how do you write a course description for a homeschool transcript

A course description should include the course name, and a brief description of what the course taught. Using your curriculum’s scope and sequence will be very helpful in supplying this information. Any other notable occurrences or information about the course and how the student completed it should be noted here.

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How do I write a homeschool course description paragraph?

 · These are: 1) the name of the course (which can be a name you give it or the one from the curriculum company — your choice), 2) the resource(s) used, 3) how a grade is determined (is it based on tests, papers, completion of activities, etc.) 4) how many credits the course is worth, and 5) some combination of the following: a) the general objective of the …

What should be included in a homeschool transcript?

First, ask yourself if the independent study involved enough hours. If so, the transcript is an option. Then ask yourself if it is worthy of a course description, rather than the 150 characters …

How do you write a course description for a college transcript?

 · Make it official. The best way to make your transcript look official is to use one of our free homeschool transcript templates. Keep your transcript to two pages and get specific …

Do colleges look at homeschool course descriptions?

 · Make your transcript look official by adding lines for signatures of the principal, and primary instructor. If you feel that your transcript is a good representation of your student’s …

What do you write in a description course?

How to Write a Course DescriptionBe student-centered, rather than teacher-centered or course-centered.Use brief, outcomes-based, descriptive phrases that begin with an imperative or active verb (e.g., design, create, plan, analyze)Be clear, concise, and easy to understand (< 80 words)More items...

How do you write an eLearning course description?

Attention Grabbing eLearning Course DescriptionsStart off with a thought provoking or compelling statement. ... Include keywords that are relevant and engaging. ... Avoid complicated vocabulary or industry-specific jargon. ... Use action words or phrases. ... Avoid redundancies. ... Keep it short and simple. ... Address them directly.

How do you write a transcript for homeschooling?

A homeschool transcript should include:Student's name.Your homeschool name (see "Should You Name Your Homeschool?")Your homeschool address (usually your home)Your phone number.Student's date of birth.Graduation date (use projected graduation date for pre-graduation submissions)More items...

How do I make my own transcript?

You can still create a quality high school transcript.Step 1: Make a list of all coursework and material the student has covered. ... Step 2: Look up your state's requirements for high school graduation. ... Step 3: Create course names and assign credits. ... Step 4: Enter the information into a formal transcript template.More items...

What should be included in LMS description?

Why Do You Need Compelling Course Descriptions?Provide Catchy and Concise Course Details. ... Include a personal benefit for the learner. ... Clarify the benefit. ... Get a bit more specific on what will be taught. ... Add a sentence that speaks to a desire, fear, need or curiosity. ... Include a clear call to action.

How do you write course content?

The following are tips for writing a course description:The course description should be no longer than 100 words.Write from a student-centered perspective.Use present tense and active voice.Use clear and simple sentence structure and language.Use gender neutral language.More items...

How do homeschoolers keep records?

Keep Track of Homeschool Attendance with Google Sheets. Many states require parents to keep homeschool attendance records. ... Keep Track of Homeschool Academics with Trello. ... Issue Homeschool Transcripts and Report Cards with Google Sheets.

How do homeschoolers get a GPA?

You should award either 1 or ½ credit for each course; give 1 credit for a 1 year course and give ½ (0.5) credit for a 1 semester course. Take the sum of the grade points and divide them by the sum of the course credits taken in a given year, and then round to the nearest two (2) decimal places. This is the yearly GPA.

What homeschool programs are accredited?

List of Accredited Homeschool ProgramsBridgeway Academy.Abeka Homeschool.Forest Trail Academy.Laurel Springs.

What is a transcript for high school?

A transcript is an official document that shows the courses you have taken, the grades earned, and a cumulative grade point average (GPA). A transcript is not a diploma.

How does homeschool work?

Homeschooling simply means your children learn at home and in the community, rather than school, and parents are responsible for their education, rather than an outside organisation. It DOESN'T mean you'll be at home all the time, or that homeschooling will look anything like school.

How can I get my high school transcript?

First, check the school's website to see if they have information about obtaining your transcript. Transcript information is often found on alumni or student services pages, and it can provide information on how to request your transcript online or who to contact to get your transcript.

