Okay, I've used the free version of Homeschool Tracker for 4 months and I really like it. I actually thought I wouldn't. So....I'm going to take the plunge and buy the Plus version. PLEEEEEAASE tell me someone here has used it and thinks it is worth the purchase. I'm just festering to get it and set it up for next year.
I have never looked into HS tracker. Sounds interesting though. I made up my own documents to save using Word, each with it's own subjects, then separate ones for the kids. I have them listed by grade level too. My files are large. I keep everything in them.
OOOO--you're good. I'm not that brave. I wish I had that kind of computer savvy. It was a big jump for me to do the computer record keeping. (I'm overcoming my computer intimidation issues--LOL!!!)
I have used the plus edition for a 2 yrs now. I love it. The tech support is awesome... Free updates for life. I love that feature. I checked into other companies and you have to pay for the updates. I do tend to not use the lesson plan feature too much. I mostly input assignments after the fact just to keep a record. There is also a message board on the tracker website. Ton's of info there on various features etc. I just love this program and think that for what you get the cost isn't too bad.
Cailet--Thank you! So, if I like the basic and you love the Plus, then super! I have really enjoyed using the assignment feature --I just print out their assignments for the day. It's been great to for the field trip and reading records too. I can't wait to get to setting it up. Thanks again.
So you feel it's worth the money? I'm still trying to get use to the free version. I kind of like it, and I feel I would REALLY like it if I could just get into doing it! Plus, with Rachael getting into the upper level classes, I need to be keeping track more carefully for transcripts.
Jackie--that is EXACTLY why I started using it. I knew it would take me a long time to be proficient at it and I wanted to be able to use it easily by the time mine were in upper jr. high and particularly high school.
I als am using the sample version and so far I have barely touched the surface of using it this year because I used SOS for most of our school work. I now am planning next year but have to wait I think to add my next years lessons untill I am done with this one? I forget how that works haha Anyway....... What is the difference between teh Plus and the freebie?
I think the difference is the availability of some of the features. Somea re only available in plus. plus unlike other programs you only have to pay for it once and then get free updates for life. That was the big seller for me. I tend to use it after the schoolwork is done. But I know some people do their whole lesson plans before hand on there. The report features are the best. Such a wide variety of them. I looked at other programs but having to pay every year for updates was a big deterrent. I even tried to do it on my own on the computer that took way too much headache for me. Tracker is a bit to get used to and set up but after the setting up period it's super easy. Hope this helps. There is also a discussion group on tracker's website with lots of answers and how to video's and such
how to do ?? like set up th lesson plans and stuff? okay, so what exactly I did not see any specifics that are difernt other than updates? what is updated? What does Plus have that regular does not? Sorry, but I wont spend money unless i have to, My hubby just learned this about me! Ha! I just realised it this year, but my bff told me about it last year, I have a poverty mentality because I was brought up basically poor,
how to video's showing how to use different aspects of the program. those are on the website. When they do updates they tend to add things to the program. new reports etc. The last update had to do with credits/course grading and more. Plus program allows you to define different courses under the subjects. like broad subject is math. A course could be algebra 1 or mcp math level E what ever you want. It has a parent journal. It also has a place to record field trips and time spent on them. along with details.. Another cool thing on the last update was a calendar tool that helps you plan the year. You put in start and finish date and it calculates for quarters or semesters evenly. That was very helpful to me. I understand about not wanting to spend money if you don't have to. It took me a year of basic before i bought plus. I've found most of the features on plus actually make my homeschool easier. For me it is just a record keeping devise. Other's use it a lot more than I do. There is a schedule area that looks cool but I don't use it. Of course all of this is just my opinion... good luck in your decision
okay, so the lesson planner thing is in the plus version eh? I know I can only seem to find the calendar but I thought I had a lesson planning thing too... could be thats in another program I have in Microsoft. I like the record keeping I just have to remember to put it in, I know I can track all my grades and stuff of importance with my basic thing.. so what else does it have other than the lesson planning thing? Which really does sound good, does it have a whole year at a glance type fo thing? I knwo I could go to the site but its more fun to ask here Lol
I looked at the plus program it looks good, I don't recall seeing a price for downloading? I also looked and found a Homeschoolinc.com thing that is out there, it has something with the same type of thing , have not found it yet, but signed up to thier email
http://www.home-school-inc.com/ This looks pretty good and so far no one asked me for money, I signed up and there are pages of lesson plans to work on, and calendars that show you a week at a glance or a month, etc. It loooks pretty good... If I do this its on a web site and I coudl acess it from home or the library even! any computer I use, which means kids computer and mine could have the same thing with out any networking just online acess... someone who is more knowledgeable in this stuff wanna check it out?
