This is an awesome control journal -- that I will be using some forms from -- You should check it out!!

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/PeakmoreAcademy/457720/

The third tab in the Teacher's Manual portion of my Control Journal is "BOOKS."  You will now discover another small obsession I have -- collecting books!  I have several book lists & I try once a year to do an inventory of what I have.  I get my book lists from numerous sources . . . I use "Drawn Into the Heart of Reading"  by Heart of Dakota & they offer a sample book ideas listed by genre & by level.  http://www.heartofdakota.com/drawn-into-packages.php   Heart of Dakota also offers book packages by boy/girl/classics categories.  This has been very helpful to me in selecting books for independent reading.  This is at the front of my books section.  Next, I have a list of books I am currently searching for (I always search high & low for used books before I buy them used).  

Here are the book lists I have:

Five in a Row   ---   http://www.fiveinarow.com/FIAR/FIARBL.html

Several of the Beautiful Feet Books  ---  www.bfbooks.com

Book list in the back of "Educating the Wholehearted Child"   -- Contemporary Children's Fiction, Classic Literature For Children, Picture Books & Illustrated Story Books

Timeless Classics:  Books for Young Readers   ---   http://bms.westport.k12.ct.us/lmc/classics.htm

The Ultimate Reading List  Classics that Endure   ---   http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/1997/june97/list.html

Reading Your Way Through History  ---   http://www.readingyourwaythroughhistory.com/

Baldwin Online  ----  http://www.mainlesson.com/displaybooksbygenre.php

Classic Christian Homeschooling  ---  http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/v2/index.php?page=1218

Simply Charlotte Mason (browse by subject) --- http://apps.simplycharlottemason.com/

A Charlotte Mason Education (Literature by Grade) ---  http://sites.silaspartners.com/CC_Content_Page/0,,PTID61309%7CCHID605214%7CCIID,00.html

There are also several other books that are available such as, Honey for A Childs Heart, Let's Hear it for the Girls, Let the Authors Speak, Books Children Love, The Boy's Guide to the Historical Adventures of G.A. Henty, Books that Build Character, How to Grow a Young Reader & Truthquest History offers a wonderful list of books, as well as beautiful chronological commentary.  A lot of the typical homeschooling books will offer small book lists.  For example, Educating the Whole Hearted Child, & many of the Charlotte Mason books.  In addition to these I have found wonderful book lists throughout my favorite curriculums (see sidebar).  I know a lot of homeschoolers use Sonlight Curriculum suggested reading. 

Well, there are my book list secrets.  Now if you are trying to build your own family library, I would encourage you to spend the week creating/organizing your personal "Book Tab." 

Mom's Checklist

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=603521&da=y 

Image:  http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?u=603708

Mom's Service Opportunities (zones)

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=603522&da=y

Image:  http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?u=603707

Kid's Service Opportunites (zones)

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=603520&da=y

Image:  http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?u=603714

* See Planning: My Personal Planner for Homeschooling printouts

Because I have a serious "issue" with LOVING curriculum I have dedicated my second tab to topic!! This divider also has a pocket so I store some of my pamphlets for my curriculum her or reading charts, ect. Behind this tab is proof of this sickness I have. I know God blessed me with organization & planning skills -- I truly enjoy these things! However, I do know there is a thin line & I am border lining OC on this one! Before I reveal my sick endeavors, let me explain: Okay, I have a hard time deciding which curriculum I am going to use, for which kids to use it, which age groups to keep together, when to separate my oldest from the others, & the questions just roll over & over in my head . . . well, if I do this for her will it work for him? SO, to make sense of all these wonderful possibilities I have made a chart based on ages/grades of all my favorite curriculum (so far). I know this sounds "sick," but I have struggled with my history philosophy & the whole 4 year rotation -- when to teach different era's of history. This chart has helped me plan this out. I looks something like this:

I also have 2 other charts that are my history & science plans. -- Crazy, I know! But it works for me. (& no, I don't have too much time on my hands -- just very little sleep) I will have to blog about my history philosophy soon & this may help you understand my future planning.

