Do you give report cards? How do you do it?

Question

My kids are now attending Karate and the teacher is requesting that all the kids bring in their report cards because they are encouraged to receive B's and above in their classes. We homeschool and I have never given them any report cards or grades. The only subject I really ever test in is Math and Spelling. We do Unit Studies. They are in 4th, 5thish Grade.

I can't even remember what a report card looks like. How often do public school kids get one? How would you suggest I go about doing this? Thank you so much for any advice!

Answer 1

We've been homeschooling for almost 10 years and with my oldest daughter starting High School, I, too wanted to be able to create official transcripts / documents to show what she's been doing.

I found a program online called HomeSchool Tracker.

The "Basic" version is available for a free download.  If you choose to upgrade to the "Plus" version, it's less than $40.

It's very easy to use.  You simply enter in their assignments, and, as homeschoolers, sometimes our "assignments" are field trips, conversations, read-aloud books, computer programs, educational videos, 4H meeting, scouts, ballet class, science club, etc.  You also enter a score- for non-graded work, I enter 1/1 meaning that there was 1 point posible, and 1 point scored.  The program averages everything out, and creates a report card with grades, transcripts, etc.

The "Plus" program has more options for reports than the basic program has, but I haven't downloaded the plus program yet.  

We've also found restaurants that give the kids an ice cream or something for good report cards.  My girls like to send copies to their Grandparents, who congratulate them with cash.  We issue report cards twice a year.  Math and spelling are really the only grades that fluctuate for us, too since we don't test with History and Science.  For my oldest this year, she will receive a history grade because she has a list of requirements for her final project.  

To download Homeschool Tracker go to homeschooltracker.com

http://www.homeschooltracker.com

Answer 2

My mom just types them up on the computer. At the top it will say the name of our school (it is made up but all 7 of us use it) the kid's name and grade then it list the subjects and next to them you put the grade you think they should get for it. We use them all the time at places that ask for them such as the donut place that gives us a free one for every "A".

Answer 3

Log their school work in a note book with their score.

Answer 4

Good grief! At the risk of sounding like a hag, what does the karate teacher want with  report cards anyway?  What does that have to do with karate?  Is it really any of his business? I don't think I would go to all the trouble to make up a report card for a karate teacher.  I might if I was trying to fit my kid into an academic educational program-but never for a sports program.

Answer 5

I am homeschooled

I don't think most people give report cards.

Just tell the teacher that they are homeschooled and you do not give out report cards.

Or maybe use excel make a simple report card. May take like 20 mins. tops.

Answer 6

I do not give report cards, but I do give scores/points for certain assignments/tests, i.e., spelling, math, etc.  There is a software program called Homeschool Tracker which is very good for this.  The basic version is free and the link is below:

http://www.homeschooltracker.com/tracker...

The information that you input into the program will make it very easy to generate a report card.  You can track field trips, reading lists, points/scores, grades, etc.

I hope this is helpful.

Answer 7

The best person to answer you query would be your kids' karate teacher...

Answer 8

I wouldn't do the report card just because the karate teacher wants it, but if you do want to do a report card just figure out the grade either the way most public schools do: 90% and up =A , 80% and up =B, 70% and up=C, 60% and up=D, Below 60% =F; or just subjectively assign a grade based on how well you think your child is doing.  For example, if you feel the child has made outstanding progress in a subject that would be an A, if you feel the progress was good but  outstanding that could be a B, if you feel the progress was okay- but not the child's best that could be C, and if you really feel the child just did the minimum required that would be D,  if you feel the child did so poorly that you might as well not have bothered this year (which is unlikely) that would be F.

I use a software program known as "Homeschool Tracker Plus", it is great and keeps grades for me based on the points possible and points earned for each assignment.  For my Kindergartner every assignment is worth 1 point and if she does the assignment she gets 1 point, so participation = A.

My second grader has his daily work graded the same as the Kindergartner's, but his tests are graded according to the actual points possible/points earned.  50% of his grade is daily work and 50% is tests.

My 9th grader gets traditionally graded in all subjects.

Answer 9

As far as complying with this request, what is the reason? Does the instructor hand out rewards for A's and B's. If so, then you might want to whip something up, not because you are saying it is ok to be "grade minded" nor because you wish to conform to a public school mentality, but simply because it is fun for your children to participate and get a little treat for doing well in their studies.

Back in the day, we had actual cards with hand written grades in them, but now, they are computer generated on printer paper, so it would be quite easy to whip something up.

Just list your child's name, the subjects and your grade. No need to get fancy.

