What record keeping programs do you use?

[Fillyjonk]

I want something that is

easy to use

flexible

will total up time for me on different subjects

and cheap

I don't need any grading records or anything. This is for me to see what we've done a lot of and what we need do a bit more on.

Any thoughts?

[nicksmom03]

Well, what I've been doing is writing out what we do each day with the date so I can go through and check things off throughout the morning.  I put the list together the night before.

We use spellingcity for spelling and vocabulary and I'm able to print his tests scores so I keep those in a test folder.  We do Math-U-See which has a test after each lesson is completed and I save those.  We're doing a history unit study and I'm keeping his work together in a folder but there aren't tests for that.  That is all I plan on doing, at least for now. 

[PGTlatte]

I use a googledocs spreadsheet.  It's free.  I enter each activity by date, subject area code, and fill in a little description.  When I need to pull it together to write a report for a time period, I sort all by subject, then by date, and I can see what he did over that time period for each subject area. 

[tankgirl73]

homeschoolskedtrack.com

It's totally free.  It can be time-consuming to set up and the learn your way around it... but once you've got all your customization stuff input, and got the hang of it, it's very easy to use.  You tell it what subjects, put in individual activities for each subject, schedule each subject for whatever days you want it, check off when things are completed and how much time was spent on each, etc.  You can get dozens of different reports, including ones showing time totals for your different subjects.

I also like using it to track all the resources we're using... you co-ordinate each resource with the different subjects it's used for... you can get a report of all resources for a particular subject, which I found eye-opening ;) and also useful if there was something I got for later and almost forgot I had...

My 12yo DS is Asperger's and ADHD and does best with specific, detailed instructions and lists and routines, rather than unschooling (which we'd sort of prefer otherwise).  I print out the list of today's activities each morning and he checks them off, on paper, as he does them.  At the end of the day, I check them off on the website.  Any assignment that doesn't get done is automatically forwarded to the next day that subject is scheduled for!

I looooooooooove it.  :)

[Fillyjonk]

thanks all, I'm going to start working through these suggestions

homeschoolsjedtrack.com sounds especially promising! I need something that is NO effort, tbh, I loathe keeping records, but kind of have to do it

[Hippie Mama in MI]

My son is 4 and a half. We have been informally homeschooling since he was 3. We do mostly what he wants to do; right now he CHOOSES to do so much stuff, it can be hard to keep track of it all. He's very motivated.

I have a "current yearly goals" list for him, which I update about once every 4 months. I just jot down what our current goals are, for each "subject." He's only 4, so our subjects are math, reading and writing, music, art, and life skills.

We are busy busy busy, doing stuff. But I am a stickler about records, so I need a records system that is simple, fast, and foolproof. Here's my method:

1. As he does stuff (usually randomly, and in huge profusion, like 29 marker drawings followed by 15 math worksheets), I jot down each completed activity on a sticky note pad that I keep on the kitchen counter. Then I go on with more activities that are always happening at our house.

2. Later on, when I have time to write coherently about his activities, I make entries in my School Records diary (an ordinary notebook).  I make it half-sentimental, half-records details. For instance, I'll put the date, mention whatever Unit Study subject we're exploring (if any). I'll write, Math. Played 3 games Go Fish with Mommy, beat me every time. Played dominoes. Did 7 workbook pages. Art: The most gorgeous rainbow painting now adorns our hallway. Etc.

3. If he whomps out something truly spectacular, or if we go on a field trip, I grab my digital camera and take a few shots. I keep these in a special file called Learning Album. When I get time, I use Paint program to add little captions to each photo: "Here we are at the museum in Gaylord." etc.Once a year I print the pictures and put them in a little cheap album; now I have a permanent photo record thats also a keepsake.

4. I also have a few file folders for his completed everyday worksheets, artwork etc. These are simple: "Math", "Completed Workbooks", etc.

I have learned something very important about homeschooling. Do the stuff that the kid wants to do, WITH the kid, while he is inspired. Keep records later. If you are too involved in filling out complicated records forms or filing your kid's math sheets alphabetically and by date and by topic... your kid's inspiration suffers. So go with your heart, DO, and let records be what records should be: an after thought.

Love and luck.

Kate

[jrcronewillis]

Hi there!

We use http://www.homeschooldaybook.com/ and really love it.  Unlike most of the big trackers, the Daybook is not designed at all for planning.  It's only a record-keeping device.  And it was designed by a unschooling family who needed to keep records in their state.  Because of that it's super flexible and easy to use.  It's the only thing that I've managed to regularly use to keep track of my hours!

Good luck on your search!

Juliette 

[nov05mama]

My blog, and I also use Homeschool Tracker Plus (which is paid) but there is also a free Basic version. I LOVE it. The Plus version is a one-time fee, with lifetime upgrades, so it was well worth it to me to be able to track everything. It offers a lot of features, but I mostly just enter in as we do things vs scheduling them and creating lesson plans (which is a feature of the program).