Give Your Homeschooler the Advantage in the High Stakes College Admission Sweepstakes! Parents who consider homeschooling their children through high school are often consumed by insecurity – “Are we ruining their college chances?” Well, worry no more! When it comes to college admissions and scholarships, homeschoolers have what the colleges are looking for! “Setting the Records Straight” will provide you the tools and information you need to create homesc… More >>
#1 by A. Lobner on July 1, 2010 - 7:28 pm
I am a busy mother of 6 kids ages 16 years to 5 weeks old and we began our homeschooling journey in 1999. When we first began homeschooling I never really gave homeschooling high school much thought it seemed so far away. Then I woke up one morning and realized that my oldest was in 10th grade and we had absolutely no transcript prepared for her yet. I really started to panic and felt the pressure of the high school years and on many occasions found myself wanting to quit and send her to school. I was completely overwhelmed and did not know where to even begin when it came to high school transcripts, then I found Lee Binz The HomeScholar and her book Setting the Records Straight: How to Craft Homeschool Transcripts and Course Descriptions for College Admission and Scholarships. What a blessing this book has been. I have read many other homeschooling high school books but each one left me with more questions than answers and the feeling of despair. Lee’s book is the first one that gave me practical advice that I could use right away. She writes in such a clear, down to earth manner, just what a busy mom like me needs. I am happy to report that I now have a beautiful portfolio for my daughter complete with transcript, course descriptions and work samples. If you can only purchase one book about homeschooling high school, Setting the Records Straight: How to Craft Homeschool Transcripts and Course Descriptions for College Admission and Scholarships, is the one you want.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Karen Stone Striegel on July 1, 2010 - 9:11 pm
Setting the Records straight is a great book! New to Homeschooling I wasn’t sure what to do about High School. I thought it would not be possible to homeschool the high school years and still be able to get them into college. Lee has given me the information and tools I need to create a wonderful transcript that any college would admire. My confidence level has risen. She takes the fear out of it and makes it look so simple. If you are thinking about homeschooling your child through High School, I would highly recommend this book. It is a must have!!!!
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by Ann Dunagan on July 1, 2010 - 9:25 pm
As a longtime homeschooling mother of 7 (this year, graduating our 4th homeschooled high school student, and our 3rd university graduate), I’m well aware of the unique challenges, discouragement, and (YES!!!!) JOYS of home education . . . especially if your family decides to persevere ALL THE WAY to the finish line.
Home schooling through high school is not only possible, but it can be completed in a way that will help your teen to achieve admission into a good college or university, with excellent scholarships. But if you’re anything like me, you probably could use a bit of help, or advice, or even just a “pat on the back” to keep going.
If so, you should “meet” Lee Binz, The HomeScholar (through her books, online advice, and if possible through her videos or workshops), and begin to take advantage of her outstanding resources for home education through high school. Specifically, in SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT – HOW TO CRAFT HOMESCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION AND SCHOLARSHIPS, Lee Binz will guide you with humor, understanding, and simple step-by-step instructions. You (and your teen) will be encouraged and equipped to consolidate your educational experiences with excellence.
This resource is highly recommended. It’s definitely WORTH buying!!!
Ann DunaganMission Minded Family, The: Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Lori Macmath on July 1, 2010 - 9:53 pm
Review for Setting the Records Straight
6 years ago when our family made the decision to home school, high school was tucked in the back of my mind. It seems that one day I woke up to find that I had a highschooler! Home school through high school? Then at just the right moment Lee Binz came into our life! Among the first words of her book, Setting the Records Straight, she reminded us, “You will be successful. Do not be afraid. Take it one step at a time.”
Lee’s practical approach and her own success in homeschooling high school students into the colleges of their choice (with scholarships!) is encouraging and reassuring. In Setting the Records Straight she outlines the fundamentals for successful transcripts and home school course classes and descriptions to help guide the college bound student to the college of their choice. The chapters include answers to many of the questions that home school families ask, the very questions I myself was asking.
Why make a home school transcript?
What should it look like?
How can we determine and calculate high school credit?
How should grades be assigned?
