This is going to sound so silly. But, in NY we have to take attendance. What the heck....Sounds so simple but this past year I didn't. I never thought about it except every so often that I have no record of school days. Yikes.... Kind of hard to do that for people who are always in your house...... Here is what I am thinking of doing for next year. I can't be bothered with things like that. I start out with great intentions but then they fall by the way side. So, I bought 180 colored Popsicle sticks and I figured I would put them in a jar and when my kids did school work they would take one and put the date on it with their initials. So, this would work two ways, they would see the days go away and I would have some sort of record. Does anyone have any other suggestions that may keep us on track for next year?
We have to keep a record of attendance on hand in California. I keep an attendance sheet in my folder and mark it every day we school. It doesn't even take a minute. Since most people get in the fridge every day, why don't you put an attendance sheet on the fridge with a magnet and attached pencil. When you go to the fridge, mark your sheet. It will take a few seconds max. If you do not have to keep an actual record but simply keep track, the popsicle sticks should be fine. You can make a record with poster board and have the kiddos put small stickers on for every day they complete.
That's a neat idea. Then the kids can visually see how many days they have left. In GA, we have to turn in a Monthly Attendance Form to the county (180 days of 4 1/2 hours a day). I print it off and just check off the days we do school. Or you can just use a calendar, follow the ps schedule, or use the child's assignment sheet. I keep that info to myself because OH MY if we should do 181 days that would just not be fair. lol
Cherry Don't get worried about it or even do anything so fancy. You only have to turn in an attendance record if the district asks for it. I have never heard of a district actually asking for attendance records. If they do you can just print off a calendar and check the dates. You do not have to prove them or anything else. You do have to turn in your hours on your quarterly. As for hours I just keep a calendar and note the hours each day. I know alot of folks just put 225+ hours on their quarterlies because in reality that is what they are doing each quarter (this past year I think I noted we did over 1,000 hours for the year). But there is nothing in the regulations that you have to prove/show specific dates on the hours either. Don't bother putting anything else on your plate if you do not have to! Hope that helps Maureen
Don't feel bad. We all have something that we find difficult to stay on task. In SC, we have to submit to our accountability group how many days we did each month also. For a long time I kept a log with what each child did on which date. I stayed on top of it because early on my dh pastored and then I started taking in sewing. With us being so visible I wanted be prepared if anyone decided to cause trouble. (Thankfully, no one did.). Last year we used SOS. The calendar is built into assigning lessons. When we had changes, I just went in and changed the calendar. This year we are using some SOS, so I'll do the same. In other words, I'd incorporate it into what you are already doing - even if it's as simply as having the kids put the date of their papers or a check mark on a calendar each day. Starting a new routine can be tough. Good luck!
In MO we have to track hours. We have to log 1,000 hours a year (July-June) and no more than 400 can be from electives. I adapted an Excel spreadsheet designed for employee hours. It's still really rough, though. I am HORRIBLE about writing stuff down. So I have my kiddos help me, too. I gave them each a blank Scholastic lesson plan book. They write down every activity they do (the lesson name, page numbers, whatever). Then they ask me to fill in the hours. They know that if I don't fill in the hours, it's like they didn't do the work (as far as the state is concerned). Then they'd have to do more work. It gives them practice with writing and organization and they pester me to keep me accountable. lol. It actually worked really well this year.
clumsymom thanks! You reminded me why my attendance got mess up up this year! We are using some SOS this year too, I am actually planning to load it into ds' computer today as he recently reset it and its running super fast! last year was the first year I did not have record of the full year! I have had to go over and play the memory game with myself and try to remember exact dates when kids were sick in the past but we mostly did school as a part day when they were sick anyway there are many ways of keeping record but I love your idea! Another idea is to have them save a day via penny for counting the days, You start with 180 pennies and they can watch them go away.
I grabbed this one! I will keep it up on the wall so he can mark off his days and I can keep track of semesters! LOVE IT SOS is great but I also like having the visual right there idea!
I don't have to keep records in AZ but I do anyway. I use a form I printed off the internet similar to this one: http://www.chartjungle.com/calendars/schooldays.html I can't find the one I actually use. This helps me know when we hit 180. It just takes a moment to fill in every day. There's so many charts out there. I'm sure you can find one that would work with your style.
I have my kids keep track of it, too. I print out a full year calendar from www.donnayoung.org - I usually pick the July to June version b/c that's how our state calls the year that we can count days in. I put it in the first page of their planner. Each day when they start their schoolwork they're supposed to check off the day. By the end of the year, it's all full. I find it's a good place to put it b/c they have to go in there to see what their work for the day is anyway. And now that they're in the habit of it, it works really well. I try to remember to go in each month and just make sure their doing it. My oldest does it really well. My son sometimes forgets, so I match his to his sisters. My youngest doesn't have to count yet, and won't for two more years. I might start teaching her to do it next year, too, just to make sure by the time I do have to count she, too, is in the habit.
