5 tips on how to build an effective weekly learning plan for kids
Three years ago, when I started tutoring my daughter, I didn’t have a daily nor a weekly learning plan. I just had a toolbox of different activities to choose from depending on my kid’s mood.
After a few months, I naturally transitioned to adopting daily and weekly routines instead. Basically, a primitive version of a weekly learning plan.
I transitioned because my 3 years old daughter liked it better to always know what we were about to do. I think having a daily learning plan also helps her feel secure, in control and more engaged. Additionally, she knows in advance how much effort is required and can mentally prepare accordingly.
Another reason why I started building a weekly learning plan is because it is a practical way to consolidate all the learnings from countless hours of teaching. Things like how many activities, what type of activities, in which order, what difficulty level, where to practice and how long to practice are all embedded in my weekly learning plan.
I constantly re-model and optimize the learning plan as kids develop to keep them engaged, always learning new things effectively.
Find here 5 practical tips to build an effective weekly learning plan and an example of my 5 years old daughter current plan:
Obtenez des conseils pour aider vos enfants à apprendre de manière efficace et ludique
1. Start with a simple learning plan
In my experience it is always good to start with a lightweight plan and then increase the number of activities as kids become trained to learn more each day.
A lightweight plan is a plan with just one or two activities per day and/or per week, maybe a completely new activity that requires more effort and an activity more familiar to the kid where he needs more practice to improve.
After a few weeks or less kids will get used to their learning plan and practice more efficiently. So, we can start adding more activities or increase the length and difficulty of the existing ones.
Each time I add a completely new activity, I pause the other activities of the day to reduce the mental load and leave a positive impression.
For example, my first learning plan had the same two activities each day, learning to read and riding a balance bike. Some days, I skipped reading and introduced some football exercises instead. A few weeks later we were doing the three activities daily. Later I also introduced algebra and climbing in a similar fashion. The more Elisa was practicing, the less time she needed to complete all the activities, leaving her more time to play with everything she wanted after.
2. Always have a plan B and plenty of extra time
Kids are unpredictable and, as much as we can plan, we need to remain flexible. I always have plan B activities in case my kids categorically refuse to do some of the activities that were planned or in case they do everything we planned super-fast and are still eager to do more.
In general, my plan B activities are of two types: one, things they are already pretty skilful at, but they haven’t practiced for a while; two, completely new things I still don’t know how to teach, and I need to observe them interacting freely to create a teaching strategy.
Sometimes, when my plans B also don’t work, I leave my kids playing freely for a while, then we move to another environment, and I try again to propose some learning activities. Having extra time is paramount so we don’t feel stressed or under pressure and have the freedom to take as many short breaks as we feel like.
For example, currently, my plan B activities are geometry basics with Lego blocks and Geomag, singing exercises, reading books in mother tongue (as we are currently focusing on foreign languages as part of our plan) and revising multiplication tables. In the past, as part of plan B, I also had: playing rhythms on pavements with drumsticks, running backward, martial arts style kicking a half-empty bottle of water hanged from a tree. What I am looking to add is sketching simple drawings.
3. Practice activities in the right order
When your kid practices multiple activities per day, pay attention to which order he/she prefers. Although each child is different, I think there are some general guidelines when it comes to finding the most effective order to plan activities for the weekly learning plan.
Ideally, I prefer to start with a fun physical activity, but keeping it to a level that is not too demanding. The idea is to boost their alertness and put them in a positive mood. Then I switch to the most physically demanding activity of the day followed by the most mentally demanding activity of the day. After, we do a break and we finish with a couple of less demanding learning activities.
Sometimes, because of external constraints, we can’t do the activities in the most favourable order, so we reduce the number of activities to compensate and take more breaks if possible. We might also practice one relaxing activity after dinner, usually reading or singing for us.
Although some activities are intrinsically more demanding than others, we can always adjust their level of difficulty. This way, some days we practice the new and most difficult aspects and other days the easier more familiar aspects.
