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Making a transcript isn’t so hard….  Well….  Until it gets complicated, LOL!  Renee asked a question about how to put foreign language on the high school transcript when classes were taken at a community colleges.

This is what I would suggest for Renee:

Use the exact grade the college gave him.  A 3.7 is still a 3.7.  Each whole college class is a whole high school. credit.

I would use the college class titles, and indicate the community college where he took the class.  So for example:
*HCC Ger 101: Elem  German 1 – 1 credit *HCC Ger 102: Elem  German 2 – 1 credit

At the bottom of the transcript, define the acronym for your college:
*HCC is Highline Community College

In community college, it’s possible to get three high school credits of a foreign language during senior year if they take three quarters of foreign language in a community college.  That’s one way to catch up on necessary classes when something big is missing.

I hope that helps!  If you are working on your transcript, you can get more information on the Total Transcript Solution.  Then if you still have questions, you’ll be able to call me directly and we can discuss it!

I received a question from Michelle who asked if foreign language is required for homeschoolers. In this You Tube video I talk about the topic of foreign language. Is it necessary and what options do you have if foreign language did not happen in your homeschool?

Dear Lee,
“Did you schedule the art studies or simply allow them do it as they wanted? I debate a lot about whether its worth setting aside the time for art study.”

Art is really, TRULY my weak area, for that reason I basically reserved time for art study, or else we would most likely never do it! We never had a challenge getting math or science finished, only art, LOL! I planned it for 2-3 times a week, 1-1/2 or 2 hours at a time, depending on the year. Never the less, it was one thing that we from time to time simply didn’t do. (Art is so messy, you understand.)

We did the book “Art Fun” the first year, the Feed My Sheep for two years, then Draw Today. We even did a few pottery classes, and that was enjoyable. I own a few art games that they played, not to mention there were a number of books on artists that I had them read over the years. When your kids just “do” art, then it’s possible that you don’t really have to have art study. We NEEDED art study, as my kids didn’t ever Get it done otherwise.

In high school I taught them art primarily from an art history point of view, and also art appreciation. I believe in high school, it’s good to have some art appreciation course, yet might be other kids just naturally find themselves learning art free of any kind of help whatsoever. Hey, Alex studied economics without having any help! Kevin studied Russian History, of all things, without having any encouragement! Simply not art…

I have created a series of videos on creating great homeschool records for college.  You can find them here.

Should we count extensive European travel during middle school as early high school credit?

Traveling Europe, learning foreign languages, and experiencing the art and culture of other countries is awesome!  If these were done during high high school year, then you can give high school credit for the whole experience. If these experiences are completed prior to high school, does it count?  In  my opinion only the academic subjects taught at high school level can be counted toward high school credit.  In other words, if a child has learned Spanish in middle school and still knows Spanish, then I would give him credit for that. If you use a foreign language curriculum as well as immersion in the culture, then it may provide an indication how many high school levels you have achieved.  You can include each of those levels of foreign language on your high school transcript.  I did that myself.  My children did high school level Latin and French in middle school, and I listed it as “Early High School Credits” on the transcript. You can see how it looked here: http://www.thehomescholar.com/images/stories/pdfs/sample_transcript_by_year.pdf

While an elementary or middle school  experience was a wonderful and enriching time that will last forever, high school credits do not necessarily follow.  I don’t think suggest high school credits for experiences earlier unless it’s an academic subject and high school level. You may decide differently, though, depending on how long ago this all happened.

On the other hand, you can certainly give him high school credits for the things he does from now on with that information.  If your child comes home from this fabulous experience, and continues to study the language, you might want to give high school credits for “Conversational Spanish” in high school.  If, because of his experiences, the child passes a CLEP exam in European history or something, then you can give credit for that.  If your child catches the European bug, and begins studying about that country as a passion and delight-directed learning this coming year, then you might give high school level credit when the child is high school age.

It’s a good idea to include academic, high school level subjects on the high school transcript.  Remember that many middle school experiences are just FUN, though.  They encourage the love of learning and encourage your child’s interests in different subjects, but it doesn’t need to go on the transcript.

For more information about marketing your child so they can compete for scholarships, you may want to look at my video “Getting the BIG Scholarships.” I will occasionally have a video presentation on my Gold Care Club website called “College Scholarships for High School Credit” that describes how to apply for the smaller private scholarships.

If your children are bilingual, some colleges will accept that as a foreign language and some will not.  I think it’s a good idea to provide some sort of outside documentation.  I like suggesting a CLEP exam, because they provide an official transcript.  However, CLEP only offers a handful of languages, so I’m not sure it will help you.  You can also try an AP exam, but they need to be fluent in writing as well as speaking.

Being bilingual is something unusual and different that you can emphasize in your transcript.  If they currently are speaking a second language, then you could give them “Conversational French” or “French Fluency” for each year they are high school age.  To  emphasize that uniqueness even more, you could encourage them to write an essay about WHY they are bilingual.  Have them write it this year, and then when they are applying to colleges you’ll have something to work with already!   It would be an EXCELLENT true short story about themselves.

