When is the PSAT?
How do I find a College Fair?
Should my freshman take Physics before Biology?
But other questions are very big, and very complicated. Sandi asked a big and complicated question on my blog the other day.
Hi Lee. I have 5 kids, 3 remain to be homeschooled. All high school age. My 17 yo has had some issues with seizures since Spring. As a result he has fallen behind somewhat in his work. He will be 18 in Oct and should graduate in June of 2012. How do I catch him up this year? He has fallen behind in math and Eng comp. He has so many credits in all the other subjects. Should I just focus on these 2 subjects this coming year? Also, he wants to go to art school. He has been taking art lessons at a studio who will also help him with a portfolio. He just loves it. Any suggestions you have i would appreciate. ~ Sandi
I would LOVE to help, but each issue is not a simple yes/no question or quick fact. Instead, each of these issues is complicated. Here is what I was able to give Sandi.
Dear Sandi,
I have quite a few Gold Care Club members that just need support for handling homeschool while facing unusual issues just like this. These are complicated issues that can’t be answered by a quick email, I’m afraid. Briefly, here are some options to consider:
Complete high school in 5 years;
Take one more year but only count the final 4 years for high school;
Focus on math and English, but don’t double up on those subjects;
Evaluate to see if he is truly behind in those areas, or if you just *think* he is behind;
Find an art school by going to a college fair as a first contact; Learn about junior year and senior year tasks.
I remember when I was homeschooling high school. Sometimes I’d get hung up on ONE small issue that would drive me completely BATTY! I remember wishing for ANYONE to give me one clear, concise, yes-or-no answer. One issue I seemed to stress about was driver education. Wendy asked a question I asked myself years ago!
Hi Lee,
I’m putting together my first transcript and I’ve seen differing credits (.25/.50)/grades for Drivers Education on samples. I have to be honest, I guess I hadn’t thought of putting it on her transcript and I don’t know, it feels like a gimme or fluff to put it on there. So I thought I would get your thoughts. She did complete 24 hours of classroom instruction through a training school. I signed an affidavit verifying that she drove 50 hours as required by law, but I didn’t keep all the dates and minutes she drove before going for her driver’s test and she passed her driver’s test the first time. Your thoughts? Being driven crazy in Ohio ~ Wendy
Dear Wendy,
I felt EXACTLY the same way!!!
This is what I did: I put it on the transcript, gave it 0.5 credits, and put “Pass” as a grade.
Now I’m older and wiser. This is what I suggest: Put it on the transcript, give 0.5 credits, and put “A” on the grade.
This is my rationale:
I don’t think putting “Pass” on the transcript is ever a good idea.
I think some high schools include it on the transcript (mine did.)
I think colleges may just leave it off if they think it’s a fluff class, others may keep it.
It partially answers the “socialization” and “life skills” question, demonstrating our kids do in fact leave the house.
Another similar question that drove me crazy was the class title. Is it “Driver Education” or “Drivers Education” or “Driver’s Education”? To be honest, I have seen class titles using all three variations! Does it even matter?
When you get consumed by things like this (as I did!) then at some point you have to remember the key. Do your best and be honest. That’s all. Just do your best and be honest. Then let it go. Watch the pretty bubbles float in the sky, and don’t stress anymore about it.
I was totally driven crazy by that exact question myself. I hope I’ve given you some peace!
Learn how to translate all those great homeschool high school classes into the words and numbers that colleges will understand. Get the Total Transcript Solution http://www.thehomescholar.com/easy-truth.php
Transcript is to course description as transcript is to activity list.
On the bottom of the transcript is a place for a VERY abbreviated activity list. Keep a separate page to list all the details about those activities. You know the difference between a transcript and course description… same difference between a transcript and an activity list. The transcript provides just the name, credit value, and grade for each class. The details are in the course description. Similarly, the transcript provides the name, year in school, and honor from each activity, but the activity list gives details. The activity list might give details like: 4 months, 120 hours, May until October of 2010, volunteer position, mentioned in the newspaper, or became Vice Chair of the organization.
