You can find part 1 here

First, I looked over the next 6 weeks and counted how many days we were at home for school and not on a field trip or in this case celebrating someone’s birthday – that is of course a holiday.

I made up a schedule by days not dates (Day 1, Day 2 …). Of the 3 subjects that I can assign and the kids for the most part can do on their own – ( math, grammar, and writing for the 10 and 9 year old; For the 7 year old- math,  phonics and sight word pages and handwriting/copywork),  I wrote down every lesson.

This saves me from having to look over the lesson the day of and saves the kids from waiting on me before they can do their assignment.

I filled in the schedule with all the assignments and tucked it into their folder.

This allows to them to see what is expected of them over the next 6 weeks.

Next, I designed a  daily check off chart. This is for the child and I to see at a glance what he has accomplished on any given day. If they messed around or had to spend extra time on an assignment, they can make it up on a lighter school day or on a Saturday. This has really put the responsibility on the child. There have been a few Saturdays that schoolwork was being done so the child wouldn’t have to do it while the rest of us are on vacation at the end of this term. .

The chart also allows me to see if I am trying to accomplish too much in a given day, expecting too much from the child and  I can see if we need to spend extra time on, lets say history because the day before we only did science and it took longer then expected or we got on a tangent.

I attach the charts to the front of their plastic, pocket folders. (I love the durability of these folders and each child has their own color.)  I clip my chart onto my clipboard. This holds me accountable to my days and gives me a sense of accomplishment.

On my clipboard are the day charts for history and science, the subjects we do all together as well as a circle time check off chart.

Hope that makes good sense. Leave a question in the comments if I wasn't clear.

Also if your interested in an excel file copy of these lists, e mail me and I'd be happy to share.

In my next post, I'll show how I use a file box to organize weekly papers.

*The boys' checklist (the one I attach to the folder)is for me and them to see what they have accomplished each day. Mom's checklist (the one on my clipboard) is for the subjects we do all together and individual subjects I need to accomplish everyday with my early learners. The Subject checklist is a play by play of what is to be done over the the course of our 6 week term - we have a separate sheet that gives them and me an idea of what we are to do on each day of the week.