Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Activity, Change, Progress

Tina Robertson

Homeschool Lesson Planning Backwards Part 2 of 2.

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m not saying it was a good idea to wait and do Part 2 to Part 1 of Lesson Planning Backwards more than a year later, but I had a real good excuse reason.  When my only blog was at New Bee Homeschooler, I really didn’t have a way for folks to follow me there until later. Many of my thoughts on my blog posts went to just my new bees either in a public workshop or on a private forum and not on my blog.  Now that I have two blogs and they are separated, I know that some of my blog topics belong over here too.  So I didn’t get back around to sharing some of them publicly until now.

HomeschooLesson Planning Backwards

Lesson Planning Backwards Part 2 is one of those posts and so today I am sharing the second part of that post. Plus, summertime is really a good time to talk about planning because you are not rushed with everyday school.

You can step back and reevaluate how you want this next year to go. Or at least that is what I like to do when school is slower in the summer.

Backwards Planning

It might sound like a bit of an oxymoron, but lesson planning backwards is not backwards. Planning means just that, looking forward to an end goal. Too, lesson planning for homeschoolers has changed over time because we now have some really helpful teacher’s manuals to choose from, which are not glorified answer sheets. The manuals make lesson planning more manageable.

Lesson planning though will remain a staple in any well-planned day because no matter how wonderful curriculum is, it will never replace your much needed guidance in tweaking lessons for each child.

Whether tweaking the plans of a laid out curriculum or drawing up a simple lesson plan, a few key points always helps me to keep lesson planning streamlined and forward moving.

  •  One central spot is key. Whether you have one kid or it feels like you have a dozen on some days, lesson planning is about finding all your notes for each child in ONE spot.  This is such a huge time saver.

Organized lesson planning is not about bulging notebooks of paper falling out of it, but it is about one central spot to see what everybody is doing for the day. That is why my lesson planning sheet is a weekly plan. I find that lesson planning is much like outlining. We just need a word or thought so we know what is planned for the day.

Lesson Planning Page 7 Step Homeschool Planner

(Step 4: Choosing Lesson Planning Pages)

The weekly planning page is just to glance at because most of the time there is no need for such detailed lesson planning notes, unless of course you lesson plan the whole year which I have mentioned to you before that I have done.  Oh my goodness! Let me say that again, oh my goodness.  I would not ever recommend that, but I will share why in another post.

Let’s just say I thought I was trying to stay ahead by planning that far ahead.

Simplified planning is suppose to cut down your paper work and time. Flipping through one book is easier than 4 books.  For example, having all 3 or 4 kids math lessons on one page is way more helpful than digging through 4 manuals each day for math lessons.

  • Plan longer, but not too far ahead. Sitting down about every 2 weeks to jot out the main points of what each kid will be learning over the next few weeks is a just about right pace for us.

You don’t want to play so far ahead that if your child has a problem understanding a new math concept, for example, that you can’t change your lesson plans to include more time for that. Too, some things my boys picked up quicker in grammar.  So I had another week to look at and pick lesson plans from which allowed us to skip ahead of what I had written down.

How to Homeschool Without Kids

  • Plan Like A Teacher. I learned this point early too when planning for multiple children and that is take a lesson from some public school teachers. There is a reason they stay a bit later after school or have teacher in-service days.  It allows them, hopefully, to catch up on some of that lesson planning.

Do you ever have school without the kids? You should. Use the time to get caught up on lesson planning.  It took me a while to learn that point. I never had a problem doling out time to catch up on things around the house, but it took me longer to catch on to that mind-set as teacher mom. My children’s education is of way more importance than a sink of dirty dishes.

Allowing time with minimal interruption from the kids meant that some days were a “mom is here, but teacher mom is not here” day. However, those days were meaningful and well deserved as I could get absorbed in analyzing which direction we needed to go next in our lesson plans.

As the kids get older and take longer for some lessons, use that time while they are working on school to also plan ahead. The time may come in 10 or 15 minute increments. I do some of my best brainstorming and planning when I am sitting there waiting on Tiny and planning in shorter spurts too.

