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SPRING 2018 HOMESCHOOL IOWA 23
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Same Yet Different
Three repeated themes of faithful and interested parents accept-
ing the challenge to be the educational supervisors for their chil-
dren. Introducing them to the world, each family used other re-
sources to fill in any gaps in the parent’s abilities to teach.
Each student was awarded a homeschool graduation diploma at
graduation. Their parents used available resources to challenge
and find interests for their teenagers, making the educational
years interesting and valuable. These former students do not
claim that Icelandic unit studies, A C.S. Lewis trilogy or a private
art class was the“perfect”action that propelled each into a college
and a career. The time parents invested laying foundations during
the homeschooling years, the work that continued through their
high school years, that combination is what launched responsible
adults. Community College coursework was available during the
high school years. Action was taken and permitted by the super-
vising parents when the student exhibited interest in a course or
study that wasn’t available at home. These decisions can happen
in any grade, the important answer is that these choices were
made by parents with their teenagers to stay on the homeschool
path through high school.
Can you homeschool a teenager? Well, the short answer is yes.
My usual response is answer this question: Did you teach your
child to use modern bathroom facilities? If you can convince an
Beyond The Homeschool Years
CONTINUED FROM PG 13
often-non-verbal, self-centered little person to use a bathroom
successfully, I’m confident you can supervise that individual
through high school. Combinations of home, public and private
classes, and ease of online college coursework have changed the
high school landscape. The beauty of homeschooling is the per-
sonalization, the individual tailoring for each student that par-
ents control - isn’t that one reason we chose homeschooling?
A homeschool diploma printed by parents is legitimate proof of
a high school education and is used by graduates for admission
to community colleges, private and public universities. Employ-
ers accept parent issued diplomas. Educate yourselves on the
state code for graduation goals and your rights to classes. We
haven’t paid a penny for college classes our son takes as a high
school student.
It is my hope that as you read these stories you were inspired
to plan, research, discuss, question and commit to supervising
your children all the way to a high school graduation. Our son
graduates in May and often wears his Carlson Academy t-shirts
around the house while studying his online classes. He plans
to participate in the NICHE May graduation ceremony and our
family will celebrate his achievement. Another unique story to
be shared with others. And, we haven’t been on this path alone.
I’ll see you further on down the homeschool path,
Readers!
Laura Carlson is an Iowa born, raised, and educated writer living in cen-
tral Iowa. She is a graduate of Iowa State University and has worked as
a dishwasher, website developer, and addictions therapist. Her motto is
“Life: Live It”.
homeschool iowa
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