I have known several homeschooling parents who planned to homeschool through high school and then suddenly years later they enroll their teenager in public school. It surprised me. Many of those moms are amazing, and they would be great at homeschooling high school. What changed their plans? I found most of them were afraid of doing it wrong. What is the correct or right way to homeschool high school? I do not think there is one right way to homeschool high school because each family is unique. High school can be daunting, but it does not have to be that way. I was pretty excited to explore Save Your Sanity While Homeschooling High School: Practical Principles for a Firm Foundation and also another book Cure the Fear of Homeschooling High School: A Step-by-Step Handbook for Research & Planning by author Ann Karako. She also has a blog called Annie & Everything.

Cure the Fear of Homeschooling High School: A Step-by-Step Handbook for Research & Planning has everything you need to plan and prepare for high school. The goal of the author Ann Karako is for you to have a workable plan to get you and your student through all high school. She gives you some ideas and information to help you get through high school with everyone’s sanity intact. In this workbook style book, Ann encourages you to get your teenager involved in planning. The book makes it easy for mom and teenager alike to build a path through high school.

The book has a total of nine chapters. The writing is encouraging and reassuring; you can do this. Many of the common fears you hear among homeschoolers touch on homeschooling high school. It has step-by-step instructions as you start planning out high school up to graduation. Ann Karako covers information for a college-bound student as well as for students who do not plan to attend college.

Ann Karako includes several forms in this book. You can copy them from the book, or you can access them from her blog with a password included in the book. Ann touches on other recommended resources too.

All the chapters leading up to each form explains the why and how of the process in doing that particular activity. The forms are College Requirements Cross-section, Graduation Requirements Planning, General Credits Plan, Planning Core Courses, High School Coursework, Electives Brainstorming, Curriculum Choice Research, and Final Course & Curriculum Schedule. All the forms are unique as you start to tailor your kid’s high school courses. It takes you from brainstorming several options to the final plan and beyond. I appreciated the information and wisdom that the books had. There were several areas touched on that I did not consider while preparing for high school. Being able to research with a solid plan helps me have a plan going into high school.

Save Your Sanity While Homeschooling High School: Practical Principles for a Firm Foundation is an easy to read book packed with a wealth of information and encouragement.

If you are feeling trepidation with everything required with high school, you are not alone. Homeschooling our children is a huge commitment. High school is so imperative that we prepare our kids for their future and yet we worry if we are going to ruin that future. We put so much heart and effort into our kids with homeschooling them. Then high school hits and we panic and worry if we can do high school with them. The reality is that for most of us the elementary and middle school years went by without any significant issues that you could not manage. Then before you know it the high school is upon you and you began to worry if you have prepared them for high school. The thought of transcripts, record-keeping, grading, GPA, SAT/ ACT preparations, and what to teach hits us like a brick wall of uncertainty.

Ann Karako is down to earth and speaks of things that are not necessary to do whether your teen is college-bound or not planning to attend a college. Some topics covered include “Is it necessary to have them do dual credit classes?” “AP classes,” “CLEP test,” “Taking the SAT/ACT multiple times,” and reading specific books. She is not saying you absolutely do not have to do these things but step back and decide what is best for your teenager. Ann also stresses that there are things that we must do such as looking at your state and local laws for graduation requirements and consider college requirements as they vary. Your academic endeavor also affects what you need to consider in high school. Ann gives many suggestions and tools for you to investigate for yourself about what your student needs in high school. She then changes pace and looks at what would be wise to do even if it is not required for you to do.

Many of us know why we homeschooled in the beginning. It is easy to forget those heartfelt reasons when high school is looming around the corner as stress and doubts kick in. On those days and weeks that things are not going as planned. Knowing your reasons will help you succeed in homeschooling your teen through high school. Ann writes encouraging words while touching on several points about the benefits of homeschooling high school.

Ann Karako looks at college and reminds you that it is your kid going to college and not you. You need to take a step back to do what is best for them to excel in high school. How do you decide what to teach and does it matter if it is an Ivy League College, State College, or Community College, Technical School, or no college? Perhaps a certain style of college will not be a good fit for your teen. That was not something I would have ever thought about, but she has several good points in this area. What are your teen’s career aspirations? She touches on several topics like keeping track of grades and keeping on top of them regularly before you must do a transcript. You may wonder if SAT/ACT testing is necessary if they are not going to college. What if they decide years later after high school to attend college or is there another good reason to do the testing? Ann Karako has some very thought-provoking scenarios to consider.

Other topics covered are creating independent learners and how important it is for students to be independent as it will prepare them for college and a career. She lists several benefits of having independent learners and ways to get your student to be an independent learner.

What about socialization for teens? That is a word homeschoolers do not like to heart. We must remember that teens need to do more than schoolwork. She has an exhaustive list of ideas that might appeal to your family and teenager. Family socialization and outside of the home socialization is an important aspect of teens going out into the world.

Another topic covered is communication. Our teens are changing and are not little anymore. They have their own opinions and attitudes to go with it. Find ways to talk to them and be available to do so. There are some especially important reminders that this is a crucial time for our teens and talking to them is so important.

Ann Karako is real and down to earth. She is very realistic and encouraging throughout the book. She humors you and reminds you of common-sense things and some unrealistic expectations of your homeschool during high school.

Cure the Fear of Homeschooling High School: A Step-by-Step Handbook for Research & Planning helped make my high school planning organized and not so stressful. The book was easy to get my teenager involved with researching what our state requires in courses and credits. My son already has two options for what he wants for college academically. Together we figured out what courses he should take in high school based on his current college plans. We now have a plan for the next four years of high school that we worked on together with the help of the book.

Save Your Sanity While Homeschooling High School: Practical Principles for a Firm Foundation I enjoyed reading a realistic approach from a veteran homeschool mom who does not make high school feel so daunting. I felt more assured and confident knowing that I got this under control regardless of any hiccups that may occur in the next four years.

I recommend reading Save Your Sanity While Homeschooling High School: Practical Principles for a Firm Foundation and also Cure the Fear of Homeschooling High School: A Step-by-Step Handbook for Research & Planning if you are planning on homeschooling during high school. This book is practical regardless of whatever stage of homeschooling you are in. Even if you are just starting high school or scrambling at the last minute to plan you will walk away more prepared to tackle high school.

Product review by Renee Knoblauch, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, September 2020