Anyone have a 12 year plan?

[jillian]

I've seen it referenced a few times...having a 12 year plan. Who has one? What does it look like? What made you make a 12 year plan?

[Impish]

I'm not sure I even have a 12 hour plan :001_huh: 12 minute...maybe...

[jillian]

When did you start it PJ? When did you plan out the long-term plan. I have a goal and know where I want to be at the end of elementary school for dd however she's young and never know if she's going to explode in development or hit a wall.

[Carrie12345]

I have one. Well, two. They're based on the materials and pace that have worked best during the K-7th grades I have under my belt, and intended as a reminder for when my now-4 and 1 year olds start schooling, as well as projections for my 8 and 9yos and 13yo if he comes back to hs.

 

I have absolutely no expectation that I will ever wind up sticking to these plans. I have no crystal ball. What I do have are goals!

[*Lulu*]

I've seen it referenced a few times...having a 12 year plan. Who has one? What does it look like? What made you make a 12 year plan?

 

If we are talking education goals, I have a 13-14 year plan. (some of mine have started earlier thn I would have pushed due to older sibling envy. :) )

 

Mine is multiple plans actually. I have a 13 year scope and sequence, a 5 year spiral for science, history, artist/composer study, health and government units, and a list of goals for each child for graduation. (Many of these are dealing with character and life skills, but we've also listed academic skills.)

 

Why do I have these crazy detailed plans, you might ask. Well......I have a background in education, in fact every single generation of my family for the last 100 years has included at least one educator. When we first became very serious about homeschooling our oldest was 3 years, and I had zero support outside of my DH. I needed a plan to prove to myself I could do it; I needed a detailed plan so I could look confidently across the Thanksgiving tabe and say, "Why yes, I do have a plan for that. Oh and here is some delightful bean dip, have you tried it yet?" :) I've tweaked it a few times over the years, but it is sort of my founding document, and I reference it each year when I begin my planning.

 

 

I do not have curriculum picked out all the way, just the information I want to cover. I pick curriculum to match my goals, not the other way around!

 

And yes, I get that this makes me the crazy plan lady. We all gotta have something. :tongue_smilie:

Edited January 23, 2012 by BLA5

[Xilka]

Not quite 12 years, but I do have most of our main textbooks sorted for all the way through high school, and I have a basic outline of what we'll be doing for the next 9 years - as in biology this year, chemistry that year, kinda thing.

[Leav97]

I have a direction in mind. I have a hard time calling it a real plan. Like PJ I'm trying to remain aware of college requirements and different options (dual enrollment, AP, some classes at PS, outsourcing, ..) for high school. My goal is to aim for some of the best 4 year colleges and setting high standards with the hope that the kids will have lots of options when they turn 18.

 

But, I haven't planned out every curriculum or every class for the next 10 years. I am looking at our history and science rotations thinking about making the first go round a 5 year rotation so DS and DD can start cover the same topics when DS starts school.

[Lisa in the UP of MI]

I've made several. Now I just have some basic ideas of what I might want to do for each grade or sequences for subjects like math and language arts. I like having an idea of where we are heading, but I finally realized that things will almost certainly change. I'll realize that the kids need something different, new curricula will come out, etc.

[elegantlion]

I started long term plans in about 5th grade, so not quite 12 year plans. I needed to feel like I knew where we were headed. I feel pretty good headed into high school, so now it's about a 4 1/2 year plan.

 

Of course, I've already started MY plans after that because I can't call ds every hour while he's at college. That probably wouldn't go over well.

[Rosie_0801]

I've seen it referenced a few times...having a 12 year plan. Who has one?

 

Me!

 

What does it look like?

 

Two answers to that:

 

1. A few tables and many lists written up on a word document.

 

2. A laughable mess of plans made by someone who is yet to encounter reality at a higher level than preschool. The preschooler involved is somewhat asychronous, being nearly three years behind in language development, but three years ahead in a couple of other odd spots. This means none of my plans, even for preschool, have ever been usable without revision and I have revised many, many times already as she has grown and my thinking has evolved.

 

What made you make a 12 year plan?

 

I'm a Capricorn :tongue_smilie:

 

I like thinking.

I like having a plan.

I have to write things somewhere because my head can't hold the WTM forum.

Sometimes people want to look at it. (I doubt they actually do once they have it.)

Content committed to writing makes dh feel better even though he doesn't want to look at it. :p

 

Rosie

[Alte Veste Academy]

...if you want to plan a route you need to know the destination. I wasn't willing to start off on our homeschool journey and just go "wherever" and do "whatever."

 

...

 

Better read THESE books, better cover THOSE periods of history, better have THAT math, although i have to learn more about the sequencing, and so on.

 

This is my reasoning for my 12 year plans. I have several worked up on Excel, with my kids' grades across the top row and subjects listed down the left column. One of these charts has all three kids combined on one form (effectively making it a 15 year plan for all my kids). This makes it easier to plan for shared subjects, making sure everyone has what they need, on their own level, when they need it.

