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by Cindy 20 Comments

Homeschooling High School: Student Led Curriculum

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Student Led Classes for Home School

My Mahayla is a junior now.  (Where does the time go?)  Being homeschooled with a Charlotte Mason style education her whole school career has not only taught her loads and loads of real knowledge, but given her a passion for learning.  She especially loves history, literature and horses/farming.

Homeschooling High School and Following a Student’s Passions

Since Mahayla has been learning in natural ways with real, living learning – especially living literature – from the beginning, we’ve tried to keep as much as possible similar in the upper years.  So, once she entered high school, many of her classes have still been very much CM inspired.

That’s a tad scary.  The urge to turn everything over to the expert textbooks can be overwhelming when you consider the magnitude of these upper level years.

We have turned to some textbooks – and have loved the ones we’ve used!  (Apologia and Saxon, for example)  However, the subjects that inspire her biggest passions haven’t been found in textbooks.  She naturally wants to forge her own trail with library books, research, field trips and projects.

Instead of forcing her to fit into a particular curriculum, we’ve been allowing at least some of her classes to be student led.  How does this work?

1. Charlotte Mason Style Classes We’ve Designed

Together, we’ve chosen living literature, good research materials and expected papers and projects to prove understanding.  Sometimes, we’ll pick and choose some meaningful activities from various curriculum we have around the house, but choose not to use any one curriculum as-is.  The key is in allowing the student to have a say in how this type of class is put together.  Two of those courses this year include:

Modern American History

American Literature

Homeschooling High School Student Led Course

2. Completely Student-Led Classes

This year, for the very first time – but certainly not the last – we are allowing Mahayla to chart her own course in the subject she is most passionate about…AgriScience.

Below is our outline for planning and keeping on track with her studies.  Just about any class could be developed using the following guidelines.

Her responsibilities:

  • Create a list of potential agriscience subjects to study.
  • Once approved, outline the subjects to be studied each month of the school year.
  • Each monthly agriscience subject will need to include an high school level informational book, notes taken from the book, a lab activity (in the field), and a project to show-what-you-know.
  • Keep a weekly list of what’s been completed.
  • Meet weekly with mom for accountability.

My responsibilities:

  • Approve the subject list and order of study.
  • Approve the books before reading.
  • Meet weekly to look over notes, talk about projects and help tweak the learning path.
  • Provide opportunities for things she desires to do, go, and/or buy to make the course meet her expectations.

We’re only a month into this entirely student-led course, but it’s going SO well.  Mahayla is incredibly happy to be studying a subject of such interest – ahem, that means no complaints.  And in our weekly meetings, I’ve been impressed that she’s pushing herself harder than I would likely push if I were the one planning the lessons.

Have you encouraged student-led courses for your homeschooling high school student?  I’d love to hear about them!

This post has been linked to:

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Last Updated: March 18, 2015 Filed Under: High School Tagged With: creative homeschoolling, high school electives, homeschooling high school, homeschooling teens, interest-based learning

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Comments

  1. Blessings! says

    August 27, 2013 at 11:45 pm

    Hello. I popped in from a post on pinterest while blog surfing. We homeschool to. My beloved husband and best friend is an engineer by career and we both went to public school. We decided to select a curriculm when it came time to progress in math. Teaching our two growing blessings to read was much easier than potty training. *big smile* My point here, I’m getting to it I promice, your living math… … I found your living math spot and your have triggered my interst. If you wouldn’t mind and could find the time, I am interested in what all that includes. I thought I would give a little lead in so you know where I am comming from. Thank you for sharing your homeschooling plans here for others to read and learn from. Sincerely, Mommy of two growing blessings & so much more!

  2. Cindy says

    August 31, 2013 at 11:35 am

    Thanks for your comment. Living math has been such a blessing in our homeschool. You can learn more about how we add it into our school days via my e-book, Loving Living Math and/or my blog category of living math lessons. You’ll love adding living math! 🙂

  3. Keri says

    September 1, 2013 at 12:02 am

    This our 1st year homeschooling high school. I must admit, I have been dreading these years, but so far so good. ((knock on wood, lol!)) There is a website that has been a wealth of info more me called, “Lets Homeschool High School.com”. Might be something to check out, since your in the same boat as I am 😉
    Anyways, I have never really considered myself to have a “learning style”, but we do like to do Unit Studies based off of our children’s interest. We have not really started any this year, as we just started a week ago, but I am sure she will come up with something that interest her soon.

  4. Cindy says

    September 1, 2013 at 1:11 pm

    Homeschooling high school is so much fun, Keri. 🙂 Welcome!

  5. Heather Hurt says

    September 5, 2013 at 3:14 pm

    Is living Math… for High School also? My dtr is in 9th grade and state core standards require Algebras and Geometry… What do you do for Mihayla, if you don’t mind my asking? Thanks in advance!

