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New for this month in the Gold Care Club updates ...  How To Training Courses Quick Start : Best Guidance Counselor Beginner : Preparing to Homeschool High School - Live Convention Part 1/3 Intermediate : High School Testing Advanced : College S...

Gear up to Homeschool High School this month! Give me one week of your precious time and you'll learn to homeschool high school successfully and with confidence, bolstered by facts, research, and proven keys to success.   In this week-long ...

Do you get cold sweats just thinking about teaching your teen high school math? Did your last exposure to trigonometry leave you covered in hives? If so, you are not alone! Every homeschool parent "loses it" at some point during high school math.&nbs...

Do you ever think about homeschool statistics and the success of homeschooling? There are currently over 2 million homeschool students. How does homeschooling compare to public education really? Let's talk about How and Why Homeschooling Works ....

If you regularly use words like field-tripping and work-shopping, this tip is for you! Bonnie writes about how her final sacrificial culmination of homeschooling was creating course descriptions that earned her daughter some sweet merit scholarships....

When your children are younger, you might be completely confident about avoiding tests and simply focusing on learning in your homeschool. When they reach high school, you may think you have no choice. You need to give grades and include them on a transcript! Don't panic. Did you know that you don't have to test to give a grade?

As a home educator, you have the option of evaluating your children with methods other than tests. You can evaluate them simply based on what they do. Discussions, writing reports, completing projects, and reading books can all be part of the evaluation process. Tests or quizzes don't have to be involved.

I like to show people the homemade homeschool transcript I made for my own kids as an example. In our homeschool, only about half the classes included testing. I chose to give tests for math, science, and foreign language classes only. The curriculum for each of those classes included built-in tests. You can't tell this by looking at the transcript. I did make sure to show how I graded my kids in the course descriptions included in the application package I sent to each college though.

All the other classes in our homeschool included no tests at all. I evaluated these classes without tests and my children were admitted to every college they applied. They were offered great scholarships and received full tuition scholarships to their first choice university! We accomplished this without testing in every subject.

If the curriculum you're using includes tests and you want to include them, go for it. If your child does well without tests and you don't want to use them, that's ok too. Do what works best for your child. You don't have 30 children in a classroom to keep track of and you know your child best! That's the beauty of homeschooling.

If you're still not confident about how to evaluate your high schooler and put together admission packages for colleges, including transcripts and course descriptions, feel free to check out my Gold Care Club. Members get all the tools they need to homeschool through high school, including private consultations weekly! I'd love to chat with you!



Click Here to Join my Newsletter!

Keep a High School Notebook + Thankfulness

I'm so thankful when people express thankfulness! It's such an encouragement!

Laura was working with me through the Gold Care Club and told me how thankful she is for her "Lee Notebook." She fills it with all the handouts, worksheets, and notes from all the classes she has taken with me. She always keeps this notebook handy for reference. Check it out!



Last week, after her 20-minute consultation, Laura wrote, "I have to say, investing in the Gold Care membership is the best money I've spent in homeschooling. You are so calm, matter of fact, and encouraging with the sweetest disposition. I know you've calmed me down and have eased Sarah's fears. Have a great weekend!!"



When we spoke again, we worked together with her daughter to get many details figured out. As usual, my suggestions came as a huge relief to an overworked homeschooled teen. Teens tend to love my advice, because I speak words of reason to parents. You know how sometimes you try so hard to provide an excellent education? Sometimes it's a tad too much, and I have to tell a mom to relax a bit. They were both so thankful, they sent me a Starbucks gift card!



I always tell parents to speak the love language of colleges - grades and credits. I gotta say, Laura is speaking my love language! My love language is definitely a Grande Iced Americano while taking my morning walk!



Find a simple high school notebook strategy to help you learn how to homeschool high school. Keep your notes, thoughts, and resources together in one place for easy access.

If you would like help, consider the Gold Care Club - one of the benefits is a 20 minute consultation each week, by phone or email.

If you are a beginner and prefer working independently, consider the High School Solution, which has over 34 hours of training videos - all with handouts or workbooks, plus articles.





Click to Get My Ebook, "The 10 Essentials for Homeschooling High School!"

How to Say NO in 3 Easy Steps

1. Say it

       2. Explain it

Application Essays That Work

My biggest college application essay tip is to write something that might make grandma gasp. (College Admission Essay Tip: Make Grandma Gasp, Not Blush!) But, what does a great college application essay look like? Johns Hopkins University actually posts their favorite essays each year. Look at them to help you guide your child through the college admission procedure.

