We talked about planning everything for the school year all at once here. It's a HUGE undertaking, but one that frees you up for the whole rest of the school year. No more Sunday night planning marathons! That's worth it, isn't it?
Dana emailed to ask me some questions as she was working steadily on her mega-planning this summer. I thought I'd share our dialogue since I know some of you have the same questions.
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Question: After I make the binders with ALL of the photocopies, and I make spread sheets for the subjects I do with them (like history) what do you use to communicate with the kids what you want them to accomplish each day in their individual pursuits? Checklist or spread sheet? I assume you load that into the binder also.
Answer: A little of each. I have spreadsheets that I put into page protectors and that go into binders for the older guys. They keep them where ever it is boys keep those things. I have a checklist for the others. But truth be told, this summer everyone got a checklist that I have been updating weekly. It's a "quickie" checklist, made with capital "o's" to bubble in and printed out on Sunday nights:
Jack- Checklist for the week of August 2nd
Breakfast prep -- -- O -- O
Devotions O O O O O
Circle Time O O O O O
Chores O O O O O
Greek O O O O O
Lunch Prep -- O -- -- --
Omnibus Reading O O O O O
Red Herrings O O O O O
Piano O O O O O
Fold Laundry O O O O O
Weed Trampoline O O O O O
Clean Timmy's Cage O -- -- -- --
Evening Chores & Zone O O O O O
Garden O O O O O
The bubbles, by the way, represent each day of the work week- Monday through Saturday. Just couldn't get them to line up here on the blog :)
Question: Do you ever take apart a book and put it in the binder simply to have it all in one place (to lessen the chance of it being misplaced or lost)? Am I going overboard?
Answer: Yes, I do. Definitely. And the year I did Story of the World III I interspersed the text pages with the student activity pages and maps, etc., just so I could see what was on tap for each week. In other words, I took the binding off the book, punched holes in it, then organized it by weekly tabs. Then I did the same with the student pages and maps, filing them in the correct week as well.
Dana and two other friends got together to plan over the course of a weekend away. You can see what fun they had at Rebecca's blog, Leading Little Hearts Home.
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"I have a question though. HOW do you plan all of your children’s assignments? Sunday nights are filled with filling out assignment sheets for everyone and heaven forbid if we are busy all weekend with other things! Is there a better way?"
Here's the massively overwhelming answer: I do it all at once over a weekend or two in the summer.
I hated the Sunday night thing- just what you've described- and so years ago my best friend and I asked for an overnighter to spend planning and thinking through our upcoming school year. We have students of similar ages and grades, so bouncing things off of each other is helpful. So is a little dark chocolate and a phone call to have lunch delivered.
When I say I do everything during the summer, I mean everything. I'll try to break it down step by step:
1. Make a list for each child of the subjects they will be studying during the upcoming school year. I typically do this in January, and the rest begins to flow from there. In years without babies, I can be totally ready to go by July, then relax the rest of the summer. This year? Nope.
2. List all curriculum you are planning to use, purchase, borrow, etc. Mark prices next to each item and begin to bargain shop. As with anything else, if you have a plan you can avoid spending too much for items you don't really need.
3. Go through each subject individually and make a spreadsheet or other type of lesson plan that works for you. For me, a good old Excel spreadsheet works for most subjects. Here's an example of our Mystery of History Year One spreadsheet:
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Click to Download (PDF document)
Be realistic with step number three. It is going to take up a lot of time, but what you plan in the summer means NO MORE SUNDAY NIGHT SCRAMBLING! Keep repeating that to yourself when you get bogged down.
4. Make a list of everything that needs to be photocopied. The list can be as detailed or as broad as you like. You can list "history coloring pages" or you can list actual books and pages- "Medieval Coats of Arms, p. 32"
5. Are you ready for this? Photocopy EVERYTHING for the ENTIRE year. Now. All at once. Make binders for each child and each subject with their already photocopied items, in order. For history, my kids' binders have tabs for each week and the pertinent items are all in order. Maps, coloring pages, word searches, biography pages, etc. are ready to go.
Ever told your kids, "Just a sec. I need to go copy this."? What happens when you turn your back or walk out of the room? That's right. Chaos! Now you've lost one to the bathroom, one to a drawing he "has" to finish, and two to an argument. But when the photocopies are ready to go, so are your students.