For example, I usually pick up my kids from school with their skateboard or bike so they can enjoy the commute to their first activity while increasing their level of alertness to avoid obstacles. We continue with 45-90 minutes of the most physically demanding activity of the day, for us usually football, swimming or climbing. Then we do 30 minutes of the most mentally demanding activity of the day, for us usually reading in a foreign language or playing a musical instrument. We finish the day with a couple of less demanding activities, for us drawing, singing, algebra, geometry, or martial arts.
4. Plan activities efficiently using different formats
Logistics is a waste of time and energy, and it carries uncertainty and generate stress. Nonetheless some logistics is unavoidable, so it is up to us to minimize it trying to setup activities efficiently, so that you don’t need to be on time, commuting, nor to carry material, clothes, food, water, etc… very often.
I categorize kids’ activities in 5 formats, from the most logistically challenging to the least: Group activities, activities needing facilities and a private teacher, activities needing facilities but I can teach my-self, activities we can do at home but need a private teacher, activities I can teach my-self anywhere.
The key to plan activities efficiently is to avoid engaging in logistically intense formats as much as possible unless the benefits far outweigh the drawdowns. When planning, I limit the number of logistically intense activities, I place them first and then I fill the gaps with less logistically intensive activities.
Group activity format: I don’t plan more than a handful of group activities and never more than 2 on the same day. Logistically speaking these are the most stressful activities because kids must be on time, at a specific location, carry the right equipment and mentally and physically ready. Usually, I reserve this format for team sports and group activities with highly talented teachers. For my daughter currently these are: football, gymnastics, ballet, and parkour.
Private teacher at facility: This format leaves a bit more flexibility than group activities as we can always reschedule a particular session or adapt its content depending on the specific mood of the kids that day. But, both teacher and facility need to be available. Usually, the logistics of this format can be simplified by acquiring the material needed at home, by self-teaching or by doing both. In fact, for my daughter, I decided to teach my-self climbing, swimming and piano where we need to access facilities far from home.
Self-teaching at facility: Depending on facilities opening hours and distance from home this format convenience can vary. Commuting with kids is challenging and a total waste of time so I always look for facilities close by or to acquire the equipment myself. This format is limited by parents’ expertise, their ability to teach kids and the type of parent / children relationship. Even Roger Federer’s mother, a tennis coach her-self, couldn’t coach his young son and was forced to abandon the idea.
Private teacher at home: Overall this is one of the most efficient formats. There are some minor drawdowns we must pay attention to, not related to logistics: 1. home is a counterproductive environment for most kids because too familiar and full of many distractions; 2. Practicing in groups always motivates kids, on the contrary practicing alone is less motivating and kids can’t easily benchmark themselves with their peers; 3. Private teachers might be pricy and might not dispose of methods for kids.
Self-teaching anywhere: logistically speaking this is the most efficient format. I mostly use it to fill time between activities or at the end of the day. I don’t mind skipping these activities or shuffling them depending on my kids’ particular mood. Currently I am teaching my kids many different activities but just because they are still young and they are total beginners, activities like: math, reading, music, skateboarding, cycling, martial arts and football.
5. Keep fine-tuning the weekly learning plan
Kids learn fast so their learning plan needs constant tuning to keep up with their rapid changes. It is not just about adding new activities but also about reducing or removing some others and maybe bring them back again later. It is also about experimenting to find the best time, order, format, environment, and exercises to maximize enjoyment.
Afterall, change itself, if not abused, helps keeping kids enthusiastic, curious, and engaged!
For example, learning to read and football have been my daughter main activities from 3 to 4 but now she practices quickly almost daily and with little effort. Same when she first started reading in a foreign language, a big mental load at first but after a few weeks she could practice effortlessly so she reads at night before going to bed.
Example of 5 years old weekly learning plan
Here is the current weekly learning plan of my 5 years old daughter, Elisa. It looks like a busy schedule but days flow smoothly. It evolved massively from when she was 2 and it only had two activities: learning the alphabet and riding her balance bike.
