Homeschooling High School

We homeschool year round so, Alex is starting high school today! This Summer he is taking American History, Astronomy, German, Math, Home Economics, and The History and Play of Board Games. Some are half credit courses and others will continue in the Fall.

Alex had a say in several courses; he chose Astronomy and German. I chose Home Economics and the History and Play of Board Games. American History and Math are required for college.

We homeschool year round partly because of the brutal Summers and also for the flexibility it allows. When we have out of state guests we are able to take a break from school to enjoy them. So, even though Alex has a full schedule this Summer we will be doing 4 day weeks and taking time off when we are invited to do things with friends. We also have a vacation coming up.

Most of his courses are free online. Home Economics Kitchen Skills is from Plain and Not so Plain. High School Astronomy is from Muses of a Mom. Math is Khan Academy. German is also free online, but we have not yet decided which one we will use. I plan to supplement these courses. American History is a DVD set that includes reading and activities. The History and Play of Board Games is a course I am creating to be a fun elective.

Homeschooling High School is a bit daunting. I have done a lot of research. There are some tips I've learned to make the process easier. 1. Find out what your state requirements are and make a plan to achieve them. 2. It is much easier to keep good records from the beginning rather than trying to remember what has been done as a freshman when the student is a junior or senior. 3. When possible tailor the courses to the student's interests.

High School is going to be an exciting adventure.

Marie-Anne