5 Things Your Teen Wishes to Change in Your Homeschool

From One Mom’s Teen to Another

What makes a school day perfect for your teen? Other than world domination, homeschooled teens really don’t want all that much . . . or do they? My son has a few ideas. He is sharing 5 things your teen wishes you’d change in your homeschool. See if you agree? 

Maybe you can learn alongside me as we continue the school year!

~Allie O.

With organization comes empowerment. ~ Lynda Peterson

Scheduling:

It’s not that we aren’t grateful. But we are growing up. While we certainly need your guidance in our lives, we don’t need you to tell us what to do at 9:00 a.m., and 9:07 a.m., and 9:15 a.m.

You have been training us to manage ourselves and be responsible for the last 13 – 17 years.  You have equipped us with spiritual and physical tools.

What better way to allow us to apply those skills than to do so in a safe and controlled environment? 

Last year, my mom decided to let me schedule myself. I use Homeschool Manager to schedule one or two weeks out at a time and have kept up with my homeschool, co-op, and dual enrollment classes this way.

Routines:

As we grow up, our schedules change. It is a wonderful release for me when I’m able to have a steady routine that accommodates things I need and want to do. As long as I do the things that need to happen within the sanctioned time, I am released to schedule them in the order I prefer.

I know Mom likes us all to read aloud together or go on surprise field trips to the beach, but her releasing me to do my school at my pace motivates me.

Where school happens:

In our family we have a ‘school table’ which doubles as the dining room table. Because I have five siblings, this table gets rather loud. In the last year or so my mom has opened up our seating policy and allowed her older teens to do school in another room because we no longer need the accountability of her keeping us on task.

Music:

It is possible that Piano Guys at full volume is not your preferred music genre. For some of us, music helps us think, or at least drown out the sibling asking for a snack, wanting to be excused for a bathroom break, wanting to skip math, etc. Maybe asking your teen to put in headphones can be a good compromise.

Coffee:

Sometimes a little pick me up can be very, very nice. It always makes me smile when mom walks in with a cup of coffee for me. Even if your teen doesn’t drink coffee, I am sure that they have something that they enjoy.

Take a moment and bless them. When you do this, the final exam doesn’t seem so bad and that math concept is much more doable. Never underestimate the power of affirming acts and a smile.

As teens we really do love what you do. We may not that vocal about it. We may take you for emotional and relational roller coasters you hadn’t budgeted time for. Even so, we are very glad, and mostly thankful, for everything you do for us.

~Ben O.

This article was originally published on our Homeschool Launch Blog.

 

 

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