Can I homeschool my teenager?
Are you wondering, can I homeschool my teenager, but you’re not sure how? Perhaps you know you can but are asking, should I homeschool my teenager? Maybe you’re like me and have grown tired of the seemingly endless busy work and requirements that are not impactful on your child’s learning, but you are concerned about things such as is it hard to homeschool a high schooler or how do I homeschool a high schooler. Let me tell you about my sweet high school daughter that once loved school and what my response to this was. Finally, I hope to help you know how to get started homeschooling a high schooler of your own.
When asking yourself, can I homeschool my teenager, you are likely concerned about several things. Among them are all the things our kids “must” do to succeed in high school or to get into college. So here is SECRET #1– homeschool students are among the best prepared students in college.
I want to share a little bit about my high schooler’s story with you. But first, I want to give you something that will help you with the question, can I homeschool my teenager that I think you will find super helpful. I have a FREE resource to help you on your journey. The number one concern parents seem to have is how to manage the documentation for high school. Get my FREE High School Docs resource below my last blog on this page.
High School Tears…and that was it.
It was a cold morning when I came into the living room to find my daughter sitting at her computer with tears streaming down her face. I asked her what was wrong and she told me. She used to love school but she hated it now. I was puzzled. What had changed? Why was she so upset? She went on to tell me that she was tired of having to complete so many “key” assignments. She had been working on long and arduous assignments that she neither enjoyed nor learned from. These were one-size-fits-all assignments created by people who didn’t seem to understand homeschooling at all.
Here she was using some really excellent homeschool curriculum. She enjoyed it, but our school was requiring specific assignments. In order to continue using the curriculum she loved, she would switch between the two sets of curriculum and standards. The curriculum we had hand chosen for her taught her more because it was made for her. Whereas, the school requirements were typical public school issue. The remainder of the semester was spent with her on her computer most of the day. We no longer enjoyed hands-on learning activities, field trips, or other outings. She had zero time to do enjoy them with the crazy standards being pushed on her.
Needless to say, I couldn’t take it any longer. The kicker- I was also a teacher at the school! Roll in gloomy music…. That’s right. I had also been forced to do something I hated. That was to require my families (that saw themselves as homeschoolers) to follow the rules and procedures of the very system they left to join the type of school we were at. Homeschooling with the charter school was awesome while it lasted. Unfortunately, the state of California has really messed with a good thing. So we left. The kids, myself, finito! And we have never been happier.
That’s my story. What’s yours? Perhaps you want to have more time to enjoy your family. Is your child struggling with the socio-political climate of the public school? Are you feeling the need to protect your child from policies and procedures that go against your belief system. There are many reasons why families want to homeschool. Unfortunately, parents sometimes get nervous about doing it through high school. If that’s you, read on. I have three secrets for you that will change your mind and your life.
Should I homeschool my high schooler? Well…yah!
There is much evidence to back this first secret up. So, when asking yourself, should I homeschool my high schooler, the answer is well…yah! Here are a few things to consider:
- Homeschoolers have been outperforming traditional students in college for years
- Many colleges have special application processes for homeschoolers in their efforts to get more homeschoolers to come to their schools
- Colleges recognize that homeschoolers are self-starters, have high critical thinking skills, and the ability to teach themselves.
- The homeschoolers that my husband and I have taught have proven to be better readers, perform better in our classes, and on college level examinations.
- If students must follow California public school guidelines in order to get into CSUs and UCs, then how do students from out of state get into these colleges?
- …and there’s more where that came from
Is it hard to homeschool a high schooler?
Can I homeschool my teenager, you ask again. Many people struggle with the decision to homeschool through high school because they worry about keeping track of curriculum, records, and courses. They wonder, is it hard to homeschool a high schooler? I will let you in on SECRET #2. It is NO harder than homeschooling primary aged children. As a matter of fact, I believe that it is even easier and here’s why…
As an experienced homeschool mom and educator, the number one reason I think that it is easier to homeschool high school aged children than littles is that they are more independent than younger students. While we parents are always going to check-in on their learning, teenagers are eager to create and follow their own schedules. They are willing to work their social schedules around their schooling. If shown how their learning will give them independence and future success, they are more likely to direct their own learning. As an added bonus, they are training for work and college life while doing this. Parents are still the facilitators of their high schoolers’ education. But high school students don’t need mom directing their every assignment as younger kids do. So to your question, “Can I homeschool my teenager…,” you will find that your student is capable of self-directed learning.
To effectively homeschool in California, parents must
- Provide instruction in common subjects areas taught in California public schools (for high school, following a course list that lines up with your state’s homeschool law and/or the college your student would like to attend works here)
- Keep an attendance record (any format suffices that includes dates and days missed; you can find examples and templates of high school records documents in my free resource under my last blog post.
