Lecture Notes: Homeschooling High School
May 9th, 2017
at the Homeschool Building
(Transcript Info Too!)
(Transcript Info Too!)
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| Zeus's feathers are coming back in! He is doing great now! |
Hello, Friends!
I attended a free lecture on preparing for high school that covered some basic things we should know. It was pretty basic information, but I thought I'd share my notes in case anyone might benefit from my sharing.
Typical high school (HS) Class requirements:(22-24 credits)
4 YearsMath
4 English (you can create your own study on books your student is interested in)
3 Years Science
3 years History
2 Years of a World Language
Electives: Typical "electives" are:
Communication, Computer, SAT Prep./Study Skills, Health, Music, Art, Financial Planning, Vocational classes, and/or anything that reflects your child's interests and/or future plans.
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| Agnes got her snuggly, 'Love,' and took a nap with her! |
Accreditation:
As teachers of our homeschooling student, we are legally allowed to create our student's transcript and create their diploma. If you don't want to make your own you can pay for one to be made, or go through an umbrella school; which would cost.
Michigan Merit Curriculum--our state's specific requirements:
4 Credits of Math--Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2...
4 Credits English
3 Credits Social Studies
1 Credit PE
1 Credit visual, performance, or applied arts
1 online learning experience (like an online class or course, or do study skills online)
World Language
SAT Prep/ Study Skills Online:
If you know which college they want to go to you can plan your student's classes according to meeting that colleges' specific requirements. You can go to their website to see what they are looking for or want in potential students.
Personality/ Career Test Placement:
What are your student's long term plans? These tests can help sort out potential avenues to pursue.
Transcript Enhancement Ideas:
Honor Society / Job Shadowing / Volunteering
Honor Society: you can contact your local Honor Society and see if your students grades/scores are high enough for them to be admitted into the group. The Honor Society usually meet once per month. The Honor Society's website:https://www.honorsociety.org/
Job Shadowing/Volunteering:
Ask church members, relatives, etc for any job shadowing or volunteering opportunities as that may enhance your student's transcript.
What Determines a Credit:
1. Completing a high school credit =1 credit
2. Log the hours, 120-180 hours of work = 1 credit
3. You can take all four years to get 1 credit if you are only doing that subject sparingly.
Vocational School:
There is the Kent Career Technical Center in our area for students who aren't on the college path, but want to start learning a vocation...think electricians, plumbers, heating/cooling, car mechanics...
Teaching High School:
1. Many subjects are written for the student to do alone, text written to them and for them.
2. Use a home school tutoring organization.
3. Instructional DVD's
4. Form a co-op and hire a teacher for that subject.
5. Don't let fear keep you from your desire to educate your student at home.
Opportunities to Earn College Credits:
1. Dual Enrollment (taking classes at a college while in high school)
2. AP classes (advanced placement)
3. CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_Level_Examination_Program
4. Articulation Credit (This wasn't explained very well...) I think this is referring to co-ops that you don't set up, like GRACE Academy here in Grand Rapids...but, I could have misunderstood.
Community College:
Chose classes that they (your student) will be successful taking and are mature enough to handle the pace.
For CLEP; they study online or with a book and then take the college level test for that subject. They would "test out" of some subjects and "bank" some of these credits ahead of time; i.e. before they officially begin college (as high schoolers).
AP means Advanced Placement. Some colleges prefer their students to do AP vs CLEP vs CC (Community College) vs Articulation. This is another situation that if you knew which college your student was interested in going to you could ask them which they prefer.
Transcript General Info:
1. Basic Student Information
2. Keep Accurate Records
3. Record Course Titles
4. Record Final Grades
5. Assign a GPA (grade point average)
6. Provide your grade scale: what is your "A" vs "B"? and how do you grade? What percent of the grade is for tests vs class participation? Have a formula and keep that in your records.
7. Provide extracurricular activities
8. Organize by SUBJECT or YEAR, especially is senior year is 2 years long it might be a better idea to organize by subject instead of by year; especially if you are doing a "Super Senior" year--which is when you take two years for your twelve grade year.
9. Keep a list of the books read, and be prepared for this question when applying to colleges as it is a common question. The student should be prepared to share what they favorite is and WHY, with details prepared ahead of time; well-thought-out answers.
10. Awards won.
11. Parents ALWAYS keep a copy of their 'official' transcript. Some students re-enter college again later in life and you will always be responsible for sharing their high school transcript...for their entire life! Keep a copy handy!
Grading:
How do you arrive at a grade? Perhaps these are part of your formula?
Attendance, Participation, Daily assignments, and Test scores....
One example may be: Daily work 35% and Tests 65% = grade
SAT: Standard Achievement Test
Contact your local high school's guidance counselor to schedule taking the SAT, for free. Or you can go to their website and find the nearest location they are testing, find out when it is and pay their fee, if you don't want to involve the local high school.
College Entrance Exams:
1. When to Prepare? Many public school students begin in the 8th grade!!!! Yikes! Many students will have tutors to help them achieve higher scores. The reason behind all the serious effort and commitment is that the score they get on the SAT or ACT will be how colleges determine if they might qualify for a scholarship. Scholarships are very competitive! In our seminar, the discussion on scholarships sounded like it would be near impossible to get a good scholarship. I hope that isn't true!
PSAT
Like the SAT, you would need to contact your local high school's guidance counselor to schedule this test for your student.
SAT vs ACT
It 'used' to be that colleges wanted the ACT scores in determining if your student would be accepted into their college, but the people at SAT underbid the people at ACT and now it is cheaper for colleges to accept the SAT scores. In preparing for either test you can look online for a lot of prep info and/or library books, or order or use book stores for the newest prep books for these tests. You can look at which subjects are being tested in the SAT and make sure your student is ready to be tested on those specific subjects.