But if it is just an accountability and discipline thing, and the instructor just wants to make sure his students are doing their best, not only in his class but in academics as well, and there is no display or reward system, then just tell him you do not generate report cards because it is not required of you and assure him your children put their best foot forward in their studies.

Answer 10

When we first began homeschooling I used Printmaster to create a report card for my son. Because of my own aversion to letter grades A-F (who is failing if the child gets a low grade? the parent or the child?) and the fact that we are Unschoolers, I use a 3 stage "system" of Excelling, Performing Adequately and Needs Improvement.

Because we school year-round I divide the grading periods into the  4 seasons.

I put some of my favorite photos and educational quotes in and on this. It is a the size of a large half-fold card.

One the inside I use one side for our subjects  or unit studies such as math, spelling, reading or whatever Units we are doing for this year (such as last year we did Famous Scientists and Magic Tree House) and on the other side I list grades for important character traits such as honesty, respect, caring for others, etc.

Our report card changes a little bit each year and I freshen it with pictures of our current projects.

We use this at places where they give awards for grades, such as the local "kids pizza & games with a mouse" place and they have always accepted our report card. I also save each years report in a folder in case my son every needs it for a job or higher education.

I make and give him a Certificate of Completion at the end of each school year.

I also give Awards of Recognition for accomplishments in other activities such as violin and fencing.

At the end of the year he gets a Student of the Year Award with a small trophy or medal and he loves to display these on his desk.

Last year I was pleased and honored to receive a Teacher of the Year award from my parents.

Answer 11

Let the teacher know you homeschool and therefore don't have traditional report cards.  

Your kids must go to Tiger Schulman or some sort of chain where they like to talk about how Karate improves every aspect of the child (esteem, grades, respect, etc.) so they are looking for "facts" to back up their claim.  

Some karate schools do reward kids for good grades; check to see if this is why he/she wants the cards.

I taught Karate for 10 years to  kids 6 - 18 and never bothered to ask for report cards.  They tell you nothing about what the child is really learning.  I preferred to toss new words or facts out at them and give out "rewards" for giving the right definition or whatever. Sometimes I would ask about whatever holiday was coming up (what is Cinco de Mayo, or what is Veteran's Day).   My rewards were things like getting to lead class or letting them fight me in sparring, or if it was a good class I'd let them do circle sparring ( a continuous 2 person sparring where I randomly switched whoever was fighting in the cirle).  Ok, that's more than you probabbly wanted to know! ;-)

Answer 12

if u type as search on net,

school cards samples

or writing school reports samples

you will get lot of ideas

Answer 13

Report cards are compiled from performance over time - The teacher will mark grades for each child, attendance, behavior, etc..daily.  You home school, so just start keeping a daily record.  Give a general grade every few months and perhaps copy a few of your personal observations on their motivation and achievement.  I was a teacher in the public school...I have a child now and I am strongly thinking about home schooling myself - Good for you.

They sell grade books at any Schoolbox or educational store..

Answer 14

I use a HS grade card from Academic Advantage.  My son loves to have a grade card (never been in PS).  It's also helpful at business that give incentives for grades:  free video rentals, free arcade tokens, free bowling, etc.

http://www.academicad.com/Default.aspx

Donna Young's site (a great site in general, btw!) has some forms:

http://donnayoung.org/forms/planners/gra...

Most PS kids get a report card every quarter, or every 9 weeks (typical school years are 36 wks).

My curriculum has assessments for nearly every lesson because it's a mastery-based approach.  So it's easy for me to calculate letter grades based on percentage grades.  I keep track of lesson, unit, and semester assessment in Excel (a form I made myself).

Answer 15

Don't give a report card just because the karate school wants it. It's really best for your kids to not be graded. Explain to the karate school that you homeschool and don't use grades and ask them if there's something else they might like instead. Perhaps just a summary three times a year about what they've learned or general attitudes will be enough for them. Or perhaps they'll just understand and not expect it of you. As soon as you start putting a grade on their unit studies and stuff, the focus is going to be taken at least a little bit away from the learning and shifted to the grade. Just let them keep learning as you have been.

Answer 16

It is really up to you whether you want to just make them a report card or refute and let the instructor know that your children are homeschooled and he cannot in any way refuse you service, require a report card or discriminate against your children.

My curriculum (abeka)has these progress report type things and I make a report card from that. I just bought some cute paper from Dollar Tree and created a template and filled in the grades. You can just give them the grades you think they deserve. I do it because my daughter was previously in public school and she wanted a report card so I figured there was no harm in it.

You can go out all out or just make some simple ones with plain paper, your choice!