First off, I will be the bad homeschool mom, and say that lesson planning and record keeping are the least liked homeschool responsibility that I have. There, I said it, and all of you are well, not left in shock, right?
I like to keep an open date planner. It is very loose, and a half page covers twos kids for a week. I would love to post a link to it, but I need to turn it into a PDF. I can now do it on this new computer, but actually have to make it in Excel first. lol So, one day, I will post all my forms, once I remake them into better forms on this computer.
I like open date and loose for several reasons.
- I can easily change if needed
- Creates a sense of flexibility
- Allows me to follow God’s lead rather then a plan I made-His plans are ALWAYS better
- I don’t feel stuck if we need to spend more time on a topic or concept
- Actually there are so many, that it would start to bore you. ;o)
I do not keep actual grades. I keep track of what we cover each day, and my children are REQUIRED to write the date that each page is completed. My record keeper is still in the works. I am excited to try and build one in Excel as I am finding that I really like it. Rather then letter grades, I use, G-good, R-reviewed, NR-need to review, E-excellent, TP-Test passed, U-understood. This allows me to know at a glance what they need to work over again. It also keeps my children from feeling like they have failed. Who is to say that if they did not do good on something that it was them who failed? Maybe as a teacher explaining it to them, it was me that failed. If it was me, I need to be the one feeling the stress not them. ;o) Children who are struggling learners tend to know they are struggling. They don’t need a letter grade to tell them that.
To organize our school day, I use my Modified Large Family Workbox System. I like to sit down on Sunday afternoon during naptime, if I am not napping, and make a list of activities to include in our workboxes. I keep a master list of activities that can be used over and over, and a list that I would like to use or make to use. In each of their subject folders, they must complete the actual table work before moving to the workbox work. This has helped them get the table work completed in a timely manner. Again, here is another form I will be recreating in Excel. I place activity cards in each folder behind the actual table work. If the workbox activity will fit into the folder, it goes into the folder, if not, they bring me the card and I will get the activity out for them. With 4 toddlers in the house, activities have a way of disappearing, which can lead to a mad dash hunt for choking hazzards.
Want to learn more about our curriculum choices? Check out part one, handwriting, spelling, math, language arts, science, history and our record keeping ideas.
mother, christian, wife, woman, child of God. It is about my life as a farmer’s wife, as a cook, a baker, a nurse, a teacher, a woodworker, a housekeeper, a farmer (yep, I drive tractors, pick up hay bales, and other farm duties), a gardener. So, what you read here, is me, as a transparent sometimes hot headed, passionate, and opinionated person.
Hi! I just stumbled across your site and love it! I am eager to read about how you do the workboxing with the large family and see that there are 8 parts but it won’t get me to the ones that are on blogger. Will they be here soon? I am very interested in learning how you do yours. I will be keeping an eye to see if more of your links come on here as opposed to blogger, since it isn’t letting me view them. Thanks so much!