Preparing for High School: An Overview

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Cornell Notes

Main Notes

  • High school home education is less complicated than it seems from the outside
  • Each U.S. state has slightly different requirements for high-school graduation
  • College requirements are generally more demanding than state graduation requirements
  • A transcript is a document showing subjects, credits, and grades for grades 9-12
  • A full credit is one year of work in one subject, equivalent to 160 45-50 minute class periods or 120 full hours of study
  • High-school subjects are divided into seven areas: Language Arts, Maths, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Foreign Languages, Physical Education, and Electives
  • Colleges typically expect 4 credits in Language Arts, 3-4 in Maths, 2-4 in Foreign Language, 1 in World History, 1 in American History, 1 in American Government, 3-4 in Science (2 with lab work), 2 in Physical Education, and 4-8 in Electives
  • Electives should mostly be drawn from the five core areas for college-bound students
  • Setting up an organizational system with six file folders (Course Descriptions, Books Read, Papers Written, Recommendations, Extracurricular Activities, Other) is crucial for high school record-keeping
  • Writing course descriptions immediately after course completion is easier than reconstructing them later
  • Keeping a record of books read, notable papers written, and extracurricular activities is important for college applications
  • Obtaining recommendations from tutors or teachers soon after course completion ensures more detailed and accurate recommendations
  • Maintaining personal records of immunizations is important to avoid unnecessary repeat vaccinations before college

Cue Column

  • What is the main challenge for homeschooling parents as high school approaches?
  • How do state graduation requirements compare to college admission requirements?
  • What is a high school transcript and who creates it for homeschoolers?
  • How is a full credit defined in high school education?
  • What are the seven main areas of high school subjects?
  • What are the typical credit requirements for college-bound students in each subject area?
  • How should elective credits be distributed for a college-bound student?
  • What organizational system is recommended for high school record-keeping?
  • Why is it important to write course descriptions immediately after course completion?
  • What types of documents should be kept in the 'Other' folder?
  • How can obtaining timely recommendations benefit college applications?
  • Why is personal record-keeping of immunizations important for homeschoolers?

Summary

This chapter provides an overview of preparing for high school education at home, addressing common concerns and offering practical advice. It emphasizes that high school homeschooling is less daunting than it may appear, while acknowledging the importance of understanding state requirements and college expectations.

The text defines key terms such as transcript and credit, and outlines the seven main areas of high school subjects. It provides a detailed breakdown of typical credit requirements for college-bound students, highlighting the importance of a well-rounded education with a focus on core academic areas.

A significant portion of the chapter is dedicated to organizational strategies. It recommends a six-folder system for keeping track of course descriptions, books read, papers written, recommendations, extracurricular activities, and other relevant information. This system is designed to streamline the college application process and ensure that all necessary information is readily available.

The chapter also stresses the importance of timely record-keeping, such as writing course descriptions immediately after course completion and obtaining recommendations while the student's work is still fresh in the teacher's mind. It concludes with practical advice about maintaining personal immunization records, highlighting a potential pitfall specific to homeschoolers.

Action Items

    • Visit welltrainedmind.com for links to each state's requirements
    • Compare state requirements with typical college admission expectations

    • Use the provided worksheet to outline courses for each required subject area
    • Ensure coverage of core subjects: Language Arts, Mathematics, Foreign Language, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences
    • Include appropriate electives, focusing on the student's areas of strength

    • Create six labeled file folders: Course Descriptions, Books Read, Papers Written, Recommendations, Extracurricular Activities, and Other
    • Regularly update these folders throughout the high school years

    • Include a 1-2 sentence description of the course
    • List major texts used
    • Note if the course was completed with a tutor or service

    • Record title, author, and date finished for each book
    • Include both assigned and independently read books

    • Save copies of particularly good compositions
    • Prepare for potential writing sample requirements in college applications

    • Request recommendations soon after completing a course or activity
    • File recommendations for future use in college applications

    • Record details of clubs, teams, competitions, and other activities
    • Update the file regularly to avoid forgetting important details

    • Request signed copies of all routine immunizations from the physician
    • Keep these records safe for future college registration requirements

Resources

books

Horace's Compromise: The Dilemma of the American High School

By: Theodore R. Sizer

Teaching the New Basic Skills: Principles for Educating Children to Thrive in a Changing Economy

By: Free Press

reference Materials

Works by Homer
Works by Plato
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