In the state of Florida we are required to keep records of what our children do during the year. An easy way to do that for me, is to have a student planner for each child.
You can purchase planners at RockSolid and other homeschool stores, but I like to make my own. A friend once said, “You like to re-invent the wheel” and I guess I do. 
Last year I had the planners spiral bound at Office Depot. I haven’t decided if I am going to do that again this year or not. They did look really nice. 
For my younger two, I will have in their folders (not in this order):
- Front cover with photo of child, name, grade, and school year.
- School Calendar
- Monthly Calendar - I will be using the Microsoft Excel versions on the YoungMinds CD . That allows me to change font colors, add text, and add clipart. I decorate it according to the interest of the child.
- Attendance Sheet - this is not required in Florida. I just want to use it.
- Reading List
- Website List
- Curriculum List
- Names and Address of friends
- Weekly Planner
- Journal Pages
- and anything else I haven’t thought of just yet.
The two older children’s planners will be different. I will using the Grades and Attendance and Excel Weekly Planner . These sheets will be printed out along the way and given to the child to place in their three ring binder.
Will you be keeping a planner for your homeschool?
Update: I forgot to mention that I use HP color Laser paper, 8.5×11″, 28 lbs. The 28 lb paper lets you copy on both sides without seeing through the paper, but it isn’t at thick as cardstock.
How to bind a planner go here.
2008/2009 Student Planners
2009/2010 Student Planners
You can find more student planners at:
- Knights and Fair Maiden Reference book
- Knights and Fair Maiden Latin and Saxon Schedule
Hmmm…..I don’t see any pictures.
A record/portfolio is not required by TN law, but I made a notebook for myself for the past year. It mostly sits on my desk taking up space, so I don’t know why I would want to do that again….other than to feed my notebook obsession.
< ![CDATA[Hmmm.....I don't see any pictures. :(
A record/portfolio is not required by TN law, but I made a notebook for myself for the past year. It mostly sits on my desk taking up space, so I don't know why I would want to do that again....other than to feed my notebook obsession. ;)]]>
Here in Ohio, we are not required to do so……..so I don’t. If I were, I would do something like you do.
You inspire me so much, Michelle. I don’t think you will ever know how much you have encouraged me with home schooling.
< ![CDATA[Here in Ohio, we are not required to do so........so I don't. If I were, I would do something like you do.
You inspire me so much, Michelle. I don't think you will ever know how much you have encouraged me with home schooling.]]>
CC said, “You inspire me so much, Michelle. I don’t think you will ever know how much you have encouraged me with home schooling.”
Really? Thanks CC.
Sheri, I didn’t post any pictures. Just links to the website I am using. I haven’t started printing out the papers yet. I know what I want to do and will be working on that this weekend.
< 
Sheri, I didn’t post any pictures. Just links to the website I am using. I haven’t started printing out the papers yet. I know what I want to do and will be working on that this weekend. ]]>
Yes I keep a notebook/planner. I fill it up with all sorts of forms. I also go through each of the girls’ books and split it all up into daily assigments. I leave a box for a grade and comments and a box for the date it was completed. This is not required in AR and was not in TX but it has been so good for me and J likes to be able to see what we are doing in school. I think he enjoys scrolling down and seeing the grades too. (not always, of course.)
I use a lot of Donna’s forms too. Her Young Minds CD is a dear friend come July and I freak out whenever I cannot find it. :lolol: I keep it put away safe so no one will move it.
I will be buying the girls’ new books mid-July and then it will be time for me to start all of this again. Blah. It takes up so much time.
< ![CDATA[Yes I keep a notebook/planner. I fill it up with all sorts of forms. I also go through each of the girls' books and split it all up into daily assigments. I leave a box for a grade and comments and a box for the date it was completed. This is not required in AR and was not in TX but it has been so good for me and J likes to be able to see what we are doing in school. I think he enjoys scrolling down and seeing the grades too. (not always, of course.)
I use a lot of Donna's forms too. Her Young Minds CD is a dear friend come July and I freak out whenever I cannot find it. :lolol: I keep it put away safe so no one will move it.
I will be buying the girls' new books mid-July and then it will be time for me to start all of this again. Blah. It takes up so much time.]]>
I have seen Kelley’s notebook. It is biggish and impressive.
I am required to maintain portfolios, but I am not required to show them to anyone. That means our portfolios are very, very basic. I keep one piece of work from each required subject from each quarter, a list of books and materials, a list of field trips, and a list of outside activities. I am also required to keep daily lesson plans or a diary. I do make lesson plans, but since we never seem to do what is planned I also keep a journal on the computer.
