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This is me spilling the beans…

Well this is a whole new game for me! I need testers of a different sort this time. I have been working on a Homeschool Planner. Surprised? Me too. It started out as an idea to get all of the forms I needed for recording our school work onto the computer to use with my Tablet PC, but it quickly grew so big that I decided to share it. This has been a crazy fun project to work on, and a good contrast to the usual writing and drafting projects that I am accustomed to.I wanted this planner to be user friendly for families of all ages and sizes, but not too fussy, AND fun and colorful. My weakness, of course, is that I have only younger children so there may be things missing that would be useful for older homeschooling families. So who's game? I need at least 10-15 families of all sizes, ages, and curriculum's.

The following is the little introduction and index:

Homeschool Planner Introduction

As home teachers there are a lot of things that we need to keep track of for our state/county homeschool standards. It is also necessary to keep records from past years. My desire is to make that task easier, more colorful, and more efficient for families of all sizes without a lot of fuss.

This planner will be available in several different color schemes including black and white, this way you can assign different colors to different children. And mamas are just happier filling out things that are pretty, just saying!

Another thing that makes this planner great for the homeschooling family is that it will be a file that is saved on your computer so you can use it year after year! This allows you to print off as many pages as you need for your family (like the weekly lesson plans, field trip log, the extra reading form, and journal pages). You can create your own planner using a three ring binder, or you may even choose to have it bound at a printing store. For those of you with a Tablet PC you will be able to import/print these files into Windows Journal, fill them out, and save them right on your computer (this is what I do). This also makes them easy to email to the school.

Index

Homeschool Planner…………………………………………………………Pages 4-5

One of these two pages will be the first page of your planner. Page 3 is for several children (more can be printed for larger families) and page 4 is for families with less than five homeschoolers.

Homeschool Group……………………………………………………………Page 6

How many times do you need to call the same mamas for homeschool activities, questions, or field trips? This form will make it easier to find every one's number and insure that no one gets left out when planning an outing.

Field Trips………………………………………………………………………Page 7

It may be an all day trip to the zoo with your homeschool group or a simple trip to the bank to open a new account, but it is nice to have a place to record these special days because they all count!

Extra Reading…………………………………………………………………. Page 8

This page can be big motivation to a child looking back at the end of the year. Record every extra book no matter the size!

Weekly Planner………………………………………………………………. Pages 9-12

Pages 8 and 9 are specifically for younger grades including Phonics and crafts in the lesson plans, and pages 10 and 11 are geared more towards older grades, including literature and vocabulary.

Homeschool Grades…………………………………………………………..Page 13

On this page you will have your child/children's grades for the year at a glance.

Curriculum Log………………………………………………………………….Page 14

Many families use several different curriculum's for each grade level. This log will help you keep track of what you are using for each child, and may come in handy at homeschool meetings and sales so that you will have a sort of inventory of what you already have.

Birthday List…………………………………………………………………….Page 15

In our homeschool group there are several children from large families so it is easy to get Birthdays mixed up. I like to have them all written down so that we can give the birthday boy/girl a call on their special day.

Loaned & Borrowed Log……………………………………………………….Page 16

Loaning out or borrowing educational books and videos is a very big part of the homeschooling group. Having a place to keep track of it all makes every one's life a lot easier when trying to track down a missing item.

School Holidays…………………………………………………………………Page 17

This page may be more popular with the children than the parents, but it's nice for Mom to have it at a glance.

Journal Sheet…………………………………………………………………….Page 18

It's good to remember that just being on a nature walk can provide many educational opportunities; this page will help you and your child record all those little learning adventures.

Team Information………………………………………………………………Page 19

If your child is involved in any team sport this is the place to keep it all together, numbers, schedules, and ceremonies, it's all here.

Spelling Tests…………………………………………………………………….Page 20

You may find it useful to keep track of spelling tests on this page.

Unschooling Log…………………………………………………………………Page 21

As I have said before, some of the most important learning experiences come from places other than school books. This log will give you and your children a place to write about their learning adventures. This is a whole new phase of my mama adventure! Where will it take me next?? Speak up and let me know what you think! And don't forget to let me know if you would like to test this for me (remember to leave a name and email).

Comments

Aubrey said…
I need this! It's simple and to the point. Great for us "unorganised" homeschoolers.
Liz said…
this sounds great! I am very unorganized, and since our state doesn't require ANY records...yes you heard that right...I tend not to keep any, which is just terrible.
I would be very interested in this...let me know if you need any more testers!
Anonymous said…
Well, I don't know if you'd want me. I'm not very good at keeping records. However, if you do, I have two kids K and 3 and we are classically homeschooling. I'm hard-core classical, just no good at the records.

This isn't letting me post under Google, so I'm Jean at roadq dot com.
Anonymous said…
I would love to be a tester this for you.
Im homeschooling kids in 7th grade, 3rd grade, and pre K. Im using the Robinson Curriculum and in the lovely state of TN Im suppose to be keeping record of everything and its really not going so well with me. I mean get real Im only human.....I have to draw the line somewhere....lol
LadySnow said…
I could "test" this out for you. My oldest 2 are just in kindergarten and my youngest is in preschool, but if you need someone...you can count on me. :-)
Anonymous said…
Me!! I have a preschooler, 1st grader and 5th grader! :)
Anonymous said…
This looks so cool! Unfortunately I don't think that I would be of help for you. I have 2 that are beginning pre-k next month (we're waiting for the tax $$) and will be using Heart of Dakota.

