We share proven success strategies to help busy parents confidently homeschool through high school. We don't judge you or evaluate your children. We come alongside to equip, train, and encourage you. Whether you’re a veteran or a new homeschool parent, we have resources for all learning styles and budgets. Will you be the next to join our $100,000 Club (see below)?
OUR HOMESCHOOL RECORDS EARNED $187,000. CURIOUS?
Lee Binz, The HomeScholar
Best selling author, conference speaker, and homeschool consultant Lee Binz specializes in helping parents homeschool high school with excellence. Take a look around. I am certain you will find the home high school help you need!
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$100,000 Club
I had a friend, who worked in college admissions for years, peek at the transcript I wrote (with your tips). “You made this?!?! This is incredible! One of the best homeschool transcripts I have seen.” My son got into his first choice college with a full tuition scholarship (up to $240k) for four years and $1500 off his room and board each year. We're all thrilled! Thank you for your help and giving me the confidence to be a professional!
It really made for a more professional look. You are providing a service much needed by many. Her scholarship will be paying for four years of tuition, out-of-state fees, room/board, book stipend as well as $5000 toward a month summer abroad program. Thank you again for all that I learned through your services.
I needed to email you because... MY SON WON THE FULL-TUITION SCHOLARSHIP AT THE SCHOLARS DAY COMPETITION!!! They only gave out one, and he got it!
They told him his interview clinched the deal, and I had him prepare by practicing the questions you listed in your article. He said the practice helped him. I also had him practice a timed essay - in pencil - which could only have helped too. I just had to share.
This is for the small, private, Christian school that is ABET accredited for Computer Science. It's his first choice. The scholarship is worth approximately $100k over four years. We still kind of can't believe it.
THANK YOU for all you do and all the help you've given me. Now - on to my next kid who is a junior. I'll be calling you for help with his records in the near future.
From using your webinars and materials through the highschool years, I gained valuable knowledge on how to prep my oldest son for college admission, and yet still allow him time for delight directed learning...(he loves designing cars more...) He studied for all 3 college prep tests on his own. He was nominated as a National Merit Scholar, with a 1510 on SAT, and perfect 36 on ACT! He applied and was accepted to his first choice private university for Transportation Design; they only offers 15 spots per year!
I recommended he earnestly pray if it was God's will for him to attend that he'd receive the prestigious full tuition scholarship (worth ~$140,000 over the course of 4 years...because it wasn't going to happen otherwise!). He received the news that he was the very top candidate for the scholarship! The top pick of all 200 applicants!
I had to share this amazing news with you and extend my warmest thanks again for all you have done for my family through your teaching!
I ran across a story in an article that referenced how much Lee Binz had helped the author with homeschooling high school, so I decided to give her a call. She had a special “Gold Club” membership which included access to her resources, a special email address, and a 20-minute phone consultation with her once a week to pick her brain about any questions or concerns I might have. I decided to take advantage of that since I could not rely on myself to remember anything about what I read in her articles or heard on her webinars.
I downloaded everything she offered regarding high school credits, transcripts, extra curricular activities, etc., and I organized them in folders on my computer where I could access them at any given time. This was an invaluable asset to me during our 4 years of high school!
Lee gave me access to links for all her resources that I needed to prepare for my daughter’s Freshmen year. She also had a form that detailed what I needed to do during each subsequent year of high school (subjects to consider, standardized tests to take with website addresses, when to apply for college scholarships, when to send transcripts, etc.), and during any given year would also point me to what I needed to read and download to prepare for the next year.
Then, when I started doing my daughter’s transcript, college applications, scholarship applications, college visits, scholarship interviews, etc., I was constantly emailing Lee for advice and information. And, she never failed me!
As a result of my Gold Club Membership, my daughter was able to graduate at 16 and get a $60,000/year Presidential Scholarship at her university of choice.
I started reading your books and attending your classes when my son entered ninth grade. How did you know us so well when we had never met? As a Gold Care member, I couldn’t wait for Wednesday to talk with you because you helped me feel confident and capable. You were more than just a high school coach, you were like a best friend, only better.
