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    This is my method of storing reports, grades, lesson plans, and other school work.  It is similar to the method used in "The Well Trained Mind" but contains more dividers.  This system can be used no matter what curriculum you use, and can be used through grade 12.  In later grades the older reports are replaced by newer reports.  Eventually more than one binder may be needed.  This will depend on how much you want to save each year.  

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    Note: This method was made for those who use the Robinson Curriculum as written without buying science and history curriculums to supplement.  I myself supplement with history and science, so I use this outline as a guideline for when my daughter has an intrest in an area outside of what she is studying, and for storing the science reports that my daughter does write.

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Goal:  The main goal is to have the student write their own text/reference books.  An advantage of this system is that all homeschooling paperwork will be in one place.  If you need to show proof of what was learned, or if you want to review the past year or years, you only have to look in one place.

Materials needed:

• at least one three ring binder to begin with -- later you may need to divide the sections into more than one binder.   As the binders get too full, to break them down into more binders either by grade or by subject (your choice), and/or take out old things you no longer need anymore.
• several dividers to divide the sections.  On each divider you can make an outline for the section.  (Ex: a basic timeline for each history section.)
• loose leaf paper for students to write their reports on
• Any reference book (or books) of your own choice for the student to glean the information that they need.  You could get away with using only an encyclopedia if you really want to, and/or library books.  Text books could be added.  I try to find books that are good for any reading level, so that they can be reused over and over again each year.
• If you use report covers, have one for each main subject.  I fill them with lined loose leaf paper.  Once every so often the best work will be taken out of the report cover, and then put into the appropriate three-ring binder.  This eliminates the constant use of bulky three-ring binders, and also aids in keeping you from filling up the binders too fast.  You can't keep every book report or story -- there isn't room.  Just keep the current years worth, and then after that the best samples for keepsakes.  Science and history reports I tend to keep more of since they can be used for review in later years.


How to make the Binder:

    On each divider, list the outline (order) each section should be studied in.  This can be done in outline form, or in a timeline type form.  I used a timeline type form.  Each area of the section is written down on a shape, then that shape is glued onto the divider.  Then lines are drawn to show what order is the suggested order of study.

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IMPORTANT NOTE:  Don't try to work through all the science, history, and geography sections in one year!  Have the child work through them at their own pace, and let them take several years to work through all the sections.  Between you and your child, you can decide if you stay with the order on the divider, or your child can skip around choosing the things that interest him or her the most.  You don't have to be committed to the order of the outline.  Once all the sections have been worked through at least once, start the process over again using more advanced reading material.

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Language Arts and Record Keeping Section
See these pages for more information on this section:

Record Keeping Page
Writing Page
Reading Page
Vocabulary Page

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Hint:  I recently started making a chart to hang up on the wall.  As the book is read, a check is put in the box.  There is also a column for tests, book reports, and vocabulary words.

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3.  Book Reports - all book reports can be filed in this section in alphabetical order, or in order read.  Should be the opposite of the order used in the book list so it can be a cross-reference.

4.  My Own Stories - a place to file all stories, poems and other articles written by the child that do not fall under a specific subject like history, science, or geography.

5.  Vocabulary Words - a place to store vocabulary word lists, and quizzes, and puzzles.

6.  Memory Work (optional)- place to store Bible verses, poems, and other items of interest that were memorized by the student.  Should be in the student's own handwriting if possible.

7.  Language Arts - other language arts activities that do not fit in one of the above categories like copy work, penmanship, spelling lists, and grammar.
 
 

 8.   Ancient History - Creation - 400 AD (Fall of Rome)

 9.   The Middle Ages - 400 AD - 1491 AD

10.  American History I - 1492 AD - 1860 AD
            (includes world history during that time period)

11.  American History II - 1861 AD - Present
            (includes world history during that time period)

12.  State History - History specific to the state that you live in

While studing history, don't limit yourself to American history only.  I think it would be very benificial for a child to study the history of other countries by reading a history textbook from that country.  In this way you can glean a better view of world history.  Examples of other countries to study:

Canada, Mexico, Great Britian, India, Middle East, Japan, China, Russia ...

13.  World Geography

14.  US Geography

    For those who use the Robinson Curriculum, you will probably want to stay with nature science, and save the rest till after all the math is completed.  I included sections for non-nature sections in this list for those who have students interested in those topics, or for those parents who want their children to learn about those areas at an earlier age.

