mom2myboys Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 What is your favorite planner for your homeschool? Do you use an electronic version or paper? Pros and cons? Things to consider? I have tried Homeschool Tracker (basic), the Simply Charlotte Mason Online Planner, and The Weekly Homeschool Planner from Homeschool Creations (editable PDF). I love the flexibility of the SCM online planner, but it is cost prohibitive at this time. It has been a while since I used HST, but I think the biggest frustration was that I could not easily reschedule and assignment for a different day if something came up. SCM was great for that, but pricey. The Weekly Homeschool Planner looks nice, but is not easy to plan for multiple children. Most of our curriculum is open and go, so I guess I do not need a planner with a lot of detail since we just go on to the next lesson. But I would like something to help me see the big picture, set some goals for what we want to have finished and by what date, and maybe some type of checklist for the kids. I would like the kids to start taking a bit more ownership of some of their work. I looked at the Well- Planned Day briefly. I am just unsure and do not want to purchase another planner only to not like it or not use it. Hoping you all will have some good ideas for me. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFM Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 I use the Well-Planned Day and I really like it. I use it like a list and just check things off as we accomplish them. I like the Bible verses, the catechism, the month at a glance and the semesters are broken down. I plan to purchase one for this next year as well, it gets the job done for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillian Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 I like to make my own. Donna Young has sooooooo many printable pages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momtoamiracle Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 I use electronic. Homeschool skedtrack fits the bill for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plink Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 I like to make my own printed version too, and bind them using my Proclick so that they can be folded completely open. I do a full year at a glance using Donna Young that I work on over the summer, but for detailed plans I make my own and print less at a time, knowing that I will want to update it every so often. I am a bit of a control freak, so I'm fully convinced that my system of organization is the best - regardless of how often I tweak it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByGrace3 Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Love love love Scholaric online homeschool planner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holly Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 I use this for my beginning-of-the-year plans: http://simplycharlottemason.com/store/planning-your-charlotte-mason-education/ For our daily plans, I made my own...I could never find one that fit us just right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 I use HST+ it is very easy to reschedule with it. I don't remember how that functioned worked in the free edition, so it might be a case of preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2myboys Posted February 17, 2013 Author Share Posted February 17, 2013 Thank you for all of the ideas! I will check them out. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briansmama Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 I make my own using CM Help's Booklist, weekly term schedule, and daily checklist. I save each of these in Evernote on my iPad and refer to them every morning. I put up a list in order on the chalkboard for my dc to see what we are doing for the day. I find it helps keep them motivated and on track. My youngest isn't yet reading so I add a picture next to each lesson so he knows what is coming up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briansmama Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 I wanted to add that planners have never, ever worked for me. I've tried paper planners, calendar organizers, online planners, etc. The system above works really well for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicagoshannon Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 I use the Well Planned Day. I love it! They do have an electronic version too. I prefer the non electronic though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bassoon Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 Just posted a review of Scholaric on my blog: you can read it here I really enjoy it - WPD online was just, um, not functional enough for me. Scholaric is EASY and inexpensive. Love! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stm4him Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 Hunter may come on here and recommend the Waldorf Method of planning where you take a huge sheet of paper and fold it into 16 boxes. You use the first 12 on one side to write in any dates for each month that will affect schooling. Then she uses the bottom four boxes for specifics on each of her kiddos. I forget what she used the back for now. I think that is great for at an annual at a glance plan. Beyond that I do a lot on my own using Google Drive and just put them into a binder with the following tabs: -General Information (schedules, scope and sequence prek-6th, etc.) -Math/Logic/Languages -Language Arts -Memory Work and Enrichment -Read Aloud and Bible I decide how many pages or lessons to cover in their workbooks and make a weekly checklist using timberdoodle.com/schedule. It is free and customizeable for each kiddo. You just type in the information and print it out. Then I make several copies. I can go in and redo it easily any time. So there is one page for annual planning and one for weekly plans, but we just keep our weekly plans pretty much the same and use it as a checklist. You can easily write in lesson numbers, chapters, or page numbers in the boxes instead. