Charts

Charts are easy to use and make. Charts make and offer the most flexibility for recording spelling and writing records. Each home school family determines what needs to be recorded and how the recorded could be laid out.

How to Use Charts

Charts can be used for:
1. Spelling
2. Phonogram charts
3. Word family lists
4. Vocabulary lists
5. Language skills learned
6. Records of writing skills learned
7. Writing corrections manual

Benefit: The layout of charts organizes information in a way that is easy to understand and remember.

Exercise

How to Make a Writing Correction Record

This exercise, if done on a computer requires knowledge of word processor software's Table function.

1. Review your child's writing to determine skills that need to be taught or review. This is not a daily recorded but could be used weekly or monthly as not to overwhelm the child.
 

2. Open word processor. Set page orientation to landscape (File-page setup- landscape)

3. Think of a title for the record.
Suggestions: My Writing Corrections Manual, or Student's Name Corrections Manual,or Student's Name Writing Guide

4. Create a table with three columns and many rows. Note: This can be done with paper and then copied.

5. Fill in three column headings with Type of Mistake, Example, and Correction.

7. Save and print the Writing Corrections Manual.

8. Have a discussion with the child. Explain types of mistakes (spelling, punctuation, capitalization, noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction interjection, sentence, paragraph, style). These are examples of things that may apply to your child. Do not apply all of them.

9. Have child fill in the Writing Corrections Manual.
 

Home School Journal Style

A homeschool journal is a place to record not only what happened during the day but also a place to record one's thoughts about what happened. Journal style records can be kept by both the parent and home schooling child. The journal can include what was taught or learned.

Writing In a Home School Journal

For the parent: concepts taught, child's reaction, comments on how the lesson went, areas of improvement, what child understood, what still needs work, ideas of what to cover next

For the child: assignments completed, new concepts learned, problems with lessons or things not understood, explain what was learned.

 

Benefit: Having the children journal about their home school activities helps children remember the information. The information becomes part of their permanent memory. Journaling also helps children take an active roll and responsibility in their learning.

Example Journal Entries

1. Parent's Journal entry

3-24-06 Student wrote for fifteen minutes on topic of student's choice. Overall the writing content is good. Gave tips to improve flow of thought and style by using the conjunction and. Also explained comma usage for items in a series and showed student examples of both concepts. Student seems to understand the concept.

2. Student's Journal entry

3-24-06 Wrote about going to Grandma's house. Talked with Mom about lists.
Wrong: I will pack my pajamas toothbrush and teddy bear.
Right: I will pack my pajamas, toothbrush, and teddy bear.

3. Student's Journal entry

Used and to connect two sentences.
Good: I will go to Grandma's house. I will see Grandma's pet cat.
Better: I will go to Grandma's house and see her pet cat.

I liked my sentence much better using the word and to join the two sentences. I think I will look at some of my old writing to see if I can join two sentences together. I think I will look for the word and used to join two sentences in the book I am reading.

My Experience

When I only needed to know what was done I used a diary to make sure I kept up with what happened that day. When I wanted to know how a child is doing in the learning process I recorded my observations of how the child is handling the information taught noting any challenges or new interests that developed. Taking the time to journal is useful for writing external reports (quarterly and annual reports) and more importantly gives me insight into each child's needs.

Exercise

Use a Homeschol Journal

1. Get a journal book. You can buy one or make one using a three-ringed binder, loose leaf paper, and divider tabs.

2. Set up the binder. There are many ways to set up the binder. You can journal by the day (one or more pages for every subject) or you can have separate pages for each subject with each subject being separted by a divider tab. You can also use divider tabs to keep a separate section for each home schooling child.

3. Keep the journal open and in a place where you can get to it easily. This done so that when you observe learning taking place you won't have to search for the journal.

4. Put the date on the page.

5. When the home schooling child hands you his or her work, write down your observations. Include improvements and areas that need to be taught.

6. Write about the discussions you have with the child.

7. Have fun making new discoveries about your home schooling child. There is no wrong way to make a home school journal. Try different things and see which works best for you.