Homeschooling Teens
by Mimi Rothschild
Whether you have been homeschooling your children from the very beginning, or started after your children had been in public school for awhile, you will probably find that homeschooling teens adds a whole new perspective, and challenge, to the process. Statistics show that homeschooled children tend to score higher academically than their public-schooled peers, and this does give your homeschooled children an advantage as they enter their teen years; but there are other areas of their schooling that may need more attention.
Though the process of homeschooling has given your children a good perspective on learning, the teen years are a time when children really start to question themselves and the world around them. This is a normal maturing process, but it can be stressful for both teenagers and their families. The children that were once happy with how things were going along in their schooling and accepted their curriculums with little complaint may now begin to want to assert more of their own opinions and may suddenly be interested in changing many things about the process – even if you have been using the more regimented online homeschooling all along. This may cause some confusion and conflict where previously there was none. It is not the time, however, to panic. If you can see this as an opportunity to learn and grow along with your teenagers, and make sure they know that you acknowledge their budding maturity and that you respect their new ideas, the process can go much more smoothly than you think. The occasional “butting of heads” is bound to occur - and once again this is normal – but open and honest communication can go far in resolving any conflicts.
Sit down with your teenagers and ask them what they think should be added to their homeschooling that will reflect the fact that they are now much closer to becoming adults. Perhaps they would like to add more adult-oriented field trips, such as detailed tours through businesses or art museums. Your teenagers may have already decided which direction they want to take in life and what type of career they want to pursue, and their curriculum may need to change to focus more on their choices. And remember, college is just around the corner now, so your teenager may want to start adding a college course or two to their lesson plans just to test the waters. This can be a little intimidating for teenagers even if it is their idea, so be sure to offer a lot of encouragement.
The teen years can be an exciting yet trying time for homeschooling, and letting your teenagers know that you are willing to work with them to keep the process positive will help everyone stay happy and focused.
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