~Tami
Anonymous said…
I'd be willing to give it a try. If it can get me organized it will be a miracle! I homeschool 4 children (6th, 4th, 3rd and 2nd grades)and I have a very busy - and sneaky - 20 month old that keeps things interesting :)
Barbara
ThmpGarr@aol.com
We homeschool through a virtual academy (k12) that provides lesson plans and the like. BUT, this still looks useful to me. It would be nice to have it all in one place, portable, not dependent upon electricity, and organized. I am so unorganized it's awful. I know I could be logging many more supplemental hours and wish I were tracking the books the older two read so that when the twins come along I can be ready to go.

I've been wanting ot get away from the virtual academy, but have been afraid of how to go about doing it. This might help. My older two are both in 2nd grade. If we fit the bill, I'd love to try it out!

Deanne
Melissa said…
I don't homeschool, but this sounds so cool and useful!
Cindy said…
Hi Samantha,

I am game if you are still looking for volunteers. I have a 4th grader, k, and preschooler. Just let me know!!!
Anonymous said…
WOW!
What a great idea! Good luck with it....my boys are grown now, I wish I would have been able to homeschool them.....

I LOVE the flowers in the vase on the table. Could you take a closeup of them? Did you make them? I LOVE that idea!

Take care!
SherryB in AZ
http://www.youravon.com/sherrybeeson
Sarah said…
You have a lot of volunteers, but it you need one more, I homeschool my 6th and 3rd grader. We just pulled out of k12 (K12 is our online public school. Loved the curriculum, but it was getting to be too much with the different ages, and having smaller ones under foot, and this and that)so...we are now looking for curriculum and such. It would be nice to see what other homeschool moms do to keep things organized.
Anonymous said…
This looks great. I would be happy to test it for you. Don't know what the equivalent US grades are but my school aged children are 7 and 6. So that is 1st and 3rd years of school in Australia.
Nikki
Treasuresofjoy said…
Oh this sounds great. I am just starting out this is our 2nd year of homeschooling, HELP!!!

Renee
treasuresofjoy@gmail.com
Anonymous said…
This is amazing!! It sounds very simple and easy to use... I am just begining to become more organized in our homeschool and have my own Homeschool Notebook but yours looks like a perfect fit for us. I would LOVE to give it a try.

JOYfully in Him,
Kelli

keli_kalani@hotmail.com

My homeschool blog: www.growingmindsofwisdom.blogspot.com
Alviana said…
u are very organize. i wish we have home school here in my country
Samantha Caffee said…
***********************************

Nikki!

We would love for you to join us! Give me your email address and I will send it out to ya :)

xoxo,
Samantha
****************************************
Samantha Caffee said…
********************************************
Hey Barbara,

I have tried to send you an email several times and they keep coming back. Could you email me at mamacaffee@hotmail.com? Then I can reply and know that I have the right address :)

xoxo,
Samantha
**************************************
Anonymous said…
Hi Samantha
Sorry I forgot to send my email address! It is bella13au2001@yahoo.com
Tomorrow is the first day of the school year here so great timing!

Nikki
Anonymous said…
Looks like you already have enough testers, but what a great idea! I'll be looking forward to seeing the finished product!
Anonymous said…
testing sounds fun. i am in ohio and have 4 kids - 10, 8, 5 and 2. your planner looks very thorough. i would be happy to email you my email address if you are still in need of testers.
mary
Anonymous said…
I see you've had alot of comments but would love to be a tester for you. I started out this year using donnayoung printables to make my own homeschool tracker...it failed )-:
I'm now in desparate need of a new planner. This is our first year homeschoolng and I have twin boys that are 7 years old.
You can reach me at tanyakoenig@hotmail.com if you decided to choose me (-:
Anonymous said…
What a good idea, my little one is just finishing prek. I would love to be a tester. I am just getting ready to start kindergarden in March. I also have a 15 month old. I can be reached at shannonncaw@hotmail.com
Unknown said…
I know I'm late to the game but I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to test this out. I'm procrastinating at this very moment from planning out our week (and yes, it's already Monday morning). Please please please! nicki@steppingonlegos.com
Anonymous said…
I am probably really late in commenting but I just found your blog.. I am loving it already! I would LOVE to give your planner a test run! Thanks for creating something so awesome!
Sarah said…
I don't know if this is too late, but I am a mom of 6 that could really use a homeschool planner and probably would help you address some of the issues for older kids. I'd love to try this out!
Shirley said…
I realize that this post was done in January, but I just found your blog. I am a homeschooling mom of 5 with baby #6 on the way. Your planner sounds great and I would love to give it a try if you are still in need of testers.
Cynthia said…
I know this post is from a year ago but I just started homeschooling (two preschoolers) and have been looking for an orgainzer and yours looks so awesome... is there a way of still getting it or testing it or buying it??
Thank you so much!!

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