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MarilynW
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| Posted: May 02 2013 at 3:44pm | IP Logged
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I am trying to get better organized and re-think my planner/organizer. As I look back over the last years, I realize that my Covey Classic planner, which I used when I worked out of the home, was my best planning system as I had a daily checklist, paper all in one place etc, all planning stuff on one place.
I love Michelle Quigley's planners, and just wish she had a page/2 pages per day as with the Covey ones.
I feel like I am swamped with paper and I am juggling a lot of schedules right now (teens with classes/jobs, soccer training and games, schooling, kids with volunteer work, music practice for 5 kids etc. Not to mention test deadlines, college deadlines, bills, recitals, etc etc...My desk is covered with tons of lists and reminders 
Re homeschooling - I tend to plan out a year/semester/quarter/week by week in advance - either in Word or Homeschool Tracker, so I am not too worried about a lesson planner.
I did make myself my own planner/binder this year - with liturgical year monthly planner calendars, appointment schedule etc - but it was a lot of work, and I would so like to find one that I can buy.
So...please would you share what planner you use. And I am hoping that someone out there has a planner which is pretty, has liturgical year information, daily planning and notes space (with half hourly time slots like the Covey one).... kind of a Catholic Homeschooling Mom Franklin Covey planner.
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Marilyn
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MarilynW
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| Posted: May 02 2013 at 3:47pm | IP Logged
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Related to my original post - I am also looking for student planners.
1. I would love to find a 4 year planner for high school - a Catholic version of the Well Planned Day one. I used a big binder for my first high schooler and she also had Michele's planner each year for her weekly planner. But I would love a 4 year one for my rising high school twins.
2. For the younger ones I have used Pflaum and Good News.
The last few years I have made planner binders for each child, but I am considering buying some this year. I would love to hear your thoughts.
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Marilyn
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Maria Rioux
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I am really uncomfortable in the forum setting...it feels so scattered to me, and I am not sure I am responding to the appropriate place, the one my email alerted me to. But I do think I can be helpful to someone. So, with regard to planners, while I never use one but if I did really like Michele's, I recently discovered The Complete Homeschool Planner by the same folks who developed Lighted Lanterns, a Catholic Language arts program for grades 1-ish. That program, by the way, is excellent. Best thing I have seen in the 24 years I have been homeschooling. It is terrific. Anyway, you do need a plan, and for some people that means a planner. This one is really good, addressing firstly the practical things one gets a planner for: Planning the Year, Daily Lesson Plans, Grades, and Extra Forms. It also includes a wonderful section for spiritual development: "For the Love of God". Truly, I do recognize that unless I plan for it, it probably won't happen. Holly makes it easy to plan, to be accountable to that plan, and to follow through.Check out Cascia Books. They are doing a very good work...and check out Lighted Lanterns, too. You will not only not be disappointed, you will be delighted.
Lastly, for those who want help with planning the year/curricula, our K-12 curricula is available at no cost through Homeschool Connections. Just look for St. Thomas School...or write me and I'll help you.
God bless, Maria
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: May 02 2013 at 7:30pm | IP Logged
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I bought a levenger punch for discbound notebooks a few years ago, and while I've yet to use it to its full potential or to the level I'd hoped, I've thought about asking Michelle next year if I can get my planner unbound AND unpunched so I can use it in conjunction with this Martha Stewart notebook.
Now, I suppose you could do the same with a binder since it already comes punched for that, but I do like the flexibility of the discs since you can punch anything.
Anyway, I would probably try to combine things available to create all the elements you want, like taking Michelle's planner or a similar one and adding the Covey-style daily spread refill sheets inside the weeks of Michelle's.
Have you looked at the levenger site? It isn't cheap, but you are asking for a lot  This is certainly the time of year to try something since calendars are so heavily discounted.
Also, I would really recommend looking into implementing a system a la Getting Things Done.
This video series is an easy way to get an overview of the system. The woman doing the system sells her own step by step system for how to implement GTD as a homemaker and mother, but there is tons of information on GTD out there, and the videos are helpful for making it concrete. I especially liked the simplicity of her tickler file system.
