Transcripts, credit hours, electives, requirements, GPA…Do these terms make your head ache and knees go weak? High school record keeping can seem overwhelming for parents but with Transcripts Made Easy: The Homeschooler’s Guide to High-School Paperwork from Everyday Education it doesn’t have to be.
I remember well the fear and trembling I experienced when our oldest was finishing his high school years and we had to submit his transcript with college applications. Did I have all the necessary information? Is it in the correct form? Have I figured GPA correctly? Will it be valid if it’s created by me? I had so many questions and was so unsure of myself. I researched and asked questions and dug up samples. It took a lot of time and a few re-writes. I wish I had Transcripts Made Easy way back then! The good news is we succeeded and he was accepted into the college program of his choice. The even better news is Mrs. Campbell has done all the research and put everything into this one book (or ebook – I received a digital PDF copy for the purposes of this review) so you have it all right at your fingertips!
The information presented in Transcripts Made Easy, written by Janice Campbell is drawn from her own experiences as a homeschool mom. When her oldest son was in high school, she had to create a transcript for him. She collected all her research, samples, helpful tips and tricks into a book so the whole process would be easier for other homeschooling parents. First published in 2001, Mrs. Campbell has issued the fourth edition.
What is it?
A full 138 pages long, Transcripts Made Easy makes planning, record-keeping, and transcript-making a breeze. It contains a complete but simple system for keeping records -one that allows you to create a transcript that highlights your student’s strengths and achievements.
It’s broken down into 6 main parts:
- Part 1 – Meet The Transcript – The whats, whys and wherefores of a high school transcript in general.
- Part 2 – Plan with The End in Mind – Look toward the end goal and what it will take to get them there. This is very helpful in gathering the info you’ll need for building a transcript.
- Part 3 – Keep Simple Records – Class descriptions, work samples, activities log – all these are addressed in this section.
- Part 4 – Grades, Credit and the GPA — It isn’t rocket science, really! You’ll find tips and helps in this section in a straight-forward, easy-to-understand manner.
- Part 5 – Create The Transcript — Yes, you can do it! With step-by-step instructions, worksheets and samples.
- Part 6 – References, Resources and Reproducibles – Everything is adaptable, customizable so you can custom-make your record-keeping to fit your student’s needs and goals.
Who Is It For?
Every homeschool mom needs this. If your child is not in their high school years yet, having an introduction into what’s in store when it comes to record-keeping will help you relax and face those years with more confidence when they arrive. If your child is in the middle school years, it’s the perfect time for this book! You can get all your ducks in a row and move forward knowing you can have everything in place. If your child is in high school already? It isn’t too late! Transcripts Made Easy will walk you through step-by-step to get your paperwork in place.
If your family uses an online school or program that keeps records and grades for you, this book is still a valuable resource. There is a wealth of information for parents and students as they select classes and guide their child in choosing a career path.
Every family should have a copy of this book. We can all benefit from the advice and experience of a parent who’s been-there-done-that. Testing and writing essays, filling out college applications, choosing between traditional secondary education and alternative programs – these are choices all families have to face when their children reach the end of their high school education.
How Did We Use It?
Having graduated five children out of our homeschool so far, we’ve been down this record-keeping road before. Each time it was a little easier and I was a little more relaxed. But I wasn’t necessarily more organized. My goal in reading Transcripts Made Easy was to fine-tune the whole process of making transcripts for our youngest three, and to help them be more prepared the ACT and SAT testing and college admissions.
My 11th grade son is reading through some of the sections to help him set goals and priorities as he prepares for what comes next in his education. He found the articles about Successful College Strategies and College Alternatives especially helpful.
As I plan out our upcoming school years, I will be using the Class Profile sheets. Having specific information for each class my students are taking will make it really easy to get their transcripts in order as we go. I already have my own template for transcripts from when our older children graduated, but I am grateful for the input on how I can improve them.
My Thoughts:
Having it the worksheets provided makes it easier for me to see what ground we’ve covered and where we are headed, and when we still need to accomplish. My job of collecting all the data and stats for official transcripts and graduation is going to be so much easier with my future graduates!
I am printing them off as I need them, adding them to my homeschool binder. You could print all 138 pages so you can read through highlight things you want to remember. Since I do not have the physical book I may do this myself. I like to write myself notes in the margins so it becomes an easy reference manual.
Creating a high school transcript does not have to be frightening with Transcripts Made Easy: The Homeschooler’s Guide to High-School Paperwork from Everyday Education. Whether you prefer a digital download or a physical copy of the book, it will be a valuable resource.
“This is the fourth edition of a classic resource, and it’s been used all over the world, even by a few private schools. My goal with this was to take all the fear out of high school paperwork and make record keeping just another relatively simple task that could be done in a few minutes at the beginning and end of each semester. After all, learning is the point of homeschooling–not paperwork!” ~ Janice Campbell
See how my fellow Review Crew Mates are using this awesome resource in their own homes. Just click on the image below:
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