Our third teenager will be homeschooling high school soon and it has me doing a lot of soul-searching! His older brothers will be rising seniors and I don’t want to repeat the mistakes I made with them. While our approach to high school hasn’t changed, I’ve learned some things that will make the journey smoother this time.
Here’s the then and now of how we planned — and our four-year plan for teen #3!
homeschool planning
How to Place a Struggling Learner with Memoria Press
It’s one of the most common questions I see from homeschool families: “Where should I place my child?” When we switched to Memoria Press five years ago, it took me months to decide where to place our struggling learner! I’ve learned a lot since then and this yearly process is now far easier than it used to be.
Here are my top tips for placing a struggling learner with Memoria Press!
Homeschool Outsourcing: Why, When, and How to Make it Work
My husband and I are second-generation homeschoolers so we remember what homeschool was like before outsourcing. There were no online classes and co-ops didn’t exist in most places until the end of our high school years. While some curriculums offered VHS classes or grading services, and some kids dual enrolled in community college, none of that was really common.
I know those early homeschool parents would have given their right arms for the resources we have today!
But when is outsourcing a good idea, when is it not, and how on earth do we make it affordable?
What’s Working Now: 2021 Homeschool Routine for Multiple Children
I shared recently that we’re focusing on essentials so I can heal, but our homeschool routine hasn’t supported this goal very well! My husband wants me to keep teacher-time within our morning block. That way, I have the full afternoon for a balance of work and rest.
Read moreWe’re Abandoning the Traditional School Year
When we were eclectic homeschoolers, I didn’t worry about finishing our books each school year. We reached the end of May (or April!) and called it good.
But since we found our purpose for homeschooling, I’ve learned that some some things need to be fully done before we move on. Otherwise, I’m depriving my children of a strong foundation — while expecting them to build on top of it.
So the question became: how do we finish our studies without ruining our summer?