACTUAL day we accomplished those assignments.  Eventually, we always work our way back to "right on track." 

I maintain forward motion. 

I try to maintain forward motion of an ENTIRE school day at a time.  I have no desire to be on one page in my planner for my math schedule and another completely different page for my English and reading schedule.  That would defeat the purpose of having all the information in one place.  In order to do this, I have to be willing to let some of the pre-written plans go by the wayside.  I ask myself, "If I only had the time to do two things today, which two subjects would be on my MUST DO list?" For me, it is English and math.  Because of the particular curriculums I have chosen, only English and Math require graduated skill levels.  (Meaning, you can't move on to tomorrow's lesson until you understand today's.  One topic builds upon the next.)  For this reason, if we are behind and need to catch up, we try to at least do the bare minimum that is required for English and math and skip all the rest.  

Other subjects (especially unit study subjects), can be skipped that day and picked up tomorrow.  For instance, if my son was scheduled to complete page 3 of his Critical Thinking book (The book I shared with you in video 2 of Day 3.) and he just didn't have enough time to get to it because we had to run to the doctor's office, I'd cross that page off the schedule and we'd pick up with page 4 the next time.  It doesn't really matter that he did not complete page 3, because it is not connected to page 4 in any way.  

The same goes for art...and typing...and handwriting (sometimes)...you get the idea.  The main point I am trying to make here is that you don't have to erase your entire planner and start over again.  Just continue on in forward motion.  

I make school hours a high priority.

I recognize that as a wife and mother, I have many responsibilities aside from school that demand my time...laundry, grocery shopping, laundry, clothes mending, laundry...

But, I also know that sometimes it is easy to let school slide in order to accomplish things that may or MAY NOT need to be accomplished at that very moment.  It has helped me to prioritize my time by referring to myself as a work-at-home mom.  I try to maintain my school hours as a homeschool mom in much the same way as I did as a school teacher.  Not that learning doesn't happen beyond school hours...but that learning DEFINITELY takes place DURING them.  When I was teaching in a classroom, I couldn't necessarily zip to the grocery store to pick up a few things whenever I got the notion.  I couldn't dash to the department store sale simply because I wanted to get a good deal on a pair of shoes.  I had to wait until after school.  

While emergencies DO arise on occasion, (I run out of diapers, my child needs cough medicine, my husband left something at home and needs it for a meeting at work) I do all I can to preserve our school day FOR SCHOOL.  For the most part, any errands I need to run are done in the evening or on the weekend.  

I choose the right planner for me.

It never bothers me if my dates do not match up.  But, if something like that would bother you, consider purchasing a planner that does not have dates written in it but instead has only blank scheduling blocks.  That way, you will never have to feel confined to any particular date and therefor will never have to feel behind. 

What about if the schedule interruptions are frequent?  What if my child has health needs that require many unscheduled days off?

While I would love to be able to provide just the right answer to that very specific need, I would be remiss if I tried to speak with authority on a subject I know nothing about.  I have never traveled that difficult journey and would never attempt to "have all the right answers."

But, one of my dearest friends in the world HAS walked that walk.  She spent nearly two years of her life living out of a suitcase as she traveled to and from a Ronald McDonald house three hours away in order to care for her precious baby...all the while trying to homeschool her other three children.  She has graciously opened her heart and the pain of those few years in order to minister to you mommas who long for direction.

Here are her suggestions...

Do the bare minimum.

If you begin the year already knowing that there will be many unscheduled interruptions due to health issues or other circumstances, only schedule two or three items IN your planner.  Commit to winging it with the rest as you are able.  At least you know you will have some stability with the two or three major subjects.  If, on the other hand, the health concerns come unexpectedly mid-year, just IGNORE the non-essentials and only do the bare minimum of your written plans.  

Permanently pack "school" into the car.

In her case, her Sweet One often had to be rushed to the hospital at a moment's notice.  She would have to quickly pack a bag and usher her older children out for the three-hour drive to the hospital...never knowing how long THAT particular hospital stay would last.  She quickly learned to keep certain school items/subjects stored in the car so that...when possible...they could all stay on track.

Be willing to change curriculums.

While you might love to do engaging unit studies or hands-on art projects, you might...for a time...have to concede that these types of school styles are not going to work for you.  You might have to change to PLAN B and choose a curriculum that is more independently driven and requires minimal space, effort, and time.  (This is assuming you have knowledge of the possibility of interruptions before the school year even begins and before you have written your schedule.)

Allow for grace.

