TOS Primary Planner

Since they have first released their homeschool planner, the folks at The Old Schoolhouse has come up with a series of planners geared to the students.   Actually four different planners are available:

• Primary Planner—grades K–3
• Secondary School Planner—grades 4–6
• Middle School Planner—grades 7–8
• High School Planner—grades 9–12

I was offered to review one of these planners and I picked the Primary Planner which is geared for grades K to 3 students.  Part of me almost wish I had this product before we start the school year. 

In it I discover a wealth of interesting information geared towards kids from grade K to grade 3.    The informational Must-Know lists are interesting in itself.   Even I an adult could use some of them.    Then the child will have a series of homeschool forms to update be himself/herself when needed.   Some kids are able to write and read at an early age but most would need help.   It could be a good thing to instils independence for tracking various things like to-do list, audio/video log, books read this year, field trip log, Bible Memorization record and so on.   But keep in mind that the parent will have to help for a couple of years.

Finally, you will also find organizational forms like chores, bible reading schedule, family tree and so on.   As the child grow he/she will need to include some routine in her life (for example the bible reading).    I know my oldest is reading daily in his Bible and I think God is touching him in amazing ways through it.  

The planner is flexible.  I could print whichever form and information I need for my kids.   I don’t have to print everything.   The only disappointing fact I can see if that there some of the must-know pages that are geared toward the US (Thirteen Colonies, US Presidents, US Presidents and their wives, United States & Capitals) that we won’t use much.    Part of me would prefer to have an international version of it with more Geography of the world pages.   At the same time, I understand that The Old Schoolhouse is a magazine produced in the US and that they primarily create documents for the homeschoolers in that country.      

At the end, having a planner for the kids is interesting.    It transfer the responsibility from parent to child in a creative way.    But I would probably start using this at a higher level than grades K-3.     My oldest son who is in grade 4 right now would be more dedicated to this task than my grades K and 1 kids. 

Price: 9.95$ US directly from the TOS store.