5 (surprising) things you need to know about homeschooling high school ~
Written by Shawna Wingert of Different by Design Learning

For seven years now, I have been sharing our homeschool journey here on Simple Homeschool.

My oldest was eleven at the time. My youngest was eight.

It’s been a wonderful, crazy, joyful, stressful, sometimes devastating, sometimes rewarding, always worthwhile seven years.

Today, I find myself helping one child graduate high school, and the other prepare to begin it. My oldest only has six weeks left in his educational journey with me. My youngest has six weeks plus the next four high school years.

Prefer to listen instead?

I think because my oldest is preparing for life after high school homeschool, I find myself reflecting on what I know now about the high school years (that I never would’ve thought possible back when we started).

The truth is, most of the past four years feel like blur. They went by so much faster than his younger years homeschooling. They went by faster, but they were also, frankly, so much more fun.

Our days have became equally interesting for all of us. Because they are older, their interests more closely resemble my own. Our discussions about current events, history, and art are far more engaging than I thought possible.

It’s hard to think about it coming to an end, at least with one of them.

With this in mind, I wanted to share the things I wish I’d known about homeschooling high school before we were actually homeschooling high school. If I could go back in time to the mom I was seven years ago, this is what I would tell her.

5 Things You Need To Know About Homeschooling High School

1. Homeschooling High School Doesn’t Have To Be Totally Different From The Younger Years.

When we were preparing for my oldest to begin his freshman year, I thought it would be totally different.

I mean, this is high school right? Doesn’t it need to be more rigorous and less, well, fun?

Turns out, my son’s high school years looked a lot like every other year: interest-led, hands-on, project based learning.

At the end of his senior year, I can honestly say that it worked. We had already figured out how he learns best. I am so glad we didn’t change that to fit some idea of how high school is supposed to be!

2. Don’t Be Afraid Of High School Transcripts and Course Credits.

I was terrified of the transcript at first. It felt formal and threatening.

Turns out, it wasn’t really that hard. In fact, after I figured out how I wanted to do it, I actually looked forward to completing his transcript each semester. It felt like an observable measure of progress (something that can be really hard to come by as a homeschool mom!).

This post by Kara, really helped me relax about my son’s transcript.

3. Your Role Will Change Over The Four Years (and that’s OK).

I was a little taken aback by how quickly my role began to change as my son progressed through the high school years.

I went from being the one in charge of all of things to the one who needs to buy all the things and drive him to all the things. It was a little disconcerting at first, but it was exactly what needed to happen. My son developed a sense of engagement in his learning and independence that we had never seen before.

It’s worth being the accountant and the driver, instead of the teacher sometimes.

4. Your Child Will Have More Opinions (and that’s OK).

Of course it’s okay, right?

I know this to be true in my heart, but I can tell you that when my son had a very strong opinion about applying to four year colleges (he wanted to, I thought it was not a great fit for him) – I missed the years of him pretty much learning the way I thought he should learn.

Homeschooling high school is also just parenting a high schooler. It includes letting go when it’s time (cue tears).

5. The Memories Are Irreplaceable.

Oh my goodness, this one also makes me tear up a little, but it’s true.

The memories we have created together, especially as my son has become more and more of an adult, are precious to me in a way that is quite different from the younger years.

I am not sure I can put it all into words, but this is what I know – these high school years are when homeschooling and being with my kids all the time really started to get good.

I wouldn’t trade the memories we’ve made these past four years for anything.

There is so much more I could share.

I could tell you how impressed I was with my son’s college essays. I could tell you how worried I am about the giant step he is taking in heading off to college in the fall.

But I won’t. What I want to tell you is this – homeschooling high school has been one of the greatest experiences of my life and I am so grateful to be able to do it all over again with my youngest.

Maybe check back in four years. I will let you know how it goes.

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

It’s time to redefine success as homeschoolers ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

It’s time we redefine success as homeschoolers. Time we move away from thinking there’s one correct definition of this word.