Next, I have a pocket divider (without the tab) to hold printout that I use for curriculum fairly often & don't want to have to open and close the binder each time.

Then there is a list of history curriculums for creation, ancients, middle ages/renaissance, US, & world history.

Last behind this tab is information upon information on my favorite curriculums. I have used adhesive-sticker tabs (I have no idea where I got them -- maybe the dollar store) to label the different curriculum for a quick find. The information on this curriculum varies, but includes: units/yearly guides, future order wish lists, outline of the curriculum, corresponding books, book packages, & overview of the curriculum.

Behind all of this I do have another pocket divider to hold info for art & music appreciation. This is separated mainly because this is something new I will be introducing and I am still studying & researching how & what I want to use.

WHY? As I have admitted, picking curriculum is something that takes a lot of prayer & time for me. There is so much great stuff out there I just want to do it all. Knowing that this isn't a possibility I do spend a lot of time researching & review my favorites. Some consideration I take into account while choosing is:

1. Which one will allow me to teach the majority of my children together?

2. Which one covers everything/most of the topics I want to teach my children?

3. Which one is teacher friendly and laid out in a user friendly format?

4. Which one will my children enjoy?

5. What books are used with this curriculum? Which books aren't used?

These are just a few of the deciding factors for me, but I have found curriculum I think I will just love, but am disappointed by how much is skipped or the poor choice of books used.

Another reason I devote time and effort to this is because I found that the different vendors are a great source for book lists (next weeks tab). Also I have been some where or talking with other homeschools are discovered a new book or curriculum that might work later for us -- this is a great place to make a note of that.

This may or may not be an issue or need for you personal control journal; however, I have included this for those of you that do need a way to keep up with all this information.

Hello!  You should have your tabs ready to go & have them labeled!  I am going to describe what I have done with each tab I chose; however, you may have had different needs with your tabs so take what you need & forget the rest!

My first tab is labeled "Teacher's Manual"

Behind this tab (in order) in a sheet protector is our schedule & a list of curriculum we are using for that year.  

P: Preschool (Tucker & Trevor)

LG:  Lower Grammar (Tyler)

UG:  Upper Grammar (Taylor)

Next is a School Calendar.  I use June - May.  I do this for a couple reasons but mainly b/c I like to plan according to seasons.  It seems that everything changes (new schedule, gardening, chores, ect) with the season.  For me it is easier to plan ahead with my calendar this way.  I use the "ruled calendar" in the school calendar section at donnayoung.org.  I like the ruled calendar so that I can make notes on the side.  Basically, I use this calendar to see an overview of our "calendar school year" & plan when we will take breaks.  The only thing I write in the ruled section next to the calendars is a number for the week we are on & vacations or breaks.  I circle the date on the calendar for holidays (you may want to circle birthdays too!)  * I have this in a page protector too & on the back is the next years calendar.

Here is a quick link to see all the available school calendars:   http://www.donnayoung.org/calendars/school/index.htm

Okay, so here is where your second set of TABS comes in . . .

For my homeschool section I purchased a set of 8 tabs; however, you may choose to use more than 1 set or a set with more tabs. 

A few thoughts on this:  I used tabs/dividers with pockets for these.  Also, Walmart, Mardels, &/or Target may have JUST THE Pocket dividers (without tabs) I have found these EXCELLENT additions to this folder.  They are A MUST HAVE!!

Here is how I labeled my tabs as well as a couple ideas for labeling your tabs: 

Tab 1:  Teachers Manual

• School schedule
• Curriculum list 
• School Calendar x2
• Yearly Lesson Plans
• MONTHLY DIVIDERS
  • Monthly Calendar
  • Weekly Lesson Plans
• Pocket Folder for EC
• Childrens grade/age layout

Tab 2:  Curriculum

• Pocket Folder (loose flyers, ect.)
• Layout of favorite curriculum corresponding to grade levels
• Annual Curriculum Guide based on History topics for each year
• History Topics & corresponding curriculum chart
• Favorite Curriculum ideas, printouts, info, ect.  (To easily identify these I placed mini-adhesive tabs at the beginning of each new curriculum
• Pocket Folder (for Art & Music Appreciation ideas/lists)

