This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: 5 Ways to Earn Credits in Homeschool High School.
5 Ways to Earn Credits in Homeschool High School
One of Vicki’s favorite topics is earning credits in
We know that many parents feel stressed when they think about how their high schoolers will earn all the required credits! However, once you get used to it, earning credits is a fun game. Remember, there’s not ONE right way to homeschool high school, so you can do what is best for you and your teens!
Background information on earning credits in homeschool high school
We know that in homeschool high school, as in all high school programs, our teens are earning credits to prove that they are ready to graduate and be successful in the next part of life. Whether that’s going into a:
- job
- career
- the military
- college
Earning credits builds a transcript that shows that teens have the knowledge needed to graduate.
In the early 1900s the Carnegie Foundation helped kind of standardize what a high school education might look like
They did this by establishing the idea of earning credits. They suggested that there should be about 120 hours of study in one subject. So, for each credit that was earned, there should be 120 hours of instruction, of study, of some kind of educational activity. That idea caught on, and schools have been using that then ever since.
These days, the idea of 120 hours per credit varies from state to state (some states require 180 hours per credit). Also if you are in a supervising organization such as a homeschool umbrella school, your teens may be required to show more hours per credit.
You can check your state’s Department of Education or Homeschool Legal Defense Association for requirements for graduation in your area.
Here are five ways to earn credits
Remember, there’s not ONE right way to earn credits. Choose what is best for your teen’s needs and goals.
Curriculum
Much of the high school curriculum that is available is designed to meet requirements for a credit. The text will explain whether it is a full-credit or half-credit textbook. Remember: for your record keeping, you want proof of education. Thus, you hold onto tests, papers, assignments, and projects that are related to that textbook and credit earned.
Note that most high school textbooks are written at a college-prep level. If you have a teen that is an average learner, you can look for some that are for more average students or curricula that are aimed towards students with learning challenges. Note: 7SistersHomeschool’s Introduction to Psychology and Human Development textbooks are written at Level 2 (average) with enrichment for leveling up to Honors.
Log hours
The second way earn high school credit is to log the hours of educational experiences. The Carnegie Foundation had set up the idea that around 120 hours of education per credit (or whatever your state or supervising organization is looking for).
Some teens learn best by experiences, by hands-on, such as:
- Field trips
- Research and writing
- Public speaking experiences
- Memorizations (check out this freebie Songs for Memorizing Poetry)
- Working on individual or group projects
- Watching instructional videos and documentaries
If your teen is learning credits in this way remember your record keeping. Keep logs with hours completed and what work was time each hour! If you didn’t write it down, it didn’t happen.
Real books
Another way our teens have earned their high school credits is by reading real books on a topic of special interest. With special interest electives, they have read:
- Biographies
- Nonfiction
- Historical fiction
- Poetry
For record keeping teens should
- Keep a book list
- Plus: Complete a:
- study guide
- book summary
- essay on one of the topics
These activities demonstrate that they have interacted with the readings.
We have found that if they read around sixteen real books and complete the study guides or some written summaries or essays, they will have earned at least 120 hours (thus, a credit).
Dual Enrollment
These days, dual enrollment is a popular choice these days. Dual enrollments are available at many:
- Community colleges
- Colleges
These courses are sometimes in person and sometimes online courses. These courses should only be chosen teens who are ready for college-level work.
For record keeping and the transcript: a one-semester dual enrollment course equals a one high school credit on the transcript.
Online courses
Online courses are enormously popular these days. (Teens are always asking 7SistersHomeschool for more digital courses!)
These courses can be:
- Live classes
- Independent providers, like Model Diplomacy with our friend and Cousin, Natalie Mack
- Online schools like:
- Self-paced classes
- Like those offered by 7SistersHomeschool
BONUS: In person classes in co-ops and umbrella schools
Teens can also take local classes in their co-ops and umbrella schools. These can be a good way to earn credits for their homeschool transcripts.
There are so many ways to earn credits for homeschool high school. Choose what is best for each teen and each credit/course.
Check out the encouragement and resources from 7SistersHomeschool at:
Thank you to Seth Tillman for editing and Stacey Clendaniel for all the VA support.
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