Homeschool Help

There is not a day that goes by in our home when we are not learning.  Even Saturday and Sunday offer a chance to learn, grow and experience.  I’ve tried keeping up with days that we do school, but it is so much easier to keep up with the days that we DON’T do school – and takes up less time.

Each child does keep several spiral notebooks where they can add paperwork, artwork and other tasks that they have completed.  The rule is always to date the papers but like many rules it is not always followed.  We have periods where every day is accounted for and some where there are just lots of nice projects piled together.

The great thing about the notebooks is that it gives the children a chance to show off their work to grandparents and others.  It also gives them a chance to look back at what they have accomplished over the years.

But I’m thinking it is time for more.

This year our family began using the ACE curriculum for all of our school work.  We were just shy of signing up for the actually accredited program, but decided to give the material a chance first.  The boys don’t LOVE it but they are tolerating it well.  Now there is something more concrete to stick in the notebooks.

Some people I know keep a grade book where grades from all papers, projects and tests are recorded – just like in school.  I can understand the need for this method to some extent, but I think it is a little overkill.  Just having a record of what has been done (in the form of completed work) and what is being done are enough records for our house to worry about.

What do you think about records?  And how do you keep them?

The thing to remember is that part of homeschooling is learning as you go.  This year might be different from next year and this child might be different from the next.  Work out what you are comfortable doing (and what is acceptable through your cover school or local laws) and you will be much more satisfied with your homeschool experience.