What are you glad you did with your highschool students?

[Peela]

I am looking for some out-of-the-box ideas and inspiration about what to do with my dd15 over the next couple of years. It is not certain she is university bound, but she is capable and may well. She is artistic, creative, intelligent- at this point she woudl like to be an artist. But more than academics or preparation for a career, I am wondering what else we can do in these next couple of years as she grows up....so that I don't look back with any regrets. She is a bit wild, still sweet, may well leave home to live with friends early rather than later (loves her freedom)...I want to teach her more cooking. She is terribly messy and we are workng on that. She doesnt get enough exercise and the chiropractor just told her today, she needs to walk every day before her body stops growing because her spine is not in such good condition from sitting too much- so focus is on daily exercise right now.

I am feeling the years are slipping past and dont want to forget anything.....what non academic things have you covered with your kids that you are glad you did?

[Faithr]

Well, my regrets are two of things you've mentioned that you plan to focus on. My dd is very messy too and I wish I'd taken more time to get her into better habits. Also, she tends toward plump. She's very curvacious, shall we say, and once she learned to drive she no longer walked, roller bladed or rode her bike anywhere and she put on a few pounds. But she was prickly and didn't want to hear from mom about what she ought to do (I ought to do it too, as I could lose some weight!). So those are my regrets.

 

The things I'm glad we did were giving her control over planning her high school education. She did want to go to college so she focused on doing what was necessary. I had to help and guide her and make her stick to her guns when the going got tough or boring, but she knew ultimately she was calling the shots.

 

My almost 17 (in less than a month!) son is of a different ilk. He is totally focused on music, so we are letting that take precedence over a lot of other things. He may or may not go to college. But there is no rush, as far as I can see and he will take the next couple of years to discern just what it is he wants to do. So my advice is let her plan her future and your role is to make sure she's being realistic, help her see the bigger picture, and encourage her in her dreams!

[Nan in Mass]

I am glad I taught my son lots of sea chanties so he has something to sing when he is bored. I'm glad he learned to draw. I'm glad he learned to travel so he can see how big the world is. I'm glad we didn't hang on too tight and let him go off traveling on his own because he learned to be his own person that way. I'm glad we drove around our own country one summer, visiting national parks, so he loves his country despite its problems. I'm glad he learned how to vote and how to be politically active so he can work to change the things he doesn't like about his country. I'm glad we worked on developing some adult hobbies. Those will stand him in good stead. I'm glad we took the time this last very busy spring to help him to transition away from gymnastics and find adult sports that he likes, like rock climbing, snowboarding, sail surfing, frisbee golf, and working out on his own at an athletic center. I'm glad we read things aloud together, even though it was slow. I'm glad I continued to drive him places even though he was old enough to get his license because we had some great conversations in the car. I'm glad we brought him coffee in bed every morning. I'm glad we occasionally skimped on school and went out for ice cream or for a quick canoe ride when the weather was nice, or even occasionally skipped a whole day and went snowboarding. I'm glad he learned constellations and his local birds and animals and plants and trees, and that we took the time to learn things like what causes the tides and the life cycles of forests. Those things will make his adult life richer. I'm glad we made sure he had time to read. He won't be a great reader, probably, but he can escape into a book if he needs to and he knows what type of books make good escape for him. I'm really glad we did great books, since he is going into a vocational track in college and if he is going to get more history and literature, he is going to have to do it on his own, something he now knows how to do. I'm glad we had great family vacations for him to remember, and to entice him to keep vacationing with us as an adult. Sniff sniff...

-Nan

[Susan C.]

My dd is 15 also. She just did a cake decorating class. I was scared to do it because she is pokey with school. What a surprise! She is actually very good at it. I am allowed to offer credit for 75 hours (1 semester), or if she really decorates those cakes, 150 hours is a whole year credit. It was suggested to call it culinary arts, and add other baking to it. I have hesitated to add activities because I get concerned the actual book work won't get finished, but she loved the class, and had to do a lot of prep work before it (you had to arrive with a frosted cake and all of the decorating frostings, made to right consistency and colored, and in containers). She did very well juggling her school work with that, and even did school ahead or on Saturday to stay on schedule!! Other than the extreme amount of shortening laden dishes :) it was a very good experience and taught me that she needs activities, learns great life skills doing them, and if I stick to my guns about staying up with schoolwork, allows her to learn to prioritize! Who knew?

