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The less time you spend inventing the wheel, the more family time you'll enjoy!
For Teachers...
- A good friend of mine mocked up her family's daily schedule on an Excel spreadsheet. The best part? Each time chunk is the size of 1"x2" post-it notes. You can add, subtract, and move things around with ease.
- I've mocked up a set of posters to go along with Institute for Excellence in Writing's "Teaching Writing with Structure and Style" syllabus. Sized to print out on 8.5" x 11" card stock, they're bigger than his examples but smaller than the classroom-sized ones commercially available... perfect for your kitchen or reading nook!.
- Some states require 180 "school" days each year. Thankfully, New Hampshire has no such requirement! However, my family enjoys a good summer vacation, as well as a week off each quarter for planning and regrouping. I plan our yearly schedule with a school year calendar.
- Everyone loves "extra curricular activities," but with multiple children they add up quickly. This summer, try plotting your family's activities on a weekly schedule and living with it a while. Do you break out in cold sweats? Is there no time for play? Build in some margin!
- Your first couple homeschool conventions can be overwhelming. I use my curriculum planning blank to help me focus on subjects (or curricula) that I need more information on. It also keeps me from being distracted by the many "other" wonderful programs out there... If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
For Students...
- My friend Allyn uses (has used?) a great learning journal with her girls.
- You might not be big on grades, but there are a lot of reasons to give your child a report card. They provide tangible feedback, impress grandparents, and get free tokens at Chuck E. Cheese! Our blank report cards have plenty of space for non-letter grades, so they're perfect for the less structured homeschooler.
- Note taking can be a tricky skill to learn. I've broken it down into the six traditional questions and designed a simple worksheet that can be used for virtually any topic. Enjoy!
- In case your student need a little positive reinforcement, or perhaps just some handwriting practice, here are some great lines.
I do retain ownership of these works (except for the Learning Journal which is a shameless copy of Allyn's work), but feel free
to use them for your own personal and/or educational use(s).
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