Record-Keeping for multiple children

Motherjoy · Post by **Motherjoy** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:57 pm

I only have one official homeschooler this year, but I'm doing Preparing with my soon to be 10yo and LHTH with my soon-to-be 4yo. I have no idea how to keep records. I have never kept great records. I can't just write the date in the guidebook because I plan on using them with all of my children. I don't want to get too complicated, but I do want to keep accurate records.

I'm thinking that I'll just do a family school journal, where I write a daily record of what each kid did. Since I don't have to do any pre-planning (THANK YOU CARRIE!!!!), I just thought I'd write down which day of HOD we accomplished. Plus any extras or character issues we dealt with that day.

I'm probably not being clear, but please share how you keep track of what you do each day.

crlacey · Post by **crlacey** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:19 pm

Why can't you date the page? I am using LHFHG with my DD and just using her initial and then the date and her first initial in each box as we complete it. Then I'll do the same for my son when it's time. I figure it's the most detailed planner you'll ever have!

Motherjoy · Post by **Motherjoy** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:39 pm

We have 5 kids (well, one is on the way) and more might come. I'm just thinking that 5 seperate dates & initials will look messy. Plus, I want a place where I can write about other things that we do that are educational or behavior/character related.

Christy in Texas · Post by **Christy in Texas** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:04 pm

Check here: http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist ... tegory=135[/url]

holyhart · Post by **holyhart** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:21 pm

Here is another resource...

http://www.homeschooltracker.com/

They have a free version and also a more detailed version that you pay for (I think yearly...not sure how much, but I don't think it is too expensive....like $50???, I have a couple of friends who use it). You just download it to your pc.

I don't currently have it, but I was thinking of getting it next year for when I offically have to have my dd registered as a homeschooler with the state.

inHistiming · Post by **inHistiming** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:23 pm

I've written in my BLHFHG manual; the date with a check mark. The first time we only did the first 14 units. So this year, when we started unit 15 in March, I continued this, adding a hi-liter on the date. When I use it with my son, I plan to do the same thing and use a different colored hi-liter....and if we have any other children in the future, I would do the same with them. It may begin to look messy after a while...but I don't mind. Another idea I had was that you could write on the back, inside cover of the manual a date range like September 2008-June 2009/child's name/# of units. Then, you still have a record of what you did when and with which child.

You could also just enter that information in Word, print it out, slip it in a page protector, and put it in a binder marked 'Homeschool Records'. HTH

Another thought...use the table of contents that is at the beginning of the book. You could copy it, place the child's name at the top, hi-lite and date each unit when completed, and by the end of the year you'll have a complete record of what was covered. I may end up doing that myself!

Motherjoy · Post by **Motherjoy** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:42 pm

Another thought...use the table of contents that is at the beginning of the book. You could copy it, place the child's name at the top, hi-lite and date each unit when completed, and by the end of the year you'll have a complete record of what was covered. I may end up doing that myself

!

Now that's an idea! I think I may incorporate that somehow. I'm still working on it, but I'll try to update when I come up with what we'll be using.

keeleykats · Post by **keeleykats** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:36 pm

MJ, I am interested in what system you will use. I am still trying to come up with a system. We will be using Bigger and I need something to show my evaluator and then give to the school. I am not giving them my book! Please check us posted!

Blessings, Kym

Jen in Va · Post by **Jen in Va** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:09 am

I've been using Homeschool Easy Records for years and am very pleased with it. Record keeping becomes even more important as you reach high school--for grades and an eventual transcript. Also, as a child becomes more independent, I like him/her to have an assignment sheet with the daily tasks listed--that way the assignment can be checked off, and it is easier to see what needs to be done.

That said, I won't be using formal record keeping with my youngest for a while yet. I've heard for years about photocopying the table of contents of a book--but I like the idea of taking this a step further and recording the date a topic was covered. I will keep a notebook of his work for each year, too.

MamaBear23Cubs · Post by **MamaBear23Cubs** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 1:01 pm

I am only offically teaching one child. I do have a binder for all three to put their work in. At the end of the year my oldest takes her test. After the results are back, out goes all the paperwork from the year. Hubby hates paper clutter. The tests are our records. Some of the paper work goes to the grandparents. This year I have to keep the paperwork from this past year because hubby is deployed. I also use my blog for tracking our progress. I am trying to make it our online journal of our homeschooling adventure. I have had internet issues so I haven't been able to keep up like I wanted. Shh don't tell hubby but I do print out evey year the homeschooling parts of my blog.

Just in case anyone asks about what we have done I do have more than just the test results. It's in a big binder with the other binders.

Mommamo · Post by **Mommamo** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:20 am

I just have one I'm homeschooling right now, but at some point will have at least 3. I'm writing in LHFHG. At the top of each day I'm writing the date and then I check off the boxes we do. I'm using a different math so I put beside the math box the Lesson we did in her math. I write beside phonics what lesson we did in RME or if we did some stuff on Starfall or if she just read a Bob Book to me. At the bottom of the page I mention if we had a field trip to the science museum or library or what have you and I mention if we had a piano lesson. I'm also going to mention when we do stuf with the homeschool co-op we're joining and what it was. All the info. for C is in pink, and I'm planning to use blue for D and purple for E. That way I can easily tell which child did what. It may get a little messy, but I don't think it will be a big deal.

I'm also keeping a scrapbook for this year and plan to continue for each year. Each unit gets 2 pages in the scrapbook, and I include the artwork she does, the memory verse, the written work for the story time box, pictures of science experiements, and a little caption about anything else we did and her porgress. The scrapbooks don't take up much room and they'll be such a nice thing to have in the future.

Motherjoy · Post by **Motherjoy** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:56 pm

I think what I've decide to write in the books. ACK! I won't be sure until I see them in person, which will be today or tomorrow.

I was thinking that I'd put a post-it note for any extras or any notes that I want to make. Then, at the end of the week (or month, or year) I could compile everything if I wanted to.

I really don't want to complicate things, and I don't plan on adding any extras at the moment.

I would like to keep a basic journal each day, though, but not so much for record keeping as for memory keeping.

6timeboymom · Post by **6timeboymom** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:21 pm

I don't.

I don't have to for my state, so I don't! I do checkmark the boxes we have done, so I know where to start again the next day, but the boys have their own schedules, too.
Before HOD I had an excel worksheet I used, from donna young dot org, but now with using all HOD material I don't use ANY of my old tricks.

Motherjoy · Post by **Motherjoy** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:23 am

I got my LHTH today, and its larger than I thought. For some reason, I was expecting a smaller book. I'm glad its big because I have plenty of room in the margins to write.

wisdom4us · Post by **wisdom4us** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:28 am

holyhart wrote:Here is another resource...

http://www.homeschooltracker.com/

They have a free version

I have this! But haven't "officially" started using it though. I will begin inputting all our books and lesson plans tonight and probably finish up over the weekend. From what I've looked at, it is user friendly and the teacher can keep a "Teacher's Journal" plus the lesson plans, attendance, book logs for each child, etc., etc....

All I have to do for the state is have our evaluator look over our portfolio at the end of the year and look at samples of our children's work. No attendance, no grades!