That belief often comes from our conditioning in an educational system that judged us not on our ideas and insights, but on our true/false, multiple-choice responses.

Many of us as homeschooling parents feel that success for our kids equals getting them into college. If we do that, we believe, we can feel as though we have not failed them.

We can show the nay-sayers that we have not ruined our kids’ chances or limited their options in life.

Yet that’s also a narrow, conditioned, pressured response from an old, worn-out paradigm. It’s time to think bigger. There’s more than one path to a successful life.

For some of our children, college will make sense and be the best decision. For others, the biggest waste of time, money, and energy.

That’s why my working definition of homeschool success is “helping each child reach their fullest potential.”

Yet how do we know what each child’s potential is?

Here’s an answer the system would tell us is not a valid choice: We don’t.

As the mom of two beloved, special-needs young adults, I know this in an acute way. I feel it in my bones.

So I continue to do now what I did for 15 years as a homeschool mom, for both my neurotypical and neurodivergent children, as well as for myself:

I try to help all of us become a little healthier, a little stronger: mind, body, soul, spirit.

This gradual unfolding, one page at a time, of my children’s life story will continue to be written, long after I’m gone.

I’m not the author or the protagonist, merely a supporting character for a little while.

In the chapters I’m privileged to be a part of we have many undeveloped plotlines. Victories and devastations. What good story doesn’t?

Sometimes I’m desperate to flip ahead to a new chapter; sometimes I wish I could go back and reread one of my favorite parts.

As parents we often pray for a miracle, but perhaps the miracle in motion is that we all continue to slowly grow, change, evolve.

Each of us reaching toward fullness of potential as we go.

Each of us success stories in the making.

* Read more of Jamie’s inspirational writing here.

What’s your working definition of homeschool success? I’d love to hear it!

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

And now he’s a Senior: Reflecting on 12 years at Simple Homeschool ~
Written by Kari Patterson of Sacred Mundane

He was five when I wrote my first homeschool post. Headed into Kindergarten, reading Bob books. I already felt overwhelmed and we hadn’t even started.

I’d followed Jamie for several years at SteadyMom.com. I’d read her book; I loved her approach. No hype or gimmicks. Just steadiness, simplicity.

A genuine enjoyment of one’s kids. A balance between order and spontaneity. When I read her writing I could feel myself relax.

Yes. I need this.

So I figured it couldn’t hurt to send a request: Would she consider letting me write for her homeschool site? 

I didn’t figure I had a chance. I was a nobody. A beginner. What right did I have to contribute?

To my amazement, she said yes.

She let me in.

So with trembling fingers I decided to draft up the perspective I most wanted to have, and what I thought might encourage other scared moms like me. Be a beginner. The truth is, we’re all just figuring this out as we go.

Twelve years later, Dutch is 17 and entering his Senior Year. I’ve been writing an article for Simple Homeschool every six weeks for 12 years.

It’s such a gift to be able to follow our journey through the years, and Dutch’s Senior year has provided the perfect opportunity for some reflection.

There are a few things I see now…

Now He’s a Senior: Reflecting on 12 years at Simple Homeschool

1. That beginner feeling never goes away.

Of course there are areas where I feel more confident now.  I was so stressed over keeping up with other kids his age. Now that I get “round 2” with my little boys (3 & 6), I’m way more relaxed.

But I certainly don’t feel like an expert!

Each child is different, so each educational experience is different. Sure, I’ve homeschooled two kids almost clear through, but I don’t yet know exactly what homeschooling Justice will be like, or Ben. I get to start again, so I still get the benefits of being a beginner.

2. Homeschool philosophies and strategies shift dramatically with ages and stages.

When my big kids were little, I spent so much time trying to figure out what kind of homeschooling we wanted to do. Charlotte Mason, Unschool, traditional, Waldorf, Thomas Jefferson, etc. Of course I ended up with a hodge-podge of them all, but what I wish I had understood was how much is really just based on their developmental age and stage.

