 I totally need help for all these things. I am not a type-A homeschool mom. Homeschooling is hard for me, but I press through and always feel guilty that I am not doing it the right way or doing enough of it. Then, you ask me to add in transcripts or report cards and try to stay on track. Right, it's me you're talking about here. This is why I need help. So the first place I go to is a place of prayer. Next, I ask those who have gone before me. And then I practice not being anxious. Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:6-8 Practical tips: You can see how to put together a transcript and portfolio using information gleaned from people like Lee Binz, Inge Cannon, and Janice Campbell. There is a myriad of information on high school and college prep at HSLDA. Since I have graduated three children up to this point, I now know that transcripts are really not that hard. It starts when they are young making easy checklists and keeping simple records, and then when they are in the high school years you do the same thing, but just mark it on forms called transcripts. Easy enough. You can do this! Do what is easiest for you, and get help if you have to. Don't fear these things. The LORD is on your side. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear ... Psalm 118:6 Oh, and if you need help with homeschooling through high school, just email me, and I will send you a free E-Book on the subject with tons of practical helps! ~Deborah dwuehler@theoldschoolhouse.com
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Issui ng your own diploma? Make it a document that's worthy of your graduate's accomplishments! We provide beautiful, professionally-printed diplomas that reflect the excellence of home education and the effort you've invested. Each diploma is completely personalized and includes a handsome padded cover of your choice.
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Announcement
Your 2014 Annual Print Book
is in the mail!
If you pre-ordered your 2014 Annual Print Book published by The Old Schoolhouse� Magazine you should be seeing it in your mailbox soon!
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The Familyman
 "Transcripts, reports cards, and staying on track ... Oh, my!! Something tells me we're not in Indiana anymore, Toto."
In Indiana (my fair state), homeschoolers don't have to keep transcripts or report cards ... so we don't. After all, we know how our kids are doing. They live in our house, for goodness sake. Besides, like I say when I speak all over the country, "All my kids are 'A+' students." I mean they're just exactly the way God created them to be. Those who are good in math were created to be good in math and those who aren't ... weren't. A+
Now as far as staying on track ... whose track are we talking about? And who decided that it was the right track? I believe that God is the one who sets the track for each child, and it's our job as parents to know what that track is.
It's really a lot easier than so many people make it. For example, the child who reads early is on the early reading track so they read more and earlier. The child who learns to read later is on the later reading track.
The key is to learn to enjoy them both. We don't have any problem enjoying the early track learners. We feel confident in their abilities (like we had something to do with it). It's the later track learners that we have trouble with. Although they're on the track that God set for them (that almost sounds scriptural).
That doesn't mean we can blow homeschooling off. It just means that everyone has a different track and that's okay.
Here's the take away:
1. Don't sweat transcripts. I've heard many moms say they didn't put one together until their child needed one and it turned out fine.
2. If you don't HAVE to keep report cards, don't. Those letter grades are often for the "teacher" (that's you), not for the students. All your kids deserve an A+, by the way, if they've tried hard.
3. Let each child enjoy his or her own track. One track DOES NOT fit all.
4. If your state rules are burning you out, move to Indiana ... it's like the OZ of the nation.
Be real,
Todd
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A division of The Old Schoolhouse� Magazine
Did you know? Every class is INCLUDED for members! No limits!
Have you ever felt the swirling sensation of looking at your schedule and To Do lists and not knowing where to start? You feel the overwhelming weight of it all begin to creep in and paralyze you. Transcripts. Report cards. Unfinished projects. We have all felt that at one moment or another--sometimes for many moments at a time. What can we do? The image that comes to my mind most often during those times is of Peter and Jesus walking on the water. Well, actually, Jesus is doing most of the walking. Peter is mostly drowning and crying out for help. But the best part of that scene for me is not the miracle of Peter walking on the water, be it ever so briefly. It is the moment when Jesus reaches out his hand and catches Peter. Peter failed, but Jesus didn't. We will fail, but Jesus won't. He will catch us and put us back on track--his track.  As we journey along the path he has for us, we need lots of encouragement, support, and resources. That is something all of us at SchoolhouseTeachers.com work very hard to offer. Our high school resources have grown and are continuing to grow. We currently offer more than two dozen high school level classes, including several with transcript-weighting information provided by the teachers. We have transcript help and printable forms to assist you in record keeping. Plus, all SchoolhouseTeachers.com members have access to Apple Core, an online record keeping system. Come see all we have to offer your family on SchoolhouseTeachers.com.