Obtenez des conseils pour aider vos enfants à apprendre de manière efficace et ludique
Every day, after I pick up my kids from school, I try to teach them all sorts of skills and subjects. Over the years I became fascinated by the way kids learn, very different from adults, and frustrated struggling to find teaching methods specific for young kids (2-10 years). So, I have decided to build a practical framework to teach kids anything effectively and playfully.
"""Nilikuwa na mpango wa kujifunza kila siku au kila wiki, lakini miaka mitatu iliyopita, wakati nilianza kumfundisha binti yangu, sikuwa na mpango wa kujifunza kila siku au kila wiki." Nilikuwa na sanduku la vifaa la shughuli tofauti za kuchagua kulingana na hali ya mtoto wangu. Baada ya miezi michache, kwa kawaida nilibadilisha mazoea yangu ya kila siku na ya kila juma. Kimsingi, toleo la awali la mpango wa kujifunza wa kila juma. """Nilikuwa na umri wa miaka mitatu na binti yangu alikuwa akipenda sana kujua kila kitu tulichokuwa tukifanya." Nadhani kuwa na mpango wa kujifunza wa kila siku pia husaidia kujisikia salama, katika udhibiti na kushiriki zaidi. Kwa kuongezea, anajua kimbele ni jitihada ngapi zinazohitajika na anaweza kujitayarisha kiakili ipasavyo. Sababu nyingine kwa nini nilianza kujenga mpango wa kujifunza wa kila wiki ni kwa sababu ni njia ya vitendo ya kuunganisha masomo yote kutoka kwa masaa mengi ya kufundisha. Vitu kama vile shughuli ngapi, aina gani ya shughuli, katika utaratibu gani, kiwango cha ugumu, wapi kufanya mazoezi na ni kwa muda gani kufanya mazoezi, vyote vimeingizwa katika mpango wangu wa kujifunza wa kila wiki. Mimi daima remodel na kuboresha mpango wa kujifunza kama watoto kuendeleza kuwaweka kushiriki, daima kujifunza mambo mapya kwa ufanisi. "Hapa kuna vidokezo vitano vya kufanya mpango mzuri wa kujifunza kila wiki na mfano wa mpango wa sasa wa binti yangu mwenye umri wa miaka mitano: ""Kupata ushauri wa kuwasaidia watoto wako kujifunza kwa njia ya ufanisi na ya kufurahisha.""" Kuanza na mpango rahisi wa kujifunza: Kwa uzoefu wangu, ni bora kuanza na mpango rahisi na kisha kuongeza idadi ya shughuli wakati watoto wanapokuwa na mafunzo ya kujifunza zaidi kila siku. Mpango wa mwanga ni mpango na shughuli moja au mbili tu kwa siku na au kwa wiki, labda shughuli mpya kabisa ambayo inahitaji juhudi zaidi na shughuli ya kawaida kwa mtoto ambapo anahitaji mazoezi zaidi ili kuboresha. Baada ya majuma machache au chini watoto watazoea mpango wao wa kujifunza na kufanya mazoezi kwa ufanisi zaidi. Kwa hiyo, tunaweza kuanza kuongeza shughuli zaidi au kuongeza urefu na ugumu wa zile zilizopo. Kila mara ninapoongeza shughuli mpya kabisa, mimi hupumzika shughuli nyingine za siku ili kupunguza mzigo wa akili na kuacha hisia nzuri. Kwa mfano, mpango wangu wa kwanza wa kujifunza ulikuwa na shughuli mbili zilezile kila siku, kujifunza kusoma na kuendesha baiskeli ya usawa. Siku fulani, niliepuka kusoma na badala yake nikaanza kufanya mazoezi ya mpira wa miguu. Majuma machache baadaye tulikuwa tukifanya shughuli hizo tatu kila siku. Baadaye nilizungumza pia kuhusu aljebra na kupanda milima kwa njia hiyohiyo. Kadiri Elisa alivyofanya mazoezi, ndivyo alivyopunguza wakati aliohitaji ili kukamilisha shughuli zote, akimwachia wakati zaidi wa kucheza na kila kitu alichotaka baada ya mazoezi. 