Looking for the perfect paper homeschool planner for the school year? With all the planners out there, it’s hard to know which one is right for you.
I get it, Friend.
I’ve gone through tons of planners in my 14 years of homeschooling.
To help, I’m sharing a list of 5 of the best paper homeschool planners on the market. I review each planner and note the benefits.
Does that perfect planner exist?
I doubt it, but at least you can get a step closer.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a nominal fee from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. See my disclosure policy for more info.
What is a homeschool planner?
In this post, I’m focusing my attention on paper planners. Digital organizational systems have their perks. There’s no doubt about it. However, the advantages of writing by hand are invaluable.
Ok, then. What exactly is a homeschool planner?
A homeschool planner is a binder, spiral notebook, or other organizational system used to plan the homeschool year.
I find the most useful daily planners include an attendance sheet, monthly and weekly calendar, and sections to document assignments for each child.
What should be included in a homeschool planner?
Here’s a basic outline of what you may want to include in your planner. It can include as much or as little as you’d like. To give you an idea, planners can include the following.
- state homeschool requirements
- your state homeschool registration documents
- goals for each student
- curriculum choices for each student
- book lists for each student
- family read-aloud book lists
- attendance records
- assignments for each child
- weekly schedule
- monthly calendar
- year-at-a-glance
- calendar
- daily docket for mom
- meal planning section
These are a lot of variables. I don’t want all of these in my planner because the sheer volume is overwhelming.
What homeschool planner works for me?
Over the years, I’ve learned what’s best for me and my ADHD mom brain. I use two homeschool planners.
Now don’t panic. It’s quite easy to manage.
- I have one homeschool planner that I use daily.
- Then I have a separate homeschool binder that contains legal paperwork and documents that I don’t need to handle daily.
What is the Best Paper Homeschool Planner?
The following are 5 of the best paper homeschool planners to help keep you organized this homeschool year.
Let’s do this.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a nominal fee from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. See my disclosure policy for more info.
1. Homeschool Lesson Planner & Record Book
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The first homeschool planner is a basic Homeschool Lesson Planner and Record Book. Don’t let the word basic fool you.
This homeschool planner is simple yet does everything it’s supposed to!
This homeschool planner includes:
- Small section for legal requirements
- Simple “goals for the year” sheet
- Made for up to six students
- Year-at-a-glance
- Attendance log
- Monthly calendar to schedule the entire month
- Weekly calendar with space to write out subjects and assignments
- Reading log (can be used to write down book lists for each student or for the family)
This paper planner is compact so it’s easy to lug around with you.
It’s clutter-free in design and that’s sure to be easy on the ADHD brain.
2. Undated Chaos Coordinator Planner
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I like this spiral homeschool planner because it’s undated. This is especially important for ADHD homeschool moms like me who may fall off the planning train for a week or two.
It’s so easy to pick back up right where you left off and no pages are wasted!
It’s minimalistic in design which is helpful to keep stress low. (Clutter equals brain stress.) It also has everything a homeschool mom needs.
This homeschool planner includes:
- Weekly undated layout with the days on the vertical axis and subjects at the top
- Each subject has six lines for multiple kids
- Monthly Field Trip Section
- Six Week Overview Planning Section
3. Purpletrail Customizable Homeschool Planner
Oh, my word! The Purpletrail homeschool planners are amazing!!!
It has 51 cover options to choose from. There are multiple photo collage options available as well as other stunning design options.
The Purpletrail homeschool planners are of excellent quality and come spiral bound.
These homeschool planners include:
- Spiral Bound
- Monthly Divider Tabs
- Monthly Goals & Focus
- 2 Page Monthly Calendar
- Weekly Calendar
- Color-filled or Neutral Grey Options
- Monthly Attendance Sheets
- Student Checklists
- 2 Size Options
The Purpletrail Planners are high-quality planners for homeschool moms. The sheer number of stunning cover options is amazing.
Definitely check out Purpletrail Homeschool Planners!
4. Not Consumed Homeschool Planner
The Not Consumed Organized Homeschool Planner is more than just a planner. It’s a planner and video-based homeschool planning Bootcamp in one!
The planner includes multiple divided sections with corresponding video training.
Each section has a QR code that gives you access to the 5-Day Homeschool Planning Bootcamp sessions.
This homeschool planner includes:
- Scripture Verses throughout
- Vision Section
- (Includes access to Day 1 of the online homeschool planning boot camp)
- Life Goals Worksheets for Up to 8 Children (You’ll love this!)
- Planning Sections (Days 2 and 3 of Training)
- Planning Stickers
- Curriculum Plan
- Daily Schedule (Day 4 of Bootcamp)
- Design Your Space Planning (Day 5)
- (She even helps you organize your homeschool room, Girl!!!)
- Annual Calendar
- Student Responsibility Training
- And so much more!
Creator Kim Sorgius has done everything for you in the Organized Homeschool Planner!
Even better! It’s durable with a PVC cover that wipes clean easily.
This spiral-bound planner is made with thick pages and beautiful dividers that help you organize the homeschool year.
5. A Plan in Place Custom Homeschool Planner
A Plan in Place Homeschool Planner is completely customizable for your homeschool needs!
You choose your cover, quotes, and extras. The planner is full of tools to keep you organized!
This homeschool planner includes:
- Family Calendar
- Mom’s My Responsibilities Page
- Homeschool Budgeting
- Homeschool Mission Statement
- Year at a Glance
- Monthly Calendar
- Meal Planning
- Books to Read
- Weekly Schedule Options (a must for me)
A Plan in Place is the only planner I’ve come across that has a lending library spreadsheet. A place where you document who you’ve lent homeschool curriculum.
Genius!!!
Pin Me!
How Do I Plan My Homeschool Week?
Planning your homeschool week is different for everyone. However, let me tell you how I do it to give you an idea.
In general, when planning my homeschool week, I do the following.
- Pull up the upcoming week in my Google Calendar.
- Note the coming week’s scheduled appointments/classes in my paper planner’s weekly calendar.
- Fill in assignments for each child AFTER they’re completed.
- Many homeschoolers write out assignments ahead of time. However, in our home, that has set us all up for failure. Instead of being frustrated that we didn’t get everything checked off, I’d rather focus on what is accomplished.
- In our home, we do math and reading every day and use a homeschool loop schedule for other subjects.
- As my children get older, they take on more independence and know to move on to the next assignment daily.
Tracking Assignments for Older Students
My middle schooler recently decided she wants more independence. However, she’s got ADHD just like her mom.
And that means she struggles with executive function skills. (In this case, remembering to write assignments in her planner was a challenge!)
I get it! I don’t like having to micro-manage my teen’s homeschool schedule either.
Except it’s my job to have a handle on her assignments. It was driving me insane to constantly harass her about her assignments.
That is until we started using Google Calendar.
Google Calendar: Homeschool Tracker for Teens
Here’s how we use Google Calendar to track my daughter’s homeschool assignments.
The following video shows how I use Google Calendar to track assignments with my middle schooler.
Recap: The Best Homeschool Planner for You
No matter what homeschool planner you choose, make it work for you! There’s no right or wrong way to plan.
Your number one job is to do your best and as Tony Horton says, “Forget the rest!”
Have a great 2023-2024 homeschool year!
Please let me know if I missed any of your favorite planners. Do share in the comments below.
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