Work Permits:
Contact your local high school for work permits.
Scholarship Opportunities:
Scholarships are getting harder and harder to get. Colleges are not only accepting American students, but also international students. Perhaps you can find local scholarship opportunities.
Applying to Colleges:
Generally, students apply to colleges and take tours of those colleges in their Junior year, finalizing their college choices in their Senior year.
Well, that about wraps up the notes I took for our free lecture. I didn't realize I would be contacting the local public high school for anything, so that was a complete surprise! I hope this may be helpful to someone!
..........
Personality/ Career Test Placement:
What are your student's long term plans? These tests can help sort out potential avenues to pursue.
 |
| Nuthatch |
Honor Society / Job Shadowing / Volunteering
Honor Society: you can contact your local Honor Society and see if your students grades/scores are high enough for them to be admitted into the group. The Honor Society usually meet once per month. The Honor Society's website:https://www.honorsociety.org/
Job Shadowing/Volunteering:
Ask church members, relatives, etc for any job shadowing or volunteering opportunities as that may enhance your student's transcript.
What Determines a Credit:
1. Completing a high school credit =1 credit
2. Log the hours, 120-180 hours of work = 1 credit
3. You can take all four years to get 1 credit if you are only doing that subject sparingly.
 |
| Red Squirrel |
Vocational School:
There is the Kent Career Technical Center in our area for students who aren't on the college path, but want to start learning a vocation...think electricians, plumbers, heating/cooling, car mechanics...
Teaching High School:
1. Many subjects are written for the student to do alone, text written to them and for them.
2. Use a home school tutoring organization.
3. Instructional DVD's
4. Form a co-op and hire a teacher for that subject.
5. Don't let fear keep you from your desire to educate your student at home.
Opportunities to Earn College Credits:
1. Dual Enrollment (taking classes at a college while in high school)
2. AP classes (advanced placement)
3. CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_Level_Examination_Program
4. Articulation Credit (This wasn't explained very well...) I think this is referring to co-ops that you don't set up, like GRACE Academy here in Grand Rapids...but, I could have misunderstood.
Community College:
Chose classes that they (your student) will be successful taking and are mature enough to handle the pace.
For CLEP; they study online or with a book and then take the college level test for that subject. They would "test out" of some subjects and "bank" some of these credits ahead of time; i.e. before they officially begin college (as high schoolers).
AP means Advanced Placement. Some colleges prefer their students to do AP vs CLEP vs CC (Community College) vs Articulation. This is another situation that if you knew which college your student was interested in going to you could ask them which they prefer.
 |
| Red Squirrel in our feeder |
Transcript General Info:
1. Basic Student Information
2. Keep Accurate Records
3. Record Course Titles
4. Record Final Grades
5. Assign a GPA (grade point average)
6. Provide your grade scale: what is your "A" vs "B"? and how do you grade? What percent of the grade is for tests vs class participation? Have a formula and keep that in your records.
7. Provide extracurricular activities
8. Organize by SUBJECT or YEAR, especially is senior year is 2 years long it might be a better idea to organize by subject instead of by year; especially if you are doing a "Super Senior" year--which is when you take two years for your twelve grade year.
9. Keep a list of the books read, and be prepared for this question when applying to colleges as it is a common question. The student should be prepared to share what they favorite is and WHY, with details prepared ahead of time; well-thought-out answers.
10. Awards won.
11. Parents ALWAYS keep a copy of their 'official' transcript. Some students re-enter college again later in life and you will always be responsible for sharing their high school transcript...for their entire life! Keep a copy handy!
Grading:
How do you arrive at a grade? Perhaps these are part of your formula?
Attendance, Participation, Daily assignments, and Test scores....
One example may be: Daily work 35% and Tests 65% = grade
SAT: Standard Achievement Test
Contact your local high school's guidance counselor to schedule taking the SAT, for free. Or you can go to their website and find the nearest location they are testing, find out when it is and pay their fee, if you don't want to involve the local high school.
College Entrance Exams:
1. When to Prepare? Many public school students begin in the 8th grade!!!! Yikes! Many students will have tutors to help them achieve higher scores. The reason behind all the serious effort and commitment is that the score they get on the SAT or ACT will be how colleges determine if they might qualify for a scholarship. Scholarships are very competitive! In our seminar, the discussion on scholarships sounded like it would be near impossible to get a good scholarship. I hope that isn't true!
PSAT
Like the SAT, you would need to contact your local high school's guidance counselor to schedule this test for your student.
SAT vs ACT
It 'used' to be that colleges wanted the ACT scores in determining if your student would be accepted into their college, but the people at SAT underbid the people at ACT and now it is cheaper for colleges to accept the SAT scores. In preparing for either test you can look online for a lot of prep info and/or library books, or order or use book stores for the newest prep books for these tests. You can look at which subjects are being tested in the SAT and make sure your student is ready to be tested on those specific subjects.
Work Permits:
Contact your local high school for work permits.
Scholarship Opportunities:
Scholarships are getting harder and harder to get. Colleges are not only accepting American students, but also international students. Perhaps you can find local scholarship opportunities.
Applying to Colleges:
Generally, students apply to colleges and take tours of those colleges in their Junior year, finalizing their college choices in their Senior year.
Well, that about wraps up the notes I took for our free lecture. I didn't realize I would be contacting the local public high school for anything, so that was a complete surprise! I hope this may be helpful to someone!
..........
This is very helpful! To reassure you about scholarships - I know more than a few homeschool students who won scholarships for 100% tuition, books, and dorm. It is possible.
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