transcript

You know you want to include fabulous fun electives on your homeschool transcript. But how? How do you put crocheting and other delight directed learning on a high school transcript!?

You know you want to include fabulous fun electives on your homeschool transcript. But how? How do you put crocheting and other handcrafts on a high school transcript!?

Mandi asked, "My daughter has taught herself to crochet and makes bags, headbands, coasters and whatever else pops into her head. Can count that as an elective art credit?

Yes! Art can be taught intentionally with books, or learned naturally and for fun like Mandi's daughter. School districts across the country include these kinds of classes, and we can do it too. Let me show you just a few examples.

Wallingford Public Schools in Connecticut offers a class called "Contemporary Crafts". Their online description suggests a variety of crafts, but of course you have unlimited options as a homeschooler. They call it "Career and Technical Education" instead of fine art, but high school kids can earn 1/2 credit each year.  Here is their course description:

Course Description for Contemporary Crafts

"Contemporary Crafts is a hands-on course designed to give students opportunities to develop skills in a variety of craft techniques. The course delves into the history of each craft and its application to today’s society. There are numerous connections to the core academic areas. Each student will create an individual information based portfolio. The class will design a business based on a craft and market their product. Examples of the skills that may be developed include macramé, decoupage, charted designs, basketry, weaving, quilting, knitting, crocheting, paper craft, bookbinding, and stamping."

Bloomer High School Wisconsin simply calls it: "Crafts 1". It's available every semester for students in grades 10-12, but we have the freedom to provide the same thing in grade 9, of course. Their online description says "Some projects covered are: paper arts, cement casting, stamping, card making, clay, handmade books, fiber arts, and decorative painting."


Northland Pines School District is also in Wisconsin, but it uses a really fancy class title, calling it "Textiles, Arts and Crafts". Their online description says "Students will learn a number of handicrafts by taking this class. Students will work with the following areas in this class: crocheting, latch hooking, cross stitching, bracelet making, scrap-booking, cake decorating, beading, and glass decorating."


Wayne Westland Community Schools in Michigan calls it "Creative Stitchery" for Grade 9-12 and allows their students to take this class all year. Although each semester class earns 1/2 credit, the course can be taken more than once for credit throughout high school, so students can earn up to one credit per year of high school. The school provides this description:

Course Description for Creative Stitchery

"This course explores hand sewing and craft techniques. The student will make a sample project supplied by the teacher. This allows the student to learn a hand craft such as knitting, crocheting, counted cross stitch, and/or embroidery. Students will be required to purchase some additional materials. As the student’s ability increases, each project will become more challenging. Because this class is taught according to each individual student’s skill level, this course may be repeated to increase skill level."

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3 Transcript Pitfalls to Avoid

It’s August already, and as the summer draws to an end, homeschool parents seem to get busier than ever. Summer can be a busy time! While I’m all for taking a break, it’s important to stay up on homeschool record keeping tasks in high school, especially your transcript. In fact, as I consult with homeschool families, I’ve started to notice some transcript pitfalls that are common to many homeschoolers. Keep an eye open for these 3 transcript pitfalls to avoid!

1. Your homeschool grades don’t match your student’s college admission test scores (such as the SAT or ACT). I am not saying that test scores are the "real" part of your child's education, but they do reflect the learning your child has done. Make sure grades and test scores reflect and match each other as much as possible. (If your child tests poorly and their test scores do not reflect their knowledge, make sure to communicate this to colleges.)
   
   This isn't merely a warning not to inflate your child’s grades - it goes both ways. I heard from a parent recently who had a college request that she raise her daughter’s homeschool grades in order to match her college admission scores! That sure made me laugh.



2. The tendency to convey your child as one-dimensional. While your transcript is definitely the place to show your student’s math, science, and foreign language accomplishments, it’s your student’s passions and delight directed learning that help a college see your student's unique aspects.
   
   Remember that colleges don’t particularly want another cookie-cutter kid. They see those all the time. You want your student to rise above the crowd and be different. You want your student to be a unique individual, a character, someone colleges have never seen before. The transcript is one of the places to reflect this.



3. Leaving out entire chunks of information. You might laugh at this, but sometimes homeschool parents seem to forget entire courses when they’re putting their transcripts together - usually because they haven’t kept good records! 
   
   I was working with a homeschool mother on a transcript for her high school junior. She and I went over every subject area they had covered, and discussed everything in detail from high school algebra to American Sign Language. Everything was complete. As I was leaving, I asked, “What are you doing this weekend?” The mom didn’t hesitate for a moment, explaining that they were going to a Latin competition that weekend. “Latin?” I said. “You never mentioned Latin!” This was how I discovered that her high school junior had already completed four years of high school Latin, and she had completely forgotten about it.

