I finally did it. I made weekly checklists for our homeschooling. This is only for the boys' reading, which was taken from the reading plan for the autumn 12-week term and divided up into 12 manageable portions. The kids will each get a copy of theirs, and I have the master copy (mwah-ha-ha-ha!). I hope that these will help us see where we are, and stay on track even if a boy falls behind in his reading or surges ahead.

Son1's weekly reading checklist, Autumn 2007

See it at Google Docs

Son2's weekly reading checklist, Autumn 2007

See it at Google Docs

Here are my reading plans for the boys for our spring term, mid-February through May.

See it at Google Docs

See it at Google Docs

Here are my reading plans for the boys for our winter term, mid-November through mid-February. This is what I use to create a weekly reading checklist for each boy.

See it at Google Docs

See it at Google Docs

I got the image thing figured out, hurrah. I've worked out a weekly structure for each boy's school day and related reading. I think it will work well after the shakedown period! Er, the first image has a little text box; please ignore -- not gonna redo this image AGAIN.

See it at Google Docs

See it at Google Docs

We start with some chores, and then a bunch of somewhat quick things for about an hour: Bible Study for All Ages three times a week, and then daily memory work and drill, handwriting/copywork, piano, and then Latin (a high-focus subject).

After a short break, we get back to the high-focus stuff with math, followed by some music for a change of pace (learn a folk song or a hymn, listen to a well-known classical piece, etc.). Then Son1 tackles his History Odyssey lessons and reading, and Son2 has some time with me for read alouds. On Wednesdays, though, we have time for art or a project instead of music and history/reading, and on Fridays we have an open block from morning break until after lunch.

Speaking of lunch, I planned a one-hour lunch break, after which on most days Son1 will have composition and Son2 will have reading time, followed by free time, or science (Wednesday), or nature study (Friday). On Monday, though, since we typically start new topics in several subjects at the beginning of each week, I planned free time after lunch.

That's pretty much it for seatwork. The final thing each day is a block of time for school-related reading, with a different focus each day to keep it fresh. Oh, and it's an hour for Son1 and half an hour for Son2. I think this is plenty of time for each boy to get his reading done each week.

I think I set up enough time with me on the right subjects, helpful free time for all of us, and reading time which is essentially household quiet time, too. Son1 has about 3 hours of seatwork a day, plus reading. Son2 has about 2 hours daily.

It took me a while to figure out how to post my Autumn reading overviews for the boys as images, and I've put the files at Google Docs as well. I combined The Latin-Centered Curriculum (tracks for classical studies, scope of history, church history, American studies, literature; and carefully chosen foundational books)... a bit of Charlotte Mason (short sessions daily, and nature study)... and the history and good books recommendations of Ambleside Online.

See it at Google Docs

See it at Google Docs

I'm quite happy with my pretty reading plans! And they give a quick overview, which is helpful. Since planning this out, I've worked out a checklist for each boy for their reading, divided by week so they can tell what they have left for that week, or whether they've fallen behind, or even moved ahead. As can I, of course; I like being able to see where we are and where we're headed.

After a complete summer break of 2 1/2 months -- totally NOT what I had planned, but definitely what I needed! -- I decided we could and ought to do a couple of weeks of homeschool warmup before throwing ourselves into the regular schedule on August 20. Besides, I really want us to finish Rome and the late classical world before starting the Middle Ages study this year. So, two birds, one stone...

The warmups are review of things we did last year, except for the reading, which is set up in the way we're going to do it this year.

Son1 (age 11.5, 6th grade)

:: Warmup week, August 6-10 ::

Math facts: math fact games (dominoes, playing cards, etc.) - multiplication
Memory work: our poems & prayers
Latin: Minimus ch. 1 and Latin for Beginners -  read aloud with everyone
Piano: each day, practice a different song he learned last year
Handwriting: write lunch plan for the week
Reading:
- Mon: The Story of Mankind (Van Loon), ch. 22 / The Bronze Bow (fiction) - start
- Tue: Our Island Story (British history), ch. 1 – read aloud from computer
- Wed: Famous Men of Rome, ch. 1 – from computer
- Thu: Our Island Story, ch. 2 – read aloud from computer
- Fri: The Story of Mankind, ch. 23, 24

:: Warmup week, August 13-17 ::

Math facts: MWF worksheets; TuTh math fact games (dominoes, cards, etc.)
Memory work: our poems & prayers
Latin: readings from Latin Book One , ch. 6-12 – read aloud with Mom
Piano: each day, practice a different song
Handwriting: write a note to someone
Reading:
- Mon: The Story of Mankind, ch. 25 / The Bronze Bow - continue
- Tue: Our Island Story, ch. 3 – read aloud from computer, taking turns
- Wed: Famous Men of Rome, ch. 2 – from computer
- Thu: Our Island Story, ch. 4 – read aloud from computer, taking turns
- Fri: The Story of Mankind, ch. 26

Son2 (age 7.5, 2nd grade)

:: Warmup week, August 6-10 ::

Math facts: math fact games (dominoes, cards, etc.) - addition, subtraction, some multiplication
Memory work: our poems & prayers
Latin: Minimus ch. 1 and Latin for Beginners - read aloud with everyone
Piano: each day, practice a different song he learned last year
Handwriting: write breakfast plan for the week
Reading:
- Daily: The Story of the World v.1, ch. 27, 28, 29, 34, 35, 36 – read aloud with Mom
- TuTh: Our Island Story, ch. 1 & 2 – read aloud from computer, taking turns

:: Warmup week, August 13-17 ::

Math facts: MWF worksheets; TuTh math fact games (dominoes, cards, etc.)
Memory work: our poems & prayers
Latin: Minimus ch. 1 and Latin for Beginners – read aloud with Mom
Piano: each day, practice a different song
Handwriting: write a note to someone
Reading:
- Daily: The Story of the World v.1, ch. 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 – read aloud with Mom
- TuTh: Our Island Story, ch. 3 & 4 – read aloud from computer, taking turns