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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Jan 11 2013 at 6:22am | IP Logged
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One of my non-written resolutions for this year is to do a better job with keeping up with the work that my children do. I'm a planner by nature so the initial organization is fine. It took me a bit this year but now my kid's school work is mapped out and filed for the rest of the school year. My problems come with the follow through. I struggle to make the time to check my kid's work and then store it in an organized manner. I would love to hear how you manage this part of homeschooling!
Just wanted to note that I have used binders in the past with some success. That was back when I was only homeschooling 2 of my kids though. I put the papers they completed into their binders behind subject dividers. Now with four to educate and a little one getting into things, I'm having a hard time with that system. At this time, my kids put their work into a box on my desk so that I can check it and then, in theory, I'm supposed to file it. But, truth is, I can't seem to find the time to check it.  The box on my desk is getting quite full! In my defense, I don't feel that everything needs to be checked since I do a lot right by their side and can see how they are doing. But there are things that I should get to and just haven't. Any miracle systems that would give me the time, and motivation, and organization to get this all in order would be appreciated! 
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Becky
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Jan 11 2013 at 7:25am | IP Logged
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What kind of papers are there? Loose leaf for math, etc...? Or are they worksheets?
One thing that comes to mind is an observation by my boys' native German teacher. We are members of a German heritage society, and many of the things the are so very organized as only a German organization would be. Most efficient children's Christmas party EVER! 
But, it is still a bit Americanized, of course, and the one thing that drives their teacher nuts both in the German school as well as her elementary aged children's public school is the masses of loose leaf paper and photocopies. She says that in Germany, everyone keeps their work in bound notebooks. When she described it, I imagined notebooks like the composition books. Very neat and tidy.
She also can't figure out why American students don't use pencil cases, thus her children never being able to find a pencil 
In that same vein, you might consider looking at some of the past threads on the boards by Maryann, and I think she might have some posts on her blogs as well. She spends the summer planning out the boys' worksheets, copywork, etc... and has them all bound in a single spiral notebook before the year starts! She has done this for a couple of years now, so she might be able to chime in with some advice in how to make that system best work.
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Jan 11 2013 at 8:29am | IP Logged
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Thanks Lindsay. Yes, Maryann has been my inspiration for filing the kids school work for the year. Binding it all seemed daunting to me, so I didn't take that step, but now wish I would have.
Your comments about German organization are interesting. My sil is german on both sides and I'm always amazed at how organized and efficient she is! Maybe that is my problem; not enough German blood!
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Becky
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Jan 11 2013 at 7:21pm | IP Logged
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I just came across this older post from LindaFay, and I thought you might like looking over it for ideas 
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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JodieLyn
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My dh says "scan it" then you can toss the actual papers  (definately a do as I say not as I do.. jfyi )
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Kitty witty
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| Posted: Jan 11 2013 at 9:03pm | IP Logged
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CrunchyMom wrote:
In that same vein, you might consider looking at some of the past threads on the boards by Maryann, and I think she might have some posts on her blogs as well. She spends the summer planning out the boys' worksheets, copywork, etc... and has them all bound in a single spiral notebook before the year starts! She has done this for a couple of years now, so she might be able to chime in with some advice in how to make that system best work.
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That is a great idea!
Right now, I place my kids' finished papers in their labeled file folder in my Desk Apprentice. When they get too full, I sort through them to keep the nicer or more important bits and then bind them with my Proclick and put a sheet on the front with the name/year. I have a small house and the state doesn't require me to keep records, so I only keep what is extra cute or that I feel we should look back on (like spelling so they can see progress they have made).
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Jan 12 2013 at 6:52pm | IP Logged
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Hmmm. I think I'm a school work horder...
I tend to keep most everything, although I have to admit we don't do a lot of just busy work.
When do you check your older kid's work? My dd in 8th and ds in 6th do a lot independently. This is good! The problem is, I don't always see them in the process so I need to check the work, like math or a written narration. These are the things that pile up. I've been struggling with this for years (as Erin knows!) Maybe it's the thorn in my side!
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roomintheheart
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| Posted: Jan 12 2013 at 9:11pm | IP Logged
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For me, record-keeping is separate from sentimental keeping, if that makes sense. I have a file folder in my desk for each child, and anything that is too adorable to throw away is put in that file folder. I admit, I'm not terribly sentimental; I put only a couple of things per year in this folder.