Although these common transcript pitfalls do happen, you don’t have to let them happen to you! You can create great homeschool records, prepare your child for college tests so they’re ready to show what they know, and represent their unique strengths and passions on their transcript so they’ll be offered awesome scholarships! Stay ontop of your records, doing a little bit each month, and you will never forget 4 years of Latin.



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Sweltering Summer Strategies for Success

Sweltering, blistering, boiling, broiling, burning, fiery, heated, hot, red-hot, roasting, scalding, stifling, humid, sultry, sticky, muggy, close, stuffy.

Does this sound familiar?

Uncomfortably hot days are hard. They can even make you cranky (says science - I'm not naming names). Experts say hot and humid weather is associated with increases in aggression and violence, as well as a generally rotten moods. Thanks a lot, science, right? (Live Science)

One option might be to move to Seattle, where I live. On average, we have less than a week of these conditions each year. But moving might not be realistic.

No worries, though! I have a plan for you!

My Gold Care Club member, Karen, was being extremely successful at getting her course descriptions done last week. She finally confessed the REAL reason for her productivity.

"The heat is helping me stay indoors and get those course description accomplished." ~ Karen

Other parents were hiding at Starbucks in air-conditioned bliss, getting course descriptions completed. Another was sitting in her air-conditioned car, watching her daughter compete on horseback.

Take advantage of the heat. Sure, there are a million things you could be doing if it wasn't so crazy hot outside. But since it IS crazy hot outside, enjoy the cool indoors, sit still, and get your paperwork done. Then, when the weather is awesome for playing, you'll be all caught up!



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Non-Traditional Ways to Determine High School Credit

There are many different ways you can determine high school (and sometimes college) credit for your homeschool student. It's one of the great things about homeschooling! The usual test-and-quiz evaluation method isn't the only way to give your child credit on their high school transcript. Other methods are just as legitimate, and in some cases even easier!

One way your child can earn credit is through dual enrollment in a community college. They may be completing a correspondence or distance learning class, or are sitting in a college level course. College level learning should go on the high school transcript.

Perhaps your student is taking credit by examination. Many homeschoolers take College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests, which show college level learning at any age. Other parents use Advanced Placement (AP) courses to determine that their child knows a college amount of material. If your child takes a CLEP or AP test and they demonstrate college knowledge in a subject, whether you taught it or not, make sure to put that on their homeschool transcript.

Another way you can award credit is to look at demonstrated expertise, although it’s a little bit harder to nail down. One way to recognize expertise is to get a professional’s opinion. If you have a friend that is a college professor or teacher, and they say your student has demonstrated high school or college level work, then you can be confident in giving your student credit for that expertise.

Sometimes students get published in an adult-level paper or periodical.  Getting published in National Geographic Magazine or having research on mushrooms published shows expertise. They may even land a job in the field. One of my friends' daughters was a dental assistant at a very young age, holding an adult job in a career field. This is demonstrated expertise which you can put on a transcript.

Some students compete in an activity that demonstrates high school or adult level work. Students who compete athletically often compete against adults and their expertise is certainly worthy of recognition and credit. Several homeschool students have competed on the U.S. diving team  at the Olympics—I hope their parents gave them credit for it! Other students compete in debate tournaments, Bible Quiz tournaments, or 4-H state events, which all demonstrate expertise and knowledge.

Remember that knowledge is demonstrated in many different ways and doesn’t have to be evaluated by a test or a research paper. If your child shows high school or college level knowledge on a topic, you can award them credit on their transcript. This is one of the advantages you have as a homeschool parent—freedom to let your child learn at their own pace and explore many interests, instead of being restricted by a school’s agenda or curriculum.



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After high school, your children gradually transition into adulthood. Some children jump ahead of the line, eagerly seeking college or career. Other kids do best with a slow start option. Some children prefer to play video games and not become adults at all.

You see, graduation isn't actually your goal. Successfully launching your children into the world of adults is the real goal!

It's hard to know what the future holds because teenagers are moving targets, constantly changing their minds from one career option to the next. The only way to be prepared for anything is to have a transcript ready to go at all times. Is your transcript ready?

Listen, Michelle sent me a sheepish question not long ago. Her daughter is 24, and Michelle hadn't made a transcript. Suddenly her daughter wants to go to college and has a full ride scholarship all ready for her - but she needs a transcript from her mom! Remember, her mom hasn't actually been homeschooling her for the past 6 years!

You may be nervous about making a transcript now, but won't it be even harder 6 years from now? Please, get your transcript done now. Make your transcript every year, so you are ready.



Learn more about the options after high school, because high school graduation isn't the end of anything, it's just the beginning of something else. Do you have a plan?

Read my whole article, Options after High School.

