Mastering the HomeTrail Planner: A Complete Guide

The Planner in HomeTrail is a powerful tool designed to help you stay organized, track lessons, and create a customized homeschooling experience. Whether you need to schedule lessons, log activities, or plan out your curriculum, the Planner offers flexibility and ease of use. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything the Planner can do and how to use it effectively.

Where to Access the Planner

You can access the HomeTrail Planner in two places:
📌 On the Web – Log in at HomeTrail and navigate to the Planner tab.
📌 In the App – Open the HomeTrail app and find the Planner tab for quick access.

Features of the HomeTrail Planner

1. Adding Activities & Lessons

The Planner allows you to create and schedule activities for each student. Whether it’s a structured lesson, a field trip, or an independent reading session, you can log everything in one place.

🔹 How to Add an Activity:

1. Open the Planner.

2. Click "Add Activity."

3. Enter the name of the lesson or activity.

4. Assign it to a student or multiple students.

5. Select the date and time (optional).

6. Choose a subject and add duration if tracking hours is needed.

7. Click Save.

2. Assigning Subjects & Tracking Time

For those who need to track hours per subject (especially for compliance with state laws), the Planner simplifies this process.

🔹 How to Track Time in the Planner:

1. When adding an activity, enter the duration (in minutes).

2. Assign a subject (e.g., Science, History, Art).

3. HomeTrail will automatically calculate total hours spent per subject and display it in the Progress Reports.

3. Managing Custom Curriculum

If you’re using a specific curriculum, you can link your planned lessons to your Custom Curriculum in HomeTrail.

🔹 How to Assign Custom Curriculum Items in the Planner:

1. Select an activity.

2. Choose “Attach Custom Curriculum” to link it to a specific curriculum.

3. This ensures that lessons align with your chosen program and that progress is tracked properly.

4. Editing & Deleting Entries

Need to make a change? HomeTrail makes it simple to edit or remove activities.

🔹 How to Edit an Activity:

1. Click on the activity in the Planner.

2. Modify any details (date, time, subject, etc.).

3. Save changes.

🔹 How to Delete an Activity:

1. Open the activity.

2. Click “Delete” to remove it.

5. Syncing with Check-Ins

For those using HomeTrail’s Daily Check-Ins, responding to a check-in will add an entry to your Journal for the day.

6. Using the Planner for Progress Reports

The Planner is directly linked to your Progress Reports. Everything scheduled and completed in the Planner is reflected in the reports, helping you maintain records effortlessly.

🔹 To Generate a Progress Report:

1. Go to Journey > Progress Report on the web.

2. Select the date range you want to review.

3. View hours spent per subject and student.

Why Use the HomeTrail Planner?

✅ Keeps You Organized – Everything in one place: subjects, activities, and lessons.
✅ Helps Track Learning Hours – Essential for meeting homeschool requirements.
✅ Easily Customizable – Add, edit, delete, and set recurring schedules.
✅ Syncs with Check-Ins & Reports – Saves time by auto-tracking progress.
✅ Works for Any Homeschooling Style – Whether you follow a structured curriculum or an eclectic approach, the Planner adapts to your needs.

Final Thoughts

The HomeTrail Planner is your homeschooling command center, making it easier to plan, log, and track learning activities. With flexible scheduling, time tracking, and integration with Custom Curriculum and Progress Reports, it’s designed to simplify your homeschooling journey.

📅 Start planning today and make homeschooling more organized than ever! 🚀

Check out this video for a simple walkthrough of the Planner on Mobile: