Planning and Workboxes for the 2013/14 School Year

I did a lot of planning towards the end of last school year so that I wouldn't have to spend my summer doing it. The hardest part was choosing the novels for my rising 6th grader to read (since I decided not to use a pre-planned curriculum with him). I had to try to schedule each novel I selected at least in the general vicinity of when he was reading about the events. (I will go through his complete curriculum later, but his history spine is Mystery of History V. II, or MOH).  This made my brain hurt. I just kept a running chart on my computer, and as the novels came in that I'd selected (often using input from the suggestions in the back of MOH), I'd try to fill them in. Since I already had planned his daily readings from MOH, I knew which days he would be studying what. I then filled in the gaps with additional readings. Most are novels, but some are short biographies or non-fiction books, so there is some variety. Here is  a page from that completed chart (day #, book, page #s or chapter(s) to read):

Here is one page from the long chart where I planned out his history assignments. I planned for 150 days of lessons. We go to a co-op once a week for most of the year, so we have a lot of 4-day weeks as a result, so I don't plan a full 180 days. (Our state doesn't require that anyway, but I do like for them to do schooling/ co-op for at least 180 days, though we were well over this year. Shhh.... don't tell them). My 6th grader loved Story of the World last year, so I am using a few chapters from Volume 1 and then many from Volume 2 to supplement his MOH. This was a chore to figure out, but I did get help from this wonderful chart (I love the Internet!):  http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/sotw2moh2.htm

I also went through and planned out 150 days of his science, making sure (as in the other charts) to have one column that lists what I need to put in his box for him to complete each day's assignment. I have everything in binders and made a "Planning Box" so that all the resources I need to plan/ fill boxes are in one place (see photo on right below). 

Another new thing I did this year: had the spines cut off the big history books (like MOH) and had them 3-hole punched. I am removing each week's reading from my big binder (see them in my box), and placing it in a small 1/2 inch binder, so I don't have to fit huge books in their box. I think it's less intimidating for the boys as well. And, I will go ahead and admit the accountability will be good for me as well. If I don't go through their boxes and give them the new week's reading, they won't be able to do it. I need incentive to do my job sometimes.

Yet another new thing: I am using Scholaric (http://scholaric.com/ )! It is an inexpensive online program to plan weekly assignments for each subject AND keep track of grades. I was very nervous because I LOVE paper planners, but it is very intuitive and I had no problem entering in our first week's assignments. (I mainly just had to transfer info from my charts to the program.) Here is what one page of the Scholaric plan looks like printed out (the week continues on another page):

I am printing out a copy for my plan book, and then printing another copy and cutting it into strips to give to the boys in their boxes. Each strip has one subject on it (cut horizontally) with a week's assignments. I have always hand-written assignment cards (see previous post on planning), so this is new. I had to figure out how to give the boys the strips without them getting lost or damaged, which brings me to the description of the workboxes! I will start with my oldest, who will be entering 10th grade. I am using a folder/ clip board system with him. Here is the inside of one of his folders (one per subject):

On the right, I've stapled a section of a clear page protector to serve as a pocket for the assignment strip I talked about. Each week, I can just slide the old one out and slide the new one in. Any paper or handouts he needs will also be in that pocket. Once something is completed and ready for me to grade, he moves it to the left side. Below left is a better picture of the assignment strip and the pocket, and below right are the boxes he will have in his room with supplemental books only; all assignments and directions will be in the folders.


This is how his folder/ clip board system will look:

  He will have to bring it downstairs each day so I can do a quick check to make sure the work is completed. 

He has a clipboard for subjects that entail writing because I've noticed that even though he has a desk in his room, he often works sitting up in his bed. I've used lap desks before, but think the clip boards might be better. We will see! So, he has a folder for each subject, and some subjects also come with a clipboard. 

Now for the 6th grader. We are still using the IKEA Trofast system, as we did last year. I replaced velcro labels (which always fell off ) with labels printed on a label maker. (Hard to see, but they are at the bottom right side of each box).

Here is the inside of one of his boxes. I used command strips to adhere a clear clip (they used to carry them at IKEA) to hold the strip on the right-side of each box. He can probably read it without even taking it out, but if he does take it out, I will need to reinforce that he needs to be it back! Let's hope he complies. 

I am glad I didn't wait until this weekend to get ready. Hope you enjoyed this peek into my planning system and our workboxes. 

How I am doing Lesson Plans this year

I homeschool in North Carolina, where there are no requirements to keep or turn in lesson plans. I still keep them; I want to know what we did whether anyone but me ever sees it or not. I also loved lesson planning when I was a classroom teacher (sometimes even more than teaching itself : ( ). I am a "Type A" so I also like the control accountability that keeping lesson plans provides. Last year, I used the homeschool planner "The Well Planned Day": http://www.homeeducatingfamily.com/shop.html
I really liked it; the subjects are already printed out and each two-page spread covers one week of schooling. It also has articles and other printables (like tear-out report cards) that are relevant and helpful. The problem was I was always writing out the assignments twice: once on the assignment cards that go into each workbox :

(The download is only 30 cents right now on currclick.com http://www.currclick.com/product/21205/Joyful-Steward-Assignment-Cards?it=1 and includes cards for numerous subjects with a grid for each day of the week. I print them on printable postcard card stock that I purchase from Amazon)

...and then again in the planner. This may not sound like much, but it felt like a waste of time and as a general rule I avoid extraneous work to protect laziness efficiency. So, this year I am doing a different system. For starters, I'll make sure to keep a copy of the planning grid that Winter Promise provides for each week (and add the dates and any modifications we made):

For some subjects that are in a book/ workbook, I made copies of the Table-of-Contents to keep in my plan book and will just write the date that each assignment is completed (I am doing this after the fact in case the plans change, as they often do!)

This is from Math Mammoth.

Finally, for the rest, I am going to use those aforementioned assignment cards! I have figured out a way to save them and have them double as my lesson plans. I purchased 3x5 recipe-card protector pages, and I will keep the cards (after the week is up) in there. We've only done one week, but it looks like this:

This was my 5th grader's Science assignment card that was in his workbox for this week (that ended today). Next week, once that week is over, I will put that card right next to this one in the second slot (now blank). Once I get to the 5th week, I will use the back of the week two card (I printed them front/back) just to make it less bulky (as opposed to using a new card and slipping it in.) So, when I turn the page, the first card will be week 5 (which is also the back of week 2). I am making sure to write the name of the books/ resources we are using somewhere on the card, usually at the bottom. The other thing I like about my plans this year is they will be organized by subject and student rather than by day/week, so I will get a more cohesive idea of what each has covered. Now that I am gearing up to complete a high school transcript, I think this will be even more helpful. 

Some random notes:

*when I taught 6th grader I NEVER used red pen b/c I didn't want students to get "bleeding" papers back; now I like to use them (especially to write out assignments) because I think it is attention-getting and cheerful (?)

*I tried Homeschool Tracker and it takes me far more time to type stuff up than just to write it. I also didn't find it intuitive to use so I gave up quickly

*In my plan book (which is a 1-inch 3-ring binder I got from Dollar Tree), I taped a sheet in the back that tells me:

~the exact name of the assignment card file so I don't have to search/ remember;

~the exact page numbers to print and a reminder to print front-back (I am using the blank assignment cards this year and writing in the subject for greater flexibility)

~a note to cut off part of the edge before tearing the cards apart so they will fit into the recipe protector pages

Hopefully God won't laugh now that I've made plans : )