Back To Homeschool With A Plan

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Okay, I love lesson planning, but I'm really not at all a Type A person. In a lot of things, I'm good with just a general idea of where we're headed and how to get there, and I'll work out the details as we go. But when it comes to lesson plans... I can get so caught up in perfecting the lesson plans and so distracted by all the wonderful possibilities of things that we could do, that I have trouble actually getting started on time. And to top it off, I'm also a procrastinator. This final week before school is supposed to start is a challenge because I need to have enough planning completed so we can start on the appointed day - but how I would love to explore and plan some more! And I've left some of the planning jobs until the last minute (because that's how I roll, don't judge me!) so I've got lots to do this week, and I have to prioritize somehow!

Deep breath. I'll be ready. I've done this before, and I've got what I need ready. I think.

A Four-Year Plan for High School

Already got those! I start these plans (in pencil!) when my students start eighth grade. It's pretty easy to plot out the required credits and start filling in the options and extras based on each kid's interests and goals. See? Started these a long time ago. Of course, there are some changes every year, but this is that general road map that gives me a pretty good idea of where we are on the journey.

You can find information and free forms at DonnaYoung.org and at HSLDA's Homeschooling Through High School page to help you plan. I also found a nice (free) printable planner on this post at Wierd Unsocialized Homeschoolers. For four-year planning pages and all kinds of other record-keeping and planning helps, visit SchoolhouseTeachers.com. They have tons of resources for planning and record-keeping included with the low membership price.

Lesson Plans for The Coming Year

Yes, I already have those as well! Sure, I'd love to dig in and get some details on paper - or into my planner - but we do have all the resources ready to go, and I do have lesson plans in one form or another. The courses that the kids have done in previous years have been saved as reusable Lesson Plans in my Homeschool Tracker, and have been imported into the Homeschool Tracker Online that I'm using now. So when my oldest student did Notgrass Exploring America, I put it in the Lesson Plan, so instead of reinventing the wheel three more times, I just tweak the existing plan and submit it when the next student does the same course. This year it's Landon's turn, and that's one of the plans that's already done for me. I have two of Kennady's courses that I have not plugged into the Tracker yet, but I am working on them. One of those courses we won't even start until September so I have a little time; and I do have a course outline for both courses so it's not like I don't have anything.

Daily/Weekly Schedules

This is where things get a little dicey for us. We've still got a couple of unknown variables that will affect our schedules, and the truth is, I'm not convinced that the kids will consistently get up on time. Oh, they CAN get up on time... they just don't always do so. I will probably have to be really strict the first couple weeks to get them into the routine.

Based on what we know at this point, a typical week will be full school days every day except Tuesday. Monday we'll add in Kennady's guitar lesson right after lunch. Tuesday will be a half-day of school, because we're planning on taking part in the co-op gym class in the afternoon.

My day starts by 7am at the latest, when the hubster has left for work and the kids are usually still asleep. I can enjoy at least an hour of quiet solitude with my coffee and Bible reading, and then get started on e-mails and blogs. The kids are expected to start schoolwork by 9am. For the most part, I allow them to decide what to work on, and in which order, but I do prefer that they work on Math every day. For any coursework that is done on the computer, we try to schedule that at a regular time that will work for everyone, since we only have one computer that is connected to the internet. The kids do all their work independently, but they will both be doing the same science course this coming year. We're still deciding whether we want to gather and work on that all together, or if they will just take turns with the books for the required reading.

Last year, Landon worked two days a week seasonally. If he does that again this year, we'll have to adjust his schedule accordingly. I am also considering going to work part-time, and when that happens, I'm sure the schedule will have to be adjusted somewhat. It might even mean that we skip gym class for first semester.

Have you got your plans in place for this school year? Leave a comment and let me know! Be sure to visit all the participating blogs in this week's Back to Homeschool Blog Hop, hosted by the Schoolhouse Review Crew and Homeschool Blogging Connection. Or you can stop by my Back to Homeschool Blog Hop page, which has links to all the participating blogs.

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