This post is all about the student planners we are using this homeschool year.
As a kid, I did not have a planner. However, I remember enjoying being a list maker. Checking off boxes was my jam (and still is). So I can see that I may have a big bias here, but planning as a life skill feels necessary.
My first planner came in college. Actually, it was purchased from my college bookstore, and it was glorious. My college planner had important dates, space for me to write in assignments, and even some tips and tricks. I had wondered where it had been all my life. So to be able to provide my kids the opportunity to learn how to plan at a younger age is exciting.
I have heard it said that a planner is pointless unless you follow through with it. That is a great point and emphasizes why it needs to be part of the training in teaching students how to plan.
[RELATED POST: Teaching Kids to Plan]
This post is all about the student planners we are using in 2024-2025, and how we plan to use them.
Student Planners for 2024-2025
Planner for 4th Grader
For the 2024-2025 school year, we chose a Bloom Planner. They have really pretty covers that my daughter, a lover of color and shiny things, just fell in love with. So far, we like the vertical layout where we can add our own little checkboxes and tasks.
There are fun sections like what you love about yourself and goals for the year that are perfect for her. She gladly filled out the opening pages of questions, and made it her own. Bloom Planners provided us with a link to share that includes a 10% off coupon within it. Enjoy checking out their pretty products!
Planner for 7th and 10th Grader
Both my middle and high school students are using a Plum Paper planner for the first time. Plum Paper specializes in custom planners, and I let my older kids have fun selecting their options. They both opted for the Vertical Priorities layout, and customized their headers to things like Top Tasks and Family Blessing. There is a goal and habit tracker along with cute stickers!
Teaching Kids to Plan
First, let me briefly share my why of it all. I just want to say that getting your kids a planner does not solve most problems. The planner is the tool, and the skills need to be taught. Getting buy in from your kids may take time depending on their wiring. In our 11th year of homeschooling, I have been able to see some of that kid buy in to the process over time. Even my reluctant planners have been able to witness and admit seeing a difference.
Teaching kids to plan is helpful in stages. Initially, you will be writing all of their tasks in their planner. Providing as much information as possible upfront will have the biggest return.Talk them through the daily tasks while referring to their planner. Anytime they ask what is next on the agenda, get them in the habit of looking in their student planner first. Next, figure out what things will happen daily, and have them write those in themselves. You can add in the loop schedule or whatever happens on specific days.
I have found my kids take ownership over their planner a lot sooner than I expected. They want to add in their extracurricular activities, stickers, or appointments. Give them permission to do so! Any tasks or reminders they recall that are due on a certain day, encourage them to add it to their planner.
Planning is a life skill that will have a return in your future. Here are some practical benefits I have seen in teaching kids how to plan:
- Builds a rhythm of structure and boundaries
- Reduces their need for a parent’s direction on what to do next
- Sets them up for future organizational and time management skills
Working from their student planners has become so normalized in our homeschool. My high schooler is almost 100% independent in her planner. For my elementary and middle schooler students, I currently write in Monday’s tasks and our loop schedule the week prior. Then they fill out the remainder of that week.
More Student Planners We Love
Some other planners I have used with my kids, and would recommend:
- Dated Affordable Elementary Planner
- 2024-2025 Student Academic Planner from PPP
- Anna Vance Paper Co
- Well Planned Day Academic Planners
Other Posts You May Like:
- My 2024-2025 Homeschool Planner
- Favorite Living Science Homeschool Curriculum
- 2024-2025 Homeschool Curriculum Choices
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