Preparing for the New Homeschool Year~Online Records Lessontrek

August 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year. The time when many homeschool moms are rushing around trying to get all their ducks or.. books in a row. Suddenly they relize they need to also get their recordkeeping plans set… I like the ease of a paper record keeper, but LOVE the professionalism of an online record keeper. Lessontrek is a new online lesson planner.

I am still in the process of setting up our school in Lessontrek. In fact we won’t officially start our book work school year for another couple of months. At this time we are doing a very lifestyle of learning type of school based around our farm life. Lessontrek allows me to customize each entry of our Lifestyle of Learning lesson or project with just a little typing and a few clicks. Making it simple to keep track of all the accomplishments outside the textbooks!!

 

Lessontrek features (directly from Lessontrek’s home page)

Lesson plans can be taken wherever you go, or create your lesson plan template on-the-go
  • Lesson tracker
  • Grade recording
  • Drag and drop lessons to another weekday
  • Copy/paste lessons across weeks
  • Copy/paste an entire week of lessons
  • Print weekly lesson plans
  • Secure information storage
  • Customer support
  • Ongoing improvements based on your feedback
  • … and more

Features in the works

  • Gradebook
  • Shared subjects across students
  • Attendance tracking
  • Transcripts

Browser Requirements

  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Firefox
  • Internet Explorer 10+

 

Below are some screen shots as I set it up. Most everything is fairly easy. A click here and a bit of typing, and then be sure to hit done/save. Otherwise you get to start over. Ask me how I know. lol

 

Using Lessontrek

 

Setting up the new school year in Lessontrek

Setting up the new year, just a few clicks. It is all step by step, making it simple and fast.

 

 

 

 

Adding new students to Lessontrek

Adding new students to your Lessontrek planner couldn’t be much easier. Over the last few years, I have had to add a new student as another child ages into our homeschool lessons.

Lesson Trek New Student

 

Creating a New Subject in Lessontrek

Creating a new subject in LessonTrek is quite easy. It is all step by step. I have added in a subject of Lifestyle of Learning here. In the next screen shot you can see a little better how to easily customize daily tasks that have taken place as we do Lifestyle of Learning on our farm.

 

Creating New subject

 

Setting up an assignment and adding grades in Lessontrek

Setting up an assignment and adding grades in Lessontrek is done in the same screen. So, if you just happen to add lessons as they happen, you can do it all at once. That’s how I do things!! Here is where you can see the ease of customizing the things your child has learned through life skills and such. (Lifestyle of Learning)

Inserting Grades in an assignment

 

 

Printing with Lessontrek

You can print each week’s lesson easily with just a click or two of the mouse. I am still trying to figure out how to get the grades printed after I enter them. I only had a few minutes to mess with that before baby needed my attention. With a new baby in our home, I need something super user friendly, and so farm Lessontrek seems to fit that bill!!

Printable record

 

I suspect that the printable grade record is coming soon, as it is listed on their website as in the works. Maybe that is why I couldn’t figure that out in the few minutes I played with it. ;)

With this being a cloud or online based software or app, you can use it from your tablet, laptop, desktop computer, iPad, and smartphone. This makes it easily portable and always up to date as long as you remember to click SAVE/Done when you enter new information. As more and more homeschools become more on the go, being mobile is a huge benefit for moms as they try to keep up with the busyness of today’s active homeschools.

I have enjoyed learning and playing with Lessontrek as I set up our homeschool. The ease and customization in Lessontrek makes this one of the best online lesson planning software I have tried.

Lessontrek Pricing

Lessontrek is $6 per month or $60 for a full year to access this app from any device you can get on the internet with!!! You will always have your homeschool plans and lessons at your fingertips!!

Be sure to follow Lessontrek on Facebook to learn about new updates as they happen. Be sure to sign up for a FREE 14 day trial of Lessontrek to see if this app is a good fit for your homeschool!!

Lessontrek Discount 50% Off Discount

Lessontrek would like to offer ALL of my readers 50% off a 1 year subscriptions. This will make your program very affordable for even tight budgets. Families can get a full year access to Lessontrek for just $30. You need to click the $60 yearly and enter the code 2IOL50 in the Payment Info section. Your credit card will be charged $30 for a full year and then renew for $60 each year thereafter.

I received a year of Lessontrek in return for my honest review. I have not received any other compensation.

Filed Under: Homeschool curriculum review, homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms Tagged With: , ,

Scholaric Technology in the Homeschool

March 25, 2013 by 1 Comment

Scholaric Homeschool Planning software has helped me save time in our lesson planning and record keeping.

Homeschool Planning Software is widely available in the homeschool market. However, is it all created equal? This year has been a year of trial and error with moving our homeschool plans or records to the computer. There are several reasons that I wanted to do this.

Why Use Online Software for Lesson Planning and Record Keeping?

We will be moving in the next year or two, and a computer is easier to move and less cumbersome then several record books.

  • Less Paper Clutter
  • More Professional Looking
  • Easier to Make Changes
  • My children follow a more professional looking plan better than a hand written.
  • Using an online record keeping program, means even if my computer crashes, our records are safe.

Scholaric

Why I have chosen Scholaric?

I have tried three different online planning products. Scholaric is the one that is easy as One, Two Three. It doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles, but it is straight forward. It is quick to set up, and quick to enter plans, grades and such. You are able to add notes and such too. With the others I have tried, I would spend hours and hours to set it up, plan lessons, and then enter grades. I fell behind within the first week and would give up. Scholaric has helped me to stay on top of our recordkeeping and lesson plans.

