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When do I have to start worrying about keeping track of "grades". I am in GA, and my state has lax requirements. But I wonder about transcripts and such. I have one who will be starting middle school next year, so I thought I'd ask.

I don't think it matters until high school (or when classes will count for high school). But, it might not be a bad idea to start giving a FEW assignments with a grade in middle school just to get them ready.

Here we don't have to until high school for transcripts... I suppose we don't have to then technically, but colleges want transcripts

So I thought to get ME prepared and in practice that I'd start grading things in 7th grade, keeping track of it in 8th. That way if they get any HS requirements done in 8th grade (algebra for one) I'll have it graded and ready for a transcript. Plus I'll be in practice of keeping up with it.

You don't have to until high school. Having had one already graduate I can say that keeping up with grades and grading was something I had to really get in the habit of doing. It was a matter of self-discipline. So for my ds I am keeping grades this year which is his 8th grade year. However he is doing Algebra so that will go on his transcript. This way I am figuring out how I want to do things since my dd didn't do things the Charlotte Mason way.

So....How will I learn to do these transcripts?? Argh!

First, look at the pdfs for the Geography guide, Carrie has a lot of the grading figured out for that guide (and the subsequent guides will have the same information). This information will be the base of any transcript. There are a bunch of templates out there that you can use, just "copying" what is in the guides and then the grades.

I've started keeping some grades for my middle schooler this year, even though my state does not require it, for a couple of reasons.
1. It motivates my daughter to do her best. She can qickly see the effects of not being neat or not being thorough in following directions without me having to nag on her at all.

2. It's getting me into practice so that by the time it is important I will have a system that works in place and know what I'm doing!