Homeschooling High School - Core Studies, Graduation Requirements and More

Summary:  Tips from a veteran homeschool mom for planning and getting started with homeschooling high school.  What are core studies?  Are there homeschool graduation requirements?  Choosing your homeschool high school curriculum.  What about college? Making homeschool transcripts and more.


Are you considering homeschooling your teen?  Homeschooling high school is really not that hard.  But you have heard that before....and is it really true?

Are  you nervous about continuing to homeschool all the way through high school?  I was, when contemplating it during the middle school years...

High School was my favorite time, of all of our homeschooling years. 

Yes, it was much more complicated than the earlier years.  

But having my daughter at home meant that she her individual educational needs could be met. 

She also had more time to try out new activities and develop her interests, and go to youth conferences, etc.  

And watching her blossom and grow, during the teen years... priceless! 

Today I'd like to share how I became confident as a mom who was homeschooling her teen.  

There were key pieces of information that were important to me for my high school planning....And once I got them under my belt, my confidence grew....a lot.

Then I was ready to take on high school with confidence.  

First of all, let's talk start with assigning high school credits.

1.  Assigning High School Credit

It is not that hard to assign high school credit.  Here are 3 ways to do just that.

I call them ...................1.  the Textbook method

                                         2.  the Hours method

                                         3.  the Mastery method

The textbook method is the traditional way.  

The hours method involves keeping track of the amount of time spent in learning activities.  

The mastery method refers to assigning credit based on demonstrated mastery of a subject or a skill. That could be video making, playing an instrument, etc.

We did a lot of different kinds of learning, and all of it counted!  It is also included in my book, mentioned below.

2. What About Core Studies?


Core Studies are just the basic high school courses in math, English, social studies, science and foreign language.  

I have a post on our favorite frugal homeschool high school curriculum for each of these core studies areas, if you are interested.

3. Are There Homeschool Graduation Requirements?

What your choose for core studies is most often up to the individual homeschool family.  You do not need to follow the public school graduation requirements, only those laid out in your state's homeschool law.  

Most states do not lay out requirements for a homeschool diploma. It is usually left to the homeschool family to decide when to graduate their teen.  

So in most states, you can shape your teen's high school years around their needs, depending where they will be heading.

4.  What About College?

If your teens might be going to college, then you will want them to do the studies that are outlined by the colleges, ie, the college entrance requirements.  

Checking likely college websites is essential for college bound teens. I have much more on that in my book, laying out typical requirements for a different kinds of colleges, mentioned below.  

Community College - If your teen is headed to community college, it is advisable to just check in with admissions there.  

In our state of WA, the incoming students just take an entrance test, which evaluates their math and English skills.  

It is usually SO much less complicated compared than going into a 4 year college, and usually the SAT/ACT is not needed.

AGAIN - You do not have to follow the public school graduation requirements....those are for public school kids!

5.  High School Electives and Interests


The beauty of homeschooling high school is that you get to build and nurture your teen's interests and help them to discover their strengths.  

Even with preparing for college, my teen had lots of time to do electives and try out her interests in activities.

Now that we finished talking about credits, core studies and a bit about electives, let's talk transcripts. 

6.  Making your High School Transcripts

Transcripts are just a document that lists all of the courses that your student took, with grades, a place to put their SAT or ACT scores, with identifying information on it.  More on transcripts can be found on my blog.

My book below also has a full chapter on how to put your transcripts together, with lots of high school planning forms to make your planning easier.  Below is the book and the table of contents.

Kindle and Paperback are On Amazon

For more information: Homeschooling High School with College in Mind. 

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope that this post will help you in your important work with your teens,

Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,

Betsy

Betsy is mom to her now college grad whom she homeschooled from preschool.  She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, high school & college and wrote a new book on high school..   She offers free homeschool help and messages at BJ's Consulting. 

Want to stay in touch?  

 Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook 

Copyright, Revised 2021
Revised, All Rights Reserved

Our Favorite Books for Birds and Bird Watching - And a Simple Unit Study

Summary: Picture books and resources for birdwatching, preK through middle school.   This post may included affiliate links to products that we love and have used or would use in our homeschool, and click here for my disclosure policy.

Do you enjoy birdwatching with your kids?

We started doing that when our daughter was only a preschooler.  She loved watching the birds as they came to our feeder.  Later we even made a simple unit study centered on bird watching.  

So today I'd like to share about that, and also recommend to you our favorite books about bird watching, from preschool through the middle school years.

1.  Getting Started with Bird Watching 

One of the reasons that we loved homeschooling our 2e daughter was that we could build in nature study, and getting out in nature whenever we wanted...Well, if it was really raining, we just might not want to, lol. 

For my gifted 2e kiddo, being out in nature was really the best medicine for finding peace after a hard day.  And for me, too!

