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cvbmom
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| Posted: Jan 23 2008 at 4:20pm | IP Logged
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I am trying to become organized AND efficient 
Anyway, one thing that I find is that I am spending way too much time keeping records. I don't do lesson plans, mostly because I am not that organized and don't like having a schedule that I feel I must keep. Instead I write down what we did in a day after the fact.
My old method was that each child had a 2 page calendar and I would jot down what we did each day (official school work and otherwise, like appointments, field trips, visits, and interesting things like first tooth, first words, first time on a 2 wheeler, built a lego castle, etc.). Do you get the idea? One major problem is that we do a lot together and jotting down daily activities for 6 takes a long time with a lot of repeated information. This method is organized, but not efficient.
So, what I need help with is this: Does anyone have any suggestions/ideas on daily record keeping for a big family? I personally prefer the old fashioned pencil and paper type records (nothing stored on the computer, not blogs, etc.). I have no trouble making charts/tables on the computer then printing them out and filling them in.
Am I making sense or is this just and pie in the sky hope to be organized in efficient in this area? Or maybe record keeping is more like laundry, you just keep plugging away at it?
Thanks for any advice 
God bless,
Christine
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Jan 23 2008 at 4:50pm | IP Logged
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Ithink your method is fine, except the repetition when multiple children do the same activity.
Perhaps instead of multiple calendars, you could write it all in one calendar, but either color-code with a highlighter which children did which activity (blue for bobby and pink for suzie and yellow for all together, etc). Or another option would be to print off some sheets with columns, where you could have a column for the activity (ex:read chp 1 of American History) and then a column for each child, and just check off which child did each thing.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
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Erin
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| Posted: Jan 23 2008 at 6:33pm | IP Logged
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Christine
Before I changed to a blog I used to have a blank diary the system was good, the recorder not   this was also before I had so many children and had to do lesson plans, those were the days.
So under the date I would write, "Maths" in a different colour pen, then C did Page 1 or D learnt long multiplication, or all dc did a page of maths each.
"Copywork" All dc participated, C did a couple of paragraphs, M managed one sentence.
Get what I mean? Theresa's way is even simpler and I did think of swapping to that but never did.
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Erin
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cvbmom
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| Posted: Jan 24 2008 at 9:05am | IP Logged
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Thanks, Theresa and Erin. I'm always open to adjusting and simplifying. 
I'm going to work on a calendar form similar to what Theresa suggested, just adapted to our family. If I figure out something useful, I'll try to post it here to share with others.
Keep the suggestions coming!
God bless,
Christine
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Kristie 4
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| Posted: Jan 24 2008 at 9:15am | IP Logged
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Sounds like a good plan Christine. Here in Manitoba I don't have to keep any records for government officials etc. I used to record our days anyways (which tend to help in the mid winter times to look back at) but have not had the habit of doing it of late.
Theresa's method seems like a good one...I did (and plan to begin again) the same type of thing.
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: Jan 24 2008 at 9:41am | IP Logged
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I should note that I only have two little ones, and Illinois does not require any sort of documentation. So whatever I do is completely for myself.
I tried to make notes at the end of each day, but it became really tedious, especially since I seemed to writing the same thing every day. A lot of days, I would get busy and forget to make notes at all.
So, I switched to a monthly diary format. I do do this on the computer, though. Basically, throughout the month I make notes of big things: books started or finished, special projects started or completed, and accomplishments. I also include developmental changes, changing interests, and big family events (playdates, concerts, illnesses). Then at the end of each month I turn the notes into a little narrative for that month. I've had them be as short as one paragraph or as long as a page. I must admit that I've been a little lax the past few months about writing the narrative part. I need to get on that.
Once my kids hit about eighth grade I plan to work with them on keeping track of their own schooling using the method described by Cafi Cohen in her book "What About College?" If I recall correctly, the child writes down what they did that day rounding the time spent on each activity to the nearest quarter hour and noting which traditional school subject to which it usually relates. Then at the end of the week or month (or both) you tally up how much time was spent on each school subject and translate it into credit hours for a high school transcript. It also serves as a record as a book list to go with a home-made transcript.
So, I don't know how old your kids are, but maybe some of the older ones can help you keep track of things, too.
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Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
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nissag
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| Posted: Jan 24 2008 at 12:08pm | IP Logged
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I like Theresa's idea of doing it all in one planner and color coding with a highlighter for each child. Very expedient. The ones that everyone did together, just leave un-highlighted.
I record schoolwork similarly, though my older ones can do their own without any help at all from me.
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Nissa
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Angel
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| Posted: Jan 24 2008 at 3:11pm | IP Logged
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I would write everything down on paper the same way I do it on my learning notes blog. Before I went to the blog, I used a plain old spiral notebook. For every entry, I write a few notes about the day, then any read alouds or activities listened to or done by everyone, then I list everyone's individual activities under the appropriate name.
--Angela
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mandmsmom2001
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| Posted: Jan 24 2008 at 3:11pm | IP Logged
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I was the daily journal type until I discovered Homeschool Tracker (www.tghomesoft.com). The basic version is a free download. I have the Plus edition becasue I just love this product. I rarely lesson plan and do a lot of going back and filling in what we did. I do not need to track this for reporting purposes but could easily generate a report if I had to.
Just wanted to throw that out as an option.
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Record Keeping - HELP!
