record-keeping Archives - Page 3 of 10 - Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

Mar 09 2015

How block scheduling works for me (it’s not what you think)

If you’ve followed me a while, you know I prefer to be scheduled. Schedules keep me focused, keep me productive, and give me peace of mind.

But what you might not know is exactly how I use schedules. Or how schedules don’t rule over me.

In fact, I rule over them.

In this post, I’d like to talk a bit about block schedules. I want to first tell you their traditional origins. Then, I want to tell you how I modify and use the traditional model to meet my family’s specific needs instead.

If you or someone you know wants to hear this information first-hand, I’d be glad to come speak to your group. Turns out, not only is this really good stuff to read about, it’s is one of my most requested talks, too.

So, the basic thinking behind block scheduling is this: you decide what needs to be accomplished each day, you divide the day into time periods from morning until night, and you schedule people into each time period so that everything gets done.

I didn’t invent this way of thinking — schedules have been around for generations. But, if you’ve never heard of the concept, watch this for a brief introduction.

The problem with this method of scheduling is it can be very rigid. Some people don’t like having the entire day planned out ahead of time. Many people find it exhausting to move from task to task all day long. There are also philosophical and psychological objections, as many people find schedules an assault on their way of thinking, their creativity — a big brother-ish type of mechanism controlling their every move.

Some years ago, I discovered a solution to that problem. I was pretty excited about it.

My discovery solved the block scheduling problems I was having in my home. Plus, it solved all of the objections I was hearing from the people who attended my scheduling classes and workshops, too.

The solution I invented was to “plan” unplanned time. You heard it here first!

This was a huge and ground-breaking discovery for me. Something so simple made such a tremendous difference!

What I now do in my home, and I now teach in my seminars, is how to “schedule” down-time. Crazy as it sounds, it really works!

Not only do I schedule down-time, I also schedule free time. Choice time. And times when nobody in the house wants to be scheduled, needs to be scheduled, or should be scheduled, either.

Oh, and I also schedule people who are not on the schedule.

Confusing?

It’s really not. Because by un-scheduling time and people, they receive freedom. The freedom they need, want and choose throughout the day. While still keeping the rest of the household and duties right on task.

By the way, I also schedule things! You’ll need to attend a seminar to hear about that part.

Block scheduling isn’t what you think. I’ve solved it!

I’d love to show you how block schedule can work for you, your partner, your kids, and in your life.

Let me know how I can help,

Were you really looking for…

Samples of block schedules?

Blank block schedule sheets to print out?

Video tutorials about block scheduling?

More video tutorials about block scheduling?

Anatomy of a transcript

[This is part of my transcript series. Click HERE for the previous post. Click HERE for the next one.]

I always suggest creating a one-page transcript. Despite what you may read about running out of room, I have no trouble including everything I want to list on a single page, and still get a great-looking transcript. I have had personal success using a one-page design, and my clients have, too. And because I attach a printout of course descriptions with every transcript I create, should there ever be anything that doesn’t fit on the page, it can always be included in the attachment, anyway.

Though others may charge big money to create what they claim is the “best” transcript in the industry, I’m here to tell you there is no magic format that is preferred by colleges and universities. I have never (to date) come across a format that is universally required, and I have never had a transcript rejected by anyone, anywhere. If anything, I receive praises from counselors and admissions officers who receive one of my transcripts. That, I believe, is the most important feedback of all.

The format I use is very straightforward. It’s comprehensive, without being overcrowded. It’s neat and easy to follow. It’s professional, without going overboard on the bells and whistles you might find somewhere else.

The parts of my transcript are as follows:

1. The word “Official” appears across the top. This is perhaps the single most important word on the transcript.

2. All student data is displayed prominently. (This is not the time to skimp on information or worry about privacy.)

3. I show the yearly GPA and cumulative GPA for each of the 4 years. Though colleges recalculate GPA when they receive a transcript anyway, remember that transcripts are used for more than college admissions alone.

4. I show the number of credits and grade earned for every course. These always align with the grading scale I display on the transcript.

5. I list the grading scale used to award grades and credit. This is applied consistently over the 4 years of high school.

6. I provide an Academic Summary. I find this is a great at-a-glance look at the student, and I purposely put it right next to the student’s test scores, too.

7. I choose a reasonable graduation date and display it there. Though part of the Academic Summary, this is worth repeating, as many parents forget to put it on the transcript.

8. I sign and include a statement of authenticity and accuracy. Though it isn’t necessary, when families request it, I also emboss and/or have the transcript notarized, too.

