Another loop schedule question

[DragonFaerie]

For those of you using a loop schedule with kids who work largely independently, how do you write up their assignments each day/week? Right now, my kids each have a planner into which I write their daily assignments. That allows them to see what they need to complete that day and also helps me to see what they have finished and what they have left to do. I can't figure out how to reconcile that with a loop schedule, though I am intrigued by the idea.

[KristenR]

Okay- I've heard about this "loop" scheduling but haven't really followed any threads on it. Anyone care to keep me in the "loop" :glare: Sorry- had to go there. :001_smile:

[Tenaj]

For those of you using a loop schedule with kids who work largely independently, how do you write up their assignments each day/week? Right now, my kids each have a planner into which I write their daily assignments. That allows them to see what they need to complete that day and also helps me to see what they have finished and what they have left to do. I can't figure out how to reconcile that with a loop schedule, though I am intrigued by the idea.

 

I use homeschool tracker with some of my kids and a spreadsheet for others. When I set up a week's worth of work, I make a list for each subject for each "day" (which isn't really a day any more it's a loop). We only have two every day must-be-done subject so I usually schedule five of those assignments. The other subjects I usually only schedule four "days" of assignments so when their schedule is done it looks like they only have four days of school.

 

The kids know that all of one "loop/day/column" gets done before they start on the next "loop/day/column" so they just check things off. When one loop is completely done they start on the next one. The daily subjects are always first on the list and then they go back to where they were on the previous list. If they don't get everything done in one week, I just roll it over to the first day of the next week (yes, sometimes there are two assignments left in one subject so then two would get rolled over to the first two columns of the next week) and then fill in the rest.

 

I would think that your planner could work the same way - my older kids (and I) had trouble at first in seeing the columns as loops rather than days but we got used to it fairly quickly.

[thowell]

Anyway you could post and example. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around this. I have always done a daily checklist and now with the new loop I can't seem to get this part.

[Halcyon]

For those of you using a loop schedule with kids who work largely independently, how do you write up their assignments each day/week? Right now, my kids each have a planner into which I write their daily assignments. That allows them to see what they need to complete that day and also helps me to see what they have finished and what they have left to do. I can't figure out how to reconcile that with a loop schedule, though I am intrigued by the idea.

 

Well, for me, I am a "write down what you've completed" kind of person. So for my older, who does a lot of independent work, he'll come to me after completing each section, and I will jot it in his weekly log. He knows to "do the next thing" with all his independent subjects.

[DragonFaerie]

Okay- I've heard about this "loop" scheduling but haven't really followed any threads on it. Anyone care to keep me in the "loop" :glare: Sorry- had to go there. :001_smile:

 

I think, basically, it means that you make a list of all the subjects you want done during the week, including subjects done multiple times in multiple places on the list. Then, you start at the top of your list and work down until you've gone all the way through, regardless of how long/how many days it takes. When you're done, you start back at the top again. Some people also pull out certain subjects to be done every day and then when those are finished, they move on to the loop.

[DragonFaerie]

I use homeschool tracker with some of my kids and a spreadsheet for others. When I set up a week's worth of work, I make a list for each subject for each "day" (which isn't really a day any more it's a loop). We only have two every day must-be-done subject so I usually schedule five of those assignments. The other subjects I usually only schedule four "days" of assignments so when their schedule is done it looks like they only have four days of school.

 

The kids know that all of one "loop/day/column" gets done before they start on the next "loop/day/column" so they just check things off. When one loop is completely done they start on the next one. The daily subjects are always first on the list and then they go back to where they were on the previous list. If they don't get everything done in one week, I just roll it over to the first day of the next week (yes, sometimes there are two assignments left in one subject so then two would get rolled over to the first two columns of the next week) and then fill in the rest.

 

I would think that your planner could work the same way - my older kids (and I) had trouble at first in seeing the columns as loops rather than days but we got used to it fairly quickly.

 

Does this mean that in the planner, I would basically have the whole loop written down each day? But that can't be right because then it wouldn't be a loop. I am just not getting this. :confused:

[DragonFaerie]

Anyway you could post and example. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around this. I have always done a daily checklist and now with the new loop I can't seem to get this part.