Stream Schooling was always a favorite.

That started when she was a little one.  Sometimes getting out in nature was a simple as exploring for insects in the backyard, or just taking a book outside, to read under a favorite tree.  We also liked having a bird feeder and a suet feeder hanging out our living room window, so that we could watch the birds come by.

Gradually, bird watching became a favorite past time for my daughter. When my daughter had an interest, like this, we often enjoyed extending our learning in any way that she wanted to.

A Flicker

We always have tried to build in nature in our homeschool, and get out, searching for herons.....especially when we needed a break from our studies.  

Great Blue Heron

My daughter's interest bird watching has blossomed through the years.  She still loves to take photos of birds, and, in fact, recently, she came home from college with a photo of two eagles.

Do your kids like to do a little birdwatching?  Take a break from your regular homeschooling routine, and enjoy some birdwatching together as a family!   You can even make a simple unit study for it if you like.

2.  Making a Simple Unit Study

Having a bird feeder nearby, and watching the comings and goings there, can be a great nature study and unit study activity.  Math can be done just  by just adding in some bird count activities.  You could even report your findings to the FeederWatch site.  That touches on science, reading, and even math, for recording and reporting your stats to the site.

Nature journaling can be the science and art component.  Sometimes we even joined in with  Cornell's Feeder Watch!  We enjoyed doing that each year, just by counting the number of different birds that came to our backyard feeder.  My daughter and I had so much fun trying to identify them!

Adding in some great books about birds can then easily complete your unit study.

Next, I'd like to share our favorite book about birds and birdwatching, starting with picture books, for your youngest nature lovers.  Here they are with links for more information....

3.  Our Favorite Books and Nature Journals 

  For Little Birders

Birds, Nests and Egg

How Do Birds Find Their Way

Bird Log 

For Elementary Birders

Birdhouses You Can Build in A Day

Backyard Birding for Kids

Beginning Birdwatcher's Book - with 48 Stickers

Peterson Field Guide for Backyard Birds  


How about some bird art?

Have you seen these video art lessons from Chalk Pastels?  

Your kids can learn more about bird identification by learning how to draw them.  Click here for more information and a sample lesson.  (On Sale through Feb 16th)

What would you add to this list?  I love reading your comments.  

Would you like to read about 24 Delightful and Enjoyable Outdoor Learning Ideas?

And have more fun with your kids outside this spring, with a World War 1 fun activity by Adventures in Mommydom, and...

For more ideas on bird watching for elementary kids, click here for my post on Birdwatching - Our Favorite Nature Study In our Homeschool .

For Older Birdwatchers - Middles/Teens


Birds of North America


Hi Diddle Diddle, Read a Bird Riddle 

This is our favorite book for older kids and teens, to get doing with a bird watching hobby.... 

This book, by Georgette Vikingstad Valle, illustrated by Debra Valpey, consists of 28 accurate and complex riddles that cleverly describe each of the birds that are featured in this book. 

This is a great way to introduce birding to older kids.  It can also a fun way to test birding knowledge, for those kids who have already started bird watching.

The illustrations are also beautiful and may inspire your kids to draw or paint what they see...

Illustrated by Debra Valpey

Click here to read more about this book.   

Do you have a high schooler in your house?  You can even make bird watching into an high school elective. 

And give them a camera, and let them loose.  That could become a photography elective.  

What are your favorite books about bird watching?  Please share in the comments.   

Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,

Betsy

Betsy is mom to her now college senior, whom she homeschooled from preK through high school.  She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, high school & college.  

Want to stay in touch?

Subscribe, Pinterest,Facebook 

This post was shared on my favorite linkups here.

Copyright, 2020 All Rights Reserved

Early Math FUN! - Manipulative Kits and More - -

We started homeschooling when my daughter was 3.   She was SO ready to learn...

Has your little one begun to explore early math yet? Whatever way that you decide to introduce math to your little ones, enjoy it.  I sure did.  

We liked the playful approach.  To read about how you can easily do early math with your kids, hands-on, just click here:

Early Math FUN! - Homeschooling Preschool/K Math - Making a Manipulatives Kit and More

My little one is pictured below....

This post is part of the iHN Ultimate List for Hands-On Homeschool Ideas.   

Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,

Betsy

Betsy is a former O.T, preschool teacher and published author of children's stories.  She is mom to her 2e college grad whom she homeschooled through high school.  She blogs at BJ's Homeschool about the early years, high school, college, and is the author of "Homeschooling High School with College in Mind".  She offers homeschool help through messages at BJ's Consulting.

Want to stay in touch?

Subscribe, Pinterest, G+, Facebook 

This post was shared on my favorite linkups here.
Copyright, 2018, All Rights Reserved

The Ultimate Guide to Homeschool Transcripts -

How to put together your high schooler's homeschool transcripts. This post includes affiliate links to products that we love and have used or would use in our homeschool, if my daughter wasn't already in college!  Please see my disclosure policy.

