I’m so happy to announce that I have finished updating the Journey Through Love homeschool planner for the 2018/2019 school year! The digital PDF file is available on Etsy now, and printed versions are available until we run out! There are currently just a few left.
I have been using this planner for several years now, and though I realize I may be biased, the layout has really been perfect for homeschooling my 3 kids. There are a couple new features and updates for this version that I found I constantly wished I had when using it in previous years.
First is just a subtle change of font, but I think it gives it a cleaner look. I also removed the header titles on some of the planning pages so you can enter your own instead of being limited to what I designate it for, or having to scratch it out.
This is an example of the monthly overview. Note the orange spaces are now blank, allowing you to enter your own headings.
Towards the beginning, I added two new pages for a book list. I wanted a space where I could make a list of books we wanted to read, as well as a list of books we have read, and I wanted to have it with me all the time. I usually take my planner with me to the library, so it only made sense to add a couple book list pages!
I also found myself wishing there were a couple extra pages for me to write notes of things I wanted to remember later, or passwords, logins, etc. so I added 3 pages at the back of the planner for notes.
I love that the planner images change monthly, and the colors change seasonally. My favorite feature, being the planner nerd that I am, is the advance planning pages. There is a year at a glance calendar in the very beginning with a spot to write special dates to remember.
Then there is the 12 month planning overview. I like to use this space to plan out what topics we will be focusing on each month, any field trips, etc that we will be attending, as well as noting holidays.
Before each quarter, there are quarterly planning pages where you can record notes for each month, what curriculum or resources you will be using, other notes, and even a place for a weekly schedule. (The colors of these change quarterly as well)
Earlier in the post I shared a monthly overview photo (of October). In each monthly overview there is a calendar with space to write birthdays, holidays, and events. Beneath it is a large space for any notes you like. On the page to the right of the monthly calendar, there are several blocks with headers that you can use any way you wish! I personally make a block for books we need to get at the library, field trips, and projects with necessary materials with need by dates. As I said before, I took the header titles off so you can label them to suit your needs.
That brings us to the bulk of the planner – the weekly/daily plan. At the top left corner, there is a calendar for the current month with the current week circled. Two blocks at the top make space to note special events, a shopping list – anything you want to highlight or remember. On the left hand side of each page are a series of empty bubbles. These you can use as subject headers, your children’s names, or whatever you need. I use the top one for me, the next 3 for my kids so we each get a row. Each day also has a menu planning block at the bottom for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It helps me so much to have my menu right there in my planner! On the bottom right of the right hand page is a large lined space for notes that you can use however you like. For those of you who use the Waldorf method, I have made each day of the week header coincide with the Waldorf color of the day so you don’t have to try and remember what color it should be. I also think it just looks pretty and cheerful!
And it all ends in the 3 note pages! I really enjoy making this planner each year and I hope you enjoy it, too! If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me. I love to hear suggestions and what works or doesn’t work for you. You can also contact me if you would prefer to have a printed copy. I normally only send these to the printer once a year, so once they sell out, they’re gone until the next year. They can be preordered for a discounted rate.
Happy Planning!
