Okay. So, I am still having trouble finding a recordkeeping system that "fits" me. Even though I live in Texas and am not required to keep or file any type of records, I still feel the need to keep some for my own sanity. However, since I can't seem to settle on a certain way of doing this --- it is making me crazy!! I just have one kindergartner to keep track of -- so you would think this would be simple, but I have procrastinated on deciding how it is best to do it. How do each of you keep records? HOw would you in my situation? I have tried the online recordkeeping systems...both purchased and free/trial versions. I seem to be more of a paper and pen type person. First semester I kept a 3 ring binder with a schedule -- but when we veered off schedule I had to scratch out and rewrite so much..plus half the time I forgot to write down as we were going (could have something to do with the distraction of a 3 year old!). This time I thought I would try the notebook/journal and just journal about everything at the end of the day. That part seems to work okay. But I haven't figured out how I make a plan for the next day -- do I write it in my journal also? Just jot it down and trash it once I have journaled??? Ideas anyone?
I keep a planner, although I do not plan in advance. I keep track of what we do daily, when we do it. This way I keep a record of what we are doing and I have something to show for future reference.
Thanks Patty. Do you have a plan for what you are going to get done each day...or do you just "wing" it? I have tried it both ways, but I feel I lose ds attention when I am fiddling through my resources deciding what we are going to do.
I have a basic idea of what we will cover for the day but it can change. Subjects like Math and Language are pretty consistant in that we move on to the next page daily; usually. Subjects like History, we might read something and then decided to make a craft or I might have Ems write a small essay about what she read. Ems has a set spelling list that I make every week. Whether she has to write the words in sentences, 5x each, oral quiz, or a spelling game, all depends on what we decided for the day. So it changes daily. Somedays we will read from a book and then she wants to make a craft about what she read. So I allow her to also take part in what we do for the day. So basically, I can't completely wing it because it would take forever to complete and I would lose Ems for the day. LOL But I remain flexible as to how I will teach what we are learning. I sometimes also will move forward in a book if I feel Ems already knows something. If she is excelling in her spelling, we sometimes skip it for the day or I will have her take the test that day instead of the estimated day.
We also live in Texas. I would love to just abandon record keeping, but there is a good chance in the future we may move to a state that requires records, so I want to keep something. I have decided to go with Homeschool Tracker (first the free version, then plus). We just finished kindergarten. What I found worked for us was similar to a previous poster who used a planner. I would print out a chart for each week of the topics/subjects I wanted to cover. I would pencil in what stories/chapters/activities. At the end of the week, put what we actually did into Homeschool Tracker When I started planning this (first grade) year, I tried putting as much of my planning in ahead of time as possible. I am waiting to see if it's worth in, in terms of what I will need to go back and delete/edit. We'll see if this saves me any time.
I was using Donna Youngs record system on excel. I loved it - but it was mainly a grading sheet. I ended up this past week getting Homeschool Tracker Plus because I could download the lesson plans - which saved me a TON of time planning. And I can reschedule with ease. Yep - I have my pen and paper as well but this seems to be working so far (but only 2 days in). I have 2 weeks planned out so far. Next week will be more involved than this week with added classes for my kids. But I'm excited about using it. It took 3 days sitting down and working it all out.
This is an EXCELLENT grade book, it is bound and holds a couple years and you will have a record of grades, attendance, etc. This is what I used K-12, plus it is inexpensive! https://www.abeka.com/ABekaOnline/BookDescription.aspx?sbn=1219X
This is not really record keeping, but we made scrapbooks of our first couple of years. This included some of her writings and pictures of her doing some of the things she used to do in those days. Now that she is doing high school level work, I am saving the bulk of the work she has done. I am sure I will need to taper that down a bit later.
sorry I'm not much help we don't have to keep records here in AZ either but I keep all of their work in a totebox under my bed...then I'll move them out to storage at the end of kinder and start a new box for 1st grade.
What better recording is there than pictures! This way you can actually see what she did instead of reading about it!
I keep a Big spiral each year(Since he was 4 ) On the out side I put school year I list all the subjects he does, if we miss a day of schooling I put why like , the date that day ,Dentist ,sick day and so on. I write myself teacher notes, like if he needs more work on something like math etc, then that week we work more on it. Then at end of each year I put spiral in file box
Here in Idaho we don't have to keep any kind of records either, but I have chosen to for my own peace of mind and in case we ever move or laws change I will have it and be in the habit of it. All I do is keep a mini journal of each day in a Google document (that way I can edit it from any computer at any time). Like today's says: Day 93 - January 7, 2009 Read 1 chapter Bible Story Calendar, weather, number of the day Lesson 103 Horizon Math K Pages 5 & 6 Explode the Code 2 Page 8 Scott Foresman Grammar Handwriting Acts 10:34, 35 Read pages 11-18 Dinosaurs, Where Did They Come From? And Where Did They Go? by Elaine Graham-Kennedy Read 1 chapter Detective Zack and the Secret of Noah's Flood, by Jerry D. Thomas I don't usually write down what I am planning to do the next day. For books like math we just do the next lesson, for crafts or special projects I try to have the stuff ready the night before (doesn't always happen, LOL).
I live in Texas also, and have found that I am loving using blogger to keep a record of our activities. The link I have is www.raynerhomeschool.blogspot.com if you want to check out how I am keeping track. You can set up your own at www.blogger.com. Good luck!!
We use Donna Young's Homeschool planner (not the Record system). It's on Excell. It helps me keep track of our lessons. It works for us!