6. Make a "Mom List". I keep mine on my clipboard so I can just glance at it and remember what each child needs to accomplish daily:
16-year-old: Constitutional Law, Math, Science, French, Rhetoric, Lit and Composition, CLEPS
14-year-old: Math, Science, Latin, Logic, Theory, Italic, Copywork, Guitar
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If this seems totally overwhelming to you, just say to yourself, "Kendra has six students this year". :) You can do it!
Raise your hand if you're a lover of lists. Don't you adore crossing something off after you've accomplished it? Me too. However, in this current crazy season of my life, my to-do list has had to morph into something that matches my reality.
I fondly remember the days when all of my children took an afternoon rest, or at least a quiet time. They do now, too, but the two little guys are on slightly different schedules so there's only an hour when they're both down. I do rest for an hour or so, but I also need to capitalize on the sleeping babies and spend time helping the older kids with school.
What this means, practically, is that my to-do list has become sort of a running "extra projects" list rather than a day-to-day list, because the day-to-day just doesn't vary all that much. I use this printable check list for the daily stuff. You can alter the fields for your own use.
Then I add and delete things from the ongoing to-do list as necessary. Currently the list is:
1. Where are my jeans? (I have one pair in my current size and they're nowhere to be found)
2. Fill in names on family tree as far back as possible (This project could go on for years)
3. Paint- girls’ accents (This one is particularly pathetic. A friend is doing the painting for me. All I have to do is buy the paint, but I haven't even done that yet)
4. Sew hammock and cabana pillows (I'm not a good seamstress. I've put this off for months, but the hammocks are now on the back porch and I really can't ignore this any longer)
5. Hang shells from andy’s office (Too long an explanation)
6. 5yo Kindergarten doctor visit, 16yo tetnus booster (I know, it only takes a phone call...)
7. Find videos to send to Shane (ummm... find them... )
8. TOS reviews (Due June)
9. Christian’s Stocking to Sandy (all I have to do is send this to a friend but...)
And now a word about expectations. Years ago, maybe when I had five children or fewer, I could look at this list and know it could be tackled in a week's time. Now, however, the tyrrany of the urgent is where I spend most of my time, and so this list has become just an ongoing thing that continues to grow faster than it shrinks. If I were to expect to finish the list in a more timely manner, I would be frustrated, angry, and ready to throw in the towel, perhaps blaming homeschooling or any other number of things to which God has called me at the moment (like two babies, 14 months apart).
One thing I can say God has taught me over the last year is to make my expectations match my reality. Actually, more than that, I have no expectations. I don't expect time to myself, time to complete projects, family members who remember my birthday, dinner to come out well, perfect kids, or my haircut to be stunning. As a result, when any of those things do work out, I am utterly surprised and delighted!
How can you change your expectations to meet your current reality?
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So how are your Top Five lists coming along? We discussed this last time in Drowning in Home Management, Part One, and I'm hoping you had some time to quietly ponder what the five most important items on your agenda ought to be. I loved reading your comments and lists and I am so glad I didn't post my five because yours varied so greatly. What a creative God we have to make all of our homes so unique and wonderful.
My five are:
1. Nurture, guard, protect, and grow my relationship with the Lord
2. Nurture, guard, protect, and grow my relationship with my husband
3. Clothe our family
4. Feed our family and keep our home sanitary (I realize these are really two things here, but they’re both housekeeping related)
5. Educate our children
Obviously, many things can fall under each of those categories, but what was most important for me at the time was the ability to dismiss all of the things that don't fall under those categories. And here's the bonus: when I was able to have something that wasn't under those categories (say, inviting another family over for pizza and games), it was a wonderful surprise. Had I expected to be able to do something off the list that never came to fruition, I would likely have been frustrated and disappointed. My expectations most days match the reality of this season of my life.
In my next and last post on Drowning in Home Management, I'll go through each of my five items and try to show you what they look like from day to day. In the meantime, keep making those lists and don't forget to share them with us!
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I struggle desperately with balancing everything that must be done. I have yet to figure out how to give my oldest the help and teaching he needs for school while teaching my 5 yr old to read, etc. All this while 2 little ones run around. Not to even mention the laundry, cooking, cleaning, and housework that may or may not get done.
-Rachel
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My first thought when I read your list: “housework, paperwork, and homeschooling” was:
“what housework? what paperwork? what homeschooling?”
currently we’re not getting to *any* of those things. 
well, okay- a bit of housework and the necessary paperwork, but that’s IT.
-Stacy
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Hope you’re on your feet again very soon! And yes, I am one of those drowning in housework, homeschooling, etc. No family nearby, friends all in the same life stage as me (young kiddos), so whatever wisdom you can offer will be appreciated.
