I'm trying to find a planner that will work with the CM method. It seems that all the ones I look at do not have enough spaces to write in all the info from a CM education.
Unfortunately, the CM organizer will not fit the budget this year even though it looks great!
Any suggestions? One that would work for multiple students would be best but any suggestions are welcome.
Thanks, Rebecca
Have you seen Susan Chrisman's planner? It's designed specifically for CMers. I just found out about it a couple of weeks ago. I believe it's supposed to accommodate up to three students.
Can you create your own in Word or Excel? That's what I am doing with our children. I can't afford the Organizer, either. :( Using Sonya's planning suggestions (http://simplycharlottemason.com/series/planning/), I tweaked the Curriculum Guide for the Big Picture, then figured out the books for the Year. In Excel, I have 1 file going with several sheets: Family w/ 3yo, Family w/o 3yo, and 1 sheet for each individual child. On each sheet, I have columns for Subjects, Topics, Resources, Cost New, and Where (to buy new). That's as far as I've gotten in my planning 
but next step is Your Term and then Your Week and Day. I will add them each as separate files in Excel, with a sheet for each person(s) as above.
HTH!
Malissa
Member
You've got some great suggestions here. Here is a link for what I use. http://donnayoung.org/forms/planners/planner.htm I love the fact that Donna Young is free (except for the ink) also. :) A definate plus. God Bless!
Thanks for the suggestions. Now to look and see what will work : ).
Sonja, have you looked inside the one you suggested? I looked at her website but could only look at the cover. I would love to know what it looks like inside.
Thanks again!
Rebecca
I looked through it at a convention, but sent it home with Doug and Karen (since I was flying and didn't have room for it in my carry-on).
Karen or Doug, can you jump in here and give a little description of the inside, please?
briedell
Member
Rebecca,
Go to http://www.notgrass.com and click on their record keeping link under their product list. They have planner books for the learning lifestyle. You can get different covers for the front. This is easy to use for the CM approach; but I'm not sure if you need one per student or not.
I use homeschool tracker plus on my computer for our records. It works great.
Bridget
Tanya
Member
I make mine on Microsoft Word. I make columns and rows as needed and print them out. I hole-punch and stick them into a binder.
Why I like this:
-I can tailor the planner to the way I think (you know - visually clicking with me)
-I'm not flipping through extra pages in the planner that I do not need (those extras that planners provide in case you want them)
-I can easily change the format if I need to (for example, I changed it so that both of my older kids are on one page so that I can easily see my week instead of flipping around)
-I like the binder because I can easily add in a sheet of notebook paper here and there with extra notes/journaling, etc.
I basically looked at various planners, charts, etc. (including donna young) and then came up with what I liked for me. Weird, I know, but I kind of like doing it too...
Tanya, that's how I did mine, too, flipping through others' books and designs and then creating one that includes bits of all of them. :P Only I used Excel. :D
Loving all the info that's coming in!
I have made my own too for the past many years but for some reason I can't come up with anything that seems workable this year so I posted for insight/ideas. I'm not opposed to buying one or making one (have done both at different times).
I'm thinking my trouble this year is just related to all the other trouble I'm having with planning. EVERYTHING is coming hard this year. Most likely this is due to last years stresses and the fallout from that.
For those that make your own planner, if you have samples posted online somewhere (blog or other) can you leave a link? Maybe seeing someone elses will help me figure out how to make one this time around.
Thanks to those that have posted links to the ones they use or have found online. That helps a lot too!
I like The Old Schoolhouse planner. I can print the pages that I want and add to a binder or spiral bind it myself. The newest one for this year (runs July 2010 - June 2011) have over 600 pages of possibilities. It is also typeable, so if you prefer that neat look you can have it. (I like handwriting mine.)
IttyBittyHSers
Member
Hi! I just finished watching/reading Planning Your Charlotte Mason Education from Simply Charlotte Mason and absolutely loved it! It takes a huge task and makes it simple and fun. It's also very reasonably priced. There are so many variations I think it could work for anyone. And with the e-book you can print out however many forms you need whenever you need them. There are some sample pages you can download in the Bookstore. Thanks so much, Sonya, for this awesome resource!
Glad it was helpful to you, IttyBittyHSers.
Thank you, Sonya for mentioning my planner, The Practical Planner for Home Education, on your forum. In response to Rebecca's request to see the inside, please feel free to email me at info@lifelonglearnersonline.com and I will send a photo of the daily planning pages. I have used this planner for the past eleven years, at one time recording everything I needed for three children, each at a different level. I'll be glad to answer any questions about the planner. Special thanks to Sonya and Karen for many helpful CM resources.
Wonderful, Susan! Pictures will be even better. Thanks so much!
(Ladies, Susan is a veteran CMer and dear sister in Christ.)
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