Homeschooling High School: Create a 5-Year Plan

You can homeschool high school! Really! You can do it! Think about all the things you would like to teach your child in high school. Go ahead and make a list of your dreams.

My list for each child will include things that are the same and things that are unique for each child. For instance, I want all my children to read Communist Manifesto in high school so that they can understand the socialist agenda in American universities and colleges. I also want them to study worldviews so that they can recognize the different worldviews that are predominate in our culture. Most of all, I want my children to know God's Word and apply it to all of life.

Here are some examples to put on the list:

• Read classic books that have changed the world
• Use Bible study tools
• Make and live on a budget
• Understand physics, chemistry, and oceanography
• Grow in their gifting of: ​                  (fill in the blank)
• Don’t just shove a bunch of classes at them. Choose courses that will benefit them for life and lay a solid educational foundation if they will be going on to college. 

Now it's your teen's turn. What do they want to learn in high school? Some of them may have a career goal in mind. Others may have a dream of playing sports at a particular college.

When Should You Start Planning?

Eighth grade is a good time to plan the high school years with your husband and teen.

I recommend reading a few books on homeschooling the high school student and talking to other moms who have (or are!) successfully homeschooled teenagers. Other homeschooling moms can lead you by the hand and help you through the questions and decisions.  

I sit down and make a five-year flexible plan for each child. 
         
Realize that your plan will change over the years, but it is good to have a rough idea of what you want to accomplish. 

What is Your Goal?

Think about what you want your teen to know and what skills you want them to have when they graduate. You have already made a list. Use that list so you don't forget anything.

---

I keep a folder for each child's homeschool plan on my computer. One file in that folder is their high school plan. I start one for each child when they are in eighth grade. Each year, I have to adapt the plan as opportunities arise for them to take various classes.

Pretend that the following is your high school plan for you high school child.  

Eighth Grade: Old Testament Survey/World History I/Algebra I/Western Literature (3.5)

Ninth Grade: Church History/World History II/Geometry/Biology/Oral & Written Communication/British Literature/Spanish I/P.E./Drama (0.25) + Piano (0.25) = 0.5 Fine Arts Credit/Growing in Christ (0.5) + Courtship & Dating (0.5) = 1.0 Character   (8.5 credits)

Tenth Grade: New Testament Survey/USA History/Algebra II/Chemistry/Essays & Research/American Literature/Spanish II/P.E./Sewing (0.5 Homemaking)/Godly Womanhood (0.5 Character)    (8 credits)

Eleventh Grade: Worldview & Apologetics/Government & Current Events & Politics/Pre-Calculus/Shakespeare/Fiction Writing/Drawing & Watercolor (0.5) + Drum Lessons (0.5) = 1.0 Fine Arts Credit/The Christian Family (0.5) + Starts own Business (you make it a course) (0.5) = 1.0 Life Skills    (6 credits)

Twelfth Grade: The Great Commission/Economics & Business & Personal Finances/Calculus/Great Books/College Prep Writing/Runs own business as course 1.0 Life Skills/Leading worship as a course 1.0 Fine Arts   (6 credits)

Total credits (32 credits)

Juggle Things Around When Educational Opportunities Arise

---

When Opportunities arise, I take advantage of them and go to my high school plan to make changes. Often I will juggle things around so that I can make sure that my teen takes the important courses. 

Some classes, of course, need to be take consecutively (like Math!), but most classes do not!  My high school plan for each child changes every year. But it helps to have the basic plan, because I realize that all the classes have to fit in somewhere. 

Another thing to remember is that you can do an intensive class in a month during a break from normal school or you can do semester classes like colleges do. With math and literature, I don't recommend shortening the time frame because your child can only do so many hours of math a day before he is burned out!

Your flexible 5-Year Plan is a servant, not a master. In my life it has been a great blessing and helped to guide  us through the high school years, making planning simple. 

Looking for more help in the Homeschooling High School Adventure? Unlocking the Mysteries of Homeschooling High School is available at Amazon. The E-book is available at PayHip or Currclick. Do you want two older Moms to walk your through this adventure while sharing how they did it and giving you some ideas to jump-start your creativity? Unlocking the Mysteries of Homeschooling High School covers every thing: choosing good books, planning high school courses, creating your own transcript, and even planning a high school graduation. 

God bless you as you make your own five-year plan. God is good and He will lead you in this adventure!

Warmly, 
​Meredith Curtis

---