Product Review: TOS’s The Schoolhouse Planner and a Giveaway!

by Dawn Camp | Aug 14, 2008 | contests & giveaways, homeschooling | 42 comments

Do you consider yourself an organized homeschooler? I don’t. Personally, it takes a whole lot of planning to keep me on track. If I don’t lay things out nicely, I just get lost. And overwhelmed.

When Sprittibee and I hosted a live chat on burnout at The Heart of the Matter Online Homeschool Virtual Conference, we discussed that one of the best ways to prevent burnout is to organize (session notes here).

I was excited to see that The Old Schoolhouse was releasing a new e-book planner this summer, and even more excited to have the opportunity to review it and give away a copy to one of you!

The key to successful planning is to organize every facet of your school day, and The Schoolhouse Planner was designed with that object in mind. It contains not only the features you might expect in a homeschool planner – yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily calendars; field trip planning forms; curriculum planning forms; book logs; extracurricular activities; science lab and nature study sheets; through-the-Bible in a (school) year schedule; Bible memory and other memory work forms; etc. – but also planning tools for other areas of your family’s life, the areas that can make or break your efforts at successful organization, such as: household planning forms and schedule charts; grocery, menu-planning, and food logs; and budget and financial planning forms.

You’re already impressed, right? I’m not finished.

The planner includes essays from your favorite homeschool authors like Amanda Bennett, Jeannie Fulbright, and Amy Pak on relevant topics, such as how to homeschool through high school; teaching science and geography; and why you should teach a foreign language.

I love the unexpected additions, like recipes and “homeschool must-know” tidbits: states and capitals; periodic tables; timelines; 7 wonders of the ancient and modern world (a personal favorite); famous artists; and more.

The beauty of this planner is that you can download it immediately and print what you need. Large family? No problem. Just print the necessary number of forms.

Hyperlinks are clickable and the format is interactive PDF. If you’ve never used an interactive PDF, you’re in for a treat. You can type directly on the forms on your computer before printing.

Each month contains links to date-appropriate resources at The Schoolhouse Store and monthly supplemental planner modules will be available, too. There are other features too numerous to mention.

Want a copy of your very own?

How to win:

42 Comments

Katy on August 14, 2008 at 7:18 am

This sounds awesome!
Tammy on August 14, 2008 at 7:47 am

I am always interesting in planners. I use about three calendars to keep us going.
Donna on August 14, 2008 at 8:14 am

If I don’t win this through you, I’m just going to have to buy me one anyway!! It sounds like a lifesaver!!
Darleen on August 14, 2008 at 9:00 am

I will do anything to be more organized 🙂
Debbie on August 14, 2008 at 9:01 am

I would love a planner. Too bad it isn’t sophisticated enough to actually do the planning for me. But, I love planning tools.
Jill Chandler on August 14, 2008 at 9:56 am

Based on how my brain feels halfway through this 4th morning of school, I think I could use this planner! Now, if only it could keep me in line following my plan!!
kristine on August 14, 2008 at 10:41 am

I’ve written my plan and caledar 3 different times already and still looking for a convenient and handy source to keep it with me. It would also be great to have other valuable resources all togeter in one location!
sprittibee on August 14, 2008 at 10:43 am

MEMEME! I’m so glad you are doing a review on your own site because I reallllllly want this planner. 🙂 Please enter me!

sprittibees last blog post..Win a Free 99$ Subscription to Scholastic StudyJams!!!
Kelli on August 14, 2008 at 11:01 am

Cool!! I need to get more organized, but I need something free to really motivate me ;-}

Kellis last blog post..Almost Ready!!!!!
Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers on August 14, 2008 at 1:38 pm

I am such an organizational freak! Give me a glass of sweet tea, a planner and my computer and I’m set for hours. 😉

Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolerss last blog post..Thursday Thirteen (TT#2)
Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers on August 14, 2008 at 1:42 pm

And, because two chances are always better than one…

http://hsmomof3.blogspot.com/2008/08/wanna-win-planner.html

😉 Have a great day!

Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolerss last blog post..Wanna Win a Planner?
Jessica on August 14, 2008 at 4:17 pm

Wouldn’t be nice to just fill in the blanks? Then all you’d have to do is show up for class!
Michelle on August 14, 2008 at 6:37 pm

This looks like just what I need…and I’m fairly organized!

Michelles last blog post..I survived
Elle on August 14, 2008 at 7:30 pm

This giveaway is right on tempting because I’ve been going back and forth over whether to purchase one. But if I could win one…. Definitely, please sign me up.