How homeschooling looks in the young years is drastically different from how it looks in high school.  If I get so stuck on adhering to a certain philosophy I won’t have the flexibility to adapt when my children grow up. (Much to my disappointment I learned that nature walks don’t earn high school credit!) *smile*

3. How you homeschool has as much to do with your style as it does your children’s, and that’s okay.

Of course we’d like to believe that everything we do is solely because of our children’s needs or what is objectively best based on research. And yes, that’s a great thing to keep in mind — we shouldn’t be making this thing about us.

But it’s also true that you’re part of this equation and you’re a unique human, so what is going to work for your family unit must be something that works for you. I am the least crafty person alive. The idea of math manipulatives made me break out in hives.

A steady stream of art projects would’ve sent me running for the hills. So for better or worse, we skipped most of those. I sent Heidi to art camp instead! Knowing your own aversions and personality needs is definitely something to consider when crafting your homeschool plans.

We can be brave enough to take a hard look at what might be our weak areas and consider enlisting outside help so that our children don’t bear the brunt of those shortcomings.

4. Homeschooling may not be the best option for everyone in every season.

In my early years I think my own insecurity made me constantly feel like I had to prove that homeschooling was the best option.  And to be fair, I was convinced that it was the best option for us. But 12 years later I truly believe that homeschooling isn’t the best option for every child in every season.

In recent years I’ve recommended many different private and public school options to friends, based on individual children’s needs or specific situations in home and family life.

I’m afraid that some spheres can become so homeschool-heavy that moms feel pressured to take on something that may not actually be best for that child at that time.

This year my Heidi will be starting an Early College program where she’ll take all of her classes through our local community college. It just occurred to me today that that means she’s technically no longer homeschooling. This particular programs fits her well, she’s ready for this next step of freedom, and we believe it’s best for her.

What about you parents who have graduating kiddos? What have you learned from the last dozen years? I’d love to learn more from you. Thanks for reading. 

* Read more of Kari’s encouragement from the last 12 years.

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

How We Manage Our Teens’ Devices ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

The Question: How do you handle devices with your teens?

The Answer: Our Young Adult Devices Agreement/Contract, which I created several years ago and revamp periodically as the kids get older and need more access.

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Please note that the specific boundaries are what felt right and needed for us, but I’d never suggest you need exactly the same! I’m merely including the below as a starting place for you.

In our family, we chose to keep individual screen use (computer/phone) to a minimum before the teen years, and slowly increase access as we felt that our teens were ready for more – that means it’s also been different for each child, not based on age.

When that time came, we developed, printed and signed the below. Feel free to copy and edit to create your own!

How We Manage Our Teens’ Devices: The Young Adult Devices Agreement

The point of this agreement isn’t to focus on what you “can’t” or “shouldn’t” do, but to focus on building healthy habits that will open up a wider world to you both now and in the future, using devices as your tool and servant, instead of you becoming the servant of them.

I agree to the following, knowing that in life more freedom comes with more responsibility:

* I commit to use my devices in agreed-upon ways that are appropriate for my physical and mental health.

* I agree to keep the majority of my phone/messaging/music/computer time within these hours: 6-9am and 3pm-Dinner. (These were the specific hours that worked for us in this season.)

* I will leave my phone in the agreed-upon area downstairs during school hours from 9am-3pm (unless using for essentials), mealtimes, after dinner, and at bedtime.

* I agree to mainly use my computer for educational purposes during the hours of 9am-3pm.

* I agree not to text, email, post, or say anything through my devices that I would not say in person.

* I agree not to take or share inappropriate pictures of myself or others.

* I agree not to download apps without permission.

* I agree to remove myself and tell an adult immediately if anything does not feel comfortable online.

* I agree not to give out personal information including passwords, addresses, or phone numbers to unknown individuals.

* I agree not to be dishonest about what I am doing on my phone because that will hurt my closest relationships.

* I agree to leave the curtains open when I am using the computer downstairs.

* I agree that Mom and Dad can check my computer/phone periodically to see how I have been stewarding my time, so I will have accountability.

* I agree not to delete my site or message history.

