The Happy Homeschooler Podcast

Online education is a fantastic option for high school students because it’s flexible, can allow for students to learn at their own pace, and helps to meet the needs of different learning styles. Online learning options are a good choice for private schools and the students they serve.
Defining online education and the benefits for high schoolers
When we say “online education” there’s actually a spectrum of what that might mean. Some classes will be 100% online, with students never attending onsite or meeting in person. Then, there may be hybrid courses where students do some portions of class online and other parts in a traditional classroom. There are other classes which may meet together for everything but exams that happen online. And there are certainly other models besides these.
You may have concerns about the quality of education in an online course or degree program, but the truth is, these online classes can actually be harder for students because instructors often expect a lot of the students to show that they are participating and learning. If you’re researching online courses and programs, be sure to check if the program is accredited.
Giving high schoolers the option of online learning can be great: it takes away the barrier of physically getting to campus. Whether a student has a health, transportation, or time availability issue, online options make school more accessible. Additionally, many colleges are moving toward online offers and many careers require employees to be tech-savvy, so online classes in high school prepare students for their future.
Why might your school want to offer online classes and how can you do it well?
In addition to giving more options for your students, you expand your reach to who you can serve when you offer classes online. Your students (and faculty) are no longer bound by geography. Even if your students are close by, giving them flexible options increases their satisfaction.
If you decide to move forward with online classes, be sure to have the technology to do it well, set clear expectations for your students and faculty, and remember that even though you want your students online to learn what they would in a traditional classroom, how they learn it and show their understanding may be different than the face-to-face environment.
Resources Mentioned:Confirm an online program’s accreditationOrion High School is a premier online school for a reasonSign up for a free trial of Transcript MakerJoin our newsletter for blog posts, tips, and more

When it comes to high school transcripts, consistency is of the utmost importance. Whether it’s large details like GPA or course name, or small details like a comma in your school’s name, consistency in your high school transcripts is critical! Matt Bass, founder of Transcript Maker gives insight into how to create consistent transcripts in an efficient way.
Where should there be consistency?
When it comes to your high school transcripts, there are a number of areas you want to have consistency, including:
School name (Being consistent between transcript, website, business cards, etc.)
Course titles
Branding
Formatting (making sure all transcripts look the same, but also within one transcript, for example, the column widths are consistent)
Why are there inconsistencies?
Often times schools will notice a lack of consistency when doing transcripts manually. It becomes almost impossible to keep data consistent across different student’s transcripts, and your final product may not always look the same. If you’re doing your transcripts manually (which we don’t recommend, in part, because of the lack of consistency), you’re going to use a lot of time trying to get all of these details addressed, and you might still miss some.
Why is consistency so important?
You want your transcript to represent your school and your students well. When you’re sending transcripts that have issues, you do your students a disservice while also losing credibility with the schools your students are applying to- you don’t want that!
We know that schools and families would like to have consistency within their transcripts, but it may not feel like the biggest priority, so we’ve made Transcript Maker easy to set up and have taken care of these areas where consistency matters. When you have a system that’s easy to use, you become more efficient, your transcripts improve, and your school and students are represented in the best light.
Resources Mentioned:7 ways you know it’s time to move away from manual transcriptsSign up for a free trial of Transcript MakerJoin our newsletter for blog posts, tips, and more

Holly Urbach is a virtual assistant who homeschooled her five older kids from elementary school through high school, graduating four of them. Beginning September 2018 she will be homeschooling her 6 year-old-son, so she is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to having insight into tips and ideas for a strong homeschooling experience.
Meet Holly Urbach
Holly’s homeschooling journey began many years ago and has been a very positive experience for her kids and family. She now has five grown children and is looking forward to homeschooling her youngest son.
Tips for parents and students
As Holly has spent many years homeschooling her kids, she has learned a lot along the way. She highly encourages families to find their community for both support and knowledge: she used to find information in magazines and now it’s accessible online, but the ability to find information and connect with other families has been invaluable. Once she began homeschooling, she quickly realized that her children would be able to have so many positive experiences within the community at large when they’re not in a traditional classroom. So, for any parents who are concerned about the perceived lack of social interaction, she sees that there are more opportunities for homeschooled kids, and with a variety of people. Holly also encourages involvement in civic youth organizations like 4H, cub scouts, and girl scouts to add to a homeschooler’s experience.
For the students, Holly reminds them that this is their journey and to take ownership of it to make the most of it. Being homeschooled allows many opportunities to manage your own time, develop strategies to stay organized, and she encourages students not to depend on their parents to manage it all.
The gifts that homeschooling has given her family are more than she can count, but Holly also knows that homeschooling may not be for everyone. She also reminds parents that you can be a successful homeschooling parent even if you don’t see yourself as the most patient person and that you only need to be one step ahead of your kids. So, don’t stress yourself out too much if you’re thinking of homeschooling your kids and this is new for you.
We’re so glad that Holly shared her experiences and tips for homeschooling through high school with us.
Resources Mentioned:Visit the Home School Legal Defense Association for more information about homeschooling laws and support in your areaLearn more about civic youth organizationsSign up for a free trial of Transcript MakerJoin our newsletter for blog posts, tips, and more