I think I needed to read this chapter in Pep Talks for Writers tonight. The joy and beauty that setting goals can be. I know that I have this big project looming over my head, and I’ve been procrastinating working on it because it seems too big you know?
But if you break a big project up into smaller parts, and make goals that are just the right size, WRITING THEM DOWN so that way they are real goals instead of in your head goals, you can and will make progress.
Do you find that in your own life?
That writing things down, especially when you have a big project, helps you to actually complete it?
I shouldn’t be surprised at this reminder, I’ve been doing it mentally as I’ve been working with my lad at renovating the office into a guest room. First I have to get this out, and then get rid of that stuff, and move that around so that we can spackle, and then wash the floor and find our drop clothes so we can paint and… you know.. every little step and it makes the job not quite as big and so very very doable.
It’s the same way with anything right?
When you plan out your the school year for your child, or are working on writing a book, or a unit study or curriculum notes, or even working on one’s blog. Having plans and writing them out is a HUGE help.
Writing daily plans.. now that doesn’t work well for me, but overall goals, like next week make sure I research the start of World War 1 and jot those notes down. Find the resources. Jot them down. So that over six weeks, we can look through those resources and learn and cement our knowledge, and then on to the next project, and gradually we’ll get through it all. And stop thinking things like “I have to read through these four books on World War 1”. I don’t have do that.
And YOU, you don’t need to write 1000 words on your novel. You might need to write the beginning to a chapter, or write some notes about your main character, or proof read what you’ve already written.
For you over there, you don’t need to plan out the entire school year for your daughter in two days. You don’t. You might need to take step one… sitting down and talking with your daughter and finding out what she wants to learn about and writing it down.
And you, yeah you, the one who wants to create curriculum, you might just need to find what you are passionate about and write about it, and then find someone who can create some good graphics for you. Once you have your material written you can figure out worksheets or projects that go with it.
Oh! Did you know that Schoolhouse teachers has a planner? It just might be what you need to help you plan out your next project.
They also have planners so you can teach your middle and high schoolers this valuable goal about breaking big projects into manageable bits. How great is that eh?
Leave a Reply