* I agree not to change my passcode without notifying Mom or Dad.

* I will aim to act with integrity when it comes to the sites I visit, the amount of time I spend online, the music I listen to, and the messages I send.

* I agree that if I mistakenly access a questionable website, I will stop and notify Mom or Dad, knowing there will be no consequence if I do so.

* I will notify Mom or Dad as soon as possible if I notice that the usual parental controls on my devices have somehow changed.

* If I would like to request changes to this agreement, I will submit that request via writing (not whining!).

Additional Social Media Guidelines (for Older Teens):

• 15 minutes daily, with a break on Saturdays (limit set in Screen Time)
• Private­­­ account until age 18
• I will be part of the solution on social media, not part of the problem. The words and pictures I post will be uplifting and kind, reflecting the unconditional love and grace of Jesus.

My parents agree to the following:

* allow increased use of our family’s computer and other devices as I need more time, and as I continue to handle my freedoms wisely and my mistakes maturely

* make sure that the computer is working well, sorting out any issues in a timely manner

* add access to tools that are beneficial for my education as needed

* pay for any repairs to the family computer

* pay for the monthly internet bill in our home

Consequences:

If I neglect to follow any of the points above, I agree that I will reset by taking a one-week break from the app/site/issue in question.

If my parents fail to keep their agreement on any of the points above, they agree to give me $25 to spend on books or deposit in my savings account.

This is how we manage devices with our teens – what’s been right for your family?

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

When Homeschoolers Change Their Minds ~ 
Written by Amber O’Neal Johnston from Heritage Mom

My husband and I excitedly jumped in with our preschooler when we began homeschooling. Part of our reason for keeping her home was the opportunity for acceleration; we wanted her to start school earlier than our local school district would allow.

With a stack of read-alouds, a box of colorful math manipulatives, and a zoo membership in hand, we were off to the races.

I had no clue what I was doing, so I spent a lot of time studying early childhood education philosophies online. The more I researched, the more convinced I became that our initial acceleration goal was no longer a wise position. Instead, we decided to put on the brakes and slow down.

That decision didn’t stop our forward movement, but we lingered longer and prioritized expansive, broad learning over going farther, faster.

The more committed we became to meandering, the surer we were that we’d made the right choice. Until it was no longer serving our daughter.

When Homeschoolers Change Their Minds

Last summer, our oldest came to me requesting to begin high school a year sooner than planned. I wasn’t receptive to the idea as I assumed she was trying to keep up with her besties, and I didn’t see that as a valid reason to change anything. But she immediately teared up, which was so unlike her, and I could tell she was in distress.

She proceeded to perfectly articulate the reasons that she felt ready for high school. And to my surprise, it had nothing to do with her friends.

Because of our initial slow schooling vibe, she had always been the oldest in her “grade.” As the years went on, our “move at your own pace” mantra resulted in a quickened pace, making her ready for higher-level learning earlier than I anticipated.

She wanted to be challenged and to feel like the hard work she was putting in would be acknowledged for what it was.

I explained that we could count some of her eighth-grade work toward high school credit, but she found that idea entirely unsatisfying:

“I’ve done everything you’ve ever asked of me and genuinely enjoy learning. I don’t receive letter grades, compete with other students, get awards in assemblies, or anything similar. My motivation has always come from within, and getting the school grade designation that matches the work I’m doing motivates me right now, even if you don’t understand it.”

Who could argue with that? So, I threw out my eighth-grade plans and quickly adjusted, but it was a struggle. I felt like I was reneging on my philosophy of not rushing through school.

My unpreparedness flustered me because I normally research thoroughly and enter the school year very organized. Most of all, I was scared.

By allowing my daughter to start high school sooner, I felt like I was signing up to lose a year with her in our home, and the mere thought of it made me terribly sad. I shared my honest thoughts with a dear friend, and what she said changed everything.

“You don’t want her to remain in the nest simply because you clipped her wings.”

