[This is the last post of a 3-part series. If you’d prefer to start at the beginning, click HERE.]
When homeschooling high schoolers (what I like to call, high schooling), credits become pretty important. You may find yourself asking, “What’s worth a credit?”, “How many credits is that class worth?”, and, “How many credits have we accumulated so far?” just a little more often than you’d like.
However, learning to count credits is a necessary exercise during the teen years. That’s because, both inside and outside of homeschooling, credits are the way that high school courses are measured. Just like grade points and quality points, credits are a part of the high schooling vernacular. Parents must learn and adopt this terminology whether they like it or not.
What is a credit?
Generally speaking, credits are used to translate hours. In most areas, a single high school credit is equivalent to 120-160 hours of instruction.
What that means is, once that number of study hours has been reached, the student is owed a high school credit in that particular course.
In this example, shown with completed course hours in parentheses, it is easy to see how this teen has earned 5 credits toward high school graduation:
- English (150 hours) = 1 credit
- Mathematics (145 hours) = 1 credit
- U.S. History (132 hours) = 1 credit
- Biology (160 hours) = 1 credit
- Drawing I (120 hours) = 1 credit
What is a half credit?
Half credits can be earned the same way. When approximately half the number of hours of instruction have been completed, the student is eligible to receive half credit instead.
In this example, utilizing the concept of both full and half credits, the student also earns a total of 5 credits toward graduation:
- English (150 hours) = 1 credit
- Mathematics (145 hours) = 1 credit
- U.S. History (132 hours) = 1 credit
- Biology (175 hours) = 1 credit
- Drawing I (75 hours) = 1/2 credit
- Musical Theatre (80 hours) = 1/2 credit
Did you know that quarter credits are possible, too? Those who do not follow a yearly schedule will find that using half and quarter credits makes it possible to earn many more credits. By collecting a variety of different experiences together and adding their credit values, students can be rewarded for their efforts, even if the partial credits didn’t always occur in the same academic year.
Other ways to earn credits
Although counting hours is probably the most common way to award credits, there are other ways to award credits in high school, too.
For instance, credit can be awarded on the basis of completing a textbook or a curriculum that has been assigned. Regardless the number of hours put in by the student, finishing the entire [full-year curriculum] is worthy of course credit.
Another way to award credit is using a mastery approach. This method requires some period of study on the part of the student, after which the student is assessed to see if mastery has occurred. Mastery can be measured using any combination of tools: discussion, observation, presentations, portfolio, or examination. No matter the method, when mastery is proven, a credit is awarded.
For additional ways to measure credits, read THIS. Meanwhile, brush up on the vocabulary of high schooling, and begin to understand credits as they apply to your student. This skill will serve you well when planning high school courses, creating a high school plan, making transcripts, and beyond.
Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever. A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA/Tampa, H.E.R.I., HECOA, Start Homeschooling Summit, Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT, Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.
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