Why do you create a course description for homeschooling?

Your homeschool course descriptions provide proof that your curriculum is challenging. Homeschool course descriptions include details that show how your child succeeded with this challenging curriculum, and earned a solid GPA using rigorous material. This is why you create course descriptions.

What is a homeschool course description?

A description of how you evaluated your child. This is the part of the homeschool course description that shows how the child performed. It should include natural evaluation, and not only tests. Within these main ingredients, there are many ways to give information about your class.

What does "perfect record keeping" mean in homeschooling?

Perfect homeschool record keeping means keeping records, including creating course descriptions. It does not mean you have perfectly kept, tidy homeschool records. You don't have to be perfect, grade everything, or even continue the same curriculum for a full year.

What does it mean to keep records in homeschooling?

Perfect homeschool record keeping means keeping records, including creating course descriptions. It does not mean you have perfectly kept, tidy homeschool records. You don't have to be perfect, grade everything, or even continue the same curriculum for a full year. Beautiful notebooks aren’t required either, if simple lined paper or leftover graph paper will suffice. You don't have to always use the same colored pen or pencil or even include test grades in every subject.

What to write in a cover letter for homeschooling?

Use a cover letter to introduce or explain tough situations you don't want to include on the transcript or in the course descriptions. My cover letter was a simple introduction. "Enclosed are the comprehensive homeschool records for my son, Kevin Binz." But a cover letter can be your best friend if you need to explain complicated situations, such as taking five years to finish high school, health troubles, failing grades, or changes in school situations.

How to find similar classes in high school?

When you are truly stumped, search for the keyword, such as "ranching" and add the words "high school course description" or "high school syllabus" to find a similar class. Then imitate their words and review their grading criteria for ideas (if you didn’t grade the class as your child was engaging in delight directed learning).

Is cut and paste easier than compose and create?

Cut and paste is much easier than compose and create, so use descriptions from others when you can. This is why I provide hundreds of course descriptions in my Comprehensive Record Solution. Within the Course Description Collection, you can use "Control-F" to find the specific description you need.

When to write homeschool course descriptions?

We recommend drafting your homeschooler’s course descriptions starting in 9th grade or the year that you first start homeschooling high school, whichever is earlier. My young teen isn’t even thinking about college, you say? Write it anyway. If you wait to write them only in senior year, you risk adding to your and your senior’s already very full plate during applications season. Not only that, you could have also forgotten a lot of the work you accomplished together in the earlier high school years.

What is a course description?

Course descriptions are simply, exactly that: a document that lists and describes all the courses your homeschooled high schooler took (or will take) from 9th to 12th grade. They give admissions committees very helpful insight into your child’s homeschool journey and academic preparation for college.

How many pages are in a course description?

Course descriptions can range anywhere from 1-40 pages. We suggest brevity and common sense.

What to call a self-created class?

Include the class provider’s name if the course was outsourced. If it was a self-created class, you can call it homeschooled or independent study.

Do homeschoolers have to jump through hoops?

Homeschoolers often have to jump through additional hoops during college applications. Always check college websites for what they look for in homeschooled applicants. Many college websites now feature homeschool-specific information. If they don’t (or even if they do) we always suggest contacting the colleges for details.

Is English 9 good for homeschool?

Simply follow the same example as your homeschool transcript for easy reference. Choose a descriptive course title. English 9 is completely fine but it does not describe the absolutely amazing medieval literature study your freshman might have completed.

Why is it important to keep a transcript for homeschooling?

While we may think of homeschool transcripts as record-keeping on our part, it's important to keep in mind that a transcript's main job is to communicate the student's readiness for college by proving that they have completed all of the requirements for admission.

How many years of high school do you need to get a transcript?

Typically, a high school transcript will include something similar to the following: 4 years of English including literature and writing. 4 years of math including a minimum of Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and Trigonometry. 2-4 years of social sciences, such as World History, World Geography, US History, and US Government.

Can you keep a homeschool planner?

