grades Archives - Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

Jun 30 2015

How do they get diplomas?

{This post is one in a series called, “Top 10 Fears”, in which I speak to the most common fears parents express about homeschooling the high school years. To see all the topics, or to start at the beginning, click HERE.}

Fear #7

Your child won’t get an actual diploma

Perhaps the deepest fear among high schooling parents is failing to cross the finish line. That somehow, after all those years of hard work, something goes terribly wrong. Often, that story is is:

Your kid doesn’t get a diploma. And it’s all your fault.

If this is your story, read on. It may be time for a modern rewrite of that story, one that makes more sense for you, the home educating family.

The Dream

Let’s start out with the dream. The one where you envision your kid, walking across a big stage, turning a tassel, and getting handed a leatherette folder. Inside the folder = the prize. That glorious sheet of parchment with the raised lettering and the gold seal. The coveted certificate that shows the world you’ve got a real-life graduate on your hands. You can’t wait to take photos with it, show the grandparents, frame it, and then hang it on the wall.

In your mind, that parchment is the key to your child’s future, is it not? It’s required for the college degree, the job, the happiness, and the secure financial future.

Examine the origins of that dream, however, and you might just realize it’s time for an update.

Let me ask you about that diploma thing…is getting a diploma really your child’s dream, or, is it yours?

About that diploma thing…is getting a diploma really your child’s dream, or, is it yours?

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The Reality

I wonder, is this really about the diploma? Or, is it the meaning attached? It’s funny the importance we place on “things“…the wearing of a gown, the turning of a class ring, the tossing of a cap into the air…

I love tradition and I understand your desire for diplomas. Seeing hordes of students in academic regalia always gives me the chills…that will probably never change.

But, today, we need to recognize there are many ways of finishing high school. Hundreds of ways of documenting it. And limitless ways to celebrate finishing it. Not all of those ways involve a leatherette case.

I’m sorry to be the one to break this to you, but homeschooling doesn’t always come with an embossed certificate. Getting an actual diploma isn’t always guaranteed.

Homeschooling doesn’t always come with an embossed certificate…diploma isn’t always guaranteed.

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So, now, you’re thinking, WHAT? But, “My friend said…”, and “I heard that…”, and “Someone told me if…”, and I get that! Don’t some homeschoolers get high school diplomas? Absolutely. In some areas, under certain options, in some states, under certain circumstances, homeschoolers do get high school diplomas. And in some areas, under certain options, in some states, under certain circumstances, they get certificates or completion letters or other notifications, too.

But — they don’t always. And you need to get used to that. Now.

In lots and lots of cases, homeschoolers don’t get high school diplomas. It doesn’t mean they didn’t finish your program and graduate. It just means is they weren’t handed the same paper you got, and other kids get.

Change is Good

In our home, our children have (had) no interest in diplomas. They’re not familiar with the traditions of high school graduation, so it isn’t a part of their world. Some of our kids have been handed diplomas, certificates and letters of completion over the years, and some have not. The documents never made them feel any different. As I write this today, those certificates are stored in plastic sleeves in every child’s high school binder, not hanging on the wall. What we hang on the wall are photos of all of us together, projects they’ve completed alone, memories of what we’ve accomplished as a home educating family, and college diplomas, made easily possible — no high school diploma needed. Change is fine. In fact, it’s really good.

Still Want a Diploma?

If you live in an area, or are homeschooling under a program that does not award a high school diploma, so be it. You’ll need to make one. Or have a talented friend make one for you.

You’ll have to buy a diploma at an office supply outlet. Better yet, you can purchase an exquisite diploma online.

Feel free to do all the ceremonial stuff, too — the leatherette case, the black and gold frame, and displaying it on the family room wall. Lots of homeschoolers do! It’s the perfect blend of parent-directed education and age-old tradition, don’t you agree?

In closing, I would simply encourage you to think deeply, not about your fear of failure, but about a new definition of high school completion, one more appropriate for our times. Realize that a certificate does not define homeschool completion, your success or failure, nor does it define your student.

