My oldest child has finished high school and will receive her diploma on Saturday, at our house, surrounded by family and close friends. We began homeschooling in her 2nd grade year. She was my guinea pig each year, learning about what worked for us and what did not. This past year was no exception.
Keeping: Dual credit classes at community college
This year was the first year when I did not personally teach any of her classes. She used the dual credit program at Austin Community College to take college classes in English Composition I & II, Calculus I & II, Biology I, Art Appreciation, and Fundamentals of Programming I. Along with her previous classes, she graduated high school with 30 hours of college credits. ACC has excellent student support systems in place to help their dual-credit students be successful. We will continue to supplement our homeschool with dual credit classes for my next two graduates.
Keeping: Using an alarm to wake themselves up
My mornings are busy. I stop what I am doing to drive my dual credit kiddos to class, and later I pick them up. In order to make it on time, I have alarms set on my phone to remind me when to leave. Likewise, I expect my students who are taking college classes to set their own alarms to wake themselves up and pack their own lunch and snacks. I feel like this is a bare minimum expectation for teens, that they can get up, get dressed, and prepare their food for the day without me having to supervise.
Ditching: Using Google Classroom with my senior
Google Classroom is awesome for communicating the day’s school work expectations with my homeschool kiddos. They never have to ask what they are doing for any subject, it is all right there on their Chromebook or laptop screen. At the beginning of the year, I was entering the dual credit class times for my senior into the classroom calendar. She did not use Google Calendar at all, much less Classroom, to schedule her day or to keep track of assignment and exam dates. She has a really high tech way of keeping track of her upcoming class deadlines and exams: she uses a dry erase marker and her mirror! This works for her, so I am not going to mess with her system. For my rising senior, I will have a conversation with her about time management and see what she chooses as her planner of choice.
Keeping: Library Teen Clubs and 4-H Club for extracurriculars
My kids are not into sports. They are into creative endeavors, art, sewing, and theater. Utilizing teen clubs and activities at local libraries is a great way for them to socialize with other kids who may or may not homeschool. We have also been active in the local 4-H club where ever we were living at the time. The kids have gained experience in public speaking, leadership, community service, working with a group, fundraising, organizing events, and learning new skills through their 4-H projects. These low-cost options for extracurriculars have worked well for our budget, as well. If your local library or 4-H club does not have a program of interest for your teen, speak to someone about getting one started.
Keeping: My senior choosing their own cap & gown color, ordering a custom diploma, and taking graduation photos ourselves
Homeschooling is such a personalized experience, graduation should be as well. Let them choose their cap and gown color. Make the diploma a little different. Take graduation photos that show off your young adult without looking like everyone else’s graduation pics. Let them make graduation their own personalized event, as it should be.
Keeping: Skipping the homeschool groups & co-ops
After many years of involvement in homeschool groups and co-ops, we took a break this year. There were several reasons, but the main one was my middle daughter, who was diagnosed with cancer, requested that we skip homeschool group this year. She was taking more difficult dual credit classes along with her regular school work. The biopsy, diagnosis, surgery, doctors appointments, and constant lab work was stressful. Her body was having a hard time adjusting to being hypothyroid and hypo-parathyroid after the surgery, and she was often nauseous. She was not close with anyone in the group, and generally felt unsupported during a very difficult time compared to the encouragement and support that she was receiving in the other teen groups she was involved with. I had similar feelings. My senior was taking all dual credit classes and going to be too busy to involved anyway. And while my middle school child liked playing with the other kids, most of the kids were younger or older, so there were not many classes for her level. It was a huge relief and the very best decision for us to took a break. I do not foresee my next senior or I wanting to join a homeschool group for her senior year, although she does enjoy homeschool dances with her friends, so that will continue.
Keeping: Space in the schedule
My youngest will be a high school freshman, the middle child will be a high school senior taking dual credit classes, and my oldest will be a college freshman. They are planning to be as busy as ever with theater, and all of them were elected to be officers in their 4-H club. I have been working to grow my TeachersPayTeacher store and develop complete high school science curriculums for homeschoolers. Space in our schedule for sick days, catch-up days, field trips, educational fun, and general flexibility is a senior year priority.
Each year brings new challenges and new opportunities. We continually make tweaks to find what works for us, to find a groove for the school year. I am truly already excited to begin the next school year.
North Star Homeschool Resources 