-Christine
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I recently read your article from 2006 I think, entitled Put Your Life in a Binder. I am attempting to do this but it is a big task. Any tips on how to get it done?
-Brandi
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Me too. No, really. I do have help, and yet in this season with a high schooler, a junior higher for whom I've begun to plan high school, three elementary students, a kindergartner, a toddler, and a baby, I am drowning in home management, too.
So let's all take a deep breath and try to gain perspective.
First of all, define what your "Rock List" should be. Remember that old Sunday School illustration where you fill a jar with sand (all of the non-essential activities of life), then try to fit in the rocks (all of the essential activities)? The rocks don't fit that way. But if you reverse the order- rocks, then sand- everything fits just perfectly.
My wiser-than-I-am friend Colleen once asked me to define my "Rock List"; that is, the essential activities that have to be done daily. I made a massive list of items that I had on my plate, big and small, and then began to put each item into the "Rock" column or the "Sand" column. While this was a helpful exercise that saved my dwindling sanity that year, everything was about to come crashing down and demand redefinition...
I had a miscarriage. I was pregnant two months later. I had a baby. I was pregnant five months later. I had that baby. I was in the PICU with him seven weeks later. And the Rock List suddenly became a burden.
I was relaying my waves of overwhelmment (I know. It's not a word, but I would make it one if I could) to my wiser-than-I-am friend Cheryl who said, "What are the top five non-negotiable activities of your life?" Five. That's it.
Can you define your top five non-negotiable activities? I am reluctant to even tell you mine, because I really want you to think this through and pray over it without any outside influence. Your top five non-negotiables should be between you and the Lord.
In Drowning in Home Management, Part Two, I'll touch on each aspect of home management and how I am currently tackling/juggling these things in our home. But I really, really, really want you to make that Top Five list before you read about what we do here, because my home isn't yours, and I don't have the corner on that market!
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I might be pursuaded to list my Top Five in the comments, but not until some time has passed so you can go before the Lord on this one :)
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well, okay- a bit of housework and the necessary paperwork, but that’s IT.
-Stacy
♥
Hope you’re on your feet again very soon! And yes, I am one of those drowning in housework, homeschooling, etc. No family nearby, friends all in the same life stage as me (young kiddos), so whatever wisdom you can offer will be appreciated.
-Christine
♥
I recently read your article from 2006 I think, entitled Put Your Life in a Binder. I am attempting to do this but it is a big task. Any tips on how to get it done?
-Brandi
♥
Me too. No, really. I do have help, and yet in this season with a high schooler, a junior higher for whom I've begun to plan high school, three elementary students, a kindergartner, a toddler, and a baby, I am drowning in home management, too.
So let's all take a deep breath and try to gain perspective.
First of all, define what your "Rock List" should be. Remember that old Sunday School illustration where you fill a jar with sand (all of the non-essential activities of life), then try to fit in the rocks (all of the essential activities)? The rocks don't fit that way. But if you reverse the order- rocks, then sand- everything fits just perfectly.
My wiser-than-I-am friend Colleen once asked me to define my "Rock List"; that is, the essential activities that have to be done daily. I made a massive list of items that I had on my plate, big and small, and then began to put each item into the "Rock" column or the "Sand" column. While this was a helpful exercise that saved my dwindling sanity that year, everything was about to come crashing down and demand redefinition...
I had a miscarriage. I was pregnant two months later. I had a baby. I was pregnant five months later. I had that baby. I was in the PICU with him seven weeks later. And the Rock List suddenly became a burden.
I was relaying my waves of overwhelmment (I know. It's not a word, but I would make it one if I could) to my wiser-than-I-am friend Cheryl who said, "What are the top five non-negotiable activities of your life?" Five. That's it.
Can you define your top five non-negotiable activities? I am reluctant to even tell you mine, because I really want you to think this through and pray over it without any outside influence. Your top five non-negotiables should be between you and the Lord.
In Drowning in Home Management, Part Two, I'll touch on each aspect of home management and how I am currently tackling/juggling these things in our home. But I really, really, really want you to make that Top Five list before you read about what we do here, because my home isn't yours, and I don't have the corner on that market!
♥
I might be pursuaded to list my Top Five in the comments, but not until some time has passed so you can go before the Lord on this one :)So.
I am the Preschoolers and Peace gal who loves routine. Schedules. Plans! But...
