How I Handle Homeschool Grading
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One of the most common questions I receive is how I handle homeschool grading. This is one topic that seems to trip up homeschool parents, especially once they enter the high school years.
I get it. Most of us have a public school background. We were graded through tests, homework, and projects with specific directions.
It doesn’t have to be that way though.
What if we took a step back and thought about our goals for our students? Is our goal for our students to understand the material or for our students to simply earn a good grade?
How I Handle Homeschool Grading
Let me warn you. You might have a strong reaction to reading about how I handle homeschool grading.
Some people do NOT like it. They want more structure. They want the grading system they are familiar with.
Other people feel like they have been set free.
Either response is okay (although if you have a hateful response, kindly keep it to yourself).
Elementary grade level – I don’t grade anything. I correct the work, and we go over everything to make sure the kids understand the material. We continue practicing skills until they can confidently complete the activities. My goal is mastery of the material.
Middle school grade level – I handle middle school grading the same way that I handle elementary grading. The goal is to make sure my students understand the lessons.
High school grade level – This is where it can feel tricky. Technically, I do need to keep grades in order to issue a transcript. However, this doesn’t look like traditional school grading.
My goal is always to make sure my students understand the material. My goal is mastery.
Quizzes and tests are an efficient way of determining understanding when teachers have a classroom full of students. They are not necessary in a class size of one or two, though.
I have a very simple evaluation process for grading my students’ work. This simple way can give me so much information about what they actually understand.
Essentially, we have a ton of discussions.
Let me explain what this looks like for a few different types of assignments.
Example #1: Video-Based World History
My son watches the videos I assign for the week. That evening, over dinner, we discuss what he learned. He explains the main concepts in his own words. My husband and I clarify and expand on the topics.
If he is able to intelligently discuss the historical event or time period, then he gets an A. Next week, he will move on to the next set of videos.
If he doesn’t understand the lesson, then we will try again. Depending on why he is confused, this might mean watching the same videos again with a parent or watching different videos that might explain the material in a way he understands.
Then we discuss the topic again. When my husband and I feel confident that he understands the material, he gets an A and moves on to the next lesson.
Example #2: Language Arts Reading Assignment
When my teens are reading a novel as part of their language arts curriculum, I assign a few chapters each week. They read it during the week, and then either my husband or I will ask a few questions to make sure they understand the plot.
After they finish the novel, we ask more in-depth discussion questions. Chat GPT is great for creating discussion questions! If they can have a conversation or write about the book in a way that shows they read and understood the book, then they get an A.
Related: Ways for Homeschool Parents to Use Chat GPT
If they didn’t understand the book, we would clarify any misunderstandings. Then they might do a little research on the book or reread any passages that gave them trouble. We discuss the book again, and then they earn an A.
Example #3: A Writing Assignment
We used WriteShop 1 and 2 for early high school writing. We would usually spend about a week working through the lesson together. Then my teen would spend a week working on the writing assignment.
When their writing assignment was completed, they would turn it in, and I would review it using the teacher rubric.
I would show my student the rubric, and we would go over the results. (Side note – rubrics are frequently used in college, so teens benefit from knowing how to use them.)
If the writing was solid, but there were spelling or grammatical mistakes, they would correct those and resubmit the paper. They then earned an A.
If there were structural issues in the paper, we would spend more time discussing the problems. Then they would rewrite the paper and send me a copy. This continued until the paper checked off every area of the rubric. At that point, they earned an A.
If there has been mastery demonstrated throughout a course, then the final grade is an A.
A lot of people think that this method of homeschool grading won’t work because teens won’t know how to earn good grades in college. That hasn’t been our experience.
My daughter just completed her sophomore year away at college. She has a 4.0. At one point, she was the only person to earn an A on a college test. She wasn’t studying to pass a quiz. She was studying to learn the material. Teaching to mastery works! Learning how to master material is truly a necessary skill.
Common Questions About Homeschool Grading
Every homeschool parent is the administrator of their homeschool, but here is how I answer a few common questions about homeschool grading. Definitely do whatever works best for your family and be sure to follow your state laws! State requirements vary, so it is important to know your state’s regulations.
Do you make report cards?
No. When I was a classroom school teacher, I had to issue report cards 4 times a year, but I don’t issue report cards at all in my homeschool. The purpose of a report card is to inform the parents of a student’s progress, but I already know how my students are progressing.
How do homeschoolers get a high school transcript?
Homeschool administrators, aka parents, are responsible for issuing a transcript to all high school students. It can sound a little intimidating, but it is actually really easy to make a homeschool transcript using Google Docs.
High school transcripts show course names, letter grades, the g.p.a for each class, and the cumulative g.p.a.
Don’t colleges suspect that grades are made up if a homeschooler has straight As?
Maybe. I can’t say what college admission officers think of homeschoolers who earn straight As at home. I do think it is important to demonstrate that the grades earned at home are reflective of grades earned when mom or dad are not in charge.
Having an outside source issue at least one grade for a student’s transcript is helpful. This might include other homeschool teachers or classes taken at community colleges.
I have my high school students take dual enrollment classes at our local community college once they are in eleventh grade. If a high school student can earn As in college classes, that shows they are A students, so, of course, their high school grades are As.
What is the standard grading scale?
Every school can set its own grading scale, but typically it looks like this:
Percentage grade = letter grade = grade point average
90-100 = A = 4.0
80-89 = B = 3.0
70 – 79 = C = 2.0
60 – 69 = D = 1.0
0 – 59 = F = 0.0
What if you want to use a traditional classroom grading style?
That is totally fine! You get to choose how you determine your grades. The best way is whatever works for your family. Some families might choose to assign grades based on daily work, test scores, and oral presentations. That is the right way for your family, and it is absolutely okay.
Homeschool grading does not need to be complicated!
Keep reading . . .