[Susan C.]

Oh, other ideas. My son is creative as well, in 11th grade, two of his classes were guitar (the lessons and practice were the class), and art (did a drawing program from a book). He also loves plants, got two years of horticulture credits awarded (by me) for growing many plants (mostly palm trees) from seed, taking care of them, repotting them as they grew, and making spending money by selling them.

 

I think I am starting to see that we can do too much on the academic at the expense of the kids developing in other areas. :)

[Susan C.]

Oh, more ideas! My daughter wants to have Physical Education every year in high school, like I did in Calif. growing up (we are in SC now). She does pilates, dance class (ballroom), and exercises with Fit TV. I told her if she does 45 min/day 5 times a week, that is a PE credit.

[Jackie in NE]

I am glad I taught my son lots of sea chanties so he has something to sing when he is bored. I'm glad he learned to draw. I'm glad he learned to travel so he can see how big the world is. I'm glad we didn't hang on too tight and let him go off traveling on his own because he learned to be his own person that way. I'm glad we drove around our own country one summer, visiting national parks, so he loves his country despite its problems. I'm glad he learned how to vote and how to be politically active so he can work to change the things he doesn't like about his country. I'm glad we worked on developing some adult hobbies. Those will stand him in good stead. I'm glad we took the time this last very busy spring to help him to transition away from gymnastics and find adult sports that he likes, like rock climbing, snowboarding, sail surfing, frisbee golf, and working out on his own at an athletic center. I'm glad we read things aloud together, even though it was slow. I'm glad I continued to drive him places even though he was old enough to get his license because we had some great conversations in the car. I'm glad we brought him coffee in bed every morning. I'm glad we occasionally skimped on school and went out for ice cream or for a quick canoe ride when the weather was nice, or even occasionally skipped a whole day and went snowboarding. I'm glad he learned constellations and his local birds and animals and plants and trees, and that we took the time to learn things like what causes the tides and the life cycles of forests. Those things will make his adult life richer. I'm glad we made sure he had time to read. He won't be a great reader, probably, but he can escape into a book if he needs to and he knows what type of books make good escape for him. I'm really glad we did great books, since he is going into a vocational track in college and if he is going to get more history and literature, he is going to have to do it on his own, something he now knows how to do. I'm glad we had great family vacations for him to remember, and to entice him to keep vacationing with us as an adult. Sniff sniff...

-Nan

 

I wanna be like you....:001_smile:

[DB in NJ]

I am glad I taught my son lots of sea chanties so he has something to sing when he is bored. I'm glad he learned to draw. I'm glad he learned to travel so he can see how big the world is. I'm glad we didn't hang on too tight and let him go off traveling on his own because he learned to be his own person that way. I'm glad we drove around our own country one summer, visiting national parks, so he loves his country despite its problems. I'm glad he learned how to vote and how to be politically active so he can work to change the things he doesn't like about his country. I'm glad we worked on developing some adult hobbies. Those will stand him in good stead. I'm glad we took the time this last very busy spring to help him to transition away from gymnastics and find adult sports that he likes, like rock climbing, snowboarding, sail surfing, frisbee golf, and working out on his own at an athletic center. I'm glad we read things aloud together, even though it was slow. I'm glad I continued to drive him places even though he was old enough to get his license because we had some great conversations in the car. I'm glad we brought him coffee in bed every morning. I'm glad we occasionally skimped on school and went out for ice cream or for a quick canoe ride when the weather was nice, or even occasionally skipped a whole day and went snowboarding. I'm glad he learned constellations and his local birds and animals and plants and trees, and that we took the time to learn things like what causes the tides and the life cycles of forests. Those things will make his adult life richer. I'm glad we made sure he had time to read. He won't be a great reader, probably, but he can escape into a book if he needs to and he knows what type of books make good escape for him. I'm really glad we did great books, since he is going into a vocational track in college and if he is going to get more history and literature, he is going to have to do it on his own, something he now knows how to do. I'm glad we had great family vacations for him to remember, and to entice him to keep vacationing with us as an adult. Sniff sniff...