Read the article: Essays That Worked (Class of 2019)

Of course, each essay is completely different. An essay should be a unique self-portrait, so it can't be borrowed from others. They show something unique about the student - something that simply can't be learned from transcripts, course descriptions, and lists of activities. These are self-reflective essays about a moment in time. Johns Hopkins explains, "These entries are distinct and unique to the individual writer; however, each of them assisted the admissions reader in learning more about the student beyond the transcripts and lists of activities."

Take a moment to see what colleges really want. Look at the first sentences for each one. Can you hear grandma gasp?

Breaking Into Cars by Stephen
"I had never broken into a car before." In the beginning of this essay, Grandma's definitely thinking her sweet grandson is a thief. Yes, she gasped. And no, you don't get into the "essays that worked" category if you actually DO steal cars.

How to Become an Adult by Michaela.
She talks about being a parent to Stanley, and you are a few sentences into the essay before you figure out that Stanley is a plant. She's not an unwed mother after all.

Building a Twenty Story Apartment Building by Kyle
The essay begins with a discussion of his job in construction, but gives a great example of how to include school-specific personalization in his second paragraph. "Hopkins’ professors are change agents whose research connects structural engineering challenges to economic and environmental considerations. I am fascinated by Professor James Guest’s work in..."

Returning to Peru by Anna
This wonderful essay does a great job of demonstrating her diversity. Plus, Grandma would definitely be shocked when she heard, "The memory of a destitute boy, surrounded by waste, consuming water from a filthy communal tap in a dilapidated shantytown of Lima, Peru still haunts me."

Community Service Isn’t For Me by Kyla
The title alone is awesome. It really makes you wonder what she means - who would say that to a college, right? She mentions "straw-thatched, mud-brick homes of host families, of learning bits and pieces of the Chichewa language, of exploring the dynamics of multi-chief, polygamous villages." Those amazing details would certainly make grandma gasp. Not until the end of the essay does she provide the conclusion. "Community service isn’t for me, it’s for Esther and Amai and all the others I seek to serve."

So the application essay is a self-portrait about an amazing moment in time - a personal story that happens to be true. Do you need to do some more research about that?

Read this article:
What's the Big Deal about a Little Essay? Keys to the College Application Essay

Or grab this book:
Coffee Break Book: College Application Essays: A Primer for Parents

Learn more about the college application process, and guiding your child to college admission and scholarships, with this reference book: The HomeScholar Guide to College Admission and Scholarships

Candied Nuts, Cookies, and Crafts, Oh, My!

This is a perfect recipe and makes your house smell DELICIOUS! These nuts are great for parties and gifting.

Cinnamon Candied Nuts

Ingredients
1 lb nuts (pecans or almonds are good)
1 large egg white
1 Tbsp water
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a large  bowl, vigorously mix egg white, water, and vanilla until very frothy
In a separate small mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, cinnamon, and salt
Add nuts to egg white mixture and toss until evenly coated
Pour half of the sugar mixture over nuts and stir several times.
Add remaining sugar and stir to distribute over nuts evenly
Pour coated nuts over a parchment paper lined baking sheet and spread into an even layer
Bake in preheated oven 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes
Allow to cool, then store in airtight container

Recipe by Laura Schofield

In addition to the Cinnamon Candied Nuts recipe above, how about whipping up one of these recipes to fill your kitchen with yummy holiday smells?  Something wonderful to share with your family and your friends!

M & M Cookies

Classic cookies with red and green candy are so simple! Use any cookie recipe, or try this Cake Mix Cookie!

Ingredients
1 package dry cake mix
½ cup softened butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs

Instructions
1 cup candy M & M's or chips
Bake 350 for 10-12 minutes, until edges are set.

Here are some more great Christmas baking and crafting ideas to try, and share!

Cake Pops

Christmas Pretzel Treats


Homemade Nestle Crunch Bars


Cinnamon Ornaments


Handprint Snowman Ornament


Candy Cane Bath Salts


More Ideas on Pinterest

I hope you feel inspired to drop everything and make something wonderful to share during the upcoming holiday weeks!  I would love to hear what your favorite recipe is to make and share?

Christmas Baking - Sweet Bread Gift Recipes

I love giving sweet bread treats to our neighbors and friends, and bringing them as hostess gifts. These can be made in advance and frozen.  They travel well, too!  You can find wrapping suggestions from Martha Stewart Crafts and from Wilton available on Amazon.