Join today: your first month is just $3. After that, $12.95 a month serves your entire family. You are never behind; start our courses
any time. Save 10 percent by purchasing a yearly membership: just $139. We're always available to answer any questions you
have about the site. Contact us any time at
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Raising Real Men
 Transcripts. When we do workshops on homeschooling high school and we mention transcripts, moms break out in a cold sweat. We were there once, too. It's funny, though, that something that only takes a couple of hours is so nerve-wracking. Want some real anxiety? Help your child figure out what to do after high school and how to afford it. That's a real nail biter, so let's get the transcript out of the way and focus on the more important stuff.
Record-keeping. Keep a file somewhere and list what courses your high school age student is taking and what books he used. You think you'll never forget struggling through Algebra I together, but trust me, it'll fade to black pretty quickly! Do your best to keep a list of all the significant books (you can skip the graphic novels) he reads in high school, too. Very few colleges or programs will ask for a textbook list or reading list, but if they do, those are very hard to reconstruct later.
The format: one page, just one page. Homeschoolers are often horrible at following directions. We once headed up a scholarship program in which applications were limited to 10 pages. Some homeschoolers sent 10 page transcripts plus all the rest. It broke our hearts, but we had to decide what to set aside. A judge, who has to read through 200 applications, is not amused by extra pages. It's also not fair to the students who obeyed. You want your transcript to be in the standard format.
The necessities. Student's name, social security number, birthdate (you need those to avoid mix-ups in college admissions), the name, phone number, and address of your school, dates of attendance, expected graduation date, and parents' names. ). Include a list of courses either by year or by subject, whichever looks better for your student, with grades. At the end, you'll need a signature from the administrator of your school (in our case, Dad). It's really quite easy!
The other stuff. The other parts of a college application are more important than the transcript, but are often overlooked. The resume is the place to share all the cool things your student has done outside of his coursework--employment, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and sports. Recommendation letters from outside teachers or others who can speak to your child's academic ability and character are critical. Most important of all are the essays your student writes himself. That's his opportunity to stand out from the pack and to show what makes him special. Spend the most time on these!
All of this seems pretty intimidating, but it's not. The real challenge of the high school years is helping your young men and women transition to adulthood through mentoring, discipleship, and that difficult letting-go part. That's the part that ought to keep us on our knees!
Yours in the battle,
Hal & Melanie
Hooray!! We are so excited to finally open up registration for PreFlight--a live webinar series for teens and their parents! We'll be talking about homeschooling high school and transcripts, purity, dating, and courtship, gaming and media, jobs and entrepreneurship and most importantly, the transition to adulthood. Don't miss getting a seat; click here to find out more!
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Announcement Keeping school records doesn't have to be time consuming, difficult, or exhausting.
The Old Schoolhouse� Magazine.
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AnnouncementNow you can be a TOS affiliate and earn some extra cash!
Would you like to earn 20% commission on TOS items that family and friends purchase through an affiliate website? It's easy, check out this page for more information. Once you are signed up, you simply share your unique affiliate link with family and friends. If anyone purchases anything from the TOS website using your affiliate link, you receive a 20% commission. There are even buttons available to help you promote your affiliate link on your website or blog.
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Contest Corner
For the month of March, 2014
The Book of God (Graphic Novel)
The Book of God shares with us how the Bible came to be created. The beginning words, in a tribute to Dr. Henry H. Hailey, sets the tone for the intention of the book, "The Bible is not man's account of his efforts to find God but rather an account of God's efforts to reveal Himself to Man." Set in the design of a graphic novel, the content is quite meaty.
This book is set in four parts: The Production of the Bible, The Process of the Bible, the Preservation of the Bible, and the Proof of the Bible. Each area digs deep with quotes, historical time lines, and questions that lead the reader to want to discover the answers on the next page. Starting with how the Bible has shaped the world history, governments and laws then moving to how the Bible is still shaping countries and cultures with the abundance of versions and massive availability. The journey is with a main character who leads you through how the Bible was written from the Old Testament to the New with the authors and time lines.
We walk through how the canons were created, listening in to the men who left records of how different letters were included or left out. As we read we sit beside those who wanted to preserve the Bible. With the printing press we learn how those in authority wanted to ensure the preservation of the truth of scriptures were upheld. Each part of the book builds on the page prior with more questions as we turn to the next topic. (Read the rest of the review. . . )
You can WIN the Book of God!
TO ENTER: Email Heather with your name, mailing address, and phone number for contact purposes, with the subject line, "Book of God" for a chance to win* the book for your family!
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Read
in the latest issue of
The Old Schoolhouse�
Get a library of homeschool encouragement with
over 175 E-Books or
audio books for just $25. Plus a free ticket to the upcoming Schoolhouse Expo with your Schoolhouse Library purchase.
Click on the image below
to order. Use coupon code: expoforfree2014
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