In my mind, homeschool completion is so much more than a single sheet of parchment — an ordinary diploma seems hardly enough for all you’ve poured into your child anyway.

Why settle?

Other articles of interest:

Joys of high schooling your kids

Helping Teens Plan: The morning meeting

Educating the neighbors

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. The founder of many homeschool 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 system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, or with no educational background whatsoever. A liaison for regional school-to-home organizations and a homeschool leader in Florida, Marie-Claire also mentors homeschool families nationwide. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, and many other events. She currently writes for audiences at Quick Start Homeschool, which she founded in 2010, and as a guest writer on other sites as often as she can. Her articles have appeared in CONNECT magazine, on Homefires, atCircle of Moms, and she has contributed to hundreds of other blogs nationwide. Dr. Moreau can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

May 07 2014

What testing at home looks like

Most homeschoolers already know about standardized testing. With names like SAT, CAT, IOWA, and ITBS, and the reputation they’ve earned over the years, these kinds of tests are hard to forget.

Some states require the testing of homeschoolers to fulfill legal requirements, so avoiding them is not an option. Then again, many states do not require testing homeschoolers at all.

But even when testing is not required, some parents choose to use them anyway. Reasons stated for testing include filling annual portfolios with grade reports, giving students test-taking practice, and seeking reassurance that students compare well to other students the same age and grade.

Testing at home is a lot like testing somewhere else. Proctors (in this case, homeschool parents) must follow the same guidelines as proctors do in other testing situations.

When doing voluntary testing, parents can opt for testing at home versus somewhere else. If school districts or homeschool groups offer testing, these test centers may be used for homeschoolers, too.

On the other hand, many families prefer to test in a home environment instead. Because of the advantages of testing at home, it is the preferred option for many people. Advantages include being able to make students completely comfortable in their own environment; having the ability to schedule frequent breaks for stretching or for snacking; and allowing students to have comfort items nearby, like small toys, a favorite pencil, a family pet or wearing favorite clothes (like cozy pajamas or being barefoot).

Though preserving the integrity of the test is important to getting accurate results, most families are well able to do this from home while still creating a comfortable testing environment. As an added bonus, test scores are mailed directly to the home, protecting the student’s privacy, too.

Locating companies that provide at-home tests is easy. Begin with this list, then find others on your own:

Family Learning Organization

Thurber’s Educational Assessments

Seton Testing Services

Remember that some tests must be administered in controlled environments by credentialed professionals, but there are several choices that can be given by “regular” parents in the kitchen or dining room. Just select the test, the date(s) you’ll be testing, and send payment. Then, just follow the guidelines and get testing!

Good luck!

Related articles:

Legalities of homeschooling/finding legal requirements

How to begin homeschooling

Test practice helps prevent choking

Standardized tests for homeschoolers

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Feb 27 2014

When, Why, & How to Grade Student Papers

Do all homeschool parents grade student papers? Not really. Though many parents grade each and every paper their students turn in, some homeschoolers do not grade papers at all.

There are several good reasons — some very important reasons – to grade papers.

And then, there are reasons not to bother grading at all.

Let me share with you the WHENs, HOWs, and WHYs of grading, so you can decide for yourself.

But first, a story.

My children are older now — teens and up. For those that are still homeschooling, I grade most everything they do (you’ll see why in a minute). But when my kids were younger, I didn’t always grade their papers. Sometimes I did. But many times, I did not.

When I graded, it was because grades provided the clues I needed to choose subsequent work. When I graded, it was because a curriculum or software program demanded it. When I graded, it was because that particular child liked to get grades on his papers.

When I didn’t, it was because grades would not have helped me (or my child). When I didn’t, it was because grading was just a waste of my time. When I didn’t, it was because grades where unnecessary at that stage of that child’s education. I knew my kids so well. I didn’t always need grades to tell me how they were doing.

Does this make any sense? You can operate the way I did, too.

