Is anyone else feeling pressured to plan for next year already?

[CalicoKat]

I'm sure it's just from a lack of energy during my recovery, but when I read posts about ordering, planning, or scheduling next year's curriclum I get a bit panicky. I start to doubt what we're doing THIS year when I see what other's are planning for the same grade for NEXT year.

We're still in the midst of this year. Are we doing enough?

MFW Adventures for all - but we've only made it to week 7 before the holidays, flu season, mom's surgery & recovery overtook all but the necessaries.

3rd Grader
R&S English 3 - struggling with quotations. Just finished 2nd section
MUS Gamma - only on lesson 13
GD Italic D - not yet half way through

1st Grader & Ker - doing the same work because the 1st grader is delayed

1st grader
MUS Primer - painfully slow, but she's getting it finally.
GD Italic B - 1st grader is making good progress but it's sloppy.
OPTGR- Lesson 55
ETC Book 1 - workbook is MIA since my surgery :(. But she was about halfway done.

K'er
MUS Primer - he's a math whiz!
GD Italic A - workbook is MIA since my surgery :confused:
OPTGR- Lesson 35

There, I've cleared my conscious. It's my ugly homeschool confession.

[Rhesa]

And surprisingly, I'm not worried about it!:D This is unusual for me, since I both: worry a lot about homeschooling my kids and like to make lesson plans.

We are in the middle of our school year right now...that seems to be taking all my energy. I'll probably work on next year this summer.

[MelissaMinNC]

I told myself I would not plan a thing till February...so here we are, LOL. I know we'll be using TOG next year, since we are using it this year and love it, so that takes a lot of the pressure off. I still have to figure out math, science, Latin, grammar (to do or not, if so, what???), etc. But, other than bookmark a couple of potential curricula websites, I haven't actually planned anything.

Just lately I have noticed how far away from my original idea of how I would teach, what our school would "look" like, etc. I've gotten. So I've been just trying to think of ways to get back to getting what I actually want out of this, both for the rest of this year and for next year. All my planning is in my head right now.

I will have a busy summer of planning, but that's cool with me.

:)
Melissa

[coffeegal]

[QUOTE=CalicoKat;33110]
MFW Adventures for all - but we've only made it to week 7 before the holidays, flu season, mom's surgery & recovery overtook all but the necessaries.

QUOTE]

Uh, holidays, flu season, surgery & recovery.... They certainly take their toll on schooling, don't they. :p You're covering reading, writing, and arithmetic for all your children. Don't worry about what comes your way, just keep working the plan... You're doing fine.

I only have one suggestion, it helps me to have 1 or 2 subjects we do everyday regardless of what happens, so I'd suggest you make certain phonics/reading happens everyday. Math and handwriting are certainly important but reading takes precidence for young children. Last year, we had a bad year, but we got math and Latin/phonics done everyday. (Nothing else regularly though.) My oldest caught up in math, and my middle 2 children started reading independently. :D

But yes, I'm starting to plan for next year. But unlike last year we're moving forward quickly and will be finishing the year in April or May. I like to school year around and will need next year's material soon.

Best of luck with your recovery!

[Narrow Gate Academy]

Don't feel pressured to plan. Last year I waited until the end of April or beginning of May to start thinking about the next year. The two main reasons I started earlier this year are that we're expecting #4 in May (I know I won't be able to coherently evaluate curriculum for at least two weeks afterward) and because I wanted to try to find more used curriculum because our budget is tighter.

As for this year, it looks to be like you are doing great. The basics are getting done, and that's all that really matters at this stage. Remember when looking at other's plans for next year, most people plan to do a lot more than they end up doing. As they go through the year, they end up dropping portions of their plans.

[CalicoKat]

[quote=CalicoKat;33110]
MFW Adventures for all - but we've only made it to week 7 before the holidays, flu season, mom's surgery & recovery overtook all but the necessaries.

QUOTE]

Uh, holidays, flu season, surgery & recovery.... They certainly take their toll on schooling, don't they. :p You're covering reading, writing, and arithmetic for all your children. Don't worry about what comes your way, just keep working the plan... You're doing fine.

I only have one suggestion, it helps me to have 1 or 2 subjects we do everyday regardless of what happens, so I'd suggest you make certain phonics/reading happens everyday. Math and handwriting are certainly important but reading takes precidence for young children. Last year, we had a bad year, but we got math and Latin/phonics done everyday. (Nothing else regularly though.) My oldest caught up in math, and my middle 2 children started reading independently. :D

But yes, I'm starting to plan for next year. But unlike last year we're moving forward quickly and will be finishing the year in April or May. I like to school year around and will need next year's material soon.

Best of luck with your recovery!

My 1st grader and Ker are just starting to read independently! That's been a lot of work this year. They're both enjoying the Bob Books. I'm glad my Ker didn't struggle with it as much. And I'm so grateful my 1st grader is making progress!

[SandraDumas]

because I can use some tax money from this year towards next year. So I bought gift certificates towards our big purchase (CHC) and also purchased the FIAR volume I plan to use, and the FIAR planner for my dd. I'm also tempted to get the next level of Greek but it's not so pricey that I think I should do it now.

I'm also trying to keep things simple for both my dc, so I am thinking a lot about trimming things and how to keep things simple, and inexpensive. I actually spend far more time and brain power thinking how to keep things simple than adding on and complicating my life to death!

Next year my first grade will be using CHC and Greek, and that's it, and my dd will be doing FIAR and Rod and Staff preschool and that's it.

I am tempted to add this and that and that and this, but I know it'll go to waste!

Anyway, I wanted to use the money for curriculum and non perishable pantry items. Times are tight and I'm so afraid to blow it on little things that seem necessary but really aren't!

[Trivium Academy]

If it makes you feel better, we'll be moving while you plan for next year. AND we won't be done with 2nd grade even then. Our year has been extended due to MIL's death in October and the subsequent time off that I didn't think we'd take. Life happened big time here. We're back on track but 2nd grade will be til August and 3rd grade will start Sept. 15th.

I have to order when we have the money. It also relaxes me to have 3rd grade settled so I'm not doing the "look at what so and so is doing" while I'm trying to focus on right now. Lol. I think if affects others differently.

[BizyPenguin]

I don't feel pressured at all. I'm rather impressed by those who are organized enough to plan ahead...Some of you are even planning many years ahead. Wow! I have a general idea of what we'll use for next year, so when posts appear that discuss curricula that I'm interested in I always reaad them.

[Mrs Mungo]

I don't feel "pressured" but I do so enjoy planning. It feels so optimistic (much like starting a new chore chart). Plus, while planning I usually look back through TWTM which always gives me new ideas, fresh ideas, ideas I'd forgotten.