Pistachio Bread

1 package yellow cake mix
1 package pistachio pudding mix (3 oz.)
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1/8 cup water.
Cinnamon-sugar mix: 3 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp cinnamon

Mix in a bowl until moist. Grease a loaf pan, and dust with 1/2 the cinnamon-sugar mix.  Pour batter in pan and top with remaining cinnamon-sugar mix.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until done.

Lemon Bread

1 lemon: grate 1 Tbsp peel and set aside 4-1/2 tsp lemon juice
2-1/4 flour
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1-1/2 cup sugar
3/4 melted butter
3 beaten eggs
3/4 cup milk

Mix dry ingredients. Add the moist ingredients and lemon peel.  Stir until just moistened.  Pour into greased loaf pan.  Bake 350 degrees for 1-1/2 hours until done.  Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan. Make glaze: over medium heat, cook the 4-1/2 tsp lemon juice with 2 tbsp sugar until slightly thick, about 5 minutes.  Brush over the top of loaf.

Pumpkin Spice Bread

1-3/4 flour
1-1/2 sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup pumpkin
1 beaten egg
1/3 cup water

Sift dry ingredients. Mix butter, pumpkin, egg, and water.  Mix in dry ingredients until moist.  Pour into greased and floured loaf pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Zucchini Bread

3 eggs
2 cups finely ground zucchini
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup oil
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Mix moist ingredients together.  Mix dry ingredients together.  Combine all and stir until mixed. Stir in nuts, if desired. Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan until 1/2 full.  Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Banana Bread

2-3 large over-ripe bananas
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup buttermilk (or milk mixed with 1 tbsp vinegar)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1-1/4 cup sugar
1 cup whole wheat flour
1-1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Cream the butter and eggs with sugar.  Mash in the banana.  Add remaining ingredients.  Pour into one loaf pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour

Cranberry Orange Bread

2 cups flour
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
1/2 cup orange juice
2 eggs
1 cup coarsely chopped fresh cranberries
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts (optional)

Mix dry ingredients. Beat sugar, butter, and vanilla until fluffy.  Add eggs and orange peel and juice. Mix in dry ingredients until moistened.  Gently stir in chopped cranberries and nuts. Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour, until done. Make glaze if desired. Mix 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 Tbsp fresh orange juice. Wisk until smooth and drizzle over cooled bread.

Do you gift the gift of sweet bread during the holidays?

Give Christmas Gifts that Pay for College

What are Gifts that Pay for College?

Kids want fun things that they are interesting to them.
Parents want educated children without going broke or crazy.
Colleges want “passion” and delight directed learning.
Give gifts that will increase the fun factor in school, help colleges appreciate your student, allow you to maintain your sanity, or save enough time of money to help you afford the cost of college.

Gifts that pay for college can mean…

• Gifts to Encourage Specialization


• Gifts to Fuel a Love of Learning


• Gifts to Encourage Reading & Writing


• Gifts Help You Homeschool Efficiently


• Gifts that Decrease College Costs


• Gifts to Help Prove Academic Rigor


• Gifts that Increase Income

Check out these articles and gift suggestions, so that you can give great gifts that will help pay for college in the future!

Gifts to Encourage Specialization

Articles: 3 Must-Have High School Electives
Encouraging Delight Directed Learning at the High School Level.
Resources: The Great Course
“How to Listen to and Understand Great Music”
“Calculus Made Clear”
Home Science Tools


Gifts to Fuel a Love of Learning

Articles: Games Across the Curriculum: Christmas Gift Suggestions
Play Your Way to a Great Vocabulary
Physical Education Outside the Box

Gifts to Fuel a Love of Learning: resources and suggestions by subject area
Art: Impressionist Artists, Go Fish for Art Card Game
Masterpiece Art Auction Game
Draw Today Art Kit
Coloring book of masterpieces (like Dover Art Coloring Books: Mary Cassatt Masterpieces)

English: The Play’s the Thing
Brick Shakespeare
Scrabble
Banana Grams
Rummy Roots
Fun books like Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
Social Studies: Take Off
Ticket to Ride
Diplomacy Board Game
Where in the World
Critical Thinking and Math: Chess
Sudoku
Rummikub
Sequence
Science: Computers, software
Elemento Chemistry Card Game
Student Microscope Gift Package
LEGO Mindstorms, or robotics kits
Foreign language:
Children’s DVDs (like Finding Nemo, The Incredibles)
Comic books in the language (Les Aventures de Tintin: Tintin en Amerique (French Edition)
Cook books (like Not Just Tacos A Journey Into the World of Authentic Latin American Cuisine)
Physical education: sports equipment (like Snow Toboggan)
Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board,
Nerf guns or Water squirters
Games Teens Love:
The Settlers of Catan
Carcassonne Basic Game
Blokus
Apples to Apples

