External Records Don't Tell Everything

If a language arts program has thirty-six lessons, then this means covering nine lessons per quarter in order to complete the program in the year. The Superintendent wants to make sure the home schooling child is progressing through his or her lessons and the external record (quarterly report) indicates that the child is on target. The child has covered the required nine lessons.

The Superintendent is concerned about what material was covered. As homeschooling parents responsible for children's education, we are more concerned about that the children learn, master and apply the information covered. For example, words like completed chapters 1-9 of a language arts program lets the Superintendent know that the child is making progress, but it doesn't give a specific indication of what the child knows how to write.

It is alright to have fill-in-the-blanks and multiple choice problems but real life application of writing, grammar and spelling skills actually show what is mastered and what skills still need work. A record of writing samples will show exactly what skills the homeschooling child has mastered. To know exactly what the home schooling child knows, internal records can be used.

Internal Records Give More

Keeping and maintaining records of your child's work is motivating to the child and peace of mind for the homeschooling parent. Every child wants to know that they are learning new skills. Every child wants to see how they have improved over the years. It is fun to look at writing from previous years and see how much they have grown. If writing samples of previous years are kept, the child can go back and edit them. It is proof for the child that he or she is doing a good job. Each year I am pleasantly surprised as I see how much we have covered and how much their writing, spelling and grammar skills have improved.

Have the Home Schooling Child Keep Records

There are several home schooling records the child can keep. The examples below are to give home schooling parents some ideas so that they can create their own record keeping forms. Home school record keeping forms are made to fit the needs of individual families. Everyone's forms will look different. Get creative and have fun.

Example:

Use a What I Learned This Year record keeping form for spelling and grammar. This record keeping form could be one that the homeschooling parent makes on the computer or one that your child sets up in a loose-leaf binder. Not only is it a record of what is learned through the year, but it also serves a quick reference to assist the child with completing assignments during the year.

Example:

Every time a new language arts or grammar skill is learned, have the child record it and give examples if possible. Writing out what was learned will also help the child remember the skill taught. If the child can explain the concept the parent knows that not only has the child covered the topic but that he has mastered it. The child knows the material and will be able to use the skill when needed.

Example:

If you taught your child to use quotation marks, an entry in the language arts or grammar record keeping form could be:

3-15-06 What a person says goes inside quotation marks. Punctuation goes inside the quotation marks.

Wrong: Come here Jane said.

Right: "Come here," Jane said.

In essence the home schooling child will begin to make his or her own reference manual filled with concepts, definitions and examples the student designed. At the end of the year the child could design a cover for it. A This is What I Learned record keeping form would make an excellent sample for those needing to provide a portfolio of work completed.

Example

Make Household Maintenance and Repair Record
The Household Maintenance and Repair Record involves writing about chores and repairs the child makes in the home. This is an excellent way to display spelling, grammar and writing skills at the same time as making a booklet that your child can be proud of. This project is also helpful to you as you will know that your child knows how to do certain jobs around the house. Remember, if a child can write about it then the child knows the information thoroughly.

Example

Cleaning My Room Record
Depending upon the age of the child, discuss the steps need to clean their room. You might want to have the child discuss the steps first to see what he knows then ask questions to get him to think of the steps he left out. Provide the child with the room cleaning record for them to fill out. This activity involves ordering and thinking skills (first, next, last) and can include outlining skills depending on the age of the child and whether or not outlining skills have been taught. A typical record might look like this:

Room Cleaning Record- My Bedroom
1. Make bed
2. Pick up things off of the floor
3. Clean closet
4. Clean and dust flat surfaces (i.e., desk, table tops, etc.)
5. Straighten dresser drawers
6. Straighten book shelves

This list can be as detailed as the skill level of the child. An older child would give a more detailed description of each step. Any misspelled words can be added to next weeks spelling list. The child can go back and correct the misspelled words in the Clean My Room record next week.

Example

Other records to include could be cooking skills, recipes, how to cut the grass, how to trim bushes (for older child), how to grow a garden, how to plan a menu, how to wash clothes, how to iron, how to vacuum, how to clean the bathroom, how to recycle. The list is endless and unique for each homeschool situation.

Example

If more than one home schooling child is completing the same record, it may be interesting to have each child do an oral presentation of their record keeping form and then discuss any similarities or differences. This activity would enhance their language arts skills.

Exercise

1. Pick a topic for your record.
2. Create a record. Use the table function in the word processing software to make a one column table with many rows or have the child use loose-leaf paper.
3. Discuss steps involved in the process.
4. Have the child write down the steps.
5. Add misspelled word to next weeks spelling list.
6. Next week test the child on the misspelled words by handing the child the record and have the child correct the misspelled words.