-Nan

 

Beautifully written, and well done!!! Where is that blasted rep button when ya need it?? :)

[Blue Hen]

I'm glad I took DS on 2 cross-country camping/hiking trips. It was time well spent and even though the last trip was just one summer ago he already speaks about how unique and wonderful the trips were.

 

I'm glad I encouraged DS to join an inline speed skating team. He has found a new sport, gained confidence in his athletic ability, and found a wonderful form of exercise he can continue through his life.

 

I'm glad DH encouraged DS to build a wooden 18' long sea kayak. He's a little more than half-way to completition on the boat but it has given him a sense of accomplishment outside of book learning and something to do when he is too stressed from schoolwork.

 

DS still has his senior year to go and we are still trying to think of other things we will be glad we have done during this final year at home.

 

Carole

[Jane in NC]

I am glad that we make the extra phone call or sent that email to ask if my son could participate in events that did not explicitly state students or teens were invited. Simply asking has led to interesting opportunities, like being a volunteer at a college archaeology field school (something my son is doing as I write).

 

I'm glad that my son learned to sew, solder and cook. When he wanted a bow tie for a banquet, he made one. When he wanted a portable speaker for his electric mandolin, he assembled one using a plan from Make magazine. He baked a chocolate cake for me for Mother's Day, a cake that should have women lining up at his door. He knows how to make dim sum.

 

I'm glad that my son knows how to talk to all sorts of people. A couple recently told my husband that my son seems comfortable talking to adults even though he is "just" a teen. I think this should be the norm--not the exception. Is it? I am glad that we have encouraged conversations by lingering at the table after dinner to talk about world events. Or returning to the table to play a game in the evenings. (Earlier this week my son reported that "M" says hi. "M" is one of my old college friends with whom my son has an email relationship.)

 

I too am glad we traveled. My husband is glad that he and my son have had backpacking trips together. If my son goes to some unknown place, he should know how to read a subway map, a train timetable, etc. He is willing to try new foods. He packs light. :D

 

Boy, am I glad we chose homeschooling! Our lives are so much richer for this decision!

 

XXOO to all my friends in this thread.

Jane

[Chris in VA]

I have many regrets, but some things I did right.

I gave ds the opportunity to explore many belief systems while grounding him in the one he choose. I watched a lot of movies with him as we tried to find a way to connect--it opened the doors to a lot of conversations we may not have had otherwise. I tried to expose him to things he may not otherwise have learned; cultural things, things like silent movies and film noir. I let him help me, and see me being in need--he learned to serve this way. I taught him exactly how to sweep a floor, load a dishwasher, and cook a big chicken. I introduced him to Mr. and Mrs. WasherandDryer very, very early, and he's been visiting them weekly since he was 10.

 

I wish he knew the names of trees and birds and flowers, but at least he's seen the ocean, climbed some mountains, and slept under the stars. He knows he is not alone in this world, and he knows there are Things Bigger than his own little world. He knows no one is perfect, how to seek forgiveness, and that everyone is worthy of compassion, even if he doesn't always know how to show it. And he knows he's loved.

[laughing lioness]

I'm glad we did so much drama and public speaking, art, photographer, writing, reading. Cooking, gardening, planting herbs, flowers, trees, bushes. TeenPact and political activism.

Travleing with and without us. Encouraging them to go try new things, even when they bombed. Raise money and go abroad. Start blogs. Email, write, craft, create, scrapbook and make cards. Spend time in the fields, walking, jogging, working out, tromping through the acerage and watching the beavers, otters, birds, and other abundant wildlife. Spend time with extended family even when they didn't like them. Go on internships and volunteer.

Hard physical work as we've reclaimed the property we live on, hauled bricks, cut, chopped, stacked and burned wood, refinished furniture, painted rooms, laid brick walks, learned to reclaim and recycle.

Read, read-aloud. Prayed together and struggled through our faith and living out our beliefs, especially in the face of opposition.

