Stop Telling Me Why You Can't Homeschool (High School)

I used to get tired of people telling me why they can't homeschool.

Quickly, however, I began to tune that out.  As my kids have gotten older I have something NEW that gets on my last nerve (well - not really, but it does kind of irritate me!).

Now, when people hear we are homeschooling all the way through high school they come up with a million reasons why they could NEVER homeschool high school.

I'm hear to tell you that you CAN homeschool high school, and that in many respects it's EASIER than homeschooling little ones. And, in many respects it is more GRATIFYING, too. 

So, in lieu of screaming "Stop Telling Me Why You Can't Homeschool High School!",  I would say, "Have faith, not fear" and then I would also share the following: 

---

High School is THE Most Important Time to Homeschool

High School is probably THE most important time to homeschool.  By educating our children at home during their high school years we are allowing the time and space to think deeply, develop lasting relationships, and practice valuable life skills.

• Safety - From a purely practical standpoint, our kids are exposed to less drugs, violence and bullying when they are homeschooled. This last week alone I have heard horror stories of kids selling Oxy at school, kids having sex in the bathrooms, and one girl not wanting to go to school because other girls are bullying her.  These are stories from people I know PERSONALLY.  

• Influence - Who do you want to exert the most influence over your child - peers or parents. I have heard the argument "Well, they need to be in the REAL world at some time.".  That time is NOT high school. The homeschool high school kids I know are kind, grounded, and hard working. Many of them have jobs and dual enroll. They are involved in their churches and with volunteer groups. They have good relationships with their parents and siblings.Their parents are working hard to make sure they have the BEST influences so that when they DO go into the real world they are prepared to make a difference.  

• Teaching them to THINK - Living in this social media age has created teens that are incapable of thinking deeply. They rely on a media snippet for information and sometimes jump on the latest bandwagon and adopt the latest hashtag. I would like to believe that by homeschooling our children we can teach them to think DEEPLY. We can give them time and space and we can have CONVERSATIONS with them about the big things in life.  

What About Socialization in Homeschool High School?

This question is laughable.

Here is the answer you can give whenever anyone asks you if you are worried about your kids being "socialized" because you homeschool them for high school.

"I thought school was for learning, NOT for socializing."

The kind of "socializing" our children will get in school is one that often breeds disrespect, shallow thinking, and a focus on things that kids just shouldn't be focusing on at this age. 

Many parents asked me, "Aren't you worried your kids will miss the prom, football games, and all of that FUN STUFF that comes with high school?"  It's all a matter of what you know and what you promote. Sometimes I think all of these things are more for the PARENTS than for the kids.  I'm also wondering if it's good to teach our children to spend literally HUNDREDS of dollars on the prom and to get so whipped up about a football game? 

And, as a Classical homeschooler I'm always asking myself if what we are doing holds to the ideals of TRUTH, BEAUTY, and GOODNESS.

(For example, our Classical Conversations Challenge students have an event - Protocol. The students go to a nice dinner (often hosted in someone's home), are encouraged to use and are taught appropriate etiquette, and then attend a cultural performance. Students all go as friends and there is no pressure of having a "date".)

Of course, if you don't seek out activities for your high schoolers, they will get lonely. Kids do need friends and positive peer influences at this age, which is why there is an abundance of groups, clubs, and opportunities for homeschool high schoolers.

My high schooler has been in Classical Conversations, which provides a good friendship base for her. She also is very connected with her church youth group. 

You will find that the more entrenched you become in homeschooling, the more amazing opportunities you will find for your child to be "socialized" (whatever that means).

How Will I Teach The "Hard Stuff" in Homeschool High School?

I get this question. I really do.

Calculus, Physics, Latin - those make my head spin. 