Tab 3:  Books

• Books WANTED List (divided by topic)
  • Art, Music, Nature, History, Individual reading, Read alounds, classics, ect.
• MY MANY BOOK LISTS
• (outdated) Inventory

Tabs 4-7:  One for each Child

• Yearly layout for each individual subject done independantly (or with mom)/NOT AS A GROUP
  • Reading Layout
  • Spelling
  • Grammar
  • Language Lessons
  • Math
  • *Behind my little ones tabs are Preschool/Toddler activities

Tab 8:  Goals & Inspiration:

• Quotes, scriptures, poems, encouragement
• Goals for my children/family
• Ideas/goals I wish to implement into our schooling
• Blank paper

Okay, I have once again overwhelmed you . . . There is the "layout."  I will begin to list ideas & post links & pictures of what I have done with this. 

This week just make a list of all the tabs you would like to have & decide how many you want.  Please think of what you need.  I don't have a tab for extra curricular tabs, but have added pocket dividers behind each child for their own activities.  You may wish to have individual tabs for these activities.  Ex.  dance, 4-H, baseball, gymnastics, drama, ect. If there is a lot of paper work for these activities it would be a good idea to give it it's own tab (or make a general "Extra Curricular" tab & add adhesive tabs to seperate each subject.)  Instead of having a tab for each child you may want to have a tab for each subject (adhesive tabs could be used here to divide by child as well).  You could also add a section for a rewards system or a co-op section. 

Have A Blessed Week!!

Tiff

Here are my final 2 tabs for the personal use section of this binder.

1.  Faith

This is a personal section so what you put here is very much what works for you.  Some ideas I have are journaling, Bible study notes, list of favorite scriptures, prayer lists, ect. 

Personally, this is my prayer list section.  I am also considering adding business card or index card slot covers to put scripture cards on.  I haven't decided if I want to add this to my binder or if I want to hole punch the index cards & put them on a ring -- this is a GREAT idea to keep up with memorization &/or copy work for the kids.  I will post pictures on this soon. 

2. Contacts/Moms Essentials . . . Includes:

• Addresses & phone numbers (you can do this soley alphabetically, just by importance/frequently used, ect)
  • Important Phone #'s:  non-emergency/police, poison control, hospital, pharmacies
  • Important phone numbers:  Extended family, friends, frequent play dates, neighbors, babysitters, church, pastor, church directory, contractors/repairs/handyman, cleaning services, garbage pickup, lawyer, accountant, bank, auto service, insurance, vetinarian, groomer, ect.
  • GREAT place for Co-op or EC phone directory
• Family members' information: 
  • Spouse info: work add., phone #'s, e-mail, birthdate, social & any important notes)
  • Child info: bithdate, social, special notes
• Web sites & passwords (ex.  Web site name, username, password)
• Adult's medical information:  Insurance provider, Id #, primary care, Ob/gyn or midwife, dentist, specialist, phone #, address, allergies, blood type, important health info
• Kids' medical information:  Insurance Id #, blood type, pediatrician, dentist, specialist, allergies, precriptions
  • * Also a great place to keep medical records.  Ex.  Dates & notes on yearly well check-ups/physical exams, sick visits (date, doctor, Rx, reason), eye exam & dental
• Birthdays & anniversaries 
• Christmas Card list
• Gift Ideas/records

Okay this week should be fun!  I will post anything creative I come up with this week. 

The next tabs are rather personal use - feel free to omit any that aren't of use &/or change them to work best for you.   Underneath each I will include my personal ideas & any websites that might be helpful to you.

2.  Budget

This is my least favorite   However, it is necessary.  I print out a "table format" of my bills like the one below:

Bills	Amount	Due Date	Comment
Electric
Trash
Car payment
Tim (gas, spending)
Tiff & Kids
Food
Homeschool Needs

At the top of each printout I write the month & year & the dates Tim get's payed.  I usually try to list my bills in order of time needing to be payed -- so that the top bills are for his first pay check and the bottom are for the second.  In the comment area I usually use this to make any special notes, balances on any accounts, special items purchased, ect..) 