Recognize that you are in a very difficult season...one that requires flexibility and MUCH grace.  Although it is WONDERFUL to have a schedule for your year, your days might be better managed without one.  Be encouraged on those days when you feel like nothing note-worthy was accomplished, knowing that your children are gaining valuable knowledge by JUST LIVING LIFE in and around extraordinary circumstances.  

Do you schedule your toddler or preschooler in your planner?

While I do not schedule my toddler, I do begin the year by making a list of some constructive toddler-appropriate activities he/she could do throughout the school day.  I keep this running list handy...perhaps tucked into my planner...so that when I need to keep him/her occupied for a few moments, I don't have to take the time to try and find something for him/her to do.  I can just consult my list and pull out the necessary items.  (Be sure to check out my thoughts on homeschooling with babies and toddlers for more ideas.)

Preschoolers, on the other hand, I DO schedule into my planner but my plans look MUCH different than those of my older children.  As I hope to do an entire post on this topic very soon, I will refrain from saying much more.

One last word...

Scheduling is a very individual process.  While I can give you some tips and suggestions to help set you on the right path, you will have to find your OWN unique method.  Allow yourself much pardon and don't become discouraged if you veer off track.  A schedule is just a goal.  It's something that has certainly helped me to manage my crazy-busy days, but it is NOT for everyone.  

If you'd like to begin scheduling for the upcoming school year, I'd suggest starting with the purchase of a great planner.  I use and love The Well-Planned Day Planner and it just so happens that I've got an EXTRA one to give away!  If you're interested in having one of your own, be sure to head on over to enter to win a FREE copy!

Thank you for joining me in this week-long look at homeschool scheduling.

Once again, I've teamed up with the talented ladies of iHomeschool Network to bring you a week-long Summer Hopscotch series.  

5 Days of Scheduling Your Entire Homeschool Year {Day 4}

Woo-hoo!  You're in the homestretch.

(This post contains affiliate links.)

Over the las few days, you have learned WHY you might want to consider scheduling your homeschool year, and HOW to prepare a school-year calendar.  You may have already began plugging in your traditional-style curriculum plans to your Well-Planned Day Planner, or the planner of your choice.

But all that was just a warm up!  Now you're ready to tackle some of the more difficult curriculum types to schedule...unit studies and living literature-style lessons.  Let's face it, although these forms of learning provide excellent opportunity for delight-directed learning, they can be a bit of a challenge to write in PEN.

(My sincerest apologies for the poor lighting and sound quality of the following videos.  I think we will be hosting a funeral for my video equipment very soon.)

If you are having trouble viewing this video, click here.

As I mentioned in the video, I schedule the main unit themes for the entire year.  This keeps me accountable to stay on target...moving in a forward motion.  I only schedule/plan the details of each main theme 4 to 6 weeks in advance.  The unit study and living-literature study styles are rooted in learning through natural curiosities and exhausting a topic for all its detail.  When beginning a topic of study, I don't always know how long we will want to "camp" on that topic.  While I want forward motion, I also don't want to spoil the natural love of a topic by moving on just because the black and white page dictates that I must.  By only detailing 4 to 6 weeks worth of plans, I can choose to extend the learning if I deem necessary, knowing that the lesson planner is a blank slate beyond the six weeks.

Since the primary focus of this 5-Day series is SCHEDULING, I have not gone into intense detail about PLANNING unit studies.  I realize, however, that the two go hand-in-hand.  So, here are a few great links to help inspire you as you create enriching unit study lessons for your year.

How To Plan a Unit Study by Our Journey Westward

Planning a Unit Study Step By Step by To Be Busy at Home

In addition, be sure to check out these planning forms to help you organize all your thoughts AND my Pinterest account to get inspired!

Did you like the pretty planner I was using in the video?...If you're interested in having one of your own, be sure to head on over to enter to win a FREE copy!

Please join me tomorrow as I answer a few FAQs of Year-long Scheduling.

Once again, I've teamed up with the talented ladies of iHomeschool Network to bring you a week-long Summer Hopscotch series.  

5 Days of Scheduling Your Entire Homeschool Year {Day 3}

Welcome to Day 3 of our scheduling series!  If you're joining me today, I can assume that you know WHY I schedule my year so far in advance and how I piece together a homeschool calendar.  (This post contains affiliate links.)

I've enjoyed giving you just a simple glimpse into my methods of madness, but please remember that they are just THAT....my methods.  Your schedule or lack-thereof might look MUCH different from mine.  That's great!  Because in truth, that is the intrinsic nature of homeschooling...there is not a one-size-fits-all approach.  

