Homeschooling Through High School: A Typical Week
Wonder what homeschooling through high school looks like on a typical day? Kym shares her experience with that in this post.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve often been asked what it’s really like homeschooling a high school student. How much time does it take? How much am I still involved? What does a typical school day look like?
Like so many other aspects of homeschooling, the experience is different for everyone, and I think this is especially true during the high school years. High school classes are available in homeschool co-ops or for dual-enrolled students at community colleges. Students who complete all their high school classes at home can choose from traditional textbooks or online virtual learning classes. Parents can remain very involved in day-to-day teaching, or allow their students to learn very independently.
I’d like to invite you on a quick tour of a typical week for us, to give you an idea of how we’re homeschooling through high school!
A Typical Week Homeschooling Through High School
This is our final year of homeschooling, as my youngest student is a graduating senior! Most of her courses are taught in a homeschool co-op, but she does have a couple of courses that she is doing at home on her own. A couple of her elective credits are earned through her extra-curricular activities and a part-time job. I also work part-time, so I no longer spend a lot of time in hands-on teaching. I’m mainly a coach and record-keeper!
Our co-op meets one day a week, and offers several high school level classes including Algebra, Latin, Spanish, French, Creative Writing, History, Public Speaking, and Business. My student is currently taking Creative Writing, US History, French II, and Intro to Business at the co-op. She took Public Speaking II in first semester. She has a full day of classes one day a week, and has to study and complete assignments on her own during the week. I think this is a great preparation for students who are college-bound, giving them a chance to interact with instructors other than mom and work with real deadlines and a classroom experience. (Dual enrollment at a community college is an even more realistic way to get taste for what college is like, and start earning college credit at the same time.)
Two days a week I am at my job, so my daughter is at home focusing on her homework on those days. It’s especially important that she manage her time well on those days, and she often knocks out a lot of the work she needs to do on the computer then, since she won’t be interrupted by anyone else needing it. For second semester, she just started on a Consumer Math course that is based online, so those two on-her-own days are the best chance to work on that. She spends her break times practicing guitar, writing music, and dabbling in art. And messaging her friends!
One day a week she works at a local music shop, and is learning the trade of tuning and repairing pianos. This is essentially an apprenticeship, so she is earning a credit as she earns a little money and gets started in business. This is one of the great advantages of homeschooling through high school – being able to work part-time during the school day and learning trade skills! Evening hours spent at chorus rehearsals and church worship band rehearsals are part of her school experience as well.
Because the time that both of us are at home together is limited, we need to prioritize assignments in which she really does need my help. Most of what I do as a homeschool mom is check and grade her work, and act as an advisor on assignments. It’s also my job to make sure she has a complete checklist of everything she needs to work on, and to keep the official records of her credit hours and grades. I use Homeschool Tracker Online to keep all of that organized.
Is this what homeschooling through high school is like for most families? Every student will have his or her own unique mix of courses and learning venues, of course. But for so many homeschoolers, this individual approach is perfect for helping our students practice time management and independent study, so they will be prepared for life beyond high school!
How does your typical homeschool week compare? Leave a comment and let us know!
Other posts you might enjoy:
5 WAYS TO TURN YOUR CHILD’S INTERESTS INTO HIGH SCHOOL ELECTIVES
HIGH SCHOOL ELECTIVES BEYOND ART AND MUSIC
DELIGHT-DIRECTED HOMESCHOOLING FOR HIGH SCHOOL
FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU HOMESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
PLANNING TO HOMESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
STUDYING AMERICAN LITERATURE FOR HIGH SCHOOL
- Counting Holiday Homeschool Days - December 22, 2023
- Homeschool Graduation – A Traditional and Personal Celebration - May 16, 2023
- Choosing a Bible Verse to Guide Your Homeschool - April 29, 2021
This sound familiar to our days of having all high school students left. We only do a little bit through a co-op.
Blessings, Dawn
Thanks for stopping by, Dawn!
We don’t have a co-op ( that I know of) for high school students around us so I tend to do most of the work myself. I don’t mind though as it gives me a better idea of where my son is at in each of his courses. We are looking into some on-line classes or possible dual enrollment for next year.
Sounds like a good plan. We’re doing dual enrollment and online classes this year and my daughter has really enjoyed it!
Thanks for commenting!
Last year when my daughter was a junior was the first time we were able to participate in a co-op at high school level. I would have liked to do it with my sons, but it never worked out.