{Day 12} What Do High Schoolers Need to Learn?
{For an overview of all 31 Days of Homeschooling click HERE.}
Homeschooling the high school years is an experience like none other — in a good way. The limitless number of ways that courses and learning experiences may be combined over a period of four years provides endless opportunities for every kind of student there is. Unlike the elementary and middle years, which are often viewed as preparation for the next level, high school is the end of the homeschool road for the most part, thus where homeschoolers feel their skills will be tested, and on which their futures depend.
Because of the nature of high schooling — as preparation for college, for a career, a gap year, or for something else – there are many variations on teaching grades 9-12. Among them include a traditional high school curriculum, a college-prep curriculum, an interest-led curriculum, and just about everything else in between. It would be irresponsible for anyone to recommend a one-size-fits-all high school curriculum that works for everyone, and yet many parents of homeschooled teens ask for exactly that!
For high school, at least one thing is clear. Student goals after graduation should determine the type of work assigned in high school. So, students seeking college admissions should complete the kinds of courses that will capture the attention of admissions officers; those moving into a family business should be offered the skills needed to be productive in that environment; students called to travel or mission work should be prepared to tackle the demands of that lifestyle; and so on.
Having a plan for high school is crucial. Tweaking the plan along the way is fine, but mapping out requirements in advance guarantees nothing is missed by graduation day. I offer a free download of a high school checklist that is easy to complete. Having this kind of plan makes moving ahead from year to year easier and less painful.
Taking student interests and desires into account is important during high school, too. Often, parents do not know a child’s desires unless they ask. So, talking frequently with teens is another key to making sure high school fits just right.
Often, but not always, a high school plan includes the following courses, spread out over grades 9-12:
- 4 courses in Mathematics (Algebra 1 and beyond)
- 4 courses in English (most with substantial writing)
- 3 courses in Science (at least 2 with significant lab experience)
- 3 courses in Social Science (such as history, economics, civics, or government)
- 2 courses in Foreign Language (the same language both times)
- Several elective courses
Using this general guide, it is easy to see that one math course and one English class should probably be scheduled every year. Also using this guide, students will probably take either a science, or a history, or both, every year, too. Foreign language on the other hand (sometimes called, World Languages now) may be scheduled for two of the years, being replaced by electives for the other two years. And so on.
Somewhere in the range of 24-27 courses is the usual tally at the end of the four years. Many homeschooled students exceed this number {mine did} and that’s okay, too. Still, having a general framework to follow can be awfully helpful when mapping out the entire 4 years.
A great deal of the work I do is helping families prepare for homeschooling the high school years. I offer workshops and seminars about high school, too. If you need help in this area, contact me so we can discuss how I can help.
Further reading:
Is there such a thing as college-prep homeschooling?
High school math: What is really needed for college and why?
Writing course descriptions for high school
Chemistry and Calculus: 5 Solutions for Teaching Tougher Classes
and one more you might like:
Thinking of putting your homeschooler in high school? Not so fast.
Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever. A liaison for regional school-to-home organizations, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT, Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.
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