- Have a courses of study/description on hand (any format works here)
- Be capable of teaching (no degree or specific skills required; a love for your child and the ability to read and write are all you really need)
- Ensure instruction is in English
- Create a list of instructors with their contact information (may be yourself or include teachers that you have hired to help your child in a specific subject or area)
Please visit the Homeschool Legal Defense Association’s page (HSLDA) Homeschool Laws by State for your state homeschool law.
How do I homeschool my high schooler?
Now that we have discovered how successful and desirable homeschool students are to colleges and that it’s not difficult to homeschool your teen, let’s explore the final secret. SECRET #3 is super encouraging to homeschool parents. You need NO experience or academic genius to homeschool high school. Yep, you heard that right, NO special knowledge or skills required! In my talks with homeschool parents, they often worry that they don’t know enough to teach high school at home. A great read about this is found on the Homeschool Mom website. Jeane Faulconer discusses how homeschool families are discouraged from homeschooling high school. The reason? The subjects are too complicated and students won’t get into college if they are homeschooled. Her answer to that nonsense is simply, “Of course, this would be a shock to all the homeschool kids who’ve not only been accepted to college, but also already graduated”. I highly recommend visiting the site and reading the article Resources for Homeschooling High School When Mom’s Not the Expert. In today’s world, the resources for homeschooling high school abound.
What do homeschool parents need to educate their children? Nope. You don’t need a schoolroom, expensive boxed curriculum, a pointing stick, or even a dry erase board. Most families school from their kitchen table, living room couch, or even their backyard. They use low cost to free materials and hands-on experiences to teach their children. Regarding curriculum, they have choices. They enroll their student(s) into one of many offerings of pre-recorded, online-live, or in-person courses in the local community. They purchase textbooks or check out books from the library that cover the topics/subjects they need. Some join co-ops where parents of different skill sets take turns teaching one another’s children. They may even join curriculum swaps with other families. I know homeschoolers who don’t spend a dime on curriculum but their kids are quite knowledgeable. Joining a homeschool community through a Private School Satellite Program (PSP) can open up a world of resources to families wanting more support homeschooling their children in high school. I recently viewed a fabulous webinar by Homeschool Concierge entitled Homeschool Experts Session 3. In it, various experts discuss PSPs and how they can help you, and especially so, in the high school years. So if you are still asking, “Can I homeschool my teenager,” you are beginning to see that you absolutely can. If you want more information about the above options, please visit my website, OwlsandAcorns.org.
How to Begin Homeschooling in California
There are three ways to homeschool in the State of California. For a more comprehensive list of other state requirements, please visit the Homeschool Legal Defense Association’s (HSLDA) page, Homeschool Laws by State. For this blog, I have chosen to discuss the requirements in the state where I homeschool my own children and support homeschool families online and in-person in my community. The three ways to homeschool in California are:
- Operating as your family’s own private school by filing a Private School Affidavit (PSA) (You can do that at the California Department of Education site HERE ).
- Joining a Private School Satellite Program (PSP) where you school at home but have the benefits of an institution to organize your documents and support you in all things high school (the school files the PSA as a school that includes your family; Check out my webiste, OwlsandAcorns.org, for information on how to join my PSP) .
- Hiring a credentialed teacher to serve as a homeschool tutor for your family.
- Special Note: Public school mandated programs such as independent study charter schools have grown in popularity and call themselves homeschools. While these are not legally termed homeschooling as they follow state and public school mandates and requirements, many homeschoolers choose to follow their mandates while they school at home. For more information, visit the California Department of Education’s “Schooling at Home” page HERE.
Can I Homeschool My Teenager? Yes!
In answer to your question, can I homeschool my teenager, the answer is a resounding YES! You can! Have it your way when homeschooling while setting your child up for engagement and success. Who better than you can give your child the education that he or she deserves. You love them most, know them best, and can meet their needs exactly. No more trying to catch up to standards that are failing students across the state. Or submitting endless busy assignments that don’t really engage your student. While there are a few areas that we must adhere to regarding state laws, giving our children the gift of tailor-made, learning style friendly, and interest led learning is THE VERY BEST EDUCATION you can give them.
I have a great FREE resource for creating high school documents/records called High School Docs on my website that will help you. I am confident that I can convince you that your question, “Can I homeschool my teenager,” is no longer a question but a challenge. Owls and Acorns can get you on your path to homeschooling high school like a boss. Even if you already homeschool high school, you will find valuable content inside.
For more information about Owls & Acorns Homeschooling offerings, such as live-online courses, an in-person academy, and/or hybrid private school (PSP), please click here. I look forward to connecting with you in all things homeschool!
