DON’T BE…….

Teaching high school is different than I thought it would be.  I am really not so much teaching as I am guiding and schedule driving.  Someone once told me not to stress about parenting a teenager as you would grow and change as your child did, thus being more prepared to handle each stage as it comes.  I believe this is helpful in the case of choosing to homeschool high school.  Even if you haven’t homeschooled all the way through, you have raised your child up and know them better than anyone.  To homeschool high school you need a little patience and perseverance and some preparation.  Check out 3 Things I Learned While Preparing to Homeschool High School.

By doing your research you can find all the tools you need for a successful homeschool high school experience.  The heavy teaching responsibility for my high schooler has been taken off my shoulders by the extensive and comprehensive options available to teach a high school student.  Many folks worry about being qualified to teach higher level courses, the fear of having to learn or relearn material that was to us decades ago, can keep us from attempting to homeschool our children into the high school years.

Don’t let this fear hold you back.  Homeschooling high school has proven to be less labor intensive for me than homeschooling the younger grades was/is.  Why you ask?

Homeschool High School is Less Labor Intensive Because:

1. Your child is older and more self reliant
2. Given their growing age, they can and should be taking on more responsibility.  This should include time management, self accountability, and a say in what/how they can and want to learn something.
3. Surprisingly enough there are many curriculum options available for the homeschool high school years.  Is there less than in the elementary years?  Yes, but there are still good solid options available to teach your high school student so the burden does not fall directly on you.

Start by involving your teen in the process of their homeschool high school journey. What are they interested in learning? How do they feel they learn the best? What is their end goal? College? Trade school?

I set up a 4 Year High School Plan printable to help us lay out a plan for the homeschool high school years.  You can download it and use it to help plan out your teens high school years.

Join me next week on a journey through How I Teach Homeschool High School:

Day 1: How I Teach Homeschool High School Language Arts
Day 2: How I Teach Homeschool High School Math
Day 3: How I Teach Homeschool High School Science
Day 4: How I Teach Homeschool High School History
Day 5: How I Teach Homeschool High School Fine Arts

Besides just planning and teaching the main subjects for high school, the other thing to consider is what electives your high school student will take to round out their experiences and their transcript.  Here are some posts to help you through that process.  [Also coming in Feb 2014 is a FREE Plan Your High School Electives printable pack.]

• Exploring Possible Elective Courses for High School
• High School Electives ~ A More In-depth Look at Our Choices
• Photography as a High School Elective
• Choosing Latin as a High School Elective & Foreign Language

The bottom line is that you shouldn’t let your fear keep you from homeschooling high school. Trust that you know your child better than anyone, and will take whatever steps necessary to help make their life a success. Take the time to do the research, find programs that can teach what you cannot, and involve your teen in the process. YOU CAN homeschool high school!

More Help for Homeschooling High School