WHEN to grade should be based on several things. I mentioned some of these in my story. ALWAYS grade papers:

when you need a grade to keep making progress (like when choosing the next book, moving up a level, closing out a school year)
when you need to enter a grade to unlock future assignments (like in some software and apps)
when you need a grade to help diagnose a problem, bug or error in student understanding, so you can fix it
when the grade can help customize lessons, like with intelligent interactive software
when the grade is required for record-keeping, such as on a student transcript or by some states/school districts
when the grade is needed for eligibility for something, like a scholarship or admittance to a selective program

HOW to grade should be based on your criteria and homeschooling philosophy. Every parent must decide what grades should include, and may grade some courses differently than others, too. Generally, I suggest grades be based on a composite of many things – not just test performance. I recommend including everything on this list when awarding a grade:

time spent on lesson material (reading, writing, studying research and completion of chapters)
performance on tests, quizzes, and other assessments
performance on labs, projects, and tangible things students were asked to do
completion of homework, if any, completed during class time, or assigned before/after
time spent actively thinking about, or discussing topics from the course
time spent on activities related to the course, such as field trips, watching videos, building things, or browsing library books
attitude, participation and effort during the semester/session/year
“extra credit” readings, projects and activities students do on their own
a parent’s own instinct and recognition of general course mastery

WHY to grade is different for every family. I recommend grading in these instances:

when a grade yields true information about student performance
when grades are legally required
when a grade would motivate or make that student happy
when the grade is used as a lesson for the student (when teaching the value or hard work or perseverance, for example)
when no other measures of performance are available

The bottom line on grading is this: Grading is time-consuming work. Do it for a reason.

Homeschool parents need to understand how their children are doing at all times. If grading papers is the best way to generate this information, it should absolutely continue. But if other means assessment are already in place AND grades aren’t needed for any other reason, grading papers is less important.

Back to my story.

When my kids were little, for obvious reasons, I worked very closely with them. I observed them all day long, so I graded their papers only when I needed the grades, or when one of the kids seemed to enjoy it. Some of them thrived on getting letter grades and receiving comments written across their papers, so that’s what I did. On the other hand, some of them were completely unaffected whether I graded their papers or not. In those cases, I didn’t waste my time. Why spend valuable hours marking papers and tossing them in a box, when we could be doing something awesome instead?

As my kids matured and worked more independently, I communicated with them on a daily basis. We held daily meetings and talked about their progress a lot. None cared much about grades by then, but unbeknownst to them, I actually began grading their work more and more. Anticipating high school, I began making sure all of my grading practices were in place. By the time each entered 9th grade, I had prepared a detailed portfolio for that child, which included my grading philosophy and grading scale, all of their grades, and which I continued throughout their high school years (see how I do it HERE).

This method worked very well for me, because it gave me the freedom to grade papers only when necessary while they were young, yet still meant each of my kids would have valid high school transcripts and be ready for college when he needed it. I highly recommend this method to you, too.

Overall, whether or not to grade papers is up to parents. Bu,t I hope I have influenced you into understanding that grades should be meaningful, or they’re not worth assigning at all.

Grading student papers– PROs and CONs

Many homeschool parents grade student work. But you may be surprised to know that some homeschoolers do not grade papers at all.

Why do some families find it important to grade papers when others find it a waste of time — even detrimental to student success? Turns out, grading is a matter of perspective that aligns with the homeschooling approach and philosophy of learning.

Check this list of pros and cons to decide how you feel about the grading debate:

Why award grades (PROs)?

Students get a sense for how they’re doing. Older and mature students are able to utilize this information in different ways to change study habits or maximize performance differently.
Many children like receiving grades on papers, particularly those withdrawn from school who are used to getting grades for work completed. Some kids prefer numbers, others like letter grades. Some enjoy receiving stickers and encouraging comments, too.
“Good” grades — for some – are like rewards. Some children need and/or enjoy the sense of satisfaction that good grades bring.
“Bad” grades may work as incentives for some students. They may stimulate increased work, leading to better performance the next time.
Other children receive grades in school, why not homeschoolers? Homeschooled kids needing a feeling of “sameness” can feel just like everyone else. They are never left out of the conversation when their friends discuss grades in school.
Parents may feel the urge to make comparisons with siblings, other children, or children in school settings. Grades provide a means of measurement and comparison with children in the same age category in the same subject areas.
Assuming grading methods are standardized and used consistently, they provide a measure of progress (up or down) as grades fluctuate throughout the semester or entire school year. They may show patterns or provide clues helpful to making changes throughout the school year.
In many states, grades are required, or they may be used as a form of student evaluation to satisfy state homeschool requirements.