I am sure there is a much "better" way to do this -- this is NOT my specialty, but it is easy & works for me!

3.  Food

Here is where you may want to keep frequently used recipes, co-op lists, grocery lists & weekly menus.  Nicki T. had a great idea & has created a daily rotating menu for each day of the week for every meal -- Mine is in progress.  Check back on the blog this week to see what I come up with.

This is what I use:

http://donnayoung.org/household/fullsize/ffiles08/kifiles/menu.pdf

Here are some others:

http://donnayoung.org/household/fullsize/kitchen/index.htm

http://www.healthbolt.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/hb_menu_planner.pdf

http://www.menus4moms.com/pdf/MenuPln.pdf

http://homemanagementbinder.com/printable-menu-planner-0

http://homemanagementbinder.com/printable-shopping-list-1

Faith & Contacts Next Week!

Have a Blessed week!

HELLO!  How are those Chore Charts/Service Opportunities coming along?  If you haven't used them yet try them out this week!  Have a sit down with the kids & review with them how to use them & when you expect them to be done & how long you think it should take (the first couple of weeks will be a trial).  GOOD LUCK!!

-- Oh yes, there is more this week than just starting to use the charts  But lets check off what we have already done.  You should have:

• A title for your binder
• A Daily To Do (wish) List w/ time blocks
• A Weekly To Do (wish) List
• CHORE list for YOU & Your Children
• ZONES
• Completed Charts

This week I want you to go back to your TO DO WISH LISTS & add times you want chores done (example if you have one chore time write "chores" or for more write "AM Chores, Lunch Chores, PM Chores") If you want to add when do that too (example noon, after school work, ect or write a time block 30 min).

THEN I want you to get ready to add dividers to your binder now that we have somethings to put in it!!  I purchased 2 sets of dividers w/ pockets!!  My first set is a set of 5:

1. Chores & More

• Copy of kids chores
• list of your chores
• zones
  • List of Areas & cleaning list (see http://www.flylady.net/images/detailed_cleaning_lists.pdf for a detailed cleaning list)
  • Kids Zones & cleaning list for group or individualize for each child -- this will depend on how you organized your zones.  E-mail me privately for more ideas on this.
• To Do Daily List (see example of mine below)
  • Monday:  Free Day
  • Tuesday: Errands/Clean Car
  • Wednesday:  Paper Work (Bills)
  • Thursday:  Desk (Thank You's, lesson plans, ect)
  • Friday: Gas/Grocery
  • Saturday: Rest (this is my Sabbath)
  • Sunday:  Family
• Check List
  • Morning (Devotional, E-mail, Make Beds, Dress, Babies)
  • Afternoon (Lunch, Start Dinner, Desk Rescue, Make Copies)
  • Evening (Phone Calls, E-mail, Calendar, Lessons)
  • Before Bed (Kitchen Check, Layout Clothes)

2.  Budget

3.  Food

4.  Faith

5. Contacts

* This week just work on adding to Chores & More Tab.  Nex week we will add to tabs 2-5 so just label them for this week.

My next tabs are for homeschooling, I don't want to overwhelm you with these yet, so just focus on the list above this week.  I have added some ideas for the chores & more so use this week to adapt some of this for your binder if you wish. 

Have Fun! 

Okay get your chore charts & Zones  . . . We are going to make CHARTS . . .

You do have a couple options with charts.  I have used & LOVE doorpost charts.  They are a great start & only cost $5  http://www.doorposts.net/serviceop.asp    This is a poster board size chart that  is divided into 20 sections. Write in your family’s most frequent chores in these spaces. They provide a list of 60 ideas, and 56 cartoon illustrations that you can color, cut and glue next to each chore listing. This makes an attractive chart and will help your non-readers use the chart, too. On one side of the chart is a moveable sticky (doorpost instructions are to write the childs name on these so you can assign different chores each day to each child).  Here is my tweak on their charting:  I write each childs name in a divided section & under it I list their chores & a picture for the little ones.  Next to this I place a sticky (color coded for each child, but not necessary), on the sticky I write when it is to be done (example, "daily" or "Mon" or "Tue & Thur").  When the chore is done it is placed over the picture or description.  If you choose to pay your children, you could write the reward next to the chore & the sticky could be over the reward & moved to the description when completed.  This is a great motivation & has saved me from having to ask repeatedly, "are your chores done?"  I keep this chat in my kitchen at a height that all can reach.  (I will post a picture when I am done working on our new Spring Chart). 

