Homeschooling children of any age is an adventure, but there's something about High School that both intimidates and fascinates homeschoolers and non-homeschoolers, alike.
"Well, you ARE going to put them in school when HIGH SCHOOL gets here...aren't you?!"
(You have to hear this said by someone wearing a look of shock and horror to get the full effect).
Many homeschoolers do choose to put kids in school once they reach their teens, and I have no intention of downing that choice.
But if you're looking ahead and planning to homeschool, I'd be happy to share what I've learned, thus far, as a semi-classical homeschooler in her second year of leading her two oldest "Peeps" through what society now terms "High School".
(I've talked about homeschooling younger kids before, describing our Real Life Read-Alouds, answering the age-old question of What To Do With Toddlers, and giving you a peek at Where We Learn (that's outdated, since we've moved, but the craziness still applies).
So...my thoughts on How to Do High School at Home.
First...you need to get a puppy.
I recommend that you not own a dog for all of the previous years, because the experience needs to be so totally new as to distract everyone in the house from anything academic. Even if you get him during the summer, and decide not to do lessons until he's acclimated (which he will never be), he'll still be an enormous attention-holder when you officially decide to start. We made the mistake of waiting until our second year of high school to get our dog, and as a result gained too much ground, educationally speaking.
(He can be small when you get him, but he should be an animal that will get large, eventually. You need to decide that he's going to be an inside dog--he can't fulfill his purpose of distraction if he's not in the Big Middle of what you're doing--and he needs to be some sort of high-energy breed. Herding dog, maybe. But the point is that he needs to be big enough to get on the table, knock down kids, etc.)
Now...where was I?
In the classical model, younger children are taught the basics of grammar. Middle school focuses on learning logic, and high school...well, high school is the time to introduce the art of rhetoric. The ability to express oneself, orally, using those skills laid as a foundation in earlier years. Making oral reports, or speeches is an important part of learning this, but don't discount the opportunities that listening to impassioned oration can provide.
Again, the dog will help you with this.
Here's an example...
Crib Chick: "Okay, this last chapter talked about the African leader Sundiata Keita. Did his strict codes remind you of anyone?" (Looks at the teens hopefully.)
"Peep" #2: "Well, Hammurabi--"
"Peep" #5: "THE DOG IS EATING LEGOS!!!"
(It helps if the younger sibling who announces these things makes almost non-stop noise, anyway, preferably imitating cars and/or animals, so that your nerves are at a snapping point, already. If he's not available, then a younger sister with a particularly shrill voice and love of loudness will do.)
I know this seems like an interruption. I know you will have tried to have some sort of meaningful discussion about your older child's reading several times before this attempt, and you'll be tempted to deal with the dog quickly and get right back to that thoughtful interaction.
But this is a great opportunity for building your children's rhetorical skills, by presenting them with a good model of a heartfelt speech. I include a staple from our little homeschool, below, with notes indicating formal rhetorical devices, and short definitions. (Here's a good, more comprehensive list you can peruse later.)
You Kids Wanted This Dog
(The Crib Chick, early 21st century)
You know, you children PROMISED me, that you would follow a few basic rules, when I went to bat with your dad, and begged him to buy this beast. (Alliteration: repetition of several words with the same initial sound in sequence).
You said you would walk him daily, EARLY…you have not done it. You said you would keep things that he might chew off of the floor…you have not done it. (Antistrophe: repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses).
I must have been insane—why else would I have thought that this would turn out to be anyone else’s responsibility, but my own? (Anacoluthon: change of grammatical construction-statement to question, here-within the same sentence).
Dog ownership means that you pay attention, you take responsibility, you put away toys. (Asyndeton: lack of conjunctions between phrases, clauses, or words).
I mean, are you guys going to take measures to keep this from happening? Are you? Are you? “I listen vainly, but with thirsty ear”. (Catachresis: a harsh metaphor using a word beyond its normal sphere. It’s also helpful to include a quote or two, in a good speech. This particular one comes from MacArthur’s Farewell Address. Feel free to borrow it…it’s a good finale to any Mother Speech.)
"Peep" #5: "THE DOG IS EATING THE TRASH!!"
Repeat, ad infinitum, at regular intervals for the rest of the year. I suggest making your own speeches, but I may post some of my other standbys ("Do I Look Like Your Maid?", "Why Do I Even Try?", "You Have To Tell Me These Things The Night Before") at another time.
Now, there's also the question of balancing the needs of the younger children, in the shadow of providing a Rigorous High School Education for your older kids.
Hopefully, you've planted the seed of responsibility in your small ones, and they'll remind you, themselves, that you told them you'd teach them Latin this year (or how to knit, or use the microscope, tie their shoes, eat with utensils, etc., etc.). Probably just after your second oldest tells you that he forgot to do all of his assignments for that (expensive) online Spanish class this week, and your oldest remarks that she won't need to go to college after all, since she plans on going to Hollywood the minute she turns 18, to become a movie star.
But there will be rays of brightness.
Your second oldest might surprise you by coming up with an intricate career map, showing different possibilities that reflect a number of his interests and strengths, and your oldest might not only turn that sob-inducing Biology grade around, but decide to borrow a thick book about a specific Biology topic from the co-op teacher, and do some individual investigating of her own.
It's important to spend time with kids in High School, but it's important to let them have some time to themselves, too. It's important to direct--and monitor--but it's also important to encourage some freedom.
Younger kids (and a dog) will help you do that.
You won't have any choice.
