How to Homeschooling High School Students

Home schooling a high school age child can be both easier and harder than home schooling a younger child. Easier because your child now has the fundamental skills to do much of his own work and conduct his own research. Harder in the fact that you as a parent are likely to be less able to instruct in subjects you yourself may not remember. You may, in fact, find yourself not so much teaching at this point as facilitating--making sure he has all of the supplies he needs and checking in to see that he is actually pursuing his course of studies.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• <br>Cell phone with text messaging
• <br>Packaged curriculum if desired

1. Check out a prepackaged curriculum if you prefer a more structured method of schooling. If you have been homeschooling using a particular curriculum all along, chances are your program continues up through the 12th grade so you can just continue with it if you've been satisfied with the way things are going. If not, or if you are new to homeschooling, feel free to experiment with other methods. Check with other homeschooling parents to see what's worked for them. If you are not acquainted with any homeschooling parents of high school age children, you can certainly meet plenty of them online via listservs and forums.
2. Pursue a less structured course if you're an unschooler or an eclectic homeschooler. At this point, though, you can't just let your child do her own thing with no thought as to possible future consequences. You'll need to discuss possible future goals--college, careers that may be of interest--and chart a course that could possibly lead to such results.
3. Check in with your child frequently during the day if you yourself work outside the home. Many single parents or families where both parents must work find that the high school years finally give them the opportunity to homeschool as they no longer need a school to serve as babysitter, but a child who is old enough to stay on his own still requires a great deal of parental involvement and input. Show him you're there to support him in his studies, even if you must do so my text message, email, and phone.
4. Keep a portfolio of your child's best work. More and more colleges these days are enrolling homeschoolers, even those who do not have a diploma granted by an umbrella school. But all admissions officers will want to see some proof of a student's accomplishments before considering her for enrollment.
5. Spend time with your child at nights, on weekends or at other times when you yourself do not have to be at work. Get involved in a volunteer project together, get her involved in your work, go on trips to check out homeschool-friendly colleges or to check out possible careers she may be interested in. Enjoy your time together and realize that you can (still) learn as much from her as she can from you.