For each question, Lee has a thorough and detailed answer. She speaks from experience and from speaking to college admission offices all over the country. In Setting the Records Straight, Lee offers samples of academic records by year, subject and in the case of Dual Enrollment. These transcript samples are invaluable!
In the final section of the book, Lee tackles the subject of course descriptions. As homeschoolers the world of course descriptions can be an overwhelming one. She clearly outlines the three steps in compiling course descriptions into language that makes sense. Tackling the core subjects as well as electives and even outling courses without records, are helpful in making this section of the book worth its weight in gold.
This is not just a book for home school families educating through high school, this is truly a resource. There are extensive appendixes that detail course descriptions so that a home school parent has a reliable guide with which to work from.
This book was the most VALUABLE tool I’ve seen on the nuts and bolts of transcripts and course descriptions! EVERY question that came to mind was answered in such thorough detail. It’s given me the confidence to move into the high school years unafraid. This is certainly a book that I will refer to often. This book is a practical resource for the home school community and one that will alleviate fear in many a home school parent.
Lori Macmath
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Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by G. Sadoian on July 1, 2010 - 11:49 pm
Many colleges require course descriptions of homeschoolers, but you definitely don’t need to fear! You CAN do it with the help of Lee Binz through this excellent resource as well as her other avenues of support.
I am a homeschooling mom of three boys, all high school and junior high school age at this point. My oldest son was enrolled with an oversight school for freshman and sophomore year, but we decided to do it on our own in order to have more freedom and flexibility when he started junior year.
I had already read and browsed through a number of books about homeschooling high school, so as junior year progressed, I knew vaguely that I needed to produce my own transcript and that I wanted to present my son’s work and accomplishments in a portfolio or something of that sort. I had been introduced to the Homescholar website and materials through a homeschool forum I read on a regular basis, and in November or December of junior year, I received an offer to purchase the Total Transcript Solution from Lee Binz, the Homescholar, for a very reasonable price. It was the possibility of winning some very interesting-sounding audio and video materials that finally persuaded me to go for it, as I had other transcript solutions in mind before learning of this one.
I didn’t win the freebies, but I did receive my transcript ebook and other wonderful audio and visual materials, and a free month membership to Lee’s Gold Care Club. I really didn’t think I was interested in the Gold Care Club, but thought I would try to get something out of it before the month membership expired.
I printed my transcript ebook and put it a notebook. I learn best if I have a paper manuscript that I can highlight and write notes on, so I did just that as I read through the material. It did not take me long to finish the book, and I was absolutely delighted with the content! As mentioned previously, I had read other books about homeschooling high school, but none was as clear and concise, yet as complete and fun and enjoyable to read. Truly, everything that a person would need to know to grade high school courses and produce an attractive transcript is included in this outstanding book (which is one-third of Setting the Records Straight). Lee’s style is warm and encouraging; her text is very comprehensive, readable, and easy-to-understand, and the layout of the ebook is very airy and attractive, with photos on every page.
Setting the Records Straight also includes a copy of Lee’s son’s Comprehensive Record (including transcript, course descriptions, and work samples). I spent six months working on my course descriptions, little by little, and referred often to Lee’s Comprehensive Record, to help with format, content, wording, etc. It is also very valuable as a curriculum materials resource–Lee’s sons are extremely intelligent, well-educated young men, and it’s always helpful to “pick the brain” of another homeschooler (in the sense of being able to glean ideas from the resources that Lee used in her homeschool).
Lee has a tremendous breadth and depth of knowledge about homeschooling high school and college admissions, including the writing of course descriptions, which is the third component of this product. I could never have done it without her! Since I stayed on as a member of the Gold Care Club, I was able to consult with Lee weekly as I worked my way through my course descriptions and enjoy the benefit of her very professional advice and help. The combination of her general instruction (found in this resource) and the personal attention I received as a Gold Care Club Member allowed me to complete my transcript and a very professional-looking booklet of course descriptions that includes a copy of my son’s transcript as well as work samples. My own Comprehensive Record makes a very attractive and complete record of my son’s high school accomplishments to be viewed by college admissions officials. My son has received very generous scholarships from all the colleges we’ve heard back from so far. It is worth the effort to put together a Comprehensive Record.
Rating: 5 / 5