 

:iagree: I think it would help a lot of someone could post a .pdf or picture of their loop schedule as it's written out.

[Halcyon]

Here's mine, although I've made quite a few changes after suggestions on this thread that I haven't incorporated yet.

[DragonFaerie]

Here's mine, although I've made quite a few changes after suggestions on this thread that I haven't incorporated yet.

 

The problem I have with that schedule is that it doesn't allow for independent work. It doesn't specifically say what to do for reading or what to do for science, etc. With my kids preferring to work very independently, this would never do. And that's what I'm trying to figure out, how to specifically indicate the assignment for each subject while using a loop schedule.

 

It occurs to me, though, that my kids also like choosing which subjects they're going to do when. I'm thinking our homeschool just may not work on a loop schedule.

[Halcyon]

The problem I have with that schedule is that it doesn't allow for independent work. It doesn't specifically say what to do for reading or what to do for science, etc. With my kids preferring to work very independently, this would never do. And that's what I'm trying to figure out, how to specifically indicate the assignment for each subject while using a loop schedule.

 

It occurs to me, though, that my kids also like choosing which subjects they're going to do when. I'm thinking our homeschool just may not work on a loop schedule.

 

 

I see what you mean. For the Daily Core on my pdf, the kids know to "do the next thing" (and for reading, that means picking up the book they read yesterday and continuing. If they've finished, they know where to find the next book). For the weekly loop, we do a LOT of it together, and I know where we are by looking in our log.

[KristenR]

I think, basically, it means that you make a list of all the subjects you want done during the week, including subjects done multiple times in multiple places on the list. Then, you start at the top of your list and work down until you've gone all the way through, regardless of how long/how many days it takes. When you're done, you start back at the top again. Some people also pull out certain subjects to be done every day and then when those are finished, they move on to the loop.

 

Thank you!!

[DragonFaerie]

I see what you mean. For the Daily Core on my pdf, the kids know to "do the next thing" (and for reading, that means picking up the book they read yesterday and continuing. If they've finished, they know where to find the next book). For the weekly loop, we do a LOT of it together, and I know where we are by looking in our log.

 

Exactly. With your reading example, how do they know whether to read one chapter or two? Ten pages or fifteen? Thirty minutes or 45? You see what I mean? I guess I'm trying to figure out if it is even possible to do a loop schedule independently. And if so, how you would write it up so the kids know what to do.

 

The main reason I'm thinking about this is because we always seem to be rushing to get everything done every day. I'm not prepared to drop anything but I am willing to go into the summer to finish things. There's a few things that will continue all summer anyway to that's not a big deal.

[Osaubi]

Loop schedules can work for independent work. For workbooks my kids just do the next thing in the book.

 

We have 3 schedules per day.

 

Things we do together (loop)

 

Required things (not looped)

 

Their individual schedule (loop)

 

 

So this week my schedule for typing (in 15 min increments) would be:

1. Start new lesson
   
2. Complete lesson _____. If lesson is already complete do a previous lesson as review. (he tells me what lesson he completed)
   
3. Start new lesson
   

I plan out the whole typing program with review but without a start and end date. I note where he is so I can remind him for next time. I mark it off my paper as he goes along.

 

Some of the things I work on time others I work by lesson plans or 1/2 lesson plans. It depends on what the subject is and how much I think they can do at a time.

 

For example reading is always 30 min long. The book varies on what he needs to read. Right now he is reading his book club book. I always pick out the books for reading time. Sometimes he has to read aloud and sometimes it is indepently.

 

History is STOW. I have him move on after a reivew of previous chapters, read or listened to 1 section of a chapter, and either narration or map is complete. Depending on how long the section is we can have this done in 20min or it can last an hour. I have history listed on my loop enough times that we will complete a chapter by the time the loop starts over.

 

 

My kids don't really work well on a pre written schedule. I post the loop schedule and tell them what they will be doing when they get to it. We may not get to all of our loop in a week. It just depends on what we have going on. Last Thursday it was 20 degrees higher than normal so we paused our loop schedule and went to the park. We picked up where we left off the next day.

