Heart of Wisdom Day by Day Update

[Robin Sampson]

I'm working on the Day by Day Planner. I'd like more feedback from you.

Ancient History Adam to Messiah is unique in that it is flexible and structured (4 step lesson plans).

1. Lessons: Many are given so you can choose what fits your child' interest (See Delight Directed Learning). Lessons can be skipped, or expanded to last several days.
   
2. Resources: We list a lot of resources so you can choose from resources you may have on hand or have easy access to (what in your library)
   
3. Activities: Designed for multi-level teaching We list a lot of activity options so you can
   

a.) choose what fits your child's learning style and
b.) choose what fits your child's age level 
c.) choose an activity based on your day (i.e. hectic, laid back, playing catch up, etc)

All the items above, I felt, are the Heart of Wisdom benefits. However, from the poll feedback you want:

1. Have a plan laid out to know which lessons to do each day.
2. Know exactly which resource to read.
3. Know exactly which activity to do.
   

What the majority of you want (according to poll)  is to turn the flexible program into a more structured program. I get that.

I want to explain that to do this I need to do some things such as:

1. Lesson Plans: a list of what should be completed each day Monday through Friday 180 Days a year (typical school schedule)
   
2. Resources:I will need to pick them for you-- its the only way I can tell you what to do each day. This may mean purchasing more resources.
   
3. Activities: I will need to pick them for you-- its the only way I can tell you what to do each day.

I'm concerned the new plans will come off like a dictatorship- something I have always avoided (it REALLY bugs me when someone thinks "their way is the only way" - a sore spot of mine from legalistic background).
 
I've been working on it for several weeks and the only way I can continue the flexibility is to leave it as it is.  Remember the cook book analogy: use what you want add and subtract according to to your family's wants and needs.

However, I think I can make the Day by Day flexible yet structured this way:

• The Day by Day would be the "Plan A" -- listing of how I use the lessons each day of the week for my family.(Skipping some lessons expanding others)
  
• Plan B, C etc you have the option to follow the Day by Day plans or go off course choosing alternatives from the book (alternate resources, and activities already listed in AH)

How does this sound to you? Are you willing for me to dictate the resources  and activities
(narrowing down what we already recommend). It be like you borrowing my daily plans.

I'm rambling a bit, trying to let you inside my head. I love brainstorming with you and getting ideas--now is the time while I'm working on the framework.

BTW, your answers here count toward the free giveaway drawing!

Thank you for your help.
Robin

[Penney]

Robin, I'm like you. I love the flexibility. Especially since I really want the Spirit to lead in our homeschooling. But for those with personalities who need structure, I bet they wouldn't mind you telling them exactly what to read and what activity to do each day. You may feel uncomfortable doing it, but it may set their minds at ease. To help you feel a little more flexible, you might give them a couple of options concerning books to read and activities to do each day.
I have been so blessed by the whole concept you have taught. I have been reading from the Daily Bible this whole year. We have been very consistent, but we have many days where we have to catch up! And the other day, I had the kids color timeline figures to go with what we're reading - Israel Taken into Captivity by Assyria. Then I had them fill in place names on a map of Israel and color them. Then I read to them from The Victor Journey Through the Bible. It all just came to me because of learning from you how to put a lesson together. And, of course, making the Bible the main priority has influenced our homeschooling in a huge way. The concept was what I needed. I don't like being tied to a day by day schedule. I can't keep up with it, and I get frustrated. But I know others do perfectly well that way and really need it. It's a good thing to have something set up for each personality type.

[Mrs. Hewett]

I wholeheartedly agree with Penney. Well said!

[Diana]

I ADORE the idea of borrowing your lesson plans idea! I like to have it super structured especially when we are busy and I don't have the time to delve into additional planning. I also love that you will have the plan B idea where you provide alternatives and more information. that way, if we have the time, or the kids are really loving the current lesson, we can easily elect to delve into more fun!

It sounds perfect. :)

[Robin Sampson]

I meant to explain that Plan B is in the book now.

Each lesson list several resources, links and activities. Plan A will just narrow that down to a few.

Thanks,
Robin

[Laura]

Hi Robin, Thanks for taking the time to explain what you're thinking. Actually, that explanation helped me alot to realize that the flexibility is really what I'm looking for. I modify the plans in my current curriculum anyway. I will be switching over to HOW this year as my daughter enters 4th grade. The sample that you made, just having which lessons to cover on a daily basis helped me. I was kind of overwhelmed when I looked at the ancient Israel unit and say how many topics there were!

I'm sure that laying everything out day-by-day and choosing books would be very helpful and save us a lot of time. But it must be time-consuming for you! Thanks for all your help!
Laura

[Debra Green]

Hi Robin,

I LOVE the HOW the way it is! I love that I can pick and choose from the resources and make them fit best for my family! My life needs flexibility so any day to day do this list is NOT what I want at all! For example: We may be in the midst of studying Ancient Egypt and it just so happens that our IMAX theatre is showing a movie about it- we choose that instead. I don't want to think that I may need to buy that resource and not ever end up using it, when that is exactly what has happened EVERY other time I have tried to use a canned curriculum. I also look for ministry opportunity days and axe all formal learning so I would never stay on a 180 planned schedule- besides, our state requires 172. If the Rescue Mission needs help serving meals, then we will do that instead of book learning. If I have an opportunity to go on a missions trip and take the kids, we will do that.