 

Things change as I research more and learn more about them and their needs/learning styles. As they approach the middle grades and start to aspire to one profession or another, we'll tweak together. But always, I have to be prepared and know what the requirements are for what they wish to do, so I can ensure that they are properly prepared.

 

I have absolutely no expectation that I will ever wind up sticking to these plans. I have no crystal ball. What I do have are goals!

 

Right. They are constantly being refined, even now.

[Tigger]

I have detailed plans through 4th grade, a rough outline of 5th-8th and ideas for 9th-12th.

 

What does it look like?

 

K-4 = all the curriculum and books I think we'll use (was significantly modified in K and 1 and I seem to have hit on some great stuff for 2nd that we'll continue with into 3rd and 4th)

 

5-8 = outline with different curriculum which might work, year by year goals of what to make sure we cover and ideas for trips to take

 

9-12 = just ideas from various posts read here and things I've seen, nothing remotely set in stone since I still have no idea what DS is going to really want to do when he grows up (right now it's a toss up between an astronaut and a doctor - I'm fairly certain science is going to be involved, but who knows what he'll ultimately decide to pursue?)

 

What made me do it? I'm ENTJ, it's what I do!

[myfunnybunch]

MY 12 year plan (maybe not what is being referenced in what you are reading) was based on the concept that if you want to plan a route you need to know the destination. I wasn't willing to start off on our homeschool journey and just go "wherever" and do "whatever." I figured that if I wanted to end up in New York City, I'd better plan the route to get there.

 

First I had to figure out what I wanted: Basically, that became the goal of our homeschool. It had a vision statement (truth, goodness, beauty), a means and methods preference (classical) and destination (college and master's degree open to the kid).

 

This is the approach we've taken as well, down to the vision statement and the goal, a rigorous education to prepare them for university.

 

I decided on long term educational goals for the children, then worked backward, but I make the actual course plan one year at a time, planning one year ahead. I will make a two-year course plan for middle school, and a four-year plan for high school. I start researching curricula about a year ahead of time, and choose and order just before we begin using it.

 

For example, by graduation from high school the boys must complete 6 years of formal foreign language study. They will begin that study in 6th grade and continue studying that language through high school. My now-fifth grader has been dabbling in Japanese for a couple years; next year, he will begin formally studying Japanese. I know it's coming up, so I am looking around to see what's available for his language of interest (not much, so I'll probably have to hire a tutor) so that he can fulfill this requirement.

 

Cat

[Virg]

I have a 12 year plan for the twins. It has been changed and updated many times as I have found better or better-fitting curricula. It just is basically is a year by year of what classes I hope to accomplish each year. I started in 12th with where my goals were for them and then worked backwards year by year. :) We haven't done too bad so far but we also have not hit the hardest years yet!

 

ETA: I am definitely open to different classes in the high school years that they boys are more or less interested in. It is just a plan but it makes me happy because I love plans and lists :)

 

My other two we don't have a 12 year plan because I have to choose next year's classes about 3/4 of the way through when I determine if they can move on or if we need to repeat classes again. (DSD 12 for instance has done 2nd twice, 3rd three times and is just now doing 4th but will definitely be repeating it again.)

Edited January 24, 2012 by ds4159

[regentrude]

I don't have one, and I don't see how this could possibly work.

Even with subject designations only, not specific textbooks.

 

How can I know of a 5 year old if she will be ready for algebra in 6th grade and ready for college physics at 13 - or if she will be a struggling learner and we'd be glad to cover algebra in 10th?

How can I know whether a child will develop a passion for music and want to focus on this, or dreams of being a biophysicist?

:confused:

[PentecostalMom]

I don't have a 12-year plan per se, but I do have ideas about curriculum, mostly from experience and others close to me. For instance, I know that I like Saxon math. I know it is a good program. I also know that while older ds did a complete round of Abeka, I also know I had to hire a tutor because about 1/2way through Algebra II, I couldn't remember how to work the problems, and did not have the time to reteach myself. With Saxon, we can use DIVE for that. Not saying a tutor is out, just that we have another step between the two. So right now, the plan is Saxon after dd tests into 5/4 (I dislike K-3 in Saxon, so we are using Abeka).

 

So for some curriculum, I do have a plan, but as far as a written out what I want them to learn year-by-year? Nope. As another poster said, I do not know where there interests will lie. I do know what they need for graduation and those are non-negotiable. Otherwise, I play it year-by-year, mostly sticking with stuff I know works. I am not one to jump on a new curriculum bandwagon.

[Colleen in NS]

I've seen it referenced a few times...having a 12 year plan. Who has one? What does it look like? What made you make a 12 year plan?

