Graduate a Homeschooler

Day 5. Remembering the Day is About Your Graduate. 10 days of Planning A Homeschool High School Graduation

December 6, 2013 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

By this time in the stage of planning, I am feeling better because we have hired a baker for the cake, a caterer for our chicken and prime rib dinner, had invitations ordered and a place to hold our graduation. Now came the nitty-gritty details of planning for the big day and for the fun part – decorations.

Here were some of the ideas going through my mind for the events of the big day.

How would my son want his diploma given to him?
Did we want a table showcased with his achievements, hobbies and interests?
How comfortable was my son with a slide show presentation of our journey?
Did he want to give a graduation speech?
Did he want to play the piano?

Surprisingly, my son wanted it pretty simple for the day. He wanted a dinner, give a short but gracious speech, have lots of pictures taken and reflect back by looking at pictures from previous field trips and events.

The Mr. gets emotional only on a few occasions, but wanted to give my son his diploma in private so the could tell him how he felt. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

A lot of our friends are homeschooled too and have been with us from the beginning, so they know his achievements.

Would my son feel differently or want something more elaborate if we had started homeschooling in high school? I don’t know. I do know that I learned that my son was not affected by the things of this world like I am because I went to public school. He didn’t have any preconceived ideas of what a graduation was suppose to look like.

Was I still trying to do things the public school way, even on his graduation?

Remembering that the day is more about what our family wanted, I started planning to keep it simple, but fun for the night.

Understanding that my son wanted pictures at the party more than a slideshow focused on him, I started preparing a photo collage.

I started at one small corner by making letters of his name. Of course, you know my love affair with washi tape, so it has to go on anything I make. It can’t hurt.

After slowly adding more pictures I think I had something that Mr. Senior 2013 would allow at the party. Boys! They have to be sure everything is not too girly looking or too big. ME? I wanted a whole wall of pictures, but restrained myself to a smaller display.

Fast forwarding you to the day of the party. What do you think? The photo collage turned out to be just enough of his accomplishments, but focused on friendships we built through the years.

But oh no, I couldn’t stop there with decorations. I had way more ideas. I will show you another project or two we did with the help of hubby and some more ideas for THE day.

Every family and teen is different too. It’s not like I didn’t already know that, it just became more of a reality check when planning the graduation. As I stopped trying to follow what I think our special day should look like or be according to everyone else and started planning for an occasion unique to my family, things started to fall in place.

Hugs and love ya,

If you missed the other posts in this series, you can catch up below:

10 days of Planning A Homeschool High School Graduation: Day 1 Start the Planning

Day 2 Senior Portraits/Cap & Gown. 10 days of Planning A Homeschool High School Graduation

Day 3 Homeschool Graduation Invitations–Which Words Matter. 10 days of Planning A Homeschool High School Graduation

Day 4. Menu & Venue. 10 days of Planning A Homeschool High School Graduation

Homeschool High School How To Prepare THE Transcript

November 19, 2013 | 5 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

When I started homeschooling I worried in Mr. Senior 2013’s kindergarten grade about THE home school high school transcript. That is crazy how we do that to ourselves as mom.

I think part of the stress comes from the mystery shrouding this simple, but direct tool. We end up kind of dreading the high school years as if we need to suffer in silence.

Homeschool High School Transcript

I have been wanting to share some more of my high school know how with you to remove some of that mystery. So when I got his question from Carol, I was excited.

Hi, had a quick question do you know of any place we as homeschool parent can purchase,blank transcripts with a guide to teach you how to prepare them? Getting overwhelmed with our son now in high
school.Thanks again, your a God sent.

Sharing a few general tips to help you through the high school years and some specific tips for the transcript, I hope to guide you through some of this.

General High School Survival Tips

Deciding which direction (college, vocational skill or missionary service) is key to planning subjects and then that will reflect on the transcript. Plan first, transcript later.
High school is more about following guidelines and becomes somewhat less subjective. Think about that for a minute. Prior to starting high school there are so many IF we do this here WHAT will happen there types of decisions to make. In high school, there is a pointed direction and it requires simply knowing each step and doing them. Even if your teen does not know exactly what he is doing, prepare a well laid out high school course and he will still have doors of opportunity opened for him.
Remember, you don’t produce a transcript immediately upon entering high school or even in 10th grade. I changed from how I thought I wanted it set up in 9th grade until his senior year. You have time to mull over what is needed for your child’s particular direction if you are in any grade other than a senior this year.

