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A Beginner’s Guide to Unit Studies for Homeschoolers

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When I first began homeschooling, the term “unit study” kept popping up, and I had no clue what it meant. I kept wondering, Is it a curriculum? A workbook? Something expensive? It wasn’t until I dug in, asked other homeschooling moms, and eventually tried one for myself that I truly understood the beauty of unit studies. If you’re new to homeschooling or looking for a fresh way to engage your kids, this beginner’s guide to unit studies will walk you through what they are, why they work, how to start one, and where to find ideas and resources. I’m sharing everything I wish I knew when I first started—because once you try a unit study, there’s a good chance you’ll fall in love with this method too. 🌿 What Is a Unit Study? A unit study is a homeschool approach where you center all (or most) subjects around a single theme or topic. Instead of learning math, science, reading, and history separately with unrelated materials, a unit study ties them all together through one central ide...

Homeschool Portfolio 2.0: Digital Platforms Compared (Evernote, Seesaw, Google Sites)

One of the most important parts of homeschooling is keeping track of your child’s learning journey. Whether it’s for meeting state requirements, preparing for evaluations, or simply documenting progress over time, a homeschool portfolio is a valuable tool. Some families love putting together physical binders filled with artwork, assignments, and photos, while others are exploring digital options to streamline and modernize the process.

A digital homeschool portfolio isn’t meant to replace traditional methods—it’s simply a different approach that might work better for certain families, especially those looking for flexibility, easier sharing, or less physical clutter. In this post, I’ll walk you through three popular platforms for building a digital homeschool portfolio: Evernote, Seesaw, and Google Sites. Each platform has its own strengths and setup style, and by the end of this post, you’ll have a better sense of which one (if any) fits your homeschool needs best.

What Is a Digital Homeschool Portfolio?

A digital homeschool portfolio is an organized, online space where you store your child's learning records, photos of projects, writing samples, grades (if you use them), field trip logs, and more. It can include:

  • Work samples (PDFs, photos, scans)

  • Videos of presentations or activities

  • Progress tracking

  • Reflections and journaling

  • Curriculum used and resources

  • Attendance records

With digital tools, you can access your portfolio from anywhere, share it easily (with evaluators, co-ops, or grandparents), and keep everything in one place—no paper clutter!

Why Go Digital?

Before I dive into the platform comparisons, let’s talk about the benefits of going digital:

  • Time-saving: Upload, tag, and organize in seconds

  • Space-saving: No more binders or folders taking over your shelves

  • Easy sharing: Send a portfolio link to evaluators or family

  • Searchable: Use keywords and tags to find specific projects or subjects

  • Multimedia-friendly: Easily include photos, videos, audio, and links

Now, let’s look at the top 3 platforms I tested: Evernote, Seesaw, and Google Sites.

Evernote for Homeschool Portfolios

Overview:

Evernote is a powerful note-taking app that allows you to create notebooks, organize notes with tags, add attachments, and sync across all devices.

Pros:

  • Tagging system makes it easy to organize by subject, date, or child

  • You can scan worksheets or upload photos and PDFs

  • Easy to search for specific assignments

  • Works well on both desktop and mobile

  • Voice memos, checklists, and web clippings can be added to notes

Cons:

  • Not built specifically for homeschoolers or children

  • Lacks a visual layout for showcasing student work

  • Free plan has limitations (monthly upload cap and device sync limit)

Best For:

Parents who prefer a structured, searchable, private system and don’t need to make the portfolio viewable to others.

Seesaw for Homeschool Portfolios

Overview:

Seesaw is an educational platform designed for teachers and students. It’s interactive, student-friendly, and allows kids to take ownership of their learning.

Pros:

  • Kid-friendly interface lets children upload their own work

  • Great for younger learners who love using tech

  • Add drawings, voice recordings, videos, photos, and typed notes

  • Organized by journal entries and subject areas

  • Built-in privacy and parent accounts for viewing and commenting

Cons:

  • Not as customizable for parents who want control over layout

  • More playful and visual—might feel limited for high schoolers

  • Requires separate logins for each child

Best For:

Younger children (K-6) or families who want to include the student’s voice and creativity in their portfolio.

Google Sites for Homeschool Portfolios

Overview:

Google Sites is a free website builder that lets you create your own site with custom pages, images, videos, and Google Docs integration.

Pros:

  • Highly customizable – create pages for each subject, term, or child

  • Embed Docs, Slides, Sheets, YouTube videos, and more

  • Public or private sharing options – share with evaluators or keep private

  • Great for visual presentation and showcasing progress

  • No storage cap (just uses your Google Drive space)

Cons:

  • Requires more time upfront to build and design

  • Not as easy for kids to use on their own

  • No built-in grading or tagging system (manual organization)

Best For:

Families with older children or multiple kids, or those who need a portfolio that’s professional-looking and shareable.

Platform Comparison Chart

FeatureEvernoteSeesawGoogle Sites
User-Friendly Interface✅ Easy for parents✅ Kid-friendly⚠️ More setup required
Multimedia Support✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes
Custom Layout⚠️ Limited⚠️ Basic✅ Fully customizable
Student Involvement❌ Not built-in✅ Yes⚠️ Depends on setup
Sharing Capabilities⚠️ Limited✅ Parent access✅ Link sharing available
Cost⚠️ Free w/ limits✅ Free basic plan✅ Free with Google

How I Use These Tools in My Homeschool

I’ve experimented with Google Sites and found that it offers a great way to create a clean, organized digital portfolio—especially for older children who are working across multiple subjects. You can set up custom pages by subject or term and embed assignments, photos, videos, and even project reflections. It’s a flexible option for those who want something polished and easy to share with evaluators or family members.

For my younger child, we experimented with Seesaw, and it’s been such a joy seeing her upload her own videos explaining her drawings and reading books aloud. It makes her feel involved and proud of her learning.

I also use Evernote for personal teacher notes—lesson planning, reflections, and tracking goals. It’s my own behind-the-scenes binder that helps me stay organized.

Tips for Creating a Digital Homeschool Portfolio

  1. Pick the platform that matches your child’s learning style and your own tech comfort level.

  2. Start with just one subject or one week to avoid overwhelm.

  3. Upload regularly—set a reminder to add work every Friday or biweekly.

  4. Include photos of hands-on projects, field trips, and daily routines.

  5. Don’t forget to add reflections—what worked, what didn’t, and what your child enjoyed.

  6. Keep a section for progress notes or goals if required by your state.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're a minimalist or a tech-savvy homeschooler, there’s a digital platform that fits your style. Evernote, Seesaw, and Google Sites each offer unique strengths—and you don’t have to pick just one! A hybrid approach can work beautifully.

If you’re still keeping a binder, that’s okay too. But if you’re ready to make the jump to digital, I promise you it’s worth the time. Not only will you stay organized, but you’ll also create a beautiful timeline of your child’s growth that’s easy to revisit and share.

Let me know in the comments—which platform are you using (or considering) for your homeschool portfolio? Or do you have another favorite I didn’t cover?

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Thank you for reading my blog! Stay tuned for more tips, resources, and printable materials to help make your homeschooling experience enjoyable and effective. Check out my store for a variety of educational products and printables to assist you on your homeschooling journey.

~With love,
Nancy at Cleverly Kindred ❤️

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