| When you are homeschooling high school, you | | | | high school credits. Review the common college |
| need to aim for college. There are two reasons | | | | requirements for classes to see what courses are |
| for this. Either your kids will go to college and | | | | expected. In every area of high school college |
| need the college preparation, or they WON'T go | | | | prep course work, make sure that you are |
| to college, and their homeschool becomes perhaps | | | | teaching your students right at their level. |
| the only formal education they receive. College | | | | Exceed requirements for fun! |
| preparation is truly LIFE preparation, especially | | | | One of the benefits of homeschooling is its |
| since you don't know what the future holds. You | | | | efficiency - it allows plenty of time for fun! Many |
| want to homeschool like the Boy Scouts, and | | | | of the things teenagers do for fun can actually be |
| always be prepared! | | | | used as high school courses! They fun things your |
| You are probably wondering, though, about the | | | | child likes can be wonderful educational electives |
| big HOW. How can a humble homeschool be like a | | | | and additional foundational courses that beef up |
| high power "college prep" high school? That's the | | | | their transcript. (I have some great ideas on how |
| focus of this article. One of the biggest mistake | | | | to make a winning homeschool transcript that I'll |
| parents make in homeschool high school is not | | | | share in a later article.) |
| planning high school courses. I'm going to tell you | | | | The "basics" cover a multitude of weaknesses |
| how you can avoid this trap. | | | | Focus on reading, writing, and math! If you cover |
| Check your state's requirements | | | | the basics, you can't stray far from a great |
| First, during eighth and ninth grade, find out the | | | | college preparation. Many students who go to |
| homeschool requirements in your state. | | | | college need remedial help with the basics. If your |
| Requirements vary widely and can change yearly, | | | | student has a solid foundation in the basics, then |
| so it's impossible to know without checking it out | | | | you're successful! The ability to read, write and do |
| for yourself. Check with your state homeschool | | | | math will allow your student to catch up quickly if |
| organizations to find out the requirements. A | | | | and when they are decide to pursue higher |
| simple Google search for the name of your state | | | | education. |
| plus "homeschool organization" is all you need to | | | | Review your plan yearly and adjust as needed |
| do. Find the requirements, then develop a plan to | | | | A quick yearly review can keep you on track |
| meet them. There are some states that don't | | | | with high school. Each year you can make |
| require specific courses from homeschoolers. In | | | | decisions for what is right at the time, but the |
| that case, make sure you meet the legal | | | | yearly review will give you the larger overview of |
| requirements of your state law, but focus your | | | | high school. The yearly review will remind you that |
| course selection on college requirements - again, it | | | | THIS is the year you need to start a foreign |
| allows for maximum flexibility in the future. | | | | language, that this is your last chance for a lab |
| Meet college admission requirements | | | | science, or give you the final impetus to complete |
| What exactly are college admission requirements? | | | | an art course. Review your plan yearly while you |
| There is no "right" answer to that, because every | | | | enjoy a lifestyle of learning. |
| college has their own requirements! There are | | | | Conclusion |
| some generalizations about college preparation, | | | | Colleges will know that you have done a great job |
| though, so let me share those. In general, the | | | | planning high school courses when your student |
| recommended courses to take in high school | | | | takes the college admission exams. In order to |
| include 4 years of English, 3 or 4 years of math, | | | | succeed, then, you need to know a little about |
| 3 to 4 years of social studies, 3 years of science | | | | those tests. What are they, when do you take |
| including one lab science, 2 to 3 years of a single | | | | them, and why? That will be the focus of my |
| foreign language, 2 years of PE, 1 year of fine | | | | next article. |
| arts, and enough electives to make 24 or more | | | | |