06+JUNE+Planning+Objectives

toc =June Discussion: Planning!!!=

We've been through the big picture of what education is and the purpose of what we're doing. We've also explored many educational paradigms that draw us toward or away from different educational styles. Now it's time to actually figure out planning.
 * We've talked about your big goals
 * We've talked about some of the things that impact how those big goals get translated to curriculum choices and homeschool styles.
 * We've spent some time talking about some of the educational paradigms that you have that will impact you in your choices -- and how comfortable you feel about those choices
 * Now... what do you do for next year? And what type of plan do you need?

**How do you plan now?**
How you plan your life will impact what you feel most comfortable with as far as planning your school year. The better the fit, the better you'll feel and be able to do it.

Think about your current planning style -- what type of planning do you do for your regular life right now? Do you...
 * Have a daily routine that includes more than eat/dress
 * Have a weekly routine for chores (Mondays are..., Tuesdays are...) -- this isn't just outside appointments/classes
 * Don't have those things but often strive for it
 * Do you prefer to just go with the flow each day

And is life planning written? Before or after?
 * Write daily "To Do Lists"
 * Write your week on a weekly basis
 * Write monthly or bigger "To Do Lists"
 * Scrap booking?
 * Blogging?

Your most comfortable level of homeschooling is one that will meet your educational paradigms and yet fit with your comfortable level of planning.

Like planning for life – but with more concrete/end result in mind
(Click to download this copy and a blank table)

Any topic can fit into any of these categories. Each year, different topics may fall into different categories, depending on the age of the child, the opportunities that come up, the family's season. Most years there will be a mix of categories, with families tending more toward one area that feels a better fit.

1. Use a curriculum's objectives & goals

 * US math topics covered vs. other countries
 * Saxon math scope and sequence (spiral method)
 * Singapore
 * Miquon (based on cuisenaire rods)
 * Math-U-See (manipulatives, lots on skip counting/addition before multiplication or division)
 * Right Start math
 * many others

**2. Create your own objectives**
Use scope and sequence, test results, where you know the student is to determine objectives for the time period. Then find different learning activities to meet those objectives.

> @http://www.homeschoolmath.net/curriculum_reviews/scope_sequence.php
 * Visual scope and sequence for learning math by Maria Miller (Mammoth Math)


 * Published scope and sequences
 * World Book
 * NC Standard Course of Study


 * How to Write a Low-Cost/No-Cost Curriculum for Your Home-School Child by Borg Hendrickson
 * Ruth Beechick: The 3 Rs (Reading, Language, Math)
 * Kathryn Stout's "Design a Study" series
 * Rebecca Rupp's Home Learning Year by Year: How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool through High School
 * • @http://www.amazon.com/Teach-math-non-traditional-relaxed-fear/lm/R1BD7OHI4LR7R5/ref=cm_lmt_srch_f_1_rsrssi0

Decimal Street Peggy Kaye's Games for Math Take it to Your Seat Math (Evan Moor) (I cut them out and put them in page protectors and a binder) Ed Helper
 * Different learning tools**

3. Life Happens
Math happens all around us, especially for early elementary ages. They can pick up most math knowledge by covering it as it comes up in life.
 * Games
 * Muggins!
 * Monopoly Junior
 * Clue Junior
 * Chutes and Ladders
 * Grocery Store
 * Allowance
 * Baking/recipes
 * Discussions setting the table, sharing cookies, etc.
 * Video games

4. Serendipitous Learning
Know that you want to cover math but you'll use whatever math learning opportunities come your way during the year. Classes in coops like Learning Arbor, Maria's Math Clubs, math field trips, math exhibits at museums


 * http://naturalmath.wikispaces.com/MathClubs
 * Learning Arbor

Scheduling
Whatever level is helpful to you:
 * Yearly goals, semester goals, monthly goals, weekly goals
 * Schedules for the week, month, year

Can be pre-season goals or post-season summaries

Lots of different forms for planning out your objectives: @http://donnayoung.org/forms/planners/goals.htm

This is one of the most usable ones I've seen. Mix and match pages, print them off and bind them if you're looking for a paper planner. []

Know what you want to accomplish:

 * Character goals
 * Academic goals
 * Physical goals
 * Work skills and habits
 * Establish an academic calendar
 * Plan weekly (teacher’s plan)
 * Daily routine (consistent)

Pick your top 2 or 3 goals and those are your priorities for that period -- no matter what happens, those happen every day.