When you decide to home school your child, there are many decisions to be made, including how to document the homeschooling process. Keeping track of your student’s materials, their progress, and the curriculum you are following is an important part of the homeschooling process. You may even need to provide proof that your student is receiving the education you say they are.
If your child later goes to a public school, knowing how to document homeschool can make the transition smoother and help ease their academic transition.
What Type of Documentation Should I Keep?
The type of documentation you choose to keep will depend on the style of home schooling you plan to do. Some state governments require certain types of documentation. Keeping logs of your student’s schedule, events, and outings is a good way to document their homeschooling learning experiences.
In addition, you may choose to keep records of your student’s grades, tests, evaluations, and other assignments. You may also want to keep a portfolio of their work, including science projects, photos, artwork, and other physical evidence.
You should also keep records of the curriculum you use, from textbooks and workbooks, to online course programs and physical activities. Documenting any field trips your child may take as a part of their lessons will also be useful. Finally, you should keep any pertinent paperwork that comes from your state government, such as permission forms or special worksheets.
What Should I Include in My Homeschool Records?
Your homeschool records should document your child’s learning activities, and other school-related events. This could include records of the topics your student has learned, the books they have read, the tests or exams they have taken, the awards or certificates they have earned, and the independent learning activities they have done.
You should also keep records of any projects or demonstrations your student has completed, and any extra-curricular activities they may have participated in while being homeschooled. You should also include records of any educational resources you have used, such as books, online materials, websites, and videos. Documenting any field trips, trips to the library, or other outings is a great way to provide evidence of your student’s educational experiences.
Finally, any physical evidence of your student’s homeschooling years, such as artwork, photos, writing samples, or large projects, can provide a tangible record of your student’s activities.
How Should I Organize My Homeschool Documentation?
Organizing your records into categories can help you keep track of your student’s activities, and provide evidence of their learning experiences. Start with a general overview of your homeschooling curriculum and goals, then break that down into individual courses. For each course, document the topics your student has covered, evidence of their completion, and their grades.
Include any dates or notes to remind yourself of any associated events. You may also choose to organize your records by date, or other method you find most useful.
Whatever method you choose, include as much detail as possible for each experience and activity. For example, if you organized your records by course, document the textbooks and other materials used, the length and duration of the course, the topics covered, and your student’s grades.
Why is Homeschool Documentation Important?
Documenting the homeschooling process can help provide proof that your student received a proper education. If you decide, or if you are forced, to put your student into a public school for any reason, having good documentation can make the transition easier. Good documentation can also help provide a complete picture of your student’s education, and provide proof of any courses they took while they were homeschooled.
This can help your student hit the ground running in their public school classes. Having good documentation can also help ensure that your student’s school records are accurate, and that all credits are provided to your student.
In some cases, it can help your student receive credit for already completed classes they took while they were homeschooled. It can also help ensure that your student’s overall education is more well rounded, proving they have taken courses that may not be offered by their public school.
Conclusion
Documenting your student’s homeschooling experience can be a valuable resource for many reasons. Decision how you organize your records and what type of documentation you include should be tailored to your student’s needs, and to the standards or guidelines provided by your state government. Ultimately, having a complete history of your student’s education experience can help provide proof of their progress, their learning experiences, and put them on a path to success in the public school system.