I love this software because it is so quick and easy to use. I do wish, a little, I was able to customize reports that I print. However, for $1/student/month with a maximum charge of $5 per month for a family, I can handle not being able to customize everything on the printable reports, as I would normally do. I might be a little OCD when it comes to customization and maybe Scholaric is my therapy? The longer I use Scholaric, the better I like not having all the customization options, as I spend tons less time fiddling.

I set up our chores under our lesson plans for an extended time period, I won’t have to set them up each week. It was easy to customize the timing of them, with just a few short clicks. Now when I set up lesson plans chores are already done for each week, when I print their lessons and chores will be on the same page…NO EXCUSES for not knowing what they should get done each day.

Easy to Use

Scholaric is so easy to use, I was able to teach my ten year old to enter lessons and grades when I fell behind, while not feeling well. That made it super easy for me to get caught up in at least one area. The other online planning programs, were way to complicated to even try teaching her to enter things in for me.

At this time, I am not keeping track of hours. When I start in with next year, I will add that in.

Scholaric is not advertiser funded. Why? Because they want to meet their customer needs with out worrying about what an advertiser wants from them. Why is that important? No conflict of interest. The customer come first, and really no one comes second, so all focus is on improving for the customer’s needs and wants.

Sixty Day Free Trial to Scholaric

I highly recommend that you try Scholaric, and right now, if you sign up, using any of the Scholaric links in this post, you will get a FREE 60 trial, verses the normal fifteen day trial.

If you have any questions as you set up and begin using Scholaric, I would be more than happy to discuss them in the comments, and I know Jeff, the developer of Scholaric is always willing to answer questions.

Both Amy, from Raising Arrows and I use Scholaric in our homeschools, we along with Sara from Sidetracked Sarah will be speaking at the Midwest Parent Educators Conference on a Panel discussing using technology in our homeschools. We would love to talk more with you if you will be there.

Disclosure: This is not a paid review, not have I been compensated or given this item for review purposes. I love this program enough, and know enough homeschoool moms who are looking for a program that I wanted to give my honest opinion to them.

Filed Under: homeschool, Homeschool Computer Use, Homeschool curriculum review, homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms, review Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Convention Notebook

January 31, 2012 by 7 Comments

I have discussed preparing for a convention, and even mentioned my convention notebook. Last year, I even posted about a convention notebook. However, because I wanted to be sure to pack as light as possible and still have a nice sturdy writing surface for the Teach Them Diligently Convention, I have used my comb binder and laminator to make a new and improved binder for the Teach Them Diligently Convention.

First, I tried to figure out a way to use a page protector as my front cover. I want to be able to slip my Convention schedules in here, and remove them for changes. To punch these with my comb binder, I had to take a piece of scrap cardstock on one side and insert them into the punch together. The page protector also give me a place to stick handouts, brochures and the like.

Next, I used colored cardstock as my dividers to help organize my notebook.

Now, it is time to add my Workshop notes and extra blank lined pages. I will take notes on these pages, they have a place for the speakers contact info and their website.

I then added another divider and added my Curriculum Idea pages for each child. This page is a list of curriculum I want to check out for each child.

Next, I have added my Convention Booth Planner. These pages are a list of vendors I want to check out, complete with a place make a list for items to look at.

My last page is a Curriculum Needs Price Comparison Form. I list a curriculum and then vendor and their price across the page. This way I can tell at a glance where the best price is.

I also have a plastic baseball card page in my notebook to put business cards and contact cards in. I can also put coupons in here.

My last item in this notebook is a plastic two pocket folder.

This notebook will clip on to my clip board for a nice writing surface. The benefits of this notebook, over the three ring binder is that it does fold back over itself easily, without damaging the spine. I have ruined several three ring binders by bending them back to make them more lap sized to for easy writing in the close confinements often found at conventions.

If you would like to purchase a convention notebook already printed and put together, they are $18 plus shipping. It will include everything you see in the pictures above. Email [email protected]

This post linked to:

learning ALL the time!!

Filed Under: homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms Tagged With: ,

Home Educating Family’s On the Go Planner~ My brain on in a book!~Giveaway 3 Winners!!

November 16, 2011 by 16 Comments

I am not naturally organized.  In fact, even when I try really hard I am not really organized.  I have great ideas, and I mean well, but, in reality, I am just not an organized person…or am I? 

In fact, I have made wonderful forms that keep my older children organized in their homeschool lesson and records, but when it comes to keeping me organized…well, I really struggle.

Well see, I am getting better, because now I have this book that is now my external brain…The On the Go planner from Home Educating Family and Well Planned Day.

 

This planner has saved me a lot of trouble, embarrassment, and chaos.  I write down everything in it.  Notes from online meetings for work, dates for everything, blog posts to write, when my product reviews are due, menu plans, grocery lists, household projects, and more.

My On the Go Planner has a place on my desk, a place in my bag, and is used during grocery shopping.  I don’t leave home without it.

The On the Go Planner has a monthly layout with weekly layouts following each month.  The weekly layouts start with Monday, have a place for chores or tasks, a timed schedule that you can write in appointments for each day, a place to write your dinner menu, a shopping list area, and what to do while out and about area, There is also a place for household projects, purchases to make, Birthdays and Anniversaries to remember, and bills to pay.

Each week has an encouraging quote, and also an area for notes. 

Right after the monthly layout each month there is a Money Management area.  It has just about everything you could think of here. 

At the front of the planner, there is:

  • year at a glance
  • Goal Planning pages
  • Article about Resolutions
  • Annual budget and expenses
  • Homemaking Special Projects
  • Greeting Card Registry
  • Addresses
  • My Responsibilities
  • Notes

This planner starts with July, and is based on a school year.  Between November and December, there is a simple Christmas or Holiday Planner.  Example pages can help you understand the Planner’s set up.

