As I prepare to begin teaching high school next year, I am reaching out to those homeschool moms/mentors who have gone before me. Gina is one such mentor. I am thrilled she was willing to share with you about her experience homeschooling high school!
Hey, mama… guess what? You’re going to blink and they’re going to be graduating. Will they be ready? Will you? If I’m real with you, I’ll just tell you that most of my homeschooling high school, I flew by the seat of my pants. That’s right… feet up, bon bons in hand. Next thing I knew, graduation invitations were being ordered and my homeschooling days were coming to a close for my highschooler.
I missed the ACT testing dates. I didn’t prep a college entrance essay. A homeschooling portfolio? What’s that?
And yet, here they were all ready to go. All things had been accomplished. How did this happen?
For all the ways I’ve beaten myself up over homeschooling over the years, I’m going to share with you 10 things I must’ve done right. (Oh, yeah…and there was a lot of that 5 letter word, grace.)
I was lazy.
I didn’t set their work out before them everyday. After all, it’s their education! I sat down with them, asked them what they wanted to do with their lives, and helped them find the best way to get there, and pointed them that way. With a shove, they were on their own. I bought the planner, they filled it in. I wrote the check for the lessons and tutors, they showed up and pulled the A.
I was broke.
That’s right, no money. This meant we couldn’t just scrap whatever we were doing and start over. We had to develop some stick-to-it-ness. You don’t like Saxon Algebra 1? Tough cookies. Keep working at it. If it’s really not working, they were responsible for searching out the alternatives.
We slept in.
Sometimes late. I mean, their bodies are changing and growing and that takes rest. I never demanded rise and shine at 7 and breakfast at 8. After all, if they don’t know when they’re hungry and tired by 16 we’re in trouble. They learned to manage their time.
I used the law of natural consequences.
This is also known as the Biblical principle of sowing and reaping. We’d laid out the plan, we’d obtained resources. The ball was really in their court. So, of course… I had one graduate at 16, one at 18, and two more who will graduate at 17.
I made them write.
A lot. Sure, I used writing programs, but, I mainly made sure that writing was a part of all we did. Lists, directions, etc. Not everyone was a fan. Especially when I insisted on cursive (so old-fashioned!), but it’s paid dividends.
I farmed out what I didn’t know.
I don’t know a word of Japanese and I don’t want to learn. Geometry isn’t my thing either. But, there are some awesome homeschool moms and tutors out there that can get the job done. I didn’t have to do it all myself. Thank Goodness!
We tried to eat healthy.
I say tried, because we like Little Caesar’s pizza as well as the next family, but when keeping a balanced budget, made from scratch cooking helps keep the money in check. They learned to nourish their bodies responsibly.
We played.
Even at 17, we still go to the park. We have friends over. We enjoy board games as a family. What good is all that hard-work in school if you can’t enjoy the fruits of your labor through playing?
I let them manage their own money.
This was certainly revealing as far as their own personal character went. And it has helped them identify strengths and weaknesses. This will come in handy when they enter the marriage relationship.
We defined our worldview, and it was all about Christ-the Focal Point of History.
We talked about it all the time. When political issues arise. When family issues come up. When Christ is maligned. Our worldview was never a semester course they took in 9th grade. It’s been part of who they are since they were born, because it was passed on to them.
I’m not saying that the way I did high school is the way you should do high school. I’m saying, enjoy your children. I refused to let the fear of “going off to college” cripple my time with them. Teach them all the important things, but don’t forget your homeschooling will come to an end. They will grow up. Will you be ready?
Homeschool mama Gina Glenn has graduated one student from her homeschool, with 3 close behind, while running her own online business.
In addition to her kids, her passion is helping clients see their projects and dreams come to life! Gina enjoys learning from clients and providing them with the professional support they need…with eyes to see their vision, ears to hear their needs and wants, and a soft answer to facilitate a pleasant working experience.
As a personal business owner, she understands the importance of timely, personal, professional support and strives to apply that knowledge to all working relationships.