 

We are a weird family that likes variety in our structure. :tongue_smilie: Staying on a time schedule while varying what we do daily works well for us!

Edited January 9, 2012 by Osaubi

[DragonFaerie]

Loop schedules can work for independent work. For workbooks my kids just do the next thing in the book.

 

We have 3 schedules per day.

 

Things we do together (loop)

 

Required things (not looped)

 

Their individual schedule (loop)

 

So this week my schedule for typing (in 15 min increments) would be:

 

1. Start new lesson

2. Complete lesson _____. If lesson is already complete do a previous lesson as review. (he tells me what lesson he completed)

3. Start new lesson

 

I plan out the whole typing program with review. I note where he is so I can remind him for next time. I mark it off my paper as he goes along.

 

If kids are going to work indepently it helps to have plan of where it is going. I plan out my subjects earlier in the year, but only generally. For history I plan out one section of STOW at a time. I add in books to be read, projects, narrations, and maps into my general plans. If my ds is getting bored or wants to move on I can cross off the extras on my list and go to the next thing. If he decides he wants to park there then we will stay for a few extra loop rotations and do the extra projects and books that were planned.

 

For science I may ask him to read a book, do an experiment, work on the computer, or work with other siblings. Depending on what I have planned out for the year.

 

Once you have the subjects planned out, create your loop schedule and mark things off as you get to them. I never worry about how behind we are since we we are always moving forward with our work.

 

You can simplify it for them by writing down the things you think they should get done in a week.

 

My kids don't really work well on a pre written schedule. I post the loop schedule and tell them what they will be doing when they get to it. We may not get to all of our loop in a week. It just depends on what we have going on. Last Thursday it was 20 degrees higher than normal so we paused our loop schedule and went to the park. We picked up where we left off the next day.

 

We are a weird family that likes variety in our structure. :tongue_smilie: Staying on a time schedule while varying what we do daily works well for us!

 

Do you have a .pdf or something that you can link to so I can see? I'm not sure I'm understanding. How do you schedule independent work if your kids don't work on a pre-written schedule? :confused:

[Osaubi]

Do you have a .pdf or something that you can link to so I can see? I'm not sure I'm understanding. How do you schedule independent work if your kids don't work on a pre-written schedule? :confused:

 

 

I don't have a pdf on the computer I am on now. My schedule is preplanned for me but not for them. I have a list of books I want my ds to read for the year. I don't give him the list or he would loose it. When he is done with one book I will hand him another and tell him to read this for xx amount of time.

 

When he gets to history I tell him that he needs to read Chapter ____ section ___. When he is done with that then I will tell him write narration and do map. Then do the previous chapter test as review.

 

I guess you could say he is semi-independent. He doesn't do well with a list of tasks. It seems daunting to him. So instead I tell him what to do one thing at a time.

 

My dd is different. I can give her a set of tasks for the day and she will whip through them one after another without another word from me.

[thowell]

I think what the OP is asking is the same thing I asked last week. How do you divide your lesson plans and present it to the child? If you are doing science that day, the point of the loop is to do it until it is done, no time restraints. So, how do you tell the kiddo what needs to be done? For me it is how do I plan things out? We do all our loop subjects together but I would love for them to know what is planned so they could start on the independent part. Also, if you don't know what you will get to in the given day how can you write it down for the ahead of time? Is this making sense?

[DragonFaerie]

I think what the OP is asking is the same thing I asked last week. How do you divide your lesson plans and present it to the child? If you are doing science that day, the point of the loop is to do it until it is done, no time restraints. So, how do you tell the kiddo what needs to be done? For me it is how do I plan things out? We do all our loop subjects together but I would love for them to know what is planned so they could start on the independent part. Also, if you don't know what you will get to in the given day how can you write it down for the ahead of time? Is this making sense?