Are you looking for tips for doing your teen's homeschool transcripts?  Or are you, a bit overwhelmed with the prospects of doing them, like I was?

When I thought of doing my own transcripts, I was more than a bit nervous....at first.  But talking with other moms who already had been there, done that..really helped me a lot.  And I was able to see a bunch of transcripts that they had put together for their teens.

My daughter is junior in college now, having graduated from our homeschool almost 3 springs ago.  That seems like yesterday...She was pleased to get accepted by each college that she applied to with scholarship offers.  Just sharing that as an encouragement….

I learned a lot from doing her transcripts and going through the college admissions process with her.  Knowing what to put on her homeschool transcripts was key to her getting into college.  

But transcripts are not just for college.  They show all the hard work and learning activities that your child has done, during their high school years at home, wherever their journey is after graduation.

"Preparing the homeschool transcript is anything but typical and normal because your journey was unique." Tina @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

 

Here are 10 key steps for doing your teen's transcripts, whether you are showcasing them to college admissions or to share with a trade school, community college, or a prospective employer. 

First, let's look at a definition of transcripts, from our friends at HSLDA:

"Transcripts are a record of the courses your child completed in high school, the credit he earned for each course, and each course's final grade. Transcripts also include personal information used for identification purposes and, usually, a grade point average (GPA)."  

So, to get started:

1.  What should be included in the homeschool transcript? 

The Homeschool Transcript

Your teen's transcripts are to include all courses and studies your student has done, in the home and out.  It is the place to compile all courses, including those from a community college.

For college bound teens 

Be sure to choose a name, like Johns Academy, instead of Learning and Growing School, as that helps to led a serious tone to your transcript, and that is what the colleges are looking for.

 --------------------What to Include----------------------------- 

• School name and address, phone number 
• Name of student, DOB
• ALL courses from 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th grade years, with grades and credits earned  (One year study = 1 high school credit.  One semester = 1/2 credit)
• Add in any community college courses, dual enrollment, any online courses, etc, as the homeschool transcript should include everything taken, so the college can see it all in one place.
• For those going to a 4 year college - Scores from SAT or ACT.  Chose the highest scores and list them on your transcript.
• Student's graduation date and GPA - grade point average
• Parent signature with a date.  
• 
  

This list was compiled from HSLDA and Let's Homeschool High School, and taken from my research and all the steps for making your teen's transcripts are in this FREE PDF: 

Making Your Teen's Transcripts FREEBIE

This free PDF includes all my best tips for making your teen's transcripts, the kind that the colleges are used to seeing, and prefer.  

I encourage you to get yours!

2. What should the transcript look like?

-  HSLDA High School-Transcripts also shares sample transcripts here.  

-  I also have a sample transcript in my book, which is based on the one that my daughter used when she applied to college.  

Also, activities, awards, and honor societies don't need to be on the transcript, as there will be space for those important things on the actual college application itself.  That is also helpful to the admissions folks.

3.  Where can I find free transcript forms?

Downloadable Forms

-    Blank forms are available from HSLDA link here HSLDA High School-Transcripts.  Scroll down to HSLDA- Sample Transcript, and click on Blank Forms.

-    If you want to add a reading list to your transcript, click on  Homeschool High School Recordkeeping:Reading List.   Amy @ Walking by the Way has a nice form for doing just that. 

-  I also have transcript forms included in my book and are downloadable for my e-book, if you want one that you can type into.

 4.  What about the GPA - grade point average?

Calculating the GPA

- I have a simple, easy to follow guide for calculating the GPA, and where to put that on your transcripts, in my book, below.

 5.  How about calculating credits?

For any high school courses, done at home, at co-op or online:

 One year of study = 1 high school credit.        

 One semester = 1/2 credit

For dual credit courses or straight college level courses:

Generally, a one-semester three-credit college course is equal to a year-long one-credit high school course.

(.....from my post on transcripts, here.)

Vicki, from 7 Sisters, shares many ways for your teens to earn credits in Homeschool Transcripts How to Earn Credits.

I also have a chapter in my book which shows and illustrates 3 ways to assign high school credit.  All of your teen's work counts, AND assigning credit it easy to do!

Let's stop, and take a breath, and hear some good news...

 

Homeschool transcripts are being widely accepted by the colleges, and many are even dropping their extra requirements for homeschoolers, or simplifying them.  

One of the college in our state is now using CLEP to verify their homeschool transcripts, instead of asking for SAT subject tests or AP courses.  

More and more, homeschool transcripts are being readily accepted, especially when they include two things...strong reference letters and clear course descriptions.