It was difficult to believe my kids would even be ready to attend college but it was my dream that they would. I agree, whole heartedly, that every student deserves a rigorous high school education so they can attend (or not attend) a college of their choice. I could never have provided that education if I had not been encouraged by you.
As a stay home mom, my husband and I did not have the finances to help our son even consider anything but a local college. We have always taught that debt for college was something to avoid at all cost. It was you who prompted us to send an application to the most expensive engineering school in the State. I thought we were out of our minds but did it anyway. Crazy for sure, but it worked. This fall our son will be attending University with full tuition paid for the next four years. It’s still too amazing to comprehend.
Lee, you have given us such a gift. I am still pinching myself because it doesn’t seem possible. My son is heading to the college of his choice and only has to cover room and board for the next four years. He is starting to receive outside scholarships as well.
My husbands family was not in favor of me staying home to school our kids. Even recently, my sister-in-law said I should have been working outside the home and homeschooling simultaneously. Ouch!!! When we received the financial package I couldn’t wait to tell my husband that I had just made $200,000.
Of course my son has worked hard and his Senior grades, as a running start student, were amazing. His transcript was amazing. His course descriptions took me months to write but I am so proud of the results. I graduated him last month with a beautiful homeschool diploma. We had a huge party at the park and he felt so special. All because you showed me how to do the hard things well. You believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.
God told me homeschooling was in my future and I doubted. He said He would walk beside me and give me the people I needed to do this task. He never once let me down. The day you decided to help parents like me, was the best day of my life. You’re a blessing to our family. How can I thank you enough for your mission to help parents homeschool high school. My daughter thanks you in advance as she prepares for college admission.
Thanks for being my hero Lee.
"Dreams can come true!"
My daughter earned an appointment to the Air Force Academy! And the backup plan of Embry-Riddle has offered a huge scholarship as well. Thank you for all the help crafting a way to put this adventure into words on her transcript and course descriptions. It has been an incredible journey.
From the very beginning decided she wanted to go to the Air Force Academy. I kept thinking it was one fleeting idea, except it wasn’t. She joined Civil Air Patrol when she was 12. Went to space camp and loved it. Survived her first encampment including a phone call where she told me, “If you were a real mom, you would pick me up.” She kept doing all kinds of CAP activities and learning how to speak in public, lead others, deal with lots of disappointments. She worked hard scholastically too, and got a 1390 SAT after a couple of tries.
As my daughter said, "Dreams can come true!"
We started homeschooling in 2014, without an idea that we would continue to homeschool during high school. Four years ago we happened upon one of Lee's webinars and signed up straight away. From weekly emotional support and advice, to course description help, transcripts and school visits - every time we reached out with a new concern or question, Lee was there for us.
Then an amazing thing happened. Our daughter was admitted to every college where she applied, and received a collective $385,000 in Scholarships to five top Universities in addition to a coveted spot on each of their Sailing teams.
Lee, we cannot thank you enough. We could not have achieved this homeschool-to-college goal without your expert counsel, care and kind friendship. Your Gold Care Club is all that you say it is.
We still have two years of high school left with our son, and we are excited to continue to navigate his unique journey into college applications with you as well.
I just had to write to let you know that my daughter received the Regent's Scholarship for Pepperdine University! This is a $40,700 annual award. I am still in shock daily. We found out a week ago, and it has taken this long for it to actually sink in.
Of course this is after hours and hours of work on both of our parts, my daughter writing countless essays and filling out applications, and me writing course descriptions. But we figured out that even if we spent 100 hours in the process, we were actually making about $1600 an hour!
I cannot thank you enough for all the direction you have given me over the past few years. Honestly, the college application process has proven to be one of the most challenging things I have ever done. It challenged my faith and sanity. I cannot imagine trying to do it on my own.
Thank you for choosing to spend your post-schooling years helping others! The prospect of home schooling high school IS scary, but looking back, the blessing of intimacy I now share with my daughter by having spent these past four years together was worth it. Thank you for helping me to feel the fear and do it anyway!
Are you considering dual enrollment but concerned about grades?
