Homeschooling Services

Schedule Proof-of-Progress Meeting
Request P.O.P Letter via Form (Returning Families Only)

Meet Dory

Hi! I'm Dory. I graduated from Virginia Tech in 2007 with a BS in Human Development and a Masters in Teaching from the University of Virginia in 2008. I taught in Henrico County, Virginia, for several years before leaving to be a mom. In that time, I specialized in alternative lessons, regularly interrupting classwork for "teachable moments" and creating STEM activities for our students.

Now, I'm a mom of twins, Audrey and David. We have been homeschooling since 2020, when they were in kindergarten. I have loved this experience, using a combination of unschooling, project-based, and travel-based experiences to fuel our education.

I firmly believe that every family can be successful in homeschooling, no matter the education background of the parents or the modality of your home education classroom.

How Can I Help You?

FAQ: What happens on a Proof of Progress call?

I'll be so excited to work with you on your year-end proof-of-progress letter!

First of all, don't feel like you need to prepare any work samples. I conduct my meetings as an interview. You may choose to hold up work samples, but that is completely optional.

Most of the call will be with the primary educating parent. The child/children can be in the room, but many families opt to have the kids be in another room, so they can just be called in at the end (optional).

  1. We will start by going over basic information from your initial form: name(s) and age(s) of all students to be on the letter.
  2. We will talk about math curriculum that was used - formal programs, workbooks, online resources, and/or real-world experiences. I also like to get a little idea about the types of concepts that were covered in that year.
  3. We will talk about reading in the same way.
  4. We will talk about writing (spelling, grammar, creative writing, and/or composition) in the same way.
  5. You will share where you saw the most growth this year.
  6. You will share where you are excited to see your child/children's education go next year.
  7. Interspersed, we will also talk about some tips, hints, or ways to enrich their education based on where you're already finding success. Sometimes the best next step isn't a new topic. Sometimes it's found in connecting their learning to the real world and making academic studies go deeper in the content.
  8. In the last 5 minutes (or so) of the call, I can chat with the student(s) - talking about something that interests them - books, activities, field trips, etc. This is an optional part of the call, completely up to you (the parent). Some families like to include their child in this call because it's a chance to celebrate them and their year. For some children, it is too stressful to do this, so I never require it.
  9. At the end, I will share what you can expect from the letter and how you will send it in to your local superintendent/homeschool contact. At that time, I'll also share when you can expect to receive the letter (usually within the next couple of days).

 

NOTE: Please remember that my philosophy is that you do not need to follow the state's SOLs. "Progress" per the homeschooling laws does not have to align with the state standards. I come from a developmental background, meaning that I believe in following the child and their developmental needs. This may look like a child learning to read/knowing math facts/etc. at different ages than their public-school peers (both earlier and later are okay). Some children need more time for a topic, and some are ready to go faster. Because of that, I will not look at the state standards and compare them to your child. We simply look at where the progress was from the beginning of the school year until our meeting. Where was that progress? That's the key!

Beginning & Middle of Year

Home Education Consults

I understand the decision to homeschool is a big one. It can also be overwhelming, with many different options for curriculum, styles, etc.

Our family made the decision to homeschool and had a very quick turnaround. In the following weeks, we did a lot of experimentation with styles and resources. So I get the stress that comes from this decision.

The first thing I will recommend is for you to be familiar with HEAV.org. Their resources and parent support options are amazing!

After that, if you want some personal guidance, I'm happy to work with you! Because each family's educational needs are different, we can help tailor a program that is perfect for you. While I don't know every resource available (there are new options becoming available every day), we can work together to craft exactly what you and your children need.

I charge $75 for these planning sessions, which include the time that we will meet on the phone, Google Meet, or Zoom (usually around 30-60 minutes), and any follow-up from that conversation.

Homeschool consultations can be scheduled at any time during the school year, but are most often beneficial during the beginning and middle of the school year.

SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATION

End of Year

Is it an "evaluation" or "proof of progress?"

If we want to be technical, I approach these end-of-the-year meetings as proof of progress for many reasons:

  • Many of the families that I work with do not use a standardized program or curriculum
  • It is extremely difficult (if not impossible) to "evaluate" a child's knowledge in 30 minutes
  • An evaluation is very difficult to obtain (because every child is developmentally different, how can we say what "level" or "skill" should be mastered at the end of a year?)

A proof of progress is a different approach to an evaluation, because it is simply looking for progress and growth to be shown. In the state of Virginia, that is what is needed. It's actually quite wonderful, as it allows us as homeschool parents to note where growth has been attained.

Even though you will see this webpage (and my email communication) note it as an "evaluation," please remember that I do approach these meetings and my letters as "proof of progress" instead.

SCHEDULE YOUR END-OF-YEAR PROOF-OF-PROGRESS VIDEO APPOINTMENT
RETURNING FAMILIES: SCHEDULE YOUR NON-MEETING P.O.P. LETTER REQUEST

2026 Email Archive

I completely understand that emails can get lost (either in a spam folder or just in all of the emails we receive daily). In case you need to refer to something, this is a copy of the emails I have sent. Once you have signed up for a slot (or asked to be removed), you will not receive further emails.

SCHEDULE YOUR END-OF-YEAR PROOF-OF-PROGRESS VIDEO APPOINTMENT
RETURNING FAMILIES: SCHEDULE YOUR NON-MEETING P.O.P. LETTER REQUEST

High School Transcripts

In Virginia, parents are responsible for setting graduation requirements and issuing diplomas for their homeschooled children. While there are no state-mandated requirements for homeschool transcripts, creating one is highly recommended, particularly for students pursuing higher education, military service, or specific employment opportunities.

