Homeschooling into High School

Working on Geography while Crash gets into trouble.  

Her most favorite books.

Her inspiration station.

Good to keep St. Lucy in your view!  And St. John Vianney!

So many times in recent years, as our oldest child has approached her high school years, we've been asked the question, "are you going to homeschool in high school?"  (Often with an incredulous tone.)  Variations on this theme have been: "how are you going to do that?" and "I can't even imagine doing that."

This post is a brief-ish answer to those inquiries.  Yes, Joy is happy to have chosen ( with guidance) to remain homeschooled as a high school student.  There was only one option in our community that we considered as an alternative, and after checking it out, we were all most at peace with staying the course of our homeschool plans.  

How does it work?  Well, just as homeschooling looks different for every household in the elementary years, there are a wide variety of options for learning at home as a teenager.  

There are no magic rules or formulas.  It is still perfectly acceptable to take a student- led approach at the secondary level.  Keeping records, having a way to communicate academic achievement to colleges/future employers/etc., becomes more important at this time, but, it can be done through a wide variety of approaches.  

Just for fun, here's a peek into Joy's work space in her room.  She has her own desk, surrounded with pictures and things from which she derives comfort and inspiration, and she gets "helpful" visits from her little brother, just to mix things up.  

The other day, as we were going through some science questions, it was clear that Crash needed a quick trip to the potty, I tossed the answer key at Joy while I scooped up the 3 year old in a rush, and told her to keep checking her answers.  

Joy sighed with a big smile and pronounced, "Aaah, homeschooling."

Happy Labor Day!