I often get asked about how to get a homeschool diploma. In this video clip I answer that question and also share what colleges are looking for in your homeschool education.
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.
Awana is a wonderful program, and a great way to get Bible credit naturally in a fun activity. I know it take a LOT of work. Because it takes so much time and effort, I usually suggest including it on your high school transcripts. In private schools and many homeschools, families include Bible on their transcript as a regular subject area – just like math, or science, or physical education. On my transcript, I had Bible listed every year, and I gave my boys 1/2 credit each year based on the topics we studied.
To determine the credit value or your class, estimate how many hours they have spent doing Awana. If it takes about 5 hours per week, give them 1 credit each year. If it takes 2-3 hours, give them 1/2 credit each year. You can combine your normal religious studies with Awana to create that high school credit. I don’t recommend giving more than one credit per year.
To determine their grade, decide if they met your expectations. The expectations in Awanaare quite high, really. If they meet expectations, you can give them an A. If they win the Citation Award, then they certainly deserve an A!
To determine the class title, you can simply call it “Bible 1″. If possible, try to be more specific, and call it “Bible: Old Testament” or “Biblical Discipleship” or something like that.
To write a course description, look online for the descriptions provided by the program. You may find a full one paragraph description. If you don’t, I’m sure you’ll find enough words and phrases to combine them into a full course descriptions.
To determine grading criteria, if you are adding that information to your course description, list each topic and supply a grade for each task your children performed. So you might have a grades for each of the following: reading Romans, memorization, public speaking, analysis, application, competition. In fact, your could use those grading criteria for EACH book of the Bible they memorize.
You can list this on the transcript as an elective, or put it in a separate category called “Bible.”
You can mention Awana in the activity list on your transcript as well. In my high school, I was involved in Choir. My public high school transcript said “Choir” for all four years of high school. It also had “Choir” listed as an activity for all four years. I encourage you to do the same with your transcript – both a class and an activity. When you list it on your transcript, your activity might say something like this: Activities: Awana 9, 10, 11, 12 – Citation Award 12. (Other activities would follow, of course.)
This whole technique will work with Boy Scouting, Speech & Debate, 4H, and other activities as well.
Studying for tests CAN go on the transcript. It can take a lot of work for kids to prepare for high school tests. There are a variety of ways to give them credit for the work they do.
•Some people consider it a supplement for math and science classes, and don’t list is separately.
•Some people consider it part of the college application process that everyone has to do, and they don’t put it on the transcript.
•Some parents consider it hard work and a valuable experience that helps kids learn, and they put it on the transcript.
If you put it on the transcript, I don’t recommend calling it “test preparation.” Instead, I prefer to give it a more general title for the class. I prefer calling it “Study Skills” or something similar. I usually put it in the “elective” section of the transcript. For a credit value, estimate how many hours are spent. If there are more than 75 or so hours, then give 1/2 credit.
I hope that helps!
The Comprehensive Record Solution provides what you need to create HOMESCHOOL RECORDS to amaze and impress the colleges.
I’m a visual learner. Show me an example, and I can usually imitate it (unless technology stands in my way.) Are you a visual thinker? What would you like to see?
“I’m a visual thinker and I guess I need to SEE a piece of paper as to how the course descriptions are laid out and formatted. Do you have a format?” ~ Maria
Here are some links for visual learners who want to see a course description:
Seniors – Fill out an application for College and Register for Tests
It normally takes a rather long time to finish a college application form. Get started right now, and mail the application in as soon as the colleges begin taking applications. Financial decisions could possibly turn out to be made “first come first served” and applying early might possibly enable you to obtain the most beneficial financial aid package. Sign up for ACT test by September 16th if you would like to take the test on October 22nd. Register for the SAT online well before September 9th if you would like your student to take the SAT or SAT II subject tests on October 1st. This time of year, it’s often the seniors who seem to take the SAT, while the younger students put emphasis on the PSAT instead.
Juniors – Register now for the PSAT exam
The PSAT will be offered on Wednesday October 12 or Saturday October 15th this year. You will need to sign-up at a local high school, public or private. Get in touch with them as soon as possible to sign-up – at the very least by the first week of school. Word of caution: Students will have to take the PSAT/NMSQT in eleventh grade to meet the requirements for the National Merit Scholarship! There is only one chance to take this specific exam each year, for that reason sign up now for the October test!
