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School has been going for a while, and now is a great time to take a step back and assess your situation. Have you handled the important things? Character, college applications, core classes and PSAT registration? Do you need to make adjustments? Change curriculum, adjust (or make) a daily schedule? If you think things could go better, smoother, or easier, sometimes it just takes a small adjustment. Remember to put your weak areas first - even if...

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asses begining of the year character college applications core classes curriculum daily meeting homeschool

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Lee Binz

Tuesday, 14 August 2012

Determining Homeschool English Credits

Uncategorized HS English Consulting

Are you ever unsure about how many English credits to give your students? Does your student spend more time on English assignments than they do on any other subject? These are common conundrums and you are not alone! Can composition and literature be documented as two separate credits?My student spends an hour on composition and an hour on literature each day. In answer to this I will tell you that there are some classes that simply take...

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credits documentation english grammar high school homeschool reading Sonlight specialty writing classes standard curriculum writing writing a novel

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Lee Binz

Thursday, 09 August 2012

Documenting Homeschool Academic Records

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Should you include documentation of your students academic record by year or by subject on your transcript? Do colleges prefer to see the classes by subject organization: english, math, history etc. or do they prefer to know which year your student completed what subject: Freshman, sophomore, junior etc.? The trouble with these questions is that there isn’t a one size fits all answer.I decided to put both on my sons transcripts. The reason why is because...

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academic college admission comprehensive records high school subjects homeschool records transcripts

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Guest — J W

Thanks!

Thursday, 09 August 2012 21:39

Guest — Saprina

Thank you for addressing this as I had been wondering as I did it by year which one was the best to choose. I am mostly just tryi... Read More

Thursday, 09 August 2012 11:37

Guest — Assistant to The HomeScholar

Saprina, Lee has a blog post that you might find helpful in this area: Do Colleges Care about Homeschool Grades? Also, The HomeS... Read More

Friday, 10 August 2012 09:43

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Lee Binz

Tuesday, 07 August 2012

Homeschool Summer Credits

Uncategorized Transcripts Grades & Credits Summer School Homeschool Records

Summer is the perfect time for fun miscellaneous activities like summer camps, swim teams, home improvement projects and family vacations! I understand that is a lot to balance, but have you ever wondered if your students can receive high school credit for any of these activities? It’s possible! Both of my boys earned their P.E. credits during the summer months through a swim team they participated in.You can count credits even though they’re over the summer...

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computer science credits english high school labs miscellaneous activities PE credit science camp summer supplements

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Guest — J W

I always estimate the number of hours spent on horseback based on the camp's sample schedule and add it into the hours of PE. I a... Read More

Thursday, 09 August 2012 21:36

Guest — Lisa Bergmann

My teens' summer has been very full of valuable and educational activities, such as volunteer work, Scouting activities, Farmer's ... Read More

Wednesday, 08 August 2012 08:04

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Lee Binz

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

Recording Credits for Year-‘Round Homeschoolers

Uncategorized Grades & Credits

The other day, a client asked me, “What is the best way to record transcript credits for classes that do not fall within a given school year?” This family homeschooled year-round, and had courses that spanned several ‘school years,’ so they wondered how to reflect that on their homeschool transcripts.One of the best ways to handle this situation is to record the end date when you actually finish the course. That’s actually what our family did. ...

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credit credits high school home school homeschool homeschool high school homeschool records homeschoolers homeschooling

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Lee Binz

Tuesday, 05 June 2012

Transcripts and Course Descriptions for Music and Theater People

Uncategorized Transcripts

I asked Bari "How do you like it?" after he purchased the Comprehensive Record Solution, and he said "We are theater/music people and many things seem to not apply or go over my head a bit. Overall - I am pleased with the material." So.... how do you make a transcript and course description when you are a dealing with a lot of fine arts?When you are music and theater people, it can help to think...

