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How to Design and Teach a CLEP Course

Creating an effective CLEPable Course for your students (and their friends!) is very rewarding. Don't think you have to be an expert in the subject at hand. If you are, you will have tools in your bag that the rest of us don't. If you're not an expert, you can create an educational experience for your student that will be engaging and rewarding.

When I suggested to my own then 7th and 8th graders that we should try a CLEP test, they were willing but I could hear hesitation in my daughter's response. I added a bit of  incentive by suggesting we invite a few of their friends to CLEP with them. To prepare, I would facilitate a Study Group! Now I really had their attention and hesitation turned to enthusiasm.

Since then, I have facilitated many successful study groups and co-op classes. While the subject matter changes, the formula is the same. Let me share with you a few tips so that you might consider offering a class of your own.

Continue Reading . . .

What if your student had an extra $20,000? Would they buy a year on a college campus?

This is a great question to ask your student! We just assume that college affordability is out of our control, so we pay the price and never really ask how much is it really worth? Consider this alternative:

STEP 1: Consider - Has your family ever looked into an all-inclusive vacations? The pre-packaged deal often comes with a higher price tag than if you were to plan it on your own. The same is true with education. Ask your student: If you had a windfall of $20,000 would you spend it on a college-experience year, travel for a year, or start your own business? Get ready for some interesting discussion.

STEP 2: Watch - Gary North is as right today as he was in 2007 when he made this video - Never pay retail for college! In 10 minutes, he outlines 7 "Alternative Tracks" to reduce college costs. We used four of them. How many have you applied?

STEP 3: Spend $100 - This will be the best High school course you will ever offer to your student: Give him or her a check for $100 on Sept.1 (Business Launch Day ... yep, made that one up, but it is Labor Day!). Ask him to start by reading three things: Do Hard Things, Start Here (same authors) and this blog post. Once he is done with the reading, give him two weeks to pitch business ideas to his family and friends. Have him start the one that gets the most votes. Clock is ticking - 14 weeks left in the semester. It will be the best course you ever offered!

Here's what we did: My oldest son is a history buff. Together, we created a Bingo-style MN history game that ultimately sold in a few shops. It was retired when he graduated high school. We met with local business leaders for advice, read through our state regulations on how to start a business, and developed a website, just to name a few. Daughter: We became Avon reps (she was 12 at the time) for one year and together learned marketing and accounting. Youngest Son: He partnered with his sewing sister to make and sell water balloon launchers. Now at 18, his summer jobs include being a subcontractor for a fabulous 22-year old entrepreneur (window washing).

Let me know how it goes with your student - These steps might be a game-changer!

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Upcoming Workshops ~

While I could have just left this section blank, I thought I would explain to you why I am offering so few Credits Before College Workshops this year.

Starting August 1, I was hired as a consultant for a new education initiative piloting out of Minnesota. The organization, Virtues Incorporated (too new for a website) holds this vision:

• Reestablish the local church as an educational center of the community by holding class-time in churches Monday – Friday.
• Partner with a university in offering college students an affordable, regionally-accredited education that leads to 2 and 4-year degrees. 
• Provide vocational training through local internships and character and citizenship formation through church and community service.
• All overseen by a trained cadre of Academic Mentors and supported by the local church.

I hope to share more with you soon!

And then there are Home School Conferences: This last spring, I had the pleasure of speaking at a few homeschool conferences outside of Minnesota. I am excited to already be receiving invitations for the 2015 conference season. College affordability is a hot topic!

Mark your calendars: The only planned 3-hour Credits Before College Workshop will be held in March, 2015, hosted by Truth Academy in Wayzata MN.
 

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News and Resources ~

• Just because it is available, doesn't mean you should. PLUS Loans are never a good idea. Parents, before you consider a PLUS loan, swing through your local Credit Union and see what they can do for you.
   
• Excellent article: "[I]nstead of asking [college students] their major, we should ask them one simple question: What problems do you want to solve?"

• Effective July 1, 2014, one form of government-issued identification will be acceptable for CLEP test-takers. A secondary form of ID will no longer be required. The primary identification must be valid and current, must bear the test-taker’s full name in English language characters, and must contain a photograph and a signature. When presented with the Secondary ID field during the check-in process, you should now enter “Not required” in the Secondary ID box. If students do not have a current, government-issued photo ID, they can complete and obtain the appropriate signatures on the student ID form (.pdf/32KB) prior to test day.

• Like Credits Before College Facebook for more ideas and resources.