homeschool records

How do you compare the Comprehensive Record Solution and the Total Transcript Solution? The key is in the name!  Do you need Comprehensive Records?  Or do you need help with a Transcript?

Most parents appreciate a little help and encouragement on their homeschooling journey. My free newsletter delivers this fresh each month. Click to get some yourself: The HomeScholar Record Newsletter

The Total Transcript Solution is geared for parents who need to make a transcript. It is intended to break the process down into small, easy to manage elements.

The Comprehensive Record Solution is geared for parents who know they need to do more than “just a transcript.” It will enable you to create the transcript, but also the course descriptions, reading list, activities and award list and work samples that go into a “comprehensive” record.

The Comprehensive Record Solution includes just a brief overview of making a transcript, and provides a simple transcript template.  It's possible to get your transcript done if all you order is the Comprehensive Record Solution. If you need more help with your transcripts, or want more templates, more training, and personalized help, then you will want to get the Total Transcript Solution as well.

If you haven’t purchased anything yet,  I recommend you get the Comprehensive Record Solution first.  The two packages don't really overlap much at all. The Total Transcript Solution is ALL about transcripts, The Comprehensive Record Solution is ALL about course descriptions with some basic training on transcripts. Read what happy customers say about the Comprehensive Record Solution and how it helped their family.

If you have already purchased the Total Transcript Solution, then I know you will REALLY benefit from the content of the Comprehensive Record Solution. You area already familiar with me, you know my position on many high school topics, and you must already like my writing style.   Since there isn't much overlap between the Total Transcript Solution and the Comprehensive Record Solution, if you have enjoyed the fist one, this will also be a GREAT fit for you.





The Comprehensive Record Solution provides the training and templates and real life examples of successful high school records.

This blog post originally ran in December 2010. We've revamped it with new and current information for you!

Lisa wrote to share about her success with the Comprehensive Record Solution, testifying that it provided a holistic picture of her child that resulted in college admission AND admission into the nursing program at the school.  You can take my f...

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Have you taken my free class Homeschool Records that Open Doors ? Robin and Larisa tagged me on Facebook as they were chatting about the class. Robin was sharing how helpful the class was, " I love Lee Binz! So full of valuable information, support a...

3 Writing Prompts for Course Descriptions Course descriptions are a 5th grade writing assignment. It's true! We taught our 5th graders to write a descriptive paragraph, and we can learn how to do it too. And, bonus! You can earn scholarships just for...

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Every great cooking project requires great ingredients. And homeschool records are the same way. You want to start with a great ingredient list! You know how a Thanksgiving dinner usually includes a turkey, and Easter may always mean lamb? Well there...

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Comment with Your Commitment! What Week Will You Create Your Records?

I'm asking you to finish your homeschool records every year, before you start summer vacation.

Why? So you can get some GREAT feedback, that's why!

Chelle sent me an email filled with excitement. She had just submitted her junior's first ever transcript and course description and the college coordinator wrote back and said, "This is great! I'm going to hold you up as the shining example of how to do homeschool transcripts and course descriptions!" Carrie sent me a message and committed to working on her transcripts! Can you make that commitment too? Pick a date, perhaps a week, to reserve JUST for updating your transcripts and course descriptions. Got it? Leave a comment and make your commitment!


Ready to learn more? Read 3 Ingredients of a Great Course Description. Consider purchasing the Comprehensive Record Solution for templates, support, and encouragement.

 

 

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Creating Course Descriptions for Classes Without a Curriculum

Are you working on your homeschool high school course descriptions? Creating course descriptions can be fairly straight forward when you are using a standard curriculum or textbook. It's a little more challenging when you are flying free. What do you include for classes with no textbook or formal curriculum?

Realistic Expectations

Course descriptions simply communicate the content of each class. The first step is to have realistic expectations. When looking for inspiration for course descriptions, remember that there are MANY classes in public and private schools that don't have textbooks at all. Consider a public school class in auto shop, wood shop, choir, art, and PE. Even courses such as Computer Technology or Nutrition may not use a formal curriculum in ANY school.

