Time flies rather quickly and before you know it, you have a high school student! Don’t panic, because in many ways teaching high school is easier than elementary school. With high school students they are able to be given an assignment and complete it without much intervention, if any at all.

Many thoughts were going through my head when I was thinking of the most important things to remember when teaching high school so I asked for help from some home school graduates, my sons. After much discussion, we narrowed it down to five areas that are important with respect to high school.

Respect is one of the most important aspects of teaching a teen. If you show your student respect by treating them as a responsible young man or young woman you will see your child flourish. Speak to them as you would like them to speak to you; respect their privacy; respect their time; and respect them as young adults.

Expect your children to do what you have asked. Set realistic goals for your scholar and then help them to achieve that goal. If you are not sure what those academic goals are to be you can look at  websites such as the Ohio Department of Education. If your child is not sure if they are wanting to go on to college, prepare them as though they were going because it is easier to study a foreign language now then when they decide to go to college when they are in their twenties and one of the admission requirements is two years of a foreign language. Hold the academic standard bar high for your student, they will achieve those standards with your guidance.

Deadlines are one of the hardest things for us as a homeschool parent to hold our students to because we know what their schedules look  like; we know if they have had to work or had an illness. But, when your graduate goes off to college or enters the workforce, no one is taking into any of that into consideration. You are given a deadline and are expected to meet it. So, make that transition  for your high school student by setting deadlines.

Consequences should be in place and discussed in the event that your student does not meet the academic deadline or doesn’t do the assignment that was given to them.  Discuss with them work that has to be completed and what will happen if they fail to meet the deadline.

Independence is what we want for our children. I know it was hard for me to think of my sons not living with us anymore, but I also knew that it was necessary for them in order to become adults. Was it easy? Not at first, but my sons are doing well and are happy living on their own. My youngest son told me the other day, “Thanks for not always checking up on me, Mom.”