Lesson planning backwards is about understanding the end process and then finding ways to simplify it.

Hugs and love ya,

Don’t miss these other tips!

Lesson Plan or Lesson Journal?

How to Write a Simple But Effective Homeschool Lesson Plan

Finishing Strong – Homeschool Link Up Party {Homeschooling Middle & High School Years} #16.

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Finishing Strong- Homeschool Link Up Party

Thank you for joining us this week at Finishing Strong–the link-up that focuses on middle & high school students.

 

Finishing Strong Link Up Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

This week we are highlighting Susan Williams and Megan Zechman from Education Possible.

Hello! We are Susan and Megan, co-founders of Education Possible. We live in Central Florida, Susan with her husband and two boys and Megan with her husband and two girls.

Finishing Strong ~ Homeschooling the Middle & High School Years #16

As eclectic, hands-on homeschoolers, we try not to use too many textbooks or worksheets. Instead, we use interactive projects, technology, and living books to foster learning. We spend a lot of time learning outside of the home, especially at Walt Disney World.

Throughout the years, we noticed fewer families were schooling at home through the middle & high school years. Our families are committed to homeschooling through graduation, and we hope that by sharing our passions and experiences educating our older children, we can inspire more families to finish strong along with us.

If we can do it, you can too!

Our goal at Education Possible is to encourage families to discover the world through travel and technology, create hands-on educational activities, and learn together using unique resources.

We frequently write about history because we love sharing how we make this subject fun for our kids. Recently, How to Get Your Kids to Hate History struck a chord with our readers. Many remember hating history while growing up, but want to see their kids develop an appreciation for the subject. Exploring the 13 Colonies – a FREE Study Guide is the beautiful resource we developed to help families learn about colonial history.

Education Possible

Science is a great subject to bring in hands-on educational activities and some of our favorites have been volcanoes, creating a lava lamp, and trajectory. You can even learn How to Start a Science Co-op with your friends.

10 Volcano Activities for Middle School

We both love our children dearly, but neither of us wants them living with us forever, and we know it’s up to us to teach them the life skills they will need to succeed in college and eventually become successful adults. Some of the skills we’ve enjoyed teaching them include brainstorming, the benefit of making mistakes, and meal planning.

Finishing Strong ~ Homeschooling the Middle & High School Years #16 Education Possible

As I mentioned, we love Disney and we frequently teach families how to learn at the “happiest place on earth.” We use the Disney parks as the backdrop for literature, science, history, and life skills training.

Education PossibleWe hope you will follow along with us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Google+ Susan & Megan.

Follow Me Linky Party Finishing Strong

Blog Button Link Up Pinterest Button Link Up Google Plus Link Up

Twitter Link Up You Tube Link Up

Follow Group Boards Linky Party Finishing Strong

Pinterest Button Link Up-1 Google Plus Group Link Up

Easy Details to Remember & Even Easier Guidelines.

    • The link up party goes live at 5:00 a.m. CST each Wednesday and stays open until the following Tuesday at 11:55 p.m.
    • Each week we will pick our favorite links as features and share them.
    • You can link up to 3 posts. Please do not link up advertising posts, or other link ups, or parties. I will remove them. Homeschool related reviews are permitted and of course all topics related to homeschooling middle to high school students.
    • Grab a button to add to your post after you link up and if you were featured, grab an “I was featured” button.
    • By linking up with us, you agree for us to share your images and give you credit of course.
    • That’s it! Glad to have you here and let’s party!
Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Baskets, Bins and Buckets for Homeschool Storage

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Obsessing over what might be my storage options when we move, I decided to round up some baskets, bins and buckets for homeschool use.  In my house right now, I have a lot of built-ins and had minimal use for creative storage options like baskets, bins and buckets though I really love fun and creative storage.

Because we will probably be renting for a while when we move, I know that baskets, bins and buckets can be pretty inexpensive, transport easy enough, look hot, (which is most important) and can be used for multiple uses around the house and especially in our home school area.

Baskets Bins and Buckets for Homeschool Storage

Baskets, Bins and Buckets for Homeschool Storage

So I rounded up some ideas that hopefully we can both use. 