GTD is about maintaining and organizing lists, so it might be a good fit.
Sorry if that is off-topic. I suppose most of that is available in the thread I linked, but when you described needing to organize all that, it sounded like you might appreciate the format of a GTD planner, which, I find a bit more efficient than a Covey style one where you are rewriting your lists constantly.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
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[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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MarilynW
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| Posted: May 03 2013 at 6:16am | IP Logged
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Maria Rioux wrote:
I am really uncomfortable in the forum setting...it feels so scattered to me, and I am not sure I am responding to the appropriate place, the one my email alerted me to. But I do think I can be helpful to someone. So, with regard to planners, while I never use one but if I did really like Michele's, I recently discovered The Complete Homeschool Planner by the same folks who developed Lighted Lanterns, a Catholic Language arts program for grades 1-ish. That program, by the way, is excellent. Best thing I have seen in the 24 years I have been homeschooling. It is terrific. Anyway, you do need a plan, and for some people that means a planner. This one is really good, addressing firstly the practical things one gets a planner for: Planning the Year, Daily Lesson Plans, Grades, and Extra Forms. It also includes a wonderful section for spiritual development: "For the Love of God". Truly, I do recognize that unless I plan for it, it probably won't happen. Holly makes it easy to plan, to be accountable to that plan, and to follow through.Check out Cascia Books. They are doing a very good work...and check out Lighted Lanterns, too. You will not only not be disappointed, you will be delighted.
Lastly, for those who want help with planning the year/curricula, our K-12 curricula is available at no cost through Homeschool Connections. Just look for St. Thomas School...or write me and I'll help you.
God bless, Maria |
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Thanks for the information Maria.The Cascia Books planner is beautiful. However,it is more a "homeschool and lesson planning" planner, and I am looking more for a personal organizer and day planner. I have a 36 week written plan (Word document) for each grade, similar to your curriculum, which older kids use themselves and which I schedule for younger kids. So the homeschool planning is less of a need for me.
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Marilyn
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: May 03 2013 at 6:18am | IP Logged
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Maria Rioux wrote:
So, with regard to planners, while I never use one but if I did really like Michele's, I recently discovered The Complete Homeschool Planner by the same folks who developed Lighted Lanterns, a Catholic Language arts program for grades 1-ish.
God bless, Maria |
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Just wanted to add a link for the planner Maria is referring to. If you scroll down on the page there are samples from the planner pages to look at. There's a lot there!
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Becky
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MarilynW
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| Posted: May 03 2013 at 6:23am | IP Logged
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Lindsay - thanks so much for all the information. I had actually been looking at the Circa planner and also the GTD book earlier this week. Both look interesting. I have put some books on hold at the library, and I will watch the videos you linked.
I have enjoyed my "pretty binder" homemade planners this year - but I am feeling overstretched right now and feeling it is simpler to just have a bought one.
Your ideas of combining planners is a good one.
I am generally organized with school, menu planning etc. But I know that I am "fire fighting" right now and with 3 teens with classes and jobs and volunteer work, as well as middle, elementary and preshool, I feel I could "drop the ball" very easily. My general aim is "simplify" with the planner as with everything - I like GTD's premise of "relaxing"!!
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Maryan
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| Posted: May 03 2013 at 8:51am | IP Logged
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Marilyn W wrote:
| I feel like I am swamped with paper and I am juggling a lot of schedules right now (teens with classes/jobs, soccer training and games, schooling, kids with volunteer work, music practice for 5 kids etc. Not to mention test deadlines, college deadlines, bills, recitals, etc etc...My desk is covered with tons of lists and reminders |
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I think the best planning system for a family is always a work in progress! I make my own too - but, you're right, it's a lot of work. I don't have answers, but just wanted to share one solution that has worked for my paper overload with everyone's schedules.
I used to use a letter sized planner, but it was so cumbersome. Then I used a spiral, but then I couldn't add all the soccer schedules and/or letter-sized paperwork that I always received.
