Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Smith:
We've been talking this week with Mary Schofield, board member of Christian Home Educators Association and veteran homeschool mom, as well as author of The High School Handbook. Mary, how do we evaluate the academic progress of homeschool teens?
Mary Schofield: Well, Mike, the time to begin assessment is actually during course planning. Parents who know where the student was at the beginning of the course can more easily figure out how much his learning has progressed.

So I recommend that during the summertime, parents take a day to plan for the year, and during that planning time, they should establish some clear goals for each course and for overall graduation requirements. It's almost like making a shopping list before heading off to the store. By deciding beforehand what the requirements are going to be, it's much easier to see when they've been met. And it's easier on the student, too, because he knows right from the start what it is he needs to complete.

Then, whether he finishes early or whether he finishes late, the parent can tell not only that the course is done, but how much the student advanced.

Mike:
Thank you, Mary. This has been tremendously helpful on a very important subject—teaching our teens. And listeners, I would strongly recommend that you purchase The High School Handbook. And until next time, I'm Mike Smith.