We're just getting started in homeschooling, and I wanted to ask some seasoned veterans for some help: What do you use to track your homeschooling records? Do you use a software package or just paper and pen? I want to make sure that I start off the right way and have no experience to go on...any advice would be appreciated.
I am by no means seasoned, but I figure if I'm writing in a lesson planner, those are my records and trying to open a program to keep records would just take more time and I would be writing twice. This is what works for me right now....maybe that will change the more routine homeschooling gets.
First, Welcome here I have *waffled back and forth* and played with several ideas and even downloaded software... I have to say after 5 years, I feel better using *my OWN forms* that I prepared, including lesson planning and curriculum. Here are the reasons that I like using paper/pen: One thing its *portable*...my lesson planning book is more than just blank forms. I usually scan from books different resource lists that I want to buy or check off as I buy them. In addition, my curriculum planner has a section for books read so that I keep up how much they are reading,etc. Also, its much easier to take my lesson planning book and sit in the living room with dh and lay out the kids book in front of me and write in lesson plans. That is very hard to do at a computer. Now, some computer software allows you to *bump* assignments to the next day and print off what your doing for the day/week, kind of like a checkbook.. A plus for having the computer software is that if you don't keep your planner, then you have your curriculum already laid out for the next children coming behind your first,etc. Again, I like carrying mine everywhere and writing in pencil what my plans are.. I erase and can lay out curriculum. I can write down *wish lists* when I am at Barnes and Noble.. I made my forms up to suit me and my 4 day week schedule. I have all subjects in it except for math along with calendars and I personalize it by putting last year's pictures blown up to 8 1/2 x 11 to use a dividers. So when I have bad day or week, I can see the pictures and they remind me of the progress we have made.. Does that help? Blessings
Thank You Thanks to all who answered the poll question and responded. Everything is still so new to us and I'm still not quite sure which direction to go. I'll weigh all your experiences in with our goals and it will help make our decision, easier. Thank you!!