Other ideas for charts are computer made ones (google chore charts for freebies & ideas) or scrapbook a chart.    All you need to make your own is a posterboard, ruler, markers & small sticky notes (optional). You don't have to have a BIG chart, individual charts are an option too (walmart does sell small posterboards in a package that are perfect for individual charts).  I have both!  See previous posts on charts to look at mine.  Your charts don't have to be "Pretty" -- I just tied a hobby into making mine -- it was fun for me.  If you think your children would enjoy making their own include them!  Or have them draw small pictures for the chart. 

I do recommend color cordinating for multiple children.   Also have a hard copy or list in your "control journal" -- page protector is also helpful if you just make a copy of it.  LAMINATING individual charts will help with durability.  On the back of your hard copy write your childrens name, age,  season & year.  Example:  Taylor, 9 yr.  Spring 2008.  This will be a head start on Charts to come!!

If you want other ideas or don't think this will work for you Managers of Their Homes now has a Managers of Their Chores.  You may want to look into their system.  -- None the less, MAKE A CHART!!

OH . . . I must include the idea that Doorpost uses . . .  These are NOT "CHORE CHARTS"  they are "SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES." 

Good Luck!  Have Fun!  Be Creative!  Send Pictures!  E-mail for questions . . .

God Bless!

Once your chore lists are done your are ready to ZONE!!

"Zoning" is a Flylady concept & I have tweaked it a little.  Zones are areas of your house that you create to do MAJOR cleaning in  for 10-15 minutes each day (this is when the microwave is cleaned, the pantry is organized, ect).  Here is my idea on "Zoning" for my family: 

I have WEEKLY "Zones" & my children have DAILY "Zones"  (you can view a chart of our zones in previous posts).  You don't have to have seperate zones for you and the kids, but I decided to b/c there are so many of us & I am fearful that when I am focusing on one area, the rest will fall apart.  So, while I am working one week on a room, my children are keeping up the pace around the rest of the house by rotating rooms each day.

• Decide if you want to work on zones together or if you want seperate zones (*kid zones can be weekly too)
• Pick your Zones (here are a few examples, but this will depend on your house size & design)
  • Fly Lady Zones are:
    • Zone 1: The Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room
    • Zone 2: The Kitchen
    • Zone 3: The Bathroom and One Extra Room
    • Zone 4: The Master Bedroom
    • Zone 5: The Living Room
  • My Zones are:
    • Kitchen
    • Living Room
    • Bedroom
    • School Room
    • Kids Room
    • *Bathroom (I did not put this on my chart mainly b/c  I live with 4 boys so my bathroom needs attention on an AS NEEDED basis.) 
  • My Chilrens Zones are:
    • Bedroom
    • School Room
    • Living Room
    • Kitchen
    • Yard

My zones, as I described, are WEEKLY.  So, for the first week of the month I work on zone 1 every day for 10-15 minutes.  Example  March 3-7 I work on my kitchen, the next week I will work on the living room & so on.  The kids are DAILY, so on Monday (AS A GROUP) they work on the bedrooms (*exception is my daughter works on hers & the boys theirs together).  On Tuesday they will ALL work on the school room, ect. . .  Another thought, depending on how many children you have, is giving each child a different zone weekly or daily.  Example  Taylor, Mon - bedroom, Tue - school room, Wed - Kitchen  Tyler, Mon - yard, Tue - Living Room, Wed - bedroom  OR  Week 1:  Taylor - Kitchen, Tyler - Yard, Tucker - School Room

