Homeschool Records - When is the Best Time to Start Keeping Track?

When I was homeschooling 6th and 8th gradesI was very glad I started early, in Junior High,
(my two boys are two years apart,) I began bybecause it ended up that my youngest son
keeping a daily schedule of their lesson plans.graduated 2 years early. When we started, I had
Having this check list for their lesson plans gaveNO idea he would do that. I was glad I'd kept the
me a record of everything they did. I figured Irecords once I realized how much I needed them
was training myself for the next year - when itat the end of high school. All this to say, simply,
really mattered. So if your kids are about thatkeep stuff.
age, one thing that you can do now is keep someA final thing that you can do is to educate
sort of records, and using a schedule can provideyourself while you are educating your children. Buy
those records for you.yourself some books on "how to homeschool high
Another thing that you can do is have a placeschool" so that you will feel confident. My favorite
where you keep all your records. That mightbook is Homeschoolers' College Admission
include all their work, anything they have written,Handbook by Cafi Cohen.
math tests, any workbooks, etc. Again, you reallyI've read a LOT of homeschooling high school
don't NEED to keep that stuff for 6th and 8thbooks, and I thought this book really summarized
grades, but it will train you to keep those recordsall of them really well. It's a great overview, and a
when it DOES matter. I kept a 3-ring binder, withgreat way to start. When I was homeschooling,
dividers for each subject: math, science, writing,my goal was that every time I bought curriculum
etc. Every time they produced a piece of paper, Ifor the boys, I also bought a book for ME, about
punched holes in it, and put it into the notebook.how to homeschool.