  6. Cindy says

    September 5, 2013 at 3:28 pm

    Heather, living math can certainly be for high schoolers! I still focus on about 4 days of textbook work and one day of living math for Mahayla (11th grade.) Living math includes real projects like calculating the amount of cattle mineral we need for x number of feed for the next 3 months, for instance. Also, helping with our checkbooks, bills, stocks, etc. We still included a lot of logic as well. This only tips the iceberg, but I hope it answers your question!

  7. Sarah says

    September 7, 2013 at 5:08 am

    Popping over from the Pinterest party.

    This style of high school sounds wonderful. Sadly, here in the UK, the exam system is such that for high schoolers we have to follow a very prescribed curriculum even using specific texts from the exan board. We are starting these a little early so that we can fit in more interest led learning about the subject but it is a challenge.

  8. Cindy says

    September 7, 2013 at 10:26 pm

    Sarah, welcome! I hope you find time to fit in some interest led learning after the exams!

  9. betsy sproger says

    March 25, 2015 at 1:55 pm

    So nice to see other families that are teen-led during high school! We followed my daughter’s interests as much as we could, especially in english, history and activities, and that has made all the difference. She is so motivated to learn and is now enjoying her first year in college. Loved this post! Betsy @ BJ’s Homeschool – Our Journey Toward College.

  10. Cindy says

    March 25, 2015 at 5:36 pm

    Betsy, I’m so glad to hear college is going well! More proof that student-led homeschooling in high school CAN work. 🙂

  11. Meredith says

    March 25, 2015 at 11:51 pm

    Love the interest led classes you and your daughter have created Cindy! She’s going to benefit so much from having a hand in her own education – self-education is a huge part of CM, so you guys are spot on 🙂

  12. Cindy says

    March 26, 2015 at 6:35 pm

    Thank you, Meredith! I’m writing a soon-to-be-published post about a new course that’s being student-led by my freshman son. I LOVE the opportunity we have to hand the reigns of education over a little bit at a time.

  13. Richelle says

    February 7, 2016 at 9:20 pm

    Hello, Cindy. I am so excited to have stumbled across your blog. Oddly enough, unbeknownst to me, my daughter had also stumbled across your blog within a week of my discovery. Needless to say we are both thrilled to hear about your “delight directed” courses – specifically about horses and Ag science. I am wondering if you have any resources, suggestions, and book titles you can share to help build these courses for those of us just venturing out into more student-led learning. Thank you so very much!

  14. Candace says

    December 13, 2017 at 6:00 pm

    This is a life saver. I have been homeschooling my children for 7 years now and my kids heads have been all in the books this year and I am sad to say, they are now so unmotivated to learn anything. My husband and I are changing the way we are doing school after Christmas and we want to focus more on child led learning. I have been searching for what it could look like in a day and this is what I came across. Thank you! I have literally taken notes from this. My children are deschool as of right now and I can’t wait to get back started with them and follow their interest.

  15. Cindy says

    December 16, 2017 at 10:58 am

    Candace, I can’t tell you the joy that filled my heart to read your comment! Let me know how next semester goes. 🙂

  16. Tracy says

    November 29, 2018 at 4:52 pm

    I am thinking about going this direction with my youngest three….currently 5th grader, 8th grader, and 9th grader. All 3 are very nontraditional learners. This has been a tough homeschool year (out of the 8 years that I have homeschooled) due to my oldest daughter’s spinal fusion surgery, anxiety that all three children are dealing with, and many medical bills. Could you recommend resources, websites, curriculum, etc. for me?

  17. Cindy says

    December 3, 2018 at 7:46 pm

    Tracy, I’m sorry your year hasn’t been the best. This post may give you some more concrete ideas about planning student-led courses…https://ourjourneywestward.com/high-school-science-for-the-horse-lover/. I hope it helps!

Trackbacks

  1. Gossip Moms » The Hottest Homeschooling Blogs says:
    August 28, 2013 at 2:45 am

    […] Journey Westward Homeschooling High School: Student Led Curriculum – This post is from Our Journey Westward © 2006-2013 Cindy West. All rights reserved. My Mahayla […]

  2. HSHSP Ep 146: Helping Teens Find Their Passions, Interview with Cindy West - Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network says:
    January 28, 2019 at 10:44 pm

    […] Learn more about this with Cindy’s post on the topic. […]

  3. HSHSP 146: How to Find Teens' Passions, Interview with Cindy West - 7sistershomeschool.com says:
    March 1, 2019 at 4:24 pm

    […] Learn more about this with Cindy’s post on the topic. […]

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Happy birthday to my favorite girl in the world! L Happy birthday to my favorite girl in the world! Love you, @mahaylawest_1! 🥰
The breath of God produces ice,⠀ and the broad The breath of God produces ice,⠀
 and the broad waters become frozen.⠀
He loads the clouds with moisture;⠀
 he scatters his lightning through them.⠀
At his direction they swirl around⠀
 over the face of the whole earth⠀
 to do whatever he commands them.⠀
He brings the clouds to punish people,⠀
 or to water his earth and show his love.⠀
Listen to this, Job;⠀
 stop and consider God’s wonders. ⠀
⠀
Job 37:10-14⠀
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Winter isn’t my favorite season, but an icy landscape is truly incredible to see. ❄️⠀
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Click the link in my bio for science curriculum to help you take advantage of snow and ice. ⠀
⠀
#winterhomeschool #naturestudy #naturexplorers #winternature #snowandice #naturephotography #charlottemasonnaturestudy #charlottemasonirl #wildandfreehomeschool #homeschoolscience ⠀
When my boys were little, I loved reading these “letters from God” to them as blessings to start the day.