Some links are ideas of how to add them to your learning area, where to get them and some items are less expensive than others.  Then because a homeschool room can take ideas from many different places like an office or craft storage area, I also have a few links from places like that.

Baskets Bins and Buckets 1

1. Organizing the Homeschool With Baskets

2. Our IKEA and Chalkboard Homeschool Room

3. Homeschool Learning Centers Small Space Little Budget

4. Organized Kids Room

Baskets Bins and Buckets for Homeschool Storage 2

5. Schoolroom

6. Project Office Organization

7. Toysmith Bright and Colorful Pails, Assorted Colors

8. Storing Crafting Supplies

Baskets Bins and Buckets for Homeschool Storage 3

9.  Back to School Ruler Crate

10. Home Basics Storage Shelf with 9 Bins

11. Kids’ Storage and Organization Ideas That Grow

12. 150 Dollar Store Organizing Ideas and Projects for the Entire House

Baskets Bins and Buckets for Homeschool Storage 4

13. Basket 6 pack Small Basket assorted colors and styles

14. School rooms, custom desks, and happy color

15.  Organizing Dish Bins

16. Fabric Covered Storage Bins

Homeschool spaces should have some attitude and style along with being a functional place to learn and to hide all those necessary fun things that can cause clutter too.

It will be an adventure to see what type of storage I will have in my new area, but even if you aren’t changing your learning area, a new set of baskets, bins and buckets can brighten it up!

Other Homeschool Organization Tips:

How To Create a Homeschool Schedule That You Can Stick To

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

By sharing with you earlier The Sticking Power of a Homeschool Schedule, I hope that you placed a high value on your routine.  When I hear the word routine, it conjures up a warm and fuzzy feeling.  But I know for some homeschoolers, the words routine and restrained seem to be more synonymous and that just kills me.  I want you to love what I love, I can wish can’t I?  And it’s true, how to create a homeschool schedule that YOU can stick to, is the difference between organizational agony and thriving in organizational bliss.

This year too, hopefully during the summer, (unless I am on a beach in South America somewhere soaking up the rays and surviving from my upcoming move) I will be sharing more specifics about the different kinds of homeschool routine that vary with your kids ages and seasons in your life.

And before I forget because I have been asked several times, there is no way I am stopping my blog.  When I move, I may be M.I.A. for a while, or longer if a beach is calling me (don’t hate, just saying) but am way too vocal to be quiet now.  I just had to let you know that important information though it has nothing to do with what I am blogging about today.

How To Create A Homeschool Schedule That You Can Stick to

Today, I want to keep it simple for you and give you a beginning point in creating a homeschool schedule.  Sharing tips that are more broad or that can be applied across a number of scenarios helps you to keep the basics in mind when planning.

3 Easy Steps to Homeschool Schedule

First, instead of planning hour by hour and day by day, think of your day as zones.  Later on, I will go through plugging in the details with you, but for now divide your day by general broad zones.

For example, because we do homeschool, we would have our days divided up like this: morning routine, school routine, afternoon routine, personal routine and evening routine.

Wasn’t that easy?  It’s true, we have a bit more to divide out in our day, but it’s still doable.  Whatever you do, AVOID for now assigning everything in your life an hour by hour appointment.  Don’t go down straight jacket, hem me in road because like you, I couldn’t stay there either.  Start with general zones and then work within those zones to assign details or all the activities that fall within those time zones.

Next, list the activities you will have this year or the upcoming year, whichever one you are planning.  It’s important to create a homeschool schedule each year because activities will change.  True, sometimes each year my schedule changed slightly, but other years it changed drastically.

Creating a list of my to-do, whatever it is, helps me to not miss plugging it in a zone.  Did you catch this part?  For sure this will take the longest amount of time because you are listing EVERYTHING you need to do for the day.  Anything for the home, kids, the Mr. and time for you, all have to be listed.  Get it all off your mind and on paper.  It feels better there too.

