Homeschool Family Graduation

Coming to the end of the homeschooling years are always so special and heartfelt. You have loved, nurtured, raised and trained your child in all facets of life–not just academically, but also spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. When we as homeschooling mothers stop to reflect upon the journey, we can say that we were there! Our stories are not that our children “brought home good grades” or “brought home a project,” but rather we were there, alongside our children when that project was made, when those grades were earned. We got a front row seat to all the backstage work–we were there every step of the way. It is such a remarkable journey.

Well, so far in my own family homeschool, I have two graduates, with six more to go. Both of my daughters opted for private homeschool ceremonies, celebrated with close family and friends only. I know many homeschoolers opt for a graduation ceremony with homeschooling organizations in their state, with their churches or in a homeschool co-op or tutorial. These can be a ton of fun to participate in and are definitely an option for homeschoolers.

However, it isn’t something you have to do. For many homeschoolers, walking away from traditional elements of public school may include the fanfare of graduation. In my family’s case, we gave our daughters a choice: homeschool umbrella graduation or family homeschool graduation . . . and they opted for the latter. I want to encourage you that you can choose this option, too and still make it a memorable occasion.

Here’s what we did:

Set a Date: As the instructor, you know when your child has met the necessary requirements and the day and time that is best for your family.
Create a “program” for the ceremony: Determine the flow of the ceremony and who will do what. You can have speeches, songs, poems, instrumental selections, etc. Be sure the family is involved; siblings are likely to want to join in. Perhaps a grandparent or aunt has played a major role–invite them to speak if you want. This is an achievement that your family shares in, because homeschooling is truly family education. Here is our program:
- Welcome & Opening Prayer
- Mother’s Reflection
- Siblings Remarks
- Scripture Reading
- Graduate’s “Thank You” Speech
- Father’s Charge & Conferring of Degree
- Turning of Tassel
- Farewell
Decorate: Go all out or keep it simple! There are decorations galore available online in every color scheme and theme imaginable. Our go-to was to spruce up our graduation space with balloons. We selected a space in our home to designate as the “stage” area, as well as the seating space for family and friends. Then, we decorated with a few indoor trees and do-it-yourself balloon towers. We pulled in a little corner cabinet to be the podium and draped it with a few pieces of fancy fabric to match the balloons.
Invite–maybe: Let your guests know the date and the time, perhaps consider a Zoom option for out-of-town family and friends. . .that is, if you are inviting others over! Some families are a bit more private, and prefer not to make this an “everybody else” moment. Homeschooling can be deeply personal, as it is a sanctifying journey for both parent and child, and affect the family dynamic as a whole. It is a family undertaking and way of life that not many are able to understand or identify with. That being said, invite your people to the celebration.
Food & Fellowship: This one has a ton of options. All the guests can stay a few minutes for light refreshments and then you and the family can go out to eat. You can have a super special catered event or do a backyard BBQ. You can thank folks for coming and send them on their way with a boxed snack/favor, and then order pizza for the night. This is up to you, but be sure it reflects your graduate’s wishes. Have fun and enjoy!