This planner has been a saving grace over the last three weeks.  When I planned the A Journey Through Learning Facebook Party, I used this planner to keep me on track.  By the day of the party, I was literally so ready that I was driving myself batty just trying to wait for it to start. Smile  In my previous non On the Go Planner Days I never would have been that ready.

I am ready at the drop of a hat for a day of grocery shopping, and can tell when I have appointments or activities all in a glance.

The On the Go planner is the planner for mom, or other busy women.  It has just about everything you can think of.  

This planner is small enough to fit in your purse or diaper bag, yet big enough to write it all down.  It is also very cute.



I received this planner free for my honest review.  I will receive no further compensation.

Filed Under: Christian Family, Christian Mothering, Giveaway, homemaking, homeschool, Homeschool curriculum review, homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms, homeschool schedules, household organization, Large Families, large family homeschool, review, Weekly Goals Tagged With: , , , ,

All of The Old Schoolhouse Planners are 50% off TODAY only!!!

September 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I have talked before, how I use these in our home.  Well, today is the day to get  The 2011-12 Schoolhouse Planners for 50% off!!!

Here are a few of the ways I am or have used the TOS Planner.

Assignment and Record Keeping Book

Homeschool Convention Binder

Family Notebook and Homeschool Binder

This planner has it all.  Go get yours today while it is 50% off!!!!   

While you are there, you might want to check out the Birthday Bash.  Lots of fun and prizes going on!

 

Have fun partying!!

Filed Under: Homeschool Deals, homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms, homeschool schedules Tagged With: ,

Our Assignment and Record Keeping Notebooks~Using TOS Planner and My Custom Planner Pages

August 3, 2011 by 1 Comment

Over the years, I have worked hard to put together a record keeping book that would work for assignment too.  However, they have always been a little too much for my older children. 

This year, however, seems to be the year I figured it out. I have used forms from my The 2011-12 Schoolhouse Planners, my homeschool forms and a couple from Donna Young.

We have three books this year, one for each of my oldest two children, and one for myself. 

DSCN7037

The oldest children’s books contain:

Each of the sections above are divided by a colored piece of card stock.  I am considering adding sticky index dividers to help locate each section quickly.  My children are expected to fill in the forms each day with a  little help from me.  Keeping records is a life lesson you must learn, so what better way then to start them by keeping their own homeschool records?

My Notebook contains:

Again, each of these sections are divided by different colors of card stock. 

To make my notebooks, I use my laminator and laminate the front and back covers.  I then use my comb binder to bind the books.  We use these two gadgets nearly weekly in our homeschool.

As the school year gets in full swing, I am sure I will add forms.  How do handle the lessons, records, and lists you need to keep organized?

The TOS Planner links are affiliate links.  If you purchase anything through those links, I will be paid a small portion of your purchase price as an affiliate.  Thank you for supporting Peace Creek on the Prairie.

Filed Under: Christian Mothering, homemaking, homeschool, homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms, Homeschool Preschool, homeschool schedules, household organization, large family homeschool, Large family homeschool planning forms, Lifestyle of learning, Workbox system Tagged With: , , , , ,

Organizational Week~Getting the Homeschool Ready

July 20, 2011 by 3 Comments

We all have them, days when we walk through the house and want to turn tail and run because there are messes everywhere. 

As we move through the house, we notice there is very little that can be done with these messes…

What?

Where did it all come from?

Typically around here, it means we haven’t been home much or have been busy on the farm.

This week, I have been working in our office, as I got new shelves and that has made a huge difference.  I also have been pulling out the tubs I used when we did Workboxes.  We are again going to do this for our homeschool, though a little differently.  I am putting together student assignment/record keeping notebooks for my oldest children this year.  I have also made a daily schedule for our family.  It will be included in the student assignment/record books.  

I have also been printing off all our eBooks, Lapbooks, and making copies for the first few weeks of school.  I still need to rewrite our lesson plans, but I am feeling oh so much better about them right now.  Many have been asking how are organize our eBooks.  To begin with, I have folders in my documents on my computer set up.  Then when I print them, I laminate the covers, bind them with my comb binder, and write on the spines what the title is, then they go on a shelf, or in a workbox, or family box.  If they will be used later and don’t fit in one of the above areas, they go in a file cabinet drawer.

My lapbooks, are printed and placed in file folders, then in a file cabinet or the appropriate workbox.

I have also organized my computer desk and work area.  I have a new shelf (found at a garage sale) that all new books go into until I have time to enter them into our Home Library Database, and upcoming review items, curriculum catalogs and such all go there.

On top of that shelf I have a file organization center (another garage sale find) that eBooks that need bound go, our speech, and other therapy manuals are here, and our sketch books are here.  All my blog things are here too…notebook, ledger, review schedule and such.  My most used CD roms are stored on the side with a  book end.  On the top is a basket that holds all our family school materials.

I organized our baker’s rack in the kitchen and straightened my baking area on my kitchen counter.

I am working on our writing center tub right now…I need some ideas for it though.  What do you keep in your creative writing area? 

I need to figure out an accessible, but out of reach from little fingers for our games.  My oldest two are playing games quite a bit, but then there are those little fingers that are causing a few problems with lost pieces, scattered cards and such.

How are you organizing for the up coming school year?  Are you overwhelmed?

Filed Under: homeschool, homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms, homeschool schedules, household organization, large family homeschool, Large family homeschool planning forms, special needs homeschooling, vision therapy, Workbox system Tagged With: , , ,

Homeschool Forms…Need your opinions. ~Poll

June 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Well, I have been asked several times if I could produce homeschool planning forms that are able to be typed into and printed. The short answer is yes, however the software to do this is quite expensive, though I am looking into other options still.

Below is a poll to see if there is enough interest for me to justify the time and money needed to create such forms.

