You can design high school classes! Really! You can do it! Think about all the things you would like to teach your child in high school. Go ahead and make a list.
Dreams for Your Children
My list for each child will include things that are the same and things that are unique for each child. For instance, I want all my children to read Communist Manifesto in high school so that they can understand the socialist agenda in American universities and colleges. I also want them to study worldviews so that they can recognize the different worldviews that are predominate in our culture. Most of all, I want my children to know God's Word and apply it to all of life.
Dreams for Each Teen
But then I have unique dreams for each child. For Katie Beth, it was to cultivate her gift of writing and give her opportunities to act. Julianna was a singer, so I wanted her to take voice lessons. Jenny Rose is a song writer--she developed that gift in high school. Sarah Joy is already skilled at movie making. Her high school classes include assignments to make videos!
Your Dreams to Teach
Now, let's talk about you. What is it you want to teach your children in high school? How do you want to equip them for life? Make a list of things that are near and dear to your heart in this area. Once you have that list, we'll move on to making a general plan for the high school years. After we have the general plan, we will move on to individual course.
Dreams for Your Children
My list for each child will include things that are the same and things that are unique for each child. For instance, I want all my children to read Communist Manifesto in high school so that they can understand the socialist agenda in American universities and colleges. I also want them to study worldviews so that they can recognize the different worldviews that are predominate in our culture. Most of all, I want my children to know God's Word and apply it to all of life.
Dreams for Each Teen
But then I have unique dreams for each child. For Katie Beth, it was to cultivate her gift of writing and give her opportunities to act. Julianna was a singer, so I wanted her to take voice lessons. Jenny Rose is a song writer--she developed that gift in high school. Sarah Joy is already skilled at movie making. Her high school classes include assignments to make videos!
Your Dreams to Teach
Now, let's talk about you. What is it you want to teach your children in high school? How do you want to equip them for life? Make a list of things that are near and dear to your heart in this area. Once you have that list, we'll move on to making a general plan for the high school years. After we have the general plan, we will move on to individual course.
Start with a general plan for your child's high school years. This plan is adaptable, but it is always good to have a basic plan. Some of you will want to use your state's graduation requirements as a guideline. Each state requires so many credits (and a certain number of credits in particular subjects) to graduate from high school. We have already talked about what a high school credit is in a previous article. You can read more about credits HERE! Don't forget that some classes can be taken in eighth grade and count for high school graduation.
State Requirements for Graduation
Each state has different requirements for graduation, but in general all states require the following for the core subjects:
Remember, though, that you are the teacher. What does God want you to impart to your children before they graduate. Our state doesn't require credits in Bible or character, but Mike and I certainly do! We believe that the Lord wants us to train our children to know and apply the Scriptures to their daily life! What about you? What dreams do you have for your children's high school education? What do you want to have your children know when they graduate?
Our Family Graduation Requirements
Don't be limited by what the state requires. Ask God for wisdom of your own family's requirements for graduation. In our house, our requirements for high school graduation are harder than the state's. Here is what Mike and I require for our children to graduate from our family homeschool high school. Remember that you can count some classes from eighth grade!
Next time: Design Your Own Classes: Sample High School Plan
Blessings!
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
State Requirements for Graduation
Each state has different requirements for graduation, but in general all states require the following for the core subjects:
- 4 years or credits of English
- 2-4 years or credits of Math
- 2-4 years or credits of Science (often with lab requirements!)
- 2-4 years or credits of Social Studies
Remember, though, that you are the teacher. What does God want you to impart to your children before they graduate. Our state doesn't require credits in Bible or character, but Mike and I certainly do! We believe that the Lord wants us to train our children to know and apply the Scriptures to their daily life! What about you? What dreams do you have for your children's high school education? What do you want to have your children know when they graduate?
Our Family Graduation Requirements
Don't be limited by what the state requires. Ask God for wisdom of your own family's requirements for graduation. In our house, our requirements for high school graduation are harder than the state's. Here is what Mike and I require for our children to graduate from our family homeschool high school. Remember that you can count some classes from eighth grade!
- 5 Credits Bible (New Testament Survey; Old Testament Survey; Worldviews & Apologetics; Church History; Great Commission)
- 5 Credits Social Studies (2 World History; 1 USA History; 1 Government/Current Events/Politics; 1 Economics/Business/Personal Financial Management)
- 5 Credits Math (Algebra I/Geometry/Algebra II/Pre-Calculus/Calculus)
- 4 Credits Science (Biology/Chemistry/Physics/Anatomy & Health)
- 2.5 Credits Literature (0.5 American Lit; 0.5 British Lit; 0.5 Shakespeare; 0.5 Western Lit; 0.5 Great Books
- 2 Credits Writing (0.5 Oral & Written Communication; 0.5 Essays & Research; 0.5 Fiction Writing; 0.5 College Prep Writing)
- 1-2 Credits P.E.
- 1-3 Credits Fine Arts
- 4 Credits Character/Christian Living/Life Skills/Homemaking
- 2-3 Credits Foreign Language
Next time: Design Your Own Classes: Sample High School Plan
Blessings!
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
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