-- Making your own Homeschool High School English Course - -

Summary:  How to make a your own homeschool high school English course, with tips for getting your teen writing, and what to include in your course.   #homeschoolhighschool #homeschoolhighschoolEnglish #choosinglhighschoolcurriculum

There are many ways to homeschool high school English.  One way is to make your own course.  One year, we did just that.  

So today, I'd like to share six things that we included in our homemade English course.  You can, of course, add in grammar review and vocabulary, too, if that is needed for your student. 

We focused on literature and composition in our homemade course.  You can, of course, add in grammar review and vocabulary, too, if that is needed for your student.  

Most colleges tend to look for literature and composition in an applicant's high school English courses, but don't specify what type of lit to include.  That gives us homeschoolers lots of leeway.  

Our homemade English course was accepted by each of the colleges that our daughter had on her list.

Six Components to a Homeschool High School English Course

1.  Literature 

Choosing your own literature to read can really be fun, and that can include some free reading books, too. It all depends on what your teen needs and where you think they are heading.  The reading does not need to be only typical high school literature selections. 

2.  Writing Essays & Creative Writing

I encouraged my teen to write..a lot.  

First, I assigned essays to write, related to her reading.  But we did a variety of other writing, too, when she wanted to do something else.  The important thing is to help your teen get comfortable with the written word.

Sometimes I gave her the choice to write in whatever way that she felt motivated to do....such as:  Write about a newspaper article, write some dialog to a short story, write how to's - such as a recipe, or how to find a good deal on cell phones, etc.  You

If your teen is interested in writing fiction, I would encourage that. 

Writing fiction is a great way for kids to learn the components of literature - setting, point of view, characters, plot, etc.  That is the basis for literary analysis, discussed below! Resources for creative writing are here.

It is also helpful to introduce your teen to different types of essays, if they are college bound, eg, narratives, expository essays, persuasive essays, etc.  Time for Learning has a great resource for that here. 

The topics were always teen-led in our house. If you want a guide for what is involved in high school writing, there is a listing of writing standards for 11th and 12th grades here.  Oak Meadow and 7 Sisters also offer lots of resources for writing, if you are looking for some guidance on that.

3. Practicing the Steps of Writing

Time for Learning has a simple outline of these steps here, which include:

1.  Prewriting/Making an Outline 

2.  Drafting 

3.  Revising 

4.  Editing 

5.  Publishing 

Taking writing projects step by step gives your student a structure to follow, from start to finish.

4.  Doing Literary Analysis

Why do literary analysis?  

...Because it is a great way to teach critical thinking skills which will be needed for whatever your teen will be doing. 

 But what exactly is it?  

"Literary Analysis is the practice of looking closely at small parts to see how they affect the whole. Literary analysis focuses on how plot/structure, character, setting, and many other techniques are used by the author to create meaning....." from Arrowhead High School.  Click on this title for more info on literary analysis.

Below are some homeschool high school resources that can help you teach literary analysis, if you like:

-- 7 Sisters Homeschool High School English and Writing Courses

If you want to use a prepared course for help with teaching literary analysis, I invite you to check out 7 Sisters Homeschool, as they have lots of literature courses using a variety of literature.  

They offer both complete year long English courses and also separate Literature Guides for over 40 novels as well.

Each of their courses are adaptable, with a no busy work approach.  They are written by veteran homeschool moms, with solid educational backgrounds and over 20 years of homeschooling experience.  We loved using 7 Sisters for American Lit. 

American Lit

American Lit by 7 Sisters

This American Literature course is a full year long course which included both literature study and composition.  7 Sisters Homeschool offers a number of other year English courses including:

-  Chronicles of Narnia
-  British Lit
-  Great Christian Writers
-  Lit and Composition I and II
-  British Poetry

 -- Rainbow Resource English Resources

Rainbow Resource

 Rainbow Resource also offers tons of literature guides for specific literature and books as well.

 Ambleside Online also has a great sample list of narration questions as well.   

The best thing about our homeschool high school English courses was the time we spent together, discussing literature.  That is how my kiddo learned the critical thinking skills that she later needed in college.  Join your teens in pondering the why's and how come's of the story, the plot line, how the setting impacted the plot, etc.  

5.  Writing Research Reports

 Research Writing

If you are looking for help in teaching research writing, I recently looked at and loved how Vicki Tillman, MA, put together her course on research writing.  Click here- 7 Sisters Research Writing to read about it.

Knowing how to research and write up one's findings is of course, important to most careers.

Oak Meadow also has English courses that teaches research writing as does an online option called Time4Learning.

