A Need and a Prayer
While homeschooling, one of my daughters seemed to struggle to get her math done in a timely manner. She was fantastic at solving math problems but lacked a sense of urgency in completing her lessons.
Spending time in prayer over the frustration and the need for help, I came up with an idea. With a sheet of paper in hand, I jotted down each of her lessons for the day and then added other chores and responsibilities.
When I communicated expectations and gave details in a written format, she excelled! Within a few weeks, she was commenting on my beautifully designed planner.
Introducing Time Management
By the time children are in the fifth or sixth grade, a variety of changes are occurring in their life and education.
For instance, subjects are getting a little harder. Frequently, fifth grade is an academic leap for children, pushing them toward more challenging work and possibly even a little more time investment each day.
But, additionally, their responsibility needs are increasing. Middle school is a time when children are stretching and changing. It is that gap period between childhood and adolescence, and every aspect of life is helping them prepare for the increased responsibilities that are coming.
This is why fifth grade is an ideal time to begin to teach time management. A struggle with time management was at the root of my daughter’s problem, and the simple act of teaching her how to use a planner made all the difference!
Real Needs, Real Products
All of my planners began with a very real need in my own home. It is a delight to know that, by meeting the needs my family has had over the years, I have been able to create products that now are published for all homeschool families to benefit from.
