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!
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Do you know what makes successful homeschool graduates? Delight directed learning! Listen to Elena’s story of her son.
Hi Lee,
My homeschooled Senior is Sam. During high school he has taken piano lessons for 4 years, organ for 2, sung in the church choir and gone to competition with them twice, been active in the youth group and played on the homeschool soccer league. He taught himself guitar before starting classical guitar with private lessons. He started a band with his 15-year-old brother and the girl next door and they won a local Battle of the Bands last week! He is currently enrolled in College Plus, has 6 credits (hoping to make that 12 by next week!) These last few months he has also worked part time delivering pizzas.
Elena
Wow! Piano, organ, choir, guitar, classical guitar, and band? I’m impressed! I notice that kids who love arts tend to have a LOT of fine arts credits. That’s what makes them stand out and shine!
If you need help putting delight directed learning on a transcript, this article will help: Delight Directed Learning. This article is an excerpt taken from Chapter 10 of my book, “Setting the Records Straight: How to Craft Homeschool Transcripts and Course Descriptions for College Admission and Scholarships” available on Amazon. If you would like to discuss the Delight-Directed Learning of your own child to determine how it can be used for high school credit, we can talk about it together if you want to join my Gold Care Club.
Do you like getting this sort of help for homeschooling high school? Gold Care Club members get extended answers to their most challenging high school issues. You will love your free month of Gold Care when you get my transcript e-book!
There are a million great ways to homeschool. The best way is the one that fits your child. Not everyone learns the same way. The challenge it to find the way that will help YOUR child learn. Here is what Carol says about her daughter’s graduation.
My daughter Sarah was homeschooled from 1st grade to her high school graduation in May 2011. It was one of the joys of my life to homeschool her. She’s a lot of fun to have around and always laughs at my jokes. I’m going to miss her when she heads off to college in the fall.
Sarah learned differently from me, my husband and my older daughter. She is very visual and I had to adapt to her style of learning. I remember thinking she would never learn her multiplication tables. We drilled, did timed tests, bought cute computer games, but she still struggled until I bought a book with funny cartoons and a story of the multiplication facts. That clicked with Sarah! I asked her, “Isn’t it easier to just memorize the facts than to remember the cartoon and story?” “Not to me!” she replied. That’s when I realized this daughter learned differently!
Sarah discovered a love of photography in early high school and started a micro business doing senior pictures. She will be majoring in Media Communications at Taylor University in Indiana.
I’m very proud of her and I look forward to what she will learn in her next phase of life and where her skills, talents and education will take her! Sure, I’ll miss her, but how can I be sad, when she is so happy to start the next phase of her life?
Don’t worry about having your child learn the same way as everyone else. Focus on getting your child to LEARN. That’s the skill that will last a lifetime, and the thing that will determine success in college. If you are stuck and don’t know how to begin, this book may help: Cynthia Tobias, “The Way They Learn”
If you need any extra help, you will really appreciate myGold Care Club, as well as lots of templates and tools that will help you along. We are currently featuring an hour long video training session on how to keep homeschool records. You need to hurry, though. That video training won’t be there forever!
Scholarship seekers become scholarship winners! I love to hear about homeschoolers winning college scholarships, but it doesn’t happen by accident. Paula shared the story of her daughter with a senior portrait.
My husband and I are so proud of our daughter, Katelynn. Katelynn has been homeschooled since the third grade. We are so proud of all her accomplishments, and we can’t believe she just graduated from high school. Katelynn has been accepted to the University of Montana where she will major in Wildlife Biology. Katelynn was awarded the WUE Scholarship of $12,000 per year. She was also awarded three other scholarships worth $3,700. Katelynn is a beautiful young lady inside and out. She has an amazing heart and love for God. We are truly proud of her, and we are so very blessed by her.
~ Paula
You can tell right away that Katelynn has a passion for horses and animals. Highlighting the unique passions of your student can help them get scholarships! So focus on the love of learning, encourage your children to pursue their interests while covering core subjects. These successes can happen to you, too!
Isn’t it thrilling to watch other homeschoolers share their success?
Not everyone feels confident about homeschooling. Shannon was nervous when she started, but I’d say it ended up pretty well for her and her son, Aaron. Read Shannon’s story – I know it will encourage you!
Hi Lee, I’m responding to your request for high school graduate postings.
When I began homeschooling Aaron in kindergarten, I wasn’t sure I could teach the basics, let alone all the way through high school.
I was nervous about teaching in general. He was a smart kid, and still is. One thing that gave me encouragement was the fact that I’d taught him to read when he was 4. I used phonics. When I heard that the local public school ‘taught’ reading in late kindergarten and 1st grade using whole language, I knew I had to homeschool. The irony is this school was very proud of its remedial reading program in 4th grade; however, if they’d taught the kids how to read using phonics, they wouldn’t need the remedial program!
This Saturday he graduates with a 3.9 from his Running Start classes plus homeschool classes. He was accepted into both UW and Rochester Institute of Technology. He will be majoring in Physics at the UW. On the side, he sings, plays guitar and acts.
I am very proud of Aaron and what he has accomplished. Not only is he excelling academically and in the arts, he is a morally strong young man with a love for Jesus Christ. I know that homeschooling him all these years has been vital to his development. Homeschooling has enabled him to pursue his passions as well as guarding his heart from the prevailing attitudes of the culture.
Some of the best curriculum choices I made were: Bob Jones math (colorful pages when they’re younger and they really teach the concepts; all my kids have done well in BJUP math), Apologia science, Romalda Spaulding phonics cards for learning to read and spell, frequent trips to the library, Christian drama/theater (which I’m heavily involved in, but which I endorse because of how it helps improve speaking skills, memory skills, physical memory skills, confidence, and helps instruct youth through story . . . and enables kids to do ministry for others, including praying for the audiences).