My thoughts are if I make these “fillable”, I will offer:

  • CD ROMs of the forms
  • eBook format or other downloadable format
  • Single forms through email download or such

Obviously the CD ROM would be the most expensive. I will offer free downloads of new forms created for those who purchase these.

So, can have my readers thoughts?

Filed Under: homeschool, homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms, household organization, large family homeschool, Large family homeschool planning forms Tagged With: , , ,

The 2011-2012 The Schoolhouse Planners are Here and Ready for You!!

April 26, 2011 by 4 Comments

I purchased my first The Schoolhouse Planner last summer.  I was impressed, and had an idea for another form.  In January, the call came out for suggestions, so I quickly put together my idea and submitted it.  Guess what?

My form is in each of the planners for the 2011-2012 school year.  I also have an article in the Special Needs Planner.

The Special Needs Planner has these added benefits:

  • Tons of forms to help you juggle school, therapy, and doctor appointments with ease.
  • Forms for routine tasks like doing laundry, creating a shower and a bathroom routine, washing hands, cleaning bedroom, getting ready for school, and brushing teeth.
  • Wonderful articles from well-known authors in the special needs community.
  • A 12-page Individualized Education Plan for the special needs homeschooler.

The Schoolhouse Planner has these great bit of information:

  • Plan and record all of the dynamic aspects of your homeschool year from top to bottom.
  • Schedule your social activities effectively. 
  • Organize your technological resources. 
  • Manage money wisely (and teach your kids this important life skill too).
  • Be the queen of your kitchen.
  • Foster family pride by establishing family goals and recording family tree information.
  • Record important medical information including medications and family medical history.
  • Run a successful home business.
  • Get ready for the holidays.

There are also Student Planners available for each level of school.  Primary, Intermediate, and highschool.  These will work great to help your students learn the bits and pieces of being organized.  They will be able to gain a habit of organization that will benefit them for many years to come.

Here are a couple of links of showing how I have used the planners in our home.

Homeschool Convention Binder

2010-2011 Homeschool and Household Notebook

I am planning to purchase the planners I will need for our year as soon as we have a bit of income coming in.  As in wheat harvest.   Spring is rough on the farm.  Winking smile

However, I know that many moms are getting ready to plan their year’s, so I think it is wise to let you all know why you should purchase the planners.

1.  You will have the most organized year yet.

2.  There are list of things to teach your children that many of us overlook. 

3.  You will be able to see at a glance what is left for a year, week, day or month.

4.  You can type directly into the planner pages.

5.  You will have very professional looking portfolios

6.  You will be able to remember those little things you forget every year.

7.  You will get a whole bunch of new recipes.

8.  There are article in each planner, and they are super beneficial.  You will learn so much and find out some great ways to improve your homeschool..

9.  You will have more time for many other projects, because you will better organized.

10.  You will be able to have an organized year, allowing you to spend more time focused on helping your children to grow in Biblical wisdom.

So, hurry over to The Old Schoolhouse Store, and grab the planners that will give you a most organized homeschool year.  You won’t regret it!

Please note, all links in this post are affiliate links.  I will earn a small amount of your purchase if you buy through them.  Thank you for supporting Peace Creek on the Prairie.  All funds earned are used towards my children’s homeschool needs. Winking smile

Filed Under: Christian Mothering, homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms, homeschool schedules, household organization, large family homeschool, Large family homeschool planning forms, special needs homeschooling Tagged With: , , ,

Creating a Homeschool Convention Notebook~Homeschool Snips & Tips Wednesday February 23

February 23, 2011 by 11 Comments

This year, I will be attending two “physical” conventions and two on line Expos. I am one that needs organization away from home, even more then at home. I need a schedule to help me stay on task and everything in order. Not that it will help everything go smoothly, but when life does take the wheel from me, I have a bit of control by having an idea where I intended to be.

This year, with the help of the TOS Planner, I have put together a three ring binder full of pages to help me stay organized at the conventions/expos I attend.

I have included pages for:

  • Convention session notes~I write my notes on these pages.
  • A Curriculum Needs List~Any curriculum I am still needing to purchase. I also write down EVERYTHING I have planned to use for the year, with a short list of pros and cons.
  • Book list~Books I would like to buy to read, whether they are for read alouds, or for my children’s independent reading.
  • Curriculum Planning Sheet~My curriculum list~I include what I have paid for it, and the new price
  • Convention Planner~Venders to visit, curriculum to look at, things to buy that may not be curriculum—science kits, cds/dvds, etc
  • Annual Plans~I use my annual plans to list unit study ideas. I then know at the convention if I will have time for that study I just think I must purchase there.
  • Convention Session Log~Conventions are continuing education hours for the homeschool parent. I keep tract of these.
  • Extra lined pages for more note taking space
  • Curriculum cost comparison list

I use a three ring binder with the clear windows on the front and back and spine. My convention schedule goes in the front, and my book list and curriculum list goes on the back. They are easy to refer to then when walking through the vender hall. I also have a pocket folder in my binder to keep the Handouts in. I have a place for meal coupons too. I have a page protector to place business cards and other vender handouts in too.

Having my binder with all my needs put together, helps me to stay relaxed and enjoy the convention more. It also helps me be able to take care of emergencies easier…Even if the emergency is my husband calling to tell me he isn’t really going to be joining me at the convention that I have brought five children under 18 to. Winking smile

Do you have a Homeschool Snip or Tip to share that you have written about this week? Add your URL to the linky below and grab the button below.

Visit the TOS Crew for more convention tips.