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credit credits high school homeschool high school homeschool records homeschool transcript homeschoolers homeschooling transcript transcripts

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Timing Your American Government Class

Uncategorized Homeschoolers Curriculum

Recently I wrote a little tip about studying American Government this coming year, during a Presidential election year. As homeschoolers, we get to teach subjects when they make sense for the student, not just because of their age or grade. But why do schools insist on teaching it later in high school? That's what Donna wanted to know!Lee, I have often wondered why I usually see government class listed in the senior year. I know as...

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high school home school homeschool homeschool high school homeschoolers Homeschoolers Curriculum homeschooling

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Lee Binz

Monday, 21 May 2012

Project Manager of Your Home

Uncategorized Scheduling

As the resident homeschool adviser to your children, it’s important that you don’t drop the ball when it comes to deadlines, plans, and requirements. You will need to keep track of the academic calendar and what courses your children need to cover, when they need to study for specific tests, what year to take those tests, and what specific tests they should take.My husband works as a project manager. He doesn’t actually build the building, but...

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home school homeschool homeschool high school homeschoolers homeschooling planning record keeping

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Lee Binz

Monday, 14 May 2012

Outside documentation with Community College

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I'm not a big fan of dual enrollment at community college, but I know that it makes sense in some situations. If it's a good fit for your family, I want to make sure to pass along one tip.Community college classes provide outside documentation, and provide some "proof" that a child can be successful in a college level class in each subject. For that reason, it's helpful to have a community college class in each general...

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Planning Tip - Study American Government Next Year

Uncategorized High School

Next year would be a SUPER fun time to study American Government! Why, because of the election!You can use our 4 year election cycle to your advantage, by teaching American Government during these big election years.Colleges like to see American Government on the high school transcripts. Usually a half-credit semester class, an Honors or AP class might take a whole year. Often during senior year, students will have a 1/2 credit class on American Government in...

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Guest — Lee

Dear Donna, I think it helps to have an understanding of World History - much of our government is derived from the ancient Greek... Read More

Thursday, 03 May 2012 16:33

Guest — Donna

Lee, I have often wondered why I usually see government class listed in the senior year. I know as homeschoolers we have the free... Read More

Thursday, 03 May 2012 15:01

Guest — RebeccaC

Very good suggestion! Living out of the country, I had forgotten about the coming election...well, not "forgotten", but most defi... Read More

Sunday, 15 April 2012 18:54

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Lee Binz

Friday, 06 April 2012

Preparing For College

Uncategorized College Prep

Preparing For CollegeIn order to determine what courses your student should cover in high school, it’s good to think about what colleges want to see as admissions requirements, and then set your goal in line with those. If you set college preparation requirements as graduation requirements, your student will be prepared for college whether they intend to go now, or if they change their mind later.Cover the CoreStudents should have four years of English during high...

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Lee Binz

Friday, 30 September 2011

Homeschooling in the News

Uncategorized High School In the News Articles for Homeschoolers

In the NewsHome-schools gaining more students in MississippiThis is a very encouraging news report about a regular homeschool family. Brita Wren is interviewed by WLOX News in Mississippi. "I think I had higher expectations sometimes than the schools that they were in to begin with, that we expected them to do their best," said Wren. "There's no peer pressure, no bullying; there's no busy work."WLOX News New law gives homeschoolers more respect, freedom Minnesota parents who teach...

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high school home school homeschool homeschool high school homeschoolers homeschooling

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Lee Binz

Thursday, 29 September 2011

Harvard is Pro Homeschooling

Uncategorized College Admission Articles for Homeschoolers

The easy part of earning admission to Harvard is being a homeschooler. The hard part about getting into Harvard is the same thing that makes it hard for every other student to get in. Harvard accepts homeschoolers, and if your homeschooler has an eye on the Ivy League schools, don't worry that homeschooling will hold them back. Here is a story about one family and how they educated for excellence, with excellent results.Here is a YouTube...