Homeschooling our children is one of the best decisions my husband and I have made.
~ Shannon
I agree! It was one of the best decisions our family made too! It’s no always easy, but you can do it! And you can be successful like Shannon!
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For homeschoolers during the elementary years, it can be difficult to answer the question “What grade are your children in?” They may be doing 5th grade level in math, 3rd grade level in reading, and 2nd grade level in writing. What grade are you supposed to choose, anyway? Well, the problem is the same in high school. It’s really difficult to decide what grade they should be! In this question from Eileen, you can see how complicated it gets.
Hope you don’t mind me asking: my son just finished 10th grade and wants to repeat it. To make a long story short he went to Montessori, then public school for 2 years now homeschool. Public school didn’t know how to figure his grade was he was held back a year. At 6th grade he was straight A homeschool and we let him “skip” 7th. Now he wants to go back to catch up. Can I put what he did in “9th grade” on his transcript? It will look like 5 years of high school depending on how I write it. Is that ok? ~Eileen on Facebook
This is a big question without an easy answer. Without knowing enough about the situation, my instinct would be to first decide what year you want him to graduate. That will be senior year. Then count backward four years to his freshman year. On the transcript, include anything high school level (like algebra or geometry) as “early high school credits.” I have record keeping samples on my freebies page. In those samples, you can find an example of “early high school credits.” If you need more support, consider the Gold Care Club.
Until junior year, you have some flexibility. In October of junior year, children can take the PSAT as a qualifying test for the national merit scholarship. It will only be a qualifying test for juniors – not for any other year of high school. For that reason, that’s just about the only time when you really, REALLY have to declare what grade they are.
Eileen was thankful for the suggestions I gave, and wrote back with a sweet letter of appreciation.
The “count backward” idea is great and will work for this situation. I appreciate it. I have just seen your record keeping samples. I’m thankful for your advice Thanks. ~ Eileen
HSLDA reports that colleges are now required to determine the validity of high school diplomas from public and private schools.
How exactly can the college determine validity? Will they be requiring course descriptions from every applicant? That would be a lot of reading for the admissions team. Homeschool parents often think about their own transcripts and validity. Yes, you are valid! Isn’t it interesting that public and private high schools are now having the same concerns about validity? You’re not alone!
HSLDA states this new rule does not apply to homeschoolers. They suggest that homeschoolers need to check “homeschooled” when filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or their application may be delayed. Others feel that a simple check on a box marked “homeschooled” may not be enough.
Spunky Homeschool is concerned about colleges evaluating the validity of high school diplomas.
“By checking the homeschool option we are basically admitting that our diploma is not as valid as a traditional diploma and making it easier for the federal government to single out those who choose to homeschool. This is all to build infrastructure for a national diploma to go with the common core state standards. This may also impact transcripts and application for scholarships. Many schools use FAFSA as the first point of entry for consideration even if the funding does not come from the federal government. Checking the homeschool box places the student in the “non-traditional” or not easily validated stack because they “self-certify” which could possibly mean a different standard for consideration than those that come from a traditional school setting and that is on the Department of Ed approved list.”
I encourage people to self-identify as a homeschooler. Sweetly and assertively express your rights. If you need college financing with the FAFSA, then checking the “homeschool” box is probably the best option for your family.
A great way to “validate” your homeschool education is through a comprehensive record. My Comprehensive Record Solution provides you the guidance and coaching you need to finish the your homeschool records with confidence.
What is your opinion about a student taking the GED Test before moving onto college. She will still be learning from home until she is finished with her senior studies and will be preparing for college and the SAT in the mean time. I thought however, it might be helpful for her to pass the GED first since she is still behind in a few subjects.
A GED is usually not necessary. Most colleges do not require them, and I don’t usually recommend that students take that test. If the student scores well on the SAT (500 or more in each section) then there is no benefit to the college for having a GED.
It would be a good idea to go over your high school plan, though, and create a transcript. When you have done that you will know if she is TRULY behind, or if you just FEEL like she is behind. It can be difficult to see the forest through the trees sometimes.
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!
Need some encouragement as you are facing high school for the first time? One of my online friends knows exactly what it’s like to consider high school for the first time. Here is what she wrote:
In our homeschool co-op we have a few children graduate each year. We have about 40 local families and the kids range from preschool all the way to older teens – and graduated teens that still love to hang out with our teens on “teen night”. It’s a pretty tight knit group and the children have all formed amazing bonds over the years. I always cry at the graduation ceremonies when the high school kids get honored by their parents. With an almost 14 and 12 year old, I know my turn is coming soon.
HIGH SCHOOL! I never thought I’d be here with these ‘babies’ of mine. Seems like just five years ago when I started blogging they were so little… and they were. Five years goes fast. Faster than you’ll ever imagine. Cherish it!
With my kids at the cusp of beginning High School, my attention has been turned to their future plans. I have so many questions about keeping records, grading, classes or subjects we need to cover in these last (GULP) few years, their hopes and dreams, our financial contribution towards their goals, and the requirements of colleges they might want to attend. Thankfully, I know Lee Binz from the Heart of the Matter Conferences where we both did online conference sessions – and I knew that she could answer a lot of my questions. I figured there were other moms out there who were in the same shape as me – preparing for the high school or college years and biting their nails to the quick… so I asked Lee if she would let me share excerpts from one of her articles here at the Homeschool Post for ME and for you!
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!
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