I too liked my Franklin Covey planner, so I went back to the "Classic" 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 size notebook for my calendar pages and lesson plans, so it's more portable. To help make it productive, I bought this whole punch from Franklin Covey. Any paperwork/schedules that I will need to reference, I three hole punch at the top and put them in sideways into my planner. Then I fold the page in half, so it fits in the planner. And then stick one of these post-it labels at the top, so I can find it easily.
This suggestion doesn't solve the "how to put it all together," but this hole punch has helped me to keep the stuff I need at my finger tips. When I feel like I'm dropping the ball or didn't write something down on the calendar, I can go back and look at all the play practice, soccer, homeschool...
I don't have a picture of what I'm describing, but I wrote about my planner in this post back in January and in the fourth picture, you can see the purple tab that says "Feb"... which is the folded calendar that is the schedule from my dh's school.
Okay, so that was a really long post about three hole punching a piece of paper. I might be verbose. 
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Maryan
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MarilynW
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Maryan - I am sitting here just in awe at your planner post!! I love love love it! Thanks for the suggestions about the punch and the paper folding. I am so pleased as I really like my Covey Classic - and I have the binder, the tabs etc (last used in 2005!)
I LOVE your schedules - how do you print them on 5 1/2 X 8 1/2 paper? Would you mind sharing if I pm you my email?
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Maryan
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| Posted: May 03 2013 at 10:01am | IP Logged
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Thanks Marilyn!
I don't mind sharing how I did it at all -- unfortunately, I tried converting my files to Word for some family members to make their own, but it didn't work. It was all jumbled because I use an archaic word processing program. Also my mother's printer wouldn't allow her to print half pages, so some of this may depend upon your printer...
But how I did it:
My printer (a Brother MFC 7420 laser) allows me to print any size paper that I choose up to legal size. I also have a paper cutter, so I cut my letter size paper in half. (I like to buy at least a 24 lb. paper to do this).
FYI -- you can also buy blank paper already three-hole punched at Franklin Covey.
In the "page format" of my word processing program (I am pretty sure that Word has this option too because I set up a page for my mom -- but then her printer wouldn't print it correctly), I custom made my own page: 5 1/2 wide by 8 1/2 tall and then just name it "Half Sheet."
So then I made my planning pages by formatting a table with various columns and rows.
Then I adjusted my printer's paper tray to this size again this depends upon your printer capabilities as I learned my mother's didn't allow for this size. Which I still think is strange.
If I ever make one in Word, I'll post it. 
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
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mooreboyz
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I have been using the Dayminder day at a glance 4 person planner for years. It is perfect for me. It is number G560. I am able to then plan out for four kids at a time their entire day in 15 min increments. This is where I put finalized page numbers and notes each weekend before the week. This is not really pretty at all; but, it is well laid out and has room for notes.
When my oldest became high school age I bought the Well Planned Day High School Planner. This is a 4 year planner, week at a glance style; but, still plenty of room to write out what you need to. It is nice to have the whole high school time in one spot. There are places to write notes, calendars, places for listing books read, notes on things the student should consider in college planning, inspirational quotes, etc. I am going to get one for my new high schooler this year. So, then I will have 2 high schoolers and 4 in my 4 person planner...and a newborn. Hmmm
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Martha
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It's not paper, but it's been a lifesaver for me.
Cozi app on iPhone, iPad, and computer. Everyone in the home who has access to any of those can add, edit, update the same Cozi so we are all always using the same calendar planner. It's great.
Otherwise, I'm looking here to update my paper planning too. For all the stuff like lessons that don't go in my Cozi.
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monica4patience
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I've tried lots of different planners, made my own, used a Palm Pilot, found on-line organizers. What I use right now: Google calendar on-line with separate calendars for: me(blue), DH (red), DD23(pink), DS20(green), DS13(yellow and Family(brown). I also import US Calendar, Liturgical Calendar, and the local school district calendar (so I now when the neighbor kids are off)
The beauty of this is that DH can access it from his computer at work if he needs to schedule something. Also, I print out copies for each of the boys for the new month. For them I don't include all the other calendars except their own plus the family one. They paste their calendar into their own planners.
