Are you homeschooling a high schooler? Or maybe they’re not quite in high school yet, but you’re getting prepared. We can help! You really can enjoy homeschooling high school success and we’ll share our best tips here. In fact, if I’m being completely honest, homeschooling the high school years have been my favorite season yet.
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Homeschooling the high school years is certainly doable and you can be extremely successful at setting up your teens for success in their next stage of life! While many parents fear messing up the high school years, or wonder if they’re providing enough for their teens, you can rest assured that with a few tips and strategies, you can navigate the teen years well.
On episode 229 of the Homeschool with Moxie Podcast, we chat with Michelle Osborn, veteran homeschool mom of four successful homeschool graduates.
In this episode, we cover:
- the common doubts and concerns of homeschooling parents of teens
- what “doing enough” in homeschooling actually means
- how homeschooling parents can strike a balance between meeting academic standards and fostering their teen’s unique interests and passions
- how to know if our homeschool approach is working
- how to collaborate with our teenagers to set achievable educational and personal goals
- best advice for parents homeschooling teens
You can find Michelle here:
- HomeschoolingTeensSuccessfully.com
- Check out Michelle’s courses for helping you homeschool high school
- YellowHouseBookRental.com
- Homeschooling Teens Curriculum Fair
The Doubt Dilemma
Homeschooling teenagers doesn’t have to be any harder than homeschooling the elementary years was. Most of the self-doubt that comes in those high school years is self-imposed and not realistic. In other words, you can do an excellent job navigating the high school homeschool journey with your teen. Yes, you can set them up for success in the real world.
Most of the common doubts homeschool parents have in the high school years is from comparing the homeschool experience with a traditional public school education and worrying about academic standards. But with a vast amount of high-quality homeschooling high school resources available, plus support and coaching if needed, you can have confidence as you mentor your teen through the high school years.
Defining “Enough”
Have you ever wondered if you were “doing enough” in high school homeschooling? This is such a common worry for parents! Your teens is balancing academic and life skills and preparing for life after high school.
But you have to remember that you’re not comparing your teen to anyone else. Are they doing enough for themselves? Of course, you need to follow homeschooling legal requirements for high school. And you’ll want to be sure that if they’re college-bound, they’ve taken the expected coursework. Keep a transcript and have high expectations for your teen, but also enjoy the opportunity to individualize and customize their high school years and courses.
Setting Realistic Goals
Your homeschooling teens success will depend a lot on setting realistic goals and then helping them achieve those goals. High schoolers are motivated when they see the purpose and are passionate about what they’re learning. This is where dual enrollment or customized electives really shine.
One of the best teen homeschooling strategies is to collaborate with your child to map out their high school years and help them reach their goals. What do they want to do after high school? Map out a plan to get them there and they will be motivated to make it happen.
Celebrating Milestones and Progress
Whether you’re homeschooling for college preparation or your student intends to enter the workforce after graduation, you can track their progress and create a transcript. Some families like to create a portfolio or record of their teen’s accomplishments to provide tangible evidence of their growth. You could even have a recital, performance, or showcase to celebrate their progress at high school graduation.
Conclusion and Encouragement
Homeschooling high school success is absolutely possible! While the high school years present their own unique challenges, with the right mindset and support, you’ll be on your way to a fulfilling high school experience with your teen.
Of course, choosing the right homeschooling high school curriculum is one of those key components. And we don’t pretend to have the best choices all the time, but if you’re curious about what we’ve used over the years, check out our homeschool curriculum recommendations and reviews.
Check out our ultimate guide to homeschool graduation planning along with the 3 lessons I’ve learned since graduating 3 of my kids (so far!).
