How to Homeschool High School with Frugal Curriculum --

Summary:  Are you looking for just one more resource for your high schooler?  Sharing our favorites, why we liked them, with a focus on frugal options.  #homeschoolhighschool #homeschoolhighschoolcurriculum  We may use affiliate links to products that we use or would have used in our homeschool.  Please see our disclosure policy.

Homeschooling has been such a big part of my life.  We are so glad that we homeschooled all the way.  Of course it had it's ups and downs.  But we found it to be rich in benefits for our daughter and for our family.  Especially during the teen years.

The hard part about homeschooling when it comes to the teen years, is that there are so many choice in homeschool high school curriculum...Especially now, with new publishers coming on the scene.

It can be easy to get overwhelmed with the many options out there.  Especially if you are on a budget like we were.

Over the years, we have come to know the homeschooling market pretty well.  We did find a number of frugal options that we love.

Sharing today, our favorites for high school, plus some from our friends, also other veteran homeschool moms, too.  

I hope that this list will help you find what you are looking for.  And I wish you a great year with your high schooler at home.

Note - I mention Switched-On-Schoolhouse a lot in the article below.  We loved it, for many reasons, not the least of which was that it was frugal.  It cost us only around $70.00 for each one year long course.  And we did not find any need to supplement it at all.  

I invite you to read on to hear about many more frugal homeschool high school curriculum options, not just for core courses.  There are many for fun electives as well.

Our Frugal Homeschool High School Curriculum Choices

Do you have a college bound teen?

I have gathered together all my best tips for high school and college and put it into my new book, Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd Edition. 

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

Amazon for only $11.99

Paperback is on Amazon 

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

- My own homeschoolers guide to the Common Application

- How to write the Counselor Recommendation Letter

- Where to find college scholarships

- SAT/ACT Prep

- How to make your own homemade courses

-  Included are also 12 homeschool high school planning printables to make your record-keeping easier.

This book does not tell you how to homeschool high school.  Instead it gives you guidance for doing it your way!  

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 my exclusive high school and college planning printables.

For more information, click here - Amazon.  And don't worry about forgetting things!

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, 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 @ BJ's Homeschool 2019

BJ's Homeschool Disclosure Policy

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Affiliate Program, which is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means where by we can earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites.

We also share other homeschooling resources and curriculum that we used in our homeschool, or would have used in it over the years, as we found it to be of high quality and helpful for educating children or teens at home.

I am not a certified educator.  I do not offer educational assessments.  I also am not a certified college counselor.  I share educational and college prep and admissions information, based on my own experience as a homeschool mom.

I want to be an encouragement to you, the homeschool mama, doing the most important job in the world, raising our next generation. Our kids.

Frugal Homeschool High School Social Psychology Elective

. Affiliate links are sometimes used on my blog, for resources that we have used or would use in our homeschool.  Please see my disclosure policy.

Are you looking for something different for your teen's high school elective this fall?  

We were lucky.  All of the colleges on my daughter's list let us choose what courses we wanted for her Social Studies requirements.  

So for our daughter, a course in psychology, sociology, and the like would count towards her college entrance requirements in social studies.

As my daughter was interested in psychology, she wanted to include that in her high school studies.  It not only gave her a social studies credit, but it also helped to build her an interesting college-attractive transcript.

If your college requires specific history courses and does not include psych as an option, no problem.  (Not all colleges give you that much leeway.)  It can add a lot to your teen's transcripts as an elective as well.

So my teen and I did an internet search, and we came up with a number of frugal options for her homeschool high school studies in psychology.  

Here are a few:

1.  Chegg Books offers Cognitive Psychology 

This book covers the basics of cognitive psychology, including neuroscience, attention, perception, memory, language, decision making and more.  This book is offered for rent for $35.99.

2.  Psychology and You, Student Version

This book sells for around $26.00 and is a comprehensive high school level introduction to psychology.  It is written in a style that talks to students using examples and language relevant to their lives.  

That includes a focus on everyday issues and concerns, with historical facts and mention of unusual events, too.

3.  Introduction to Psychology

This college level course is priced at $85.00 for the new version, but has used book prices as well.  It is a good thorough introduction to psychology.  The new 6th edition includes CD-ROM resources, too.  That includes interactive learning activities.

