Does anyone have any good tips on record keeping? (Or maybe you don't keep records. How does that work?)
Christine

We've tried a lot of different things. For me, the simpler, the better! I tried a couple of different computer programs but they were more work than they were worth for me. This year (and last) I'm using a chart made in MS Word. It's just a table that lists the subjects down the left side and the days of the week across the top, and I fill in the assignments. I like having it on the computer because I can move things around as needed without having to rewrite everything. The boxes are big enough that I can give enough detail to the assignments, but small enough that a week's worth fits on a double-page spread. I think this system is probably what will work for us from here on out.

For grades, I keep a grade book on the computer in MS Excel. Each student has a worksheet that lists the subjects across the top with their grades in the column below. I use the comment feature to list what the grade is for (test, quiz, etc), then it averages the grades at the bottom of the column. Pretty simple, but it works.

I like both of these better than paper & pencil records, mainly because I can't lose them! That tends to happen when I use a notebook to keep track of things. I can (and do) print them off when I need to, but I like having everything saved on the computer so I don't have to keep up with a thousand sheets of paper.

If I end up doing our own transcripts I'll do those on the computer, too, but right now our umbrella school does them for us.

This has been one of the toughest things for me to get a good grasp of. I slip and slide in and out of organization...in every area of my life. Dare I say that the hardest part of homeschooling is my own personal short-comings.

Anyhoo...I have tried numerous ways/methods to keep our portfolio (since it is required by law). The first two years are pretty much every single thing we did, every workbook, a lame book list, and whatever else I felt needed to be crammed in there. I guess it's not unheard of for parents in Florida to collect everything in a box and call it a "portfolio" and then drop of the box with the district if they are ever asked for their portfolio. Mine is slightly more organized than my tax-time receipts.

Initially, I did the box-up-everything method as my own personal way to get back at the school system..."Go ahead! Ask for our portfolio. I dare you." ....and it also helped to cover up my procrastination and apparent mental condition that prevents me from parting with anything that my children have done.

This past year...our 3rd year...I actually made a tabbed 3-ring binder portfolio for each child. ...I made them the night before my meeting with our evaluator. (I'm an 11th hour champion!) I decided beforehand what I was selecting...for example I selected the 1st math lesson and every math test throughout the year. For Bible I just choose the first lesson, a random lesson from the middle (#34 I think) and then the last lesson we had completed. I added the science projects (Dinah Zike-type manipulatives & books) and lapbooks.

I don't know what I will end up with this year...probably a new rendition of the 3-ring binder portfolio. I'll probably add more pictures and things.

As far as grades...I don't do grades. I will put a grade on a math test...but that's about it. Grades have their place, but much of the school work we do is skill training and progressive in nature.

*edited for brain damage control

We used to do the 3-ring binder thing, too. It was great for evaluations, but after a few years I realized that storing all those binders (for four students) was going to be a problem. So then I went to a file-folder method of keeping work samples. For each year, each student has 2 hanging file folders with 3 regular file folders in each one. The folders are labeled by subject (Bible, Math, English, Science, History/Geography, Electives). Then I file samples of their work in the folders, put them in the hanging files, and store it all in a file cabinet drawer. At one time I had ALL of our past years' work stored in two file cabinet drawers, and it was all labeled so I could find what I needed. I think I will stick with that method until they all graduate. My plan, if I ever find the time to do it, is to make a soft-cover book for each student for each school year, either comb-bound or using some other method. But my oldest graduated in '06 and I haven't even started on his books yet, so that may or may not ever happen.

I use a lot of filing too...my problem is I file everything and not just "samples". But now into our 4th year...I am starting to see reality more clearly...my kids aren't going to remember or care about every little workbook page they did...so I am starting to allow myself to throw things out.