Homeschool Planning: Paper vs. Digital

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Summer is a great time to plan out your homeschool for the year ahead, and if you have been searching the web for the perfect way to do this, you may have noticed that there are a LOT of creative and well-designed methods out there.

Everyone has different ideas about what and how much information to record, and how it should all fit together. There’s also style and aesthetics. What looks crisp and clean to one person make look cold and analytical to another. How do you choose?

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Probably the first step is to decide between paper and digital. Paper planning can range from handwritten lists on notebook paper, to free or purchased printable forms, preprinted kits or planners. Digital options vary from online services to downloadable apps that live on your computer or mobile device.

Which is the best way for you? Here’s a quick summary of the advantages of each:

Obviously, there are advantages and disadvantages to both paper and digital planning schemes. Why not compromise and use both?

When to Use Paper Notebooks or Planners

Handwriting, drawing, cutting, pasting and other forms of visual expression can be very liberating. It’s great to have a notebook or small journal for brainstorming, doodling, list-making, or loose record keeping.

When to Use Online Planners or Apps

For repetitive information such as lesson planning, grades, attendance, resource lists, etc. it’s hard to beat digital. It may be tedious to enter all of the information the first time, but it only has to be entered once! The magic of digital is being able to collect and print just the information you need, when you need it. And all of your data is easy to back up – safe and secure for the years ahead.

• • Lesson Plans
• • Calendars
• • Reports
• • Grading
• • Attendance
• • Recording learning
• • Formal records
• • Personal library records
• • Older kids

If your children are young, or if you prefer to have absolute creative control of your planning system, paper notebooks are great. If your children are approaching middle school or high school, and you need a way to organize a lot of information efficiently, it’s best to choose a computer or Internet based planning system. Then, with your data safely tucked away, use your paper notebooks for creative expression instead!

Jamie McMillin, author of Legendary Learning: The Famous Homeschoolers’ Guide to Self-Directed Excellence, homeschooled two of her children from kindergarten through high school, and her youngest up to high school. With her son Aengus, who is a computer science major at the University of Washington, she has also created OLLY – The Organized Life and Learning Yearbook, a homeschool planning app for Mac users. To learn more, visit www.ollyhomeschool.com or Jamie’s blog at www.legendarylearningnow.com.