Taught younger kids. Challenged them with hard academic work.

Watched a zillion movies but no T.V. Cultivated jokes, puns, laughter, poetry, recitation, writing and delivery.

Developed compassion for times and people different than ourselves.

[kate in seattle]

I only have one tiny suggestion, and it may be too 'academic' for this thread, but my older two did a Toastmaster program. They became accomplished speakers. They have no fear of public speaking and can defend an idea, present an argument, lead committees, etc. I think a large part of this was Toastmaster's (and the open discussion literature class they had for three years) I think it is one skill from the high school years they will use continually in their adult life.

[Peela]

Oh, thankyou so much everyone for sharing these ideas. I feel like taking the day off and exploring some of them!

I want to do more cooking with both my kids. I want to take more days off and go places with them because I have been too busy focusing on academics, even though we don't do heavy academics.

I feel I am lacking in direction with them. We probably just need to have some more fun and do more extra curricula stuff.

Kate, Toastmasters is a great idea- I have dd in a debating class for the same reason. She is a natural at public speaking although she is still nervous.

 

Any one else got ideas to share?

[mcconnellboys]

Definitely life skills: laundry, budgeting, cooking basics. Work through scenarios of how to live on various levels of income, how to save for things like insurance; deductions that will come out of a paycheck, etc., etc.

 

Roommates 101: cautions about how to live with others who will all be coming from slightly different traditions/lifestyles, etc.

 

Safety when out alone, at night, etc. Perhaps even a basic personal defense class.

 

Basic sewing techniques for mending, putting on buttons, etc.

 

Basic ideas for how to save on household cleaners and other products.

 

Out-of-the-box ideas for marketing her artistic skills in various practical ways that can help her to earn money, etc.

[creekland]

I'm REALLY glad I had my oldest work in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace for the Next Generation business math course... it made a world of difference in how he looks at money and things. My other two will be doing it as well.

 

Then, I'll repeat many of the things already said... our travels, his travels (without us), basic wood and building skills, basic fix-it skills, basic cooking skills, all sorts of home chores, a great confidence in independence, a great respect for other people and cultures, and even the spontaneity to be able to just take off and do something fun merely because the weather is nice. Enjoy people and life today as some day they won't be there.

 

Then there's the rest of the academics... fit in when there is time... :)

[home2333]

You are blessed to be thinking of this years before high school graduation. I will graduate my first this Saturday afternoon. I think I will start my parent speech with the statement, "No homeschoolers ever finish homeschooling, they merely abandon the project when their children grow up and demand to go to college." What I'm most glad that I did in this homeschooling journey is be my son's mom.

 

Grace

[Sandra in NC]

I'm glad I sent my son to Engineering summer camps.

 

UNC Charlotte as a rising 9th grader

NC State University Wolfpack Motorsports as a rising sophomore

Summer Ventures in Science and Math at East Carolina University as a rising junior.

 

They have affirmed his interest in engineering and have kept him motivated toward that goal!

[WTMindy]

I am glad I taught my son lots of sea chanties so he has something to sing when he is bored. I'm glad he learned to draw. I'm glad he learned to travel so he can see how big the world is. I'm glad we didn't hang on too tight and let him go off traveling on his own because he learned to be his own person that way. I'm glad we drove around our own country one summer, visiting national parks, so he loves his country despite its problems. I'm glad he learned how to vote and how to be politically active so he can work to change the things he doesn't like about his country. I'm glad we worked on developing some adult hobbies. Those will stand him in good stead. I'm glad we took the time this last very busy spring to help him to transition away from gymnastics and find adult sports that he likes, like rock climbing, snowboarding, sail surfing, frisbee golf, and working out on his own at an athletic center. I'm glad we read things aloud together, even though it was slow. I'm glad I continued to drive him places even though he was old enough to get his license because we had some great conversations in the car. I'm glad we brought him coffee in bed every morning. I'm glad we occasionally skimped on school and went out for ice cream or for a quick canoe ride when the weather was nice, or even occasionally skipped a whole day and went snowboarding. I'm glad he learned constellations and his local birds and animals and plants and trees, and that we took the time to learn things like what causes the tides and the life cycles of forests. Those things will make his adult life richer. I'm glad we made sure he had time to read. He won't be a great reader, probably, but he can escape into a book if he needs to and he knows what type of books make good escape for him. I'm really glad we did great books, since he is going into a vocational track in college and if he is going to get more history and literature, he is going to have to do it on his own, something he now knows how to do. I'm glad we had great family vacations for him to remember, and to entice him to keep vacationing with us as an adult. Sniff sniff...