4.  AP Psychology Cognition and Language

There is a review of this AP course here at Lesson Planet   It offers a lesson plan for teaching Cognitive Psych to high schoolers.  

Hands-on activities, memory exercises and research come together to teach your high schooler about the brain.

We did not go the dual credit route as I wanted my daughter to be able to stay at the high school level in her studies, to let her be a teen for awhile.  

And do college courses in college.  

But many families are looking for dual credit, and doing a course like this, then doing an AP Psychology test can be just the ticket for them.

5.  Introduction to Psychology from a Christian Perspective

 Introduction to Psychology
Christian Perspective

What I liked about this psychology course was that it was written not only by homeschoolers, but for homeschoolers.  We found it to be different from the other options we discussed above.  

While still providing good solid content in the principles of psychology for homeschoolers, it avoided the kind of wordy, serious text focus that often turns off high schoolers to the subject.

We found this course to be interesting and meaningful, yet not dry at all.  My teen liked the short lessons with many individualized activities to choose from.  

And I liked that it was written by a practicing coach and counselor, Vicki Tillman, MA, from 7 Sisters Homeschool and it sold for around $40.00 for the complete course. Very frugal.

Vicki has more info on how to use their Christian based course here: An Authoritative Guide to Psychology Study

I also liked that it included a test bank with an answer key.  And the best part about it was that it led to many fulfilling dinner conversations! 

For more information on this course, I invite you to click Introduction to Psychology Course Description, by my friend, Vicki.

Benefits of Adding Psychology to your Homeschool

If your college requires specific history courses and does not include psych as an option, no problem.  (Not all colleges give you that much leeway.)  

It can add a lot to your teen's transcripts as an elective as well.

Plus learning more about how our minds work and how the personality is developed could only help our daughter in her college and later in the world of work. too.  

In fact, being able to work well with others is now very high on the list of what employers are looking for, in their prospective applicants.

Whatever you and your teen decide to do for psychology or other interesting high school social studies credits or high school electives, we at BJ's Homeschool, hope that it helps to add the fun into your teen's high school years at home.  

Homeschooling High School with College in Mind
 2nd Edition 

FREE TO READ WITH PRIME!

Create your own unique and nurturing high school program for your teen and showcase their accomplishments to the colleges. 

There are 12 downloadable high school homeschool planning printables plus a transcript form for you to just fill in.

The kind of transcript form that the colleges are used to seeing.

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, high school, 
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 Revised 2023

All Rights Reserved

Homeschool High School English - Make Your Course YOUR OWN ---

High School Homeschool English does not have to follow a traditional pattern or require the cost of a complicated English course.  Here's how we made our own.

Do you have a teen who doesn't want to do the traditional high school English course?  

Why not make one yourself, using the books that they want to read.  

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

That gives us homeschoolers lots of leeway. The best part about it was that my daughter loved her homemade course!  

And it helped her develop a love for reading. Our homemade English course was accepted by each of the colleges that our daughter had on her list. 

To read more and to reach our favorite frugal resources for lit guides, etc, please just click here:  How to Make Your OWN FRUGAL English Course.

Do you want a step by step guide to the Common Application for homeschoolers?  It is the top feature in my new book!

I have gathered together all my best tips for high school and college and put it into my new book, Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd Edition. 

Amazon 

This book is an easy-to-read guide to high school, recently updated with 7 NEW chapters, including:

• My own homeschoolers guide to the Common Application
• How to write the Counselor Recommendation Letter
• Where to find college scholarships
• SAT/ACT Prep
• How to make your own homemade courses
• Included are also 12 homeschool high school planning printables to make your record-keeping easier.

This book does not tell you how to homeschool high school.  Instead it gives you guide to give you the details so that you can focus on your teen's needs. 

And help for record keeping!  With my exclusive high school and college planning printables.

For more information, click here - Frugal College Prep for Homeschoolers or to buy it here - on Amazon  

Have you seen the facebook group that I administer on high school?  You are invited to join us there, to get answers to your questions, and join in our supportive community.

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.

