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mom2mpr
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| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 7:51pm | IP Logged
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I have tried to use Homeschool Skedtrack and I am doing something wrong. It just isn't all that easy for me.
I recently saw a "planner/tracker"(?Edu-Trak) you pay for and I can import the lessons for Singapore Math(for another $3 or so). It sounds great-but isn't free 
Can I get some reviews? Please?
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Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
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anitamarie
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| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 9:43pm | IP Logged
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I use Edu-Track. I have some frustrations with it because it is written with Microsoft Access. It is not as flexible as I like. I find it difficult to move lesson plans around, among other things. It just doesn't work the way I think, and some of that is the look-and-feel of it. I tend to think my lessons in a traditional teacher planner way with the big boxes.
Edu-track is good if you want to enter in assignments, generate a list for your students, record completed work and have it calculate grades and hours of study. I don't use all the features with it, either, so I am probably not taking full advantage of it. I haven't downloaded lesson plans or unit studies, for example. And I don't use it to keep track of library materials or chores.
My dh is writing me a new web-based planning program that is not built on a database program (he's a software developer by trade) that will have more of the look-and-feel I like. In fact, I can hear him tap-tap-tapping away on it behind me. I am very much looking forward to using it. He's considering selling it someday, too. We'll see.
Hope this helps.
God Bless,
Anita
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folklaur
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| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 10:42pm | IP Logged
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anitamarie wrote:
He's considering selling it someday, too. We'll see.
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need beta-testers? 
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: Jan 05 2010 at 11:00pm | IP Logged
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cactus mouse wrote:
anitamarie wrote:
He's considering selling it someday, too. We'll see.
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need beta-testers? |
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My words exactly!
I actually use and really like Homeschool Skedtrack, and the learning curve wasn't too bad, but I'm not using all of the features (by choice). I only want something that helps track activities done/incomplete, moving them ahead for the next day if we miss something, rather than being all over the place with our paper-based lesson plans (combined with Montessori and OLVS religion and a couple other adaptations). Once I set up the final curriculum plan for the year, I could input all the activities and call it good. We don't even use the grading or any of that either, and most activities I set to 5 minutes even if they take substantially longer, so that it doesn't cut off our school year too early (I count school years based on the work done and the knowledge/experience gained, versus number of hours).
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Martha
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| Posted: Jan 06 2010 at 8:05am | IP Logged
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I used to like homeschool tracker plus.
But that last couple years of updates have gotten increasingly more complicated. Too complicated to bother with for me.
Even if it wasn't it's just too much data entry with all my kids. It has actually become easier to print off my own stuff via excell.
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mom2mpr
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| Posted: Jan 06 2010 at 12:33pm | IP Logged
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I am really just looking for something to list assignments for the day and if they are not done, carry them to the next day. Also, allow someone else to carry on if I am not around.
I have been working with Skedtrack a little more, in the am before the kids wake, and so far I have the school set up(I called it The Zoo-naming it was fun!), and the students. I am hoping I can get courses and assignments in and be good. I'll come back with questions if I miss something.
It does seem easier when I can actually concentrate.
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Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
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anitamarie
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| Posted: Jan 06 2010 at 2:55pm | IP Logged
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cactus mouse wrote:
anitamarie wrote:
He's considering selling it someday, too. We'll see.
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need beta-testers? |
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Definitely. When he gets to that point. He'll be setting up his website pretty soon for homeschoolers to tell him what they like about their planning software and what they'd like to see. I'll keep you posted. He keeps telling me that this is the last year I'll be using Edu-Track.
Anita
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aforb001
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| Posted: Jan 11 2010 at 5:54pm | IP Logged
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I tried Homeschool Skedtrack, but it was just too time consuming for me to input all those assignments. I have found the old fashioned Teacher Planner works best for me. I write it all out for the week on the weekend and check off the assignments accomplished with a red pen. This way I can still keep track of what has been done and what needs to be done if we get busy which happens a lot. I think Skedtrack looks good and is a great free resource for those who are more computer savvy than I am. The gradekeeping and transcript generator for my high schooler is what I really was looking into with it. But with working part-time and activities, I just could not get the time needed.
Adele
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Paula in MN
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| Posted: Jan 13 2010 at 6:12am | IP Logged
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I've used Homeschool Tracker Plus for 4 years now and while no program is going to be a perfect fit for everyone, overall I really like it.
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 Paula
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MarilynW
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| Posted: Jan 13 2010 at 7:26am | IP Logged
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Paula in MN wrote:
| I've used Homeschool Tracker Plus for 4 years now and while no program is going to be a perfect fit for everyone, overall I really like it. |
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I have been eyeing this Paula. Could you give a quick run through how you use it - is it easy to set up etc
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Paula in MN
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| Posted: Jan 14 2010 at 9:46am | IP Logged
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MarilynW wrote:
| I have been eyeing this Paula. Could you give a quick run through how you use it - is it easy to set up etc |
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Yikes! I'll try  Keep in mind that you can make it as simple or as complicated as you like. I try to keep it simple.
Before the beginning of our learning year, I enter the dates for that year, and the general subjects to study. Depending on how we will use the material for each subject, I enter number of pages or chapters, notebooking, experiments, etc. and determine what and how many days per week for each one.
On Sunday, I move the next items for each subject from the lesson plan area to the student assignment area for the upcoming week, and then I print out the weekly schedule.
For awhile I had been putting everything into workboxes for her, but she has decided she prefers more of a checklist!
I'm sorry I'm not better at explaining. There is a free basic version that I started with. Right away, I knew it was what I wanted so I bought the plus version. I recommend trying the basic ~ it should help your decision-making process.
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mayappleridge
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| Posted: Jan 21 2010 at 6:46am | IP Logged
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I just blogged about this. I use an app on my ipod and my word processing program on my laptop for my record keeping. Here is the url to my blog post: How I use my ipod in our homeschool On the back of the weekly plan sheet I write out exactly what pages we read or poems we covered or whatever.
I hope it's clear. I've tried many many many systems and this is the only thing that works.
I also use the beloved File folders. Only I put completed work into mine. At the end of the week I simply go over my weekly plan and the notes along with my file from that week. I cut and paste and type things in, email a copy to myself. Check that email on my iPod and cut and paste into my notebook app. Then I have a copy in my email, on my laptop, and on my iPod.
Without the file folder system, I'd be lost.
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Homeschool planner/trackers