You can use ANY grading scale you are comfortable with, truly! Here are a few standard scales to choose from, but every public, private, and homeschool teacher gets to choose their own.
93-100% = A, 85-92% = B, 75-84% = C, 70-74% = D, Below 70% = F
90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, Below 60% = F
If you can’t decide, just print this page and post it on your wall. Throw a dart at the page. The grading scale closest to the dart is the lucky winner! That grading scale is *obviously* the grading scale that the Lord wants you to use, right?
For homes without darts, I have heard that throwing al dente spaghetti noodles will also do the trick!
I have created a series of videos on creating great homeschool records for college. You can find them here.
This time of year always brings about the feelings of awe and thankfulness for the freedoms that we hold dear in this country. Franklin D. Roosevelt listed these Four Freedoms: Freedom of Speech and Expression, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear .
Homeschool families know these freedoms very well. We express our freedoms by exerting our right to home educate our children. Yet, there are still those things that lurk around the corner as our young children become teens. Today, I’d like to talk to you about the fourth freedom – Freedom from Fear… The fear of high school transcripts!
I want to help parents who are committed to giving their teens the best possible high school education and their best shot at college. I want to take away the fear and give the knowledge you need to ensure success. I want to break the fears that take away your freedom and handcuff your homeschool.
I want to empower and educate you to be the best high school teacher, parent and guidance counselor possible.
That is why I am so excited to be hosting a FREE one-hour educational webinar on Thursday July 7, 2011!
This free webinar is called “Celebrate Homeschool Freedom – Simple Strategies for Grades, Credits and Transcripts.” It will cover all the essentials that you need to determine grades and assign credits. It will give you the knowledge and confidence you need to create your child’s high school transcripts. You will learn how to produce winning homeschool transcripts that will help your child’s college dreams come true…
* Without spending a thin dime on accreditation
* Without using inflexible programs that hamstring your homeschool
* Without beating the joy of learning right out of your child
* And without intimidation by pompous professional educators who insist they know better than you what’s right for your family!
As a special bonus, the first 15 who to take advantage of the special offer made during the webinar will receive a printed copy of my book, The Easy Truth About Transcripts, FREE!
Spots for this webinar are limited and will be filling fast! Make sure you sign up today to reserve your spot!!
Celebrate Homeschool Freedom: Simple Strategies for Grades, Credits, and Transcripts
How many times should your student take the ACT or SAT? I recommend once or twice in high school.
Hey, Lee- I had a question about the SAT. My son, Evan, did very well on the PSAT this fall (he is a junior). Depending on how well he does on the SAT he could win a National Merit Scholarship. Anyway, we were wondering how often he should take the SAT. He is leaning towards taking it both in March and May then again in the fall of his senior year. His reasoning is that he might have a “bad day”. Would it hurt him to take it more than once in his junior year? Do colleges average your scores or just use your best? We realize that since he has decided he might want to take it in March as well as May we’ll have to pay a bit of a late fee for the March one, but we still have until Feb. 25 to decide. Thanks for any advice.
~ Leanne in North Carolina
Dear Leanne,
It’s fairly normal to take the SAT once or twice, but some people say it looks “desperate” to take it three times. I suggest that you take it in March, and see how he scores. If he thinks he can improve his score, take it again in May or June, but only that one additional time.
In the meantime, have him study with the “11 Real Practice Tests” book each day. Take one section of a sample test every day, and read through the explanations if he gets a problem wrong.
Each college has their own method of evaluating duplicate tests. Some take the highest section from either tests, picking and choosing from the best scores from both tests. Some take the test with the highest overall score. Some take the most recent test, even if it’s a lower score. You can see how it could be complicated if you have more tests.
Check with the first choice college and see if they have any specific policy. They may say “more test scores are better” so it could be worth checking. They may also have a financial aid rubric, demonstrating how much financial aid is awarded for each SAT score. That can help you determine if there is a benefit to taking the test a third time. Here is an example of that sort of SAT/Scholarship chart: UVU Academic Merit Scholarships.
