The Importance of Home School Credit
Whenever it comes to home school credit, there are three very important words: document, prove and portfolio. Not only is it important to know these words, but you need to make sure that you have a thorough understanding of them as well.
Documentation for Home School Credit
You are going to need to make sure that you document everything. Herein is where you record your written testimony about what happened in each of the courses that you teach your child. This is usually done through a daily log book. This will give you the opportunity to write down something each day about what you have done in each course that you are teaching your child. You will want to think of yourself as being on the witness stand here so that you can ensure that the documentation you keep can be seen as a type of "testimony."
Proof for Home School Credit
Now that you have recorded your testimony about your child's home school credit, it is time to provide evidence of it. This evidence needs to be complete, convincing and compelling. It also needs to cover each subject that is being taught. The best way in which to do this is through a portfolio.
Having a Portfolio for Home School Credit
Your child's portfolio is where your "testimony" and the "evidence" come together. In your portfolio you need to include each of your child's home school courses that you are submitting for home school credit. There are five necessary items that you must include in your child's portfolio.
First, there is the daily log book. Remember, this is where you will want to keep your notes about activities and the progress that has been made.
Secondly, there is the collection of evidence that you are submitting for review. This should include samples of the child's work, brochures from any field trips that you took, samples of your child's artwork and any photographs that you have taken of projects that your child has done.
Third you will need to have a home school transcript. Herein it is a good idea to list your goals for the year and how you accomplished them.
Fourth, you will want to create a summary sheet. You will also want to put together a list of resources here. These resources should include any books that your child has read (including both the title and the author's name), computer software, games, toys or outside classes that your child has used or participated in.
Fifth, it is also a good idea to include a check to pay for return postage so that you can rest assured that you will get your child's portfolio back.
Of course, this is just a brief overview of the three key components to ensuring that your child receives the proper home school credit. There is a lot of information online about each of these topics that you can look at in order to get a better understanding of everything that is required of you so that your child receives home school credit in case he ever goes back to the traditional school setting or when he applies for college.
