Holly IN Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Hello!! I have tried 3 different kinds of computer record keeping. I never could get into it and all of them have caused me major frustration because of time needed to learn the program. If you are a paper and pencil type then how did you set up your grades and stuff on paper? I have tried making a few forms but something is not right with them.... :glare: Help?? Holly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 What about buying one of those bound books that teachers used to always use? I bet you could find them online or in a teacher supply store. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MicheleinMN Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 (edited) Here's my favorite teacher planning/recording books: http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com/list/Teacher_Helps/ I buy a black one for each of my children and one more for me, and I also get a green one to use to record grades for my high school students. (I don't like having the grade book and planning book all in one like the blue book is done.) Another really helpful book is The Organized Student by Goldberg (my amazon links never work right). The best advice from it was to fold over the edge of the paper, that way you don't have to re-write the subjects every week! I also split each cell (draw a line with a black pen), so that I have more subject sections. (Dd's accepted at 3 colleges so far, so I don't think my pen and paper record-keeping held her back at all.) HTH Edited January 3, 2011 by MicheleinMN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memphispeg Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I have printed out a syllabus for each subject that we check off as the work is done. Tests and project due dates are there and also on the big desk calendars. I just made simple grids for grade entry and then do the math on them when the grades are due. I just have one student though...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 if you are a HSLDA member, they have some great forms. Look at the high school section. I believe it is under resources. That is what I use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I do better with paper too. I have some really severe memory loss issues, and my new social worker is trying to get me hooked up with Google apps and it's not going well. In the past I did real well with a Palm phone, but Sprint messed things up so bad even both of my backups were wiped out, and I was left marooned, and never wanted to end out like that again and turned to paper. But I keep losing my files, and running out of ink, and just being so disorganized about having the right worksheets printed out when I need them. I think I need the social worker to work with me with the paper route, but he is an IT specialist so... The stuff he set up for me stopped syncing though...and he went on vacation...and I'm back to paper. I NEED to go buy paper today, while I have enough paper to have a weekly calendar to write "go buy paper" on :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda in MA Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I don't use any kind of teacher plan book. I have an accordion file that I use to keep graded papers for each subject. I correct daily work but don't give it a "grade". I only assign grades to papers, quizzes, and exams, so the file doesn't contain all that much. I use a daily plan book for each student to keep track of assignments and what each has completed. I can look back over this if I need to make up a reading list or just to check on exactly what work was accomplished on a particular day. At the end of a school year, I take the papers from each course out of the file, tally up the grades, and enter the course grade on the transcript I keep on my PC. I also write up a 3 - 4 sentence course description for each course and list all the texts, literature, DVDs, field trips for that course. Once I've tallied the grades, I return everything to the accordion file, printout a transcript and course descriptions and put them in there as well. I then store that year's file for future reference and in case I need to show someone the student's work (I only ever needed one graded English paper from that file that one of my son's colleges asked for during the application process). When it's time to apply to college, I merge all the course descriptions into one big document and attach them to my transcript. I also tried a couple of different computer tracking programs and found them more time consuming than my "paper" system. To each her own, I say... HTH, Brenda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 A couple more resources you might check out: donnayoung.org has all kinds of planning and record-keeping pages you can print, and thehomescholar.com has recommended resources for record-keeping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 if you are a HSLDA member, they have some great forms. Look at the high school section. I believe it is under resources. That is what I use. Even if you re not an HSLDA member, they have some excellent resources. I recently used one of their forms for a transcript; it comes as a Word document. I do not know what else is available to members, but I am not a member and was able to access the transcript (which I found via Google). Like the OP, I have tried to use one of the major software programs, and it was quite frustrating. Anyone need a $50 coaster. :glare: I now use OpenOffice spreadsheets (OpenOffice looks a lot like Excel but is free) for lesson planning (and I use only the simplest of formats--barely one step above pencil and paper, which is what I used until this year, using lesson planning books from Rod & Staff); an HSLDA form for the one transcript I have done so far; and a grade book from a teacher supply store for grades. Terri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 When I'm under stress, I find something soothing about having a week or month in chart form that I can TOUCH, and the rhythm of the pencil sliding over the paper. The information on the chart feels more real and solid. Okay...I'm weird, but it's a noticable difference for me. There is a concept called "writing meditation" where it is recommended to do free writing and keep the pencil moving in a steady pace. That scientists believe the brainwaves are more slow and even when engaging in this type of activity. When I sit down with paper to lesson plan or organize my more general schedule, the paper versions just feel better. I love access to ebooks, but there is nothing like a real book. I think a paper planner is the same way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holly IN Posted January 4, 2011 Author Share Posted January 4, 2011 When I'm under stress, I find something soothing about having a week or month in chart form that I can TOUCH, and the rhythm of the pencil sliding over the paper. Okay...I'm weird, but it's a noticable difference for me. I love access to ebooks, but there is nothing like a real book. I think a paper planner is the same way. No you are not weird. I am wired the same way. My hubby is more techny than I am. I love REAL hands on books. I have a lot of ebooks on my computer but I print them out and bind them up with my binder then read them. I never read anything on the computer except message boards. Ha! I sometimes print out long responses just so I can make sense of it holding it in my hands. LOL My high school boy told me a few months ago that I am a hands on gal. :) I thought I was visual only but he told me I am both visual and hands on.:D Just a ditto on everything you said in your posts even though I had to cut some of it out. I agreed with everything you said!! Holly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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