As I was sorting bookshelves earlier this month, I stumbled across this sweet book again. I decided the blessings are still as pertinent today for my bigger boy as they were years ago. So, we’re starting our day yet again with a quick, but powerful “letter from God” before jumping into our daily Bible studies.

Do you do anything special to start your day off on the right foot? I’d love to hear about it!

Click the link in my bio for a link to the book.

#homeschoolblessings #homeschoolfamily #homeschoolmom #homeschool #homeschooling #yourmorningbasket #startthedayoffright #charlottemasonmama #loveyourkids #wildandfreemama #childrensbook #devotionalforkids #homeschool365 #homeschoolmorning #ourjourneywestward #ihsnet
Winter homeschooling can be tough in normal years. Winter homeschooling can be tough in normal years. It’s cold, the days are dark, and everyone’s cooped up together 24/7. That’s a recipe for the winter blahs to march right into your house and wreak havoc on attitudes and motivation.⠀
⠀
This year’s winter is unlike any other and those blahs may have actually settled in long before now. If you or your children are feeling down, anxious, or bored with school, are “at” each other constantly, bouncing off the walls, or tears and fighting are the norm…the blahs are there.⠀
⠀
Let’s get you, your children, and your homeschool back on track. I’ll be teaching a Homeschool Masterclass on Thursday afternoon to help you kick the blahs to the curb. If you can attend live, come! If you can’t attend live, catch the replay!⠀
⠀
We’ll tackle all sorts of problems the blahs bring with them with very practical  ideas that are easy to implement! ⠀
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Click the link in my bio to join me. There is no shame in admitting that the blahs have arrived and you need a little boost from a friend. ❤️ ⠀
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#homeschool #homeschooling #homeschoolmom #homeschoolfamily #wildandfreemom #charlottemasonmama #winterhomeschool #homeschoolhelp #homeschoollookslikethis #thisishomeschool #homeschoolmasterclass #homeschool365 #ihsnet #homeschoolmama #helpmehomeschool #winterblahs
Oh, what peace this quote brings to my soul. It’ Oh, what peace this quote brings to my soul. It’s true, you know. I’ve told my children for years that it only takes a nature walk to see God through His handiwork and to know that His promises are true.⠀
⠀
When the world seems to be falling apart around you, the sun never stops shining. The seasons never stop moving. Without a single, solitary effort of human hands, the woodlands still buzz with life.⠀
⠀
A student of nature can see the consistency in cycles and notice the incredible and creative intricacy of even the smallest specimen and be in awe that we truly serve a God who isn’t unaware of even one tiny detail in our world right now. ⠀
⠀
Life kind of seems overwhelming, though, I know. Remember when I said my motto lately has been to just put one foot in front of the other to do the next right thing? Nature walks (even when it’s cold) never fail me as a right thing. ⠀
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Breathe, friend. Take a nature walk today and let God speak to your soul.⠀
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#homeschool #homeschooling #homeschoolmom #homeschoolfamily #wildandfreemom #charlottemasonirl #winterhomeschool #homeschoollookslikethis #thisishomeschool #winternaturestudy #nosweatnaturestudy #homeschool365 #ihsnet #naturestudy #naturexplorers #nature #hewins
It might seem trite to post a winter picture book It might seem trite to post a winter picture book list right now, but I’m a big believer in keeping things as normal as possible in my home when things aren’t so normal otherwise.⠀
⠀
It’s the principle of putting one foot in front of the other as you simply do the next right thing. Good books almost always can be a “next right thing” choice.⠀
⠀
Even though I’m not homeschooling younger children anymore, I’ll probably never stop sharing wonderful picture book ideas with you. 🤓 I’ve spent way too many hours reading and collecting to ever stop loving them!⠀
⠀
Eli and I may not be using these books right now, but they are still some of my favorites for winter reading. Whatever may be going on around you, the winter months are always a good time of year to get in lots of extra reading. Snuggling and hot chocolate are optional, but encouraged.⠀
⠀
Click the link in my bio to find a blog post about these books + some of our favorite winter chapter books, too!⠀
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#homeschool #readmorebooks #livingbooks #livingliterature #picturebooks #winterpicturebooks #homeschoolmom #wildandfreefamily #charlottemasonirl #winterhomeschool #homeschoollookslikethis #thisishomeschool #winternaturestudy #nosweatnaturestudy #homeschool365 #ihsnet
We celebrated a 14th birthday over Christmas break We celebrated a 14th birthday over Christmas break! 🎉🎁🎂🏀🥰
I love being auntie to a sweet baby again! 😍 I love being auntie to a sweet baby again! 😍

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