-Nan

 

Gosh, you made me cry this morning!!! Thanks for this post.

[Lizzie in Ma]

I am glad I taught my son lots of sea chanties so he has something to sing when he is bored. I'm glad he learned to draw. I'm glad he learned to travel so he can see how big the world is. I'm glad we didn't hang on too tight and let him go off traveling on his own because he learned to be his own person that way. I'm glad we drove around our own country one summer, visiting national parks, so he loves his country despite its problems. I'm glad he learned how to vote and how to be politically active so he can work to change the things he doesn't like about his country. I'm glad we worked on developing some adult hobbies. Those will stand him in good stead. I'm glad we took the time this last very busy spring to help him to transition away from gymnastics and find adult sports that he likes, like rock climbing, snowboarding, sail surfing, frisbee golf, and working out on his own at an athletic center. I'm glad we read things aloud together, even though it was slow. I'm glad I continued to drive him places even though he was old enough to get his license because we had some great conversations in the car. I'm glad we brought him coffee in bed every morning. I'm glad we occasionally skimped on school and went out for ice cream or for a quick canoe ride when the weather was nice, or even occasionally skipped a whole day and went snowboarding. I'm glad he learned constellations and his local birds and animals and plants and trees, and that we took the time to learn things like what causes the tides and the life cycles of forests. Those things will make his adult life richer. I'm glad we made sure he had time to read. He won't be a great reader, probably, but he can escape into a book if he needs to and he knows what type of books make good escape for him. I'm really glad we did great books, since he is going into a vocational track in college and if he is going to get more history and literature, he is going to have to do it on his own, something he now knows how to do. I'm glad we had great family vacations for him to remember, and to entice him to keep vacationing with us as an adult. Sniff sniff...

-Nan

 

Well, ok, yeah, I do believe it. You are awesome. :001_smile:

[Leonor]

It's making me cry as well but thank you for posting it.

[Laurie4b]

I'm glad that we took a long family vacation across the country.

[Peela]

I'm glad that we took a long family vacation across the country.

 

Yeah, this one is coming up for dh and I. He hasnt enjoyed holidays and for a large part of the kids' childhood he woulndt do them. I have taken them places but we haven't gone as a family. Then last year he realised they wouldnt want to have holidays with him soon....and he took us all to Bali. This year, we are going to go Snorkelling at Ningaloo Reef soon (it's a world class coral reef about 12 hours drive up the cloast from Perth). We have also all got involved in the SCA abd started camping together. I am so glad we are doing these things together now.

[Janet in WA]

I'm glad our sons were Boy Scouts and earned the Eagle rank. To this day, they credit that experience for their ability to handle all kinds of situations in adult life.

 

And like Nan, I'm glad we took some great family vacations during those years. Our sons still talk about those, and love to vacation with us (just returned from Disney World with them). Our 23 yos appears to be building that vacation destination into a career (working now for Disney, and they're talking to him about an internship and permanent job when he finishes his degree).

Edited June 5, 2009 by Janet in WA

[LynnG in Arizona]

A couple specific things that come to mind are:

 

1. Participation (for 3 years, in one case) in speech and debate. Although this activity can become a massive commitment for both the student and the parents . . . I have to admit that my dd received numerous benefits (research skills, formal logic, public speaking, etc.)

 

2. The Dave Ramsey class Financial Peace for the Next Generation. BOY do I wish I had this class before leaving high school!

 

3. Outside classes through the Potter's School, to enforce outside deadlines and rigorous exams.

 

HTH. :)

[creekland]

I'm glad that we took a long family vacation across the country.

