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How to Create Honors Credits on Homeschool Transcript- Special Replay

May 16, 2023 admin

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: How to Create Honors Credits on Homeschool Transcript- Special Replay.

Vicki shares how to create a powerful transcript by building Honors credits. She explains the method called “leveling up” that her family and the homeschool umbrella school that all the 7Sisters’ homeschoolers have graduated from. Check out this Homeschool Highschool Podcast episode that explains the concept of “Levels”.

If you have homeschool high schoolers who are headed for college, it is likely they will need to show rigor on the homeschool transcript. How do you handle creating courses with rigor and showing them on the transcript?

Well, it’s complicated! There are not any unified how-to’s. Our advice is:

Choose your method
Keep it consistent through all core courses (core courses are Language Arts, Maths, Sciences, Social Studies and World Languages)
Make sure you create a legend or key on transcript that explains a little about how the level of rigor was achieved
Be sure to record along with the title of the course, the level of rigor that your homeschool high schoolers achieved

This is how we do it. First decide on the level for each course:

Remedial Level: Level 1

This is not college level. It is for student who are severely behind or have learning disabilities.

Average High School Level: Level 2

These are courses with textbooks that have easier reading levels and shorter lessons. Some examples would include: Westfield Studios 101, Pacemaker series.
If your homeschool high schoolers complete a Level 2 course it will not prevent them from getting into college.
However, the colleges that accept Level 2 courses will most likely be community colleges or some private colleges.
Make sure that the Level 2 courses are not in the courses that will become your teens’ college majors.
Very few courses should be Level 2 for college-bound teens.

College Preparatory Level: Level 3

Most available textbooks are Level 3. Some examples of Level 3 publishers are,Apologia, BJU Press and Abeka.

Advanced Level: Level 4

This level is more powerful than college prep.
Leveling up the Level 3 to Level 4 in our homeschool umbrella school requires completing a Level 3 course plus one half of another Level 3 course of that same topic.
This will earn 1 credit of that course at Level 4.
It is an attractive credit to many colleges.

Honors Level: Level 5

An Honors level homeschool high school course is similar in rigor to an AP course. However, the title “AP” can only be used by courses specifically approved by the College Board. They own that designation.
Honors level courses are highly rigorous; they require a lot of work. This is worth it for teens who are applying to competitive private or state colleges.
Concentrate on Honors level for courses in the general area of your homeschool high schoolers’ future major or interest area.
Some competitive colleges want to see ALL core courses at Honors level. Check with colleges of interest for their requirements.

Create a college-attractive transcript by building Honors-level credits. Develop powerful credits by adding extra rigor for Honors courses.

How do you develop Honors credit?

It is hard work. A teen working on a Level 5 Honors credit will be doing about double the Level 3 College Prep.

7Sisters textbooks and Literature Study Guides include instructions (with Literature Study Guides the instructions vary by age and grade). Listen to this HSHSP episode for tips on using the levels feature of 7Sisters curriculum.

Start with:

Textbook average or college prep.

Then add:

Add 16 extra real book in interest areas/subject area
For example, if Biology will be your teen’s major: choose books exploring an interest such as birds, including:
Books on Famous Ornithologists, Bird behaviors
Write summary of each book

The textbook plus 16 books and summaries become ONE Honors credit.

Another way to earn an Honors credit could be adding a Carnegie credit.

For more information on Carnegie credits check out this post.

Start with:

Textbook average or college prep.

Then add:

Logged extra Carnegie Unit of credit (varies by state 120-180 hours of instruction). Make sure you document these hours.
Create the Carnegie credit by:
- Developing an interest through field trips, writing research papers (keys with Language Arts), projects, related volunteer work, related apprenticeships
- For instance, if your teen’s interest is Psychology, volunteer at rescue mission to see what other people’s lives are like
Make these hours useful to your teen.
Keep really good logs. Suggestion: have teens log hours themselves. This develops independent learners (or panicked learners if they put logging off too long.)

The textbook plus Carnegie credit becomes ONE Honors credit.

Or try a combination

College textbook plus 8 books and half-credit logged hours.

Remember, homeschool high schoolers are doing double credits BUT on transcript they only receive 1 credit. College admissions officers LOVE these Honors credits.

Search Honors credit at 7Sisters for more ideas.

When teens develop interest they feel engaged and proud of themselves. It gives them a nice expertise in an area and creates a powerful transcript. When the Honors credit is in an area of their choice, they can use this expertise in a college admissions interview.

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