Sophomores – Give some thought to taking the PSAT
You might choose to take the PSAT for practice, along with high school juniors. It won’t be counted for the National Merit Scholarship Competition at this point, however it is great practice for next year, and at $13, it’s a inexpensive approach to obtain a standardized test if required by your state. About fifty percent of the students who take the PSAT are actually sophomores.
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!
Stanford University Magazine had a write-up regarding a gifted homeschool student. I love this quotation: “It’s the spark, the passion, that sets the truly exceptional student-the one driven to pursue independent research and explore difficult concepts from a very early age-apart from your typical bright kid. Stanford wants students who have it. Looking very closely at homeschoolers is one way to get more of those special minds, the admission office has discovered.” As Reider explains it: “Homeschooled students may have a potential advantage over others in this, since they have consciously chosen and pursued an independent course of study. ” I really like the focus on independent homeschooling! Read the actual write-up for yourself here:
A homeschooling mom called the particular college that her student was interested in, to obtain a few answers for herself. Here is exactly what she found out:
I did end up calling the college that my son will most likely attend, and they verified that a mommy-transcript is just fine…and they also expect that we will submit to them a 4. 0 GPA (like 99% of homeschoolers apparently do). Of course he will still need to take the SAT and any placement tests that are required for ALL students, but the only thing that they might require of him that they don’t require of the public-schooled students is an interview. Needless to say, I am *much* relieved to hear all of this, because I do not want to join an umbrella group or an online high school or anything else that would be done for the sole purpose of satisfying a college-admissions person.
Love, Gigi
She found that she can continue to homeschool on their own!
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.php1
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.
One thing that I love about the homeschool community is that most of us love to encourage others with our stories. In this post Joyce, a homeschool mom, shares the story of her two sons so that it will encourage each of you. You CAN homeschool high school!
Joyce's Sons: Devin & Michael
Wow! I can’t believe they are graduated!
We put our twins, Devin and Michael in the public school system from kindergarten thru 2ndgrade and when they were not learning to read, I found myself spending a lot of time after school with them each day trying to help them. They would get home from school around 3:30 in the afternoon and I would sit down with each one of them and get through their homework and work with them on their reading. We got used to having dinner around 6:30 since I couldn’t really start working on it until about 5:30 after I got done studying with my twins. (I also had a two year old running around interrupting us as well – so it took a little longer then it probably should have.)
We decided that since we were putting so much time into educating our children after they came home from school that we might as well take them out of the school and do it ourselves. That way I could teach them at a time that was a little more convenient for our family.
Since I used to say that I would never be able to homeschool my children, the plan was to just get them “caught up” and put them back in school when they were “ready.” Well the rest is history. We never did put them back in traditional school, and the two babies that followed after our twins have never stepped foot in a public school. We have just found that we love having our family home with us and learning together. We saw all the benefits of having our children at home with us, not to mention that the socialization at home was far superior to the “socialization” that happens in the public schooling environment.
As we schooled through the years, I always wondered if I was doing enough. I was bothered by the fact that we weren’t memorizing all the facts that I had to memorize in public school as a kid and constantly wondered if we were doing the right curriculum. I worried that we didn’t have a biology lab where we could do the official experiments that all kids should have access to. I worried about our children having a “well-rounded education” that so many education experts talk about. But learned that no one is really “well rounded.” Everyone is gifted by God and given certain “bents” that are God given. Why focus so much on being well-rounded when the God of the Universe has a specific (or a few specific) things for you to accomplish. He doesn’t expect you to be great at everything! All of my children’s’ specific “bents” were towards music. They all loved playing music and since my husband and I love music too, it was perfect for our family. Don’t get me wrong. We didn’t completely “blow off” all the other stuff and just do music all day long, but it was a good leverage to use to get them to do their reading, writing and arithmetic before we brought out the guitars and drums.
