If your teen is college bound, the 11^th and 12^th grade years will be consumed with researching colleges, narrowing down the list of colleges to which your teen will apply, and then completing college applications . You may even be considering an alternative college route. Along the way, questions are sure to come up. Who can you turn to for answers? The College Admissions Officer!

During my years as a classroom teacher, I often had students who had been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD.  Usually, they were very caring little boys who were easily distractED and often demonstrated behavior that was highly distractING. 

There was only so much that I could do as a classroom teacher to get to the root of these problems. One day, however, a co-worker shared a tool that was quite useful in helping these very loving, intelligent, but challenging children become more cognizant of their actions.  She called it the ‘Rocket Race’.

A question I am frequently asked by homeschool groups I speak to is, “How can students acquire college credit while in high school other than by taking college courses?” One answer is through credit by examination. The term basically means credit that a college awards based on the score that students receive on a national standardized test. The major tests that fall into this category include AP (Advanced Placement), CLEP, and DSST tests. Each college has its own policy as to which tests will be accepted and what score is required to receive credit.

I can’t believe how quickly the weeks and months are flying by.  My family and I actually have an invitation to a home school graduation ceremony this Month!  Apparently, the 2012-13 school year is rapidly coming to a close.   For many of you, standardized testing will be a part of your end of the year activities, and realizing how stressful the idea of testing can be; I thought I would direct you to a great article that Betty Statnick wrote a few years ago.  It’s called, Testing: Scores and S’Mores.

Homeschool students have the opportunity to showcase their excellence in academics and extracurricular activities in many ways.  College, job, and scholarship applications may all ask for a list of awards and honors that your teen has received.  What are some ways that homeschooled teens can gain recognition for their achievements?

What better way to keep boredom at bay than to provide enrichment opportunities to your teens during the summer time. It’s not too early to plan how your teen spends his or her summer. There is something to be said about a break from a schedule, academics, and assignments, so don’t let these precious months pass without thinking about ways to add enthusiasm to the high school years.

Grade point averages provide a quick way to compare a teen’s academic record in relation to others. They are shown on high school transcripts and may be used as a factor for college admission decisions and eligibility for scholarships.  Calculating a GPA is not difficult – let me show you how!