 

Homeschool Snips and Tips. copy

Filed Under: homeschool, homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms, homeschool schedules, Homeschool Snips & Tips Wednesday Tagged With: , ,

New Homeschool Form~Student Assignment Sheet

January 29, 2011 by 2 Comments

Student Assignment Sheet with check boxes Two page spread, has a place for all assignments, chores, and prayer list, with small section for something else. This is for the parent to fill in and the student to check off as they complete each assignment.

This has been added to my Large Family Homeschooling Forms page.

I hope you enjoy it.

What other forms would you like to see added?

Filed Under: homeschool, homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms, homeschool schedules, Large family homeschool planning forms Tagged With: , , ,

If you Could have Anything on a Planner Page, what would it be?

January 24, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I am reworking some of my planner pages.  I would like your input.

Do you like five days on one page?  or Three on one page and two on another with room for other things?

If you like the three on one and two on another for a two page spread, what are some sections you would like in the extra room on the page?

If you were to be able to have a planner with a section for lifestyle learning records, what all would it include?

I have many of my own thoughts on this, but as you all know, we can learn so much from each other.  Please let me know some of your ideas.

 

Thanks!!!

Filed Under: homeschool, homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms, large family homeschool, Large family homeschool planning forms Tagged With: ,

A HUGE Blessing in our Homeschool Records~Homeschool Snips & Tips Wednesday October 20

October 19, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Over the years, I have wished to have more professional records, or portfolios for our homeschool. I really don’t care that my planning pages are all fill in the blank type, but the what we have done, read, and so forth, I wanted to be more professional.

Several years ago, I had purchased Homeschool Tracker Plus, but never really got the hang of it. Actually, I tried to use all the features all the time, and was overwhelmed. This year, I am making daily task list.

First, I have scheduled all our daily chores, then I go through and set up their daily assignments.

When I go to reports I set up the Daily Task List, and it imports the plans for both school and chores. I print these off and place them in each child’s school and chore notebook. There are little check boxes that they check off as they complete each task.

The best part of this, is that as I assign each assignment, it gives me a place to come back and add a grade, then it imports the grades to the report card.

  • There are also progress reports too.
  • field trip log
  • reading log
  • Among many other great features.

So far, this year, after really digging in to find what features are best for us, I have found it worth my forty-five minutes of time a week to input the needed information. All our resources are in here also. You can add them super easily by ISBN or typing all the information if there is no ISBN. Below are some screen shots from our use of HST.

This is a picture of the field trip log on screen.

This is the reading list, that is way behind. ;)

This is a screen shot of our assignment list for about 1.5 days. ;)

This is a screen shot of the available reports. Each report is full customizable. All information for the reports are entered through the various generators from the other tasks.

This is a look at the attendance window. You can track your attendance through this window by clicking on the day. You can also track the hours, by entering them as well. I track all hours of school related tasks and such from our weekends also, as we have a goal of life long learning, so most of our activities are kept track of. ;)

This is our daily task list complete with assignments and chores. When I remember, I add their assigned reading books, and memorization for the week. ;) I tend to forget that is available. lol

To order your Homeschool Tracker Plus software, click here By, using the code in the box above. If you use that code, I will get $5 per sale as an affiliate of Homeschool Tracker. Thank you for supporting this blog and our homeschool with your purchase.

Even though I use this for our reports and such. All my plans, as in, the forms I use to think out our task for the year are in my Household Notebook.

The daily task list reports printed for my students notebook, have made a world of difference for my special needs child by helping him know what to be doing. It has lessoned my interruptions that are typically related to what do I do now, I didn’t know that, and so forth.

Share your homeschool snips and tips. Grab the button and add your URL to the linky below.

Filed Under: Christian Mothering, homeschool, homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms, homeschool schedules, Homeschool Snips & Tips Wednesday, special needs homeschooling, year around homeschool Tagged With: , , , ,

Two Things I have Found in Our Homeschool to be GREAT. Homeschool Snips & Tips Wednesday~ September 8

September 7, 2010 by Leave a Comment

This year I have really found two things that I will work hard to be able to keep using in our homeschool.

The Schoolhouse Planner is one of those. The Schoolhouse planner is $39.95 for the eBook, and $44.95 for the CD rom.  I really like that you can print only the forms that you want.  There are also many lists that will be helpful for your homeschool, from presidents, to Bible Reading Schedule.  Did I mention delicious recipes?  Yes, each planner includes several recipes that mix with the seasons just perfectly.  I used this planner to make this notebook for our household. I use this notebook all day every day.  It goes to doctor appointments, homeschool meetings and any other meetings or events that you would want your menu, and master calendar at.  For our family, there are many forms that I have found very helpful for organizing many aspects of our homeschool and our household.  I really love the daily, weekly, and monthly to do lists.  I even have laminated them and use a wet erase marker on them, so I don’t have to print any more of them.  I carry one in my diaper bag/purse so I can easily add to my list when out and about.   In fact the Old Schoolhouse store is just about to release a series of the Schoolhouse Planner for Students.  If it is anything like the Schoolhouse Planner, it will also be one of those save so you can get it items.

Last spring I attended the Schoolhouse Expo online.  I have to say, it was the best online homeschool conference I have been a part of.  If you are in need of encouragement, starting out, or just plain love to hear wonderful people speak about homeschool, the Schoolhouse Expo is for you.   At the Expo, you will find encouragement, information, door prizes, and more.  I am sure you don’t want to miss out on this event October 4-8.

Those are my Homeschool Tips for this week.  Share yours below by adding your URL to the linky.  Don’t forget to grab the button to add to your post.


Disclaimer~by ordering through the above links, I will earn a bit of your purchase price. Thank you for supporting Peace Creek on the Prairie.

Filed Under: homemaking, homeschool, Homeschool curriculum review, homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms, homeschool schedules, household organization, In the Kitchen, large family homeschool, Large family homeschool planning forms Tagged With: , , , ,

Homeschool Planning Got You Buzzing in Dizzy-ing Circles?