The last thing to do is to explore your options in how you will accomplish that activity.  What do I mean by this?  Whether it is teaching a child to read or taking the kids to a co-op or class, you want to assign a realistic amount of time to do that activity in your zone.  It is hard to do that unless you know you have investigated all your options.

For example, some years, I combined extracurricular classes for the kids so that we would have one long day out and away from the house instead of breaking up multiple school days to take each kid to their classes.

Explore ways of how to maximize your time away from home.  Can you buy groceries while they are at class or use that as part of your household time?  And while you are at home, explore ways to maximize it too.  Can you combine two kids for one history program?

Finish exploring options so that you have measured your time better when it comes to plugging it in your zone.

Beginning at this basic framework each year helps to avoid unrealistic planning, the feeling of defeat before you start and gives you a boost in organization.

Dividing my zones, listing my activities and exploring my options is the glue that helps my homeschool routine stick.

Learning to stick with a schedule gives you breathing room and almost a feeling that you have just created extra hours in your day.  Ewww, it feels sooo good!

What do you think? Does starting at this point instead of listing it all hour by hour give you some breathing room?

Hugs and love ya,

2012Tinasignature

Want to read some more?

{Homeschool Organization Series} Where do you begin?

Must-Haves for the Organized Homeschooler. What to Keep & What to Skip

Streamlined Record Keeping

Creative Storage Solutions

Swoonworthy Learning Spaces

Grocery Shopping, Cooking & Laundry – Oh My!

Day 9: Carpe Diem: Homeschool Schedule by The Day, Month, & Year. {31 Day Boot Camp For New Homeschoolers on My Blog}

Biggest Challenges to Homeschooling

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This year has already been quite the challenge with what seems like an endless amount of work on my part to get ready for our move overseas.  But you know, I find solace in sharing with you my biggest challenges to homeschooling right now.

Biggest Challenge to Homeschooling

There are some things I am real private about in my family just because I have real kids who I know will grow up one day. (Just in case you didn’t know that, I had to let you know.)  Other things though like my struggles while homeschooling, I’m not so shy about.  I find that when I share them that I am so not alone in how I feel.

Too, I really like to find the humor and positive in any situation if I can.  I do that best by openly admitting when I feel defeated at times and then guess what? Weird person that I am, it all starts getting better because then I don’t feel it can get any worse.  Then, I can look for the positive and laughter.

My struggle is that when I don’t have routine in the house, I almost get fixated on fixing other things.  Like today, I know that we had to have these floor men we hired to buff out our floors as one of the last things before we sale our house.

But even with no furniture in the house and a house full of working men, I wanted to press on to our homeschool schedule.

Am I nuts? Insane, I am telling you.

Then after they left and we put back just enough furniture to show the house to potential buyers, I had a royal meltdown. (Texas lingo for great big pity party.)

No more school table, no more piano, no more big bookshelf, I am just down to what I call “tub homeschooling”.  Most of my items that I am keeping or using right now are all now reduced to tubs.

moving box

I can say my biggest challenge right now is thinking I can keep everything the same in our routine while we have one of the biggest changes we have ever made in our homeschooling adventure coming up.

It’s Only What You Do That Matters

Reflecting on the past in a positive way when we have made big changes that affect my homeschooling helps me to stay fired up too and keep focused.

When I was pregnant with Tiny and so sick that I couldn’t even get up from the couch, I stuck one Barney movie after the next in the TV (VHS tape, yep I am old, okay not real ancient though) one day for Mr. Senior 2013 and Mr. Awesome.

That time passed quickly!

Meeting this challenge of moving has left me with mixed feelings.  Some days, I am so giddy I can hardly breathe thinking about our upcoming adventure in South America and then some days I have the normal uneasiness that comes with such a big change.

I am determined to stay positive because we are so close!

Your turn to share.

What challenge are you facing right now? Is it a transition into high school? Or are you beginning your adventure to homeschool?  Are you pondering a move to a new curriculum?

Hugs and love ya,

 

Want to read some more?

Taking a Hit Doesn’t Mean to Quit– Homeschooling Through Crisis

Looking Back To Stretch Forward.