Many homeschoolers are jumping into the fast track to college credits with community college because many states pay the tuition for qualified high school juniors and seniors. It’s an attractive opportunity, but the transition can be stressful for parents and teens. All of a sudden, your high school student is taking college courses, so the work is more difficult and the grades feel so much more real, permanent, and significant. Have no fear! Let me explain how you can encourage your children to be successful in dual enrollment.
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Learn How to Capture Credits
On Your Homeschool Transcript!
6 Tips for Maximum Benefit
1. Find out university policies on community college classes. You want to be sure how they will use college classes before your child transfers to a four-year university. Some universities will not accept certain community college courses. Other universities will consider your student a transfer applicant rather than a freshman applicant, which can affect scholarships. Some universities won’t give credit but will use those classes to place your student in higher level courses. Do your research to locate a “dual enrollment policy” for any university your child is interested in attending, so you are prepared.
2. Have your child take a community college class in each major subject area. Try to cover at least one class in math, history, English, science, etc. For students who are taking just a handful of classes, this will help you provide outside documentation of ability in a broad array of subjects. Instead of just proving their mettle in math, try to demonstrate abilities across the board. Some teens will attempt a full course load at community college to achieve an Associate of Arts (AA) degree, which means covering all the subject areas to achieve that distinction.
3. Have your child take classes required by your first choice university. That way they won’t need to repeat the same class when they transfer. That can shorten the time they stay in (and you need to pay for) college. For example, if your chosen university requires everyone to take a psychology class, taking psychology as a dual enrolled high school student can eliminate the need to take it at the university.
4. Be prepared for college applications after community college. Even if your child completes dual enrollment, when they want to attend a four-year college in the future, you’ll still need complete high school records. Be ready to provide a transcript, course descriptions, reading list, and activity list. Collect course descriptions for classes taken at the community college, in case the information is needed for a smooth transition.
5. Advise your teenager to get to know their professors. College professors are one of the best sources of letters of recommendation. For the best results, these professors should know your child well in order to write knowledgeably about them. Tell your children to sit in the front row, ask questions in class, and participate in discussions. This will help them get better grades, certainly, but it will also help professors get to know them.
6. Make sure your child gets excellent grades in all college classes. College grades weigh heavily in admission and scholarship decisions, even if a university does not give college credit for the classes. Emphasize the importance of getting excellent grades – hopefully all A’s.
It's very important for kids to do well in community college classes. These college grades will take priority over any high school grades on the transcript. When colleges look at grades, GPA, and SAT® or ACT® test scores, they are trying to predict who will be successful in college. What could be a better measurement of college success than documented success in college? College grades are the most accurate measurement of college readiness, so they should be good. However, you don't need to panic! While community college grades can affect college admission and scholarship opportunities, there are plenty of reasons not to worry.
5 Reasons Not to Worry about Grades
1. Most students drop a grade. Keep in mind that college classes are more difficult than high school classes and students will drop one whole grade level on average when they make the switch. In other words, an "A" student usually gets a "B"; a "B" student usually gets a "C."
2. Average homeschoolers tend to get excellent grades. Many homeschoolers get A's because, quite frankly, moms are usually tougher on them than college professors. We expect our children to truly learn and achieve mastery over concepts. Learning and mastery are words that equal "good grades."
3. Hard work earns great grades. Give your children the expectation of working hard to get an A in every class. However, truth be told, if they get a B or better, they can still do well in the college admission process (depending on where they want to apply, of course).
4. Classes aren’t filled with geniuses. Community college students are not all top-performing students. Adults returning to college and high school drop-outs will re-enter education through community college. The straight-A types generally go to a four-year university instead, so the competition isn't usually as tough as a regular four-year university. Even if professors grade on the curve, a smart homeschooler can typically out-score a moderate adult who hasn’t taken English or math in the last few decades.
5. Homeschooled kids worry about comparisons. Statistically, homeschoolers are wonderfully prepared for college. Still, kids may wonder if they have been well-educated by their parents and as a result are willing to work extra hard to prove they are educated.
Although your children may get terrific grades in college, the experience isn’t just about the GPA. You want them to study and learn college material, not just be able to pass a test. You can guide your children so they can be successful in learning at the college level.
7 Strategies for Community College Success
2. Plan for two hours of studying for every hour spent in class. This general formula will help you estimate the time required for each class. Your children can read the book and circle, highlight, underline, discuss, make note cards, form a study group, etc.