2. Uwezekano wa kupata Kuwa na mpango wa B na wakati mwingi wa ziada: Watoto ni wasiotabiriwa na, kama tunaweza kupanga, tunahitaji kubaki rahisi. """Sikuzote huwa na mipango ya B ikiwa watoto wangu watakataa kufanya shughuli zilizopangwa au ikiwa watafanya kila kitu tulichopanga haraka sana na bado wanataka kufanya zaidi." Kwa ujumla, shughuli zangu za mpango B ni za aina mbili: moja, mambo ambayo tayari wana ujuzi mzuri, lakini hawajafanya mazoezi kwa muda; mbili, mambo mapya kabisa ambayo bado sijui jinsi ya kufundisha, na ninahitaji kuwaona wakishirikiana kwa uhuru ili kuunda mkakati wa kufundisha. Wakati mwingine, wakati mipango yangu B pia haifanyi kazi, mimi huacha watoto wangu kucheza kwa uhuru kwa muda, kisha tunahamia mazingira mengine, na mimi kujaribu tena kupendekeza baadhi ya shughuli za kujifunza. Kuwa na muda wa ziada ni muhimu sana hivyo hatujisikii mkazo au chini ya shinikizo na kuwa na uhuru wa kuchukua mapumziko mengi mafupi kama tunavyohisi. Kwa mfano, sasa, shughuli zangu za mpango B ni msingi wa jiometri na Lego na Geomag, mazoezi ya kuimba, kusoma vitabu katika lugha ya mama (kwa kuwa kwa sasa tunazingatia lugha za kigeni kama sehemu ya mpango wetu) na kurekebisha meza za kuzidisha. "Kama sehemu ya mpango wa B, nilikuwa na ""kucheza rhythms juu ya sidewalks na drumsticks, mbio nyuma, martial arts style, kicking nusu tupu chupa ya maji kunyongwa kutoka mti.""" Kile ninachotaka kuongeza ni kuchora michoro rahisi. 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Fanya mazoezi kwa utaratibu unaofaa: Ikiwa mtoto wako anafanya mazoezi mengi kwa siku, angalia utaratibu unaopendelea. Ingawa kila mtoto ni tofauti, kuna miongozo ya jumla wakati wa kupata utaratibu bora zaidi wa kupanga shughuli kwa mpango wa kujifunza wa kila wiki. Kwa kawaida, napendelea kuanza na utendaji wa kimwili wenye kufurahisha, lakini ukiendelea katika kiwango kisicho cha kudai sana. Kusudi ni kuwafanya wawe macho na kuwafanya wawe na mtazamo mzuri. Kisha ninabadilika na kufanya shughuli yenye kuchochea zaidi mwili na kisha kufanya shughuli yenye kuchochea zaidi akili. Baada ya hapo, tunafanya mapumziko na tunaishia na shughuli chache za kujifunza zisizo na mahitaji. Wakati mwingine, kwa sababu ya vikwazo vya nje, hatuwezi kufanya shughuli katika utaratibu mzuri zaidi, kwa hivyo tunapunguza idadi ya shughuli ili kulipia na kuchukua mapumziko zaidi ikiwa inawezekana. Pia, baada ya chakula cha jioni, tunaweza kufanya jambo fulani la kupumzika, kwa kawaida kusoma au kuimba. Ingawa baadhi ya shughuli ni intrinsically zaidi ya kudai kuliko wengine, tunaweza daima kurekebisha ngazi yao ya ugumu. Kwa njia hii, siku fulani tunafanya mazoezi ya mambo mapya na magumu zaidi na siku