Planning with a difference… in 2 steps!

I said I’d elaborate, so here I am! Planning… um…… what do I do? Believe it or not, I start with my house! It’s “planning” with a difference. And just two main steps!

======= step one =======

I start by picturing my house – my homeschool haven – as a clean slate (in my head that is, this is real life after all). And look for ways to ensure that my home reflects the values we are growing in our kids, and the learning we plan to pursue each year. That it reflects what matters to us. Like:

Verses on the wall. Art and music that inspires. Decor that feels restful. Oils in our diffuser. A pretty calendar that I like the look of, so that I remember to write in it – in theory, at least (!)

Zones that are set up to maximise how we use each space. (We don’t have a separate homeschool room). The positioning of chairs and cushions near bookshelves that encourage curling up with a good book. An easily accessible basket with what I want to have at my fingertips.

A spot where daily bookwork is stored and easy to find/return. Rearranging furniture (we never have enough space otherwise) so that what they currently use a lot, is kept “out” and more readily available – like our board games, guitars and art stuff. This can change each year, or term, depending on what interests we’re pursuing as a family.

For me, these are the things that I love doing, a way that I love serving my family. And doing these kinds of things spurs me on to the next step…

======= step two =======

Then, I create lists (I like lists!) and daily/weekly rhythms and job charts and anything else that seems like it will helpful for us all to “see” going into the new year. I try to make ones that I like the look of, but that depends on how much time I have: the important thing is that I get them done. Sometimes I enlist my kids to help. Generally I’ll discuss it and get a little input along the way so that it feels collaborative.

We pop them up on the wall or fridge, where they need to be, to be seen. (Side note: it turns out that when we like the look of them, we tend to refer to them more!)

While I do this, I’m thinking about some of the things that have been frustrating me (like shoes always all over the floor, or a dishwasher that’s never quite unpacked, or unfolded washing lying around). I decide how I can train my kids to “see” these things too, and work as a team to help keep our home ticking over. The beginning of the year is a great time to (gently) increase responsibilities for the coming year.

Why? Well, I want my kids to know that we value what interests them. I want to encourage their passions and their learning, by how we keep our home. And a big part of that is helping them to understand that their role in helping look after our home makes a huge difference!

I think the same way about their schoolwork/bookwork/weekly activities:

More recently we’ve used neither but over the years we’ve tried all sorts of ways with varying degrees of success! I have plans to trial some new approaches this year with a view to developing more ownership and self-motivation in these areas, so we’ll see how that goes.

======= and then? =======

The craziest part? By the time I’ve done all that thinking, my year is often pretty much mapped out. Any bookwork or project work my kids do over the year gets filed away, and essentially becomes their plan, in retrospect. Outside of that, I’ve realised that as I set up “house,” for the year using the steps above, the planning is all there, just in an intrinsic kind of way.

(I also love my homemade Command Centre, but I’ll let you know more about that another time!)

======= what about you? =======

Over time, I’ve discovered how much my kids love that sense of anticipation that a new year is here, when mum starts to set up a couple of new things that make them wonder what’s coming. This is why, over the years, I’ve picked up some lettering boards that can easily look “pretty” but reflect a focus for the term/year without meaning a big change, or too much work for me.

BUT, I’m not you!

I’m sharing this in case it resonates with you, too. Your homeschool haven may be quite different to mine, but I’ll bet there are all sorts of things about the way you run your home, that reflect who you are and what you want your kids to learn. It’s just a part of how we do what we do!

I’d love to hear from you: are any of these things that you’ve already tried, or would like to try? Do you have something else that works really well for you?

Kristy x