6. What about course descriptions and reference letters?

Reference letters were key to my daughter getting accepted to the colleges on her list.  And they were not hard to deal with.

Usually the colleges ask for a counselor letter and a letter from a teacher, but that is simply because most of their applicants are  public school kids.

As homeschoolers, we can use teachers or counselors if our teen s have them, or other adults who know them well, such as coaches, a co-op teacher, etc.  We used the leader from my teen's Youth and Government program, a parent teacher, who had supervised her as a teacher's assistant, and one more.

Now re course descriptions - Not all colleges require them, but some of them do. They are not hard to write.  Listing the books, resources, unit studies, videos, etc that were used, and what you required for the course to be completed  such as essays, projects, etc - come together to makes up your course description.

Check out Chapter 8 of my book for more information and tips, including printables for college reference letters as well as  some for making your course descriptions.

7.  Where can I find free transcript forms?

Downloadable Forms

-  Blank forms are available from HSLDA link here HSLDA High School-Transcripts.  Scroll down to HSLDA - Sample Transcript, and click on Blank Forms.

-   To add a reading list to your transcript, click on  Homeschool High School Recordkeeping: Reading List.  Amy @ Walking by the Way has a nice form for doing just that.  We did not include that, and were not asked for one from any of our colleges.

If you do choose to do a reading list, be sure to include any free reading books as well as literature, as the colleges want to see that your student is a well rounded individual.

What if you just want a little help with "what" to put "where" on your transcripts? 

 8.  Are there frugal resources for transcripts?

Frugal Help for Transcripts

This post lists my favorite frugal resource for transcripts.  Sometimes it is nice to have a little help and let someone else compile the transcript for you.

Now that you know what needs to be included in your transcripts, are you wondering what courses need to be there as well?

9.  Are there certain courses that should be covered before graduation?

As homeschoolers, we do not need to follow the public school graduation requirements.  Did you know that?  Those are for public school kids.

Now, as far as graduation requirements for homeschoolers, ie, us…Most states give this decision to the homeschooling family.  

For example, in my state of WA, the parents choose which subjects to focus on, and decide when their student is ready to graduate. 

This means that a student going to a vocational institute after graduation, do not need to follow the same recommended courses for teens who will be headed to community college or a 4 year college.

Unless there are specific homeschool graudation requirements in your state, you are the one who decides what your teen needs to do to be ready for graduation.

But, catch this please - 

There are some states that do have specific requirements for homeschool graduation, so it is advisable to check with your state on that.  Let's Homeschool High School has a link, where you can look that up for your state. 

Here’s some more ideas on that - Vicki has a list of the suggested courses to be covered for high school, based on the 7 Sisters umbrella school general guidelines here -  Courses for Homeschooling High School What Needs to Be Covered. 

What if your child is headed to college?

10.  How about the college bound?  What courses should they be doing in high school?

Kids who are headed to college need to know what their specific college entrance requirements will be.  This will vary from college to college.  

One of the chapters in my book discusses how to find out your teen's college entrance requirements.  They will help shape your college bound teen’s high school years.

Congratulations for having made it through the 10 steps to transcripts.  Now that you know how to do transcripts...pour a cup of coffee and savor it!  You deserve it!

Here is my book that I referred above.....

After helping my homeschooled high schooler get into each of the colleges she applied to, I wrote this frugal guide:

Homeschooling High School with College in Mind - 2nd edition 

 Kindle is FREE to read on Prime

Paperback is at Amazon 

For more info: Homeschooling High School with 

College in Mind - 2nd Edition

Have you seen my facebook group called 

Homeschooling Through High School?

 Homeschooling Through High School 

Join us!

Let's chat about:

choosing curriculum 
high school electives
assigning high school credit
making transcripts, how to get started
long range planning tips

writing a college essay
preparing for college writing 
freaking out!

Have you seen Tricia Hodges's video courses in art yet?

 It's called A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels Video Art Course  

Taught by a master artist, and offered by Tricia Hodges, mom of 5 blessings who are all homeschooled.  This is a full one year course, ideal for your teen who is interested in art.   Get your fine arts requirement done (for college bound teens) with this easy to use video course!  

Perfect for independent study! No need for a long list of supplies. Just get some paper and some chalk art pastels and you are ready!

Please share in the comments, any of your favorite high school resource that you have found. 

Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,

Betsy

Betsy is mom to her now college grad, whom she homeschooled through high school.  She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, highschool, 
college, gifted/2e and wrote -Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd Edition,   She offers homeschool help through messages at BJ's Consulting,  and has had some of her articles picked up by the Huffington Post.

Want to stay in touch?

Subscribe, Pinterest, Facebook 

No spam ever.  
Just encouragement for your homeschool in your inbox.

Copyright, all rights reserved

Thanks for respecting my copyright, 2020