August 12, 2010 by 1 Comment

Are you being stung by the Planning Bee? I was there about a month ago, and then I bought a busy bee called The 2010 Schoolhouse Planner. I have been a super planning bee since. 2010HSPlannerCover

This planner is not like your typical planners. There are pages of every kind in this planner. From homeschool planning forms to household planning forms, The 2010 Schoolhouse Planner for $39.00, has all the forms you will need, to keep the records you need for your homeschool. There are also mini unit studies sprinkled throughout, and don’t forget about the recipes. You can even expand those unit studird by purchasing the modules that go with them.

With this planner, you are even able to type in the information into the forms. Take a look at what I have been able to do with my Schoolhouse Planner.

Reusable Daily, Weekly and Monthly To do list and menu planners. All made with forms from The 2010 Schoolhouse Planner.

Hurry, and get your planner today, so you can have the best year EVER, and feel as busy as a bee, with out all the buzzing in circles.

Get Buzzing about Your Best Homeschool Year Now and you will also receive several free ebooks to really get you buzzing about your 2010-2011 Homeschool year!!

Disclaimer I will receive compensation if you order your planner through the links on this page as an affiliate for The Old Schoolhouse, I have used this planner and the above are examples of my use. This post is part of an advertising campaign (sell sheet), and contest. I may be rewarded a prize as such.

Filed Under: homeschool, Homeschool planning forms, homeschool schedules, household organization, large family homeschool Tagged With: , , ,

Our Modified MOTH Schedule~Routines rather then Times

August 4, 2010 by 8 Comments

As I have posted before, our family does not work well on a timed schedule. Therefore, Managers of their Homes did not work for us without some modification. As I add more students to our school days, I need to have a bit more of a schedule. Otherwise our days get to be chaos with nothing getting done. A day of getting nothing done in a house of six children, can quickly make the house appear to have been hit by a wrecking ball.

So, I have taken a typical MOTH schedule and used times of day, rather then actual clock times. Our children are:

Philip 11 in Sept.

Lora 8 in Sept.

Heidi 5

Noah 5

Isaiah 3 in Nov.

Hannah 2 in Jan.
Here is our Moth Routine.

Moth

This is one of those not so fun steps in getting ready for full swing back to school, where we don’t take breaks for this and that. During our summers, we take breaks for camp, canning, gardening, farm work and such. However, I can’t work like that all year long, so I like to get things together for our normal school year time. I am not sure when that will be, as our garden is a bit behind this year. However, I will begin implementing our chore routines early next week. What are some of the things you do to get back into the homeschool swing of things?

Filed Under: Christian Mothering, encouragement, Farmwife, garden, homemaking, homeschool, Homeschool planning forms, homeschool schedules, household organization, Large Families, large family homeschool, year around homeschool Tagged With: , , , , ,

Weekly Wrap-Up Regaining Health, Preserving Veggies, and Preparing for Camp

July 23, 2010 by 2 Comments

 

Well, there hasn’t been hardly any school going on here.  A lot of “unschooling”, but books haven’t been touched or should I say the ones we write in. ;)   Our oldest since July 5th has read over 1161 pages from fifth grade through adult fiction and non-fiction books.  When he isn’t doing chores, outside or working with dad, he is reading. ;)   The real joy here is that he is helping to teach his siblings to read. 

We have gone ahead and started Prairie Primer, as it is nice to sit in the hot afternoons to read and discuss life on the prairie over 100 years ago.  We are able to compare their lives then to our lives now.  We are all enjoying reading the series of Little House books, and I believe we will continue through this winter.  Next week, we will have one at camp and three at VBS, so we won’t be doing it them. 

I do believe next week will also have me in the kitchen lots, preserving veggies from our garden.  I just put up five pounds of green beans this week, and figure I will have between 10-15 more pounds next week.  If my tomatoes start ripening, we will have salsa to can too.  It has been HOT, so I have spent numerous hours watering our garden areas. 

One outdoor fun time for our children, has been the dirt piles that were hauled in to be spread over our driveway.  However, the farm needs have been higher priority, so we have these two ton piles of dirt all over our farm yard.  You know what children do with those?  GET DIRTY, I believe that each two ton pile is probably down to one ton, because the other ton has been through the shower, vacuum, and washing machine.

Brad has been busy on the farm, turning the soil, in preparation for sowing wheat come fall, and swathing and baling hay. DSCN5264 He has had Philip out in the field with him some this week.   He really enjoys helping out in the field.  Brad has been happy with his work in the field for the most part.

Around the house, we have been having a chore boot camp.  However, this morning, we had numerous issues that resulted in using every towel we own.  One and one half gallon of milk spilt, and two gallons of water.  It is times like this, that I have to remember to be thankful for the little blessings that make these messes.  Do you want to know what I did?  I sent everyone but, Hannah outside to play, while I cleaned up.  In part, because I was steaming, and in part, because I needed to get things cleaned up, so we could move on and have things like lunch, naps, and a bit of read aloud time. 

When Brad made it home for lunch at nearly 2:00 pm, the house was mostly cleaned up and the children had all had bathes.  He was happy and that made it all worth it.  See, God wanted me to realize that it is ok, that children take so much work.  That is where he wants us. 

We are serving them and their daddies, when we work to train them in their father’s absence. 

Are they getting out of the cleaning up of the messes?  Nope, they all know, they will be folding and putting away all the laundry.  That laundry equals around ten loads between daily clothing, all those towels from spills, bedding from changing beds, they will be tending to those needs, while I enjoy some quiet in the garden picking beans. 

