Planning, Planning, Planning!

*Warning - long post, lots of picture!*

Something you may not know about me is the fact that I absolutely LOVE day planners. I love to plan my month out each month. It helps me keep my life in order. If I DIDN'T have a calendar or planner, I'm pretty sure that I would never make it anywhere that I was supposed to go...ever.

In December of 2012, when I knew that I had to start looking for a new planner for 2013, I was really dreading it. I couldn't find the same one that I had for 2012, and I had to get used to something new. I hate that. I guess that's because I don't like change all that much, and I couldn't find anything that looked exactly like what I wanted!

When I found out that the Mosaics Review Team was going to be reviewing the new Apologia Planners designed by Debra Bell, I was thrilled!

Then the planners came in the mail! I received both the Ultimate Homeschool Planner, and The Ultimate Weekly Planner for Teens (since I have a sister, I figured this would be used in my house, too!). 

If you're not a homeschooling parent, don't be turned off by the fact that it says "Homeschool Planner". I believe that this can be used for homeschooling, but it can also be used for anybody! I am not a homeschooling parent, and I am going to be using this planner next year!

 

There is so much in this planner - lots of different things to work with. The first few pages are the User's Guide - telling you how to use the planner. The next few pages are the one-year planning grid, the student goal setter and pre-planning guides (family priorities and resource lists). 

 Next up in the planner are the Monthly Planner, which pretty much speaks for itself. There are, of course, 12 of these monthly calendars. They are blank, so you can use them any month of any year and not worry about your calendar matching up. :) 

What I like best is that I don't have to use this calendar a particular year. I got it in the middle of 2013, and didn't want to start a new calendar a few months into the year. So I'm planning to start using it in 2014! (I can't wait to start using it!)

Next up is the weekly planners -52 of them to be exact! 

Some of the things spaces they have for these weekly planners are: Bible Plan, Battle Plan, Prayers, Hospitality/Outreach. There are some places for this week's memorable moments and achievements, and evidences of grace. (left picture).

Then of course, the spaces that you can write in your children's different subjects and what they have to do each day. On the side of that page, there are places for Notes, Supplies, and Appointments. (middle & right picture). 

Next up comes the fun part - the extra goodies in the back! This part is definitely more designed for the homeschool parent. 

There are 2 full pages for records and grades (enough for 6 students), 3 full pages (but 6 columns) for reading lists, and 3 full pages for field trips (6 columns again). 

There is also a High School Planning Guide, which lets you write out what your high schooler does from 8th-12th grade.

And also a Year in Review sheet (2 full pages).

 

Now. Onto the Teen Planner. Are you even still here? Still reading? I hope so! This one's cool too!

In the beginning of the plan there's an All About Me section. This asks some cool questions - my best friends, favorite bands, favorite books, favorite movies, favorite places, favorite sayings, colors, animals, the future "me" I want to be, books I want to read, places I want to go, topics I want to study, things I want to do, talents I want to development, etc.

 

Then there are of course the monthly and weekly planners.

 

As you can tell, the weekly planners are set up to be used with hours, as well. This is required in some states, but in some it isn't. It'd still be nice to know how long your teens were working on their schoolwork each day!

Next up is the two full pages of grading sheets. 

Then is two full pages for your teen's reading list, and two full pages for their activities log.

Last but not least I'll share the Credit Tracker that is in the back of this planner.

 There are always MANY resources at the back of this planner! I mean, so much stuff! Some include: Guide to Punctuation, Italics, and Capitalization, Fractions, Decimals, Percent Equivalency Chart, Periodic Table of Elements, Measurements Equivalency Chart, Common Units of Measure, Conversions, Algebra Review, Physics Review, Map of the World, US Map with State Capitals, Timeline of US and World History, High School Checklist, Recommended Reading List for the College Bound, and a Notes section.

These planners are spiral bound so they're easy to use, they look great, and they are easy to use!

There is just so much in these planners that I cannot possibly try to explain it all to you. I'm sorry for the long post with so many pictures, but I knew it would help me to show you the planners a little better!

Will I use these planner?  Heck yes!
Do I recommend them for you? YES!

The Ultimate Homeschool Planner is priced at $28. I think this is completely worth the money.
The Ultimate Weekly Planner for Teens is priced at $19.
The Ultimate Daily Planner for Students is also $19. (I didn't receive this one but if it's anywhere as awesome as the ones I did receive, I'm sure it's worth the money!).

Go click on those links and think about purchasing these great planners for your next school year, for keeping your life in order, and just for the fun of it!