nyingine mambo rahisi na ya kawaida. Kwa mfano, mimi kawaida kuchukua watoto wangu kutoka shule na skateboard yao au baiskeli ili waweze kufurahia kusafiri kwa shughuli yao ya kwanza wakati kuongeza ngazi yao ya tahadhari ili kuepuka vikwazo. Kwa dakika 45 hadi 90 tunatumia mazoezi ya mwili ambayo kwa kawaida ni mpira wa miguu, kuogelea au kupanda. Baada ya hapo, tunafanya kwa dakika 30 kazi inayotutaka zaidi kiakili siku nzima, kwa kawaida kusoma katika lugha ya kigeni au kucheza ala ya muziki. Tunaimaliza siku hiyo kwa kufanya mambo machache yasiyo magumu, kama vile kuchora, kuimba, hesabu, jiometri, au mbinu za kupigana. 4. Uwe na uhakika Mipango ya shughuli kwa ufanisi kwa kutumia miundo tofauti Logistics ni kupoteza muda na nishati, na ni kubeba kutokuwa na uhakika na kuzalisha mkazo. Hata hivyo baadhi ya vifaa ni inevitable, hivyo ni juu yetu kupunguza ni kujaribu kuanzisha shughuli kwa ufanisi, hivyo kwamba huna haja ya kuwa kwa wakati, kusafiri, wala kubeba vifaa, nguo, chakula, maji, nk... mara nyingi sana. "Kuna aina tano za shughuli za watoto, kuanzia zile zenye changamoto kubwa hadi zile zisizo na changamoto kubwa: ""Kazi za kikundi,"" ""Kazi zinazohitaji vifaa na mwalimu binafsi,"" ""Kazi zinazohitaji vifaa lakini ninaweza kujifundisha,"" ""Kazi ambazo ninaweza kufanya nyumbani lakini ninahitaji mwalimu binafsi,"" ""Kazi ninazoweza kujifundisha mahali popote.""" Ufunguo wa kupanga shughuli kwa ufanisi ni kuepuka kushiriki katika muundo wa vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa vya vifaa. Wakati wa kupanga, mimi kupunguza idadi ya shughuli logistically makali, mimi kuweka yao kwanza na kisha mimi kujaza mapungufu na shughuli chini ya logistically makali. Mfano wa shughuli za kikundi: Mimi si kupanga zaidi ya shughuli za kikundi chache na kamwe zaidi ya 2 siku moja. Kwa upande wa vifaa, hizi ni shughuli zenye mkazo zaidi kwa sababu watoto lazima wawe kwa wakati, katika eneo maalum, kubeba vifaa sahihi na tayari kiakili na kimwili. Kwa kawaida, mimi hutumia njia hiyo kwa ajili ya michezo ya kikundi na shughuli za kikundi pamoja na walimu wenye vipawa sana. Kwa binti yangu kwa sasa hizo ni: mpira wa miguu, mazoezi ya viungo vya mwili, dansi ya bale, na parkour. Mwalimu binafsi katika kituo: Muundo huu unaacha kubadilika kidogo kuliko shughuli za kikundi kwani tunaweza daima kupanga upya kikao fulani au kurekebisha yaliyomo kulingana na hali maalum ya watoto siku hiyo. Lakini, mwalimu na kituo vyote viwili vinahitaji kuwapo. Kwa kawaida, vifaa vya muundo huu vinaweza kurahisishwa kwa kupata vifaa vinavyohitajika nyumbani, kwa kujifundisha au kwa kufanya vyote viwili. Kwa kweli, kwa binti yangu, niliamua kujifundisha kupanda, kuogelea na piano ambapo tunahitaji kupata vifaa mbali na nyumbani. Self-kufundisha katika kituo: Kulingana na vifaa kufungua saa na umbali kutoka nyumbani format hii urahisi inaweza kutofautiana. Kusafiri na watoto ni changamoto na kupoteza muda kabisa hivyo mimi daima kuangalia kwa ajili ya vifaa karibu na au