Grading in Homeschool

Especially with religion, as long as the effort to understand is there and they are memorizing what you want them to, that should be the standard. However, I don't know why you'd have trouble grading science and history...those ARE absolute, as far as "facts" are concerned. (I personally teach science from the creation viewpoint, so we learn a little differently.)

When I was doing my own grading, I honestly looked at my daughter's overall efforts and overall achievements. I also used tests as a standard. I did grade each worksheet/assignment, etc, but it was easier because mine was younger when I was doing my own grades. Now we're doing online school and I am not responsible for deciding her grades! What a relief! :)

I base 1/2 the grade on assignments and 1/2 the grade on the final exam. My son does A work, so I generalize when I see what he is doing - I expect A work. Most homeschool kids do as well, because we are working with them and make sure they get it, rather than just mark it wrong and move on without an explanation. We want them to UNDERSTAND it.

Grade him on the effort and understanding the concepts, etc. Write down notes of what he did and what he learned.

Ex: Math this past year, my son got an A on assignments and when he got to the 6 page final exam, decided to complain and get lazy, so he literally got 100% of everything except one section, where he failed it. He ended up with a C on the final, so he got a B in the class. This summer, we went over that section...and I know where he needs more work.

I'd grade according to how you think they did. If they did a good job expressing their opinion (even if you don't agree with it...hehe) just mark it as correct. Things like that - if they are doing it like they should, even if it's not a right or wrong question, go ahead and mark it that way and get your grade.

I live in TX...we don't have to send in grades, so I don't actually have experience with that. But I think that's what I'd do. Grade the best I can.

Does the state require grades for each assignment? if no, I'd just grade each child at the end of the year. Part of the beauty of homeschooling is that you don't have to conform to exactly what is done in a school setting. If you grade every assignment, it seems a bit too much like school to me.

I don't have to do grades. VA requires us to test at the end of the year. I do the CAT test.

If the child gets about 90% of everything correct then assign an A, 80% a B, and so on.
These grades are arbitrary and the school will have to retest if you decide to put them back in.

A., I am not sure if you use any kind of pre-made test, quiz or exam or you just do it by yourself. Anyway, both can be D. just by assigning a certain number of points to every question to get a 100%.
Example:
Math: A quick test of 10 questions, you may assign , for instance, 2 points for each question (total of 20 pts) or 5 pts for each question (50 pts) doesn't matter, you just have to get a final grade. Then you divide the total right answers by the total possible points. You can do this on any subject you want to grade.
In History and Religion also you can make your children take a a test with several questions with specific points on each, or just have them to do a project or answer just one question about the material you are covering with them on these subjects, and then graduate according to details covered, type of answer (complete or not, information mssing, examples, etc).
I think it is a very good idea to test your kids, not just because you will know deeper about their strenghts and weaknesses but it also will help them to get skills to take tests and do not be anxious or nervous about them (sooner or later they will have to deal with tests or exams either college, university, etc....)
I hope this helps you.