Basics of High School Transcripts are Basic

Transcripts, like birth certificates are official documents. That means there are some basic things to have on each one but each one will be different from area to area.

Transcripts reflect work and grades accomplished. As I mentioned earlier, key to filling it out is charting your courses or subjects in high school and then filling out the transcript, not the other way around. Planning is one thing and is prior to preparing the transcript.

Look at my high school planning forms above that are on my blog. I have had them for years before I produced my transcript because that is the part of the phase that takes longer. Charting a course for 4 years is not easy, but then again it too doesn’t have to be done all at once either.

You can find those forms on Step 5a. Choose Unique Forms JUST for You.

I don’t want to get you too overwhelmed with planning details as I want to stay focused on preparing the high school transcript, but I will have more to say on another post for you too.

Transcript Tina's Dynamic Homeschol Plus

Looking at my transcript above, look at these things that I have on mine. I feel a transcript can be dissected down to three main parts.

Top Part – Personal Basic Information

full student name
full student address
date of birth, sex and social security number
date of graduation
total number of credits completed

Middle Part – Information about Courses/Subjects.

I used the Main categories of English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Electives/Physical Education. I think this avoids confusion for names of courses because it helps you to see which general subjects that courses go under.
Place to list honors like CLEP courses, honor classes and letters of recommendations your child may have received during his high school years or any other noteworthy achievement that makes him stand out.
This is the part where personality enters your transcript. Some parents like to list by year and not have the general subjects as dividers.

Last Part – Grades/Making it Official

Implementing a grade system is important and I added the one I used above.
Signing it in your official capacity and dating it makes it official.

Planning Subjects or Courses Not so Basic

To be quite honest, transcripts are just very systematic in filling them out because they are a reflection of your course work in high school. It is very nuts and bolts.

The mystery is shrouded more in the planning and assigning credits as I mentioned earlier.

One more thing I need to mention about planning is to remember a rule of thumb, which is you still plan for the 3 R’s in high school. Depending on what your child is doing will determine which one you may spend more time in. I tried to stay balanced each year and cover 1 English, 1 Science, 1 Math and 1 History. Oh for sure the courses have different names, but the courses all fall under one of the main categories above.

Another example for you is that we used Beautiful Feet one year. They have a page on how they suggest to assign credits and it was one American Literature Credit and one American History Credit. American Literature would be put under English and American History under Social Studies on the transcript.

That is how I did mine. Others like I mentioned may not have general categories and just do it by the year. Me? I like to see the main categories because I could use that like a check off list so to speak to be sure I had a course in each category each year.

There is a wealth of information on how to fill them out, but it all starts with you planning what your child will learn each year.

I like Donna Young’s advice of doing a google search about what your local school requires and start from there. I did have an idea of what my son was going to do, but that is a good place to start.

You know I love ya and want to make it easy on you to keep on homeschooling, so guess what I have for you? Yep, an editable high school transcript. I am not sure when it will go on my blog, but then again because you follow, you always get my forms anyway.

High school Homeschool Transcript @ Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Also, look at these posts for some detailed and practical help:

You have some time to investigate and learn. Focus on keeping a well rounded out course in the 3 Rs and savor the treasured high school years.

Hugs and love ya,

Homeschoolers Who Want More Than College

October 20, 2013 | 4 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Homeschoolers lead the educational world in many ways because we want to step to a different pace when helping our teens plan for life in the real world. We don’t want cookie cutter education. So I am delighted, no thrilled to tell you about Praxis, which is an intensive 10 month program as an option for homeschoolers who want more than just college.

Alternative to College

If you have homeschooled for any length of time, you know that not all homeschoolers want to go to college. They have second thoughts about what use to be just accepted as fact. The truth of it is that a college degree is no guarantee that your teen won’t struggle to find work and be successful.

Up until now, I didn’t know of any program for homeschoolers that fed the business and entrepreneurial side of my sons. You know the Mr. has been an entrepreneur who is also in sales almost the whole time we have been married. If you are married to one you know what I mean because they do a little of a lot of things they are talented at and sales too.

I can say he has shaped my positive view of sales and business from the first time we met.

Dare I make a tiny confession? Call us insane, but while riding in the car, we like to listen to Chet Holmes and Tony Robbins. My sons have been required to read books assigned by the Mr. about selling so they understand our business.