Beyond that, you can keep records either in a printed homeschool planner, a digital homeschool planner (online service, software, or spreadsheet), or simply keep a notebook with written notes. Delight-directed or interest-led homeschooling does not mean transcripts have to be difficult.

How to save homeschooling records?

Beyond that, you can keep records either in a printed homeschool planner, a digital homeschool planner (online service, software, or spreadsheet), or simply keep a notebook with written notes.

Do you have to be accredited to go to high school?

In almost all cases, neither courses nor institutions need to be accredited for a course to be put on a high school transcript. Notable exceptions are if a student is interested in playing NCAA sports (high school programs must be approved by the NCAA), or if a student is planning to go from homeschooling to a public or private high school, which have their own restrictions about what can be transferred in. You can read more about accreditation in our article about homeschool accreditation and in Jeanne's article about homeschool diplomas.

What grade should I take math?

Typically, these courses are first taken around 8th grade, but of course this varies by individual. All other courses taken from 9th-12th grade should be included as well.

Do homeschoolers have to graduate?

At the time of this publication, no state requires homeschoolers in the US to follow public school requirements for graduation, but a few states do have graduation requirements for homeschoolers in their homeschool statutes.

What are the two types of transcripts used by homeschoolers?

There are two main kinds of transcripts that homeschoolers use; they differ in their organization. Subject: Organized by subject and is usually front-loaded by student’s strongest subjects. Date: Organized by year. Similar to brick and mortar school transcripts. Which transcript to use depends on your homeschooler.

What is a transcript?

Very simply, the transcript is a one-page document that provides a quick glance at a student’s high school courses, grades, GPA, and, if desired, test scores (more on that later).

Do subject transcripts work?

If you have a student who has studied a few languages or a student who has doubled or tripled up in math, a subject transcript may work best for you. On the other hand, if your teen isn’t strong in a particular subject, a subject transcript will make that painfully obvious!

Can you include SAT scores on your transcript?

SAT scores, ACT scores, Subject Test scores, and AP scores can be included UNLESS applying test-optional (choosing to not send scores to a test-optional school.) For obvious reasons, you wouldn’t want those scores on the transcript. Also important: Do NOT self-report those scores in the Common App.

Do transcripts have grading keys?

Each transcript should have a grading key or grading scale. This explains your grading system in an efficient way to the admissions officer. There are a variety of scales from which to choose. Pick one and be consistent.

Can you give a course a unique name?

If a course is taken at home, feel free to give it a unique name. Just be sure it’s clear what subject it is. Decide if and how you will weight grades to reflect rigor. Some schools immediately unweight and recalculate GPA’s according to their own system, but some use weighted grades for merit scholarships.

How many pages should a college transcript be?

Note: College admissions officers prefer a one-page, simple, easy-to-read transcript.

What is a course description?

Course descriptions are the key to explaining precisely what a student covered in a course and how he or she was evaluated for proficiency. They give a helpful snapshot of a course, are useful for explaining and justifying an “honors” ranking for a particular course as well, and help clarify courses taken through dual enrollment, with a tutor, or through a co-op.

Do home schools have the same uniform approach as public schools?

Because home schools don’t have the same uniform approaches as public or private schools, it can be hard for an admissions officer to know what a course titled “Introduction to American History” actually covers. More detail is needed, and that’s where course descriptions come in.

Can you duplicate a high school class?

Feel free to duplicate your work: If a student takes the same type of course multiple semesters throughout high school, it’s OK to use the same course description for each one. Just ensure the courses are truly identical. If different topics are covered or capacities are learned, you should craft a distinct description.

Is course description important for admissions?

Well-written, comprehensive course descriptions aren’t just important for admissions departments, though. Other entities (such as scholarship committees) might want to see this added detail, too! So it always pays to have them prepared alongside your transcript.

Do colleges require course descriptions?

As always, check the requirements of your college: Some schools require course descriptions, while others don’t. Most times, you can easily check to see whether a given institution asks for these by searching its website, but you can also call the admissions department directly.

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Vicki Tillman

Blogger, curriculum developer at 7SistersHomeschool.com, counselor, life and career coach, SYMBIS guide, speaker, prayer person. 20+year veteran homeschool mom.