 

Right. For example, right now on the schedule for this week is grammar, three times. Sections 3.9, 3.10 and a test. In their planners, I have written out "Grammar- 3.9" for Monday, "Grammar- 3.10" for Tuesday and "Grammar- Test" for Thursday. If we were doing this on a loop schedule, how would I write this out for them? I know I would have grammar on the loop in the appropriate places to hopefully get to it three times this week. But, how would it be written up so that when they came to "Grammar" on their schedule, they would know what to do that day? Right now it seems like on a loop schedule you have to give them each assignment as they get to it and there is not a way for them to really just work through all the day's work on their own without checking in at every subject. Is that right?

[thowell]

The only thing I have come up with right now is to write up my own plans divided by lessons. So for example in history I have a main sheet that says lesson 1. In it is a list of all pages to be read in what books, any projects they need to do and any written work to be completed. They can look at the plan and start their own reading, they can gather any materials needed and possibly do the written work. They will work on this lesson until everything is complete once it is they check it off. When history comes up in the loop again they go to the history page and follow the same procedure with lesson 2. I am trying to do that with all my loop subjects. Some are independent some are not I figure at the very least I will have all my plans made up ahead of time for a few weeks.

[DragonFaerie]

The only thing I have come up with right now is to write up my own plans divided by lessons. So for example in history I have a main sheet that says lesson 1. In it is a list of all pages to be read in what books, any projects they need to do and any written work to be completed. They can look at the plan and start their own reading, they can gather any materials needed and possibly do the written work. They will work on this lesson until everything is complete once it is they check it off. When history comes up in the loop again they go to the history page and follow the same procedure with lesson 2. I am trying to do that with all my loop subjects. Some are independent some are not I figure at the very least I will have all my plans made up ahead of time for a few weeks.

 

 

This makes sense to me. It seems as if I could just take my plans from the weekly Excel spreadsheet and transfer them into a loop schedule format. But then the question becomes how do I give the kids their plans? Right now I write it down weekly in their planners. Obviously a loop schedule won't go into the planners. Unless I do something like list the daily work, followed by the subjects or time for the loop schedule. Then they'll have to go to a different source to find their work for that part of the day. Hmm.. it could work. Then again, it seems to add a level of complication, too.

[Halcyon]

Exactly. With your reading example, how do they know whether to read one chapter or two? Ten pages or fifteen? Thirty minutes or 45? You see what I mean? I guess I'm trying to figure out if it is even possible to do a loop schedule independently. And if so, how you would write it up so the kids know what to do.

 

The main reason I'm thinking about this is because we always seem to be rushing to get everything done every day. I'm not prepared to drop anything but I am willing to go into the summer to finish things. There's a few things that will continue all summer anyway to that's not a big deal.

 

 

Well, I'll get specific as it might help you. Both my kids are not required to read a set number of pages, but rather a set amount of time. Assuming their heads are in their books and they're making headway, it's good. And with regards to the time amount? Sometimes they prefer to keep reading, so I'll let them go an extra 15 or 30 minutes. Other times, they'd rather get going with the rest of their work. I don't worry about the time too much.

 

With math, I'll take a look at what theyre covering that day, and decide how much I think they can finish--again, older works for about 45 min to an hour, and depending on the difficulty of the work that day (is it CWP? Is it easy review?) that gives me an idea of how much I think he should cover that day. We school year round, and my kids both (usually) work quickly in math, so we've never had any trouble getting through the work.

 

Latin-he follows Cheryl Lowe's guide, so he knows exactly what he needs to do. She has written out what is to be done each day in her guide. So he opens that up, finds the day he's on, and does it. I check his work immediately upon his finishing, and quiz him on declensions and vocabulary.

 

Writing: generally he's doing WWE so he'll probably need my input. If it's freewriting, we'll talk about what he wants to write about, if he needs a story starter, or if he has something in mind.

 

Memory Work requires me.

 

Piano is independent.

 

I don't think kids that are 9 and 6 can be totally independent but I supervise.

