Free Printable Lesson Planner: The Daily Menu
In the Charlotte Mason approach, a parent / teacher sets a ‘feast table’ - an assortment of quality materials, books and learning invitations to pique the child’s interest and fill their ‘plate’ (mind) with good things. This is a helpful word-picture for those of us now preparing the learning environment for the upcoming school year, be it in the classroom or at home.
Maybe you’re thinking that ‘setting the table’ sounds really lovely and all, but impractical given ____ (fill in the blank), or overwhelming because of ____. And what does that even look like? How do I prepare for this day in and day out?
I’m no expert, and like many of you, I’m jumping into full-time homeschooling for the first time this year. But, if my 13 years of experience of teaching kids, designing curriculum and setting up learning environments has taught me anything, it’s that making the ‘magic’ happen requires a healthy mix of good ol’ fashioned planning + humble flexibility.
Enter: the ‘daily menu.’ When it comes to mapping out the year, I’ve got goals coming out of my ears. But I know all too well how quickly the days pass, and truth is, the real stuff happens (the feasting!) in the daily grind; those ordinary Tuesday mornings and the panicked how-are-we-out-of-snacks? Thursday afternoons.
I know personally, mapping out my day, helps me stay the course and steadily work towards bigger goals alongside my child.
How it works:
Write out the handful of things you’d like to work through with your child for the day. Try to keep it simple - maybe 4-6 things max- to set everyone up for success. This can include a mix of subject areas, but also time for play, eating times, family rhythms, etc. If you laminate it, you can wipe it clean in the evenings and write out the following day’s plan.
Last year, when my daughter did a hybrid of at-home and in-school learning, we implemented a daily menu (she called it a ‘contract’) and it did wonders for helping us both stay on track. There were days when we plowed through everything in 1.5 hours. Other days, life happened. Someone got sick, errands had to be run, we worked in the garden… and we didn’t ‘accomplish’ as much on the list. And that was ok. [Remember that humble flexibility?] I’m a big believer that the best learning often happens organically; an off script “interruption” from a neighbor or a flat tire on the way back from grocery shopping, becomes a teachable moment to the watching child. A moment to show empathy, connectedness, navigating life in the real world..
Blank Daily Menu Lesson Planner
Making a daily plan, even if it’s a loose one, will prioritize the important stuff. But - and this is just as important - staying flexible and being willing to go ‘off-script’ will help you navigate the uncharted territory ahead.
Happy planning!
Shannon