I've put together two short videos for you detailing a few thoughts on scheduling TRADITIONAL curriculum into a homeschool planner...mostly because I, myself, am such a visual learner.  But, I'd like to preface them with this...

You might see this method and think to yourself..."Ummm...no-brainer!"  And while that might be the case for many, that's not always the case for all.  As this is a series designed to inspire the newbie homeschool mom, I am choosing to begin at the beginning, assuming that there are moms who might need this gentle approach.  

For the purpose of this video, I use the words traditional curriculum to mean curriculum that comes with a lesson plan guide or a teacher's guide.  For the words non-traditional curriculum, I mean books/workbooks that would be considered traditional "curriculum" but DO NOT come with any sort of plan of action or teacher's guide.

If you are unable to view this video, please click here.



In case you are curious, I DO use traditional curriculum for certain subjects.  As I have mentioned, I am an eclectic homeschooler and choose my homeschooling methods and my curriculum in an a la carte kind of style.  That being said, while I do use workbooks in our homeschooling, I use them as a compliment to the rest of the lesson...not as the actual lesson itself.

I shared on the video that each one of my children has his/her own SEPARATE first day of school.  Feel free to take a peak at the HOWs and WHYs behind that.

Also, you may have noticed that I wrote with two different colored ink pens in the videos.  It's no secret that I color code my homeschool.  But, when it comes to my Well-Planned Day Planner, color coding brings the added benefit of space saving.  With only one line per child per subject with which to write each lesson plan, I need to save all the space I can.  By using specific colors, I don't have to use space to write five different names.  Also, the varied colors makes it much easier to see everyone's tasks at a glance.

Speaking of The Well-Planned Day Planner...If you're interested in having one of your own, be sure to head on over to enter to win your very own FREE copy!

Please join me tomorrow as we look at HOW to schedule non-traditional styles of learning.

Once again, I've teamed up with the talented ladies of iHomeschool Network to bring you a week-long Summer Hopscotch series.  

5 Days of Scheduling Your Entire Homeschool Year {Day 2}

If you are joining me today for part 2 of this 5 day long look at scheduling your homeschool year, I can assume, you've already taken a peak at WHY I choose to schedule this way.  (This post contains affiliate links.)

That being said, I'd like to moderate the following thoughts by reminding you that this is just ONE way of scheduling your school year.  It is by no means the ONLY way or the RIGHT way.  You, obviously, have completely different dynamics to deal with than I do and will need to adapt any/all of my thoughts to your home.   Now that we've agreed upon that and have solidified the deal with the "homeschool moms' secret hand shake", let's jump right in to our planners.  Shall we?!

Here are two short videos detailing the first step I take in planning my school year.  (Ummm...many apologies for the annoying buzzing sounds in the background.  Since I'm sure Steven Spielberg frowns upon loaning out his cinematography equipment, you're stuck with mine!)

If you are having trouble viewing the video, click here.




Just a few final thoughts...

Once I create my lesson plans for the year, I don't hang on to that hastily written out chart.  That is merely for me to use as a guide while I fill out my planner.  When I'm finished with my plans, the chart gets tossed in the trash.  (Just didn't want you to think I made my poor children look at that every day!)

Because I live in a region that has a very short outdoor season (I live in a snow globe for 80% of the year.), I refuse to do any traditional schooling much past May.  We still get plenty of learning done in the summer, it just comes much more organically.  If, however, you live anywhere but here, I'd highly recommend the idea of Sabbath Schooling, a schooling-style that mirrors God's pattern of six portions of work and one portion of rest.  There are actually many different school calendar styles apart from traditional and Sabbath Schooling, so research all of them and choose the one that will work best for you and your family.

While my local school district has always been very gracious and helpful (in my experience, anyway), I recognize that not everyone can say the same.  For more information on your state's homeschooling laws and/or attendance requirements, I'd recommend seeking the counsel of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association.

As I mentioned, The Well-Planned Day planner is my personal favorite homeschool mom's planner.  If you're interested in having one of your own, be sure to head on over to enter to win your very own FREE copy!

Please join me tomorrow as we look at HOW to schedule traditional-style curriculum.

Once again, I've teamed up with the talented ladies of iHomeschool Network to bring you a week-long Summer Hopscotch series.  

5 Days of Scheduling Your Entire Homeschool Year {Day 1}

I am a self-professed, card-carrying member of the I HAVE A PLAN AND I'M STICKING TO IT club.