I provide assistance for families needing help in this area, and I am happy to help you produce a transcript that best reflects your student and his/her 4-year high school plan.

Families creating their own transcripts are strongly advised to follow the guidelines I have outlined above.

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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Feb 15 2015

When to start a transcript

[This is one in a 3-part series. To view the next post, click HERE.]

I’ll cut right to the chase. The takeaway from this article is to start high school transcripts early. And by early, I mean at the end of 8th grade or the beginning of 9th. Some of you planning-types may want to do it even earlier.

And whatever you do, don’t start one in the middle of a school year. Not when everything is in full swing. Use vacation time or summer break. Or, if you don’t get those, then give yourself a planning day to create a blank transcript. Better yet, take a couple of days to begin focusing on all of the other record-keeping strategies you’ll want to put in place for high school at the same time, too.

Here’s why you must begin your child’s transcript early:

By starting in 9th, the blank transcript is set up and ready to go. It’s typed up. It’s saved to a computer. You like it. You trust it. It contains a place for every little thing you know needs to be there. It’s printed out, and a blank copy is pinned to a bulletin board. It’s ready when you are.

It takes time to get a transcript just right. Spacing takes time. Grading formulas must be thought out. Advanced design elements take time to figure out, especially if this is the first time you’ve ever done a transcript.

With a blank framework already in place, you’ll never need to do that step again. Ever. It becomes a fill-in-the-blank kind of thing forever more. You can drop things in any time you get a minute. Updates are quick. Entries are a breeze. Changes take no time at all.

Finally, it avoids you reaching the finish line unprepared. I call that, “transcript horror”, which is basically your worst nightmare — the one in which you’ve been asked to recreate the last 4 years of homeschool entirely from memory. Oh, and part of the nightmare is that your student’s entire future depends on your ability to perform this task in, say, a couple of hours or less. Perfectly. Otherwise, he won’t get in to college, get a job, earn scholarship money or have a good life.

Early transcript prep is one the greatest returns on the high school investment. A great transcript goes a long, long way for your student. I have seen lots of transcripts over the years, so you’ll have to trust me on this one. Your student deserves better than a last-minute, hastily thrown together sheet of paper that barely meets minimum standards.

Do you have a student grades 7th, 8th or 9th grade right now? Can you guess what time it is?

Unless you already have a transcript hanging from the wall, the time to create one is now. Get working.

P.S. I have extra transcript help in my e-book, Ten Steps to the Finish Line. Find it in my book store.

Sep 15 2014

Record keeping made easy!

No matter your style of homeschooling, you’ll want to keep track of the things you do. From subjects the kids study to the list of books they’ve read, it’s nice to have a record of the learning year.

Many families enjoy recording all the things that happen during homeschool, and do it as a way of documenting the childhood years. But, it’s important to note that many states actually require homeschool records, too. That’s why it’s important to have a system in place for dropping papers and tracking dates in case you need them again.

There are lots of different ways for keeping homeschooling information. It can be helpful to hear how other families do it, before creating a personalized system of your own.

These are 3 easy ways for families to store important papers, and keep track of the learning that occurs each year:

Tote, Box or Bin

A popular way to keep track of important homeschool “stuff” is by dropping it in a large box, tote or bin. Keeping things stored in one place means they’re always available in the same spot every single time. While this may not seem like the most organized way to store projects and paperwork, it does guarantee that kids always have a place to leave things for mom or dad, and save things that are important to them. Plus, it makes sure that nothing important ever gets thrown away or misplaced throughout the year. Ask any parent who has spent an entire day searching for a single, very important homeschool piece of paper, and you’ll hear how valuable this really is!

Filing System

Another way to store homeschooling data and work samples is in tabbed file folders. Instead of putting everything into one giant box, file folders help organize related materials together, making for much easier access later on. Depending on the family and the homeschooling style, files could be created for every child, every subject, or both. Additional files can be created for other things to save, such as web sites for school use, books completed, special projects assigned, activities done as a family, legal documents, grades or test scores, photographs of the children, flyers and pamphlets collected while on field trips, or anything else that is important enough to save. Since larger projects cannot fit into folders, taking photos of projects or storing them somewhere else may be necessary. Note: If file folders are not available, large envelopes, stacking paper trays or rolling storage carts with drawers can be used instead.

