heartofdakota.com

Hi, I recently read an article from HSLDA regarding record keeping and was wondering what ways everyone may do this. Does anyone track the amount of time spent on each subject? Do you refer to your schedule of the day for this? Or does using a portfolio work better with HOD? I know we are supposed to meet the 180 day schedule, I took this as a literal school day not how many hours or minutes we spent on learning. The article mentioned keeping a folder for each subject to record time spent. I am fairly new to homeschooling (this past year was our first with a set curriculum and we loved HOD). Your experienced advice is welcomed please.

faroutback

Before deciding which type of records to keep you should check your state's requirements in this area. In my state, Nevada, no records, tests or any type of proof is necessary. When your children reach high school you'll need to keep some sort of records for colleges, but by then who knows what will be required! As for keeping records for your own use go with what is easy and enjoyable. For our family, I keep a portfolio for artwork and will be making a notebook out of the rest of my daughter's work. She's doing BLHFHG, so even though there is no assigned notebooking, there is plenty of opportunity to make notebooks from the assignments. Hope this helps.

Hi faroutback,

If you are blessed to live in a state that does not require you to hand in any sort of record keeping, then I think that I would just keep track of their attendance (I consider 2-3 subjects done as a school day, especially if the 2 subjects are math and language) and use my HOD manual as my records. Just put a pencil check mark in each box as it is completed and a date at the top of the page. If you substitute something for a subject, then just mark that in pencil in the appropriate box in your manual. I live in PA which has some of the strictest laws for homeschooling. This is what I do and then I take the information and put it into a spreadsheet as I have time. I am then able to print it out and hand it into my district at the end of the year. I also have to hand in a list of the books that they have read and materials (curriculum used). Again all this (except foreign language, and perhaps extra reading etc) is included in your manual, so you already have a copy of your records just in case.

If you do live in a state that requirees some for of record keeping or testing, then I would just do what they require and not worry about it..

HTH

I found a very nice resource- donnayoung.org-- that has all kinds of printables. I write in subjects across the top as column headings and down the side, each row I can have a heading for date. I put 2 of each of these in each of my children's "main folder"-- I got them each a 3 ring binder to be their "school' binder. 2 sheets of this printed form covers at least 180 days. So, I can have myself or my children mark off what they do daily- just a simple checkmark. (I even printed one for chores LOL) Then another printable available there is an attendance calendar- I printed a full year and put it in each kids folder--- they can easily mark off the days they attended school simply by marking on the calendar. If I so desired, I suppose I could have them write a number on the date on the calendar (3 for 3 hrs, or 2 for 2 hrs, 2.5 for 2 1/2 hrs....) I feel for me, this will make keeping track of attendance much easier. My hubby is also concerned about accountability, so for us, this is good, he can come home and see, ok you finished this, you finished this- at just a glance at 1 sheet.

She has printable field trip logs, a printable reading list-- I printed both of these (my state is strict so they will go in my portfolio, but even if my state wasn't, it might be nice, just in case God forbid you ever need to show....) THe reading list would be simple to do on a piece of regular paper- just list title of the book, author, date completed.... I printed it and put it in the folder so we don't forget or loose it....

Lastly, she has printable lesson plans- I like the blank ones (no days of the week or dates)- I will not put a date on them- simply fill in the plans- then if for some reason we don't do school Tue- that plan is simply 'the next school day' instead of having to rearrange stuff etc. I need to use this because I am having my 2 girls do individual math, and language arts, and we are thinking of adding foreign language. These lesson plan boxes will be very handy for these areas that I am not using the HOD layout (for anyone combining left side, but doing seperate right side) or for any additional subjects added- like foreign language. I might even go ahead and list out the heart of dakota plans in a lesson plan box like this-- so my girls can easily see what they need to do each day- not sure yet, HOD is so well laid out, I feel it is just buys work for me (but I like that they can X off what they completed without writing in my manual.)

If you have a large and upcoming family as I do- you can keep lesson plans for future years (if you don't X them off LOL)- so you don't ever have to make them again.

Brenda

Good morning! What state do you live in? For most states, simply jotting down the days you did school, the HOD manual's Introduction and the manual itself, and keeping a portfolio (big binder with their work in it) is more than enough tracking.

In Christ,
Julie

Sorry for the late reply. We live in Virginia. The laws are not too strict as far as recordkeeping. SATs are required for the end of the year, they recently added the option to do a portfolio. I just wanted to get some ideas and get a start on how to prepare should things be questioned. Thank you all for your help. I'll continue to check back.

Oh, well Virginia is wonderful! No worries there - just jot down the days you are doing school, the HOD guide you did with which math/grammar/reading/writing, etc. options you choose, keep a portfolio with their work in it, and have your dc take their SAT's. That should be enough!

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks Julie you make it sound so easy and simple sometimes I can complicate things trying to make sure everything is covered . HOD is just wonderful and I really appreciate this board. I also have a question about curriculum descriptions but I'll do another post. Thanks again.