I’ve been watching reviews of this planner and was getting ready to purchase it for the upcoming school year, until I watched this flip through. I’m disappointed in several of the changes and am now considering another brand of planner. It’s unfortunate that the quality seems to have gone down with the new changes. Thank you for sharing the details of what changed, it was really helpful so I didn’t purchase something I know I will regret later. I will add, I do love all the page options they include, it’s the quality of the upcoming planner and the smaller divider pocket that stops me from purchasing. The overall size of the planner is smaller, not allowing space to tuck in standard size papers.
Thanks for sharing! I am hoping that next year the pages will be a bit thicker. Already, I don't love how it feels writing on the thin pages. I still love the Mardel layouts, though! I am looking forward to any future changes for the next planner!
Overall, I'm still happy with the Mardel planner but a little disappointed with some of the changes and have some concerns with others. I really like that they changed the binding and made the covers sturdier. The stickers aren't necessary but a fun add that I'll enjoy using. (It's the small things 😊) It is a lot thinner, but I never minded the thickness as I don't take my planner with me on the go. While I do understand why they chose to use thinner paper, I wish that they kept the thicker paper and the regular monthly tab dividers. I'm expecting them to tear at some point given how thin they are, but I can't say for certain since I haven't used it. The pocket not fitting a standard sheet of paper is also a bummer. Having to fold worksheets in half isn't appealing.
I do really love this planner but I get why some people are upset with the changes. I suggest looking into the School Nest planner. It has a lot of the same stuff and I was very impressed with it. It is not spiral bound but you can take it to an office store and they would do that for you. I prefer the nature series of School Nest it has the months and weeks separated but if you don't like that the Mystic planner has the normal set up with month first than followed by weeks. Being a Sonlight user with a guide I don't use the week stuff much, but love the week overview and month over view. Really great planner for those disappointed in the Mardel planner.
Thanks for sharing!! I'm so happy with the current version and excited for the new one! I originally purchased my planner based off of your recommendation and review video a year ago! Thanks for updating us on the upcoming planner, I just purchased my new planner!! 📔🍎✏️
This will be our third year using this planner and I really don’t like the changes. It doesn’t feel as study with the paper being so flimsy. However it’s still the best layout that works for us.
Hi! I just tried highlighters on the new planner. My highlighters did not bleed through. I use Sharpie brand highlighters and tried various colors. They didn't bleed through for me. I hope that helps. Thanks!! 😊
I'm not happy with the changes but to honest, i never take my homeschool planner with me. It stays on our desk. Can't make everyone happy, right? I'm going with the well planned gal this year.
I'm so glad that I read your comment and it reminded me of Well-Planned Day planners...I've used a few different kinds over the years including WPD. I started with Mardel's, which I love, but having an only child made all the planning pages more than I needed. The planner I'm currently using has worked well for me, but I'd rather support a company that I know supports my values and the homeschooling community, so I was on the search again. Anyway. We're planning 9th grade, and I was happily surprised to see that the well-planned gal has a 4 year high school planner that will even help me with transcripts...it's just the thing I needed but didn't know existed, lol! Wish it was as pretty as the Mardel planner, but oh well. Anyway (again), all that to say that I recommend both of these planners, and thanks for the reminder!
I’ve been watching reviews of this planner and was getting ready to purchase it for the upcoming school year, until I watched this flip through. I’m disappointed in several of the changes and am now considering another brand of planner. It’s unfortunate that the quality seems to have gone down with the new changes. Thank you for sharing the details of what changed, it was really helpful so I didn’t purchase something I know I will regret later.
I will add, I do love all the page options they include, it’s the quality of the upcoming planner and the smaller divider pocket that stops me from purchasing. The overall size of the planner is smaller, not allowing space to tuck in standard size papers.
Thanks for sharing! I am hoping that next year the pages will be a bit thicker. Already, I don't love how it feels writing on the thin pages.
I still love the Mardel layouts, though! I am looking forward to any future changes for the next planner!
Overall, I'm still happy with the Mardel planner but a little disappointed with some of the changes and have some concerns with others.
I really like that they changed the binding and made the covers sturdier. The stickers aren't necessary but a fun add that I'll enjoy using. (It's the small things 😊) It is a lot thinner, but I never minded the thickness as I don't take my planner with me on the go.
While I do understand why they chose to use thinner paper, I wish that they kept the thicker paper and the regular monthly tab dividers. I'm expecting them to tear at some point given how thin they are, but I can't say for certain since I haven't used it. The pocket not fitting a standard sheet of paper is also a bummer. Having to fold worksheets in half isn't appealing.
I do really love this planner but I get why some people are upset with the changes. I suggest looking into the School Nest planner. It has a lot of the same stuff and I was very impressed with it. It is not spiral bound but you can take it to an office store and they would do that for you. I prefer the nature series of School Nest it has the months and weeks separated but if you don't like that the Mystic planner has the normal set up with month first than followed by weeks. Being a Sonlight user with a guide I don't use the week stuff much, but love the week overview and month over view. Really great planner for those disappointed in the Mardel planner.
Thanks for sharing!! I'm so happy with the current version and excited for the new one! I originally purchased my planner based off of your recommendation and review video a year ago! Thanks for updating us on the upcoming planner, I just purchased my new planner!! 📔🍎✏️
Great review, Cass!
They should have continued with the old one (with the new metal binding coil) and offered the new version as a minimalist version.
This will be our third year using this planner and I really don’t like the changes. It doesn’t feel as study with the paper being so flimsy. However it’s still the best layout that works for us.
I use highlighters to color code my kids’ assignments. Do you think the highlighters will bleed through with the new paper?
Hi! I just tried highlighters on the new planner. My highlighters did not bleed through. I use Sharpie brand highlighters and tried various colors. They didn't bleed through for me. I hope that helps. Thanks!! 😊
@@homeschoolpeace thank you!!
I'm not happy with the changes but to honest, i never take my homeschool planner with me. It stays on our desk. Can't make everyone happy, right? I'm going with the well planned gal this year.
I'm so glad that I read your comment and it reminded me of Well-Planned Day planners...I've used a few different kinds over the years including WPD. I started with Mardel's, which I love, but having an only child made all the planning pages more than I needed. The planner I'm currently using has worked well for me, but I'd rather support a company that I know supports my values and the homeschooling community, so I was on the search again. Anyway. We're planning 9th grade, and I was happily surprised to see that the well-planned gal has a 4 year high school planner that will even help me with transcripts...it's just the thing I needed but didn't know existed, lol! Wish it was as pretty as the Mardel planner, but oh well. Anyway (again), all that to say that I recommend both of these planners, and thanks for the reminder!
Totally disappointing! I hated it and sent it back. I bought a Plum Planner and love it!