Organizing Lessons and Work Plans

In the moment of needing not to be tied down to a computer for finding all of the lessons in various folders I elected to print the lessons as we learn bi weekly, for some lessons/activities they may be stretched out to even a three week span. My organization needs to be portable and accessible at all times. We have had a lot of distractions that prevented schooling just because our homeschool wasn't portable enough. Now I have managed to organize for the mishaps. We can school anywhere, at anytime, or day.

                                                                   

I love the cover! I just looked for the link to the Free template, I can't find it. I apologize for not being able to link to it. I believe I found it through a Pinterest Search. It is the perfect look I was going for. Thank you so much to the person who chose to share their hard work, I really do appreciate it. I added Washi Tape around the border and ta da I was motivated.

The three ring calendar I found at Target in the stationary aisle. I use the calendar to record when I present Montessori lessons.

A look at the academic subjects that have lessons planned.

 I will use Math planned for DJ as an example of how all of the other subjects are organized.

I print out all of the lessons. Most likely we would have internet accessible, but we also have been without electricity due to an Ice Storm. The libraries were packed, and it would of been better if we were able to do school for the sake of keeping the rhythm, but if all the plugs and the computers are being used your chance of doing school is slim to none when all of the lessons are on the computer. Now I know to print lessons as I plan them and then we could even school at the park. The activity that I printed above can be found here. When we actually do this activity I will share the why behind I am reintroducing DJ to the Checkerboard.

                                                                     

I don't do daily lesson plans, instead I just go through and record the lessons in a sequential order, and Montessori Lessons are entered here based on my observation of Kennede and DJ. The plan above is for DJ, and you can see that he has enjoyed his Fraction Story Problem book for all of his math. I am certain the Checkerboard will be well received. I just haven't had the work available yet. I write all the dates next to the lesson only when the work was completed. I love notebook paper! I don't have to scrunch my handwriting into boxes, when I have a lot to write. Doing our plans like this prevents this Mama from feeling like we didn't do what we were suppose to do that day, it also allows me to give more freedom of work choice and it keeps me from always having a hidden agenda.

Nice little pocket folder that keeps our Latin CD's just in case we are doing school at a study space, like the Library of Michigan. Yes we look for inspiration all around us. We have become really resourceful homeschoolers. I also keep a wall world map in the folder. 

The pencil pouch does fit in the binder. It contains sharpies, post its, calculator, glue sticks, pens, pencils. scissors, etc. It is all mine, I do not share :) LOL. I am in love with how convenient it is to have everything I need no matter where we do school. This binder stays on my desk when not beside me during our work period. It is a Grab and Go system that all I have to do is hold our morning meeting, where we discuss our work plans and if need it be we can put "school "in a backpack and still have fun. The kids binder is set up similar to mine with resources for lessons, and notebook paper galore.

                                                                                  

                                                

Their work plans are working out lovely. During our morning meeting we discuss what works will be done, and why they may be of importance to get that done. The photo is a page from Ken's Work Plan Journal. Super easy for them to implement! They will eventually be a little more detailed by the week as the school year progresses.

So all of this helps me to create their Portfolio  for the year- more on that as it develops.

         

Sneak Peeks

 We have just been getting our feet wet.

The Lesson Plan Binder has been my saving grace and the kids new work journals have been having an amazing effect. If your interested in knowing more about how this lesson plan binder plays out I would be happy to write more about it.

                                                                   

                                                                    

Science just kicked off for DJ this week. Ken not much science, but a whole lot of creative writing has been going on.

                                                                 

 They have binders too. The binder system has been amazing, it just took this familiy's organization system up a couple knotches. It is model of mine, they were intrigued by how all of my favorite things like Sharpies, scissors and glue sticks were in my pencil pouch right inside the binder. It would be an understatement to say that they love their personal pencil pouch with office supplies. 

                                                                    

                                                                   

We have been schooling away from home helping my mother with a health challenge. All is well ! We have embraced it and continue to pray. Now that my mom is home from the hospital we have entered into a new rhythm .....

History is up next. I made the Clock of Eras out of felt, I love the way it turned out. Math will come after History, actually they have been doing math while reviewing with beloved Life of Fred: Fractions (Ken) and Fractions Stories for DJ, but I mean Math with the Montessori materials. Reading and Writing with Brave Writer continues to be a success! We are just close to ending the first week of Arrow and Boomerang since we started in August(?). Did I mention that Ken has been writing a lot :)  

Well this post was suppose to be a sneak peek, in hopes that I could get ya'll to ask some questions. Go ahead. Ask away!

Our Schooling Resource List

I added a page "Our Schooling Resource List" to the top. Please know that this list is what I will be using to meet public school requirements. There is so much more that I hope to be including into our mix to get the best out of life and these resources that fits the kid's learning styles. We love Projects! It would take me all year to write everything down how we vision our homeschooling year. I also didn't include any links, but I am confident that if you copy and paste the titles into your search bar you will find it. I will definitely link to the resource in the blog post when they first appear as reference. Since this blog is so much more than just about curriculum I didn't want to waste time with just the 5 percent of it.

                                                                               

 We already started our first Arrow and Boomerang subscriptions. Ken is reading Number the Stars by Lois Lowry and DJ is reading Frindle by Andrew Clements. Nia is reading Popular: A Vintage Guide for the Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen. We are officially starting back to "schooling" after Labor Day. I have some obligations that will be keeping me busy in the day, like work :)  a new schedule and it makes no sense to start back while I am figuring out how our schedule will actually be this Fall. Will we school in the morning? Or will we school at night?  We are flexible for sure! DJ and I actually read a chapter of Frindle at 10:00 tonight. It was just natural as it was when I use to read him bedtime stories. Which reminds me that I should be still doing this more often, because that is exactly why he likes to read. Another thing is we all have been falling asleep to classical music, who would of thought? Us? Naw :)  So we shall see where our music lessons will come from.

No lesson planning just material making that I will share if I think it is meaningful or fun. I think I will share my planner though, I am real excited about that. Lesson planning is hard to do when you follow the child, you can't just pencil it in . You have to be ready in observation mode and say "I gotcha this time, I knew where your going with this! ".