Keeping a simple homeschool record (without the stress)
· 5 min read
Keeping track of what your children learned can feel like one more job in an already full day. But a simple record helps you see progress, plan the next weeks and answer questions from family or, where it applies, the authorities. It doesn't need to be complicated.
First: check what's required where you live
Rules about homeschool records differ a lot between countries and regions — from none at all to regular reports or reviews. Check the official rules where you live or ask a local homeschool group. Everything below is about a record that helps you; adjust it to what your local rules ask for.
A five-minute daily log
At the end of each day, write one or two lines per child. A notebook, a spreadsheet or a printed sheet all work.
- Date
- What they worked on (subject, book and page)
- What went well
- What needs another go
A list of books and resources
Keep one running list per child of the textbooks, workbooks and other books they used, with the dates you started and finished them. Over a year it shows a lot more than you'd remember.
Keep a few samples
You don't need to keep everything. A few pieces per subject per term — for example a piece of writing at the start and at the end — show progress clearly. Photos of projects and outings count too.
A short review every term
Look back
Read through the daily log and samples for each child.
Note progress
Write three things each child can do now that they couldn't before.
Plan ahead
Pick one or two focus points for the next term.