After you have created your zones

• decide how you are going to work in them (individual/group/mom/kids & weekly/daily)
• pick your weeks or days (REMEMBER ACTIVITIES)
• Create a cleaning/to do list for each zone  (if you are doing zones seperate from the kids you may want to make a different list of things you want them to do -- you can assign tasks for each child or just let them while they are cleaning.) 
• Set a time limit for zone work (at first you may want to spend longer to get into the routine, but try not to spend longer than 15 minutes)

So your chore list should be almost completed . . . Let's REVIEW

1.  Make a Cleaning List

• Daily Cleaning
  • Now is the time to get the highlighters or a colored pen/marker for each child (Pick a color for each child)
  • Go through your list & highlight by color what each child is capable of doing.  Some chores  may be double or triple highlighted -- no worries . . . Once you are done highlighting, make a column for each child.  Write the chores they are capable of doing under their name.  For the chores that more than one child is able to do:
    • Ask your children which chores they would like to do.
    • If you can't agree flip a coin or draw sticks -- winner gets first pick.
• Weekly Cleaning
  • HIGHLIGHTERS Please!  Do the same process as Daily Chores to decide Who & What.
  • Decide do you want: 
    • 1 MAJOR Cleaning Day to do ALL the weekly chores
      • WHEN?  -- Pick a day to do all the extra chore 
    • Extra Chores each day
      • Add the decided chores to the bottom of each childs list & decide which day you would like this done.

* Just a few thoughts:  When deciding WHO, WHAT & WHEN keep in mind trash days, extra curricular activites, busy days, ect.  DO NOT under estimate your children -- they CAN do household work.  Keep in mind -- TRAINING PERIODS may be needed.  Once you are ready to present a CHORE CHART to your children you will spend time going over "how to" & expectations.  -- YES, you WILL need to go over this a few times (don't we still have to with our GROWN husbands every now & then? lol)  Also, remember that having responsiblities are good for your children & we all have our own ways of doing things.  I have had to bite my tongue several times & remind myself that the towels don't HAVE to be folded perfectly & it is okay if they don't load the dishwaher the way I do -- the fact that they are HELPING at all -- HELPS!!  When you do want to "perfect" a certain chore, pick ONE at a time for each child & encourage them & just smile at the wrinkled clothes. 

** Toddlers:  Even they can WORK & surprisingly they will be EXCITED to have "Chores"  Don't leave them out.  Here are a few things my toddlers do:  Wipe kitchen table, pick up toys, pick up yard (Tucker is even picking up dog poop), feed the dogs, sweep up little piles, ect.  *** Tucker LOVES his little hand broom & mini dust pan -- good investment!  -- These chores can, but don't HAVE to be time or day specific.

I made these chore charts with a digital scrapbooking program I have (lifetimez) & the digital designs are from Krystal Hartley, Shappy Princess, Topline-Creations, & Glitz Design.

. . . It has been a while - I hope I don't have any dropouts!  Now you have had a couple extra weeks to make your "Wish List" hopefully you have all done this - Go ahead and place it in the front of your binder we will come back to it later.  Now we are going to continue making more lists. 

This week I think we should make a CHORE list & we will add this list to our other Wish List at the end of the week.  This week I want you to make 2 lists:  1. Daily Chores  2.  Weekly Chores  . . . Then I want you to decide when you want the daily chores done.  Until recently my children did their chores all in the morning.  I know one mom that completing chores is your ticket to breakfast.  I found that doing everything in the morning made our day more crunched for time.  So I have broken the chores into AM (first thing after breakfast), Lunch (to do while mom makes lunch), PM (before daddy gets home/after school).  This is just a suggestion, if you do decide to make 2-3 time slots, it might be helpful to leave any out door chores for the afternoon, when the weather is warmer. 

Just incase you need ideas Here is our lsit currently, I am going to be changing it this week & I will post my revised list soon (we are changing to boy chores and girl chores). 