Such wisdom! I don’t ever want to hold my children back. With that in mind, I shook off the yoke of fear, rolled up my sleeves, and planned as beautiful a ninth-grade year as I could, and boy, has it been magnificent.

My daughter was absolutely right. She was ready for the next level in every way. Her lessons have flourished, her social life has blossomed, and she is more confident and self-assured than ever.

Changing my mind hurt, but it was one of the best decisions of our homeschooling journey.

The big picture is now held loosely in my palm as I acknowledge that what is right in a particular season will continue to shift as my kids grow and mature—and, truthfully, as I grow and mature.

As homeschoolers, we chart a course, navigate the seas, and do our best to keep the ship sailing toward shore. But sometimes, there’s an island so beautiful that we must stop and visit. At other times, we drop anchor to rest or recover from an unexpected storm.

And then again, there are moments when we realize that we misread the compass or are headed to the wrong port. As captains of our family’s homeschooling journey, we have the privilege of changing our minds, especially when the health of our beloved crew is at stake.

Take the wheel and steer confidently, dear parent, knowing that you’re doing your best with the information and tools you have right now. Tomorrow, you may change your mind, and new adventures await you at every turn.

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

When Your Teen Doesn’t Have a Plan – by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholar

The summer when my son would be going into 9th grade, I was behind the scenes trying to get my ducks in a row. How do I homeschool high school? It seemed daunting and scary. I looked to veteran homeschool moms in forums and blogs to gain my answers. The consensus was to plan with the end in mind. If my son wanted to go to college, then look to what his choice colleges required. Same for a tech school.

This seemed simple enough.

So, I sat my 15-year-old son down to talk about how to plan his high school homeschool and what his plans for the future might be. What did he want to be when he grew up?

And that’s when everything went sideways. He had no grand plans for college or graduation or anything else. He had no idea what he wanted to do.

This kid still wanted to build legos and get lost in reading books of fantasy. With these questions, he shut down completely. I believe the idea of becoming an adult was overwhelming, and any attempt to reopen the conversation about future careers ended in him shrugging his shoulders and saying, “I dunno.”

This was not how I expected our conversation to go. I was frustrated. I remember being 14 with dreams of going away to college. This was also not what all the forums and blogs said would happen. Our homeschooled kids would have a plan or a deep dive into some interesting subject.

They would do dual enrollment or have their associate’s degree by the time they graduate high school. There was never an “I dunno” from the veteran moms’ kids. What was I supposed to do with that?

When Your Teen Doesn’t Have a Plan

I pivoted. We couldn’t be the only ones with no grand plans. I wanted my son to have a great education, but he wasn’t ready to make life-changing choices yet. That’s OK.

There is plenty of time to be an adult and very little time to be a kid.

I would give him a general college-bound plan just in case, and we’ll see where the rest takes us. We’ll use high school to be prepared for any direction.

I won’t let fear and anxiety over the future claim the joys we have today. Our time together is more important.

We will continue to read fantasy books and build legos for as long as that season is upon us. We will also plan and explore new things, Italian and History, because they interest him. Now, at 16 years old, he still doesn’t know what he wants to do, but that’s okay. I’m keeping the lines of communication open.

Homeschooling is a gift of relationships, time, education, and beauty.

If you’ve got a teen who knows exactly what they want to do and how they are going to achieve it, then that’s awesome, and I’m cheering you and them on from the sidelines! But if you are like me and have a reluctant teen who has no idea, that’s okay, too! I’m still cheering from the sidelines!

Remember, many 18-year-olds don’t know what they want to do for a career.

Don’t feel the need to rush. Seek their input about subjects and classes they may enjoy and choose the rest for them if you need to. Goals and interests evolve over time. Continue to pivot when needed.

Pray daily for guidance. Trust your intuition and trust your kiddo to mature and develop as they age.

Do what works best for your family. Have every faith that it will turn out right in the end.

How do you handle it in your homeschool when your teen doesn’t have a plan? I’d love to hear!

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your type needs most!