kupata vifaa mwenyewe. Muundo huu ni mdogo na utaalam wa wazazi, uwezo wao wa kufundisha watoto na aina ya uhusiano wa wazazi na watoto. Hata mama ya Roger Federer, ambaye pia ni mkufunzi wa tenisi, hangeweza kumfundisha mwanawe mchanga na alilazimika kuacha wazo hilo. Mwalimu binafsi nyumbani: Kwa ujumla hii ni moja ya miundo ufanisi zaidi. Kuna baadhi ya mapungufu madogo ambayo tunapaswa kuzingatia, yasiyohusiana na vifaa: 1. nyumba ni mazingira yasiyofaa kwa watoto wengi kwa sababu ni ya kawaida sana na imejaa vitu vingi vya kuvutia. Kufanya mazoezi katika vikundi daima huchochea watoto, kinyume chake kufanya mazoezi peke yake ni chini ya kuhamasisha na watoto hawawezi kwa urahisi benchmark wenyewe na wenzao; 3. Walimu wa kibinafsi wanaweza kuwa ghali na wanaweza kuwa hawana mbinu kwa ajili ya watoto. Kujifundisha mahali popote: kwa upande wa vifaa hii ni muundo bora zaidi. Mimi hasa kutumia ni kujaza muda kati ya shughuli au mwishoni mwa siku. Mimi si akili kuruka shughuli hizi au shuffling yao kulingana na watoto wangu'mood maalum. Kwa sasa ninawafundisha watoto wangu shughuli nyingi tofauti lakini kwa sababu bado ni wachanga na wao ni wa mwanzo kabisa, shughuli kama: hisabati, kusoma, muziki, skateboarding, baiskeli, sanaa za kupigana na mpira wa miguu. 5. Uwe na mtazamo mzuri. Kuendelea kurekebisha mpango wa kujifunza wa kila wiki Watoto hujifunza haraka, kwa hivyo mpango wao wa kujifunza unahitaji kurekebishwa mara kwa mara ili kushikilia mabadiliko yao ya haraka. Si tu kuhusu kuongeza shughuli mpya, lakini pia kuhusu kupunguza au kuondoa baadhi ya wengine na labda kuleta tena baadaye. Pia ni kuhusu majaribio ya kupata wakati bora, utaratibu, muundo, mazingira, na mazoezi ya kuongeza furaha. Baada ya yote, badiliko lenyewe, ikiwa halitumiwi vibaya, husaidia kuweka watoto wenye shauku, wenye udadisi, na wenye bidii! Kwa mfano, kujifunza kusoma na mpira wa miguu imekuwa shughuli kuu za binti yangu kutoka 3 hadi 4 lakini sasa anafanya mazoezi haraka karibu kila siku na kwa juhudi kidogo. Wakati wa kwanza wa kusoma katika lugha ya kigeni, ilikuwa mzigo mkubwa wa akili, lakini baada ya wiki chache aliweza kufanya mazoezi bila shida, kwa hivyo anasoma usiku kabla ya kulala. Mfano wa mpango wa kujifunza wa kila wiki wa mtoto wa miaka 5 Inaonekana kama ratiba yenye shughuli nyingi lakini siku zinaendelea kwa urahisi. Alianza kufanya mazoezi ya kuendesha baiskeli akiwa na umri wa miaka miwili na alikuwa na shughuli mbili tu: kujifunza alfabeti na kuendesha baiskeli yake. Kwa mfano, unaweza kuwa na ushauri wa jinsi ya kuwa na watoto wako na jinsi ya kuwa na furaha na furaha kila siku baada ya kuwachukua watoto wako kutoka shule, na kujaribu kuwafundisha ujuzi na masomo mbalimbali. Kwa miaka mingi nimevutiwa na njia ya watoto kujifunza, tofauti sana na watu wazima, na kukata tamaa na kujaribu kupata mbinu za kufundisha maalum kwa watoto wadogo (miaka 2-10). Kwa hiyo, nimeamua kujenga mfumo wa vitendo wa kuwafundisha watoto chochote kwa ufanisi na kwa njia ya kucheza.