Why NOT award grades (CONs)?

In reality, grades are never really accurate, as they tend to reflect other factors having nothing to do with course performance (mood, illness, time of day, course material, methods or products used, etc.). Why bother measuring something if the results aren’t truly useful?
Low grades can upset and severely disappoint, causing feelings of failure or of being less-than what was expected. Feelings like these are experienced by students, and also by their parents.
Higher grades may cause undue pressure as students seek to live up to these same levels for the remainer of the course, the year, or even their whole lives.
Long-term effects of grades include a false impression that students are “good at” or “bad at” concepts and skills which in fact may not be true. Labeling students early on has lasting effects on self-image and worth, in some cases lasting a lifetime.
Some parents do not use grades correctly or consistently. Without strict controls, grades cannot possibly yield accurate results.
Measurement and classification using grades is not the only way to observe learning. Support, encouragement and nurturing a love of learning can be achieved in many other ways.

Homeschool: How do you know it’s working?

So, you’re thinking about homeschooling, and have heard lots of great things about it. Everyone says it really works. Plus, you’ve read the research, and it confirms that, too.

But, you’re still not convinced. Just because it works for other people, how will it really work for you? After all, your life is so busy/crazy/hectic. Your children are so <fill-in-the-blank>. Your spouse/relatives/friends aren’t all that supportive. Your home is too messy/noisy/small. Your budget is well…non-existent. And though you understand there is no crystal ball, you’d at least like to know that you stand a pretty good chance at success.

Okay.

First of all, rest assured, these concerns are not uncommon. Most parents, homeschooling and not, admit worrying about how well they’re doing every once in a while. It’s only natural to worry if you’re doing the right thing. It just shows how much you care. So that is that.

Next, remember that homeschooling doesn’t have to last forever. If you happen to still be on the fence, leaning more toward taking the plunge, but still not 100% sure, it may help you to understand that you can always put the children back in school if you someday change your mind. Boom.

So, with those concerns out of the way, let’s get to the real question, which is:

How will you know that homeschooling is successful?

…or, stated another way:

How do you know you children are learning?

There are lots of ways to measure homeschool success. It all depends on who you are and your definition of success. Some define success as ‘good grades’, while others look more at physical/emotional/mental gains. I’ll tackle every single one of these measures of success in future posts, if I haven’t already. But in the meanwhile, here they are.

Some measure homeschooling success by…

Final grades
Test results
Textbook/course completion
Logging enough hours, however many that may be
Personal testimony from teachers/tutors/parents/others who know your student
Readiness for the next course/level/book
Direct observation — seeing for yourself
Discussion (a/k/a talking to your child)
Demonstrated ability to do something new/better
Completion of a project
Comparison with a peer group

Others measure homeschool success by…

looking at a student’s level of satisfaction
plain old happiness
eagerness to learn
ability to conduct research or discover new things
and on and on and on…

No matter your definition and which measure(s) you use, the nice thing is that it doesn’t take long to gauge homeschooling success or failure. Because homeschooling is a lifestyle that you live 24/7, successes quickly make themselves apparent and problems tend to rise to the surface rather quickly. And — the great thing is that the process is so flexible and dynamic, that a couple of simple tweaks can easily improve success; thus, even so-called failures take very little time to turn around.

So, how do you know homeschool is working? You’ll know. Have confidence that you have made good parenting decisions in the past, and will have the same ability to make good homeschooling decisions in the future. You’ll know.

[Photo: Credit]