 

We've done 4 long trips (min 1 month each and oodles of miles though we flew on one since it was to HI) and they have been the BEST things for growing close as a family. I wish we could be on one permanently... we all loved them.

[creekland]

 

2. The Dave Ramsey class Financial Peace for the Next Generation. BOY do I wish I had this class before leaving high school!

 

 

 

This one made my list too! I don't know about you, but we never had ANY similar advice told in such an understandable way when I was in school. Obviously, neither have most Americans... I was looking for this course to buy for me second son and noticed they've changed the name. Now it's "Foundations in Personal Finance." I imagine it's still as good - possibly better since it's an updated edition of what we used.

Edited June 5, 2009 by creekland

[Linda in NM]

This is a little different, but I'm glad we have the wherewithal to allow our son to follow his dream of playing hockey professionally...who would have thought that a kid from New Mexico would wind up playing AAA hockey in Michigan and being scouted (at 14) by the NAHL, which is his first step to D1 hockey...although we're not quite ready to let him play in Canada at 17 for money!

 

We are a hockey family,

 

Linda in NM (soon to be in MI)

[LoriM]

I'm glad we baked lots of cookies, watched sappy movies, ate most of our meals together. I'm glad we travelled as a family. I'm glad we read aloud--a lot. And when we didn't read aloud, we read the same books, and talked about them. I'm glad we had individual interests, and supported each other. I'm glad I treated my high schoolers like young adults, and gave them lots of autonomy and responsibility--I know they will handle those things well when I'm not around. I'm glad we found the money and time to send them out on mission trips with groups when we didn't go with them, so they could find their own way, and come back and tell us about it. I'm glad I prayed for them every day. I'm glad I prayed with them every day. I'm glad I got to know their hearts. I'm glad they allowed me to care for them, and that they learned to care for me, and now we care for each other. I'm glad we've lived together for 20ish years. I'm especially glad my older daughter lived at home for her college degree. She'll go from my house to her (married) home next January, and I'm so glad we had the extended time together.

 

Some special "non-academic" things we've done--camping, bonfires, youth group events, hangout nights, sleepovers, summer camps and family vacations. Museums, landmarks, hiking trails. I'm glad they've babysat regularly, and done lots of local community mission work. I'm really glad we made the Community Shelter meal a part of our family's local ministry.

 

You know, I'm just glad they love us, and know they are loved. That we ENJOY them, and support THEIR plan for THEIR life, and haven't planned it for them. I'm glad we've taught them to work hard and well, and to value themselves as employees and idea-creators. I know I am glad I got to be a mom, and a teacher, and a friend.

[Gwen in VA]

Glad that we encouraged the kids to do things OUT of the house and IN the community -- these are the things that have sparked the interests that are driving my older two in college.

Edited June 6, 2009 by Gwen in VA

[Denise in Florida]

Every November my oldest daughter would take the month off from our regular plans and would participate in NaNoWriMo* (National Novel Writing Month). The benefits were enormous, she learned about self-pacing, planning, writing and what it takes to make an interesting novel. She also participated in boards and forums with other teen writers and has made several close friendships which have lasted years. From my point of view, the best part was that she also learned that there are times when you can set aside regular schedules and throw yourself head first into something big. :001_smile:

 

* NaNoWriMo is a world wide on-line challenge to write a 50K word novel during the month of November. She has completed the challenge ("won") twice. This is a self challenge project there are no prizes other than knowing you won (and a print off certificate to the winners), and no one reads or judges your work unless you post portions on one of the forums. It requires self motivation and dedication. She has done it for five years (she doesn't always reach 50,000 words). October 31st (Halloween) she will sit in front of her computer, in costume, with a pile of candy and wait for the stroke of midnight to type the first word of that year's project.

[Peek a Boo]

Oh, thankyou so much everyone for sharing these ideas. I feel like taking the day off and exploring some of them!

I want to do more cooking with both my kids. ....

Any one else got ideas to share?

 

You might want to consider getting a hold of the 4-H cooking curriculum --it's set up like labs where they do an experiment, learn about it, and answer questions. They have elementary and highschool level ones. You don't have to be in 4-H to use their stuff :)

 

good luck!