| It's a big juggling act to figure out how to handle | | | | addition to it, to add extra notes. These may |
| everything in your homeschool. How are you | | | | include field trips, research trips, or shadowing |
| supposed to keep accurate records on top of | | | | interning with a professional for the older student. |
| just getting in all the teaching, field trips, and | | | | Volunteer work can also be entered. Make a small |
| extracurricular activities you've planned? It's an | | | | note at the appropriate place in your lesson |
| important thing to figure out - in many states the | | | | planner, then detail it out in the journal. |
| law requires some sort of record keeping. | | | | Summarize what was covered every quarter. |
| Keeping good records also lets you see the | | | | Many states that require records will accept this |
| amazing progress your child is making. You can | | | | more detailed record-keeping. It's also helpful to |
| keep track of accomplishments and goals your | | | | keep you on track, so you know where you are |
| child has met. Keeping samples of your child's | | | | and what work you may need to make up if you |
| work in your records also creates treasured | | | | take time for illness or travel. |
| memories for both of you to look back on one | | | | A portfolio of your child's work is a great idea. |
| day. | | | | This gives a concrete record of just what your |
| If you have lesson plans those can form the core | | | | child has been doing. It serves as excellent proof |
| of your records. Keep a printed or photocopied | | | | of your child's hard work (and your hard work) |
| set of your lesson plans filed neatly in a folder to | | | | and it pleases many school districts to see a |
| show your intentions for each year. You can keep | | | | portfolio along with lesson plans. |
| an attendance sheet with this file if your state | | | | A portfolio is a good thing to keep, especially if |
| requires you to keep attendance. | | | | you're doing unit studies with your child. You can |
| A simple record keeping system comes in the | | | | take different activities from the unit study and |
| form of a daily journal. Just jot down what you've | | | | file them in the portfolio according to the |
| done throughout the day's lessons. You can keep | | | | academic areas they relate to. Many states and |
| this if you have young children. An older child can | | | | school districts want to see specifically what your |
| keep up with this for himself or herself. It's a | | | | child is doing for each subject area. |
| good supplement to their actual lessons. This will | | | | As with the daily journal, your child will like to look |
| be another nice thing to look back on. | | | | back over what they've done in the past year. |
| A journal is a more informal method of keeping | | | | They'll also enjoy showing it off to doting |
| records, but it's considered enough by many | | | | grandparents, aunts, and uncles! |
| states. Always remember to check your state | | | | A final solution is a software program designed |
| regulations. | | | | especially for homeschool record keeping. It will |
| Your lesson plans can be used to record daily | | | | probably combine many of the above methods |
| progress. Simply check off each item as you're | | | | and will be very easy to use once you get past |
| done with it. You may want to keep a small | | | | the initial learning curve. It can print professional |
| journal in the back of your lesson planner, or in | | | | forms that your state and school district may like. |