Rista,
You aren't required to check in to the forum at all. You are required to log your assignments on the assignment log only. (I see that you are doing so, so that's all good.)

The forum is strictly for camaraderie and q&a (and announcements if you aren't receiving them in your email). You are welcome to participate in the forum as much or as little as you desire.
...
Regards,
Eric Fretheim
Assistant Prep Leader, 2015 October NaNoWriMo Prep Challenge

"It is perfectly okay to write garbage-- as long as you edit brilliantly." ~C.J. Cherryh

“No, writing 50,000 words in a month is normal. You are not crazy. This is not insane.” ~Teri Brown