My wise friend Cheryl has often said to me, "Hold your plans loosely", and I am getting lots of practice doing just that these days.
For those of you who might think I've got the corner on organization, I give you
Tuesday, January 20th
8:00 5-year-old crawls into my bed to rub my back. The day has begun well!
8:10 Mother-in-Law calls from next door to tell us that the inauguration is coming on and do we want to come over and watch it? I *thought* it was going to be on at 11:30, but apparently that's real time, not California time.
8:30 Put strata (made yesterday by my friend who helps us on Mondays) into the oven.
8:35 9-year-old, 7-year-old, 5-year-old, 22-month-old, and I go next door to watch the inauguration. No sign of the teenagers- they prefer their warm beds in the morning.
9:30 Come back home to feed baby.
10:00 Eat breakfast, read devotional, send everyone on a hunt for my small Bible, clean kitchen, fold a load of laundry, listen to phone message from food co-op coordinator.
11:00 Put 22-month-old in the playpen in the family room with the intent of starting our history study in the schoolroom. 13-year-old reminds me that his guitar lesson will be in that room in 15 minutes. Move playpen upstairs to my room. Forgot Beatrix Potter DVD downstairs. Who needs a gym?
11:15 Start history. Can I tell you how thankful I am that Linda Hobar has recorded The Mystery of History??? I push "play" and sit down to check email. Diaper desperately in need of changing.
11:19 Crack open a can of Diet Coke. I'm off the wagon, but as my best friend says, "Its not Vodka".
11:30 Search Google for photos of Chinese foot binding.
11:35 Search Google for photos of acupuncture.
11:50 Discuss St. Simon and the Coptic Church. Discuss Eric the Red (we're going chronologically).
12:00 Clean up schoolroom. This after my little friendly but loud lecture about actually doing your job rather than claiming to have done your job.
12:03 Discuss inauguration on the phone with my husband. Put away Christmas books while talking. Conversation ends when he arrives at the pool for a noontime swim.
12:08 Continue to encourage the cleaning of the schoolroom. Collect library books for return.
12:20 Send children to do their morning chores. It's not morning. We're pretty darn majorly behind, and by the way- our two hour Circle Time has been reduced to 45 minutes, and we only studied history. "Hold your plans loosely"... Grab 22-month-old and 8-month-old to go put the littlest guy down for his nap.
12:25 Carry 5-year-old downstairs. She still can't walk until we see the orthopedic surgeon tomorrow.
12:26 Read aloud in the living room. Tell 5-year-old to sit still and stop fussing because she didn't get as many pretzels as she wanted. Correct 22-month-old 11 times while he sits in his little booster seat and eats pretzels. Knit seven rows on a baby bootie.
12:45 Ask 13-year-old to start celery with peanut butter for lunch. He's the Tuesday breakfast guy but he was nowhere to be found when breakfast needed to be started.
1:00 Discuss the fact that it takes more calories to eat celery than is to be gained by it. Listen to the 15-year-old tell me about a movie he, his brothers, and cousin plan to make about facial exercise. Practice facial exercises. Crack ourselves up.
1:15 Talk to best friend on the phone. We will miss seeing each other as she passes through our town today :(
1:20 Hear 11-year-old frantically practicing the piano because his lesson is at 2:00. Watch the celery and peanut butter disappear. Watch the crackers and apples disappear. Watch the oatmeal cookies disappear.
1:35 Sneak upstairs to write this.
1:40 Tell piano players to get into the van. "Take your math!". Give 13-year-old instructions for feeding and playing with the baby. Try to find lip gloss. Make-up is a priority.
2:00 Drop two pianists off at piano. Drive to chiropractor with 15-year-old for adjustments.
2:30 Back at piano teacher/dear friend's house. Paint the remainder of her kitchen cabinets that I couldn't finish the night before.
4:00 Home. Have long conversation with best friend on the way, finishing as a load of laundry goes from washer to dryer. Approve two snack requests. Tell everyone downstairs to come upstairs for school help.
4:20 Spelling with 9-year-old. I spell "raving" wrong just to get a laugh out of her.
4:40 Realize I didn't pick up my food co-op order. Really, really, bummed at myself.
4:52 Check Facebook. Why? I don't know. Feel guilty that I'm not downstairs checking on the other schoolwork being done at the kitchen table. Getting up now...
I'll stop there, partly because I'm thinking you're bored about now and partly because I can't remember. Are you all feeling better about your days now?
Enjoy today, and hold your plans loosely!
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