So when I first heard about Praxis, I spent considerable time poring over their website and watching the videos because I am excited about understanding their concept.

You know I always have to put everything in an organized package, so I broke down into sections what I feel is important in helping you to understand what they offer.

About Praxis

Though you may be tempted to use the word internship, this is not an internship. This is an opportunity to learn hands-on while receiving a business education too. Praxis is a company that recognizes the natural strengths and abilities of young business minds and wants to nurture that into a career complete with a portfolio.

I find that young people or seasoned business folks too don’t know what a portfolio is let alone build one. I have seen salesman that have to be told their strengths and capabilities. Mind you a lot of salesman I know don’t like reading or fooling with something like that because they are too busy creating new ideas, but they soon find out you are the only one to showcase your strengths.

Helping a young high achiever now to see the need of letting the rest of the hiring world view their talents in a portfolio saves them precious time down the road when applying for a job they are motivated to go after.

So applicants of Praxis are those kids of ours that are entrepreneurial and do not fit the mold of college. Right away from an early age they may have people, managerial and business skills that we noticed from the time they were born. A college may have them repeat the same things that we taught them in high school.

Praxis recognizes that a business skill set needs to be developed by business minded people. So their staff comes from various educational and business backgrounds.

Applicants for Praxis would be

young adults from 18 to twentyish and up. Basically, young adults mature enough to live on their own and work while pursuing this business and educational venture.
self-starters who want an alternative to college.
willing to relocate where the job opportunities are located.
getting paid (oh yes that computes) while they learn online and work for companies interested in the fresh ideas of young innovators.
instructed ALL online in academics by experts in their respective areas.
required to take tests (yes we know as homeschoolers that they are a necessary part of life) but the beauty of these tests are that they are oral. Again, another tell tale sign that Praxis understands that young business applicants are not necessarily paper/pen and sit in the cubicle type of kids.

How does Praxis work?

Like a partnership between student and businesses, participants are matched with businesses located in areas that have partnered with Praxis.
Students complete a 10 month program that consists of not only 10 hours a week of school online (you know we are already familiar with online work because a lot of our teens do CLEP and use other free online courses), but are encouraged to interact and discuss the material and then do a test.
Because they understand the value of a rigorous education as well as business savvy, they have designed 6 rigorous curriculum modules that participants will go through.

Want to check it out? Go to Praxis and click on Curriculum to download a .pdf about the course study.

What does it cost?

Certainly worth considering is the price, but more important to note is the value. It cost $13,000.00. I know, it does sound like a lot of money and that is because it is. But, follow me on this because we’re familiar with taking any curriculum that we are interested in purchasing and breaking down the cost to realize what we pay per year or per child. In other words, determine the cost over the term. Praxis is no different.

Your son or daughter will get paid $10.00 per hour for a 30 hour week. Simple math tells us that $300.00 x 40 weeks (10 months) = $12,000.00. I like that.

Divide 1,000.00 which is the balance of the original cost (13,000.00) over 10 months and that is $100.00 dollars a month.

Another huge advantage to this is that a young adult can appreciate the value of his education when he is working and paying it off as opposed to having mom and dad pay for it later or being saddled with a large college debt.

Your child’s hard work does equal an increased perceived value in his or her own education because now it has intrinsic value. Another win win because the young adult has already invested his time and money into this course. Starting off in the business world with less debt teaches an important business lesson from the beginning.

You see why I am excited about this unique company, but there is more!

3 Shortcuts To Achieving Success In Record Time

We already think outside of the box because of the fact we homeschool and take the road less traveled. Key to understanding what Praxis offers is knowing how we could use their services to meet our unique needs in multiple ways.

I don’t think it really comes down to having to make a choice between attending college or not. You know I always feel like we want it all in homeschooling and most of us set the bar real high with education.

Using Praxis as an alternative to college, during a gap year or as a stand alone business enterprise for those that won’t be pressed into classroom service leaves you plenty of options in how to use their program.

Sign Up is Taking Place Now & Follow Facebook for the Latest

There are two program/enrollment periods.

1st Option – The program runs from February – November. (Applications are being accepted for the February – November 2014 period through December 1. Hurry.)

2nd Option – The program runs from September – June. (Applicants are being accepted for this time period now too because sometimes you need to make long range plans.)

