Help me figure out how to get my high schooler graduated. Please.

[Buz]

Hi there! I'm a long time lurker. I have a 17 year old for whom I am out of ideas. We homeschooled her until high school. There were a variety of reasons for that but a few of the biggest were her sensory issues and getting very overwhelmed, as well as a significant anxiety and depression when her sensory issues were triggered. 

She did great in 9th grade. She had a 504 place and was able to take more time with tests, and move when she needed to, etc. The public school here was good for her. She loved being with her friends and aside from a few anxious/depressed episodes she was great. !0th grade she was already struggling before COVID. It was too intense, too overwhelming. When school went online in March she just was done.

This year I tried getting her going with all virtual school for her junior year. It still felt too much and too overwhelming. In addition, horses have always been her true love. When covid started she began going to her barn 4 or 5 times a week. She is now second in command there, teaches, trains horses, and does barn things to pay for board for the horse she finally bought and her care. She stopped school after about 6 weeks. She was just falling apart.

She still goes 4 times a week to the barn and spend most of the day there. This will be her life and vocation in some form. There are 2 year Ag/Tech degrees in horse management that she is interested in. She doesn't mind "graduating" late. I don't know what to do with her. I don't know how to help her graduate in any form. She has never fit the mold AT ALL (unlike my other daughter who is thriving as a sophomore) and nothing I can think of seems to fit the mold.

She has this full life with no school in it but I know that we will all regret it if we can't get her graduated. Can anyone help me? Thanks.

Buz

[MamaSprout]

Can she start DE classes? That way she is working towards a diploma and degree at the same time, even if it is one or two classes at a time.

[Susan in TX]

What are your state homeschooling laws? Do they require that certain classes be completed to graduate? In Texas there are no state requirements to graduate from homeschool. My son had similar struggles and I simply graduated him when he turned eighteen. This did not prevent him from getting employment because he can check the box that says he has a high school diploma. It also did not keep him from going to community college.  

Susan in TX

[Farrar]

I'd say the first thing is to figure out where she actually stands.

Lay out exactly what credits she has and what credits she's lacking. Assuming you're not in a state with specific requirements (most don't have any for homeschoolers), then you have to set your own. Decide what those are and keep them as minimal as you can while still ethically fulfilling your obligation to graduate her. You probably want to get her to 22-24 credits. Typically students need 4 math, 4 English, 3 SS, 3 science credits. There should be a biological science, a physical science (could be chem or physics), and a US history in some form included in those. The other credits can be electives. Your state may require some other things like a credit in fine arts, technology, government, economics, financial literacy or PE. I wouldn't worry too much about those, but it's up to you.

Once you've done that, you'll have a sense of where she is. Is she close? How many credits is she lacking? Figure out what you can count from the last year and a half. Did she finish any credits? Can you cobble something together to help her finish things she didn't finish yet? Do you need to start over with some things? Are there outside the box things she's done that you can count as elective credits - like some of her work with horses maybe can become a PE credit, a practical management and business credit, things like that? Other things? Like maybe she has some hobbies that could become an art credit? Maybe she read enough books to get a half credit for literature?

Then you need to make a plan. It sounds like online learning is a big fail for her in general. See if you can figure out how to approach this. Maybe doing one credit at a time would help. Maybe a live class with a teacher would help - instead of doing it self-paced solo. Or maybe it's the other way around and she needs it to be flexible. Maybe trying dual enrollment would help - some teens are a lot more motivated when it's a college credit. Maybe you need to bring some things in house and teach/oversee them yourself instead of using online resources. 

Basically, I think your answers are really going to depend on those key questions... How much does she really have left? What method would serve her best in getting things done going forward?

It's good that she's open to graduating on a slightly different time table. She won't ever be able to find success if you don't prioritize her mental health, so it's good that you're supporting her interest in horses and letting her take the time she needs. But also, coming up with a practical plan would probably help her anxiety as well.

