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Homeschool High School: Making Hard Decisions

Here we are - 11th grade looming on the horizon for my youngest child.

I remember this being a crucial time in my oldest’s homeschool high school experience. We made a big change in her schooling and never regretted having the courage to recognize something wasn’t working and then making a change.

(That child is now a sophomore in college and wants to be an Occupational Therapist. She’s doing well and I believe she had the preparation she needed for the path she is on.)

When our high schoolers reach the age of 15 or 16 there are new worlds opening to them. Their personalities are continuing to develop. They are thinking about life beyond high school.

Hard decisions need to be made.

Mom and dad are learning to let go.

Making Hard Decision in #Homeschool High School

I’d like to go over some of those hard decisions in this post, and also give you a little update on life in our homeschool right now.

Also - I can’t emphasize enough how different each child is. The path my daughter took isn’t the same one my son will take. Children change, times change (pandemics happen and everything suddenly becomes more tenuous), and opportunities change.

And, at the end of the day, I always remain thankful that we have had the opportunity and blessing to homeschool our children.


How Do We Continue to Honor Our Child’s Interests?

As our children progress through high school it is imperative they do not lose the wonder in learning!

My son has always been interested in design and architecture. This year he took an Intro. to Architecture class that gave him a glimpse into what an architect does. We’re going to follow this up with a Graphic Design class next year. (Check out Excelsior Classes - we had a great experience with them this year!)

Additionally, LEGO bricks have always played a HUGE part in our homeschool. It seems that this interest just continues through high school. I’m trying to encourage Grant in any way I can. He has applied for a job at our local LEGO store, is learning to make YouTube videos (many of them about his LEGO creations), and might even embark on a fun online project with LEGOS next year.

In addition to these things he also plays the piano and loves to play basketball.

All of these things contribute to him being a well-rounded young person.

(And isn’t that a goal for homeschool parents? We want happy, well-rounded young people who love to learn!)

Do We Continue With Classical Conversations?

Each year around this time we always look ahead to the next level of Challenge.

I sit down with Grant and go over each of the strands for the following year. Do they interest him? Does he find value in them? (Believe me, sometimes this takes some prodding from me - of course, it’s hard for a typical teenager to see the value in some of these academics!)

Can we handle the Challenge workload and still pursue his interests?

The answer right now is YES. Grant is looking forward to Challenge III, and I think a lot of this is because of his strong peer group and how this style of learning just WORKS for him. I’ve watched all the pieces click into place the past few years, and it is VERY exciting!

I fully understand, however, that at this point in time some teens will step back from the Challenge program to pursue a more traditional “school” experience, dual enroll or take advantage of a number of other opportunities.

What About Dual Enrollment for Homeschoolers?

To dual enroll or not dual enroll? That is the question.

I like this comprehensive article about dual enrollment from Walking by the Way.

In our state (Georgia) we have access to free dual enrollment classes. As I think about this, I know it isn’t “free” - there. is a cost, and that cost is what could potentially be taught in the class, the bias of the professor, and more. So, if we decide to dual enroll we will go in with eyes wide open and doing research about where and when very carefully.

(As of this writing, we have decided against dual enrollment in Grant’s 11th grade year.)

For our family, I want to use every ounce of time while my child is under my room to maintain the integrity of their Classical Christian education. If a dual enrollment class fits our criteria, that is wonderful. We aren’t however, doing it just because it is “free”.

(My daughter took a couple of Advanced Placement classes and we were happy with that and she earned some college credit. You can read about that here.)

Hard Decision ins #Homeschool High School

Which Standardized Test Should My Homeschool High Schooler Take?

I thought I had this all figured out until a global pandemic happened.

Now, I am wondering if the next couple of years will be test-optional as well?

So, here is my approach right now: continue to do practice problems from the ACT practice book. Take practice tests. Be prepared to take the PSAT and/or SAT or ACT next year if needed.

Grant will also take the Classic Learning Test this year, too.

To be frank, I am going on faith with this right now. At this point in my daughter’s high school career she had taken the PSAT and ACT. Things are different now, and I have to trust that all will be well.

Is College Even Worth It?

Is a 4-year degree the path for success?

(I am also exercising trust in this area - both my husband and I have college and advanced degrees. They were of great benefit to us. I’ve had to adjust my thinking in this area.)

College isn’t what it used to be. We are blessed in the state of Georgia to have the Hope and Zell scholarships, which pay college tuition when you meet certain academic requirements. My oldest is going tuition-free to a Georgia university to pursue her undergraduate that is necessary to get into Occupational Therapy School.

We will NOT allow our children to go into debt for school. They must have a plan that necessitates college if they want to attend college.

Maybe my son wants to work when he graduates high school and figure out what he wants to do. Maybe he would like to earn his two-year degree locally before heading off for his 4-year degree. (I heard yesterday about a young man who went to a local technical school (again, paid for by our state) to get an Electrician’s certificate - working while doing so to save money to then apply to Georgia Tech engineering school. Smart.)

The days of a 4-year degree being the automatic path for so many young people are gone, and I hope that as homeschoolers we have equipped our children to think outside the box to work hard, maybe start their own businesses, and just HUSTLE.



With each of the large areas mentioned above, it strikes me that PRAYER is the answer to each of them.

As I’ve done with my children since before they were born, I pray for them. I pray for their future, that they love Jesus, and that they love their families and love to learn. I pray for their future spouse and I pray for this crazy world we’re living in.

I always come back to this: Homeschooling has been the best thing we could have done for our children. I know of no better way to equip our children for the world they are living in!

I hope this has given you a little homeschool and life update.

I’d love to hear from you and how your high school journey is going.

Leave me a comment below!




