Are you curious about gameschool documentation? I am often asked how to make gameschooling quantifiable so that it “counts” in year-end assessments and portfolio reviews. Today, I’m sharing how to document gameschooling in your homeschool.
Now, we all know that gameschooling does count. Play is the language of childhood and children learn through play. Play is a necessary and important part of childhood. Through play, children practice what they are learning and can make mistakes in a “safe” setting.
But, how can we quantify something like play? How can we make our gameschooling quantifiable on year-end portfolio reviews?
Today, I’d like to share a few super-simple ways to make your gameschooling “count” at the end of the year, when you need to show your work.
Make it Count! How to Document Gameschooling
I’m going to start with the most boring method first, but then I have a super-simple and easy to implement idea after that!
You’ve heard of a book log, right? This Gameschool Log helps with gameschool documentation…
Did you just groan out loud? I know, I know! I hate book logs, too!
But, sometimes we need to do those annoying logistical tasks because of the Powers that Be.
(Maybe you could even get fancy and highlight each game by academic subject!)
How to document gameschooling with this free Gameschool Log:
Grab yours here:
How to document gameschooling with the free Seesaw app!
This is a super-simple strategy that I use in our homeschool to keep track of all our gaming! Because gameschooling counts!
What is Seesaw?
Seesaw is a free app that helps you to create digital portfolios. It is super easy to use, so easy that kids can use it immediately.
In fact, Seesaw encourages children to participate in the development of their digital portfolios. My kids love to add videos, artwork, experiments, piano performances, and more.
Moreover, Seesaw is completely private. You do not have to share it with anyone other than your evaluator. If you wish, you can choose to invite people via email (grandparents, for example), but you get to choose.
You know all that stuff you can’t put in a traditional portfolio?
The science experiments, the cardboard creations, the fantastic poetry teatime, the kitchen skills, the soccer performance, the gameschooling?
With Seesaw, you can capture all of that day-to-day homeschool magic with the click of a button.
When you sign up for Seesaw, you want to sign up as a teacher. Remember that Seesaw was designed for public school teachers. Think of your home as your school and your kids are your class. (The family option is for parents of public school students whose public school teacher is using Seesaw in the class.)
Here are a few reasons why I love the Seesaw app for gameschool documentation:
- It is free.
- It is designed for students to use, too.
- Seesaw is a wonderful way to keep your extended family involved in the homeschool process.
- Seesaw allows students to showcase their work, too.
- The app is simple to use. You can upload a day’s work in seconds.
- Customer support is awesome.
- Seesaw shares ideas for using the app all the time. I have more ideas than I have time!
- Students can “show what they know” in the way that best works for them, whether that is audio, video, drawing, a link to the web, or PDF.
- Seesaw is compatible with many popular apps including Google apps.
- It can be used with any device.
- Seesaw makes organization a breeze!
- By involving students, Seesaw leads to deeper student reflection.
- Students can create and maintain their own blogs through Seesaw.
How to use the Seesaw app for gameschool documentation
Simply download the free app and set it up for your family (please read these instructions for downloading the app if you run into trouble).
Then, set up your “classroom”. You can see how to do so here:
You can learn more about adding to student journals here:
Here’s how I use it daily:
In our home, I am the main operator of the Seesaw app. I spend time each evening adding photos, videos, and brief summaries to the app for each of my “students” (it’s easy to tag each kiddo).
So, for this photo, I would add it to my youngest’s day and tag the subjects “math” and “life skills”- easy peasy!
When it comes to gameschooling, I will take a photo of my kids playing a certain game (or a video!), and then I will tag the photo by subjects covered. Easy-peasy!
If you have questions about setting up Seesaw, please contact Seesaw…
If you run into any difficulties with Seesaw, contact their support here. You don’t want to contact me, you guys. I stink at tech. Plus, I set it up in 2017 and it has been updated many times since that time. Seesaw has excellent customer support.
Gameschooling counts, but now it’s also quantifiable…
Using the Seesaw app has been the easiest way for our family to quantify our gameschooling time. If you have a year-end assessment or portfolio review, this simple strategy might help you, too!
Are you interested in reading more about year-end portfolios and/or the Seesaw app?
- How to Make a Homeschool Portfolio
- How to Include Fantastic Lap Books in Your Homeschool Portfolio
- How to Create an Amazing Free Homeschool Portfolio
- How to Make a Digital Portfolio with the Seesaw App
- How to Make a Homeschool Portfolio with Instagram
Now, it’s your turn. Tell me: Do you have tips and tricks on how to document gameschooling? Share here!
Cait co-hosts The Homeschool Sisters Podcast and is co-founder of Raising Poppies, a community for parents of gifted and twice-exceptional children. Cait is also founder of the Family Book Club at My Little Poppies, a fantastic community of book-loving parents and the Gameschool Community at My Little Poppies, a vibrant community of gameschoolers.
Cait is a contributing writer for Simple Homeschool. Her work has also appeared on The Huffington Post, The Mighty, Scary Mommy, GeekMom, and many others. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram
and G+.
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I second the use of SeeSaw! I started using it so I wouldn’t have to keep the clay creations, endless art doodles, and salt dough map forever. Now it’s part of our weekly meeting. We organize any papers on our clipboard into their storage binder, take pictures of any projects (if not already taken), and start with a clean slate.
I usually handle field trips, nature walk, or science demos. I’ll have to encourage the kids to add to their own portfolios again. Thanks for the tips. I haven’t been capturing gameschooling and
will be sure to start archiving that.
Thank you, Tabitha! I love hearing that others enjoy the app, too!