For record-keeping, I have a system, of sorts. I have a gradebook where I keep track of everything we've done all year and how the children did on each thing (for the younger kids, this mostly consists of stars next to each item, because usually we did the work together and I make sure they do everything correctly). My oldest dd (7th grade) gets an actual percentage/grade for each thing.
The kids each have 7-subject expandable files where they keep any work that isn't in a workbook. At the end of each quarter I keep one of the first pages and one of the last pages from either the folder or workbook for each subject. This is to show their progress from beginning of quarter to end of quarter. I have a file box where I keep the year's worth for all the kids (sorted by kid/quarter). At the end of the year, the gradebook gets filed with these papers.
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Jan 18 2013 at 2:48pm | IP Logged
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roomintheheart wrote:
For record-keeping, I have a system, of sorts. I have a gradebook where I keep track of everything we've done all year and how the children did on each thing (for the younger kids, this mostly consists of stars next to each item, because usually we did the work together and I make sure they do everything correctly). My oldest dd (7th grade) gets an actual percentage/grade for each thing.
The kids each have 7-subject expandable files where they keep any work that isn't in a workbook. At the end of each quarter I keep one of the first pages and one of the last pages from either the folder or workbook for each subject. This is to show their progress from beginning of quarter to end of quarter. I have a file box where I keep the year's worth for all the kids (sorted by kid/quarter). At the end of the year, the gradebook gets filed with these papers.
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I like the idea of taking a couple of pages per quarter to file.
The gradebook is the thing ... I have a section for grades in my planner. I use the planner a lot to ... plan , and I implement that plan most of the time unless we take a rabbit trail or something else distracts us. But, it's the gradebook part that I rarely use, and I want to. I just can't find the time to record the grades.
For the most part, I could easily tell you how each of my kids is doing in each of their subjects, but as my dd gets older and is going to be doing highschool work next year, I really feel the need to start a better habit of keeping a written record of her grades.
Roomintheheart, (welcome, by the way! ) when do you do the actual grading and recording of your kid's work scores?
I just can't seem to find the time (as I sit here typing! This is my "tea break" though, so I'm giving myself an excuse.) But really, I feel like I go go go all day and in the evening I'm just too tired to think about school, or checking papers or anything like that. I can't remember how I used to do it as a classroom teacher - piles of papers every night! Ugh! Maybe that's the problem, I burned out on it!
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: Jan 18 2013 at 3:06pm | IP Logged
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I have an overwhelming amount of paper, it's everywhere!
However, the kids work, isn't the issue..lol.
I plan, I love love love to plan :) Part of the paper issue overall..lol.
I keep a binder, where I plan per subject, not per week. Each subject is broken down by approx weeks, (dates are pencilled in and I try to follow, but not always).
I record marks in the margins of those planning sheets. I also notate when i send something in to the school board, and the mark they present for said work. (provincial regulations, we must be registered and provide proof of learning, etc, I send in thoughout the year). Once I get acknowledgement, I am free to toss whatever, but since it is scanned and sent in, I have record of it.
I don't keep much, at end of the year we have a few blue bags full. Any writing I found fantastic, or art, I will keep. But math tests, spelling tests, etc, are very routine items here, and they do well, so they are let go. We document other projects with pictures and let it go.
Not sure if that helps at all. Now if i could tackle all the other paper in my life as efficiently..lol
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roomintheheart
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| Posted: Jan 19 2013 at 6:44pm | IP Logged
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I grade everything once a week. Sometime during the weekend, I sit down and page through everything that needs an actual grade or to be checked over.
For the younger kids, it mostly consists of my making sure we are on track and starring for each subject each day (very quick--literally takes just seconds; I obviously know if they read with me, etc., all week).
For my oldest daughter (7th grade) and somewhat for my 3rd grader, I actually keep track of scores. Any subject that they do their work mostly independently, and therefore I can't be certain of their comprehension levels each day, I make sure there is some form of "grading" at the end of the week.
We use TT for math for the older kids, otherwise I'd grade math every day (used to, when we used Saxon).
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Topic: Can we talk record keeping ... again?
