I started taking 3 weeks off for Christmas, so I get a week to recover and to plan if needed. Game changer!! I just add the week to the end of the school year. I still have 8 weeks off in summer, doing a 4 day school week. We do about 5 to 6 hours a day, including outside time (30 minutes) and lunch (30 minutes). Also, don’t forget about a good phonics program. Sonlight is great for the rest, but weak in phonics, especially for the younger ones. ❤❤
We do Advent/Christmas School each year and it is a delightful! The kids (and I) look forward to it every year! I think your plan ahead for overwhelm is fantastic! I will definitely be taking your editor's red pen approach to our scope and sequences as well. I have found a lot of my stress ease when I moved my planner to Notion and Trello. That way if I am on week 6 of science and week 8 of history I don't feel "behind" and Trello automates my To-Do lists that always are the same (loops). I also try to have "break in case of emergency" plan: were I have a list of extra documentaries, audiobooks, etc. that come out if I am sick or overwhelmed.
I really like that you plan which books you could do a different time so that it’s not overwhelming. I did that this year, but not on purpose. I like that you actually plan for that. 😊
Thank you for sharing how you plan! I love the monthly grid idea, and also your plan to look ahead for what to do when life happens and you need to trim things back for a season.
Angie, this is brilliant! The fun, the plan B!! I love it and you have inspired me to create something similar for my school year next year! It doesn’t matter what curriculum you use, anyone could apply these aspects of yearly planning. Thanks for a great video! It was very helpful.
This is excellent! We definitely had a year of overwhelm last year and you're right, it very well may happen again. I love this idea of planning for the overwhelme and then if it doesn't happen, the extra things you get to do are just a bonus.
I really appreciate what an excellent critical thinker you are. I feel like I live in a constant state of overwhelm with my 4 kids, and therefore my critical thinking has suffered, if that makes sense? There's never quiet or peace or empty head space to think about these things in depth. I'd love to carve out alone time this summer to do this level of planning. I love a good schedule and plan, but I find if I plan it out to this extent, we will inevitably not be able to do everything and then I'll be discouraged. Does that happen to you? I love your idea of pre-selecting books or topics that can be skipped, and giving yourself that grace and wiggle room! Hope you're feeling well.
A plan isn’t set in stone. It never could be. Maybe start with what content you want to cover each month or each week. Like: science - matter or history - George Washington Then, after you have that, plan a week or two. Then you’ll know how much you can realistically cover. ❤ Hope that helps.
I completely relate! It doesn’t really bug me to overplan, but if you know that about yourself maybe just sketch out big picture ideas but don’t compile a bunch of things 🤷🏼♀️
So inspiring! You encouraged me so much that I got started on my plan last night! I had a question as I went through. Do you have a list of extra resources/ideas that you used in past years, level b for instance? Thank you so much for all that you do!
Were doing the advent thing rachel has from whered you learn that. Only thing i know 100 percent im using. We starting in September school year not advent
Sort of, I make sure to plan a few days or a week off every couple of months but I have found that we sometimes just naturally take the time when needed - a few mental health days sprinkled throughout really help me!
So glad I found your channel! I decided to make the change to Sonlight after watching MANY of your videos. Question…. My daughter is going through a curriculum now for kindergarten but I’m worried she may need extra help. She will be 6 in April. Do you think I need to start with Sonlight language arts k?