One way to create a course description is to find a high school with a similar class. You can read and use their course descriptions as a guide.

Technology Class Course Description Examples

• Look at this list of course descriptions from my Alma Mater, Bellevue High school. Starting on page 17 you can read some technology class examples, including radio and TV broadcasting and graphic art. Bellevue School District Course Catalog


• This school has a list of computer technology course descriptions, including computer applications, computer programming, and computer science classes taught in high school. Long Beach School Curriculum. As you can see, these course descriptions do NOT always include a textbook; they use a tutorial for Microsoft office along with keyboarding software. You can also check out their grading criteria, which are never based solely on a test.

Nutrition and Wellness Course Description Examples

• This is the description of a high school class on nutrition. It explains that "Students will be assessed in a number of ways, including checklists, essays, journal reflections, quizzes, tests, demonstrations, discussions, presentations/speeches, multimedia presentations, observation, group projects, and rating scales. Points will be awarded for each activity completed. Participation points will also periodically be rewarded for participation in class discussion and activities." You can use their ideas for evaluation as your own. Your child can demonstrate or work through a recipe as a check list. That's enough to determine a grade. Read this High school Nutrition and Wellness class.


• This class, called "Food and Nutrition," has a lovely example for evaluating a cooking class. One evaluation is "Apple Yogurt Muffins" - yummy! The description for this public school class says, "This one semester course is an introduction to food and nutrition, fitness, safety and sanitation, consumer buying skills, food storage, and food preparation skills. Lab experiences include a variety of techniques in preparing grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meats. This course will enable students to realize benefits of sound nutrition and apply these principles to their daily lives." Read over this Foods and Nutrition Class. Consider writing a formal-looking, but very delicious course description that includes the words "Unit 4 Pizza Lab Evaluation."

Naming the Curriculum

You don't need to name the curriculum in each course description. Simply write "Resources Used" and describe them: Microsoft Tutorials, Khan Academy Videos, etc. List what you DO have and don't worry if it's a formal curriculum or not.

I got stuck on a music course description when I was writing up my son's. He loves playing classical piano music, but there aren't any textbooks for piano. I ultimately chose to list all his performance-ready pieces and the repertoire books he used.

Read over the examples above, think about what you DID do and use and list it. You'll be well on your way to creating course descriptions. No curriculum necessary.

Have you started creating course descriptions yet?

 

If your homeschool family is struggling to make the time to write course descriptions, this might be a good blog post to share with your spouse.

If you had the perfect job, working from home, loving your children, how much could you earn per hour, do you think? Traci found out that her job as a homeschool parent was actually earning her WELL over minimum wage. Can you believe it? $1600/hour for working on her homeschool course descriptions!

 “I just had to write to let you know that my daughter received the Regent's Scholarship for a $40,700 annual award.  I am still in shock daily. Of course this is after hours and hours of work on both of our parts, my daughter writing countless essays and filling out applications, and me writing course descriptions.  But we figured out that even if we spent 100 hours in the process, we were actually making about $1600 an hour! I cannot thank you enough for all the direction you have given me over the past few years.  Honestly, the college application process has proven to be one of the most challenging things I have ever done.  It challenged my faith and sanity.  I cannot imagine trying to do it on my own.  Thank you for choosing to spend your post-schooling years helping others! The prospect of homeschooling high school IS scary, but looking back, the blessing of intimacy I now share with my daughter by having spent these past  four years together was worth it.  Thank you for helping!

~ Sincerely, Traci Minor

Why would you share this information with your spouse? Because writing course descriptions is like changing a baby's diaper. It's a dirty job, but somebody has got to do it. If you and your beloved can just agree that course descriptions are important, and encourage one another, then maybe you can have the perfect job working from home too, and earn HUGE amounts of cold, hard cash for college.

Here are some resources to get your started!

Learn more about creating awesome course descriptions with this FREE class.

Homeschool Records That Open Doors

In this video, I discus what colleges are looking for in a homeschool transcript.

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