If possible, consider taking a second foreign language in high school.  Not because all colleges demand it, but because it will only  strengthen their portfolio.  My children did Latin in middle school/9th grade, then took French after that.  Although one child merely tolerated foreign languages, the other one LOVED it, and went on to study French and Latin for fun in college.

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Electives can be a million different things, and homeschoolers have limitless possibilities in the variety of classes they can give their children.  When you provide a unique class, it might be a regular subject area, or it might be an elective, or it might be an activity.   Every situation is unique, but I can provide a general rule of thumb that may help if you have an unusual question like Judi.

I have your books Setting the Records Straight and Easy Truth but I haven’t found the answer to my question yet. If I missed it just direct me to the chapter. Here is the question. My kids do livestock judging year round. They have practice for 1.5 hours per week and compete around the state. A competition will take 3 to 4 hours. I am wondering if I should list this as an elective for credit but I still want to list all the competitions and awards earned. Not sure of the best way to record this.

~Judi
Graff Land and Livestock.com

If you don’t have enough hours to call it a credit, then call it an activity. If you need it to fulfill credits in a particular area, like occupational education, then use it there. If it fits clearly into a subject area (like 4H handicrafts fit nicely into art) then use it there. If neither of those fit, then I usually suggest listing it as an elective. I would call it “Elective:  Animal Husbandry” – or search local colleges for a more appropriate name for the class.   You can list the competitions and awards in a course description about that class.

Here is a blog post that might help.
http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/when-the-cows-come-home-homeschooling-and-animal-husbandry/2304/

Learn how to save money homeschooling with my free Special Report: “7 Secrets to Homeschooling Through a Financial Storm.”

I received a sweet note from a client, and she gave a wonderful review of a free homeschool resource for foreign language.  I thought it might encourage others, so I’m passing it along.

Hi Lee,

Thank you so much for focusing on high school, homeschool students! Your web site has been very valuable to me.  I am homeschooling a son who is profoundly gifted.  We are “refugees homeschoolers” – We always believed our son would be schooled in public education.  However, we had to flee the public school system when his needs weren’t being met. I just wanted you to know first hand your site is helping my son and many people in our homeschool group – Denver CO Common Ground Homeschoolers.I can give you a 100% thumbs up for the LiveMocha program.  This is a free program to learn foreign language.  Koa loves, loves, loves this program. The site is designed for adults but people of any age can utilize it.  The system is ingenious.  Koa is learning Spanish so he does Spanish curriculum which includes practicing his Spanish writing and speaking skills.  Native Spanish speakers grade his work and give feedback.  In turn, Koa reviews and grades people’s work who are trying to learn English.  Students receive LiveMocha points (arbitrary points of progress) for the language lessons and they receive teacher points for helping others.  Isn’t that a great concept?  And all of this is free IF you help enough people – just a reasonable amount of teacher points nothing crazy. You could talk with Koa directly if you’d like more information but he loves it!!
Link:  http://www.livemocha.com/

Best and Blessings with your work.
Thanks again,
Marilyn in Denver, CO
My son’s nonprofit is www.fastfoodfree.org

For those of you with gifted homeschoolers, I do have an audio course available on CD called “Gifted Education at Home.”   It’s designed to help parents with children of ALL ages, not just high school.  I do talk about what it is like in public school, to encourage parents that the grass is NOT greener on the other side!  My children were in public school until 2nd and 4th grades, when we determined that the gifted education program was not going to help.  I share my stories about that, to eliminate the temptation of thinking that public school might be the only option for gifted or profoundly gifted children.  Here is the link to that course: Gifted Education at Home.

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.

This just in!  You can watch foreign language channels on your iPad or iPod and practice your foreign language skills!

Find the iPod Touch app called “TVU.”  You can’t get your local channels, but you can get channels from across the country and the globe!  The app costs $4.99, so it’s much cheaper than cable, and you can get channels that broadcast in the language you want your children to learn. There are dozens of foreign language channels, including some in French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, and some lesser-known African and East Asian languages.

Success with foreign language often boils down to frequency of practice. Many experts recommend a minimum of 15 minutes per day practicing foreign language skills through listening, speaking, reading, or writing.  How fun would it be to practice on Mom’s iPad each day!  I wonder what it might say on your assignments sheet:  iPad French 15 minutes? TV Show in German Today? Arabic Disney Movie?  I remember how much my children giggled when I wrote “Finding Nemo in French” for their foreign language assignments!

Play TVU on the iPod Touch

Or on the iPad Tablet

You may be able to find it compatible with other mobile devices as well.
Have fun!

You don’t want to miss Homeschool Super Heroes Week.  I’m speaking on Thursday!  Sign up for free here!