I have a daughter that has been in Martial Arts since she's been 11. The last few years she's been helping teach the younger class, but doesn't qualify to be an instructor because she's not 18. She has her Midnight Blue Belt which is a black belt. Could I write this down on her transcript as community service? Does it have to be signed or verified on her transcript? The top instructor tells my husband and I all the time, if she wasn't there to help teach, it would be almost impossible to have a class. I do keep a log of how many hours she does.
~Marie in Indiana
Dear Marie,
With something that important, it's vital to have it on the transcript somewhere.
When I was in high school, I was involved in Choir. I received high school music credit for the time I was in the class, but it was also listed as an activity on my transcript.
For this kind of experience, I would first estimate her hours to determine her high school credit. Because she loves it and has done it for a long time, I'll just guess that it is a 1 credit class. I would then list it as a class, probably calling it PE: Martial Arts.
On the transcript you can highlight the most significant high school activities. When you put it on her activity list, indicate which year she did it, and her level of mastery. I would also list the teacher assistant portion as its own activity. So the activity section of the transcript would look like this: Martial Arts 9, 10, 11, 12 - Black Belt 12. Martial Arts Assistant Teacher 9, 10, 11, 12.
I would keep a list for all her activities, and this would go on that list. I kept a separate piece of paper listing all activities. I would also include it there. Sometimes I suggest naming the business or group the student is involved with. It might look like this: Martial Arts 9 - Highline Martial Arts Academy, 100 hours
I would also keep track of her volunteer hours, on a separate Volunteer or Community Service list. Something like this: Martial Arts Assistant Teacher 9, Highline Martial Arts Academy, 100 volunteer hours
Martial Arts Assistant Teacher 10, 100 hours
Martial Arts Assistant Teacher 11, 100 hours
Martial Arts Assistant Teacher 12, 100 hours
The purpose for the activity list and the volunteer list is merely a record keeping device. It's going to help you remember all these things your daughter is involved with. That way when you are faced with a college application, and they ask for information on activities, you will have everything you need at your fingertips. Because it is just a record keeping device, some activities are duplicates. Activity and awards lists, and volunteer hours are not necessarily included on the transcript itself, although some parents choose to include that when it highlights the strengths of their child. These lists are like a course description for the activity section of the transcript. It provides more details than is included on the transcript.
It's important to avoid double-dipping with high school credit, and only recording each experience as one high school credit. However, you can also use those experiences as an activity. Just like my high school choir class was a high school credit class and a high school activity.
Thanks for the great question!
Do you Twitter? Follow me here!
I too listed the martial arts for P.E., community service & Instructor Training under business/life skills. My daughters flute activities (lessons, flute choir, organizing performance, competitions, conventions, etc.) were three years of music. But an additional achievment for her and her transcripts was that she "Lettered" in Music/Flute and Martial Arts. And yes I found a place where I had a "letter" made and designed for our school, found the jacket, and the pins. And it's on her transcript that she received a athletic letter with 2 extra years.
That's something the world can wrap it's brain aroun.
By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://www.homehighschoolhelp.com/
Joshua Harris is no longer a Christian. Sad news for the homeschool community.
Joshua Harris is the author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye and is the adult child of well known homeschool speaker. His father, Gregg Harris, is often considered one of the founders of the modern homeschool movement. A former homeschool speaker, Joshua Harris was an outspoken evangelical pastor
Let's talk about how to make that final decision about what college to attend.
Sometimes it's REALLY easy to make a decision. It's easy when the teen loves the college, and the parent has figured out a way to make it affordable. Other times it can be EXTREMELY difficult! When the cost is similar, and the universities both have compelling
Socialization is not about a group of kids all the same age always being together. True socialization doesn't happen in a bubble and is about people of ALL ages interacting with one another. When kids are feeling alone, then getting out into the world can provide the socialization they are craving.
Homeschool socialization. That seems to be
If you have a child in high school and are beginning to look at colleges, you will soon discover there are three different options for applying. The first is the good old fashioned way – applying directly to each college using their college application form. Second is using the Common Application. Third, which is relatively new, is using the Coalition Application.