Monthly Archives: August 2013

Unit Study Theory 101 – Class 3

education3Welcome to the third and final class of Unit Study Theory 101.   For today’s class I will be answering the question, “How do you make weekly plans for unit studies?”  However, before we get to that, I’ll explain how my longer term plans are designed.

After years of having a messy planner, (erase marks, comments in the margins, and scribbled out assignments),  I gave up traditional planning and threw the planner away.   It seemed like we hardly ever “stuck” to the plan because life happened, we took advantage of unexpected learning opportunities , or  group activities would consume a day or two.   Sometimes assignments  took longer or went quicker than I expected them to.

Keeping a journal works much better.  I keep my journal in a binder.  The first page is this printable from Teacher Files (I changed the months to match our school year).  I fill in some of the  blanks as we start each month,  the rest gets filled in as it happens.  http://www.teacherfiles.com/downloads/Long%20Range%20Planner.pdf

Making a “possibility” list of topics and the subjects it will include for the current unit study is the next page in my binder.  I add  the start and finish dates as they happen, (or cross out what we didn’t do). The next page is where I record resources.  I print off themed notebooking pages for my journal (usually the same pages I print  for the kids notebooking/journaling assignments).  When the unit study is over, I begin a new possibility list for the next study .  This a simple way to keep track our learning.

I love sticky notes for weekly planning .  Usually  Saturday is the day I make the upcoming weeks plans.  I look over the special days list first to see what  I want to be included in our studies for the upcoming week.  I write that on a sticky note and place on the weekly chart.  Next, I put extra curricular activities on other sticky notes and add those to the chart.  Finally, I make  sticky notes for daily assignments (based off of my “possibility” list) to add to the chart.  At the end of each day, I move the notes to my journal to record later or move the sticky note to the next day if the assignment needs more time.  I found this chart at the $Tree for us to use this school year.  In the past, I made my own weekly charts on poster board.

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Fridays are left blank on the planner.  This is the day to catch up on any uncompleted assignments or free study and group activities.

Other related posts :

The first class of Unit Study  101, click here  https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/07/22/unit-study-theory-101/

The second class of Unit Study 101   https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/07/25/unit-study-theory-101-class-2/

Listing of special days in August   https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/07/29/special-days-in-august/

About our homeschool Fridays https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/03/09/the-ifs-of-friday/

If you have questions or comments, please leave them for they may be helpful to others.

Happy planning!

betty jo

Our Homeschooling Week Ending August 2

This homeschooling week ends finding this mama tired but happy.  What a week!  I’ve been getting our house and schooling in order so that all will be ready on Monday, our official start back to full time homeschooling.

A week or so ago, I saw an idea for refurbishing a crib into a desk.  I wanted one.  We were able to get an old crib from our church’s supply closet and B15  assembled it just how I had envisioned it.  The desk top is our dry erase board (a leftover piece of white Formica).  Z thinks it’s cool to be allowed to draw on the desk top.  I like the size.  It’s large enough for two with plenty of room for a puzzle or math games.  Placing it in front of the window will be nice as we journal seasonal observations (and spy on the neighbors).

999560_495814647167059_661678687_nI enjoyed the “Back To School” sales this week.  I still have a bit left to get while the prices are low, however our haul is looking rather large and it’s more than what we need to get started including coffee and chocolate for the teacher!

968878_495814623833728_2090607164_nThe bulletin boards have been emptied and are ready for new word walls and timelines.

1098203_495814573833733_1587169747_nOur new calendar and weekly planner are on their boards.

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Our materials from Nutrients for Life arrived this week.  I told the kids we would be waiting until school started to open it.  I’m hoping it will have useful information and resources to add to our science studies.

998073_495814673833723_564966122_nFree teaching materials can be ordered here http://www.nutrientsforlife.org/teachers/curriculum/toolkit.

We have one major project left to do this weekend.  It’s time to erase our ocean mural.  I feel a little sad about erasing this one.  I think it has been my favorite.  It certainly was the most fun to work on (yet).

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I hope you had a good week, too and that the coming week will be even better!

betty jo

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