Homeschooling High School: Planning Ahead for College Admission, Revised

Ideas For Building a Portfolio

Assign each child a color and code it into a filing system or ~Purchase a binder for each child

  1. In that binder keep a record of curriculum plans (these are always being tweaked as the year progresses)
  2. A reading log & educational show/movies log
  3. A field trip log with pictures/notes (Walmart sells great photo inserts)
  4. Dividers for each academic area: Reading, English, Math, History, Science, Health
  5. Put in samples of work from the beginning, middle and end of the year
  6. Date work pages and research reports (this helps the evaluator judge progress)
  7. As the portfolio builds throughout the year you will  at all your child's accomplishments.
  8. Older students should be responsible enough to help build their own portfolio, as it will be used to present their hard work in the portfolio review.
  9. A heavy duty three hole paper puncher, and a date stamper are good tools to have on hand.
  10. More ideas on our "Begin Homeschooling in New Hampshire" page.

To alleviate concerns about High School, it was once suggested to me, to schedule and observe classes at your local High School. Go for a good portion of the day, and sit in on several classes. Measure the atmosphere and the learning taking place to your standards.

Request your High School's Scope and Sequence to find out exactly what the requirements are.

You might choose to follow the schools curriculum guidelines, or you have the option of researching different curriculum companies and choosing your own. To design your own check out ideas as this page: http://www.homeschoolinsights.com/CR2.html

If you still choose to homeschool, gear your curriculum content to college prep, if college is the goal.

Colleges That Admit Homeschoolers

www.learninfreedom.org/colleges_4_hmsc.html

NH Laws on Evaluation 193-A:6

I. The parent shall maintain a portfolio of records and materials relative to the home education program. The portfolio shall consisit of a log, which designates by title the reading materials used, and also sample of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the child. Such portfolio shall be preserved by the parent for 2 years from the date of the ending of the instruction.

II. The parent shall provide for an annual educational evaluation in which is documented the child's demonstration of educational progress at a level commensurate with the child's age and ability. The child shall be deemed to have successfully completed his annual evaluation upon meeting the requirements of any ONE of the following:

(a) A certified teacher or a teacher currently teaching in a nonpublic school who is selected by the parent shall evaluate the child's educational progress upon review of the portfolio and discussion with the parent of child. The teacher shall submit a written evaluation to the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal;

(b) The child shall take any national student achievement test, administered by a person who meets the qualifications established by the provider or publisher of the test. Composite results at or above the fortieth percentile on such tests shall be deemed reasonable academic proficiency. Such test results shall be reported to the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal;

(c) The child shall take a state student assessment test used by the resident district. Composite results at or above the fortieth percentile on such state test shall be deemed reasonable academic proficiency. Such test results shall be reported to the commissioner of education, the resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal; or

(d) The child shall be evaluated using district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal. The results shall be reported by the parent or testing agency to such appropriate official.                                       

Notification of Home Education Program - Intent to Homeschool:

www.ed.state.nh.us/HomeSchooling/intentto.htm

(Developing a High School Program--Sample 4 year
Plans http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=3203 and Recordkeeping for
High School--Simplifying the Process
http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=3204)

Testing your students with the CAT - California Achievement Test

http://www.familylearning.org/tests_cat.php 

THE TEACHING COMPANY- Great College Courses on CD and DVD. Advanced Middle School and High School students will love these lectures. www.TEACH12.com