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stm4him Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 I forgot to say that I do the annual plan first and print that out (only page 1). Then I start over with a new one and make the weekly checklist because I include things like notebooking on the checklist that I don't include in the annual plan.....Their weekly checklist goes in their folder or on their desk. I leave the dates blank so I can write them in. I set the annual planning dates from August 1st to July 31st. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 Along these lines, do you give your kids planners, or just daily/weekly checklists? I'm wondering if I should start doing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommy4ever Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 I created my own, love it. It's loosely weeks, and divided by topic, as I am rarely on task on all subjects. Some are way ahead, others on task, and others maybe a little behind. All are behind dividers. It's so easy to go through, flip see where we're at,check things off. Love it. I plot everything in. I do put dates in, simply to see if we are too behind, then we'll spend a little more time on it. I don't worry about a week or two, but if it's more than that I know we need to focus. I love it :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throughpagesandfields Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 I make my own. once I get organized enough I'm going to put it on a website somewhere for free. It's just seriously the only thing that's worked for me. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecclecticmum Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Heres pics of my old one: http://missedumacated.blogspot.com/2012/07/our-hs-series-babs-binder-system.html My Recording Log (the "after the fact" planner :p ) and my new planner I have yet to photograph. I'm also switching to a new blog I've been setting up for a bit, so I'm not sure if I'll keep that blog, if I do, it will probably be for the binder systems and planner stuff, as well as "teachers view" type things. I'm setting up two new blogs , one will be for the change in direction our homeschool and lifestyle went and the other will be my pondering blog (I tend to get philosophical a lot, and DH asked me to put up a blog for it, and to stop bothering him, because he doesn't understand a word I'm saying ROFL). But I would say any new planning & organizing/scheduling bits & pieces will stay on Miss Edumacated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiannaC Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Just posted a review of Scholaric on my blog: you can read it here I really enjoy it - WPD online was just, um, not functional enough for me. Scholaric is EASY and inexpensive. Love! Thanks for the review of Scholaric. I like easy and since I only have one child in school right now it would only be $1 a month. That is a cheaper than buying a planner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PentecostalMom Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 I have tried several planners and am looking for an online planner. I have a friend who loves HST+. She said the Basic does not have nearly the functions of the PLUS version. I am planning to try it over our next break. Well, that isn't until the baby comes, so maybe over our winter break. I have downloaded the free version, but have only played with it a few minutes due to lack of time. I want something where I can quickly print a daily checklist for dd, she loves lists! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in MS Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 If I had the money, I would seriously pay for someone to consolidate all my plans into a daily planner like HOD. I love the way everything is on one page....dictation, discussion questions. I have a lot of difficulty juggling all the papers and books that I need. I have stuff everywhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PentecostalMom Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Just posted a review of Scholaric on my blog: you can read it here I really enjoy it - WPD online was just, um, not functional enough for me. Scholaric is EASY and inexpensive. Love! Do you know how long the free trial of Scholaric is? I just looked at it a bit and I am thinking I would like to try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PollyOR Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 This is what I use. I had intended it for 11yo but she isn't really ready to be her own boss yet. It has worked better anything I've ever tried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 I make a copy of my TM lesson plan chart and write in the dates and daily activities as we go. Each kiddo has one too and I fill in their individual assigments. At the end of the year I staple it all together with a copy of the Course of Study page (from Donna Young) and file it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koerarmoca Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Do you know how long the free trial of Scholaric is? I just looked at it a bit and I am thinking I would like to try it. 15 days, I'm inking about signing up for the trial after sprin break Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Michelle* Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 I've tried and tried to find a planner that works, but I finally have given up and just made a table in Word. I just finished planning out our first week for next year. I'll print it off, check each thing off as it's completed, then file it away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shmily Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 This is what I'm currently using... http://donnayoung.org/forms/planners/exweekly.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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