 

I have one (two, actually - I have two kids). It looks like a spreadsheet, with the kids' grades next to each other for each school year, so I can see what my teaching might look like each year (how will I help dd if she starts Henle I next year, while ds might be starting Henle II? for example) What made me do it? I am a planner by nature. I like to see things all laid out. I planned mine when my oldest was in 2nd or 3rd grade, I think. Some of it has stayed intact over the years, but in the past year or so, things are starting to get messy or left off. But my underlying plan (which I based on ideas from the WTM book) makes me feel secure. I need plans to live my life, even when my life doesn't go by the plan. It's just how I am.

 

I don't have one, and I don't see how this could possibly work.

 

 

I put an ideal on paper, and that gives me somewhat of a direction. When the road veers, at least I know where we are veering from. For example, I have dd on track to begin algebra I in grade 8. But, I full well know that she might hit a wall in arithmetic this year or next, since she hasn't had an easy time of it like my ds has. If that happens, then we will slow down. So, the plan doesn't "work" all the time, but it makes the planner in me feel like...I have a plan. And that makes me feel competent in leading my kids. For high school, I have even blocks for science and history. But, I also know that one kid might want to focus on science, and then we will narrow down the history study. And vice versa possibly for the other kid. Or I might let one drop piano lessons to concentrate on drawing lessons in high school. I just like having a plan. I used to feel foolish for having a 12 year plan, but it has served me well - we do not serve the plan.

[Alte Veste Academy]

I don't have one, and I don't see how this could possibly work.

Even with subject designations only, not specific textbooks.

 

How can I know of a 5 year old if she will be ready for algebra in 6th grade and ready for college physics at 13 - or if she will be a struggling learner and we'd be glad to cover algebra in 10th?

How can I know whether a child will develop a passion for music and want to focus on this, or dreams of being a biophysicist?

:confused:

 

Well, it's in an Excel file. I didn't chisel it into stone or anything. :lol: Good ol' cut-and-paste can be your friend. The delete key comes in handy too, for times when grand plans meet reality and exhaustion. But there are times when I need to add a row. The possibilities are endless... :tongue_smilie:

 

Personally, I can't conceive of not penciling in a plan. Too easy to inadvertently miss something important or put it off until too late.

[Alte Veste Academy]

we do not serve the plan.

 

Exactly. It's a map. Sometimes we take detours. Sometimes the speed limit is 80 and we speed along like maniacs. Sometimes we have to make lots of stops in little towns with 35 mph speed limits and big speed bumps. Sometimes the car breaks down altogether and we pull off the road for a while. But mostly, so far, we're cruising along with expected stops at regular intervals.

[myfunnybunch]

I don't have one, and I don't see how this could possibly work.

Even with subject designations only, not specific textbooks.

 

How can I know of a 5 year old if she will be ready for algebra in 6th grade and ready for college physics at 13 - or if she will be a struggling learner and we'd be glad to cover algebra in 10th?

How can I know whether a child will develop a passion for music and want to focus on this, or dreams of being a biophysicist?

:confused:

 

We re-work and reconsider every year. Going back to the road map analogy: There may be several routes to New York, and we keep an eye on road conditions to decide which will suit us best. We'll still end up in New York, but each child might see different sights along the way.

 

Cat

[jillian]

I am thinking during one of my insomniac nights I will be pulling this together or at least beginning to. There will probably come a time when DH takes over for most of the teaching and I am the primary breadwinner (most likely after he finishes up his enlistment and gets out of the Navy) so it will be nice to be able to sit down with him and show him "where we want to go". Furthermore, my MIL too she seems to be having a difficult time understanding why we want to homeschool all the way through (despite being amazed at the things dd is learning already at 4) so I can say like another poster said "oh yes I have that planned out. Have you tried the bean dip" lol.

[DawnM]

Rough plan, but no.

 

I thought I had it all figured out until I had a child with some learning disabilities and everything became year to year to help him best learn the basics and learn them well. All that deep learning and sitting around with books all day with voracious readers went WAY out the window.

 

Dawn

[Colleen in NS]

...so I can say like another poster said "oh yes I have that planned out. Have you tried the bean dip" lol.

 

Ha, yes, my 12 year plan has come in very handy for bean dip situations! :D

[ErinE]

Yes, I have a long term plan. For the kids I have a spreadsheet organized by subject, plus any other "extras" I think we should consider (like summer camps they age into). I keep track of recommended curriculum for the later years, plus any notes on current curriculum.

 

For dh and I, I have a less extensive plan. We'd like to pay off debt, increase savings, and eventually replace cars. So we talk about it every few months, but I don't go as spreadsheet crazy.

 

ETA: it's an ongoing project. Every few months, I revisit the kids layout and rethink paths. As part of the plan, I have textbooks listed by subject so if the kids are moving ahead or behind I can switch out planned curriculum. Nothing is set in stone until the kids have completed the year.

Edited January 24, 2012 by ErinE

[armom]

I have ideas, but no plans. We just started and have found some things don't work for each child. This being said I think it would be har to have a 12 year plan. I think I will go year by year ubtil high school when I will have to be a little more rigid.