Planning, planning, planning

Yesterday was a lot of fun! We had cake (yum), played games and relaxed. Today it is back to the routine. Except that we will have to squeeze it between a visit with my sister. She is coming to visit us today and we will have a good time. I am very glad she is coming, but I am one that has a hard time keeping us on track with to many interuptions. So, we will work hard on lessons after she leaves so that we get done before David gets home from work.

This morning after my quiet time, I worked on planning lessons for the year. Now, I know that you are thinking that's crazy because life will interfere and I won't be able to keep them. You're right, but at the same time I need to know just how much I can reasonably expect to accomplish this year. We need realistic goals, not wished for dreams that couldn't happen and only lead to dissappointment. So this morning I started on planning Elijah's English scope. I was very encouraged to see how much we can accomplish REALISTICALLY and am looking forward to doing each subject. Usually I just have wispy ideas of what I want to accomplish with each child, but I am going for more structured this year.

What I did is list each lesson and the page numbers for each lesson. I left a blank box in front of each lesson to pencil in the date. The picture at the beginning of this post is a sample page I scanned. I am using pencil, because I know that life needs flexiblity and erasing is so very important. Now I know exactly how many lessons need to be done a week to complete the level and move to the next. I will add part of the next level in the plans for this year, because we will be able to do it. This will help my son to catch up if needed or get ahead. I don't really pay a whole lot of attention to grade levels though.

Over the summer we have been doing light schoolwork just to keep things going. Alpha & Omega Lifepacs. I won't be having them finish them. When I have a subject planned I will move them into it and the extra Lifepac books can be sold on Ebay or whatever. This way they are not interrupted in their studies and I am introducing the new courses and books gradually so they are able to ease into it. This is going to work very well I think.