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Documenting extracurricular activities (a mission trip to
Brazil, teaching a preschool class, starting a lawn business,
computer repair business, etc.) is not only evidence of your child’s
learning and social experiences, but it could be a deciding factor
to your child’s being accepted at a particular school
or college. Like most homeschool parents, you no doubt faithfully
record these activities in the extracurricular portion of
your child’s transcript. Wouldn’t it be better,
however, if your child could gain academic credit for his
activities as well? He
can! Here’s how:
First,
let’s review the difference between an activity and
a credit course. An activity involves time spent as well
as participation in projects related to the particular
activity. A credit course involves not only time spent
and participation in projects, but also completion of academic
work including reading, research and written compositions
related to the learning experience. Therefore, to change
an activity into a credit course, you must add an academic
component.
The
first step in doing this is to write down a list of different
learning experiences that could be involved in the activity.
For instance, in a lawn mowing business, our child could learn
marketing, advertising, bookkeeping, accounting, graphic arts,
business ethics, and equipment repair and maintenance.
Armed
with this list of possible learning experiences, look over
course descriptions from your local high school and decide
in which course or courses these experiences could be applied.
(list of course
descriptions).
For
example, in a lawn mower business, the following courses would
be relevant:
1.
General Business (1 semester, 1 credit): An introduction
to economics, business, management, automation in industry,
career planning and training, consumer information, money
management, banking and loans, savings, stocks, bonds,
insurance needs, labor and government’s role in business.
2.
Business Management/Ownership (2 semesters, 2 credits) and
Business Management/Ownership Internship (2 semesters, 2 credits):
Provides student with actual on-the-job training as in the
field of management and the opening of a business and work
responsibilities directly related to the occupational objectives
learned in the classroom. Curriculum consists of: management
skills, leadership skills, marketing research, finance, buying,
merchandise control, and knowledge of opening a business.
3.
Marketing Education (2 semesters, 2 credits) and Marketing
Education Internship (2 semesters, 2 credits): Provides student
with actual on-the-job training and work responsibilities
directly related to the occupational objectives learned in
the classroom. Curriculum includes marketing concept, advertising
and promotion, display, economics of marketing, human relations
of marketing, and selling.
4.
ComSci: Desktop Publishing (1 semester, 1 credit): Introduce
student to activities that can be accomplished with desktop
publishing software packages. Student will design brochures,
flyers, pamphlets, logos, business cards, letterhead and other
documentation common to an office setting.
5.
Accounting I (2 semesters, 2 credits): Basic principles of
accounting (analyzing daily transactions, journalizing, posting,
financial statement preparation) applicable to sole proprietorships,
partnerships, and corporate forms of business ownership. Personal
and business banking practices are also included. Practical
application of accounting principles is given through the
use of computer software. Personal income tax preparation
is also presented.
After
you have determined which course or courses would enable
your child to receive credit from his activity, jot down
the necessary academic work needed to fulfill the course
requirements. In
our lawn business example above, you might first decide to
have your child complete the ComSci: Desktop Publishing Course
in order to help him create a business logo, business cards,
and customer invoices. Academic work that would fulfill this
course requirement could include the following:
1.
Reading and Research requirements:
A.
An instruction manual for your desktop publishing software
B.
A book on advertising design
C.
Research on the Internet for sample logos, business cards,
etc. for ideas
D.
Take a field trip to a desktop publishing business and interview
the owner
2.
Composition requirements:
A.
A short composition on effective advertising design or other
topic related to the subject
B.
Completion of a brochure, flyer, logo, business cards, invoice
and letterhead
3.
Quizzes or tests, if needed: Create your own with the free,
online Quiz Center (http://www.school.discovery.com/quizcenter/quizcenter.html)
As
your child progresses through his academic work, keep appropriate
documentation that could include:
1.
The number of hours worked or volunteered. Have your child’s
work or volunteer supervision (if other than yourself)
sign off on the number of hours he worked and assign a
grade (if needed) for on-the-job training.
2.
Evidence of research done related to the course:
A.
A list of books read
B.
A list of research completed (Internet, magazines, interviews,
etc.)
C.
Copies of research papers, compositions and other written
work
3.
A list of projects completed (include photos, if available)
4.
Photos of your child participating in the activity (if possible)
and field trips taken
5.
Copies of quizzes or tests, if available
6.
A transcript showing final grade & number of credits
received. Note: 1 credit = .5 unit and one semester of
work; 2 credits = 1 unit and two semesters of work. (See
www.oklahomahomeschool.com/trans1.html for more information
on preparing transcripts.)
As
your child continues the activity, continue to add appropriate
coursework in order to earn additional elective credits. In
our example above, your child could begin the Business Management/Ownership
+ Internship course next to earn an additional four credits.
By completing these academic components, your child will not
only demonstrate an exceptional learning and social experience,
but will also earn a number of high school elective credits
as well!
Note:
A great resource for textbooks related to elective subjects
is your local college or trade school bookstores. When
my son was studying computer graphics, I went to local
college bookstore and purchased the same textbooks used
at the college for my son to use at home. I purchased
a nursing math textbook for my daughter. Both of these
came with super workbooks which I used for their academic
work.
For
more course descriptions, check this
webpage.
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