For many homeschool moms, the thought of homeschooling the high school years seems like a daunting task. For those of us who have at least helped one child through these upper years, we can assure you that with some planning and general guidelines it’s not an unattainable goal.
As you begin to help plan your child’s path, keep in mind that these last homeschooling years will launch your child into adulthood with either a high school diploma, trade school training, or college. You most definitely should take into consideration their talents and temperaments when charting this path. Plus you will need to couple this with the admission requirements of the trade school or college they want to attend. Using this knowledge plus the requirements of your state laws will help you shape this path.
Again, each college has different requirements. However, it is commonly accepted that a homeschooler’s transcript will look different than of a public or private school student’s. Knowing this should help relieve some pressure you may feel to make your child’s transcript look like everybody else. Most colleges accept homeschool students and expect their transcript to be a little out of the box. This is where home educated students can show case their strength. Things like internships, apprenticeship, and specialize studies are an excellent way to show the college of choice that your child is serious about a given career path.
This also frees up the need to choose the common Biology, Chemistry and Physics track for a student who is not science strong. Feel free to choose from Animal Sciences, Astronomy, Geology and Physical Science. Mathematics does not have to be taken up to Pre-Calculus if the child is very weak in math and the college of choice does not require it for admission.
Think outside of the norm for foreign language. These classes can be taken virtually as well as within co-op settings. Many colleges are also now accepting American Sign Language as acceptable for admission.
Don’t forget practical skills your student has learned such as bookkeeping, volunteering at Nursing Homes, office skills, marketing with a family business. Each of these can be worked into credit towards a diploma and placed on a college transcript. Again, check with your state’s homeschooling requirements and admission requirements of the college of choice.
So while the last years of homeschooling are filled with “must do’s” and filling credit hours, it doesn’t have to be void of diversity and the uniqueness that makes the homeschooling adventure a trip of a lifetime! Taking some time to look ahead at your student’s post-high school trek can go a long way to deciding what you do in the last years of formal schooling at home.
