Prepping for SAT's

As Nayna officially enters her "Senior Year" as far as the conveyor-belt is concerned, we need to consider her future path. She is a Self-Directed Scholar who is confidently directing her education to encompass all the aspects of a truly fabulous Liberal Arts Education. She has been taking concurrent enrollment classes at BYU-Idaho, which she loves, and is considering continuing her education there. I checked with admissions and for home educated students they want the following:

1. SAT or ACT scores.
2. A GED (General Education Development) or Compass Test or 15 college credits.

I do not like the idea of having my children take a GED test. To me that is saying that we have not graduated our child. The Compass Test is more for college placement in Reading, Writing and Math placement. My oldest daughter, Sam, took the Compass Test to enter community college. I feel better about my children taking the Compass Test because it determines college class placement so that they start in the right level of classes.

With Nayna's concurrent enrollment status, she could possibly have 15 college credits completed and enter BYU-I as a Sophomore rather than a Freshman. We discussed this with Nayna recently to allow her to consider her options.

SAT or ACT

The next thing to decide is which test to take - SAT or ACT. We've decided to prepare for the SAT. We decided this based upon the subjects covered in each test. BYU-I accepts either. The SAT has an essay portion which we feel Nayna will excel at, while the ACT has some social studies components that we are not sure about remembering dates and such even though she has studied history. I believe that the ACT is more state-standard specific while the SAT shows competency in Reading, Writing, and Math.

Nayna will take the free practice test this week online and we'll determine where to go from there. I believe she will do very well in everything but math. She has not completed Algebra II yet and I understand there are some questions of that level on the test.

TJED "Classes" by Classics

For the past couple of years I've studied the best ways to create home education transcripts. I've thought a bit about how a TJED or Leadership Education will translate into traditional terms for "classes" and "credits". I know this must be possible, after all it is a far superior education. I spent some time thinking about all the standard conveyor-belt requirements and feel that I've been able to showcase a method of recording a Liberal Arts high school education with a TJED Classics basis and a traditional transcript.

A transcript by subject seems most preferable in this endeavor. Here are some examples I found online of Transcripts by Subject:

• The Home Scholar
• HSLDA Example

I do not suggest that anyone PAY for transcripts. It's too easy to do with a bit of time and a parent who does a little bit of research.

I've taken the TJED for Teens reading list as posted here and divided the classics into the various high school level classes. Our state requires 100 hours for a "credit" or 50 hours for a "half credit". Your state may suggest something else and you may need to adapt this list to your state's requirements.I will be posting each class over the next few weeks. It is easy to add your own classics as possible choices.

Classes:

• American Literature
• British Literature
• Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature
• Mythology, Fairy Tales and Fables
• Mathematics
• Shakespeare
• Medieval and Ancient History
• Poetry
• American Government
• American History
• World History
• Science
• Religions of the World
• Economics

In a few cases, I have purchased curriculum to fulfill the class credit requirements in Mathematics and Latin.

She Got In!

I posted a few weeks ago about Nayna applying to BYU-Idaho for Concurrent Enrollment Classes. This week she got her acceptance letter! They did not ask for any additional information after the transcript that I posted here. She went through the same process to be accepted as other students, requiring the Ecclesiastical and Seminary teacher endorsements as well as agreeing to their morality practices (which are in keeping with our standards already.)

She is very excited to get started on college. I've had several people question having her take college classes at age 16, but I know she is academically ready. I believe taking one class this first semester will give her a taste of college and we'll see if the work load is too much. She has been a Self-Directed Scholar for awhile now and she is definitely ready for Mentoring outside of our home.

Another question I've received is if we have tried some of the Leadership Education Academy or other online classes. The answer is...yes we have! She has also attended a LEMI class at a commonwealth school when we lived in another state. I believe she is past these classes now.