Instead of spending time during senior year studying for the SAT, it’s much better to spend his senior year working on applications and admission essays. That will have a much larger dividend then making an already great score slightly greater. For more information about positioning for scholarships, see “Getting the BIG Scholarships DVD”.
I hope that answered your question fully.
Curious about The HomeScholar? Read more on our About Us page!
As you can imagine, I get a lot of “interesting” press releases. Recently I received information about how grades improve when the house smells good. Here are the very important statistics:
We’re working with homeschooling mom and the founder of Mom Bloggers Club, Jennifer James, to let people know about this new study which shows that 84% of students reporting GPAs of A or B reported positive childhood home smells, such as lemon, mint or “clean.” In comparison, 34% of students with an average GPA of C or less reported remembering negative smells in their home. Because homeschooled children spend so much time inside their homes learning, it is even more imperative to keep a clean and fresh smelling home to help foster children’s academic success. Jennifer James is available for interviews if you’d like to speak with her further about how she thought about this study through the view of a homeschooler.
Additional materials can be found on our Internet press kit, www.pinesolipk.com, including full study findings here. The study was conducted by Dr. Alan Hirsch and the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, and was commissioned by Pine-Sol. The above chart visually explains the top-line study results.
Now before you start recommending the book “How to Lie With Statistics” by Darrell Huff, let’s look at the positive side of this study and just run with it. If positive household smells can increase grades (I’m not saying they do) then it’s your responsibility as a homeschool parent to make your home smell as good as possible so your children will grow up smarter and have a higher GPA and attend the college of their choice and get a fabulously high-paying job, right?
Naturally that means you should put the books aside right now and make some chocolate chip cookies.
Statistics never lie!
Are you ready to get serious about homeschooling high school? Send me anemailand let’s talk!
To Weight or Not to Weight… That is the Question! Which is nobler? Leanne asked about weighting rigorous courses.
What about Honors classes? I see you didn’t “weight” the grade for Honors English. Don’t the public schools do this? If I wanted to would I make it a 1.5 credit course, or a 5.0 for the grade? We used James Stobaugh for American Lit and it was very rigorous, plus Evan is taking Brit Lit with a teacher this year who is even more demanding (really a college level I think).
Thanks.
Leanne
Dear Leanne,
That’s right, I decided not to weight them – mostly because it was difficult. I also found out that colleges will “re-weight” them to fit their own purposes. If they want academic classes weighted, they will weight them for themselves. If they don’t like weighted classes, they will “un-weight” them by themselves. When I found that out, I figured it was a big “why bother” for me.
After doing a ton of research, I found that weighting classes made my life more complicated, but it didn’t improve our chances of scholarship and admission. I did indicate classes which were “honors” classes, I just didn’t give them a higher grading scale. Colleges tend to focus more on test scores for scholarships. If possible, have him take an AP or CLEP exam in those honors areas – that will have more of an impact (in my opinion.) Good idea to check with colleges, and do what your first choice college prefers. Remember, your transcript isn’t “done” until you turn it in during senior year, so you have plenty of time you change your mind!
Readers, I would love to get your opinion on weighting honors classes. What will you decide to do?
Homeschooling is NOT the same as doing schoolwork at home. There is LOTS of freedom! MyGold Care Clubwill give you all the help you need to succeed!
Here is the thing about February and March. It’s the months when homeschooling is the most difficult. The doldrums set in, and life seems more tedious.
But for me, early spring is my FAVORITE time of year! That’s when all my seniors start hearing about admission and scholarships! Although deadlines for admission are often much later in the spring, the early bird gets the worm! Those who applied earlier in the fall are now reaping the rewards. Almost daily now I’m hearing from VERY happy campers about admission and scholarships. I can’t guarantee anything of course, but I can say that if you pay attention to the process, you have a MUCH better chance of success. Read Stacie’s wonderful note!