Ok, so technically, there is no club.  And since there is no club, there is also no card.  But, if there were, I'd not only have a card, it would be laminated and tucked neatly next to my I'M OBSESSED WITH STATIONARY SUPPLIES club card. (This post contains affiliate links.)

Pheew...now that I've unloaded all of that on you, you're probably not surprised to learn that as a homeschooling mom, I have a homeschooling plan. In fact, I have a plan for the ENTIRE homeschool year.

While some might baulk at the idea of scheduling the whole year in advance assuming that a prescribed plan removes all possibility of delight-directed learning or cultivating natural curiosity, I would propose that it does just the opposite...at least in my experience, anyway.

But we'll get to that.
First things first.

Before we get too far into the HOWs and WHYs of making a yearly plan, I first want to temper this week-long look at scheduling with the following disclaimers:

• I am an external processor.  I navigate my life and filter my thoughts outwardly in words...in person or on paper...or a blog as the case may be {ahem!}.  While some might be able to have a loose, MENTAL plan of action for the school year, I prefer a WRITTEN, more concrete version.  That's me.  If that's not you, than feel free to just say "pass".
• I am an eclectic homeschooler.  I pull homeschooling resources from several different methodologies of education and different publishers of products.  If you, on the other hand, are more of an "all-in-one-box" kind of gal, your planning steps might look slightly different than mine.  And that's OK.  Po-ta-to. Po-tah-to.
• I love my Well-Planned Day Planner, but there are many other homeschool mom planners on the market.  Feel free to take my ideas and tweak them to suite your planner of choice.  
• The thought of scheduling the entire year might seem overwhelming to some.  There's no shame in admitting that.  I'd encourage you to take the principles I will share in the next few days and adapt them to planning for just a semester, a month, or even a week in advance. 

Now that you know that I am a planner, perhaps you'd like to know HOW and WHY I plan for homeschooling.  In the coming four days, I will be giving you a sneak-peak at the HOWs, but today I'd like to look at the WHYs.

A plan brings freedom

One of my most favorite parts of homeschooling my children is being able to provide a well-rounded, enriched education by encouraging them in their own unique talents and interests.  By taking the time in the summer to formulate a skeletal plan for the CORE areas of study, I don't have to waste my time each evening or their time each day during the school year trying to structure all the "HAVE TOs".  I can use that time to provide some of the "WANT TOs".  We have the freedom to take rabbit trails, create memories, and explore new interests because we HAVE THE TIME.  The foundation has already been created. 

A plan affords flexibility

Let's face it, the only NORMAL homeschool day is an abnormal one.  With many children to educate and a few more clamoring for my motherly attention, I have to maintain flexibility.  With a skeletal plan of the day's lessons already established, I can see at a glance what subjects need concentrated effort and what subjects won't require as much time and attention that day.  If we have to jet off to an unplanned doctor's appointment or make a meal for a sick friend, I can quickly glance at my plan and know what can easily be brought along with us or can be started and then put on "pause" until later that day.

A plan provides a goal

As the old saying goes, "Without a plan, you plan to fail."  Having a year-long plan sets definitive goals for both me and my children.  While we may not complete every jot and tittle of the plan each day, we always maintain forward motion because there is a clear and KNOWN goal.  My children's education is of high priority to me.  I can not afford to slip into idleness.  Having a plan...or a goal...motivates me into action!

A plan creates a "season"

Scripture reminds us in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that there is a season for everything under the heavens.  While each season of creation is different, they all have two common distinctions...a BEGINNING and an END.  The very nature of a year-long lesson plan creates an obvious START and an obvious END...a season.  Without a plan of action, how can anyone know when the action is completed?

My children and I looooooved our colonial unit study a few years ago, so much so that it would have been easy to camp there for the entire year or even for a few YEARS.  But, by detaining our learning to just ONE PARTICULAR season and never having a plan to move forward, I would be withholding so many opportunities to venture into other wonderful seasons of education.

On the flipside, after a few weeks of long division practice, my daughter was more than ready to move onto something else.  Having a visible end in sight, helped to motivate her to keep going.  

A plan echos God's character

At the risk of making organization into a spiritual debate, I believe PLANS and ORDER are clearly seen in God's design and in His very nature.  Psalm 139:116 shows us that God, himself, has a "planner" filled with our "days".  

"Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

He has written them out already and ordered them in a unique way.  Why?  Because He is a God of order...not chaos...not happen-chance.  ORDER.  He formed the universe with distinct plans and set them in motion with a distinct time frame.  If I seek to mirror my life after His ways, why wouldn't I find value in having a plan too?

