Plans and Transparency

How can it be nearly March?  There are weeks that go slowly and weeks that rush past.  The only consistent thing is that we always do better with a plan, especially for homeschool. There is some danger with planning. Do you know what it is? 

The dangerous part to having a plan is holding it so tightly that you are unwilling to cheerfully give it up for God’s plan.  It is a lesson I have been learning for a long time. I’m not finished learning it yet, I’m sure.  One thing I have done differently this school year is to purposefully plan less.  Instead of having daily lesson plans for the entire year I plan general goals and make plans for shorter periods, then evaluate our progress as weeks pass. 

God has given me many opportunities this school year to be flexible with even that.  From illness that takes 3 weeks to pass through all the children to five unexpected brain surgeries for Mason, from special windows of opportunity to a child’s pressing desire to follow a new passion or interest to the fullest. 

This has led me to another kind of problem.  I have been slow to share the actual weekly plans for our homeschool here on the blog.  I have focused on highlights after the week is up.  My transparency has suffered because I do not want others to misunderstand.  What I write out and plan to do is such a small list because I now leave much of my children’s learning to the lessons God sends along and the interests He places in them.  I allow hours of free time and provide just enough structure for each child to help them be productive. 

In case you’re wondering, this is the opposite of my own personal preferences.  I’m the typical type-A ultra planner.  I would happily have every lesson for every subject laid out for the next 12 years and plug away at them.  I’m not saying that is a bad thing – if I can hold those plans lightly enough to adapt as needed.  I think God uses this homeschooling adventure our family is on for my own development every bit as much as for my children’s. 

I think that transparency is something important in blogging, at least for me.  I do not want readers to have some idealized picture of our homeschool life.  For example this week is blessedly appointment free and I’m thrilled.  We only have allergy shots for Joseph and physical therapy for Mason.  Next week I cringe to think about.  We have five appointments so far (allergy shots, allergist checkup for asthma issues, ultrasound and prenatal for Mommy, orthodontist for Makayla, and Myelo clinic for Mason with around 10 specialists to see in one long day). 

I decided that even if our plans seem short I want to share them.  What exactly are on our plans this week?  Would you like to know?  It may surprise you.

Family Work

• Practice scripture memory verses.
• Practice hymns we are learning.
• Read aloud Swiss Family Robinson.
• Read Mystery of History lessons. 
• Nature Study: Birds

The older four children each have their own assignment sheet with daily things to do.  Not every item is daily, for example copywork may be listed twice for the week.  Would you like to see their individual lists?

Makayla age 11 – 6th grade

• Read 1 chapter in the scriptures.
• Math U See Epsilon.
• Math Facts Now.
• Practice piano.
• Analytical Grammar 1/2 of a page.
• Prepared Dictation/Copywork(3 days).

Joseph age 8 – 2nd grade

• Read 1 chapter in Book of Mormon Stories.
• Read 15 minutes in a chapter book.
• Do Language Lessons for the Very Young (from Queen Homeschool).
• Math U See Beta.
• Math Facts Now.

Emma age 7 – 1st grade

• Read 1 chapter in New Testament Stories.
• Read 15 minutes in a chapter book.
• Do Language Lessons for the Very Young (from Queen Homeschool).
• Math U See Beta.
• Math Facts Now.

Daniel age 5 – Preschool

• Air Writing
• Copywork(2 days)
• Living Math (materials vary from week to week).
• Read 1 chapter in current reader.

For some reason those lists seem short to me.  However when I take a look at the rest of my children’s days there is so much learning and exploring being done.  I spend a lot of time facilitating their interests.  Things I remember from the last few weeks that they’ve done of their own choice:

• Art – from drawing to chalk pastels, photography, and art appreciation.
• Handicrafts – Sewing, mending, knitting, beading, bracelet making, origami, paper crafting.
• Reading – fiction and nonfiction, picture books to chapter books. 
• Building – Legos, Duplos, Simple Machines kit, CitiBlocs, Zometools.
• Electricity – Snap Circuits
• Writing – stories, plays, poetry, information learned from reading.
• Theater – creating costumes, puppets, and scenery plus performing.
• Baking and cooking – cakes, cookies, dinners, and everything in between.
• Cub Scouts – working on requirements.

None of those ‘lessons’ were planned or led by Mommy.  As a matter of fact many were done without my knowledge until called to see what was made, to attend a performance, or a request for some materials they desperately needed was received.  *smile* 

If you want to see your children’s interests and creativity expand may I suggest a few guidelines that have helped in my home? 

1. Say yes to making a mess.  Let them have materials to work with, even the ones you know will lead to a lot of cleanup.  By all means, teach them how to clean up too!
2. Say I don’t know or I’m sure you can figure it out.  When my children want to learn something new I may give them a two minute preview of materials but most often I don’t teach them how to do something.  I give them tools and let them figure it out.  I may offer a book or other guide, such as when my girls wanted to learn to knit with needles instead of on their looms.  But then I stay out of it and let them wrestle with the material a bit.  They soon know how to do more than I do!
3. Minimize screen time.  No video games except for 20-30 minutes on Saturday.  No computer game unless you’re doing it Saturday in place of your video game.  No free access to the tv for dvds or Netflix, though in winter we do watch something every day.  It’s limited though.  When a screen is on their brain disengages, it becomes passive.  It becomes easier to stare at the screen than to come up with something to do.  There is no room for the brain to create because it is overloaded and sedated by the flashing, fast-paced visual stimulus.

What does your homeschool planning look like?  Are you a detailed, laid out before the year begins for every lesson planner?  Do you plan lessons out by month, by week, or something else? 

Do you give your children much freedom to direct their own learning or are all subjects chosen and laid out by mom?  Are you flexible in allowing God’s plan to erase your own or do you feel ‘behind’ when life gets your plans off track?