Gifts to Encourage Reading & Writing

Articles: The HomeScholar College Bound Reading List
Classic Christmas Literature for High School Students
7 Ways to Encourage Reading in Middle School
Resources: Printable reading list for Middle School
Kindle Paperwhite
Apple iPad
Digital Voice Recorder
Dragon Naturally Speaking

Gifts Help You Homeschool Efficiently

Read Articles: Coping Through Not Cooking
Save Money With Old Fashioned Cooking!
Gluten-Free + Costco + Freezer Cooking + Crockpot + Cheap = Meals

Gifts Help You Homeschool Efficiently: Gift Suggestions for Balancing Life

Creating Homeschool Balance: Find Harmony Between Type A and Type Zzz
Managers of Their Homes by Teri Maxwell
Sidetracked Home Executives: From Pigpen to Paradise
Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook: Feasting with Your Slow Cooker
Biggest Book of Slow Cooker Recipes by Better Homes & Gardens
The Freezer Cooking Manual from 30 Day Gourmet
Holiday Freezer Cooking from 30 Day Gourmet
$5 Dinner Mom Cookbook

Gifts that Decrease College Costs

Prove college rigor with this reference book Setting the Records Straight
Online help: Total Transcript Solution, Comprehensive Record Solution
Learn about scholarships with this reference book College Admission and Scholarships
Homeschool college: How to Homeschool College: Save Time, Reduce Stress, Eliminate Debt, “Accelerated Distance Learning” by Brad Voeller, Bears Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning,  CLEP Official Study Guide by The College Board
Give college expenses as gifts: College Packing List

Gifts that Increase Income

Incorporate work on the transcript: Teaching Occupational Education in 5 Easy Steps
Teach your child business skills with MicroBusinessForTeens.com
Help children manage finances in the future:  Foundations in Personal Finance for Homeschool

Learn More

Online Class: Giving Gifts That Pay for College
Online Class: Christmas Goals and New Year Resolutions
Coffee Break Book: Homeschooling the Holidays: Sanity Saving Strategies and Gift Giving Ideas

Homeschool Records + Talent = Julliard Dreams Fulfilled

Getting into Julliard is like getting into Harvard. You really have to have it ALL - academics, special talent, passion, and luck! Anytime you are trying to get into a highly selective school, it requires some extra effort from both the parent and the child.

Recently I received this lovely thank you note from a Gold Care Club member. Their family achieved wonderful success!

"I have enjoyed being a gold card club member for years, spoke to you on the phone and I listened to some of your webinars, used the course description and transcript templates and information on SAT's. I thank you for your help in my journey of making all this ready for applications. My daughter and I made a detailed portfolio for her that she sent to 7 places where she was invited to audition live, and was successfully accepted to most of the Conservatories. She was accepted into The Julliard School by her audition and then they accepted her high school portfolio without any questions. She placed into all the academic courses at the higher level. She is now happily studying a bachelors of music at The Julliard School, fulfilling her dream. I am extremely thankful that I had the opportunity to home school her and thanks to you, I knew how to present her schooling and everything else in such a way that I did not need to sacrifice the wonderful home school curriculum that gave her a strong Christian world view and foundation in Christ. ~ A"

This Gold Care Club Member took advantage of the telephone consultations. She also learned on her own, by consistently watching the 5 monthly classes that change on the 20th of every month. She purchased the Comprehensive Record Solution, that helped her to make a detailed portfolio. And she provided the moral compass her daughter needed to succeed in the future.

The teenager was homeschooled independently, which allowed her to pursue Delight Directed Learning in music, which then enabled her to succeed at the highest levels. Learn more about Delight Directed Learning.

Articles: 
Delight Directed Learning
Maximize the Fun Factor
Encouraging Delight Directed Learning at the High School Level

Coordinating Coffee Break Book on Amazon:
Delight Directed Learning: Guide Your Homeschooler Toward Passionate Learning

Here is what I suggest.

• Prepare thorough homeschool records.


• Encourage your child's interests and talents.


• Prepare to have your child's dreams fulfilled too!

Cyber Monday with The HomeScholar!

My Cyber Monday sale is geared to helping you!  Finding the Faith to Homeschool High School will give you a refreshing perspective on homeschooling.

When you homeschool high school, sometimes the only thing separating success from failure is faith and a friend. This book will give you both! Imagine sitting across the table with a dear friend at your favorite coffee shop, sharing struggles and scriptures with each other. Let Lee Binz, The HomeScholar, be that dear friend who can lift you up with scriptural hope and encouragement.