Thank goodness there are WONDERFUL online and in person resources we can avail ourselves of as homeschoolers. Here is a list for you (not exhaustive, I am sure - just ones we have had positive experiences with that you might want to investigate):

• Memoria Press  Academy
• HSLDA Academy -- use code PTYY589 to receive a $30 discount on any course (discount for HGL readers only)
• Veritas Press Academy
• Mr. D Math

I love that we have a quiet place in our basement for my high schooler to take online classes, research, and spend her days learning and creating - and I'd like to think it's more inviting than sitting at a desk looking at the same four walls each day.

We have also taken high school classes through Classical Conversations (in person) and are taking advantage of our state's dual enrollment program for homeschoolers. 

Also, keep your ears open in your area, seek connections with others just ahead of you on the high school path, and you will find many great opportunities for learning. 

I've found that HSLDA is a great resource for homeschool. 

What About College and Homeschool High School?

First, most colleges and universities are now homeschool friendly - many even have their own admissions counselor for homeschoolers. You will find, when you visit a college website, that there are application instructions for homeschoolers specifically.

Second, after you've been homeschooling any length of time you will start to think outside the box.  This includes thinking outside the box for college as well. Maybe your child wants to learn a trade instead of go to college. Maybe they want to attend a junior college while they live at home and then transfer into a 4 year institution. Maybe they want to start their own business instead of going to college.

I believe (for my own children) that a college education will serve them well, but I don't believe in a college education that costs upwards of $40K/year and puts a child into sometimes lifelong debt. Surely there are better ways to steward our time and money.   

Third, your child will be uniquely marketable to colleges BECAUSE they are homeschooled. Keep good records, encourage them to have unique experiences, and help them cultivate their God given potential - then have FAITH everything will work out! 

I've found these resources and articles to be very helpful in this area:

• The Home Scholar
• Homeschool Students Excel in College
• Is Homeschool the Best Preparation for College
• The Homeschooler's Guide to Getting into College
• Home-Schooled Teens Ripe for College

---

Helpful Books for Homeschool High School

---

Please don't be afraid to homeschool high school. I'm right there with you and it's really not that bad - in fact, I think it's a lot of fun!

The next time you tell someone you're homeschooling high school and they say they could NEVER do that, just smile sweetly and say, "Oh, I think you might surprise yourself.  If I can do it, I know YOU can do it, too."

Talk to me about homeschooling high school.  What are your fears?  What are your success stories?  I'd love for the comments below to be an encouragement to all who read this post!

You Might Also Like:

What Homeschoolers Need to Know about the SAT

15 Helpful Resources for Homeschooling Older Children

Teaching Children to Work Together

Here is the reality of life in America today: 

We are too caught up in being against something rather than being FOR something. 

Hence, we are living in a society where many have forgotten how to put their self interest aside and simply work together.

All it takes is a quick scan of Facebook and you will see people ranting about what they are AGAINST. 

This morning, as part of a math lesson about scale, my son constructed a model of Freedom 7 - which carried Alan Shepard into space.

Because he is also taking an astronomy class and our science focus this year is space, he was very interested in this - so we fell down a rabbit hole watching videos about the first American in space.

In an interview, Alan Shepard's daughter said her dad never said anything was HARD...he would only say it was a challenge. She also spoke about the competition between the 7 astronauts to be the first to go into space for their country, and when her dad was chosen the others were proud of him and all competition ceased. They all worked toward one goal for the benefit of their country.

After this video ended my son looked and me and said "too bad our country isn't like that any more."

Wow. Profound from a perceptive 12 year old.

I wasn't sure whether to be proud of his observation or saddened by the truth of it - I guess I am both.  This observation, however, just spurs me on to be the best homeschooling parent I can be. 

How do we raise children that have that Alan Shepard spirit?  How do we raise children that want to work  TOGETHER for something beautiful, good, and truthful, rather than simply shout from the rooftops how unfair life is and how upset they are?

---

This is why we homeschool.  

We cannot abdicate the development of our children to anyone else. 

We have an amazing opportunity to develop a sense of fairness, justice, and compassion in our children -- for them to really ACT on these ideas, not just protest about them.  We have an opportunity to raise young men and women who will influence the coming generations in untold ways. 