Here's a breakdown of how to create a comprehensive homeschool transcript:

1. Information gathering

  • Coursework: Compile a detailed list of all subjects covered and materials utilized throughout high school (grades 9-12), including extracurricular activities, independent studies, and courses taken at community colleges or online programs.
  • Assessment: Determine how student achievement was assessed for each course. This could involve grades, narrative descriptions, or a mastery-based approach.
  • Credits: Assign credits for each course. One credit typically represents a year's worth of work (approximately 120-180 hours).
  • Grading Scale: Establish a clear grading scale (e.g., a 4-point GPA scale) and ensure consistency in grading across all subjects.
  • Student Information: Collect the student's full name, date of birth, and graduation date (or anticipated graduation date).
  • Homeschool Information: Decide on a name for your homeschool (optional) and gather your contact information.


2. Transcript creation

  • Format: Choose a format that is clear, concise, and professional. Options include:
    • Using an online transcript service.
    • Downloading and customizing a template.
    • Designing your own using a word processor.
  • Content: The transcript should include:
    • Student and homeschool information (name, address, etc.).
    • Courses taken, dates completed, credits earned, and grades received.
    • GPA (yearly and cumulative).
    • Grading scale explanation.
    • Graduation date.
    • Optional: Standardized test scores (SAT/ACT), extracurricular activities, awards, and honors courses.
  • Organization: Consider organizing the transcript chronologically (by year) or by subject area. Colleges often prefer chronological transcripts.
  • Course Descriptions: Include brief course descriptions for non-standard courses to provide context for admissions officials.
  • Validation: Provide evidence of learning, such as a reading list for each class or a portfolio demonstrating skills developed through non-traditional experiences.

3. Finalizing the transcript

  • Review: Proofread carefully for any errors in spelling, grammar, or formatting.
  • Signature: Sign and date the transcript, identifying yourself as the "School Principal" or "School Administrator".
  • Official Transcript: Label the transcript "Official High School Transcript" or "Official Homeschool Transcript".
  • Sending Transcripts: When sending transcripts to colleges, ensure it is in a sealed envelope with your signature across the seal. 

Important considerations

  • Dual Enrollment: Dual enrollment programs at community colleges offer a valuable opportunity for homeschoolers to earn college credit and obtain official grades.
  • Standardized Tests: While not mandatory, strong scores on standardized tests like the SAT or ACT can strengthen college applications.
  • Seeking Assistance: Organizations like the Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV) offer resources and support for creating homeschool transcripts. 

Testimonials

"Ms. Dory was amazing with my girls! I had concerns that they would tense up while conversing with Ms. Dory as it was new for them to be assessed this way and also they had not met her before, but her friendly demeanor and gentle guidance let them be totally at ease. She has a lot of respect for how individual homeschoolers are educated and understands our needs. I am so grateful for her making the assessment experience stress-free. I highly recommend her!"

“As a first time home schooler, I was quite nervous about the evaluation process. Dory makes you feel very comfortable and she makes your child feel comfortable.”

"We loved working with Dory. My kids get so anxious when it comes to taking tests. She made them feel very comfortable. My daughter said that Dory was one of the nicest people she has met. My son said, 'Dory was very easy to talk to.' I will definitely be doing an evaluation again next year."

"Dory could not have made the process easier or more affordable!  She was extremely flexible with scheduling for my five children and made each of them feel comfortable.  I noticed how she effortlessly got even the most shy to share things that excited them, and each left their time with her feeling encouraged! She was comfortable giving as much or as little detail as I desired and had her report ready within days of completing the children’s “interviews”.  While she was warm and easy to work with, she was very professional and her experience as a former teacher came through.  Thank you, Dory, for making this a positive process for my family!"

"The evaluation process with Dory Doyle was very simple and stress free. I didn’t have to have any thing together and she sent the evaluation letter right away. I emailed it to the school district and had no issues! I can’t wait to see her again next year! Thank you!"

"Dory has done the year-end evaluation for my son. He is in grade 11 of homeschool. She has asked all the right input from me and my son. She has consolidated everything we submitted to her and gave me documentation to submit to school. She has been a pleasure to work with, I highly recommend her and will continue to leverage her expertise going forward. 

 
Thank you Dory!"

RESOURCES

Through the years working with homeschooling families, these are some of the resources available. If something is included on this list, it's not necessarily a recommendation, but it will give you an idea of different resources out there for your family to experience.

PURCHASING CURRICULUM

COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM (all-in-one or a la carte)

  • Miacademy
  • Acellus
  • Power Homeschool
  • Good and the Beautiful
  • IXL
  • Discovery K12
  • Schoolhouse Teachers
  • Beautiful Feet
  • CTY (Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth)
  • Young Scholars Academy

WORKBOOK BASED SERIES

  • Christian Light Publications (CLE)
  • Masterbooks
  • R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey
  • Scholastic
  • The Critical Thinking Company

READING

  • All About Reading
  • Explode the Code
  • Fast Phonics
  • Learning Dynamics

WRITING

  • All About Spelling

MATH

  • Denison Algebra (for pre-algebra through high school math classes)
  • Khan Academy
  • Life of Fred Mathematics - book series
  • Masterbooks
  • Math Facts that Stick
  • No Nonsense Algebra
  • Right Start Math
  • Singapore Dimensions

HOMESCHOOLING EXTRAS

MAIL-ORDER SUBSCRIPTIONS

CURSIVE

PODCASTS

  • Wow in the World
  • Greeking Out
  • Story Pirates
  • Smash Boom Best
  • Homeschool History

OUR FAMILY HOMESCHOOLING IN ACTION

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