Homeschooling Highschool
From Sage Hernandez, Administrative Assistant:
"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled."
Those words from Plutarch, echoed by Mason in Principle 9, resonate deeply within my soul as I wrap up the final years of high school with one student and look toward the beginning of high school with another. For many moms, when our children start nearing the high school years, panic sets in. As their solo flight from our nest looms over us, the worry about whether or not we have done “enough” can overwhelm us. The increasing academic rigor, the balancing act of extracurricular activities, and the looming horizon of college applications all contribute to a complex landscape in this modern world. However, following the grace and wisdom of Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy and implementing the Alveary curriculum in our home has set my heart at ease and allowed the high school years to feel manageable and I daresay beautiful when I remember that these pivotal years are the kindling they will set fire to once they leave home. Here are a few tips and tricks that have helped me relax into homeschooling in the high school years:
- Check state and college requirements. Once you know what your state requires for graduation, you can lay out a solid plan for the high school years and feel less stressed about trying to do it all.
- Tailor your homeschool plans to your student’s passions and goals, and involve them in that process. Provide opportunities for in-depth exploration of subjects they love, whether it’s through advanced coursework, internships, volunteer work, or independent projects. Let them help you create a timetable for their work. Ask for feedback from them about everything you can think of. They will feel valued and appreciate having a voice in their education.
- Choose a subject (or two) that you both do together. You can choose a subject you both struggle with or choose one you both love. However, working side-by-side in that area will benefit you both. I was recently talking to Kerri Forney about this topic, and she gave me these words of wisdom: “We need to be mindful of the weight of self-education. It is hard to go it alone all the time. So, adding in a book you do together is a good way of showing the value of shared education or education in community and to help share the load.” In our family, we choose to do subjects that each kid struggles with. With my daughter, we do math, and she chooses one other book each term for us to read, usually from different areas. With my son, our together subject is history.
- If you have multiple kids, keep family subjects alive and well. We do art instruction, picture study, nature walks, composer study, exercise and music all together as a family. These last few years with your high schooler will feel all the sweeter when you all engage in some learning as a family community.
- Don’t forget to keep working on habit formation. Help your high schooler develop habits of diligence, responsibility, and self-discipline. Create a structured yet flexible daily routine that includes time for study, physical activity, creative pursuits, and rest. Encourage consistent sleep schedules, regular physical exercise, daily Scripture study and prayer time, and moments for reflection.
- Just because you do a subject does not mean it needs to be included on a transcript. I mentioned earlier that there are several subjects we do all together. However, I don’t include any of that on a transcript. In our state (Georgia), students only need 4 credits of Language Arts, 4 credits of Math, 4 credits of Science, 3 credits of Modern Languages, 1 credit of Health/PE, and 4 electives. The four electives we settled on to round out my daughter’s transcript are an additional Modern Language credit, a forensics science course just for fun, and 2 credits of piano. For any learning done outside of those transcript courses, we don’t assign grades or even keep track of work completed. We learn for the fun of learning.
- Stay consistent with check-ins. We try to have a daily check-in where we go over narrations and my daughter shares her school day with me. Some students and schedules might benefit from a weekly check-in. Whichever frequency works for your family is fine, but consistency is key. We go over any challenges she may have had and celebrate successes. This check-in rarely takes more than 30 minutes but makes a difference in her attitude toward learning. Our high school students must have a chance to talk about what they are learning, just like we provided in their earlier years.
As bittersweet as these years feel to me, they have been some of the best moments in my journey as a homeschool mom. With Alveary as my co-teacher, we voyaged across time and space on a beautiful adventure that I will be forever grateful for. As Charlotte Mason highlights, "The question is not how much does the youth know when he has finished his education, but how much does he care and about how many orders of things does he care?" Embrace this adventure with confidence, knowing that you can confidently respond that your student cares deeply about many things because of your work in providing a rich, varied education.
Notes
1. June 30 Deadline: On June 30 all lesson plans from the 2023-24 school year will be removed from the website. Be sure to download everything you need before then! If you are planning to renew your membership be sure to do it before June 30 to remain in the Hive.
2. Planning Your Year: We'd love to showcase how some of our members plan their year on social media and the Hive. If you're interested in documenting a bit of your process, please reach out to Sarah at sarah@cminst.org.
3. 5th Grade Science Kits: It has come to our attention that some test tubes were left out of the 5th grade science kits - they should contain 6 in total. We have spoken with our liaison there to correct this. If you purchased a 5th-grade kit and only received 2 test tubes, she asks that you contact Customer Service via phone (406-256-0990), email (service@homesciencetools.com), or through the online chat and they will send your missing test tubes right away.
4. Alveary+ QR Codes: Don’t print from Alveary+ yet! By August 1, lesson plan printouts will include a QR code for links.
5. Affiliate Program: Love what you’re seeing? Join our affiliate program and share the Alveary love with others!
6. Giveaway: CMI is giving away a Joy of Making conference ticket on Instagram! Head over and enter to win!
7. Art Prints: If you plan to order art prints this year and are not ordering other printed Alveary materials, Humble Heart Press is a great option. Within their Online Printshop, you can select cardstock printing. Settings: 100lb glossy, double-sided, and premium color. Use code SUMMER20 at checkout for 20% off! Valid 6/24 - 6/30.
8. A Little Book for New Historians: This book is listed in the history lessons for grade 9 term 3 but isn't in the grade 9 program. The book is specifically in World History Grades 7-9 lessons Term 3 Grade 9 ONLY.
9. Office Hours: Join us for Office Hours on Wednesday, June 26th 3:30-4:30 (EST). We will discuss Language Study (Grammar, Dictation, Written Narration, Penmanship & Copywork). We will also have a dictation lesson immersion. Please submit any questions in this Hive Event by Tuesday afternoon.
10. History Charts: We have compiled a list of dates for grades 4-8 that can be used in history charts or Book of Centuries. You can find those lists in the quick links section of the history lessons.
11. Community Read Alouds: Community Read Alouds can be found in the Literature lesson plans for grades 1-3 or in the Citizenship lesson plans for grades 4+. Check out this past Office Hours recording to learn more about them.