Lee,
Oh, my, you are wonderful. I wanted to take a few moments before running out the door today to let you know the good news.
Our son Christopher was awarded an Exemplary Merit Scholarship today from our local university. It will pay for 8 semesters of tuition over the next four years.
Three years ago I learned about you. After a bit of looking around on your website I ordered the Convention at Home Kit while holding my breath. Later I met with you for a one-on-one about this son, how set up a plan for the high school years, and how to do the transcript. As a final rung to my list of purchases from you I add “The Total Transcript Solution“. Each time I ordered something from you I just prayed that it would be helpful because money is tight. My hubby dear kept telling me it would all be good. Well, today it all paid off in a big way.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you, Lee Binz. Thank you for sharing your talents with the rest of the homeschool moms out here. You were right — Colleges and Universities will pay attention to us if we just learn to speak their language.
Happy days to you and yours,
Stacie in Utah
Thank you, Stacie! I really appreciate the positive feedback – it really makes my job worth it!
Learn the SECRET to getting your student placed at the TOP of the stack for college admission consideration as well as one of those MASSIVE university scholarships. Get the Comprehensive Record Solution!
Where will you be four years from now? Will you experience post-homeschool success? These notes from other real homeschool parents are SURE to encourage you!
Encouragement from Ann in Connecticut
Just a short note of encouragement – two years ago, I was just where you are. I had purchased the Total Transcript Solution, as I knew I had to prepare transcripts for college admission, and my son had taken the SAT, but I knew NOTHING about what I should be doing to prepare for college admissions.
Toward the end of my month-long free subscription to the Gold Care Club, I contacted Lee with a question about the SAT – figured I may as well use it at least once before it expired!
To make a long story short, I decided to extend my subscription to Gold Care Club, learned loads about junior year and homeschooling high school through the Club and Lee’s other materials, and was able to prepare a transcript, go to a college fair, visit colleges, and finish my course descriptions by the beginning of senior year.
Having Lee to advise you and hold your hand as you navigate the process will ensure success, as long as you do your part.
She’s helped me with two boys now, and both have been accepted to the colleges of their choice with scholarships at each one (though we are still waiting to hear on a few this year).
I encourage you to learn all you can from Lee’s materials and take advantage of all the support she has for you for this year–you CAN do it! I felt just like you two years ago!
~Ann in Connecticut
Encouragement from Molly in Washington
So far, Hannah has been accepted to George Fox University with a $10,000 a year scholarship, and we just received news that she’s been accepted to Seattle Pacific University with the Trustees’ Award scholarship for $14,000 a year! We are so excited.
Many years ago we committed our little school to God, and look what He has done. A big thank you to you for being used by Him to help enable this to happen, and to many others who have been there along the way.
~ Molly on Whidbey Island, Washington
Encouragement from Nola-ann in South Africa
Dear Lee, Thank you so much. I continue to look forward to you emails and encouragement. We have registered our eldest daughter with a formal distance learning college through Cambridge University. The academic manager sent me a letter commending me on ‘*the most outstanding homeschool transcript I have ever seen*’. And this credit has to be shared with yourself, THANK YOU!!
I was rather taken aback when the commendation came from the British International Distance College here in South Africa with their reply. A resounding yes was their reply – also based on a transcript from your library. God Bless you with your endeavours to encourage homeschooling across the world!
Kind regards,
~ Nola-ann in Johannesburg, South Africa
Encouragement from Kendra
“Lee- Just bought and watched your Big Scholarships DVD. Wow! Thank you SO much! My son watched it with me and he’s super motivated now. That video and your help are worth their weight in gold! Anyone with any doubts about purchasing this one, no need to doubt. You won’t be disappointed!”
~ Kendra on Facebook
You can start learning about college scholarships NOW, and you’ll be feeling the love too!
“Honey, There’s a Crazed Mob of Scholarship Wielding Colleges Pounding on Our Front Door!!” Get the Comprehensive Record Solution!
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