6.  Taking an Inspiration Break

Taking a break not only helps with writer's block, it also can give your teen something new to write about.

Recipe writing is good practice for writing, too.  One day we made applesauce together.

Learning to write the procedures needed in a recipe is good practice for other "how to" writing assignments, such as writing out the steps for a plumbing problem, or how to repair an air conditioner, or a business email at work.

Do you have a college bound teen in your house?  

My teen got into each of the colleges on her list, with scholarship offers.  And it was not hard to help get her there.

I wrote a book to share how we did that in 10 easy steps.  Have you seen my book on college for homeschooled teens yet - Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd Edition? 

It gives you everything that you need to help you plan your high school homeschool for your college bound teen.  Plus get them into the college of their choice. 

Amazon for only $11.99

Paperback is on Amazon for only $11.99

This book is an easy-to-read guide to college for homeschoolers, recently updated with 7 NEW chapters, including:

- My guide to the Common Application

- 100 High School Electives

- Where to find college scholarships

- SAT/ACT Prep

- How to make your own homemade courses

Yes, only 10 easy to do steps to homeschool high school with college in mind.  And it really is NOT that hard!!  

This book does not tell you how to homeschool high school.  Instead it helps you do it your way, with the encouragement and tips in this book.  

Keep your nurturing homeschool style and showcase their accomplishments to the colleges!

Recommended by: Lessa Scherrer, certified college counselor from College Inside Track:

"Betsy has a wealth of understanding and knowledge to share with the parents of college bound homeschoolers.  She provides support, encouragement and step-by-step advice on all aspects of the homeschool high school and college application process. This book is a must-read for parents considering homeschooling high school and for parents in the thick of the application process."

And help for record keeping!  With 12 high school and college planning printables.  Just fill them in! 

The high school and college planning forms include:

College Entrance Requirements Form

Overall High School Plan

Curriculum Planning Sheet

High School Credit Record Form

Transcript Form

Activities and Awards Form

Homemade Course Form

Writing the College Essay Form

Course Descriptions Record Keeping Form

Reference Letter Request Form

PE Record Form

For more information, click here - Frugal College Prep for Homeschoolers or to buy it here - my book on Amazon for only $11.99.  

Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,

Betsy

Betsy is mom to her now college grad, whom she homeschooled through high school.  She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, highschool, 
college, gifted/2e and wrote -Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd Edition,   She offers homeschool help through messages at BJ's Consulting,  and has had some of her articles picked up by the Huffington Post.

Want to stay in touch?

Subscribe, Pinterest, Facebook 
No spam ever. 

Just encouragement for your homeschool 
in your inbox.

Copyright 2016 

Revised 2019

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101 Reasons to Homeschool High School

Summary:  Are you thinking about homeschooling high school, but wondering if it is a good idea?  We found so many benefits from homeschooling our  teen. This list also helped us to deal with those who were negative about our choice to homeschool high school.  Note - This post may included affiliate links to products that we love and have used or would use in our  own homeschool. Please see my disclosure policy.

Are you getting "those questions" about your decision to homeschool your teen?  

Here at BJ's Homeschool, we started homeschooling when my 2e kiddo was 4. 

When it came to the teen years, we wanted to continue learning at home, as it had been working so well for our daughter through the years.  

We are so glad that we continued through high school.  Yes, it took some extra organizing and record keeping, and a few sleepless nights, where we worried if we had made the right decision for our daughter.

But we went with our hearts, and we found that homeschooling high school gave our daughter SO many benefits.  

On the top of the list, it allowed her lots of time to get to know who she was, and explore her interests and participate in activities. (A chapter in my book below includes this.)These activities helped her to find out what she wanted to do in life, and also led her to figure out her major in college.

That's our #1 reason why we homeschooled high school. 

Here's 100 more:

1.  To be there, during the all important teen years, while your child is exploring possibilities and discovering who there are.
2.  To be able to take time off for vacation anytime in the year.

3.  To be able to re-evaluate and adjust things as you go along.

4.  To build up our teens.

5.  To be able to make their own transcript, using your own grading scale.

6.  To have a better chance in getting into college, as courses can be redone, or taken at a slower pace, for better learning and a chance to get a higher GPA.
7.  To teach your teen the love of learning.

8.  And that making mistakes is a part of it all.

9.  To guide our teens, and act as mentors and offer resources to help develop their interests and gifts.

10.  To build in time for special interests, like programming, photography, etc.

11.  To allow your teen to work at her own pace/
12.  To be the one to choose your teen's curriculum/activities with her.