Currently:

AM: Beds, Dishes, Laundry, Kitchen Table  (Everyone makes beds, Taylor unloads dishes & dryer *in warm weather we hang our clothes on a line, Tyler loads washing machine & dishwasher, Both big kids fold load of laundry, Tucker wipes kitchen table off)

LUNCH:  Outside Chores/Animal Care (Rotate days - Picking up dog poop, Taylor feeds dogs, Tyler rabbits, All kids check chickens & goats)

PM:  Pick up Room, Zones* (we will get to this next week)

For Weekly Chores: Pick one day during the week or a different day throughout the week for each chore

Currently: 

Thursdays are our BIG cleaning day.

Taylor:  Waters plants, sweeps kitchen & school room, empties all the trash (except kitchen)

Tyler: Cleans bathroom sink, wipes mirrors, sweeps living room (During the warmer season I include sweeping the porch)

EVERYONE:  Clean up yard day.

My new list I want to add more chores for Tucker & change Taylors.  I really want her to make bread & juice for our family.  In addition, I want each of us to do something nice for someone else each week.

**Throughout the day we also have a "10 second Tidy" -- this is random when I can't handle the current disaster!!  I just announce it & everyone picks up 10 things.

MY CHORES:

Daily:  Pick up office, get last minute lesson plans done/copies, pick up kitchen after breakfast, make bed, get babies dressed, layout dinner, help boys with their room, put laundry away, ZONE

Okay, here is another helpful hint:  Laundry -- This is a never ending BATTLE!!  I have found by seperating loads by day we are starting to WIN the battle.  Example:

Sat/Sun = off *unless overload or emergency

Mon = Jeans

Tue = Darks

Wed = Mediums

Thur = Lights

Fri = Towels

Also, you might have noticed I added notes for warmer weather -- We do have a Winter Chore List & a Warmer Weather Chore List & in the summer during no school it changes slightly.  You will find you are revising your list every 3-6 months, as the weather changes & your kids can handle new/different responsibilities. 

FYI:  We do not pay for chores.  Tim says their pay is food and electricity (LOL); however, we do reward for jobs well done, diligent work, ect.  If you choose to pay your children go ahead & discuss this with your husband & write down a price/reward next to the chore.  If money is not an option, but you would like to reward your child be creative - money isn't the only way to reward.  You can reward daily or weekly or whenever you'd like.  Here are a couple ideas for rewarding:  extend bedtime for that day or one day, treats, time with mom/dad, movie at bedtime/before bed, day free of chores, bake cookies, free time, special favor or privilge, snuggle time, tea party, homemade award, gift certificate.  *If you haven't done so already, this is a good time to teach your child about tithing if you decide to reward with money.  Another thing we do at our house is a general rule when they do receive money is that 1. they have to put 1/2 in their piggy banks 2. they can't have more than $10 in their wallets.  They do have to use their own money on field trips (typically they are allowed to take a certain amount out - set by us) to purchase anything "extra." 

Good Luck making your lists!  May the Lord lead you to create Service Opportunities for your family that will bring order & great blessings to your family.

Today is Thursday so hopefully you have started to make your LIST (remember you are just making lists - not schedules yet). This is just the start of organizing a schedule. We are going to make lots of "lists" & you may want add a few things to your schedule throught the making of this binder. Keep in mind while doing this that for most homeschoolers every day is different. On a typical "HOME" day times are great goals; however on some days it is not reasonable & specific times only make us feel behind. If specific time slots stress you don't do it or just do it for things you want it done and finished by a certain time! I do think that the time block is important so you have a goal of how long you want to spend doing one thing. Especially with homeschooling, I find that my children like to drawout certain activities. Basically, this week you are making your "In a perfect world 'wish list.' "

Here is my WISH LIST (this is a long list, but these are NOT things I plan on doing EVERY day -- just a list of things I WANT to do on a weekly basis -- we will worry about specificly "when" next week):

5:30 Alarm (mommy): Dress

6-7 Devotional (mommy)

7 ALL kids wake up: devotional & dress

7:30 AM Chores (Bed, Laundry, Dishes)

8 Breakfast : Memory Work & Vocabulary Word (Tim gives each child a new word at the beginning of the week & they have to look it up, remember how to spell it & use it throughout the week)

9 School Starts: *next to each activity is the "time block"

Tyler w/ babies (30)

Taylor w/ babies (30)

Free Play (60-90)

PM Chores (household cleaning/Zones) = (30)

Mom pick up time (30)

Mommy Time -- Computer, e-mail, lesson plans, phone calls, ect. (30-60)

5:30 Dinner (30-60)

7:30 Story Time (30)

8 Quiet Time (30)

8:30 Bed

I am praying that God will guide you to list things & time blocks that will work for you and help your family manage their time well & accomplish everything or most things on your "WISH" list.