Edited January 10, 2012 by Halcyon

[Tenaj]

Right. For example, right now on the schedule for this week is grammar, three times. Sections 3.9, 3.10 and a test. In their planners, I have written out "Grammar- 3.9" for Monday, "Grammar- 3.10" for Tuesday and "Grammar- Test" for Thursday. If we were doing this on a loop schedule, how would I write this out for them? I know I would have grammar on the loop in the appropriate places to hopefully get to it three times this week. But, how would it be written up so that when they came to "Grammar" on their schedule, they would know what to do that day? Right now it seems like on a loop schedule you have to give them each assignment as they get to it and there is not a way for them to really just work through all the day's work on their own without checking in at every subject. Is that right?

 

I'm trying to think how to describe this to you and I'm coming up short and I don't know how to attach a file so I'm hopeless :confused:

 

I make a spreadsheet (this is for my 10yo and down) that lists the loop down the left-hand side and has five columns across (no -these are not necessarily days, just five colums which are loop cycles). Math is at the top of each list as is spelling because those are my "must-do daily" subjects.

 

Down the left is Math, Spelling, History, Science, Poetry, etc. All of our looping subjects and in the columns across I list specific assignments for each subject. If I have a subject that doesn't get done as often (for instance, we do dictation every other day), then in the second column that would be blank and the fourth column would be blank. The kids work independently from their chart. On the first day, they begin at the top of the first column and work down, checking things off as they go. When school is done, whatever didn't get done in that column is done first the next day (after spelling).

 

When the first column is completed, they look to the second column to pick up the next loop.

 

I'm guessing that my loop is shorter than yours - we hit most subjects four times a week but I can control the frequency by just leaving blanks for subjects that aren't in the loop as often.

 

I hope this helps . . .I've been playing with different methods of scheduling and assigning work and this one is working for now . . . it may change next week :)

[Halcyon]

I think what the OP is asking is the same thing I asked last week. How do you divide your lesson plans and present it to the child? If you are doing science that day, the point of the loop is to do it until it is done, no time restraints. So, how do you tell the kiddo what needs to be done? For me it is how do I plan things out? We do all our loop subjects together but I would love for them to know what is planned so they could start on the independent part. Also, if you don't know what you will get to in the given day how can you write it down for the ahead of time? Is this making sense?

 

 

 

Ah. Well, I don't really plan :) I have a general plan of what I want to get through in a year, and it's much more clear for math and language arts and Latin. But for subjects like Science, it's more organic. If a topic interests my kids intensely, we'll dig deeper. Same with History. We follow SOTW, but we linger longer over certain chapters.

 

Somehow, it all gets done, probably because our school year is far longer than the average.

[DragonFaerie]

I'm trying to think how to describe this to you and I'm coming up short and I don't know how to attach a file so I'm hopeless :confused:

 

I make a spreadsheet (this is for my 10yo and down) that lists the loop down the left-hand side and has five columns across (no -these are not necessarily days, just five colums which are loop cycles). Math is at the top of each list as is spelling because those are my "must-do daily" subjects.

 

Down the left is Math, Spelling, History, Science, Poetry, etc. All of our looping subjects and in the columns across I list specific assignments for each subject. If I have a subject that doesn't get done as often (for instance, we do dictation every other day), then in the second column that would be blank and the fourth column would be blank. The kids work independently from their chart. On the first day, they begin at the top of the first column and work down, checking things off as they go. When school is done, whatever didn't get done in that column is done first the next day (after spelling).

 

When the first column is completed, they look to the second column to pick up the next loop.

 

I'm guessing that my loop is shorter than yours - we hit most subjects four times a week but I can control the frequency by just leaving blanks for subjects that aren't in the loop as often.

 

I hope this helps . . .I've been playing with different methods of scheduling and assigning work and this one is working for now . . . it may change next week :)

 

This does make sense. I sort of use a spreadsheet like this now. Daily work is in the column for each day and days that don't have a given subject are filled in with "N/A." However, the spreadsheet is just for me as it doesn't include all the necessary details of the assignments (especially for history). When I write it into their planners, I write all the information.

 

This is starting to make sense to me though it is seeming like I will either have to ditch the planners or add something else to them. But, I'm liking the idea enough to be thinking it through, especially after days like today where neither kid finished their work for the day.