5 Things You May Not Know About Homeschooling High School is a post from Shannen of Middle Way Mom:
High school is a homeschool mom’s biggest fear. It is daunting, challenging, and most of us don’t remember half of what we learned in high school, so how are we supposed to teach it?
Every homeschool mom I’ve talked to that’s started down the high school track has said it’s been different than they anticipated. So, what is it that they didn’t know?
You don’t have to know everything
There are just so many resources that you could know next to nothing and your child can still learn what they need to know. Some colleges now offer online high school programs, where your student won’t earn college credit, but you can outsource the course to a college, even if it’s not local.
Transcripts may be optional
Let me say this: if you want your child to have the option of going to college, you more than likely want to make a transcript. There are other ways to get into colleges, but it’s harder if you don’t have a transcript. With that said, if your child is not college bound, check in to your state law to see if you even have to make a transcript to consider them graduated. Some states are very relaxed, and you could be stressing over nothing.
You may not be bound to your state’s high school graduation requirements
I was really surprised to find out that I can basically graduate my daughter with any credits I wish. I don’t have to graduate her with specific classes completed, though I make sure to have certain courses done to make sure we don’t hinder her ability to get in to college. Again, check your own state laws. HSLDA is a great resource to find easy-to-read state law documents.
There will likely be some failures
Your child is at the cusp of adulthood. When I think back to when I was high school and college age, I wonder what in the world I was thinking. Fleeting decisions and knee jerk reactions based on emotions, coupled with lack of responsibility, made for some interesting times. We all have failures, and rather than be surprised when our kids go through the same thing, it’s just easier to expect some bumps in the road and allow some wiggle room for it. It’s okay to have some failures. It’s part of the learning process and, at least this way, your child still has your support to work through it.
They can’t learn everything
There will always be something you missed. There’s just too much information out there to learn. Figure out your goals, and go from there. One of the most important lessons a high schooler can learn is how to learn. If they don’t know something, they should be able to figure it out. In the workforce, people who find answers for themselves rather than expecting people to always teach them go further more easily.
Have you homeschooled high school? What came as a surprise to you?
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Well, I’m a homeschooling dad so I hope that still counts! We’re in Virginia and I can’t stress enough how wonderful the community college system is. Our kids never tested for the PSAT or SAT but instead duel enrolled in community college and simply transferred to a four-year school when the time came. Their homeschooling upbringing gave them the personal ownership and responsibility that they needed to be successful in community college, and their grades and accomplishments there provided the ‘resume’ to move on to four year colleges (with scholarships!).
Of course you still count! 🙂 We have a similar system here in Minnesota, but some community colleges do require one of the big tests, like the SAT, ACT, PSAT, or PLAN for admittance. After that, it sounds very much the same as what you describe. I’m so impressed with some of the college options available!