Homeschooling High School: Count Their Projects

Do your kids create their own learning projects? Do they find a topic and immerse themselves in it? Do they spend hours (that could be used for school work) focused on their own projects?

For years our role as home educators has been about steering the boat. It can be hard to step away from that role, and let our children lead the way. But as our kids get older, they can begin to chart their own course.

The most practical way they can do this is through self-designed projects. Instead of dictating what should be studied, we can count what they are already doing. We can make space for their work in our homeschool day. We can find materials and supplies that they might use. Let’s look at each of these ideas.

Often my kids have a project well-underway before I realize that they are working on one. It takes time for a project to develop. One sketch in their sketchbook isn’t a project, but ten might be! I stay curious and inquisitive about what they are doing. As projects develop, we also talk about possible next steps or roadblocks.

Because I’ve already decided to count their projects as actual high school work that merits a place on their transcript, I can confidently make space in the schedule for them to work on projects. Practically speaking, this might mean that the reading list I created gets revised; books that I thought were essential might get scrapped. Or the timelines and reading schedules can be changed. Just like we’ve always done, we look to the real person in front of us instead of the external ideals.

As soon as I think a project might be brewing, I start to keep my eyes open for resources. This is my homeschooling superpower! My son has started a chess club. I don’t know much of anything about chess, but yesterday morning I spent some time thinking through ways to chart games. We created some simple forms that he can use at the next meeting. Then he can tweak the designs to better suit his work.

It’s helpful to have a single, dedicated notebook to take project notes and keep track of work that will go on a transcript. I haven’t been as consistent as I might have hoped, but I do have lists of books we’ve read, project plans and next steps. I also have a copy of the Transcript Worksheet from Heather Woodie in my notebook for tracking formal class work.

Small shifts show our kids that we are invested in their work and want to give them the support they need to complete it.

Find all the Homeschooling High School series right here!