Homeschool Essentials for Graduating - A High School Plan

Okay, we know how many credits your student needs to graduate, and we know the course requirements. The next essential ingredient is some kind of a high school plan or course of study. Whether you are the type of homeschooler that thrives on detailed lists and schedules and lesson plans, or you're more likely to make up the lesson plan as you go, you'll need a plan. And take it from me - it's better to make the plan when your student is in 8th or 9th grade than to wait until partway through their senior year. Remember, you can always tweak it as you go along. Write it in pencil because it will change!

 You can find information and free forms at DonnaYoung.org  and at HSLDA's Homeschooling Through High School page to help you plan. If you have a membership at SchoolhouseTeachers.com (and you should, because it is full of all kinds of curriculum and resources at a great price), they offer an amazing Schoolhouse Planner, and the high school version of it includes every form you might need or want to help plan a course of study.

Some aspects of planning are easy, such as planning at least one English course each year, and probably one Math and one Social Studies course each year. If your student has a good idea of what they want to do for their career or how they will focus their college studies, try to customize courses to those interests and needs. Choose electives that will further the student's interests and career goals, or that will meet requirements for college entrance. For example, many colleges require two years of a foreign language study.

For many students, knocking off as many credits as practical during the first two years of high school is a good idea, because it allows them to focus on their specific interest courses in their final years of high school, and it may also give them more free time to work at a part-time job or take more demanding courses as a dual-enrolled student at a community college.

Related posts from my archives:  I Love It When A Plan Comes Together (how I do lesson planning, including a high school course of study)

Read fellow blogger's experience at an HSLDA workshop to help homeschool parents navigate the high school years. High School at Home from Homegrown Hatfields I agree with her - if you get a chance to go to a similar workshop, it can be so helpful in encouraging and preparing you for homeschooling during the high school years!



This post is part of a series: 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials - Homeschool Essentials for Graduating

Other members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew are writing about Homeschooling Essentials this week as well. Visit the Crew Blog for links to all 89 participating blogs and see what they consider essential for homeschooling. Don't have time to visit all of them? Try this sampling from the entire group - you'll still get a variety of ideas on what's essential, and there's something here for everyone, whether you're a homeschooling veteran or just thinking about getting started.

Lynn @ Ladybug Chronicles (yesterday Lynn explained their homeschooling method, and today she'll be sharing about their homeschooling space.)
Jennifer @ Chestnut Grove Academy (Jennifer is hosting a giveaway for a Workbox System eBook today. Visit her blog to find out more and enter!)
Jenn @ Teaching Two Stinkers
Brandi @ Brandi Raae
Wendy @ Simplicity Breeds Happiness
Jodi @ Insane in the Mombrain
Lisa @ A Rup Life, Jordyn @ Almost Supermom, and Crystal @ Crystal Starr Blog are all co-sponsors of an iPad Mini Giveaway as part of the 5 Days series, so be sure to visit their blogs and enter.

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