Homeschooling High School

I'm not there - yet.  However, it is sneaking up on me.  I have been collecting resources, taking notes, reading books, just general preparing for the high school level.

I have a couple of sources I want to share.

The first one is Central AR Homeschoolers - my local homeschool group.  There are wonderful moms in there who have been there, done that and are a wealth of information!  In the past, we have done a Homeschooling High School Roundtable event.  It didn't go as the presenters had planned, but there was plenty of information.  The main thing I took from that event was Scholaric.  I also took several notes about how many credits and when they should get them- along with some curriculum recommendations.  Another note I have on these papers that stands out is - check with the college and see what their requirements are - but don't forget to check with your state law and make sure you follow it as well.

My next resource is Education Alliance- Arkansas's homeschool backbone. They have a list of support groups, they offer transcripts and they host the graduation each year for the Seniors.  I also have a paper labeled Smart Core Information Graduation Requirements 2012-2014 school years.  It is a page of general information for homeschool families.  I know I will need an update, since we are Class of 2018, but it's a start - surely it won't change much over the next few years.  This page- well pages - is basically a break down of the credits and what can count for what.  I also have a handout of High School Resources - it is several pages of recommended high school classes, discussion of SAT Dates, and action plans for each grade.  The appendix's (is that right?) include selecting your courses, college check list, creating a resume as well as a couple of others.

Somehow, in all of my papers, I ended up with an Order of Planning notes - stating after you find out graduation requirements - 1. make a 4 year plan, 2. Make a course checklist, 3. Make a course of study, 4. Make Lesson Plans - somewhere between  1& 3 chose books/curriculum.  I would also like to add to this - include your kiddos!  Get their input about what they want to learn!!

The last couple of pages I have in my notes are a pull out from Savvy Kids (a Little Rock Magazine) that is a timeline for preparing for college, a list of a few websites that may help -Well Trained Mind, Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers, and Happy Housewife. TheHappyHousewife.com has a 4 year chart that will help with planning out their highschool years!

One of the last few resources I want to share - High School Prep Genius.  A book I reviewed back a couple of months ago.  I LOVE this book.  A few friends have asked to borrow it, but I just can't let it go.  I have written in it - trying to combine all the notes and such I have to ease my mess - I have taken so many notes in it and I use it frequently for reference - it may just be because I am trying to plan school? but I feel like I am in it all the time.  One thing it suggests is a binder for their high school years - keep up with their classes, their extras, their volunteer hours, that way when it is time to prepare transcripts, portfolios and whatever else the college wants - it's all right there.  This book is one worth it if you have kiddos in 7thgrade and up - yes, it suggests starting at the 7th grade level.

Finally, the reason I felt prompted to write this post.  I was able to sit in on a webinar put on by Lee Binz and Heidi St. John - Homeschool Parents Guides to High School Grades, Credits and Transcripts.  Lee runs TheHomeScholar and it is PACKED with information.  I did get a few things from the webinar, but for the most part it was a lot of repeat of my notes.

If you have any additional resources/ideas that you would like to share - please do so!!  Also, if you have any questions about the specifics of any of the resources I listed, please ask!