Homeschooling Tips: How I Keep Records In My Homeschool
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In Parts 1 and 2 of our Homeschool Record Keeping series, I shared the why and the what for how we keep records in our homeschool.
Today, in Part 3, I share the how portion by showing you my process for weeding through the mountain of paperwork we collect over the school year.
Getting Organized
After unboxing our curriculum and before beginning our first day of lessons in a new school year, I begin by getting organized. I prefer the three-ring (preferably three-inches) binder method. First, I sort each subject by binder accordingly. Then, I divide each binder into sections like daily work, reviews, tests, and projects. Completed work is filed daily to keep clutter and confusion in check.
I also use the below system drawer system I was introduced to by homeschool mom Christie Reinhardt from the “Who Let the Kids Out?” YouTube Channel. I have found this system to be incredibly useful for helping us stay organized and tidy. It also promotes independence.
The Basics
Staying organized with this filing system throughout the year makes the end of the year sifting, sorting, and selecting run more smoothly which, in turn, makes compiling a portfolio less stressful.
So, what exactly is a homeschool portfolio? Leilani, a homeschool mom of four kiddos, Homeschool Evaluator for the state of Florida, and content creator for Living With Eve explains,
As there are no guidelines in our home state, I have chosen to follow the HSLDA’s recommendations with a few modifications. I consider the below the “basics” of a good portfolio.
Gather Your Supplies
While there are not a lot of materials required to assemble portfolios, having some basic supplies on hand makes the process run more efficiently. You will need the following:
Construction paper or blank paper – For labeling file sections and documenting curricula.
Hole punch (top punch style).
File folders – There are numerous ways to compile a homeschool portfolio. Some educators use hanging files, 3-ring binders, or box filing systems, such as milk crates. In my case, I repurposed some old tri-fold classification files I have leftover from my private practice days.
Manila folders – I cut the folder in half down the dividing line and then in half again, making a square. I staple the square inside the back cover of the file folder creating a pocket for storing arts and crafts projects.
Scissors.
A Sharpie.
Stapler.
Putting It All Together
Before assembly, I remove all content from our binders. I weed through the piles of papers selecting work samples, test scores, and other examples of information from “the basics” list above.
Below is a brief video from my first advocacy/resource website and YouTube channel, It’s Only Homeschooling.com, demonstrating my process in action.
Record-Keeping: Make It Your Own
As I type these words, we have recently completed our fifth year as homeschoolers. While I would love to tell you I have my record-keeping process down to a science, in reality, it is much more of an art (with lots of art I might add). While we have experienced some changes in curricula and routines over the years (including a 3rd-grade reboot experience), on the whole, we seem to have found a rhythm that works best for us.
As I mentioned earlier, I am the first to admit I am a sentimental person who keeps far more “work samples” than is necessary. (I genuinely wept with tenderness when presented with my son’s first “hand turkey” from our church’s mother’s day out program. He was 2. I still have it.)
I certainly do not endorse this personal quirk, but rather hope readers will glean some useful information from this blog post without feeling overwhelmed. Honestly, I sincerely recommend you keep far fewer items than I tend to. I am a work in progress.
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Blessings,
Kimberly Bennett, LPC
Founder/CEO It’s Only Homeschooling
Founder/CEO The Homeschool Counseling Network
This website is not a professional counseling website and nothing here should be construed as professional counseling advice. Although Kimberly Bennett, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor, she is not your counselor, and no counselor-client relationship is established unless she has signed an agreement with you. All information provided through this website is for informational and educational purposes only.