You might also like:

Homeschool to College

Stop Telling Me Why You Can’t Homeschool High School

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Making Hard Decision in #Homeschool High School

How to Keep the Wonder Alive in Homeschool High School

I’m willing to bet many of you are in the same boat as me: I want my child to discover and explore their passion. Those huge looks of wonder that were almost daily occurrences when he was little are more fleeting now.

I don’t think that has to go away in high school. (You might remember Homeschool High School: Don’t Lose the Wonder - written when my first child was at this point.) We must LISTEN to and OBSERVE our children. Then, we need to be brave enough to come beside them to help them pursue what interests them.

This is one of the benefits of homeschooling (especially high school) - the ability to give our older children time, space, and FREEDOM to NOT become a product like those spit out by the public school assembly line.

How to Keep the Wonder Alive in Homeschool High School

Sometimes, however (especially for very type A, practical moms like me), there are things that get in the way. Doesn’t our state require certain credits to graduate? How do we fit everything in and still give our children that time to pursue an interest and keep the wonder alive? In my case, I believe in the principles of a Classical Education through high school - how do I include those while still keeping the wonder alive?

What if our student doesn’t really CARE about anything in particular?

I look back on how we homeschooled our oldest through high school and it makes me smile. She graduated with all of the so-called “necessary” requirements, but we also allowed her to pursue her interests in music and working with the special needs population at the same time. She took a writing class that allowed her to hone a talent she has with words.

Now, with my son in 10th grade, we’re in the thick of planning a partially interest-led homeschool high school education. I think it’s going pretty well!

Yes, we are members of Classical Conversations. My son is in Challenge II this year. If you follow the Challenge curriculum to the letter then I would agree there is very little time for pursuing your child’s own interests. (Don’t get me wrong - the Challenge curriculum is beautiful - that is why it is the spine of our high school.)

After talking with my son and evaluating all of our options, we agreed to adjust the curriculum slightly to give him more time to pursue his interests.

You know this, mom, but time is short. High School will come and go before you know it. We must homeschool with intentionality, prayer, and focus.

Let’s talk about how to keep the wonder alive in these critical years.

(Did I mention these are the very last years of homeschooling for me? I’m cherishing them!)

How to Keep the Wonder Alive in Homeschool High School

Keep the Wonder Alive - 5 Suggestions

Talk to and Plan With Your Child

At this age, they aren’t really “children” anymore. In just a few years they will be deciding for themselves what to study and pursue, so why not start now?

Make sure you communicate with your child. Let them make the school decisions with you.

My son has an interest in architecture. So — while he didn’t’ say “Mom, could you please help me pursue architecture?” - I did show him some different opportunities for learning in that area. He opted for a one-semester class from Excelsior Classes (Intro to Architecture) that he has learned so much from. He told me he’d like to continue learning more!

Win.

Listen and Observe Your Child

Become a student of your child (and if you’re a homeschool mom I’m sure you already are!).

Because of the sheer amount of time I spend with my son, I’m getting a VERY good idea of what he is interested in.

He has started talking a lot about (and actually making his own) YouTube videos. He is using his gift of creativity, humor, and love of technology in this project.

Yes, they take a lot of time. Yes, sometimes he is working on them when he should be doing his “traditional” school work. But you know what? I don’t complain or tell him to stop or do it when everything else is finished. He is LEARNING. He is excited. And, I know what a valuable skill making these videos can be!

I happen to think his “Moms When You Get Home From a Party” is pretty funny!

Or, I have long noticed my son is great with Latin. I knew he would be interested in Spanish, so I suggested a Spanish class to him - which I’m pretty sure he is enjoying. (as much as a 15-year-old boy will verbalize enjoyment to you - ha!)

Suggest and Present Opportunities

It is your job, as the parent, to research and present opportunities to your child.

Maybe it’s a class they will take online. Maybe you have found an in-person mentor for them.

Or, maybe you need to investigate opportunities outside of your normal (and therefore comfortable) circle of homeschool friends. I’ve had to jump out of known group to find opportunities for my son - it takes time and effort.

Homeschool Spanish Academy has been a great discovery from my research. This is my son’s second year with them and it is going well!

Get Creative With Credits

A lot of moms have asked me how to assign credits for something.

If you are unaccredited, then this is super easy. You get to decide what goes on that transcript!

For example, when my daughter showed an interest in music and special needs, she did a lot of volunteering with our special needs group at church. She played guitar for them and planned music for their Vacation Bible School - then executed those plans. I gave her a credit for this: “Music and the Special Needs Adult”.

Or, if your child plays an instrument or participates in an ensemble - call this “Music Performance”.

Because I have been teaching my son video creation - and he’s been researching a lot on his own and even creating videos for my SQUILT Music Appreciation curriculum - this will go on his transcript as “Video Creation using iMovie”.

Don’t Be a Stumbling Block / Who Is Your Child Created to Be?

Moms & Dads - most often we just need to GET OUT OF THE WAY!

Many of us (myself, at times, included) are experts at projecting what WE WANT our child to be onto them. We have a vision for them - for how they should turn out and what they should be.

This will only backfire. Your child is going to do what they want to do. Or, they will become who you want them to be and not have any joy in the process.

Homeschooling High School with wonder has to be a give and take of what the parent knows is best, what the child desires, and who the child IS. For our family, this has been the best approach to a balanced, joyful, and rigorous high school education.

Homeschooling High School With Wonder


The end of the homeschool journey for your child should be every bit as wonder-filled as when they were in the elementary years. The wonder might look quite different, but the spirit and attitude are still the same.

We homeschool to give our children something DIFFERENT, something BEAUTIFUL, and something tailored to THEM.

I hope these ideas will guide you along the way.

If you have any ideas for me, leave them in the comments below!

You might also like:

Homeschool High School: Meeting the Foreign Language Requirement

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