Big Back to Homeschool High School GIVEAWAY -- Ended (Worth $319.00)

Summary: This is a giveaway of homeschool high school curriculum and resources worth a total of $319.00. Enter to win --Online high school courses, and others in fine arts, science, world history and more!  Plus 1/2 hour of free college counseling is included. GIVEAWAY ENDED This post may included affiliate links to products that we love and have used or would love to use in our  own homeschool.  Please see my disclosure policy.


Welcome to our Homeschool High School Giveaway! 

I got together 7 quality homeschool high school resources and curriculum for this giveaway. I hope that something from this list will add something special to your homeschool. It was so fun to put this together for you!  I hope that you will enter and I hope that you will win!

Homeschool High School -100 Resources for your Teen

Summary:  If you are looking for something new for your high schooler which is frugal, and well done, feel free to check out this list of our favorite homeschool high school resources. 
homeschoolhighschoolcurriculum #homeschoolhighschool 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 looking for something new for your high schooler this year?  Or something that would help motivate them and even inspire them?

High school at home has so many advantages for our teens.

But at the same time, it can be a struggle to find just the right resource for them.  And with the price of curriculum, it can be more than taxing to the budget. It can seem impossible at times.

Then there is now a staggering amount of homeschool high school curriculum to look at. It can be overwhelming, especially for those of us who are newish to homeschooling. Or even for those of us who have done it for awhile.

Over the years of homeschooling our 2e teen, we came to know the homeschool curriculum market and developed our favorites within that. That is why I put together this list of our favorite homeschool high school curricula and resources.

Are you looking for English or social studies curricula?  Or something for science?  A course on  career exploration?  How about something for financial literacy?  Or SAT prep?

I hope that you have fun browsing around on this list!  I organized my list into 14 categories of frugal resources, many of which we enjoyed using in our homeschool.

Just click on 100 Best Resources for Homeschooling High School for lots of ideas to choose from.

100 Best Resources for Homeschooling High School

This list here also includes tips for putting together your homeschool, and also lots of information on applying to college as well, if that is where your teen is headed.

----------------------------------

Do you want a step by step guide to the Common Application for homeschoolers?  It is the top feature in my new book!

I have gathered together all my best tips for high school and college and put it into my new book, Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd Edition. 

It gives you everything that you need to plan your high school homeschool for your college bound teen.  Plus how to help them get 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 own homeschoolers guide to the Common Application

- How to write the Counselor Recommendation Letter

- Where to find college scholarships

- SAT/ACT Prep

- How to make your own homemade courses

-  Included are also 12 homeschool high school planning printables to make your record-keeping easier.

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 gives you guidance for doing it your way!  

And help for record keeping!  With my exclusive high school and college planning printables.

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

And don't worry about forgetting things!

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 @ BJ's Homeschool 2019

Frugal Homeschool Writing Curriculum for Middle School

This article shows how we used frugal homeschool middle school writing curriculum in our homeschool.  There may be affiliate links to products we used or would use in our homeschool, and please see my disclosure policy here.



Are you looking for homeschool curriculum resources for middle school writing?  Or are you needing something new that might get your young middle schoolers writing?

Or when you give your student a book report to do, do they have difficulty getting started?

Homeschool Science Subscription Kits

One of our favorites for elementary science was the Science Wiz kits.  They come with all the supplies that are needed and are great for hands-on learners. There are more than 40 options including Chemistry and more, all at the elementary level.  

Are you looking for something new for your kids for science this year?  Do you have hands-on learners like we do?

Homeschooling Preschool/K - Frugal Curriculum - Hands-On! --

Summary:  Homeschooling preschool and kindergarten can be done so easily through playful learning activities.  Here are our favorite homeschool preschool and K resources for early academics, hands-on.  Frugal or free! 

Are you looking for hands-on curriculum and resources for your little learners?

Homeschool High School Frugal Career Exploration Elective - Help Them Find Their Direction in Life

 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 a high schooler who just doesn't know what they want to do after graduating?

This can be such a hard time for our teens.

My niece, who I help to homeschool, came to me last week with tons of questions and worries.

She is just a sophomore and doesn't know if she wants to go to college, or community college or neither. And if she does decide to go to college, she has no idea of what she would want to study there.

Can you relate?

What can you do to help your teen figure out what they want to do with their life?

First, I reassured her that the answer would come.  And that she had time.  She was only a sophomore

you know.  We began by talking about what she liked to do and trying new things.