Edited January 16, 2021 by Farrar

[cbollin]

agreeing with starting points already mentioned (know your state's laws for homeschooling and issuing diploma, count what has been done, look at what is left that is essential to complete). adding: I think for spring 2020, getting through March call it done and give the credit. I base that on how the public schools here ended up doing it.  This year you can give credit in some fashion for all the horse and barn work.  You know your child of course. Online courses does not always mean "virtual learning done in pandemic".  We would have withered with "virtual learning" the way it's done locally. (login, sit there, listen, do worksheets. blah. miserable and not working well for most people) But having online materials to do at our own pace (with me as grading teacher) worked well.

If your state does not really regulate what homeschoolers must do to issue a diploma and you're not sure what to do to finish, then look at what it would take for admissions into the 2 yr program she is interested in.  Or , take a look at the minimum diploma requirements from an online accredited high school called NARHS. link to their handbook to see how they determine graduation requirements: https://www.narhs.com/sites/default/files/NARHS Handbook_0.pdf

I am not saying you need to sign up with them. You can if you want. I'd suggesting looking at their requirements so you have a template of sorts to build your requirements for the diploma. That way you have some guidelines of what can be done.   In their handbook they talk about ways to do self designed classes, and ways to do textbook etc.  In my opinion, it will give you ideas to find ethical and legit ways to design graduation requirements in homeschool. Many ways it can be done for different goals.

[almondbutterandjelly]

Sounds like she has English 9 and English 10.  What about English 11?  Has she done any reading and writing this year?  Would she do a research paper on horses?  Would she read some books with you and discuss them?

Where is she in math?  Algebra 1?  Geometry?  Algebra 2?

I think the horse thing can count as something like Equine Science or Agri Science or something (look up what other schools might call it).  I assume she has science from 9th grade and 10th grade.  That plus the horse science would be three sciences and you're good.

What history has she had?  9th grade and 10th grade probably had something.  That's 2.  You might need to throw in Government (have you done any following of current events and applicable laws this year?) and maybe a Personal Finance/Economics class (does she handle money stuff at the barn?  Can you legitimately say she has learned to budget and about supply and demand and such?).  

If she did a foreign language for 9th and 10th grade, you can probably call that done.  

Take heart!  You might be closer than you think you are!

HTH

 

[Lori D.]

(((((hugs))))) How stressful! I am so sorry for the difficult situation.

Agreeing with previous posters:

1. First figure out what credits (full and partial) that she has already earned. Don't forget to "bring up" high school level courses that may have been in 8th grade (like, Algebra 1 or Biology or a Foreign Language).

2. Then figure out what credits are still needed for graduation. If you opt to go with homeschooling to finish out high school, you as the parent-administrator would dictate the set of credits required for graduation. A very basic set of graduation credits would include:

4 credits = English
3 credits = Math (Algebra 1, Geometry, and either Algebra 2 or other math, such as Consumer Math, Business Math, Bookkeeping, etc.)
3 credits = Science, at least 2 credits have labs
3 credits = Social Studies (1 credit = Amer. Hist; 1 credit = World Hist. and/or Geog.; 05 credit each = Econ & Gov't)
1 credit = Fine Arts or CTE (Career-Technical Education)
6 credits = Electives (ex: Foreign Language; PE; Health; Computer; personal interests; vocational-technical; etc.)
20 credits = minimum as total credits

Ideas for how to accomplish credits you still need for a homeschool diploma, and gear the credits around her already clear career choice and future:

English
Typically this is half Literature and half Writing. You can accomplish this in all kinds of ways:
- literature = read/discuss books of high interest to you and your DD
- public speaking = 0.5 credit could be in practicing putting together and giving presentations, teaching, debating, etc.
- writing = this could practice writing she'll need in the future, such as:
* blog article writing (if needing to make regular posts on a website to keep her business in the public eye)
* business and real life writing (reports, presentations, resumes, cover letters, letters of thanks / complaint / request / recommendation / etc.)
* possibly grant-writing