Planning a High School Homeschool Year for a Teen with Learning Differences – by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholar

Summer is in full swing, meaning ice cream cones, s’mores, campfires, sleeping under the stars, and planning for the upcoming school year. It seems like we finished our school year only last week, but I am, diligently plodding through curriculum ideas, books, and videos. Jotting down notes and objectives.

I actually enjoy the planning stages of homeschooling high school. As new books and planners arrive, things always seem fresh and full of unique purpose. There’s nothing I love more than getting new books! Unless, of course, it’s used books!

So, how am I planning high school for a kiddo with learning differences such as ADHD, Dysgraphia, and slow processing speed, to name a few? A teen with learning challenges sometimes requires a different approach to school.

Planning a High School Homeschool Year

I start by looking at what has worked in the past. Eleven years ago, we started homeschooling, and I had no idea what worked. But now I’ve got some inclinations.

I get my son in on the planning process. After all, it’s his education. He’s requested more books this year and to study Ancient History.

Think about how your children learn best. For my upcoming sophomore, that means books, videos, audiobooks, and hands-on activities.

What didn’t work? Writing is the bane of his existence. What assistive technology can be used to help?

Consider all these thoughts and others more specific to your teen’s needs as you plan your next school year and make it what you and your teen want it to be.

Setting Goals and Priorities

Next, set the goals and priorities based on what may or may not be required by your state or umbrella school, or maybe you have no regulations, and mom gets to decide what everything looks like.

We are planning my son’s high school year and are looking at the credits needed to graduate per our umbrella school.

Here’s what that looks like so far for my out-of-the-box sophomore:

• English II with a selection of books he and I have decided on, along with WriteShop I & II. We spent one day reading the synopsis of over 30 books to help us narrow down to 10 we felt were a good fit.
• Geometry with Denison Success Geometry because Denison Success Algebra worked so well for him last year. This kid struggles with attention and math, so the Success version works best for him.
• Italian I with a tutor on Outschool, helping craft an Italian course specific to my son’s needs, along with short videos and Duolingo as a supplement. This Outschool tutor has previously offered Italian courses, and my son adored them. I reached out to her and told her about what we needed. She recommends the Ciao Italian book (afflink) to go along with his tutoring with her.
• Biology with a standard Holt biology textbook, four living science books on audible, Crash Course videos, teachers pay teachers worksheets to coincide with the Crash Course videos, and Kristin Moon’s self-paced biology lab videos. We will also incorporate hands-on activities as needed.
• History with a collection of prehistory and ancient history encyclopedias, living books, plus hands-on activities.
• Home Economics – My son wants to learn more about cooking, sewing a button onto his shirt, mending a sock, etc. So, we are going to explore all things home ec this year!
• P.E. with Taekwondo five nights per week. He’s been taking Taekwondo for two years and only has one year left before he tests for his blackbelt!

Don’t forget as you start planning your homeschool year to use what you already have on hand when possible!

Eek, I know; the new curriculum sounds so much better and is so pretty. But there is something to be said for using books and curriculum that you already have. I have several encyclopedias on ancient history that we’ll re-use. There are several others I would like, but this saves me time and money.

Remember to be flexible and pivot when need be. Even as he ages, a multisensory approach has been critical for my teen.

Yes, he did create a Lego model of an animal cell last week. I find that various options for each subject work better than having a single curriculum straight out of the box.

When it comes to planning a high school homeschool year, learning differences are not a one size fits all, and neither are the ways in which we should approach them.

Do what works best for your family and your out-of-the-box teen. Get them in on the planning process and watch as you both come together to create a dynamic team and a memorable homeschool year!

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your type needs most!

3 Critical Life Skills for Homeschooled Teens ~ Written by Kari Patterson

Sometimes we can focus so much on the scope and sequence of certain academic subjects and completely miss other critical life skills our teens desperately need to succeed in life.

Recently I was reflecting on some of these areas, both for my own teens and also teens I teach and lead in various spheres. If you have homeschooled teens, consider giving intention to teaching and developing these critical life skills, too!