Philip leaves for Bible camp Monday.  It will be an interesting experience for him to stay on a strict schedule.  We typically run on routines, so this will be a change for him.  I am helping drive them the camp, and will have eleven children in my van.  I am praying it rains, so Brad and I can take them together, and maybe, just maybe, stop and have supper on the way home together, with Hannah.  Our other children will be staying here.  I imagine we will all be ready for Philip’s return on Friday.  I am not one to like not having all my chicks together.  I am a Mother Hen!!  Many days when I walk to the mailbox, we appear to be a line of ducks.  A Mama and all her ducklings. 

Speaking of the mailbox, my new camera is here.  YAY, you will be able to enjoy more pictures that are of better quality.  I am still learning the ropes of it.  We have also been getting some other fun and exciting for me things in the mail.  Curriculum, and school supplies.  I am hoping in the next few weeks to get my new printer.  I just found a great deal on ink too. What homeschool mom doesn’t need a supply of printer ink on hand?  I like to keep an extra cartridge on hand for those great eBooks we find during our unit studies. 

Speaking of eBooks, The Old Schoolhouse is having a GREAT deal on their Schoolhouse Planner.  I love many of the forms in this planner, and used them when I made our 2010-2011 Family homeschool and household notebook.     

From now until August 5, when you purchase The 2010 Schoolhouse Planner, you will receive 27 fabulous E-Books absolutely FREE-to help you plan fun, hands-on learning all through the homeschool year!

From now until midnight on August 5, you’ll receive . . .
All 12 2008 Schoolhouse Planner modules and
our WeE-book™ Insect Bundle!

And through August 15, you will also receive, all 12 2009 Schoolhouse Planner modules!

 

If you can’t tell, I will be continuing to plan for our upcoming year over the next week or so.  Are you finished with your plans?  What unit studies are you doing?

weekly wrap-upPlease note that links, may be affiliates, therefore by purchasing through them, you are supporting my new printer fund.  Our homeschool thanks you!!

Filed Under: Blessings, Christian Family, Christian Mothering, encouragement, Farmwife, garden, homemaking, homeschool, Homeschool Deals, homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms, summer fun, year around homeschool Tagged With: , ,

Weekly Wrap-Up July 4-July 10—Fireworks, Rain, Homeschool, Chiropractor, Van in the Shop, and Garage Sales

July 9, 2010 by 4 Comments

Busy week?  No, not too bad. 

On Sunday we went to church, then home for Lasagna, naps and rest.  I finished up our weekly homeschool plans, and then we went to take the kids firework shopping.  Back home for supper of pulled pork, and all the goods, and a flag cake.  We then set off fireworks between rain showers.  It was a great day to celebrate our Freedom and Independence.  I just pray we can continue.

On Monday, we dove back into school.  We started using our new Household/Homeschool Notebook, it is really helping me to stay a bit more organized and on top of things.  Just and FYI—I AM NOT organized.  I can make great pages, and put together killer notebooks, but I just can’t seem to actually organize my home.  My new planner page for school lessons has been a great success.  Easy to fill out, easy to refer to, and plenty of room.  It rained most of the day too. 

On Tuesday we continued with school and worked a bit in the garden.  Though really it was too wet.  I added some more forms to my notebook—forgot our reading log.  Opps!  I also worked on some blog designs. 

On Wednesday, we introduced a new geography unit.  My oldest has not been overly thrilled with it, but we are going to push through.  I can tell he is learning from it, and well, not all school can be fun.  We have done quite a bit of fun geography in the past, but really this is some of the boring things as he puts it.  Again, we must learn that not everything is fun in life.

On Thursday, I went to our local chiropractor—ahh much better.  I now look like I have been drinking my V8 juice, though you won’t find me drinking it. ;)  This has been a week of bumps and bruises for baby.  She bonked her head coming down the stairs, fell on a lego on her cheek, fell into the bathtub racing from the toilet getting a fat lip, and fell into the baby gate at the bottom of the stairs trying to sneak over it, resulting in a black eye.  Whew, she must be approaching 18 months.  While out and about, I picked up a couple of colored plastic containers for school books for our oldest two.  They have helped out a ton.  That was $7 well spent!!!

On Friday, we finished this week’s lessons in good time.  Hubby finished baling the hay out in our yard.  He and our oldest will pick up the bales too.  I have been working on putting together our Prairie Primer study for this year.  I had big plans to wait until next year, however, as with most everything, I am following God’s lead and diving in this year.  I am using my comb binder lots for our school.  We also had the A/C fixed in my van.  Woohoo, wasn’t so bad of repair. 

On Saturday, our community is having their annual Garage Sales.  Yippee!!  Ok, I can’t hardly resist bargains.  Could this be why I can’t keep my house organized?  Too much stuff?  Oh, my ears are plugged and I am not listening.  Nope, not my problem.  Hahaha. 

So, are you planning for next year?  Are you schooling through the summer?  Tell me all about it, because, well, I might need to check it out.

weekly wrap-up

Filed Under: Christian Family, Christian Mothering, Farmwife, garden, homemaking, homeschool, homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms, homeschool schedules, household organization, large family homeschool, Stay at home mom, summer fun Tagged With: ,

Our 2010-2011 Family Homeschool and Household Notebook with Re-usable daily, weekly, and month lists.

July 6, 2010 by 15 Comments

Many of you know, how I enjoy to come up with ways to lessen our paper usage. Last spring I shared our School Binders and Page protectors. I got to thinking this year as I was printing and making homeschool forms for our school that it would be nice to do something similar for our daily, weekly and monthly lists. I came up with the idea to use overhead projection sheets over those forms. Below, I will share pictures of our household book that I have put together. This year, I am using one book that include both our homeschool and our household information.

