Transcript for Middle School?

[Paige]

DS is going to go to the local high school next year and they have requested a middle school transcript. I have no idea what to give them. I asked them for guidance and didn't get much that I felt was useful. She said, "Just to show that he's completed 8th grade and what he's taken." I get the impression that they are not a super homeschool friendly school, but maybe it was only the person I spoke with. DS felt the chill too. 

 

Most of the template I saw online are for high school classes. DS has taken Algebra but I do not want him to get high school credit for it. I'd prefer that he get his four credits with other courses. I am a pass/pass teacher: he works until he succeeds with the material and I don't give grades. 

 

Do you think a list of subjects/course descriptions for 8th grade only, plus 7th grade's Algebra, with no grades would be accepted? Do I have to include books/reading lists? I talked with them today and they asked me to bring it tomorrow. 

 

[regentrude]

I would simply use a high school transcript template (since these are easily available) and fill in the middle grades courses he has taken. 

So, for math: Math 6, prealgebra, algebra 1 (they will very likely not give credit for a home taught class anyway but insist on having him repeat it at school)

For science, language arts, social sciences, just list whatever course he did. If he did random eclectic stuff for a subject,  come up with a course title that best describes what it was. "English 6" is a perfectly fine name for a 6th grade English course ;), but "classic adventure literature" is fine, too.

 

If they want a transcript, that would not include book lists.

 

Or do they simply want a list of classes he has taken in 8th grade only? That would be even easier.

Edited July 13, 2016 by regentrude

[Paige]

 

 

Or do they simply want a list of classes he has taken in 8th grade only? That would be even easier.

 

That's why I was unsure- she said transcript, but then said list of classes in 8th grade...

 

I'll just fill in a template. He shouldn't have to repeat Algebra if he can test out of it. He took Algebra in 7th and then did AOPS Number Theory and Probability this year, so he's brushing up on it this summer since he's had some time off.

[regentrude]

I'll just fill in a template. He shouldn't have to repeat Algebra if he can test out of it. He took Algebra in 7th and then did AOPS Number Theory and Probability this year, so he's brushing up on it this summer since he's had some time off.

 

Then I am not sure I understand what you mean by you don't want him to get high school credit for it.

Or do you simply mean, you want him to take four more years of math?

[wapiti]

I would assume they mean a course list without descriptions (Alg 1, English 8, History 8, Science 8, etc). They might not even need grades though I'd probably include them just so that it feels more official. This is just a bookkeeping requirement.

 

As a separate matter I would inquire about math placement and potentially email a math teacher. I would plan a little review/test prep before a math placement test. Find out what materials they use, do they follow Common Core, etc.

[Paige]

Then I am not sure I understand what you mean by you don't want him to get high school credit for it.

Or do you simply mean, you want him to take four more years of math?

 

Yes, I thought if he had high school credit for it that it would go on his transcript and he would only need 3 other years of high school math credits. I don't want him to think he can be a slacker. Maybe I don't understand the system. He's my oldest.

[regentrude]

Yes, I thought if he had high school credit for it that it would go on his transcript and he would only need 3 other years of high school math credits. I don't want him to think he can be a slacker. Maybe I don't understand the system. He's my oldest.

 

He might only need another three, but that would not prevent him from actually taking four  - provided the school does offer calculus

(which, sadly, not all high schools do.) It is not unusual for students to have taken algebra in 8th grade; those are usually continuing on to calc during senior year.

Edited July 13, 2016 by regentrude

[Ellie]

I would assume they mean a course list without descriptions (Alg 1, English 8, History 8, Science 8, etc). They might not even need grades though I'd probably include them just so that it feels more official. This is just a bookkeeping requirement.

 

A transcript by definition includes grades.

[wapiti]

A transcript by definition includes grades.

 

Oddly, not for public middle schools in my district.  It is just the course list with some sort of credits, just proof that the courses were taken.  (I had this come up because I have public middle schoolers who will be applying to private high school.  The school's registrar pointed this out to me.  I thought it was weird.)  FWIW, I think the general idea is that grades do not matter for middle school for entering public high school.

Edited July 14, 2016 by wapiti

[Ellie]

Oddly, not for public middle schools in my district.  It is just the course list with some sort of credits, just proof that the courses were taken.  (I had this come up because I have public middle schoolers who will be applying to private high school.  The school's registrar pointed this out to me.  I thought it was weird.)  FWIW, I think the general idea is that grades do not matter for middle school for entering public high school.

 

Huh. Well, I would not use that as a model, because I don't think that's the norm. But as you say, it's just middle school, not high school, so it might not be that big a deal, lol.

 

OTOH, grades (or some kind of evaluation, such as standardized test scores) can help the receiving school have an idea of how the children are doing academically, which can help with placement (some states have general classes and college-prep classes, based on achievement not future goals).

[Paige]

I don't give grades for my classes as I feel it is not appropriate for the way I teach. The kids don't have tests or anything like that and they don't progress until they have shown mastery. I think they'd get artificially high grades because I allow nothing else. SO, if they want grades they will be disappointed. 

 

I am giving them his standardized test results which aren't required, just to be nice and helpful. I wrote up a class list for 8th grade only. I'm debating adding a literature list.

[regentrude]

I don't give grades for my classes as I feel it is not appropriate for the way I teach. The kids don't have tests or anything like that and they don't progress until they have shown mastery. I think they'd get artificially high grades because I allow nothing else. SO, if they want grades they will be disappointed. 

 

 

That is called teaching to mastery and would result in grades of A, since you would not let a student move on who has not met the standard.

That is not "artificially high grades"; it is a very sound teaching model that ensures individual learning instead of catering to mass management..

[MinivanMom]

Our high school also requests a "middle school transcript" from incoming homeschoolers, and they are "helpful" enough to specify exactly what they want:

 

Middle school transcript for 6th-8th grade on school letterhead (our state requires us to name our homeschools). The transcript should include:

-student's identifying info at the top (name, dob, gender, address, etc)

-list of courses completed in each grade

-final grade for each course

-grade scale

-total number of credits earned

-parent's signature at the bottom

 

I would just use a high school template and tweak it a little to make it work. You can use generic course titles (English 6, English 7, English 8, etc), but course descriptions aren't necessary and probably won't get read. Instead of a grade scale, you can put a note at the bottom that says, "All subjects taught to mastery. Student does not move on until the subject is mastered to an A level". Then I would put down an "A" and "1 unit" of credit for every class. There's no need to justify it beyond that.

 

I would definitely give them a copy of any test scores even if it's not officially required; they can only help. In fact, most guidance counselors are going to give far more weight to test scores than to anything you put on the transcript, so having good test scores to show them at registration is usually very helpful.