photo by Pink Sherbet Photography
Now that I am a seasoned homeschool mother, I am quite comfortable answering a wide array of questions about homeschooling in our family, even to complete strangers. However, I am still surprised that most people I talk to about homeschooling automatically assume that I would not continue to homeschool during the high school years. Yet there are so many reasons to homeschool a high schooler, among them:
Continuity – My child and I have invested so much time in developing an educational process together, a teacher-student relationship, and in filling our home with learning opportunities galore. Why would we give it all up now? These are the years when we get to see it all come to fruition in such a wonderful way, when we get to see the journey through.
Customization – Just like in earlier years, I can cater my child’s education to his particular interests, talents and gifts. This becomes even more of a benefit during the teen years, when lifelong interests and plans for the future are being made.
Family – One of the biggest reasons I decided to homeschool so many years ago was so that I could remain the biggest influence in my child’s life, and so that my kids could have close sibling relationships. Again, why would I want to give that up now? These are the years when family relationships can really cement. Teens may seem to need parents and guidance less during the high school years, but they actually need it more than ever on their journey to becoming adults.
Education – The homeschool style of education fosters strong independence and a taking control of one’s own education, assets that will be so beneficial in college. In addition, homeschooling allows for the time and opportunity for so many types of learning – volunteer work, apprenticeship, co-op and community classes. Finally, homeschooling allows teens to start their higher education early.
Homeschooling your high schooler can be such a rewarding, beneficial endeavor for your, your child, and the family, so I encourage you to look into it further!
Tanya is the Food Examiner for Knoxville’s Examiner.com.
This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday and Thirsty Thursday.
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Wow! Tanya, you read my mind! Our 17 year old just started college Friday! I just want to tell every homeschooling family this! I LOVE this article.
Dana♥´s last blog ..Homeschool to College
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Tanya Reply:
January 20th, 2010 at 11:15 pm
Congrats, Dana! How exciting to have made it this far, and to have your child starting college. Thanks for the kind words!
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Perfect timing! Thank you so much.
Brenda´s last blog ..Excited About Moving
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Great post!! I always get asked… “Will you HS for High school as well?”… and I always answer yes.. why wouldnt I?… lol….Thank you for sharing this…. its a great boost to know that others are asked that question as well and you have given me some new answers to use! =)
Jess´s last blog ..1.16.10
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I plan to leave it up to my children when they get to that stage, but you’ve given some good points.
Nicole´s last blog ..PW, eat your heart out.
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May I ask you a question? I am a relatively new homeschooler, my daughter is in 2nd grade. Did you go through a period where any of your children rebelled (alot!) against you being their teacher?
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Tanya Reply:
January 20th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Hi Lori! Sure, there have been times when we’ve struggled. Second grade is pretty young, and especially if your daughter has been in school previously, you may want to lighten the homeschool load a bit for now. I have found that when one of my kids struggled with me as their teacher, the more I tried to reinforce my position, the worse things got and the more our relationship as a whole suffered. When I just eased up altogether things got better over time. One of the most important things is not checking off a list of things you do each day, but keeping the child’s love of learning alive. So maybe try a new approach to making lessons fun (see the Don’t Forget the Sprinkles article on this site!), unschooling for a while, or give her a little independence, such as using workboxes. I find that there are stages in homeschooling, just as in childhood. In both, I just try to remember that “this too shall pass”.
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Yes, absolutely! I have two in highschool at home, and it’s working out so well for them. They have time to do the things they want to do and still manage their schoolwork. One’s into dairy farming, the other into helping out on the Microsoft Help Forums.
Annie Kate
Annie Kate´s last blog ..IMAX Films on DVD
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we’re thinking of home school but my little guy is only in kindergarten. but the thing is, our house is so small and i can never keep it clean (2 males in the house) that … they would have to send a tutor to do the lessons and … i don’t wanna let anyone see what our place looks like. so we’re still thinking about it.
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Tanya Reply:
January 20th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
Hi Jenny! I can so relate to being overwhelmed at having so many things to do. I would like to encourage you to ask for tips from other homeschoolers. The wonderful thing about homeschoolers (including online) is that we are a very supportive community! We like to offer help on what we know, and ask questions about things we don’t know. Try ourlifestyleoflearning.com, where you can find lots of homeschool parents discussing all types of topics, including common challenges! Good luck to your and your son, whatever you choose to do!
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Thanks for the kind words, all! I am so glad you enjoyed the article.
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I’ll just say a loud, Amen.
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The high school years have been my very favorite! I love being around homeschooled teenagers. If you quit homeschooling before high school, you give up a wonderful blessing.
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I have homeschooled highschoolers and I think it is wonderful. We have 10 children, our oldest one at home now is 16. He is in charge of his own education and knows what he is all about. He takes 3-4 AP classes per year at the highschool, studies music 2 hours a day, is active in sports and clubs, and the rest of his education he pursues at home. Those older than him have been able to really focus on their specific talent and interests, allowing them to really excel at them because they had the time. Three of my children have received athletic scholarships to different universities and all of them have musical abilities as well. Others have learned trades and are very happy in their chosen careers. The generation gap never developed because we were such great friends. I have absolutely loved the time with them and wouldn’t trade it. Many of them now teach me as they learned to love learning and still devote their minds to it long after college. I think it is a good idea to open the world of choices to them as they get older. There is so much available outside of the standard public system.
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