I am already following them on facebook and twitter for the latest. Go here to facebook: Discover Praxis to LIKE them. If your kids are too young now but you want to keep tabs on this company, then check out their newsletter at the bottom of Praxis home page on the right side to sign up.

Without sounding too over the top because I am so excited to know about this company, I am proud to do this review about Praxis. No longer are the risk takers, creative and business minded young adults in the homeschooling. They are practical and see the value of real life learning. Focusing not just on academic greatness, but now having an option with Praxis to arm our children with real life experiences just adds to the reason we homeschool. We want it all.

Check out my other posts about homeschooling high school or older children:

Happily Homeschooling Through Highschool

Guiding Older Children

Just Breathe……

Hormonal Teenagers Or High Achieving Teenagers

Name: Praxis

Website: discoverpraxis.com

Program/Product: 10 month educational and business program for the business minded, the risk takers and the young adults willing to break the mold.

Price: $13,000.00. Whoa, but doing the math helps you to see the value. Applicants get paid $10.00 per hour for a 30 hour week. 30 hours x 40 weeks is $12,000.00. 1,000.00 divided by 10 months makes $100.00 per month and that equals value AND the best part no debt or very little.

Social Media:

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter @ discoverpraxis

Price and information are correct as of the date of this review.

Hugs and love ya,

Purdy Purdy Pink – Homeschool Graduation

May 22, 2013 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I fibbed. I know I said the inspire me review & giveaway was next, but over the weekend, I went to a homeschool graduation from one of the families in my group and it was so jaw dropping beautiful I had to share with you some visual eye candy. I don’t know if it was because we got our first day of cool weather or if because the graduation reminded me of the traditions I grew up with on my dad’s side of the family but it was a super Sunday for us. If I would have had a girl {sigh} this party reminded me of some of the girly girl things I would want.

Besides, who else but homeschoolers can have graduation parties anytime of the year and the rest of us not think anything about it?

This was the table you saw when you entered. I had to use white over her name but I don’t think that takes away from her beautiful entry table. I heart how she decorated a keepsake graduation hat.

On another graduation hat on the entry table they had all the guests to sign it. You see those guys in the back ground with white shirts and black pants. They were servers. We had a sit down meal with our own servers. Can you guess by now her favorite color?

Purdy purdy pink centerpiece table decorations.

The candy buffet was so beautiful and intricately done. It took me a few pictures to look at every detail.

Look at these numbers. She had taken pictures of her field trips, family and friends and added them to the numbers 2012 as another keepsake.

Mr. Senior 2013 may not be so interested in things like that but I know it is a great keepsake idea for graduation.

All the eye to details made the candy buffet eye candy.

You can see the reaction of Mr. Awesome when I ask him if he sees any ideas I could use at his graduation party. Okay, okay, I know you appreciate this "fine art". So the candy buffet table was not to be out done by the 3rd table.

The cake table.

There were three different flavors of cupcakes to choose from.

The cakes were as delicious as they looked.

Did I tell you one of the things I really heart about this graduation was that everything was lovingly made by all the family and extended family? The aunt made the cupcakes and cake and help decorated. She homeschools too and her boys are young. I can’t wait to see her boys’ graduation parties. The meal was prepared by the dad who loves to cook. It was so DE-LISH. It was smoked chicken strips and beef tenderloin in a southern cajun seafood sauce on a bad of jasmine rice.

Mr. Senior 2013 snapped this picture of the Mr. and me before the party started. I told you it was cool weather here because my hair gets more wild and big. Hubby is feeling better each day. It has been a long road to recovery. Some days good, other days not so good but one day at a time we take it.

There is the guest of honor. Her parents had got her the most frilly foo foo purdy pink dress. I snapped this picture of Mr. Senior 2013 right when the dance started before anybody else got up. My travel point and shoot camera is not so good on moving action photos but overall it was such a fun night for all of us. The family went to such great lengths to show their appreciation to not only me and my family for helping them on their homeschool journey but for all the support they got from friends. Going sappy on you here. To see little girls turn into such beautiful Christian woman, it stirs my heart.

I hope maybe it gives you an idea or two when it comes time to prepare for graduation in your family. It comes quicker than you realize.

I promise this time, a giveaway is next.

Meso-America Free lapbook is in the works. I have a printable for the student planner that was a special request. Pictures to share of the few changes I made to our school area and a little bit on organization of the kitchen is still coming.

Hugs today, you know I love ya,