Homeschooling Through High School:

1. Homeschooling Through High School: You Can Do It! Janice Campbell

2. Why Homeschool Through High School? • All the reasons you’ve homeschooled this far! • Maintain strong family relationships • Positive atmosphere for spiritual growth • Time to pursue personal interests • Limited peer pressure www.EverydayEducation.com

3. More Reasons! • Opportunities for acceleration, including early college • Time for travel or missions • Opportunities for apprenticeships or entrepreneurship • Opportunity to learn important home, family, and life skills • Time to learn self-direction & motivation www.EverydayEducation.com

4. Increased time for important things, expanded opportunities– What more could you want?The real question is– Why Wouldn’t You Homeschool Through High School? www.EverydayEducation.com

5. Basic High School Requirements • State standards for college-bound students– 24 units. Use college catalogs or websites to verify requirements for colleges you are considering. You are responsible for learning and fulfilling requirements for each school to which you apply! • 4 units each: English, Math, Science, History/ Social Science. • 3 units: Foreign Language. • 2 units: Health/P.E. / Electives • 1 unit: Fine or Practical Arts www.EverydayEducation.com

6. Some Common Fears • Teaching advanced courses • College Admissions • Extracurricular activity opportunities • Military enlistment • Issuing a diploma • Recordkeeping and transcripts Let’s talk about these things! www.EverydayEducation.com

7. Teaching Advanced Courses • There’s an option for everyone! • Homeschool co-ops • Online classes • Video classes • Church-based co-ops • Community college classes • Private tutoring www.EverydayEducation.com

8. College Admissions • Most colleges have had experience with homeschool graduates, so it’s nothing new. • Scores on SAT, ACT, and AP tests offer homeschoolers an opportunity to show what they can do. • A strong transcript with a college-prep course of study, backed up by standardized test scores, levels the playing field. • There’s a college for virtually any student! www.EverydayEducation.com

9. Extracurricular Activities • Opportunities are everywhere! • Homeschool, church, or community sports leagues • Community or church-based drama, dance, orchestra, band • Robotics, debate, Math Olympiad teams • Contest and “bee” participation www.EverydayEducation.com

10. What About Doing Sports in the Public Schools? • Few schools permit this, and those that do tend to have many requirements. • Beware the entanglement– it begins with playing a sport, but can soon involve mandatory curriculum choices, immunizations, considerable socialization, and a lot of time away from home. www.EverydayEducation.com

11. Military Enlistment • Military recruiters now accept a parent-issued diploma and transcript as proof of completion of high school. • All other requirements that must be met for military enlistment can be found on the websites of each branch of the armed services. www.EverydayEducation.com

12. Paperwork! • We’ll talk about the paperwork in the next segment of the seminar. • There are only two kinds of paperwork: • Records for You • Summary Documentation for Others • Transcript • Diploma www.EverydayEducation.com

13. High School is Prep Time! • Think academics…PLUS! • Home, family, and life skills • Apprenticeships • Entrepreneurship • Travel • Missions • Community involvement--arts, etc. www.EverydayEducation.com

14. Summary • The high school years can be just four more years of boring routine, or they can be an exciting time of personal development, independent learning, and positive relationship-building. You can choose! • Home provides a solid foundation for academics, business, and life! www.EverydayEducation.com

15. The High School Transcript: It’s Easier Than You Think!

16. High School Paperwork:The “Big Two” • Diploma: A piece of paper stating that the student has completed a high-school level course of study. Basically, just a certificate. • Has anyone ever asked to see your high school diploma? Do you even know where it is? J • Transcript: A one-page summary of a student’s course of high school study. www.EverydayEducation.com

17. Diploma FAQ • Who issues the diploma? • The person or institution that supervised the student’s education, usually the parent(s). • Where do I get a diploma? • You can order a blank diploma from HSLDA or create one on your computer (instructions and a sample in my book). • Do I need an accredited diploma? • Absolutely not. You may, if you wish, but it’s not necessary. Not even all public schools are accredited! Standardized tests provide veracity. www.EverydayEducation.com

18. Transcript Facts • The first, and often the only, homeschool-issued document a college admissions officer will want to see is the transcript. • The transcript is a record of courses taken, grades earned, and credits awarded. Think of it as a resumé for students! • The records you keep during high school are for your own use in preparing the transcript. www.EverydayEducation.com

19. Transcripts Made Easy– Really! • My goal is to make the transcript process easy. We’ll cover: • The kind of records to keep (especially if record-keeping isn’t your favorite hobby!) • How to create a professional-looking document– painlessly. www.EverydayEducation.com

20. The Purpose of Paperwork • Who are the logs and records for? Parent and student. • Who will see/use the transcript? Primarily college admission officers. • Form is almost as important as substance. It makes academic information accessible and comparable. www.EverydayEducation.com