We have an opportunity to raise humble people who look first to the interests of others, rather than themselves.

It is IMPORTANT.  It is a way to change the world. 

I am optimistic for the future and the leaders we are training in our homeschools! 

So, let's talk about what we can actually DO.

Is It True, Beautiful, and Good?

As Classical homeschoolers this is our mantra, but it applies to everything in life.

Does everything you are providing for your children pass the truth, beauty, and goodness litmus test?  Really think about this one.  (I mean, REALLY think about it.)

Think about the following things - are you striving to give your children only the most true, beautiful, and good things in the following areas? 

• literature
• music
• art
• media
• entertainment
• relationships

I don't buy the argument that we can't shelter our children from the world. Oh yes, we can, and I believe it is my responsibility to do so. 

Giving a child free reign of technology, media, and other adult things is not only developmentally inappropriate, it also assumes so very little of them.  I get that it's much easier to plop your child down in front of the Disney Channel rather than come up with a few independent activities for them to do in place of watching television, but this is what we must do to keep truth, beauty, and goodness first in their lives.

(As always, I'm writing this post as a reminder to myself. I'm still a work in progress.)

As you go about your day with your children, ask yourself if what you are doing promotes truth, beauty and goodness.  You might be very surprised by the answer.

This book is currently on my nightstand - looking forward to delving into learning more about truth, beauty and goodness.

Seek Mentors

A tremendous benefit to homeschooling is that we can seek out mentors for our children (and sometimes ourselves, too!).  You would be amazed at the number of WILLING adults who are happy to build into our children's lives. 

I have been intentional about placing adults in my children's lives that will build into, support, and encourage them. 

I've had two aunts and a  friend teach my daughter to quilt - and in the process impart some beautiful life lessons. 

Currently, my daughter is working with a woman in our church who heads a special needs ministry. Anna is able to learn so much and is forming a bond with another adult (who isn't her parent!). 

Most recently my husband and son (and several of their friends) have been learning the ancient art of forging from a dear man in our church. This man is teaching many local boys the art of forging. They are making crosses to distribute all over the world, and in the process he imparts his faith, life lessons, and so much more. 

You can look for mentors within your church, your homeschool community - anywhere, really!  If you see someone who is doing something you would like to have your children learn, ask them if they would be willing to teach them. You might be surprised at the reaction you will get!

Provide Examples from the Past

Reading aloud to our children about heroes from the past is such a powerful way to teach them about mightiness, working together, and heroic and noble qualities. 

Now that my children are older we don't read aloud quite as much, but I do give them hero books to read on a regular basis.  

I've written about how to teach your children about heroes of the Christian faith. Included below are also some of our favorite book series for teaching our children about heroes. 

We especially love the Torchlighters video series - even created a Sunday School class based around this great study of Christian heroes. 

Family First

Perhaps I am preaching to the choir, but in an age where traditional schooling and so many other things seek to DIVIDE the family, it is imperative that we keep our children close to us. 

That old image of the one-room schoolhouse can be created in our modern homeschools. We can learn beautiful things simply and well. We can have our children spend the bulk of their times in OUR schoolhouse, with us as their primary influences. 

This brings it all back to my son learning about Alan Shepard. I found it so fitting that Alan Shephard paid tribute to his family and one-room schoolhouse experience. 

It's hard to swim upstream in our culture - it's not the most popular thing for teens to spend so much time with their families, but this is exactly when they SHOULD be spending the most time with them.  

The thought of children's peers raising them is absurd, yet what happens when children spend more time with those peers than they do with their own families?  It's something to think about.

In the end, we can rest knowing we are doing our part to educate and raise children who are inspired to work together for noble causes. We can rest knowing we have tried our very best to give our children truth, beauty, and goodness, access to role models, and most of all -- their FAMILIES.  

Can you share ways you help your children learn to work together?  

---

You might also like:  

Learn about Heroes of the Christian Faith

You're a Homeschool Mom? You're Building Something Amazing!