Like I said above, I was always worried that we weren’t doing enough for our boys, but I guess we did okay, because one of our boys qualified for our local Running Start program and will be getting his AA degree earlier than usual and my other twin was just accepted into a college where he will be getting his degree in fitness. So far the one that is in the Running Start program has a 3.4 GPA and would like to get a degree in Business so he can own his own business someday. Both boys love the Lord and are frustrated with the college environment but we are talking a lot about it and I am glad they have such a strong foundation from their homeschooling days that will hopefully help them navigate those challenges that they will and are coming across in the secular college environment.
We just had a wonderful graduation with our boys. We didn’t have any other kids in their class (from the homeschool co-op we are involved in) that were graduating so we had a ceremony just for them at our church. Our church let us use their facility and it was beautiful! We had about 100 of our friends and family join us in our celebration. We were able to share a great video of their growing up years and present our boys with their diplomas and words of encouragement. They each had some words of encouragement for us and it was very heart warming.
Someone asked me if I had to do it all over again, would I do anything differently and I think that I would probably have looked for more ways to get college scholarships for my boys so they could attend a private Christian college, but I am proud of the way they are handling themselves so far. We have a good relationship with them and it makes for good/honest conversations.
We prayed all the way through their homeschooling years for them daily. I believe that is why we don’t have many regrets on what we did. I believe that God guided us in curriculum choices and what to really spend our time and money on for them. God was very clear with us on what we should focus on and I am very thankful for His leading in our homeschooling.
We also joined a homeschool cooperative that made a huge difference in our continuing this journey. Whenever we were frustrated and ready to quit, the community of other homeschoolers were there to help us and support us. I think that was a pretty important thing for us. There are so many resources and support networks out there now. You don’t have to do this alone.
Obviously, we are not a perfect family and we have had our challenges and warts, but I am truly amazed at how well homeschooling works.It’s not nearly as scary as I thought it would be!
Thank you, Joyce, for sharing your story! I’m sure many will be inspired by your experience!
As parents, our job is to take the child we are given, and shape and mold them into the adults they are meant to be. Carol has finished homeschooling her oldest child, and she provides a wonderful example for others. You can’t change who your child is, but you can make sure they are happy and successful!
My son, CJ is graduating from our homeschool high school this week! Wanting to be an encouragement to other younger homeschoolers and celebrating the graduation of my firstborn here is our story:
When it was time for my firstborn to go to kindergarten my homeschooling friends encouraged me to try homeschooling but I was too chicken. By the middle of fourth grade my son was asking to be homeschooled and after attending a homeschool conference and lots of reading I took the plunge and we began “fifth grade” at home.
Shy from birth, my son does not want the slightest bit of hoopla in celebrating this wonderful event so we have compromised: taken one picture on our porch and invited a handful of people to our house for a little reception. But I feel like shouting and dancing and throwing a giant party and inviting everyone I know!
A few years after the start of our homeschool journey my husband became disabled with a chronically painful condition that is still not cured. So…out of necessity our homeschool has been shall we say, in no waytraditional. And how much other people helped us along the way…. we could not have done it without others helping with transportation, materials, encouragement, meals, cleaning, and money gifts.
I so appreciate your materials on transcripts and course descriptions Lee, that have helped me pull it together after the fact. I am so proud of my son, as well, in that as he has become a man he has taken responsibility for his own learning and applying for college and scholarships. Besides getting a huge tuition break at the college of his choice we have just learned he has also qualified for two large local scholarships totaling seven and a half thousand dollars! We truly praise God for this provision.
As unbelievable as it sounds within several years we also experienced a flood that surrounded our house with water and washed out our driveway, got struck by lightning, experienced an ice storm that took out electricity in over half the state for days and in some places weeks, had record snowfalls and then finally had our house get hit by an unusual tornado!
He is there assisting us even in the midst of sickness, pain, loss of income, moving and disruption. I am thankful for His grace and power in completing this homeschool journey with one child…..now on to the next!
~ Carol
Like Carol, one day you will be dancing and shouting and throwing a party (if you child will let you…) Until then, I’ll admit it’s not always easy. But it’s VERY rewarding!
Even through difficulties, homeschoolers can be successful!
When you are applying for colleges, you will need a great homeschool transcript. The good news is you can “do-it-yourself” and save thousands. Discover theTotal Transcript Solution.
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