Many homeschooling moms feel anxious about teaching their children during their teen years. It can seem like a daunting task to continue providing a quality education when raising preteens and teenagers seems to be such a challenge! But don’t worry, you can do it! Here are some tips to help you conquer your fears and homeschool through the teen years.
Common Fears We Share
I wrote recently about the benefits of HOMESCHOOLING THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL so check it out if you missed & are curious…but here we are going to break down the common fears of homeschooling through teen years. First👉🏽 I feel ya!! I had ALL THE FEARS! Yet we are into our third year of high school with both kids (a boy & a girl) and I’m here to assure you: YOU GOT THIS!!
Addressing The Fear of Homeschooling Through Teen Years
FEAR #1
The Fear: As the parent, “I’m not a teacher & it’s been too long since I studied chemistry!!!”
First know that many universities/employers actively recruit homeschoolers, as they know they are independent learners who will take their education seriously.
BUT fo real 👉🏽 What about those higher-level courses such as chemistry or physics? 😳
Join a homeschool co-op that offers such courses, or take advantage of the many online homeschool courses now available. We do BOTH: we are in a co-op that meets 1x week and encourages discussion & accountability for each week’s assignments!
Keep in mind, we all walk around with LIBRARIES of facts at our fingertips (hello Mrs. Google who I lovingly call my co-teacher)…but my hubby and I want our teens to learn critical thinking, communication skills, and presentation skills…these are things they won’t learn in a textbook or Google search!
This is what having a co-op/curriculum such as @classical_conversations and toastmasters can offer! You don’t want your kids simply studying to tests, info they will forget a week later…you want them to truly understand what they are learning & be equipped to explain and present what they learn to others!
With a co-op, your kids have a week of assignments and they are expected to show up for community day with assignments completed ready to discuss and share what they learned!
My teens also take their math courses through an online teacher/curriculum as well as various other subjects as needed! (Physics, Chemistry, etc.)
I have also hired current & former teachers to teach a specific subject I wasn’t comfortable with…there are SO MANY OPTIONS!
What subject scares you the most? Comment or message me! Let me help guide you!
FEAR #2
The Fear: What about extracurricular activities like sports and theater?
Let’s start with sports! Our son is a very gifted athlete playing 🏀+⚾️…depending on state rules ( the HOMESCHOOL LEGAL DEFENSE ASSOCIATION a fab resource for laws etc.) …your child may be allowed to play for their school district, or you may have a private school that welcomes homeschoolers to play sports! Our school district is not welcoming, so we play for a private school during the school year & travel ball off-season! The flexibility of home/flex school also allows our son to invest his time in private lessons and personal trainers…time he wouldn’t have in traditional school! Home/Flexschool also gifts our son the time to network with coaches at various schools he is interested in attending… think of the communication skills he is learning too!
Our daughter is involved in theater/voice/dance… she attends a local theater school which meets 2x a week as well as dance and voice classes. This is a passion of hers, and she, of course, has the time gifted thanks to homeschool to focus on this passion. It is also nice when show rehearsals go until 9 PM that she can sleep the following day and operate from a place of rest! Many kids are walking around like sleep-deprived zombies; I would rather my kids work and function from rest with strong immune systems!
Whatever passions your teens have, home/flex school is a gift of time to pursue those passions!
Fear #3
The Fear: I don’t understand homeschool laws!
I cannot encourage you enough to join the Homeschool Legal Defense Association ( HSLDA ). They are wonderful and a fabulous resource for laws, as well as a plethora of information to help guide your journey! Check out their website, but BEWARE – it is like the Bermuda Triangle – you will have so much fun learning!! http://hslda.org
Fear #4
The Fear: Transcripts!
No fear here!! There are so many resources to help you with transcripts! We are a part of Classical Conversations. Classical Conversations has a homeschool counselor that helps with college applications and transcripts. They make record-keeping seamless.
Outside of Classical Conversations, there are numerous options! The HSLDA provides the services of transcripts, college counselors, and career counseling as well!
Also – A simple google search for Homeschool College Counselors brought up NUMEROUS options/resources!
Fear #5
The Fear: My teens are considering higher education. Will they be prepared?
Check the stats/data on this… college admission counselors actually seek out homeschool students as they know they are independent learners and test higher on ACT and SAT exams.
A 2016 study by the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) indicates homeschoolers scored between 15 and 30 percentage points higher on standardized academic achievement tests. Research also indicates students who received an education from a home-based program usually scored higher on the SAT/ACT.
Some more data: students coming from a home school graduated college at a higher rate than their peers—66.7 percent compared to 57.5 percent—and earned higher grade point averages along the way, according to a study that compared students at one doctoral university from 2004-2009.
The data says your student will be prepared and will THRIVE!
Fear #6
The Fear: Public school is well, free! What’s the investment in homeschool?
Homeschool will be a financial investment, yet nothing to compare to a traditional, private school education! And when you factor in the higher standardized test scores and scholarships offered for higher education, it certainly makes sense!
If finances are an obstacle, we need to have a conversation! I mentor homeschool moms to make $1000 a month alongside the priority of their family and do it all from rest! Learn more HERE.
In This Together: Homeschooling Through Teen Years
Don’t let your fears get in the way of homeschooling during the teen years. You can do it! No one cares about your teens more than you do, and you will figure out anything that comes up along your journey! Home/Flex school has changed so much over the past ten years, and you have so much support available! These tips will help you overcome any challenges you may face. And if you need more support, don’t hesitate to reach out to other homeschoolers or experts for help. We’re all in this together!
Please comment below with additional questions and comment too! I love chatting about all things homeschool and am happy to serve you!!