Please join me tomorrow as we look at HOW to plan the entire homeschool year!

In the meantime, head on over to enter to win your very own copy of my favorite homeschool mom's planner. 

Once again, I've teamed up with the talented ladies of iHomeschool Network to bring you a week-long Summer Hopscotch series.  

2013-2014 Well-Planned Day Planner Review {and giveaway}

A couple weeks ago, my poor mailman practically got accosted by a wide-eyed, somewhat fanatical woman with toddler in tow.  

OK...OK...so it was me!  But, in my defense, he was delivering the latest edition of one of my most loved, most used homeschool momma tools...the 2013-2014 Well-Planned Day Planner from Home Educating Family.

Upon ripping open the box...yep, I TOTALLY ripped open the package like a crazed addict...I was thrilled to see that not only did the 2013-2014 edition have all my favorite features, but ALSO two new additions that will make planning for next year even better!

(*This post contains affiliate links.)

Well-Planned Day Planner Features

All the wonderful features that I have come to know and love in a Well-Planned Day Planner make the 2013-2014 edition a homeschool MUST HAVE.  They include the following:

• encouraging monthly articles from the Home Educating Family Magazine
• a family memories page 
• a greeting card registry for easy birthday/anniversary tracking
• a monthly budget planner
• a weekly/monthly cleaning schedule
• an important/emergency contact page
• both a teacher and 4 student scheduler pages
• 4 class plans to assist in curriculum purchases/records
• semester progress and attendance record sheets
• a complete, six-page Holiday organizer insert
• monthly schedules for read-alouds, field trips, and bill payments
• and weekly schedules for dinner menus and non-homeschooling "to dos"
• 4 removable report cards for annual record keeping

In addition, this latest planner also touts 2-page monthly calendar spreads with extra large boxes for detailing monthly appointments at a glance AND corresponding side tabs for easy calendar access.  

2-page monthly calendar spread

What I like about the 2013-2014 Planner

Larger Calendar Boxes

Juggling the schedules of seven people every month gets a bit tricky.  And although I always color-code my thoughts to save space, the small boxes on last year's ONE-page calendar spreads made it rather difficult to keep it all straight. This year's TWO-page spread gives me twice as much writing room to record doctor's appointments, team practices, and other weekly commitments.  

Smaller boxes of the 2012-2013 Planner

Space for Multiple Learners

One glance at the teacher planners of my local school supply store, proved The Well-Planned Day Planner to be the PERFECT fit for this momma.  I, like so many other homeschool moms, have not ONE, but MANY learners.  The average planner only has enough lesson plan space for one grade level.  This would require me to buy four lesson planners to record the schedules of each of my kids.  But, with The Well-Planned Day Planner, I have sections for multiple students.

All-in-One Household Management

With the introduction of The Well-Planned Day Planner, I've been able to stream-line my home management record keeping.  Creator and fellow homeschool mom, Rebecca Keliher, compiled the necessary forms and checklists that everyone wearing both the mommy and teacher hat would need throughout the year and put them ALL IN ONE SPOT!

Weekly lesson plans-left side

The Nitty Gritty

• The 2013-2014 Well-Planned Day Planner retails for $24.95 plus shipping.
• Bundle The Well-Planned Day Planner, family wall calendar, and one-year subscription to Home Educating Family Magazine for 30% off.
• Matching student, highschool, and college planners are also available.

For more information, be sure to visit Home Educating Family on Facebook and Twitter or check out my original review.

Weekly lesson plans-right side

Want to win a planner?

Now's your chance to grab your very own copy of the 2013-2014 Well-Planned Day Planner or one of five one year subscriptions to Home Educating Family Magazine...for FREE!  Just follow the simple instructions from Rafflecopter.  There are several chances to enter.  Just click on the +sign for every entry you wish to make.

No purchase necessary to win.  Must be 18 years old or older and have a US address to enter.  Six winners will be randomly selected via Rafflecopter and announced Thursday, June 20, 2013.  The winners will be notified by email and will have 72 hours to respond.  If emails are not provided or the winners do not respond, the prize(s) will be forfeited and a new winner(s) will be randomly selected.  This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook.

***Mandatory Entry: To enter, be sure to leave a comment in the "comments" section of this post telling me which planner feature you are most looking forward to using.  (Remember, simply leaving a comment does not ensure entry.  You also have to click the +5 after you have commented.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*I was given a copy of The Well-Planned Day Planner in exchange for a thorough review.  All opinions expressed were true and completely my own.  I am not responsible if your experiences vary.