I also have an i-pod that I carry everywhere. I have the Google calendar synced so I always know what's going on. When I enter an event in Google, I make sure to add the address, phone, whatever other info I need. then it's all there when I need it.
We also keep a large wall calendar because, well, because we always have! It's by Amy Knapp and available at book stores. There's lots of space to put everything on it. We use colored pencils for each person.
If you like computer-based organization, Mystie Winckler of simplyconvivial.com has an e-book that shows you how to go paperless using free apps like Remember the Milk and Evernote. I'm deciding if these work for me or not.
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drmommy
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Planners are so important to me, with my overwhelming schedule (just for now!). Currently, we had a life change, which included my Dad and business partner having a stroke and is currently bedridden. I have been honored to care for him in our home. I work 3 mornings per week, and homeschool my 3 girls (my son is living with us, but is college aged). Anyways, I had to change from my simple little weekly planner, to one that can hold more information. I chose the Filofax A5 size, as I can fold a letter sized paper in half to store it in the planner if needed. I can customize the tabs and forms to my needs (Dad's meal plan and dietary restrictions, medical needs/notes, etc), a calendar section, a weekly section, and prayer, notes, home, money, office, etc. I also record my patient appointments in there also. The paper is thinner, which means the planner holds more! I tend to decorate pages with stickers, and use the highlighter accordingly (blue for dr appts, green for bills, yellow for meetings, and pink for birthdays). My daughter is disabled also, so I have a different section for her. I chose the A5 size because it is big enough to write in, and small enough to be portable. I like the extra pockets so I can stick some prayer cards in to glance at and pray in between patients. When I come home in the early afternoon, we start on our other subjects (math and language arts are done in my office...I have a separate "play room" that has now become the school room). As for the School Planner, I use the Seton planner for under 10 dollars. It is simple, and I like the Monday-Friday on the top of the page in columns. I personally tend towards simple so I can highlight and use whatever stickers I need to help me to focus on what needs to be done. I get too overwhelmed with too much visual flowers, decorations, etc. I use my phone for texts and emails that need to be answered right away. Other than that, I do not have time to fiddle with it waiting for things to load, etc.
Keep searching...you will find something that fits your needs. It took years to come across this. Then again, I had no idea my schedule will be like this. Quiet time in the morning and daily Mass are my saving graces. I could not do this without them. Bridget
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MarilynW
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| Posted: May 16 2013 at 4:02pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for all the ideas.
I have started using google calendar to just get us through the really busy May and June months. I like it, though I would never have thought that I would like an electronic planner.
For the paper planner, my daughter who is heading off to college likes the Covey Botanica - and I think I do too.
On a different note - we have been watching Superstar Student (for my rising high schoolers and rising college student) and also reading Sean Covey's "7 Secrets of Highly Effective Teens" - both are excellent for time management and organization. I especially love the arguments against multi-tasking!!!
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Marilyn
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JennGM
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If we're talking layouts of Covey, my favorite layout is the weekly up top, and then the blanks on the bottom, like Textures or Serenity. I find I use electronic heavily
For printed planners, I like the above layout, but always go back to Michele's planners, because it takes me FOREVER to just enter the feast days (plus I hate all the color). The liturgical year info is essential for me, and even if I hardly write in the planner, having the feast days laid out is worth it.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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MarilynW
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I hear you Jenn about the liturgical year info. I LOVE Michele's planners. But I really need at least a page a day format. If Ican swing the budget I will get Michele's and the Botanica. If I cannot, I will use the time taken to enter feast days as the opportunity to detail plan for those days.
I don't like the color of the Serenity etc. I do like the Botanica - it is understated and has pretty drawings without a lot of color. And I think a page a day is less bulky than the classic 2 page a day.
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Marilyn
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4Real Forums : Planning and Ordering our Days
Topic: Can we talk planners?
