Grading. This is the dreaded task. You know the kind of task you need to psyche yourself up for days ahead of time. And grading for 4 kids multiplies this feeling by 4. Teaching multiple grades, figuring out the right curriculum, and keeping grades for school, it can get overwhelming. Keeping grades is not my favorite thing to do, but over the years, through trial and error, I’ve found a system that works.
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If you are feeling mom guilt when it comes to keeping grades for school, banish it. You homeschool because you want to tailor curriculum and teaching for your child, not because you love to grade. Give yourself permission to hate this part. I will let you in on a secret, teachers don’t like to grade either. You are in good company.
Why You Need to Keep Grades for School
In some homeschool circles this may actually be a controversial topic. I understand the reasons for it—kids learn beyond books, you don’t want to fall into a one-size fits all type of school, you want to learn outside of the system, you aren’t trying to recreate school at home—and if your state doesn’t require these records, then the choice is totally yours. You have the freedom to decide how you want to measure your child’s growth and improvement. Keeping grades is just one way to do this. Make the choice that is best for your family.
Depending on your state’s laws, and the records they require, you may need to keep grades for you homeschool. Find out more about your states homeschool laws if you are unsure. If your high schooler plans to go to college, then you will definitely need to keep grades so you can create a high school transcript to.
Tools to Keep Grades for School
There are so many resources and tools to help you keep grades. And if you love office supplies like I do, then you can have fun. I use this excel spreadsheet to keep grades for the year.
There are also a lot of grade books to choose from. So find a fun one that will help make the process a little less daunting.
There are specific ways to keep a high school transcript. Here is a lot of information on how to create a high school transcript.
5 Practical Tips to Keep Grades for School
Since I dread this task so much, it gets scheduled ahead of time. So I can mentally prepare for it. Here are 5 tips to do grades for school.
1. Grade when you have the time
Avoid scheduling anything else. As you grade you will see things to go over with your kids. Make sure you have the time to explain a concept they may be missing and give them time to correct.
2. Schedule one kid at a time
Give time to each of your children. It will be easier for you, and you can give them the one-on-one they may need. Grade all the schoolwork for that one child at the same time. And then take a break.
3. Grade every other week
Take a break so you aren’t grading every week. This gives you a chance to recover and there may not be anything to grade until the following week. So skip a week.
4. You don’t need to grade everything
Most curriculum have enough tests and quizzes that you really can get a good idea of progress and improvement by just grading quizzes, tests, and essays (kids need feedback on their writing to be better writers). So skip the daily work. Or if you find your kids need feedback on daily work, let them grade it.
5. Write grades down immediately
Have your grade book open or excel sheet and enter the grades immediately. You don’t want to go back at a later time and do this. Grade the test, enter the grade, and move on.
Conclusion: Practical Tips to Keep Grades
My fellow mom, it is ok to not like every aspect of homeschooling. Grading is definitely at the top of my list. If you find yourself in the same place sign-up for the Life Unboxed newsletter and get your editable grading spreadsheet. And join other moms who are in this together.
FAQ: Tips to Keep Grades for School
Q: Do I have to keep grades for my homeschool?
A: It depends on your state laws. Some states require records like grades and attendance; others don’t. If you’re not sure, check out HSLDA and find your state’s requirements. If your state doesn’t require it, you have the freedom to decide. But if you have a high schooler with college in their future, yes—grades are a must for building a transcript.
Q: Isn’t grading just recreating public school at home?
A: Not necessarily. Grading is a tool, not a system. It can be as flexible or structured as you need it to be. If it helps you track progress and meet legal or future academic requirements, then it’s working for you, not against your homeschool values.
Q: What should I actually grade? Everything?!
A: Deep breath—no. You do not need to grade every page of every workbook. Stick to the big stuff: tests, quizzes, essays, major projects. For daily work, consider letting your kids grade it themselves (bonus: it teaches responsibility and self-correction).
Q: How often should I grade?
A: The sweet spot is usually every other week. It keeps things manageable and gives you time to actually teach without drowning in red pens. Plus, it gives your kids time to finish enough work to make grading worthwhile.
Q: What if I just really, really hate grading?
A: You’re in good company. Most teachers—yes, even the “real” ones—don’t like it either. Give yourself permission to dread it. But also give yourself the tools and rhythm to make it suck less. And remember, this is just one part of the homeschool journey. You don’t have to love it to do it well.
Q: Do colleges really care about my homeschool transcript?
A: Yes, they do. But don’t panic. You don’t need to make it fancy—just accurate and consistent. Grades will help you build that transcript with confidence.
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