My boys have enjoyed a full summer already. T-ball, beach time with family, popsicles, slip-n-slides, and dancing in the summer rain. Here in the deep South, we took our summer vacation a bit early, as summer down here practically starts the day Old Man Winter heads home for a slumber. Now that it's too hot to enjoy the outdoors, we're going to be getting back to our daily routine.
Last month, as the mercury was rising, I took the opportunity to get some planning done for next year. If you don't know me, you have no idea how excited I've been. I love to plan. I live to plan. The only problem I have with planning is that sometimes my plans don't succeed. Oh well... time to make another plan. Joy!
I'm an elementary teacher by trade. (My chosen career probably has something to do with the fact that I never got over that desire for new books, notebook paper, freshly sharpened pencils and a brand new pack of crayons.) Planning for the coming year seems old hat to someone like me, but I realized this might not be something that's easy for others. Hopefully, I can explain it in a nutshell.
I make my plans based on four 9-week terms. My family takes breaks between the terms: one fall break, one long Christmas break, one spring break, and one slightly longer summer break. I decide how much needs to be covered in each subject during the four 9-week terms and lay out this information in a spreadsheet or monthly planner. Since I don't have a principal breathing down my back anymore making sure I'm accomplishing something, being organized in this way gives me confidence that all is well in our little school world.
One problem with making your plans in advance is there's bound to be a problem. What's that saying? "The best laid plans...." You know what happens. You get sick, the kids get sick, the birth of a new baby, family emergencies, etc, etc, etc,.. There is always something going on to prevent the accomplishment of our plans. This is why four 9-week terms is a great system. You plan to teach 36 weeks out of the year, right? That leaves 16 weeks of vacation time. If you make all your vacation time longer than you'd like, you'll be leaving a cushion in your plan. You're bound to need it and allowing that extra time will help you fulfill your yearly school goals without feeling overly stressed when life gets messy.
There are a number of ways to manage your planning. School teacher's usually have lesson plan books. Homeschool groups often recommend weekly planners. There are some helpful planning documents on Donna Young's website. I'll be posting my personal plans for the year soon. Looking forward to chatting again! *smile*