3. Ensure your child attends class every single day. This isn’t generally a problem for homeschoolers, who are never “absent” at home. However, it can be shocking to see how many students in college decide not to attend class. Most professors don’t teach from a textbook and their lectures supplement the text. Class attendance is critical.
4. Teach your child how to take notes and be an active listener. This can help your student remain engaged in lectures and improve their retention. IEW has an excellent note-taking class, called University-Ready Writing. Your child can practice note-taking skills in church or while watching college level lectures from The Great Courses.
5. Suggest that your child sit at the front of the class. Professors know that students who sit at the front of class tend to be more engaged in learning. This will encourage learning and retention, but it will also help your child develop a professional academic relationship. Hopefully the professor will be happy to write a marvelous letter of recommendation when the time comes.
6. Encourage your child to get help when needed. During the first day of class, the professor will explain how they can be reached for questions. It’s important to ask for help immediately, when questions remain small, rather than waiting until the subject is overwhelmingly confusing. Remind your student to attend the professor's office hours (with another student) at the first sign of confusion. When speaking to a professor, there is no reason to reveal they are in high school, or in dual enrollment, or homeschooled. To the professor, each student is on equal footing.
7. Form a study group. Encourage your child to get to know other students in the class - especially anyone who also sits at the front of the class. They can develop a study group, and meet together regularly. Because of the variety of students attending community college, the best way to develop a study group is with other homeschooled students, or at least with other students attending through dual enrollment. It is an adult environment, with some unsavory characters attending class, so be careful.
Homeschoolers need to be aware of the potential pitfalls, as well as the possibilities, of a community college education. These college credits may be free, but parents should do their research before sending children into the community college environment. One community college approached me at a college fair, and asked me to warn parents that their young homeschooled daughters may be sitting next to registered sex offenders, unaware of the dangers. (For more information about the environment, read Facing the Community College Fad.)
7 Things Parents Can Do to Help
Even though it's up to your child to attend the classes and do the work, there are things parents can do to help their children have a successful community college experience.
1. Arrange a buddy system. Find other friends, perhaps other homeschoolers, who can attend class together. When our sons went to community college, they were in a classroom together or with another Christian friend.
2. Evaluate the professors. A good place to find helpful information is www.ratemyprofessors.com. Look at the comments as well as the ratings, because some students rate professors highly merely due to the fact they don’t give homework or show inappropriate material in class.
3. Preview the textbooks in advance. The textbook can give you a clue about the coming class, and perhaps give a sense of the professor’s philosophical bent. My son previewed the textbook for a music improvisation course and immediately proclaimed, “Mom, I can’t take this class.” I frankly thought he was just blowing off a little teenager steam, until I looked at the passages in the textbook that he pointed out. The author said that he would always capitalize the word “Self” throughout the book because, “You should always capitalize the name of God.” He went on to say that since only God could create music, that meant you were, in fact, God. So check those textbooks and be prepared!
4. Avoid over-working your student. If your child is taking a full time community college course load, do not expect any additional homeschool classes. If your child has two full community college classes, they might be able to do one or two classes at home. If your child is taking one full community college class at a time, you might expect them to get about half of their usual homeschool workload completed.
5. Don’t double up with homeschool classes. One whole college class equals one whole high school credit. That means, for instance, that a community college class in English is the only English class needed that year. On the other hand, it also means that a community college class goes faster than a high school class - twice as fast or more. (Check out my post, Benefits of Dual Credit for Homeschoolers, for more details.)
6. Withdraw from class if necessary. At most colleges, a student can withdraw from class within the first few days. This might be an option if you believe your child will be completely overwhelmed by the work listed in the syllabus, or if you decide the class content or professor is inappropriate.
7. Keep complete homeschool records. When your child is taking community college classes, you need to include that information on your homeschool transcript. Clearly indicate which classes were taken at the community college, using the college’s acronym by each class title.
For more information on transcripts, take my free online class, “A Homeschool Parent’s Guide to Grades, Credits, and Transcripts.” If you need extra help creating your homeschool transcript, check out my Total Transcript Solution.