3 Critical Life Skills for Homeschooled Teens

1. Communication

This year our son Dutch is enrolled in the Dale Carnegie Communication & Interpersonal Skills for Success class. Highly recommend! It’s critical that our young adults enter life knowing not just Chemistry and Calculus, but how to interact successfully with others.

Consider these areas:

It’s critical that our students feel confident approaching any authority figure in their lives to ask questions, make an appeal, or seek clarification. It’s sad to me how many teens struggle or even fail in classes simply because they don’t ask for help. In our family, we have one teen who easily and eagerly communicates with teachers, and another who isn’t as assertive.

Early in the year we had to follow up and even read through email threads to help him become more direct in asking for what he needs. Later he ended up having a medical emergency that kept him out of school for two weeks. I was so grateful he had the skills he needed to communicate clearly with his teachers and get the extensions he needed.

These are critical skills for our teens to have as they head into the world!

I also see some teens who, for whatever reason, see no distinction between how they communicate with peers and how they communicate with teachers or other adults in authority.

I recently had a teen say to me, “I’m going to need you to …” and then give me a direct command (!). Emails to teachers aren’t the same as chat messages to friends.

We need to teach our students how to respectfully address adults.

2. Etiquette

I also recently had an interaction with an adult, and it made me realize there are some basic etiquette rules we should probably teach our teenagers. Consider a few scenarios:

• RSVPing for events, thank you notes, hostess gifts
• Appropriate dress codes for various events
• Making introductions
• Asking someone on a date/invitations of various kinds
• Job interviews/reference requests

This will probably vary based on what your family’s values are and what sorts of situations your student will most often be in, but a little etiquette goes a long way!

3. Management

This includes time and money, but time is the first resource to steward because young people have more of it than they do money. (smile) This fall our life took an extremely busy turn that none of us saw coming, which meant I did little to no overseeing of our teen’s school schedules.

On the whole they did well, but we had a few humorous (now) moments where my husband and I were baffled about how our kids could possibly have had so little foresight about how much time it would take to finish XYZ.

I am finding this with other teens as well. Often a certain subject isn’t in itself too difficult, but they lack the time management skills to finish all the work on time.

Similarly, it may take some creativity to teach excellent money-management skills. Dutch completed the Dave Ramsey high school personal finance course, which was excellent, but we need to keep giving him opportunities for earning, saving, spending, and investing.

These are just a few critical life skills that will help our teens thrive into adulthood. Throughout their last few years of homeschooling, we can prepare them for future careers, schooling, and general management of the day-to-day – skills they’ll continue to use their entire lives!

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

Reflections on Your Homeschool Graduation ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

It’s impossible to sum up a lifetime of homeschooling in a few sentences, but I’ll try anyway.

15 years ago, I had a dream. Like many dreams, it was hopeful, idealistic, and unrealistic. It dared to reimagine what learning could look like for my three young children.

I dreamt of an educational style that would enable our relationships to deepen, that would allow my kids to love learning, and that would give them an increasing sense of freedom and autonomy in their teen years.

I dared to believe that this educational philosophy could prepare a child for the real world as well as or perhaps even better than age-segregated classrooms, hours of busywork, and a packed schedule of extracurriculars.

I continued to dream, even as I lost sleep over the reality of homeschooling: bickering children, curriculum fails, losing my temper, unexpected storms in parenting and marriage, not to mention regularly wrestling with the sense that I might be screwing up these kids.

But as I reflect on your homeschool graduation earlier this month, Jonathan, I’m reminded that with God’s faithfulness, sacrifice, and tons of hard work, dreams can still come true.

Not only is it possible to home educate all the way through high school, it can become a treasured life accomplishment, a legacy that positively impacts future generations.

I am so proud of this young man, who lights up our world both figuratively and literally, as he goes on to pursue a career in live event lighting design.

Jonathan, you are an out-of-the-box, thinks-for-himself, lifelong learner who loves others like Jesus.

The path that awaits you will not be straight. You’ll encounter unexpected turns, face your own storms, and make your own mistakes.