That’s it for now.
< ![CDATA[I have seen Kelley's notebook. It is biggish and impressive. :D
I am required to maintain portfolios, but I am not required to show them to anyone. That means our portfolios are very, very basic. I keep one piece of work from each required subject from each quarter, a list of books and materials, a list of field trips, and a list of outside activities. I am also required to keep daily lesson plans or a diary. I do make lesson plans, but since we never seem to do what is planned I also keep a journal on the computer.
That's it for now.]]>
That sounds similar to the teacher planner I put together for myself.
28 lb paper is simply wonderful isn’t it? 
I will just have a teacher planner as usual next year. Holly will have her lesson planner too. Her planner basically has a calendar, a checklist, book list, and all of the schedules for her classes and anything else that I think would be handy for her such as my requirements for assignments and how they will be graded.
< ![CDATA[That sounds similar to the teacher planner I put together for myself. :) 28 lb paper is simply wonderful isn't it? :)
I will just have a teacher planner as usual next year. Holly will have her lesson planner too. Her planner basically has a calendar, a checklist, book list, and all of the schedules for her classes and anything else that I think would be handy for her such as my requirements for assignments and how they will be graded. :)]]>
I like your idea about the paper. I think that I may get some of that paper to make my planner for the coming year.
< ![CDATA[I like your idea about the paper. I think that I may get some of that paper to make my planner for the coming year.]]>
Donna, I love the 28 lb paper. You were the one who told me about it last year.
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Oh yes, I remember that now.
I started buying it for use in Holly’s art classes and now she insists that I keep her supplied in 28 lb paper. She specifically writes 28 lb, 97 bright on the shopping list when we are running low.
< ![CDATA[Oh yes, I remember that now. :) I started buying it for use in Holly's art classes and now she insists that I keep her supplied in 28 lb paper. She specifically writes 28 lb, 97 bright on the shopping list when we are running low.]]>
The 28 lb paper would be great for art class. Speaking art, I might have Matthew do your art lessons again next year. I am looking over yor Physical Science (again) notes on your CD and you mentioned it there.
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Very good! I really do think they helped my son with his biology drawings.
On the evaluation pages, his were the examples shown. He improved a great deal and at the very least the art practice made him aware of the true direction and shape of lines and that is what it takes to make a decent line drawing. 
< ![CDATA[Very good! I really do think they helped my son with his biology drawings. :) On the evaluation pages, his were the examples shown. He improved a great deal and at the very least the art practice made him aware of the true direction and shape of lines and that is what it takes to make a decent line drawing. :)]]>
I like this idea Michelle. I will try the 28 lb. paper. Thanks for the idea.
< ![CDATA[I like this idea Michelle. I will try the 28 lb. paper. Thanks for the idea.]]>
Since we don’t test but use the portfolio option I included much of the same except for the grades, attendance and weekly planner, did you see our portfolio stuff in Knights?
< ![CDATA[Since we don't test but use the portfolio option I included much of the same except for the grades, attendance and weekly planner, did you see our portfolio stuff in Knights?]]>
Celticmuse said, “did you see our portfolio stuff in Knights?”
I did go over there the other day and read one of your posts about it, but didn’t see the picture. I went back to have a look-see and I think it is great. I’ll link to them, so other can see it.
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Applie,
that would be too cool, afterwards can I brag about it? *grinning*
< ![CDATA[Applie,
that would be too cool, afterwards can I brag about it? *grinning*]]>
I’ve been looking for one of those attendance forms to which you’ve linked. Very good post, Michelle! Love, Wardeh
Thanks Wardeh.
Thanks for the great ideas, I am in the middle of creating my own planer so good to see other people’s ideas, thanks
Nicky In New Zealand
< ![CDATA[Thanks for the great ideas, I am in the middle of creating my own planer so good to see other people's ideas, thanks
Nicky In New Zealand]]>
Thank you for your comments, Nicky. I have updated this post to add a link to how I bound the planner together. I hope you have success with your planner.
< ![CDATA[Thank you for your comments, Nicky. I have updated this post to add a link to how I bound the planner together. I hope you have success with your planner. ]]>
Michelle,
You linked me here to this page and I’m reading it now with new eyes! I feel silly for having asked you if you wrote about this somewhere else and now I see you really did and worse yet, I read it and obviously it didn’t sink in (other than those attendance forms, which I really still do need).
I need some help, obviously! Love, Wardeh