Sunday, July 15, 2012

2012 Homeschool Paperwork Organization

I'm trying out a new system for keeping track of the kids' work this year.  They each have a daily school work chart that is in a page protector.  Using a dry erase marker that's in a zippered pouch connected to the binder the charts are kept in, they have to check off their work as they do it.  Obviously, not every subject on the list is covered every day, but it all gets covered within a two day period.

When they are done with their school day, they bring the work binder to me for approval.  Then they transfer the info to the main school work file on our computer (the top half of the photo).  After they fill out a month's worth of school days, we'll print it and add it to the binder.  So, by the end of the year, they should be able to look back and see exactly what they got done and how many days we did school this year. 

I'm hoping it will help us be more consistent, see if there are any problem areas, and help the kids to feel more like they have some control of their school day.  They are able to do about half the work on their own, so they can get their school day over with faster.  Also, after they fill out the main school work file each day, they get to write their name on a piece of paper and put it in the drawing box.  We do a nightly drawing.  They can get their name in for good behavior, good attitude, helpfulness and self-motivation.  If they win, they can either pick a prize from the prize box or stay up half an hour past bedtime with mom and dad.  It's a pretty good motivator.

1 comment:

Glenda said...

looks like a good idea. I make the kids a monthly calendar and we can cross off the things we get done each day but lots of times things that are done are not crossed off. I think the second step of transfering it to the computer is brillant!