Order your print or Kindle version today!  Finding The Faith to Homeschool High School

This BRAND NEW book is on sale in print format and in Kindle format.  Order your copy today and be encouraged each day of your homeschool journey!  A devotional that you can read over and over, each time gleaning a new perspective on God's word and the important tasks you are facing.

This weekly devotional covers the challenges parents face while homeschooling high school. Finding the Faith will support and encourage you along the way, throughout the year!

Let me help you "Find the Faith" as you work your way through your daily homeschooling journey.



 

Take This Class and Love Every Minute of It!

Each time someone takes my free class on grades, credits, and transcripts, I ask for feedback. I update that class every few years, and feedback helps me to improve the class each time. But, I have to say, Cindy went over-and-above on her specific review of “A Homeschool Parent's Guide to Grades, Credits and Transcripts”. She said she loved every minute of it!

    Dear Lee,

I am happy to provide feedback.  None of it will be improvement because I loved every minute!

I was home all week with my six-year-old while my husband took a group of 22 on a mission trip.  Included in that trip were my 15-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son.  One of my goals was to update transcripts and START course descriptions.  We have homeschooled since the start and I was feeling uneasy about some aspects of our transcripts.  Books and research are my stress relievers so I began there.  I remembered some moms mentioning liking your talk last year at Modesto, CA so I started with you.  Wait! I prayed, then felt certain I was to start with you.  What I found was the friendly voice and mentorship I have sought for years and could not find.  You echoed so many of my own fears and pleasant discoveries and I knew you were a gift from God.

Most of the help that you gave me was the confidence to get started revising what I have already done and the courage to begin that which I have put off doing.  Specifically helpful to me was:

- You validated my one year over semester approach to transcript.  I have been using a template from HSLDA and it does not have a semester option.  We found that the grade didn't vary from semester to semester so this was fine, EXCEPT, every other sample (from the internet) was in semesters.

- You shared what you did.  As mentioned above, I only had samples from the internet.  No one will show me what they did.  I know some people feel embarrassed to share but seeing a real example from a person you know actually used what you are seeing makes a world of difference to a mom.  Which leads me to my next point.

- You don't see homeschooling as a zero sum game.  I love helping people.  I will happily share anything, and I have shared so many things.  Sadly, others don't always feel the same way.  My husband and I quietly did our own homeschooling thing since we didn't know anyone who did it.  Recently (since High School started), we have been more involved as the Lord has brought the opportunity.  We have met a few families who are very competitive.  I have been discouraged (more than I realized) but you have given me new hope that on a personal level I can turn things around and share you and your website and materials and underscore your attitudes of wanting all homeschooling families to succeed in their own way.

- You helped me see that it is okay to put on the transcript everything my son did.  We were embarrassed when we listed everything (and ran out of room since my husband must have it look pretty) so I began lumping things together in such a way as to make it look "normal."  I have had this nagging feeling that we were negating his accomplishments and hard work.  My husband is a youth pastor and often has my son teach.  We had none of that on there either.  He does so many book studies for personal devotions that I never thought of putting on his book list (Do Hard Things, Thirsting for God, Mere Christianity to name a few). In a nutshell, the truth is the truth and I need not fear what others think.

- You reminded me that colleges love homeschoolers.  I have heard that but not from a person who has actually experienced it.

While I didn't buy your transcript service (though I was sorely tempted), I would have had I not already done so much on it already.  I was happy to see you had books.  The webinar was a treat and one I hope to repeat often.  However, having your words in print will be wonderful.  I bought the one on admissions and scholarships for my son who is making applications this year.  While I wait for it to arrive I am reading your book on transcripts and course descriptions on Kindle. I will certainly share your link and the blessing that you are.  Please thank your whole family for me as I know it would not be possible without your husbands support and the inspiration God gave you to do your best for your boys.  Thank you for telling me in your book to consider you a friend because I do!

With a grateful heart,
Cindy

Have you learned about high school grades, credits, and transcripts yet? It's often the most-feared thing about homeschooling high school, and is a stumbling block for many parents. I feel that if I can remove the fear of high school transcripts, then parents can make an informed decision about homeschooling high school. You can take my free class on “A Homeschool Parent's Guide to Grades, Credits and Transcripts” and feel much more comfy-cozy within a short time! The class is about 1 hour, with about 1 hour of questions at the end, so you're sure to get the information you need.

Don't let the fear of transcripts prevent you from homeschooling through high school!