Digital Collection

Digital technology makes it possible to store vast amounts of homeschooling data in one small space. Taking digital photos of projects and people, and scanning individual documents is a third option. While this could be time-consuming at first, developing a habit of working primarily online, and saving work electronically will eventually reduce the amount of time it takes to create digital records, ultimately eliminating the need to use paper at all. To satisfy the desire to have a hard copy (to display on the coffee table or show grandparents), some families like to create a photo collage, scrap book, or other showcase for every child, and have it professionally printed (think SnapFish or Shutterfly) as a book or spiral-bound journal at the end of each year.

Great ideas for organizing homeschool records found here!

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No matter what kind of record-keeping system is used, the kinds of things that homeschoolers save are always the same. Typically, homeschoolers tend to hold on to things like:

written work and practice problems
completed workbooks and worktexts
creative projects, like artwork, photography, music, videos and more
state, district, legal and other important homeschool documents
test scores, placement indications, evaluations, curriculum recommendations
storage media containing work
a book list, driving log, list of field trips and other lists
pamphlets, ticket stubs, brochures and other memorabilia collected throughout the year
transcripts, report cards, grades
class descriptions, course syllabi, names of books/curriculum used
journals written by kids, notes or lesson plans developed by parents
lab reports, research papers, other specialized assignments
records of learning accomplished in a day, week, month or year

In one of my books, I devote whole chapters to homeschool record-keeping, household organization, lesson planning and more. I cover everything I talked about in this article, plus I’ve included sample forms, charts, and schedules, too. To see that book, click here.

Happy homeschooling!

For more like this, click:

Storing homeschooling memories

Comprehensive high school records

Workbooks versus worktexts

To organize the entire homeschool year, you might like:

Plan Your Own Homeschool Curriculum — the guide to an organized homeschool year using only the materials you choose

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, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many 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.

Jul 25 2014

{Day 5} College Prep High Schooling — Marketing Yourself

Day 5: Marketing Yourself

[View the entire series HERE]

By now, you understand the importance of taking the right courses, prioritizing extra-curriculars and preparing for tests so you can earn great scores. Following that advice, you’ll graduate successfully and be ready to rock the college world.

But there is still one step left, and it’s a big one — “marketing” yourself (a/k/a reminding colleges why they should pick you). This is not the time to be timid about your accomplishments, because college acceptance depends on it. For best results, you’ll really need to toot your own horn.

So, how exactly do homeschooled Seniors communicate with the colleges of their choice? And what does it actually take to get their attention?

1. For starters, there’s the application — a time-consuming but fairly straight-forward process. Applicants should submit the best application they can, by answering all questions honestly, by writing well, and by remembering not to leave out anything important. Writing a great application already starts making you look good.

But since so many students apply, and because many applications look somewhat the same, you’ll need to do a little more than submit a good application to get noticed. You’ll want to attach extra documentation to convince someone to choose you instead of somebody else.

How to market yourself to colleges and get noticed.

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So, to stand out — and I mean really grab somebody’s attention in the admissions office – teens should include some of these documents, too:

2. A killer Freshman Resume — which is like a flyer or a marketing brochure, except it’s all about you. Create one that summarizes who you are, lists a whole bunch of cool things you’ve done and highlights several of your proudest accomplishments in more detail.

3. A knock-out transcript — and not just an ordinary one, either. One with your test scores and grade point average; one listing your honors courses, AP courses and early college credits; one that looks great and has been edited for grammar, spelling and mathematical accuracy; and one that clearly demonstrates you’re not the same as everybody else, but have taken lots of substantial, relevant and fascinating electives, too. You’ll find an example of a basic transcript HERE.

4. A list of course descriptions — that you attached to the back of your transcript. List all the classes on your transcript and explain each in a little bit of detail. Include what you studied, the books you read, and maybe some of the assignments you completed. You can copy course descriptions from other places if they match exactly what you did. But it’s better if you write up every course as it was uniquely completed by you — and not by anybody else. That makes you stand out, too.

5. Examples of your work — if they’ll accept it (and not all colleges do). Re-read a previous post in this series to get ideas.

Finally, if possible, shoot for:

6. A personal interview — during which you start by being yourself, proceed by responding intelligently to questions, and end by explaining why you’ll be a good fit for the college and what you’d like to do once you get there.

Combining these elements is the best way to get noticed by the colleges you apply to. Chances are, they’ll notice, and your efforts will pay off for the next four years.

Want to re-read any of the articles? Here’s the list again.

Need more high school information? Click the “high school” tag (below) and just follow the trail.

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschool 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, was industry-acclaimed for illustrating 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, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many 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. Her latest book, The Ultimate Guide to Florida Homeschooling, is now available on Amazon.