Math
Does she has any math credits (Alg. 1 and above) to "bring up" from 8th grade? I'd be sure she completes Algebra 1 and Geometry. And if a College Algebra course will be required for the Ag/Tech degrees in horse management, then be sure to also complete Algebra 2 in prep for that College Algebra course. If College Algebra will not be required, then be sure to complete Alg. 1 and Geom., and then do at least a 3rd math credit, and make it something that will help her in the future such as Consumer Math, or check out the Business Math offerings at the self-paced ALEKS such as:
- Business Math
- Business Statistics
- Bookkeeping 
- Accounting
- Finance

Science
Does she have any science credits (biology and above) to "bring up" from 8th grade? I'm guessing she already has 1 science credit from 9th grade, and possibly all or most of a 2nd credit from 10th grade? Can she get started on the Ag/Tech degrees in horse management as dual enrollment? Some of those courses could surely knock out any remaining Science courses she needs. Or, if that's not possible, what about a credit in Equine Science? See this past thread for ideas on how to make that happen: Equine Science question" -- and of course, some of her experiences at the stables would count in advance toward an Equine Science credit.

Social Studies
Does she have a high school level social studies credit to "bring up" from 8th grade? Again, guessing she already has 1-2 credits from 9th-10th grades. You do want to cover your bases and have 1 credit = American History, 1 credit = World History and/or Geography, and 0.5 credit each of Gov't and Economics. What of that has she already completed, and what still needs to be done? How would it be easiest to accomplish it:
- a documentary series or video series + some book resources -- example: Crash Course videos: US History; Economics; Government
- a "get 'er done" computer-based course of short videos/texts/tests -- example: Switched on Schoolhouse: Amer. History; Econ + Gov't
- other fast/easy option -- see these 2 past threads for ideas:
* "Secular and quick/easy: US Government? Same for Economics?
* "Government and Economics - not rigorous"

Fine Arts or CTE
Did she already complete a credit in 9th/10th grade for this? If not, does she practice/play an instrument? Or take art lessons? Part of a dance group? Check off hours and count as a credit in Fine Arts. Or if none of those have happened, is she at all interested in Photography? That's a pretty easy one to create a credit for. Or if you guys like to watch/discuss films -- what about a Film Appreciation course? I'd be happy to help you out with that one, as I have taught that at our homeschool co-op. 😉  

Electives
What might she have from 9th/10th grades already? Or what has she done in real life that could be counted as hours toward a credit -- example: physical activities = PE credit; specific learning/practice at the stables = specific horse-related Elective credit. If she is able to do dual enrollment now for an Ag/Tech degree in horse management, some of the courses that are not going to be needed to count towards Science or other subject area can count as Vocational-Tech Electives. What about anything you want to make sure she knows before graduating such as:
- personal finance
- driver's ed
- health/nutrition

___________________________
 

GED option
Finally, I know this is not a popular idea, and I am reluctant to mention it, BUT... it can be a legitimate option, especially if a student is struggling with mental health: let go of the goal of earning a high school diploma, and consider studying for/taking the GED when 18yo. (She would need either a high school diploma or a GED to register for the community college to do an Ag/Tech degree in horse management.)

And instead of spending this time on traditional high school classes, use this time to develop real life skills that will best prepare her for a successful life-long adulthood and citizen:

- solid writing skills, and practice with business writing/real life writing, as well as oral presentations with a slideshow element
- solid foundational math skills and understanding of consumer math and personal finance
- solid computer skills
- communication skills (clear thinking/communicating; active listening/questioning skills; explaining/teaching; conflict resolution; etc.)
- health topics such as nutrition; exercise; mental health; s*xual health and relationships; balanced life; etc.
- how government works, and especially civic duties & rights
- an overview of world history and US history, and current events, to be able to understand context for what is going on in the world today 
___________________________

BEST wishes for improved mental health, and wishing you BOTH success as together you plan for what is the best option for moving forward, and to leave doors open for the future! Warmest regards, Lori D.

Edited January 17, 2021 by Lori D.