
Registration in NSW requires homeschool parents to jump through a few hoops in order to get their children registered. This is how we do it.
In NSW recording keeping is an essential part of the registration process. Our children have been registered for eight years and I have gone through the registration process quite a few times.
Here is a list of some the requirements for registration and some examples of how I document them.
A Plan Or Outline (program) of what you intend to teach your child.
Here I write what I plan to do in each of the key learning areas (KLA's).
For Example here is an old one I used (for my then 6-7 year old) for two KLA's English and Science.
English. We will use a phonics based approach for the teaching of basic skills in reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. This will be supplemented by the regular reading (to dd) of a wide range of good fiction and non-fiction books. We will also encourage her to read books including \'readers\' and other age appropriate materials that are of interest to her. We will also make some use of computer based reading and spelling programs to supplement her learning as well as occasional ABC TV school programs.
Resources / Curriculum:
• LEM Phonics Course - (Single & Multiple phonograms already completed) Word Lists (K & Grade 1), Reading with the phonograms. Reading on. Base Words & Endings 1 & 2.• Books - mainly from the Library (normal borrowing rate is about 30 books per month, of which half to one third are non-fiction). A record of non-fiction titles will be kept.
• "Readers" - a range of age appropriate readers which are compatible with the phonics approach to learning will be used such as : Fitzroy Readers, LEM Readers, Ladybird Phonics Readers.• Computer Programs - "Reader Rabbit, Phonics Adventure etc".
• TV programs - "Word Machine".
For Science & Technology. We will continue to develop DD\'s understanding of the natural and man made environment through the reading of a range of appropriate books. The aim will be to cover a diverse selection of topics at an age appropriate level, rather than to delve deeply into specific topics. Where practicable, simple experiments will be used to reinforce some of the learnt concepts. All of this will be supplemented by learning gained from "hands on" home based activities and from excursions. We will also be viewing some science / nature videos as well as ABC TV School programs.
Resources / Curriculum :
• Books - mainly from the Library and covering a wide selection of topics, will be read.
• Home based activities - Home Science (cooking). Agriculture (gardening), Home Maintenance.
• Excursions - Museum, Reptile Park, Zoo, Botanic Gardens, Bush Walks, Grandparents Farm, Steamfest, Blackbutt Reserve, Beach, Harbour, Fishing, Regional Show etc.
• TV Programs - "For the Juniors", "Scientific Eye".
A method for recording achievement and progress in each area of study and a method of recording learning activities completed by your child.
I HAVE NEVER KEPT A DAILY DIARY. I used to get a frown from the inspector but now he says he really likes what I do. This is how I do it.
I start the term with a general timetable of what we are doing. Here is our current timetable for the 2009.
I then make a record of learning for the term on the computer. This is like a goal chart of what we are hoping to achieve for the term. At the end of the term I use this same document to write a term report. I don't use the KLA's as my headings because it is sometimes hard to break things down into a particular topic as they cover a range of subjects.
Here is an example of last terms for my 7 year old.
If it looks a bit much in some areas it is because her read alouds are happening because of her siblings. I wouldn't normally choose these for a 7 year ols.
DD Homeschool work journal Date…19/1/09—3/4/09
Term One: 10 weeks (1 week off in the middle).
SUBJECT DETAILS;
Bible Study Genesis and beginning Exodus 1-12
Read Alouds Out of the Black Shadows, Richest man in Babylon. The Golden Goblet. Started Tirzah, Anzac House, Tiger Tale, Grandad Marches on Anzac Day, Are we there yet?, Alexanders Outing
English; Downunder Copywork book 1 completed for second time. Emma Searl Primary Language lessons completed to 55. Letter to Sophia. ReadersFitzroy readers completed with ease 31-36; Lem reader book 2, Other random readers.Will encourage reading for pleasure with own choice books at library visits.
Maths; Completed 1 B Singapore. Commenced 2A completed to page 25Field Trips Myall lakes and Farm VisitScience Nature study. Parrots, snakes, fish, frogs and Myall lakes, Koalas, flies and Blue Wrens.
Social Study; Ancient Civilizationa and the Bible. Chapter 1-3 Creation, Origins of Man, Flood, Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia map work, Babylon, Egypt. Discussion about relevant issues as they arise.
Music; Weekly piano lessons. Hal Leonard Piano Lessons book One pages 1-43Weekly Choir and concert. Seek ye First, Grandma we love you, Ha Kuna Mattata. I’ts a lovely Day today, Jamaica Farewell. Composer studies; Bach and Hayden. Drum workshop-Jamo Jamo.
Art; Nature drawings; notebooking. Picture Study Tom Roberts-Bailed up. Michael Angelo –Sistine Chapel and Leonardo Divinchi DVD.
Sport; Junior development Gymnastics 2 hours per week. Jan and Feb swimming 3 times per week plus weekly swimming lesson.
This is the assessment of progress part of the report.
Report: DD’s reading is coming along well. She has reread Fitzroy readers 31-35 and she hardly misses a word. She is becoming much more confident in this area and reading easy books on her own. Next term we will continue to do some reading together. Her handwriting is also excellent. We have been doing some spelling during the dictation process and she seems to remember a lot of words.DD’s favourite homeschool subject is nature study. This usually involves me reading about a nature topic and then she makes an entry into her nature journal.DD’s piano lessons are progressing well and she practices 4 times per week. She attended the junior development program in gymnastics but has decided it is too serious and she will be returning to the homeschool program. She is very flexible and can do one handed cartwheels, the splits, handsprings on the trampoline and rip stick.We attended the homeschool group events at Largs (2 times) and one of the Newcastle support group days. DD has lots of girlfriends at these events.DD can swim quite confidently and has gone into the dolphin group.
Equivalent Amount of Hours as School
Nowhere do I actually write how much time I spend on activities. It does say "The time allocated to student learning is sufficient to allow coverage of the same work and is comparable to the times taken in school." I show them the work. I show them the progress and that is it. My assesor seems to like my method. I find this method frees me up to only one day at the end of term where I collate all the info and try to remember what we have done.
The other thing I do is start a portfolio of work I want seen. Here I might display certificates, drawing or sample writing assignments.
Every one documents differently and the main thing is to find a method that works for you and meets the registration requirements. With 4 children to document and many years of homeschooling left I want a system that is simple and not time consuming. So far this one works well for me.