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by Cindy 4 Comments

Wrapping Up Homeschool for the Year

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Here's a peek at Cindy West's plan for packing up her school year.

I’ve been asked before if I keep all my children’s work from year to year.  My answer – mercy, no!  

Wrapping Up Homeschool

Work Pages

Throughout the year, all of the children’s work goes into subject folders or notebooks.   For example, when a math lesson is completed and checked, it gets filed in the math folder.  All maps, worksheets and projects from our Around the World studies went into a folder for that study.  All stories, newsletters, spelling tests, grammar sheets, etc were filed in the language arts notebook.

At the end of the year, we go through each folder and pull out 3-10 of the best samples for an end of the year portfolio.  Each of the subjects is then put together in one folder that shows a sampling of our learning from the year.

All other worksheets and such are pitched.  Yep, thrown in the garbage!  Gasp, you say?  How can I get rid of all of it and not worry about having to prove our schooling?  When I taught in the public school system, a similar system of “a few best pieces” was the practice for each child’s cumulative folder.  If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me!  I couldn’t possibly keep each and every piece of work we do from year to year.  I’d have crates stacked to the ceiling!

100+ math pages from the year….

turns into about 10 pages of math to keep.

Notebooks and Lapbooks

Along with the folder of sample work (math, writing, spelling, grammar, maps, etc.), I will keep ALL unit notebooks and lapbooks.  These are things I do want to keep intact and on file from year to year.  Why these?  They represent the memories and fun of our homeschooling.  Much effort and time was put into documenting our learning in these and, honestly, I want to look back (and have the kids look back) on these just like we might look back through a photo album.

The Extras

This is Mahayla’s final “portfolio” for the year.  It’s about 2 1/2 – 3″ high.

I also keep a folder full of art and any writing journals, field trip journals or nature journals that have been completed.  (If these haven’t been filled in entirely, I’ll just let the kids continue using them next year.)

I also keep a small folder of awards, school pictures, program bulletins, ticket stubs and such – as well as the report card.  This folder is almost like a scrapbook of achievements and events from the year.

The Final Portfolio

Finally, I stack and bundle each child’s keepsakes and place them in a tub.  My lesson plan book – which also includes the beginning of the year goal sheets, a list of curriculum used and any correspondence papers from the board of education – slides into the tub right alongside the bundles.

Here are both children’s stacks from this school year, with my lesson plan book and other important documents on top.

Now I have a nice set of memories from the year, as well as a solid bit of “proof” for homeschooling should I ever need it.

I’d love to see how you wrap up your year.

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Last Updated: September 1, 2020 Filed Under: Curriculum & Schedules Tagged With: end of school year, files, Organization, portfolios, Record Keeping

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Comments

  1. gina says

    December 21, 2008 at 11:09 am

    I had a similar method when I did a half year of hs ing with my older daughter. I was wondering if my “documentation” had to be more in depth if we do hs for years this time.

    Thanks for your sharing your method and opinions! It gives me something to ponder.

  2. Paola Collazo says

    April 29, 2014 at 12:58 pm

    We do a similar system. I need to get more organized with Lesson Plans and goals. But really, my biggest issue is finding a certified teacher that has even heard of Charlotte Mason.

  3. Cindy says

    April 29, 2014 at 6:55 pm

    Yes, Paola, that stinks.

Trackbacks

  1. Organizing schoolwork « Inspiration Station says:
    July 15, 2011 at 5:34 pm

    […] Packing up […]

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Happy birthday to my favorite girl in the world! L Happy birthday to my favorite girl in the world! Love you, @mahaylawest_1! 🥰
The breath of God produces ice,⠀ and the broad The breath of God produces ice,⠀
 and the broad waters become frozen.⠀
He loads the clouds with moisture;⠀
 he scatters his lightning through them.⠀
At his direction they swirl around⠀
 over the face of the whole earth⠀
 to do whatever he commands them.⠀
He brings the clouds to punish people,⠀
 or to water his earth and show his love.⠀
Listen to this, Job;⠀
 stop and consider God’s wonders. ⠀
⠀
Job 37:10-14⠀
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Winter isn’t my favorite season, but an icy landscape is truly incredible to see. ❄️⠀
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Click the link in my bio for science curriculum to help you take advantage of snow and ice. ⠀
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#winterhomeschool #naturestudy #naturexplorers #winternature #snowandice #naturephotography #charlottemasonnaturestudy #charlottemasonirl #wildandfreehomeschool #homeschoolscience ⠀
When my boys were little, I loved reading these “letters from God” to them as blessings to start the day.

As I was sorting bookshelves earlier this month, I stumbled across this sweet book again. I decided the blessings are still as pertinent today for my bigger boy as they were years ago. So, we’re starting our day yet again with a quick, but powerful “letter from God” before jumping into our daily Bible studies.

Do you do anything special to start your day off on the right foot? I’d love to hear about it!

Click the link in my bio for a link to the book.

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Winter homeschooling can be tough in normal years. Winter homeschooling can be tough in normal years. It’s cold, the days are dark, and everyone’s cooped up together 24/7. That’s a recipe for the winter blahs to march right into your house and wreak havoc on attitudes and motivation.⠀
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This year’s winter is unlike any other and those blahs may have actually settled in long before now. If you or your children are feeling down, anxious, or bored with school, are “at” each other constantly, bouncing off the walls, or tears and fighting are the norm…the blahs are there.⠀
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Let’s get you, your children, and your homeschool back on track. I’ll be teaching a Homeschool Masterclass on Thursday afternoon to help you kick the blahs to the curb. If you can attend live, come! If you can’t attend live, catch the replay!⠀
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We’ll tackle all sorts of problems the blahs bring with them with very practical  ideas that are easy to implement! ⠀
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When the world seems to be falling apart around you, the sun never stops shining. The seasons never stop moving. Without a single, solitary effort of human hands, the woodlands still buzz with life.⠀
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A student of nature can see the consistency in cycles and notice the incredible and creative intricacy of even the smallest specimen and be in awe that we truly serve a God who isn’t unaware of even one tiny detail in our world right now. ⠀
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Life kind of seems overwhelming, though, I know. Remember when I said my motto lately has been to just put one foot in front of the other to do the next right thing? Nature walks (even when it’s cold) never fail me as a right thing. ⠀
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Breathe, friend. Take a nature walk today and let God speak to your soul.⠀
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It might seem trite to post a winter picture book It might seem trite to post a winter picture book list right now, but I’m a big believer in keeping things as normal as possible in my home when things aren’t so normal otherwise.⠀
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It’s the principle of putting one foot in front of the other as you simply do the next right thing. Good books almost always can be a “next right thing” choice.⠀
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Even though I’m not homeschooling younger children anymore, I’ll probably never stop sharing wonderful picture book ideas with you. 🤓 I’ve spent way too many hours reading and collecting to ever stop loving them!⠀
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Click the link in my bio to find a blog post about these books + some of our favorite winter chapter books, too!⠀
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We celebrated a 14th birthday over Christmas break We celebrated a 14th birthday over Christmas break! 🎉🎁🎂🏀🥰
I love being auntie to a sweet baby again! 😍 I love being auntie to a sweet baby again! 😍

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