More and more people have been homeschooling their children since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is true of kids whose schools have simply shut down, or children whose parents have pulled them out to put less pressure on the education system.
But, it can be difficult to make sure your child is getting the education they need, especially for older kids. Luckily, there are options for you. Keep reading for our top tips on homeschooling a high schooler.
1. Get Set Up Right
It’s important to fill out all the homeschool paperwork you need to ensure your child gets a high school diploma. This is needed if your child wants to continue with their education.
Even if they don’t, it’s required for many jobs. If you don’t know where to start, contact your local government’s department of education to see what they recommend.
2. Make a Schedule
You’ll need to make sure that your child covers all that they need to complete their courses successfully. That’s why it’s useful to schedule classes and studying, like you would at a traditional high school.
Start by scheduling the classes required for your child to graduate. Then, it’s time to choose electives. Have a thorough discussion with your high school student about what they’re interested in studying as elective courses. This can help them build towards their future career. Some electives you might want to consider include:
- Languages, like Japanese or American Sign Language
- Public speaking
- Computer programming or coding
- Business education and economics
- English literature
- Astronomy, geology, or biology
- Auto repair
- Website or video game design
- Wood shop, metal shop, and other trades-based classes
- Animation, illustration, painting, and other artistic options
- Journalism, poetry, or creative writing
- Gardening or botany
- Caring for animals
- Cooking, baking, and nutrition
However, you don’t want to overwork your child. Many children today report stress and anxiety over the pressures of school. Work in plenty of breaks and opportunities for rest.
3. Break the Routine
But, it’s helpful to sometimes break up the monotony of learning. Regular students go on field trips, after all. Why don’t you take your child out to a local museum or aquarium?
Taking your child to visit a local university can inspire your child, especially if you have a chance to sit in on classes.
You can even travel further afield if you have the available finances. Try going on a road trip or take a trip abroad. Exploring new, unfamiliar cultures and meeting new people is an important part of broadening your child’s horizons.
4. Look for Resources
There are many different resources out there to help you ensure that your child is getting the best education they possibly can. You can find lesson plans or recommendations from other homeschooling parents.
Just make sure you look at all your options when it comes to home schooling resources. Don’t miss anything important!
5. Know Your Budget
Education can be expensive, even when you’re just educating your own child. You’ll have to lay out a budget so you know exactly what you can afford to spend on your child’s education. Some of the expenses you might incur include:
- Textbooks
- Binders and organizers
- Paper and notebooks
- Computers and computer supplies
- Pens, pencils, and pencil crayons
- Calculators, rulers, protractors, and compasses
- Erasers and liquid paper
But, there are options if you struggle to pay for all these things. Look into homeschooling information online, and join groups to see what others in the same situation recommend. They may have some recommendations for how you can save money, or even ways you can get supplies for free.
6. Think Outside the Box
When you homeschool your child, you don’t have to follow the traditional learning methods used by high school. That’s one of the biggest benefits of homeschooling. Look up educational videos your child might enjoy. See if there are video games that could suit your child’s learning style.
And, you can look for other hands-on ways of learning. Some children learn best by doing, rather than reading or listening. A work-study program may be appropriate in these cases, and can also help your child learn about how the working world is different than school.
This will help you better address your child’s educational needs. This is particularly helpful for people struggling with learning disorders, who may need to try different ways of taking in information.
7. Communicate
Talk to your child about how they feel like the homeschooling process is going. By high school, a child is old enough to know what they want or need out of their education, and they have suggestions for improvement.
For example, your child might be interested in changing up the schedule so that they can work later in the day. They may want to try taking more frequent breaks in order to improve their productivity.
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Or, they may have ideas for projects they want to try or classes they may be interested in taking in the future. Communication will also help your child feel more engaged with the educational process, since they’ll feel more like they have input in what’s going on.
Homeschooling a High Schooler: Get Started
Clearly, it’s not as hard as you think to start homeschooling a high schooler and do it successfully. You just need to get organized and stay on task. You’ll be celebrating your child’s high school graduation in no time!
Do you want more educational advice? Scroll through some of our other informative posts.