15.  Basic Science - can include basic chemistry

16.  Five Senses

17.  Body Systems

18.  Mammals

19.  Birds

20.  Other Animals

21.  Plants

22.  Space and Sky

23.  Earth and Water

24.  Basic Physics

25.  Famous Scientists

26.  Math - for storing loose papers of the current school year -- like drill sheets.  Notebooks can be used for daily work from a text book.

27.  Music - for storing reports on famous composers, and other reports about music.  For example while listening to a classical piece of music, a student can write about the feelings and thoughts they experience while listening to that song.  They could write a story line that goes with the music.

28.  Art - for storing pictures the student drew or painted.  Pictures of other art projects, reports of famous artists.  The student could also study a famous painting, then write a story to go with the painting.
 

If you want a section for Bible study, I suggest you use a separate binder.  Then you can have a section for each book of the Bible.  All the Bible stories learned, memory verses, Sunday School papers, coloring pictures, and etc can then be filed under the right book of the Bible..
 

    Overwhelmed?  If so, don't be.  This system is easier than it looks.  Yes, it has a lot of dividers -- but that is just to show the outline of some of the subjects like history and science.  Let me show you how to use this binder system.
    Let's say you use the Robinson Curriculum.  In the Robinson Curriculum students do math, writing, vocabulary, and reading for the main subjects.  Everything else is learned during the writing and reading time periods.

Math:

• Do your students still do drill sheets?  If so, have them file the finished drill sheets in under the math section.
• Samples of daily work and tests could also be stored in this section.

Writing:

• Do your students write book reports?  If so file the final copy of the history book reports in the right place of the history section. (All reports should be in choronlogical order.)  All the other non-history book reports should be filed in the book report section.
• Do your students write their own letters, poems, and stories?  File the final copies under the "My Stories" section.
• Do your students write out their vocabulary words and/or make their own sentences for those words?  Then file that work in the vocabulary section.
• Are your children too young to write their own stories?  Then file samples of their copywork or penmanship in the language arts section.
• Do your students read about science?  Have them write a report on what they read, and the final copy can then be filed under the right science section.
• Science reports for children under 10: Have them draw a picture of what they read about, with a short caption, and then file that instead of a report.  For example if they read about zebras, have them draw a picture of a zebra, then write "Zebra's have black stripes" under the picture, and then file the picture in the Mammals section where pictures of other animals from other countries would go.  If they are capable of writing more, and chose to write more -- let them.  The only reason why I put 10 down is that the Robinson Curriculum does not require a written report until the student is 10 or older.  Until then they do copywork.
• History reports for children under 10:  Have them draw a picture of a history event with a caption.  When they are a little older, have them draw three or four pictures to show the sequence of events of a certain person's life or period of history.  Again, if they are capable of writing more, and chose to write more -- let them.  The only reason why I put 10 down is that the Robinson Curriculum does not require a written report until the student is 10 or older.  Until then they do copywork.
• Are your students learning about other countries? If they are under 10 have them color a map to show where that country is located, then file the map in the geography section.  If capable of writing a report, a report can be written.
• Goal: At least one science, geography, and/or history report a week.   The older the student, the longer the report can be.  If the report is very detailed of a report, then a longer time for completion can be chosen.  (Average one page a week for each subject -- so if a high schooler wants to write a 5 page report on a certain topic, they can take up to 5 weeks to complete it.)  The days you do not write about science, geography or history are to be for other types of writing.
• Tip 1: Rotate the three subjects of science, geography and history.   Don't try to do them all at the same time.  First learn about science and make or write something to show what was learned to file.  Then after a short break (like a day or two at the most) of writing other simple projects start a report on geography.  Once that is finished take another short break of a day or two so you can do another simple writing project. Then do a history report.
• Tip 2: Don't try to do all three types of reports on one week.  Let the student work at their own pace, and don't go on to the next report until they have mastered the material enough to go on.

• The reading time period is used for reading about other countries, cultures, science and history to prepare for writing the reports.
• If a student has just finished a book from the Robinson Curriculum, and has not learned all their vocabulary from that book yet, then that will be a good time to read to learn what to write in their reports.
• Or you can break the reading time in half.  Half of the reading time to prepare for reports, and half of the reading time to read other books that do not pertain to history, science, or geography.
• Or you can rotate reading material to match the rotation cycle used above.  Make sure you include times for books that do not pertain to history, science, or geography.
• Tip: let the student choose how to go about preparing for the reports.  If they are old enough, let them prepare their own reading lists on the topics that they want to learn about.  Then let them work through the reading list at their own pace, writing the reports when they see they have all the information they need to write them.