Grab the Coffee Break Book, Options After High School: Steps to Success for College or Career.



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Public School Classes on Your Homeschool Transcript

When your child has taken homeschool AND public school classes, it's best to create a homeschool transcript that is a summary of ALL educational experiences. As I explain in my book, Setting the Records Straight you want to be the clearing house, so that the sum of all your child's education is in your single transcript document. Here are 7 steps for putting public school classes on your homeschool transcript:

Andrew Pudewa Recommends The HomeScholar

Recently I worked with Andrew Pudewa of the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) on a series of classes teaching parents how to determine high school credit for IEW products. We’ve known each other for many years and collaborated together on a number of projects before, and it's always fun. This time I enjoyed chatting with him about my Total Transcript Solution. This is what Andrew had to say:

“If I could go back to the very, very beginning, and say to my wife, ‘Sweetheart, I know this woman who will help you – let’s just get her services and do this the easy way,’ it would have saved a few hours ... Lee is just one of the most encouraging and common sense, down to earth, but careful people in this whole business. I recommend her highly.”

~ Andrew Pudewa,  Director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW).

If you are experiencing anxiety about your child entering college and the real world, you want to hear Andrew’s entire review, including some great encouragement for homeschoolers, check out the YouTube video below to listen.



If you need to learn more about determining high school credit for your curriculum, or if you need help getting started on your transcript, I'd love for you to take this free class "A Homeschooler’s Guide to High School Grades, Credits, and Transcripts".

If you are ready to jump in, and make your transcript, but you'd like some moral support, check out the Total Transcript Solution.



Have you used the Total Transcript Solution? Please share your experience!

Simple Formula for Scholarship Success

The secrets of college admission and scholarships are actually pretty easy. Start your research early. Diligently keep your transcripts and course descriptions up to date. Apply early during Senior year. Scholarship money is first-come, first-served, and you want to be first in line! But that means you must have all your ducks in a row before you start the application.

What can you do today, so that you are successful?

1. Start your research on college admission and scholarships now


2. Create your homeschool transcript


3. Begin writing course descriptions for every class


4. Understand the college application process


5. Apply early for the best chance of scholarships

This kind of planning has some built-in flexibility. If you find out at the last-minute that you need another class, or another test, you can fit that into your schedule. If you know your child needs just a few more points on the SAT or ACT to get a full scholarship, you'll still have time to achieve that goal before the money is all gone.

So get in there! Jump into the pool, the water is great! And the swimming is easy! You just need to learn how to swim early, before the marathon of college application begins!

  Lee - I want to send a thank you to you for your products. I purchased them 4 years ago when my oldest was in 8th grade. I diligently kept up with the transcript each semester as she completed different courses. Now, she is entering her senior year and has already applied to her top two schools. She just heard back two days ago that she was accepted for the fall 2016 to her top school! I was thrilled to put that hefty transcript in the mail, complete with course descriptions, teacher credentials, textbooks used, etc. It was truly a showcase of all her hard work over the past several years. Now she only has to increase her scores on the ACT by a few points for a full merit scholarship. Thank you again for providing your products and services to homeschoolers.  What a blessing they are! ~ Tosha in Virginia

Writing a Course Description for Chorus

Cindy was working on her course descriptions (go, team, go!!!) and got stuck with music class.

  I would like to count all the singing our youth group does as Choir but not sure how to write it on a course description or on the transcript. How can I best represent this in a transcript and Course description. Oh yeah, they do a drama in the performance too!

It's so common for kids who love one kind of fine art (like singing) to love LOTS of fine arts (like drama.) Choir is a GREAT fine art - that's what I took in high school, same course description for all 4 years, and I got a total of 4 credits during high school for it. I had friends in high school that took choir, band, and orchestra every single year - and earned 3 high school credits in music every single year. Feel free to put choir and drama both on your transcript.

First, read this review of the 3 Ingredients of a Great Course Description

When you get stuck, try to find a high school course description from a public school. I found a choir course description from Antigo High School in Wisconsin, a public high school, but you can pilfer wording from any school with a similar class, and then modify it to fit your needs.

TREBLE CHORUS
Grades 9 – 12
1 Credit
1 Year
No Prerequisite

The Treble Chorus is a women’s chorus that sings a variety of music. It is open to any interested female in grades 9-12. All females in the choir program will be placed into Treble Chorus their freshman year. All students with no choir experience must have a voice placement interview with the instructor before being allowed to participate. Focus will be placed on proper vocal production, sight-reading, diction, music theory, and functioning as a musical ensemble. Required concerts for the Treble Chorus include: the Fall Concert, Holiday Concert, Clinician and/or Large Group Contest, and the Spring Concert. Other performances are possible during the course of the school year. The Treble Chorus meets daily.