100 High School Electives

Trying New Things

So many times we really don't know until we begin to try new things.

So we talked about some local high school activities that she might like to try getting some ideas from my list. 

 
We found a number of books on the subject, but they did not have the guidance or step by step approach that we were looking for.

Then I remembered that my friend, Vicki Tillman, MA, from 7 Sisters Homeschool had a course especially for homeschoolers on Career Exploration.

7 Sisters Career Exploration Course

My sweet niece wanted to purchase it right then.  So we did.  It had a nice step by step approach.  Just what she was looking for.

The idea of making a career choice, or even a guess or two is such a big question to deal with.  For adults even and especially for teens.  If it feels too scary then teens will just want to avoid thinking about it.  And we want them to be proactive in their own lives.  They need to be thinking about it.

7 Sisters high school career course has a nice nurturing tone about it.  And it is broken down into parts, so there are sections for your teen to choose from that can be done, one at a time.

I liked how the course started off with this quote:

"The first thing you need to know about Career Exploration is that you are not going to make a wrong choice!"  

How encouraging.

The 7 Sisters Homeschool High School Career Exploration Curriculum Bundle is a course that can guide your teen to finding their gifts and doing career exploration, including all of this:

- Step by Step guide to career exploration
- Career Exploration Questionnaire
- Career Exploration Workbook (31 pages)

AND helpful resources for getting that first job or a college interview:
- Resume Writing - to create a resume that captures things done BEFORE that first paying job
- Writing Cover Letters
- Interview skills

AND helps for finding one's own personal goals:
- Writing a personal mission statement
- Career exploration in the Bible
- Multiple articles on career exploration

-AND one more important thing for our teens:
- Tips on financial literacy

Career Exploration

I liked that my niece had so many resources to choose from!

She decided to start with the career exploration questionnaire. She took it home to work on independently.

I can't wait until we meet up again to talk about it and discuss her answers to it.  She left excited instead of stressed.

What I like about 7 Sisters Homeschool High School Career Exploration:

This career exploration resource is approachable, unlike many of the career exploration books out there.

It's tone was helpful for my anxious teen.  I like that it is faith based.  In the Bible section, Vicki Tillman, MA and homeschool mama, the author writes:

"God is still guiding young people today. He is always present and always working in your life. If you keep your eyes open, you might begin to suspect what He is up to, or like many people in the Bible, you will simply have to know that God has plans and trust that these plans will unfold." 

This encouragement is just what I am looking for, for my niece.  I  like that they touch the heart.  So important to my niece's ability to deal with this subject in a non-intimidating way.

Writing a Mission Statement

I like how the Writing a Mission Statement section teaches the teen how to think, going from brainstorming to analyzing, then putting their thoughts all together in their own mission statement.

I wish I knew about this resource when my daughter was in high school, as she would have loved this section especially.

Helps for Getting that First Job

I also like that they have helps for getting that first job, with tips for interviewing and the like.  These things can also help a teen who wants to work part time while homeschooling high school.

It is such a pleasure to be a part of my niece's life, and to lend an ear as she begins to find a fit for her gifts  in her life.

---Career Exploration Textbook from 7 Sisters Homeschool

The Workbook that I used and was mentioned above, has now been updated as a textbook!  

Career ExplorationTextbook

This is a helpful guide to self- exploration, starting with a chapter on finding the will of God. Then it goes on to help your teen discover her gifts and talents.  I especially like the long list of careers that is included.  And using it can give your teen another high school elective credit. 

Vicki Tillman has much more information on career guidance for college bound teens here: Career Exploration for College Bound Teens.  

To find out about more courses that count as career exploration, click this link above from my friend, Vicki at 7 Sisters Homeschool.

My friend, Jimmie Quick, has more on Homeschool Career Exploration for Curious Teens and their Parents.  

I have gathered together my best tips for high school and college and put them into a book, called Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd Edition. 

Amazon

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 our downloadable high school and college planning printables.  I invite you to Follow me on Pinterest.

Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,

Betsy

Betsy is a Christian and mom to her college grad whom she and her husband homeschooled through high school. She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, and wrote 

Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd edition.  

Copyright @ BJ's Homeschool Updated 2025