13.  For 1 on 1 learning.
14.  To be able to make your own homemade courses, such as in history.

15.  To build in goof off time in the day and let them still be a kid.
16.  To get to watch our teens as they learn and develop as an individual.
17.  To set up the day as you want it to go, for your teen.
18.  To take time for handwork, birdwatching, kayaking!, etc.
19.  To be there, when deep conversations naturally occur.
20.  To have lots of time for electives.  My book below has a list of 100 ideas for your teen's electives.
21.  To be able to explore unique activities.

22.  To build leadership skills.  (link to this post above)
23.  To do service and volunteering in the community.
24.  To take time for meals, and eat when our teens need to.
25.  To be able to guide them as they explore the possibilities in the world around them.
26.  To decide when to take a break.
27.  To be able to teach family values and morals.
28.  To avoid busy work.
29.  The have the ability to choose where to study, at a park, at the library, etc.
30.  Avoid having to sit in a classroom desk all day, and to study in the way that fits your teen's needs. 
31.  To have your teen attend a homeschool prom (link to above post). To take time for meals, and eat when our teens need to.
32.  To allow teens to be themselves, to develop as individuals, instead of just a member of a public school click.
33.  To learn in a supportive, non-pressured environment.

34.  To have a soft place to fall, for your teen.
35.  Avoid having to teach to the test.
36.  To be able to dive deeply into a subject of interest.
37.  To be able to learn together.
38.  To include music and art.

39.  To be able to make your own courses, even in English.

40.   More time for electives!
41.  To have hands-on learning opportunities.
42.  To develop sibling relationships, and keep them strong.
43.  Can continue with your own homeschooling style.
44.  To learn history as it happened, not dependent upon a curriculum chosen by "experts".
45.  For teen-led learning!

46. To do nature study (link to above post) whenever you want.
47.  All of your teen's learning counts towards high school credit.
48.  To be able to study math, without having to use the latest recommended new math approach.
49.  To allow teens to mature at their own pace.
50.  Closer family relationships.
51.  To be less affected by peer group or social pressures.
52.  To take breaks when needed.
53.  Can use online, textbooks, living literature, whatever works best.

54.  To set up your day however you want such as even doing night school.
55.  To grow life long hobbies and interests.
56.  To keep their sense of wonder and creativity.
57.  Can study at the park.
58.  To inspire and promote their interests.

59.  To provide a college prep education, high school, vocational or special needs education, in the way that fits your teen best, within a nurturing environment.

60.  To do art and music studies.
61.  For field trips!
62.  To have meaningful contact with other adults in the community.
63.  To be able to adapt the learning for any special concerns, such as ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, autism, aspergers, SPD.
64.  To have time for free reading.
65.  To be able to take care of medical issues at home.
66.  To have time to reconnect and get out in nature together.

67.  To do apprenticeships.
68.  To take lunch break whenever your teens are hungry.
69.  For co-ops and homeschool group activities.
70.  To be there, to nurture your teens emotional and spiritual development.
71.  To help them begin to find their direction and purpose in life.

72.  To be able to create their own study space.
73.  To avoid the early morning rush to the bus.
74.  To teach good nutrition, by cooking together.
75.  To foster healthy and supportive relationships.
76.  To build strong connections that will last through college and beyond.
77.  To be able to design your teen's high school education, without having to follow public school requirements.
78. To be able to plan your teen's high school years at home yourself. 
79.  To know your teen's friends..
80.  To help your teen develop appreciation for the simple things in life.
81.  To have the time for your teen to discover who they are, and learn to listen to their heart.
82.  To teach life skills.
83.  Able to monitor your teen's activities much better.
84.  To focus on your teen's strengths.
85.  To have fun with your teen.

86.  To help guide your teen's friendships.
87.  To be able to guide your teen's steps to college, vocational training, or work.

88.  For character development.
89.  Flexibility. 
90.  To have your teen's dad be a part of her education.
91.  Can repeat a class.

92.  Going on vacation during the off-season.

93.  Avoiding high school cliques.
94.  Less pressure to conform to latest fashions.
95.  Hot chocolate is available anytime.
96.  Can study on the couch, with the cat, or laying down on the floor.

97.  To be your teen's mentor, as they deal with the all important teen years.
98.  Because you know your teen best.
99.  Because you will become the person that your teen will seek out and share their heart........

And finally.....

100.  To build special memories that you will treasure always....Here's some of mine.........in this link to a video 

What memories do you want to make?   What have I left off this list?   I love reading your comments.  

Have you seen my ebook/book on Homeschooling High School? 

It is based on my experience homeschooling high school and  helping my teen get accepted to multiple colleges, including a tier one U.