I love you and appreciate you so much and thank you for what you've done with HOW already. I recommend to others who need a bit more structure to sit down at the beginning of each new unit. Pull out the resources you have and decide if you want any others. Check other sources as well (e.g. Netflix - we've found lots of movies on Abraham, etc., that correlate with what we are doing). Then make a list of ideas you'd like to do for the unit, type them up, and then cross them off! And I always plan more than I can get around to- but I structure it to the quantity of days I want to concentrate on that unit. When the number of days is up, were done and on to the next. (I had to do this due to my love of learning extensively- I used to spend a whole year studying one historical period the first time I homeschooled!) It's too simple and takes me a couple of hours for each unit - meaning my planning time is a whole couple of hours about once or twice a month. This way I choose what I want to do and my children have input as well!
I do not get bored either- because I am switching subjects often enough and choosing what ideas work for me as well :-).

Honestly, I do not know how you improve on something so excellent already. I do not fall in the category of wanting a more structured program. I like, no LOVE, the list of resources to choose from. I really do not see what is so hard about using the unit study to say, "Hey, doesn't this look interesting? Let's do this... Our family would really like this..."

You are appreciated more than I ever let you know and have taught me so much,
Debra

[Robin Sampson]

Thanks for the kudos. You explained what I've been thinking. I do think its super the way it is.

But I also understand the desire for the structure--like baking. I love home made but sometimes I don't have time and need to go to the bakery. Yet another food analogy ;)

Maybe I should do something more like a fill in the blank planner to help them make their own day by day. A Q and A with blanks?

Thank you so much,
Robin

[Michelle]

I am not quite sure how to respond to your questions. I have always worked best with structure and lists. However, many years ago the Lord revealed to me in many ways that we need to be flexible to do His Will. One of the ways that the Lord confirmed this was by bringing me to your website. You taught flexibility by teaching without textbooks and lesson plans and by being lead of the Lord. Now you seem to be being lead or peer pressured into spelling out everything for people who, like me, prefer or think we will do better with everything spelled out rather than being Spirit Lead.

You asked in past questions about whether you should even do a book like this and I said no. I answered this way because it seems to totally contradict what your teaching approach has stood for... lead of the Lord and Delight Directed. Somehow these things seem that they will be lost in these lesson plans. That being said if you are giving a choice between the ideas above I think that the Plan A, B & C approach would be the better choice.

Michelle

Parting thought... I think those that want the lessons spelled out are not truly seeking the Lord for their family, are not trusting the Lord's decision, or maybe don't know how to hear the Lord in this whole matter. The latter thought is maybe another book for you to write... how to hear from the Lord... Or maybe more encouragement to follow through and TRUST what the Lord is leading your (their) family to do.

[Lisa Fernandez]

While I do want to be flexible, I think that can still work for those of us who want or need a day by day. All we have to do is choose. Home schooling is always a choice. Not all of us hear from the Lord like He is on the other end of the phone. Sometimes when we are waiting for His lead or direction we still have to do something. I would rather be led by a trusted friend who has fruit in their lives than go along with what every other Jane doe is doing.

When I started with my son in 95 I had no idea what a bent was, who were the it people were, and no one I knew even heard of homeschooling. They all thought I was crazy.

I was just saved the end of 92. So I didn't even know that I could hear from God. I knew I loved Him who saved me and wanted to do the best I could with the gift He gave me. 97 was my first convention here in FL where I heard tons. I then started praying for the Lord to show me my son's bent and what to teach him. I heard in 2001. I just found the book list from the library recently. so I still had to "do school" till I heard. The Lord told me to "teach him my law". I didn't know what that meant in detail, so we did the ten commandments and some Jewish poems, still didn't really know what I was doing. During our reading "The Purpose Driven Life" my son went in his room to pray and comes out and tells me, God just told me to be a lawyer. I was not doing college prep, we had to add things to be ready. He was in 10th grade at this point. He had to double up on math and science for a while to get it done, but it all worked out. The point is we all don't know all the things the Lord has for each child and as we trust Him there sometimes is waiting involved.
Our next big prayer is for his LSAT and what law school does He want my son to go to.

Meanwhile I have son 2 who is 7 now and while my world is about learning more of the Lord, I do need help
planning my day with him, and I do trust you Robin as I have been beyond blessed learning from you.

My humble 2cents. Please know whatever you choose to do, I am grateful for all you do!
Lisa

[Momtoplhni]

I like to be able to see what someone else is doing, but then be able to build on it. For instance, I am using the Prairie Primer this year. I am grabbing bits from it, bits from other unit studies on the Little House Books, and bit from my own ideas.

I do this with about everything we use.

Clear as mud? lol

[Mara]

Like many people on the forum, I've been using bits and pieces from various sources while homeschooling. I love the idea of having premade schedules on those days nothing else seems to be working but understand they're not for everyone since our children are all different and may each have different learning styles. Perhaps you could list possible activities for each learning style rather than giving a hard and fast schedule? Just a thought.

May you be blessed for all you do for the homeschooling community.

[JustPassin'Thru]

I was not one of the majority who wanted a day-by-day plan. I feel that is MUCH too schooly and does not allow for individuality. There are other day-by-day planners on the market and I was very happy to have discovered HOW.

If you feel the need to provide something for the newbies, how about some planner sheets and then some suggestions on how to fill it in? We all need some hand holding at the beginning, but to think for us goes against what home education is supposedly teaching us as parents.

Blessings to you and yours.