21. How do colleges feel about homeschoolers? • Generally positive! • Policies not always in place– they play it by ear for the first few students. • Private colleges are almost always more flexible and friendly than state colleges. • Search for “homeschool” on college websites to see if they have a policy. www.EverydayEducation.com

22. What do admissions officers look for in the transcript? • Information in a format comparable to other students. • Standardized test scores, particularly SAT/ACT. • A college-prep course of study. • Extracurricular activity (selective colleges pay a lot of attention to this). www.EverydayEducation.com

23. Do admissions officers believe you can be objective? To be perfectly honest… Consider: • Credibility/conflict of interest issues– recused judges, politicians, etc.—don’t take it personally. • What is an ‘A’ student? Mastery is not the issue—aptitude is. This is IMPORTANT! • Objective confirmation = Increased credibility. We can be thankful there are many ways to verify knowledge. www.EverydayEducation.com

24. Resources for objective confirmation of knowledge • Exams: GED, AP, SAT I & II, CLEP • Class grade from Westminster Academy, online class, or learning co-op • Distance-learning school grades (American, Cambridge, ICS, or similar) • Community college class grades • Occasionally– detailed course descriptions are acceptable, though rarely used www.EverydayEducation.com

25. General HS Requirements • State standards for college-bound students– 24 units. Use college catalogs or websites to verify requirements for colleges you are considering. You are responsible for learning and fulfilling requirements for each school to which you apply. • 4 units each: English, Math, Science, History/ Social Science. • 3 units: Foreign Language. • 2 units: Health/P.E. / Electives • 1 unit: Fine or Practical Arts www.EverydayEducation.com

26. What goes on a transcript? • 3 Sections: Identifying Information, Basic Info, including an explanation of grading scale, and Course Listings. • Short, sweet, and to the point—think resume or summary, not complete history. • Translate course list into “educationese” to aid the college admissions officer in comparison with other students. www.EverydayEducation.com

27. Records To Keep • Course list: A simple list categorized by subject. Include non-school activities. See TME workbook for sample. • Book list: Have the student keep a list of the books he reads throughout the high school years. • Course descriptions: These can be brief– just a book list and a summary of major assignments. • Test results from standardized tests. • Copies of awards or certificates. www.EverydayEducation.com

28. Easy Options for Recordkeeping • Datebook: Daily log or weekly summary of activities– not detailed, just “Algebra Ch. 3,” • Journal: A brief, daily narrative of what is being learned– best maintained by student. • File folders/pocket: One per high school year—Toss in test results, course list, keepsakes. • Transcripts Made Easy or similar notebook system. Consolidate info for all four years, ready to create a transcript. www.EverydayEducation.com

29. Three Transcript Sections • Identity section: This part of the transcript identifies the document, the student, the school, and the dates covered by the transcript. • Basic Information section: This section contains a grading scale definition or non-grading philosophy, the number of hours which equals a unit, and the abbreviations used for credit by exam or dual-credit classes, as well as a line for the signature of the certifying parent(s). • Course Record section: This is the body of the transcript—a final listing of all the courses the student has completed during high school. www.EverydayEducation.com

30. Basic Info Section: Define a Grading Scale • If you provide grades, your transcript must indicate what each letter grade represents. For example, an ‘A’ may stand for a scaled score of 95-100%, or it may be interpreted as “Superior.” Either way, the student receives 4 grade points for an ‘A,’ 3 for a ‘B,’ 2 for a ‘C,’ and 1 for a ‘D.’ • If you issue only Pass/Fail or Complete/Incomplete grades, you will not provide grade points. AP or other college-level courses receive “weighted” grades—which is one extra grade point for each grade granted (A=5, etc.). www.EverydayEducation.com

31. Basic Info Section:Define a Unit • 1 Carnegie unit = 1 full-year course or • 1 unit = 120-180 hours of study or • 50-60 minutes/day x 5 days/week x 36 weeks or • 1 unit/credit = one completed textbook or • 1 unit/credit = 1 year unit study (grant one unit for each subject covered) www.EverydayEducation.com

32. How to Calculate a GPA • Assign grade points (a numerical value) to each grade you have given for each class. The traditional numbers are: • A = 4; B = 3; C = 2; D = 1; F = 0 • For AP or honors level classes, assign weighted grade points—that is, add one extra grade point for each grade. This would make the value of ‘A’ equal to 5, etc. • Add together all the grade points for each class (except physical education, which is not usually included in the calculation of the GPA). • Divide the total grade points by the total number of classes taken. www.EverydayEducation.com

