Record Keeping Software-Homeschool Tracker

Homeschool Tracker Software
http://www.homeschooltracker.com/

I used the free version last year. I didn't see the need to buy it since I was really just organizing lessons for just my five year old.This year I want to keep better track of our hours and lessons and practice scheduling for more than one student (I'm definitely going to need it in a couple years). The Basic has all of the student features I'd need.

I can easily enter a lesson (for example a Math book, lesson no or page no) then put in a date range and have the software schedule the lessons in sequential order in one click, instead of entering it in 20 times. It keeps track of hours spent and has a good list of reports.

I bought the Plus edition last week. It has some really great features as a teacher to organize the week and move lessons around. It prints report cards/transcripts, if you wish, and the interface is pretty user friendly. Unlike some other software, you purchase it once and get all of the upgrades for free.

Homeschool Tracker has a free discussion forum where you can get some good information (you have to create a login):http://www.homeschooltracker.com/discuss.aspx

I really like the Lesson Plan feature:

"You can create Lesson Plans per student, per year, per discipline, per Unit study...whatever method best suits your needs. You can have some lesson plans that incorporate an entire year's work for a grade level, while other plans might contain items just for specific Subject/Course combinations. You are limited only by your organizational preferences. Lesson Plans can be imported and exported to share with others."

With this software, I can print out or goals for the week and if we don't reach our goals, I can easily reschedule one or more lessons for the next week.

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Schedules

One of the reasons we homeschool is so that our children have enough down time to pursue a variety of different activities. I remember as a child having school until after 2, then gymnastics from 3-5 p.m., dinner, and then to bed. I loved being busy, but it left little time for other activities during the week.

I'm beginning to schedule our summer and realizing that we have a wealth of opportunities, but they are all so much of a distance away. Now we have a new obstacle to overcome: how do we participate in all of our activities and stay closer to home? With the cost of gas, we now have to be more careful about how far we drive for an activity.

For instance, our group has park day today at the furthest park from our house. It's 26 miles from the house, or 52 miles round trip. With current gas prices, it would cost $8 round trip. I can't justify the expense when we also have gymnastics, drama, music, science club, spanish and our K co-op each week. I don't mind a busy schedule, I actually mind the expense.

Right now, we drive 22 miles round trip to Music class, 21 miles round trip to Gymnastics, and 18 miles round trip for Spanish/K co-op. Luckily, Maisie's Friday school is only a couple miles out of the way for DH to drive. Starting this summer, we won't have music (it starts up again in the fall) but we will be replacing it with drama (30 miles round trip) and we will be adding Science Club (32 miles round trip) and Park Day (park 1 is 15 miles round trip, park 2 is 32 miles round trip, and park 3 is 52 miles round trip--we won't be going to the 3rd park).

Currently, we are spending $10 a week in gas alone. This summer, the prices are expected to go up to $4 a gallon; we will then be spending $20 a week in gas alone.

This fall, something will have to change. I want my kids to be involved in as much as possible, but I'm going to have to consider the cost. We have a rec center that is very close, but the fees are more expensive. It might be a wash, so the convenience will make much more sense. We will also likely have to find a closer gym for gymnastics.

I'm not willing to give anything up as there is so much to learn. Music has been a wealth of knowledge for Maisie. She is learning fractions! And it has motivated her to write and read. Dani starts this fall, so we will have two in music class. Perhaps I will have to give something up?

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