After much prayer and a lot of reading of reviews, and looking over samples, I finally bought the 2010-2011 The Schoolhouse Planner from The Old Schoolhouse Store. I really like many of the forms that is has. I have used several of them in our book for this year. I also used many of my own from the Large Family Homeschool Forms page. I made the cover for our book and the divider section pages using Microsoft Publisher. I used my new comb binder to bind it. I love having my comb binder and use it regularly around the home and in our homeschool.

To begin the project of designing our book, I selected the different pages that I wanted in our book. From daily, weekly and monthly to do list, to homeschool forms, household forms, medical forms, and a Bible reading plan. They are all in here.

After printing all the pages, I started the punching of the pages for the comb. It took quite awhile, but was worth the time. Next I put the pages in order and put them in the binding comb.

What I love most about this book, is that I can use a wet erase marker each day, week, and month for our to do list and menus.

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Here is the cover, I also placed an over head projection page over the cover, to help protect it.

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Here is my daily to do list, notice the red text? That is written on the over head projection plastic page—tonight I will erase it and write down our to dos for tomorrow. This is one of the TOS planner pages.

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Here you can see the plastic is pulled back to give you a better idea.

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Here is our weekly planner. I have our menu, a brief homeschool plan, and special housekeeping plan here. I also have my blog post schedule here. This is a TOS planner page.

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Here is what my divider pages look like. I made them out of cardstock.

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Here is our Bible reading plan for the year. This is one of the TOS planner pages also. I really like how it is broken down.

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My comb binder. I really love this gadget. It is one of those, won’t be living without it now that I have one items. ;)

Do you have your household notebook done? What are your secrets?

Disclosure: I am an affiliate for The Old Schoolhouse. By ordering through the links in this post, I will be paid a portion of your purchase price. Thanks for supporting Peace Creek on the Prairie.

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Filed Under: Christian Mothering, homeschool organization, Homeschool planning forms, homeschool schedules, household organization, large family homeschool, Large family homeschool planning forms, review, year around homeschool Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Weekly Wrap Up—Testing Curriculum Samples, End of Year Evaluations, Extreme Nature Walk

May 28, 2010 by 6 Comments

We had a big week, considering I didn’t ever get to lesson plans over this past weekend. I landed in the garden and only stopped long enough to eat and sleep. ;) So, Sunday around 8 pm, I decided it would be a week of curriculum samples to try it, complete our year end evaluations and unit studies. I mean really does it matter?

My children learned much character by having to be patient with me, as I threw different curriculum samples at them. We went over math samples, language arts samples, and unit study samples.

I am sure you are thinking, isn’t this the gal who said not to change if it is working? Yep, that is me, but well, there are a few glitches that have become apparent, so before I head off to our area homeschool convention next weekend, I am gathering all my ammo to pick out what we will be using for math and language arts. Part of it is that my children are surpassing my expectations. They are ahead in some areas that I did not expect them to be, so I have to plan ahead. I am busying filling out my curriculum price comparison form.

I am finished with our yearly evaluations. Monday, I didn’t really have anything planned as far as school, so I took the day and completed them. I am in the process of setting our goals for next year. Then I will break them down into quarterly goals.

This week we got quite a bit of rain, so I haven’t had to spend too much time watering the garden. However, the weeds have been abundant, and I have been working hard to keep them at bay. We have seen a few blossoms on our tomatoes, and got our farm rigged tomato cages up. I also transplanted several marigolds to their designated areas. We planted three more rows of green beans, so the time for freezing is soon upon us. Overall our garden is doing great.

On Wednesday, naptime was a bomb, and everyone was full of energy, however, our yard was muddier then a pig pen and with the cattle surrounding us, smelled just as bad. So, what is a mom to do with six wild children on a warm sunny afternoon? You take them to the nearby Wildlife Refuge and go on a nature walk.

We saw a lot of wildlife that will be shared on Tuesday in our Nature Study Tuesday post.

On our way home, we drove by Peace Creek and saw this

A raccoon swimming by a boat that is docked near a home. The other side of the bridge is our pasture land.

On Thursday, we had a day of curriculum samples again. We worked through some page of Character Quality Language Arts, and I am still trying to muddle through my thoughts here. Are the challenges that we are having due to the fact that I only have a few sample pages? My children? No teacher’s manual? Well, for now we are going to continue doing the sample pages and see if things smooth out. I also visited with a homeschool mom that has tons of information on struggling students. She has spoken at our area homeschool convention numerous times. She gave me some ideas to work on with our dysgraphic son, as I am getting to the end of my knowledge. I can’t wait to hear more what she has to say next weekend. After I finished my conversation with her, I finished checking email. I was weeding through it when I found an email from TOS Review crew. I yelped when I read the first line:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Yep, written just about like that. I will be on the 2010-2011 TOS Homeschool Review Crew. I am super excited to offer homeschool curriculum companies my opinions on their products and most excited to be able to help other parents to be able to make informed choices for products for their families.

Friday, we had a slow start to the day. We had lots of laundry to fold, because for the first time in weeks, there is no Mount Washmore in our basement. We are caught up on the washing, and just about caught up on the folding. Now to keep it that way. I am praying I can get a clothes line soon, as that will help out a ton. We have a high capacity washing machine, and a regular sized dryer. So, my dryer runs two times for each washer load of clothes. Not savvy washing.

Hubby has been busy working on equipment and getting in the field some. Our hay by our house is down and should, weather permitting be baled by Tuesday. Today is he is swathing another field, and then tomorrow one more. That will complete first cutting. Now, will we start second cutting or wheat harvest first? Anyone willing to guess?

That’s a wrap!!

Filed Under: Blessings, Christian Family, Christian Mothering, dysgraphia, encouragement, garden, homeschool, Homeschool planning forms, Large Families, Nature study Tagged With: , ,
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