Early high school credit in middle school? Are you kidding? How does that happen?
You mentioned (The Best Time to Start Your Homeschool Transcript) about middle school students taking high school courses and not realizing it. How is that done? Wouldn’t a person know what grade level book they are using, typically. My twins are going into 8th grade next year. Are there any courses that we could do to help us get a step ahead in high school? Thank you for your help.
~ Sharon
Dear Sharon,
This is a topic I talk about often in my book: Setting the Records Straight
Not all homeschoolers use graded textbooks, so it can be difficult to tell when your homeschool student is doing high school work. The most common early high school credits are algebra and foreign language. However, math textbooks rarely say “High School Algebra” it usually says “Algebra.” And a foreign language curriculum may say “French” and a parent using it in middle school may not realize they mean high school level French.
If you are using a graded curriculum that is clearly labeled “WARNING: HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL” then it’s pretty easy, but it’s usually not that clear. As long as parents know that it can happen, that some junior high classes really are high school level, then they can keep their eyes open.
The best classes to prepare for high school are reading, writing, and math. Reading and writing are fundamental skills that everything else will hinge upon. Math is a skill that builds incrementally, so you have to be consistent in order to become successful.
Middle school is a time to focus on fundamental skills in some things, and work ahead at a high school level for other things. That’s the great thing about middle school – you really can’t be behind. Since the purpose is EITHER remedial OR advanced, and each subject can be taught separately, you can provide exactly what your child needs and still be at just the right level in everything.
The HomeScholar Gold Care Club will give you the comprehensive help you need to homeschool high school.
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Christianbook.com Curriculum Page
Bev says:
I assume we would list these courses taken in middle school on their transcript to show that they took them. However, they would not be used to calculate a GPA?
That is my older son’s transcript from public school had for the high school classes he took in middle school.
May 27th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Lee says:
Hi Bev,
Some high schools give a grade for early credits and some don’t, some calculate GPA with those grades and some don’t. It’s completely up to you. Most colleges have their own formulas for calculating GPA as well, so I don’t think it particularly matters which method you choose.
Blessings,
Lee
May 28th, 2010 at 5:25 am
karen says:
Lee
Did you calcuate your early credits as I noticed your boys had quite a bit?
May 31st, 2010 at 6:05 am
Lee says:
Hi Karen,
Yes, I did count the early credits as part of their total credits earned. It didn’t change their overall GPA, since I used mastery for grading.
Blessings,
Lee
May 31st, 2010 at 6:07 am
Giovana says:
Hi Lee. What equals 1 high school credit? Is it based on hours spent on a subject? In other words, how do I know how many credits to give my dt for a high school level class they took in middle school?
June 10th, 2010 at 5:51 am
Lee says:
Giovana,
That’s a LONG discussion, and it’s in the book. If it’s a high school level book, then the book would be a credit (one year) or a 1/2 credit (semester). Here is the book:
https://www.createspace.com/3408564
Blessings,
Lee
June 10th, 2010 at 5:56 am