Planning for Success!

Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.

Henry Ford

 

This summer I spent months devouring homeschooling books.  I read "beginning" homeschooling books, "how to" homeschooling books, "organize" your homeschool books and "what homeschooling looks like in different families" books.  I have been homeschooling now for almost 5 years and yet I was able to learn so much from each of these different kinds of homeschooling books. 

The main thing I have learned is that although I love to plan and organize things, my plans are not as detailed and thorough as is necessary for our homeschool.  If I don't have a detailed list every day of what we are doing I tend to:

1.  wake up feeling overwhelmed  - like I hardly know where to start

2.  give up halfway through the day out of frustration

3.  get annoyed at my kids when they ask if they are done - because we are never done

4.  feel like I am doing a poor job

This was a great revelation for me!  I have always considered myself very organized and I am in so many ways.  This is not a reflection of my poor organization or planning skills, it is merely a wake up call that I have to be more intentional with my homeschooling and create detailed weekly plans for us. 

It also means I get to hang out at the coffee shop every week and spend a couple hours drinking coffee and going through what our plan is for the coming week.  The key to our success this year hinges on my weekly coffee date with a bag full of books.  I simply can't concentrate or focus enough to do my planning at home and for an introvert like me, it is a nice little break to be by myself for a little bit. 

I started to plan this coming year over a month ago.  We have spent some time testing out different curriculum's and creating and organizing a schoolroom in a spare bedroom upstairs.  Here are the results:

It's not painted or decorated much yet but it is organized and promises to be a distraction-free space (except for a certain loud 4 year old). 

Here is to a great 2009-2010 school year!

Comments

[Carol]

I think the simple fact that you realized you get to spend a couple of hours at the coffee shop, by yourself, once a week is a plan for success all on it's own.......Henry would be very happy!

[AmyH]

good job Jill! this is very encouraging, because I need to do the same thing!

[Angie]

Awesome school room. Looks like there is plenty of room for Hank. I'm sending him over!

[Kristie]

Great job! I'm impressed...and very happy for you! Godspeed!