33. For example… If a student has two A’s (worth 4 grade points each), two B’s (worth 3 grade points each), and two C’s (worth 2 grade points each) in a semester, and wants to calculate a grade point average (GPA), this is how it’s done: 1) Add 2 A’s = 4 + 4 = 8 2 B’s = 3 + 3 = 68 + 6 + 4 = 18 2 C’s = 2 + 2 = 4 2)Divide the number of grade points (18) by the number of classes taken (6). 18 / 6 = 3.0 GPA www.EverydayEducation.com

34. What makes it “official”? • Printed on “official” paper • Signed by person (parent) who certifies that it is an official copy. • Sealed in an envelope. • Sometimes, but not usually, signed across the envelope flap. • Mailed from “school,” not from student. • It’s not hard to create an “official transcript”—you can do it! www.EverydayEducation.com

35. In Summary… • Have students maintain simple Activity and Reading Logs • Transfer the information to Subject Worksheets once per week, month, or semester. • Translate what you have done into “Educationese.” Think simple– reading literature and writing essays in 9th grade = English I. • Create a transcript on your computer (complete directions in TME) or recruit someone else to do it. • You can do it! www.EverydayEducation.com

36. Getting a Jump Start on College: Making the Most of the High School Years

37. Did You Know…. • Students traditionally entered university at 14-16 years of age • Most teens are intellectually capable of higher level work than is usually presented in high school • The home setting is a perfect place to become accustomed to college-level learning. There is time and love to spare, and help for the rough spots. It makes the eventual transfer to college or work much easier. www.EverydayEducation.com

38. Advantages: Financial • Save thousands of dollars! • JSRCC tuition, fees, & books for 1 year (15 credits per semester) $2231 • Mary Baldwin College tuition, fees, & books (12 credits per semester) $8068 • 24 credits earned by 8 college-level exams such as CLEP, Dantes, etc. $480 • Minimal transportation / lodging expense! www.EverydayEducation.com

39. Advantages: Social • Intellectually-ready teens may still need the social and emotional support of family. • Access to parental input on controversial subjects. • Little or no negative peer pressure. • Head start permits a more relaxed pace once enrolled in traditional full-time college. www.EverydayEducation.com

40. Advantages: Intellectual • Avoids stagnation and boredom. • College-level exam scores are undeniable evidence of academic achievement. • Learn basic subjects well enough so they don’t have to be repeated in college. • College credits look wonderful on a high school diploma if your child hopes to attend a selective school. www.EverydayEducation.com

41. Method 1: Credit by Exam • No minimum age requirement • No pre-requisites • CLEP- $50 + $15 each (3-6 credits) • DANTES • AP or SAT II (primarily advanced placement) • GRE • Excelsior College Exams • TECEP (Thomas Edison) www.EverydayEducation.com

42. Method 2: Distance Learning • Traditional: Books/Paper/Snail Mail • Internet-Based Courses • Audio or Video Classes • Many sources: Academic/Business/Etc. • If you plan to transfer credits, take classes only from accredited sources. • Costs vary widely. www.EverydayEducation.com

43. Method 3: Community College • It’s usually easy to enroll teens as dual-credit students. Minimum age: usually 16. • A good place to take care of lab science and higher math requirements! • Placement tests required for math and language arts classes. • Financial aid is available once a student is full-time & degree-seeking. www.EverydayEducation.com

44. Method 4: Portfolio Credit • Some schools grant credit for college-level learning acquired outside the classroom. • There is a charge for portfolio evaluations, so be sure to follow format, tie your request for credit to a class description in the current college catalog, and be realistic. • Keep good records of volunteer and work experience, reading, travel, etc. www.EverydayEducation.com

45. Paperwork: Maximize Credits • Keep good records of what you learn (TME). • Record credits required for each subject. • Track credits you have earned, and plan for those you’ll need. • Use a chart to compare costs and requirements of the schools you’re considering. • Keep track of financial aid applied for and won. www.EverydayEducation.com

46. Study for Maximum Credit You can deepen almost any high-school course to college level by: • Using a college text (you will be able to balance secular viewpoint with other material if necessary). • Using a timeline to record what you learn. • Adding other resources as needed: audio or video tapes, historical or scientific biographies and fiction, internet research, magazines, etc. • TIP: Begin with core classes! www.EverydayEducation.com

47. Explore the Options! • Start online– links from my website. • College-level exam information at www.CollegeBoard.com • Financial aid applications at www.fafsa.gov • College information through www.petersons.com; www.princetonreview.com www.EverydayEducation.com

48. Summary • There is historical precedent and tremendous advantage to starting college early. • Credit can be earned without taking classes away from home. • Good record-keeping starts now! • A timeline and used college texts will help deepen high school study into college-level. • You can make the high school years exciting and profitable for the whole family! www.EverydayEducation.com