Helloo!
Planning is such an important part of homeschooling, which is why I dedicate an entire lesson to Planning in my Montessori Homeschooling courses. It can also be a little daunting if you’re not sure where to begin! Planners help pen down your list of things to do, appointments and routines. They are also a great way for homeschoolers to plan lessons with the activities on the shelf!
Montessori homeschooling planners that address different needs are available online, so feel free to explore options. (In fact, I recommend some of them in a module of my course!) However, when I sat down and thought about an ideal planner for the busy, millennial parent, I ended up envisioning a planner that was practical, actionable and not filled with questions. At the same time, I wanted something that brought positive vibes and clarity to a Montessori homeschool setting. I thoroughly enjoyed designing them and am super happy to offer it to my subscribers for FREE!
There are two sheets that can be printed out for your monthly planner.
The first sheet has Monthly goals on the top, followed by a calendar grid. Under goals, you may write down your motivation for the month, anything that you are looking forward to and what kind of growth you are looking to work towards in your homeschool. Personal goals are quite important too! Make yourself your number one priority!
Apart from the grid that allows you to plan ahead for the entire month, my personal favourite is the Monthly review section that allows you to take stock of the month. You’ll be surprised at how many little things could be accomplished even in a month that has slipped past us quickly! A bit of introspection never hurts and helps us grow.
The second Monthly sheet has plenty of space to plan ahead for things you might need for your shelves, what kind of themes and celebrations are coming up and more importantly, what books and songs you are planning to introduce into your child’s world. I hope this planner makes us more mindful of our choices and also ensures that we always have time for activities that enrich the child’s vocabulary.
There are also two printable sheets for your weekly planner.
Every weekend, I suggest you grab a cup of tea (or coffee- your choice!), and sit down with these two weekly sheets to get into the nitty-gritties of home-schooling. The first sheet will help you plan for the new presentations and activities that you would feel your child is ready for this week. It also helps you plan across different areas so that you are able to offer equal importance to all of them in your presentations. (This is again, based on what the child needs.You can only plan so, much- Remember that it is the child who chooses the work that is calling out to them. We are only facilitators.)
The second sheet lets you look at your week holistically and plan for other activities around the home. My favourite section is the gratitude part. When we write down what we’re grateful for, we set an intention to be positive, humble and happy! There is also a weekly review that helps you keep track of your child’s achievements and helps you plan for the next presentation. Remember to repeat presentations if you feel your child needs it.
The little writing section on the right that looks like a shelf brings attention to what many parents think Montessori is all about- the Montessori shelf! It is nevertheless an important part of planning. Observe your child and fill up these boxes- Rotation and up-keep just became super easy!
If you like what you see, start planning by subscribing and downloading the planner for free! To learn more about the activities and to understand the philosophy, join EdSup’s Montessori Homeschooling Courses. The 2.5-4 year old course has a suggested curriculum with over 250+ activities and the 4-6 year old course has one with 350+ activities. Offering the right help in the right manner at the right time is what Montessori is all about.
Reach out to us for more @edsup.montessori on Instagram or by mail at info@edsup.in
– Aishwarya