Frugal Paperback and Kindle are on 

Amazon 

It lays out everything from making your 

• homeschool transcript, 
• finding curricula, 
• writing course descriptions, 
• assigning high school credit, 
• dealing with those college references as a homeschooler and much more.  
• 
  
• With 12 high school planning printables, plus an editable transcript for you to just fill in.

Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,

Betsy

Betsy is mom to her now college grad whom she homeschooled from preK through high school.  She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, high school & college and wrote - Homeschooling High School with College in Mind.   She offers free homeschool help through messages at BJ's Consulting. 

Want to stay in touch?
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Click here to get the first chapter FREE!

Copyright 2022
Revised 


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Homeschool Preschool/K with Frugal Sign Language Resources

Summary:  How sign language can enhance your early learning in your homeschool.  Five frugal sign language resources that help your preschoolers/K learn language skills..  Note - This post may included affiliate links to products that we love and have used or would use in our  own homeschool. Please see my disclosure policy.

Are you homeschooling preschool or K and wanting to do it frugally?

Easy to learn basic sign language can be a fun, hands-on way for your littles to learn early language skills.

Are you also looking for some easy to do indoor activities for fall or winter this year?

Learning and playing with sign language is a great way to 

enhance academic early learning because it is literally 

hands-on. 

It turned out to be not only a fun afternoon time activity for us. 

it also enhanced the early learning that my daughter had done, that year.  

And it was full of great sensory input for my very active 2e daughter.

It is great for little fingers, as kids who are in preschool can learn:

• hand shapes teach the A,B, C's
• increase attention spans
• visual perception for pre-reading
• their numbers
• make math more fun
• great for sensory kids
• tactile learning!

Older kids learning sign language

• improve spelling
• teach grammar

It is also great for older kids and teens, as they can begin to develop their own signing skills, to use with each other, and in the community, with deaf individuals. 

5 FRUGAL RESOURCES FOR SIGN 

LANGUAGE

1.  - You Can Learn Sign Language -The first resource we found was this little book, by Scholastic.

This was just the ticket for us.  

It had a large variety of signs, in fact, over 300 signs, with easy to follow instructions, and colorful, clear photos of kids demonstrating each sign.  

It is written by experts in the field of deafness and American Sign Language (ASL), which is the true language of the deaf. To read more about this little book from Scholastic, click here.

2.  - Sign Language Flash Cards -

Another resource that we liked was a frugal set of flashcards called Sign Language Flash Cards from Carson-Deliosa.  

It includes 105 illustrated cards that taught the signs for numbers, letters, and some very basic common words that are meaningful to kids.

from Sign Language Flash Cards

For more information on this resource, click here.

3.  - Little Hands Big Hands -by Kathy MacMillan

This great little resource, for little ones up to age 5, was written by a certified ASL interpreter, who also has taught sign language for many years.  

It includes games, finger plays, songs and crafts to help build language skills through sign language fun.

4.  - 100 Basic Signs on Video -

A great resource, from www.lifeprint.com, done as a youtube video, with 100 basic signs to learn.  

They also offer another great beginning video in American Sign Language, which I listed below.

5.  -  ASL#18 - 100 Basic Words -

Also by Lifeprint, this Youtube video offers 100 basic words, clearly demonstrated by two signers.  I loved watching this video.  

Sign language not only added a lot to our days. The best part about it was that she didn't even know that was  happening...She 

was just having fun signing, and was busy teaching her dad 

the signs at dinner.  

Why do sign language?

1.  Learning the alphabet in sign 

language, is a great way for kinesthetic 

learners to master the ABC's.

2.  Learning number signs enhances your 

math program, and makes counting more fun.

3.  Learning signs helps build memory skills.

4.  Signing is fun!  It can be a nice break from your 

regular school work, and build confidence, as your 

kids learn a new sign, and share it with others.

5.  Kids can learn how grammar works, by learning how
to put together words in ASL, and that they follow
a different order than that of English.  

6.   Learning sign helps to build fine motor 

coordination for handwriting.

7.  Sign language can help develop visual spatial skills that 

are important for learning to read.

8. Signs can be used to help teach your kids

about emotions, as they learn the signs for their feelings.

Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,

Betsy

Betsy is mom to her now college grad, whom she homeschooled through high school.  She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, highschool, 
college, gifted/2e and wrote -Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd Edition,   She offers homeschool help through messages at BJ's Consulting,  and has had some of her articles picked up by the Huffington Post.

Want to stay in touch?

Subscribe, Pinterest, Facebook 

No spam ever.  
Just occasional encouragement for your homeschool in your inbox.

Copyright 2020

 All Rights Reserved