Dear Friend,
There are hints of spring in the air on certain days. This school year will soon be wrapping up and most homeschoolers are planning for the next year. I remember it seemed like a never-ending cycle and I usually ended the school year feeling that we had not accomplished all that we should have. At least I felt that way before I discovered an activity that brought us closure, created a memory, and was a whole lot of fun.
At the end of each school year, we spent several days compiling our “Yearbook.” Of course, we had the official cover page with the name of our school and dates of that particular school year. The first tab was the Program of Study. This section contained a list of curriculum used in each subject matter area, extracurricular activities, and the reading list for each child. This was followed by a photo section, done in a sort of scrapbook style, which documented activities.
When my kids were young, we did unit studies. Each unit also had its own section with a cover page documenting topics studied, materials used, field trips taken, experiments performed, and special projects. We included examples of work, field trip brochures, and photos. As the kids got older and were no longer doing units, the tabs separated out each subject matter area with examples of work, papers written, etc.
While not required of us by state law, our Yearbook did showcase the many things my students accomplished. Had I ever had to go to court, the examples were sufficient to prove my student’s skill level. However, much more important than the pragmatic aspect was the sense of pride my children had as they compiled their little book. We were always amazed at the end of the year at how many books they had read and how much they had really accomplished in school and in their extracurricular involvement. We laughed as we compiled the photo sections and recalled all the fun we had. It provided a fitting conclusion to a productive year.
I’ve saved those little Yearbooks and plan on sharing them with my grandchildren some day!
Blessings,
Jeannette
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Feature Article: What are AP Exams?
While you certainly don’t need to worry about AP exams if you have young children, they do come onto the radar as you are approaching high school. It is helpful to know what is ahead and try to plan for it. My children did not start taking AP classes until their sophomore year in high school, but highly gifted students might want to consider them earlier. Here is a brief introduction to Advanced Placement.
AP (Advanced Placement) tests are never required by colleges, but can go a long way in proving ability, dedication, and intellectual vitality. Even though colleges do not mandate them, they are becoming so commonplace that competitive students must have them. Many students enter college with at least 6 AP exams.
Not only do AP classes prove your student’s abilities, they allow college credit without jeopardizing your freshman status (which can happen if taking community college classes). Many admissions officers also prefer AP exams since the test is standardized and they can use it to compare students across the nation. Because of grade inflation, grades from junior colleges are hard to quantify.
AP classes are a college-level course taught by instructors certified by CollegeBoard. AP exams are offered only once a year on one specific date in May. They contain considerable essay sections that require substantial preparation.
CollegeBoard offers exams in the following areas:
If your school offers AP classes, your student should be taking a good number of them. If you homeschool, there are terrific online options. Your student may also self-study for the exams, but you are not allowed to call it an AP class on the transcript unless a certified AP instructor teaches it. We get around that by calling it an honors class, then explaining that it was AP level in the transcript legend.
As with any test, make sure your student is prepared by taking practice tests at home. It is important that they score well. Remember, any AP score (poor or otherwise) will show up on your student’s AP score report that must be submitted to all colleges to which your student applies.
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Resources: Pennsylvania Homeschoolers
It is often challenging enough for homeschooling parents to teach high school classes. When you move into the realm of teaching college classes, may parents feel downright overwhelmed. However, my family discovered a treasure in Pennsylvania Homeschoolers. Not only do they offer a diploma program, but also provide AP classes with incredibly credentialed instructors. You can learn more here: http://www.aphomeschoolers.com/
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About Jeannette
Jeannette Webb is the founder of Aiming Higher Consultants, a firm dedicated to helping Christian students gain admission to great colleges. She has a heart for assisting parents as they train their children for excellence. Jeannette works to empower families to make thoughtful choices for their younger children, to confidently navigate the difficult high school years, and then ace the college admissions process.
If you liked today’s issue, you’ll love her personalized consulting services that help you map out a holistic plan for your student.
While Jeannette is best known for her clear-sighted counseling, her clients feel that her biggest gift to their family was permission to be themselves.
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