Some promises are great promises no matter how you look at it!
Many are the plans in a man’s heart,
but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 19:21
We often think of this verse and imagine we are doing everything right, and the Lord will be sure it succeeds. Have you ever considered this verse from the other side? Think of it this way, can you REALLY ruin your child’s life?
It’s not unheard of for a parent to be suddenly concerned about homeschooling high school. “I don’t want to limit their future!” or “What if I can’t teach calculus?” The fears are legion, but God’s word is clear.
The Lord’s purpose will prevail.
It will prevail against failure, gaps, and math frustrations. It will prevail even when you make a mistake. The Lord’s purpose will prevail despite your best attempts. Even if you DO NOT WANT your child to become a doctor, or an artist, or an electrician or an author, if that is the Lord’s purpose, IT WILL PREVAIL.
It’s very freeing. You can’t mess up. That doesn’t mean you should stop trying, though!
Romans 6:15
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
But if you are trying to do the right thing, praying and asking for guidance, then you can rest assured. The Lord’s plan and purpose for your child will prevail. If the Lord intends for your child to do great things, you (as a mere mortal) can’t stop that process. Blessed relief!
Lee, do you have any advice for a public-schooled high school junior considering homeschooling for her senior year? She lacks only 3 classes and doesn’t want to waste a year on busywork classes.
~ Mary Jo
My best advice is this; “Know your child and trust yourself.” If you know that homeschooling is the best for your child, then trust yourself and do it. Don’t avoid homeschooling because of fear.
To homeschool high school for only senior year, record keeping is very important. Make a homeschool transcript that will reflect all classes from 9th through 12th grades, both at home and at school. Write course descriptions of all courses taught at home, so colleges are convinced there was no couch-potato academy. They are aware that seniors tend to slack off some, so you want to avoid the appearance of senioritis.
In the application to colleges, the parent may want to write a homeschool statement that explains why they made the decision to homeschool, and describe the positive results. Finally, when communicating with colleges, be very clear about your intent to homeschool and explain your reasons in a positive light.
I hope that helps!
The HomeScholar Gold Care Club will give you the comprehensive help you need tohomeschool high school.
New Location: First Evangelical Presbyterian Church
You are invited to attend the third annual “Washington Homeschool Science & Engineering Fair” on 3/20/10 from 2-5 p.m. in Renton, WA.
Attached is a Student Registration Form due 2/28/10. Each student needs an Adult Volunteer available at the fair to listen to other students’ projects. Additional volunteers are needed for families with more than two children participating. Each student will give four presentations to four different adult volunteers. Each Adult Volunteer will listen to four presentations and fill out feedback forms.
Visitors are welcome, but must remain quiet during presentations and during the awards ceremony. *The best way to observe the fair is to volunteer to listen to students’ projects as an Adult Volunteer.* It’s very easy and will give you ideas to help your own children. Please contact me at WHSEF@dorealthings.com if you would like to volunteer, but do not have a student participating.
A brief training for Adult Volunteers will be held from 2:15 – 2:30 p.m. All Adult Volunteers must attend this training.
The new fair location is larger and easier to find. Unfortunately, there is a facility fee so the participation cost is $10 per student. Please let us know if this would provide a hardship for your family.
WHSEF Schedule:
2:00 – 2:15 Project Setup
2:15 – 2:30 Adult Volunteer Training
2:30 – 4:30 Student Presentations
4:30 – 5:00 Awards Ceremony
Each student participant will receive a medallion during the Awards Ceremony. Students will not be judged against each other nor receive placement awards at this fair.
Participation in the Washington State Science Fair March 26 & 27 is strongly encouraged . Registration deadline for the State Science Fair is March 13th. (If you live in Pierce or Thurston Counties you would attend the Regional Fair instead of the State Fair on the same dates. http://www.plu.edu/~scifair .
Hi Lee,
I was wondering if you have any thoughts on Rosetta Stone software for learning a foreign language?
Thanks,
~ Diane R.
Dear Diane,
I’ve heard that it’s a good curriculum WHEN it is a good fit for the child. It’s just not always a good fit. I would try it to see.
We used PowerGlide, and that was very effective for us. Others love Tell Me More.
It’s more about being consistent everyday, really. The problem with foreign language is the same problem I have with Weight Watchers. It only works when you actually DO the program, LOL!
If you are curious about providing a great homeschool education for your gifted child, check out my audio training, “Gifted Education at Home.“
When homeschooling high school, should you give semester grades or yearly grades?