Many changes lie ahead, but one thing remains the same: Just as it’s been for the past 17 years, your mom will be right here whenever you need her.

I know that you are ready for the world; I just hope that the world is ready for you!

Love you forever and always, Mom xo

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

Homeschooling High School: Taming the Fear in 3 Steps ~
Written by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholar

High school is looming, and I suddenly feel lost and full of fear. This homeschool terrain feels different. There are transcripts, SATs, ACTs, dual enrollment, and colleges to think about; additional requirements come with those.

What about trade school or entrepreneurship? Not every high school path leads to college. But suddenly, our lovely interest-led homeschool feels boxed in.

Prefer to listen instead?

As if these thoughts weren’t enough to stress this mama out, there is the fact that my son has reached the ripe old age of 14-years old! He’s transformed into a hormonal, moody creature who prefers to hoard dishes in his room like a dragon hoards its treasure.

How do I traverse this new era of life? This life with a teenager taller than me who says he isn’t interested in anything except gaming and his friends. He has no idea what he wants to do when he graduates.

Am I the only mom facing this scenario? Am I just overthinking it all?

Maybe, but here are three ideas that are helping me navigate this unfamiliar territory:

Homeschooling High School: Taming the Fear in 3 Steps

1. Know you are not alone.

I recently discovered that I am not the only one facing a similar scenario. In one of the Homeschooling High School Facebook groups I’m in with over 32K members, there was a poll about what your teenager wanted to do when they graduated. While tons of kids know precisely what they want to do, just as many have no clue!

Imagine my relief to see we weren’t the only ones!

I decided to reach out to my mom friends who had already graduated their kiddos about my high school fears. They laughed good-naturedly and talked me out of my hyperventilation. Veteran homeschool moms are a wealth of encouragement and wisdom.

But if you don’t have any of these tremendous friends who have been through the trenches and come out the other side, you may want to read a few helpful posts written by veteran homeschoolers.

These helped calm my nerves too:

• 5 (Surprising) Things You Should Know About Homeschooling High School

• Homeschooling High School Without Driving Yourself and Your Teens Crazy

• 5 High School Truths I Wish I’d Known

• Keeping The Spark Alive In Middle and High School

• Homeschool Through High School? You Really Can!

• Parent’s Guide: Prepping For High School

2. Listen to Your Teenager.

My big takeaway from all of the above was that homeschool is not public school!

I knew that; we’ve been homeschooling for nine years! But somehow, it didn’t feel true.

Sure, your child may need three or four science credits, depending on their possible college route. They may need labs and four math credits. Maybe college isn’t their path of choice and that’s okay too.

It’s not as scary as I was making it out to be. There is still much freedom in our choice to homeschool.

I just had to listen to my son.

My son does have interests outside of friends and gaming. He’s obsessed with J. R. R. Tolkien and Psychology! So I started scouring the internet looking for resources that we could use to build upon those interests and create course credits for English and Social Studies.

My son loves history and has mentioned wanting to study ancient civilizations next year, which would be an additional social studies course.

And math is a no-brainer. We are using Mr. D Algebra 1 next year.

My son wants to continue with his Italian lessons, so I’ll be looking for a few more resources to bulk it up. Now I’m just looking for a good science program.

3. Remember that you’re in this together.

Talk with your teenager about his or her goals and interests. It’s crucial to keep those lines of communication open.

By genuinely listening to what they’re saying and helping to facilitate their educational path, we build better relationships while creating a homeschool as unique as they are.

After a tumultuous week of hormones, research, and tears on my part, I presented a few more ideas to my son. And this was his response to me:

“Mama, I love you.”

I love you too!

“Thank you for everything you’re doing for me.”

Of course, you’re welcome!

“I just felt like it needed to be said.”

My heart wanted to explode with happiness and my fear was tamed. I’m confident now that I can make all of this work for my son. And you can do the same.

You can and will have success in your homeschool with your high schooler! Just remember that you are not alone, to listen to your teen, and that you’re in this together.

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!