Elles last blog post..Random is about all…
Jennifer on August 14, 2008 at 9:41 pm

Oh, I’m so unorganized this year.
I NEED this!!
Um, my children’s education would benefit from it, I mean. :o)

Jennifers last blog post..A Whole Month!
Jenny on August 14, 2008 at 10:04 pm

Thanks for the chance to win…I don’t have my own blog, but I am happy to let you know that I would love to win this planner. Sounds like it would be awesome to have it for this school year!
Michelle on August 14, 2008 at 10:23 pm

Please consider me for this. I NEED help with organizing! LOL!
the Fish on August 14, 2008 at 10:45 pm

Looks like a great product!
Mary on August 14, 2008 at 11:54 pm

What a neat planner to help with organizing.
Shannon on August 15, 2008 at 1:37 am

This looks like an incredible planner! Thanks for offering this.

Blessings,
Shannon
Shannon on August 15, 2008 at 2:09 am

I posted about your awesome giveaway – here’s the link:
http://shannon-songofmyheart.blogspot.com/2008/08/great-planner.html

Thanks,
Shannon
Liz on August 15, 2008 at 7:26 am

This is great! I love planners!

Lizs last blog post..Peaceful, Enjoyable Day
molytail on August 15, 2008 at 9:25 am

That sounds like a pretty fabulous planner – I’m not exactly the organised type & keep trying to find a good style of planning. 🙂

Thanks for the contest!

molytail at gmail dot com
Holly@aiminghigh on August 16, 2008 at 9:32 am

Would be very grateful to win. Thank you very much.

Holly@aiminghighs last blog post..Want to Get Your Blood Boiling?
Amy on August 16, 2008 at 10:24 am

I’ve been trying to put together my own planner — this one sounds great and would save me a lot of time! 😀
Thanks for the opportunity.
Amy

Amys last blog post..Science Museum Field Trip
Amy on August 16, 2008 at 10:51 am

I posted about this awesome contest on my blog!
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolhighlites/575760/

Amys last blog post..The Old Schoolhouse Planner Contest
Yvonne on August 16, 2008 at 11:12 am

This would be so much fun to win!

Yvonne :o)

Yvonnes last blog post..Tomorrow will be our first day of school!
Cathy on August 16, 2008 at 12:29 pm

Would be wonderful!
Jill S. on August 16, 2008 at 2:05 pm

We are just starting our HSing journey this fall and this planner would be a wonderful tool to help us get started. Thanks for the opportunity to win! 🙂
Jill
Kim on August 16, 2008 at 10:14 pm

The planner looks awesome!

Kims last blog post..SURPRISE!!!
Vicki on August 17, 2008 at 5:58 am

I have looked at this planner already and would absolutely love to have one. My 5 yr old ds is just starting homeschooling this year (Sept. 1) and this is the 5th year for my daughter which is in the 8th grade (if you were going by reg school grades) this would help so much to keep up with both of them.

Thanks!!
Vicki

Vickis last blog post..How quickly we get attached to our pets……….
Vicki on August 17, 2008 at 6:36 am

I have now posted, for the first time, a contest link on my blog.

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hca

This would be so great to win!!

Blessings,
Vicki

Vickis last blog post..The Schoolhouse Planner Giveaway!
littlesanctuary (Kim) on August 17, 2008 at 7:56 am

Oh! I want to win. 🙂

littlesanctuary (Kim)s last blog post..realist and faith the balancing of decision
Jen B on August 17, 2008 at 12:22 pm

We’re starting 1st grade – this would be a huge help! Thanks!

Jen Bs last blog post..Autumn’s First Trip to the ER
Kerri on August 17, 2008 at 2:45 pm

This sounds like what I’ve been looking for. Thanks for sharing!

Kerris last blog post..Endowed with Splendor
Dawn Chandler on August 17, 2008 at 4:05 pm

Thank you!
Nancy on August 17, 2008 at 5:48 pm

With two in highschool this year, I could use a little more organization!
Jennifer Fowler on August 17, 2008 at 7:46 pm

I just looked at this organizer yesterday. It looks awesome!
Mycrazylife on August 17, 2008 at 8:13 pm

I have no organizational skills whatsoever. I wonder if it could help even me?

Mycrazylifes last blog post..Praying for Mist
Amy on August 17, 2008 at 8:33 pm

I would LOVE to have organization! 🙂 Thanks, Dawn!
Angie @ Many Little Blessings on August 18, 2008 at 12:58 am

I would love to win! I may be too late to enter, I’m not sure what time zone the midnight was for.

Thanks for the in depth review!

Angie @ Many Little Blessingss last blog post..Can you help my husband with a correlation study for school?
Guidemom on August 18, 2008 at 1:37 pm

This sounds awesome!

Guidemoms last blog post..The Super Student’s first Lapbook