TIFF

So today is the first day of starting our "control journal" . . . which brings me to the first thing I want you to do: Start thinking of a title for your binder . . . what do you want to call it? -- this is going to be like another member of the family! lol I have named mine: "Motherhood Management"

Okay, now for the REAL homework:

1: I want you to take some time and consider ALL the things you would like to accomplish in a day (MAKE A LIST). Then make a list of all the things you want done throughout the week. So you will have a "Daily" & "Weekly" list. *I will post an example of mine in another post today.

2. Go back through your "Daily" list and write how long you will a lot to each activity -- Make a time block basically.

3. Go back through your "Daily" list and fill in time slot for this.

*All you need to do with your "Weekly" list is make one -- don't worry about how long or when at this point!

Okay, there is week one. Good luck & be POSITIVE! Write things down that you WANT done -- not necessarily what is being done. I once read that when you write things down you are more likely to do it -- So WRITE THINGS DOWN!!

One last thing, the reason I decided to start a blog was so that we could motivate one another & give each other advice -- Please post comments if you have any other ideas or have time to share what worked for you. This is YOUR planner - not mine - I am just sharing with you what worked for me so if you don't like my ideas don't do it - if you have another idea please Share it!

Good Luck! you CAN do it!!

Tiff

Okay Ladies,
Get ready! Every Monday I will send you an e-mail with instructions for the week & I will be posting blogs thoughout the week with tips & ideas.

I have ready the Flylady book & looked on their website *they even have special instructions for teachers/homeschoolers :)
I have also looked at SEVERAL different websites & will add a little personal touch to this project. We will be organizing (don't be affraid of that word anymore!) our very own personalized "control journal."

Here is a brief description of what this will consist of . . .

Routines:
Each time of the day (am, lunch, pm & school)
Schedule (master, student, mom is sick days)
Calendars (yearly, monthly, weekly-- if you choose)
Weekly check list

Chores & More (I will give some tips from doorpost as well)
chore chart -- including laundry routine
ZONES (I'll explain later) for you and your kids

Budget

FOOD
menu
grocery list
coupons
co-ops

Health
records
remedies

Contacts
babysitter form
personal
Er #'s
contacts
birthdays
computer help -- passwords

Faith
prayer list
Bible study notes
journaling

Teachers Manual:

Goals, Inspiration, Ideas

individual plans per subject/child

Units

Records

Book list

Busy toddler Ideas

Happy File

Curriculum guide

Reading schedule

Letters (notes about experiences while homeschooling)

Extra Curricular

DON'T be affraid -- I am going to help you along the way & give you LOT'S of ideas while gathering all of this. Keep in mind these are ideas I have, so if you don't like them or won't use some of these sections -- you can always skip it. AND keep in mind this is PERSONAL so if you want to add anything to it -- IT IS YOURS!!!

Go ahead & pick up a binder (*size is optional but think ahead of ALL you want to put in it -- I know the big ones are BIG, but keep in mind how nice it will be to have EVERYTHING in one spot!) TIP FROM TIFF -- Walmart has "Avery" brand binders with a 360 degree ring -- allowing it to fold back like a spiral notebook. And you will need several dividers -- you may want to wait but if you purchase look at the list above & think of "tabs" you will want. KEEP IN MIND -- I suggest 2 sets (one for personal use & one for the "school" section).
** Also, take into consideration when purchasing these items if you are going to want to decorate your binder & dividers -- for the binder the ones with the insert pocket are best.

Until Monday,

Tiff