I so enjoy reading your blog and have learned so much. I have researched the archives but am not finding an answer to a question. I was planning on just recording a final grade for each subject. However, in reading some material from Jay Wile he suggests recording a grade per semester. That really doesn’t work as well for us as our schooling is lighter in the fall semester than the winter. That binds us to a typical public school semester. Do you have any words of wisdom regarding this?
Thank you,
~ Barbara in Arkansas
Hi Barbara,
My words of wisdom; do what seems right for you.
I did it exactly the way you suggested, and gave one grade for the whole year. Here is a sample of my transcript, so you can see what it looks like. Just click on “view transcript by subject or by year” and you’ll see it.
The final grade on the transcript was the sum of all the different ways I evaluated in the year; tests, quizzes, and lab work. But there was only one grade on the transcript, just at the end of the year.
In all my work with clients and colleges, I’ve only heard of ONE college that requested semester grades – but I think they ended up being flexible after all.
In my homeschool transcript solution, it comes with 10 transcript templates. I think perhaps three of them come with semester grades. Not everyone gives semester grades, and it’s not necessary. I agree with you, it does seem a little bit like Jay Wile is thinking like the “system” a little bit too much on this one.
Do it the way that works for you.
I hope that helps!
The HomeScholar Gold Care Club will give you the comprehensive help you need tohomeschool high school.
Quick review; why should we study scripture, again? Because God’s word is perfect and good. Because it is renewing, and can make you wise. Because it gives joy – but also gives warnings. Because it gives real rewards that last.
Psalm 19:7-11
By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
It doesn’t say here that you need a textbook or study guide. It’s almost as
if you need only a Bible! But this Psalm does explain the “why” behind
studying the Bible in your homeschool.
I was consulting with a homeschool parent about the age-old question, “How do you know it’s high school level?” She asked me how to tell whether “Movies as Literature” was a high school course. The more we talked about it, the more confident she became. Meanwhile, I was getting more and more excited about the curriculum she was asking about. Learning literature through watching movies??? How cool is that!
When I was looking it up online, I noticed that the description of the curriculum answered her question with ease. It says, “This complete, one-year high school English course uses classic movies on video to introduce and study the elements of literary analysis.”
That’s the easy way to tell if it is high school level – it tells you! And that’s the easy way to tell if it is a whole credit (whole year) course – it tells you!
I haven’t seen this product with my own eyes, but it looks like fun to me! If you haven’t seen it before, check it out!
I have a daughter who may never be able to do well a “bubble” test, due to vision issues. (However, she is not legally blind.) What sort of a paper trail of her trips to vision specialists, etc. should I be keeping so she can get accommodations on her college admissions tests?
~ Janet on the blog
Dear Janet,
I’m not exactly sure about what to do about a paper trail, but I know where to find the answer. The College Board is used to dealing with students that have a variety of conditions that may require accommodation on the test. Do some research first, by reading this page on the College Board website, and following all the links until you become reasonably knowledgeable.
After reading that page, contact The College Board. Work the problem now, to start the process. I know that the process can take a while, so give yourself a LOT of time.
I hope that will help!
I have a new homeschool high school Twitter site. Get all the homeschool posts of parents homeschooling high school by joining my Twibe.
Sometimes transcript questions are very specific and complicated, but not really “Hard.” I love helping parents homeschool high school, and I would love to help you as well!
I’m going to ask a dumb question. I need to send the transcript to a college this week and this is my first time sending one. How do I list the classes which have not been completed and for which I’ve not yet calculated a grade? Some of them are required for admission but it’s too early for them to be officially recognized. Also, do I calculate the summary of credits and GPA according to what has already been accomplished? She graduates in May and hopes to start college this fall. We’re getting a late start with the admissions process. Our lives have been disrupted the last ten months with death and serious illness. The college which my daughter is interested in has been more than accommodating already, so I’m hesitant to ask them how they want to see the transcript.
~Melissa on Facebook
Hi Melissa,
You can put TBD – to be determined, or IP – in process, or something similar. In a public school they do list classes, but they do not give the final grade until the class is done. To calculate GPA, you calculate only the classes that are FINISHED. Some schools will also list “Credits attempted” to show how many more classes she has that aren’t done yet.
I hope that helps! Did you buy my book on transcripts? You can see examples on page 102 and 106.
____
Thank you so much!! Yes, I did buy your your book, printed it all out and slipped it into a notebook.* I call it my Transcript Bible.* It’s been very helpful–for confirming what I thought and “holding my hand” throughout the process. The one thing I didn’t expect after doing the transcript was that feeling of gratification. My daughter and I wish, now, that I had even done report cards during the elementary years that looked much like a transcript. Just one more thing to tell others coming up behind us.
~Melissa on Facebook
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