I haven’t posted on here in a while. I seem to be in a major writing funk, and one of the major reasons for this funk is that I have been stressing a tad bit (actually a great deal) about the twins and the high school years. I have been having trouble figuring out what I want them to do for the next few years, and I was struggling with what exactly my goals for them are.
I have been researching, reading about different high school curriculum, looking into colleges, reading different plans that parents have put together, looking at AP classes, and looking at the SAT and ACT tests. Basically I have been over researching and over thinking it all.
During all this crazy, the kids and I went to a homeschool park day, and many of the parents there were discussing high school plans. A friend of mine made the comment that (and I remember it perfectly because it resonated with me) “can’t high school just be about high school?” This one comment started the wheels in my brain turning and had me asking the same question to myself over and over again. Can high school be just about high school? Can the four years that make up this stage in education and development be of any value even if your ultimate goal is not to get into the best college? Is there any value in developing healthy young adults?
I have come to the conclusion that yes there is. So what should the goals be for this stage? Or to put it a different way, what should be accomplished in the years from the early teenager to adulthood. Looking at it this way I have been able to come up with a list of the goals I have for the twins for the next four years. These goals will help my son and daughter make the transition to adulthood smoothly and with confidence. The goals will also help prepare them for whatever they want to move on to, whether that be college or something else.
My goals are:
1. To have young adults who have confidence in themselves, confidence in their decision-making processes, and confidence in their abilities.
2. To have young adults who feel they have a purpose in life and have something to give.
3. To have young adults who know they will always have something to learn.
4. To have young adults who are well-educated in all aspects of health: physical, mental, sexual, and spiritual.
5. To have young adults who feel they can take risks even if it means they will fail. Failing is as important as succeeding in life.
6. To have young adults who are financially smart.
7. To have young adults who have spent time developing a passion and a weakness.
8. To have young adults that have had the time and space to discover who they are.
9. To have young adults who can write with purpose whether it be academically or creatively.
10. To have young adults who love to read.
11. To have young adults who can converse with other adults of all ages in a mature and articulate way.
12. To have young adults who have traveled extensively and experienced life outside their own comfort zone.
These are my goals for now. I am positive that these will change along the way, but I wanted some sort of framework for myself and the twins for this stage in our lives. I feel that it is so important to raise healthy adults who are equipped for adulthood as opposed to stressed-out teens who are worried about their grades and what college they will get into. Not that college isn’t important, it is. But it should not be the only reason for the high school years.
This post is part of the High School Home School Blog Hop.
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To have young adults that don’t forget their past (aka their grandma) and take her out for dinner at least once a week to listen to her extol about the good old days; and maybe take her shopping.
Hmm….I’ll think about adding that goal.
I think that be-good-to-your-grandma goal is fabulous lol. Jill, these are fantastic goals. I’m watching and learning from you and your gang (no pressure!) and from all I have read so far on your blog, I think your twins will do great! I personally think too much importance is placed on where kids go after high school vs. how they get there and I think it’s really the how to get there that carries them through life, not just college. A college prep education is great but like you, I’m aiming for a life-prep homeschool too. What’s the point doing the same ol’ same ol’ eh? Good luck!
these are great goals. it seems like much of education has become all about getting kids ready for the next stage — and it’s trickled all the way down to three- and four-year-olds and more direct instruction to get ready for K (which in my day was about singing and learning to tie your shoes).
Wow; it has been a while! Great to see you back! Your goals are inspirational. Thanks for sharing!
Those are wonderful goals! How exciting for all of you to be starting high school this year. Good luck!
Fantastic goals. Can’t wait to see what part2 has in store!
Love those goals. I think it’s easy to freak out over planning high school for the first time…I know I did! Now that I have a proven success who is going to a local college while still living at home, I’ve been able to relax a bit and know that what we do at home is working. Best wishes for the upcoming school year. 🙂
I LOVE your goals and think that they are pretty universal, however you articulated them beautifully! I printed this and am going to hang it in my office!
Hi Jill! It’s Jackie from Let’s Homeschool High School. I wanted to stop by and personally thank you for linking up with us on our first ever blog hop.
I have been wondering what happened to high school myself. It seems like high school (all four years–even 8th grade) are narrowly focused on COLLEGE only. If what you are doing doesn’t fit the college mold, then toss it out, even if it accomplishes the task of preparing a student for living a productive LIFE!
Not all kids will go to college. Even those kids who do go to college need to learn many life skills in order to survive in today’s rough world. I think your goals will accomplish just what your kiddos need to survive and more.
My daughter will be taking the new high school courses at Time4Learning. http://www.time4learning.com/homeschool/high_school.html
We are both excited about it, well, maybe I’m a wee bit more excited because I won’t have to do any lesson planning. 🙂
Best wishes this year and I look forward to linking up with you again next month.
Joyfully,
Jackie
Let’s Homeschool High School Team
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