Author: Amanda Osenga

Book suggestions for Fun-Schooling journals

/ Amanda Osenga / 1 Comment

We like to post threads in our private Facebook Group suggesting books and resources for different journals. These are items the Fun-Schooling team has used, and Moms in the FB group have used with their kids.

Today I am putting all of these threads together in one place for you! I hope this will be a useful tool for you and your children as you figure out what to do with your Fun-Schooling Journals! I will update this whenever we post new suggestions.

Book & Resource Suggestions for Fun-Schooling Journals

Here are links to all the threads for journal + resource suggestions we have completed so far. If you are NOT on Facebook and would like this information, please feel free to reach out, and we’ll be happy to get it to you another way.

Book & journal suggestions by grade-level

Note: By including these books on our lists, we are not implying any endorsement, partnership, or affiliation with the authors or publishers of these books. These are suggestions based on feedback from other Fun-Schooling families. Select materials at your discretion based on your family’s values and needs.

Have a journal you’re eager to see suggestions for? Let us know in the comments or send us a DM!

You might also like these articles-

Budget-Friendly Tips from Real Fun-Schooling Moms
PDF Journals- tips, printing ideas, and more
Transitioning Toward Adult Life (books Sarah’s teens all read)

We’re Following the Leader: Nurturing a Love of Learning Through Structure and Guidance

/ Amanda Osenga / Leave a comment

Are you homeschooling a child who thrives on directions and instructions? Does your child prefer to work with clear boundaries and structure? Does your child follow instructions in kits and recipes exactly? Is your child eager to please and loves to gain approval from adults and others they respect?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are raising what we call a Follower Learner.

Follower kids often thrive in a more traditional school-like setting. This doesn’t mean they can’t be home-educated, though. Today, we’ll offer a few tips for helping your Follower Learner develop a lifelong love of learning.

Homeschooling Follower Learners- Nurturing a Love of Learning Through Structure and Guidance

Unlike Explorers, Follower learners are not necessarily driven by a need to “discover” or question the material. These learners want to do things correctly and succeed by the given standards. 

Usually, these students won’t ask, “Why do I need to know this?” They’ll be motivated by the learning process itself, completing assignments accurately, and getting approval from others. However, outside-the-box thinking may be a bit more difficult for these students. Sometimes, this can be hard for parents who want a more relaxed homeschool. These students often require more effort from parents to provide a setting with clear expectations, schedules, and structure.

Building Skills and Confidence in Follower Learners

One of the best ways to support Follower Learners is to provide materials that cater to their need for clear instructions and guidance. Some of our more open-ended journals will frustrate Follower Learners. Parents may need to provide guidance and direction for these kids. For example, a sticky note with exactly what pages should be read from which book, how long an answer is required, and any other guidelines. We also offer several more structured journals, some of which I’ll mention below. As your student completes these activities, they will build confidence! 

Our journals offer predictable, engaging content and activities that help Follower Learners develop attention to detail, focus, and comprehension skills. Through these resources, your child can develop a love for learning.

Creating a Structured Learning Environment

Your Follower Learner likely appreciates a schedule. Starting the day with something like “circle time” and a visual schedule can be helpful. You do not have to be rigid in saying x activity at x time. Providing them with an expectation for what will occur in what order helps. Many families with Follower kids include pictures of the journals a student will be working in for the day. Have a quick wrap-up at the end of the day. This will give your Follower a chance to see all they accomplished and receive feedback- which they thrive on- from you or another adult! 

Journals like Transportation History and Adventures Around the World will appeal to their love of lists, charts, and historical facts. Each section of these journals is structured the same way, giving your Follower learner a clear expectation and predictability for what’s to come. Meanwhile, topics like Rocks & Minerals, All About Rainforests, and American History Timeline will appeal to their interest in organized, factual knowledge and clear timeframes. These provide a lot of structure and guidance—American History Timeline is one of our most structured journals.

Activities and Projects for Follower Learners

It is essential to have projects and activities that allow Follower Learners to follow instructions. Piano Lessons for Kids gives students a chance to learn to play without needing to hire outside help! They include lots of structure and detailed instructions for your students to learn to play the Piano confidently. The lessons will also appeal to their desire to please others by providing beautiful music for your home. 

Candlelight Brain Games is the most open-ended suggestion I will make today. Though it still appeals to Follower Learners. The goal of our Brain Games is to complete the missing parts of the pictures. Many Follower kids love it when a parent, older sibling, or another adult works on these with them. These allow students to embrace imperfection and creativity. If they become completely stuck, you can complete part of the page to give them an idea of what to do- or let them watch you finish it in your own copy.You can also encourage their love of lists and organization with projects like the Garden Research Handbook, which outlines the steps of planning and cultivating a garden. Through hands-on activities, they can see their plans come to life.

Fostering Independence While Providing Guidance

These learners also LOVE to follow any rules they possibly can. The Top 30 Grammar Mistakes is always a favorite for Follower Learners. It clearly outlines exactly what you should and should not do in Grammar. It is a journal students will sometimes complete once in late Elementary School/early Middle School and then again in High School. No matter your student’s future career or calling, knowledge of proper grammar will be needed. This is an excellent way to provide it in a way they can independently learn.

Our goal is always to help foster independence in our children. Rocks & Minerals and All About Rainforests also include fun hands-on projects for your students to complete. These give them another chance to follow instructions and learn to complete projects independently. Of course, you’ll be there to offer any needed guidance. For the most part, students should be able to complete these projects alone. 

You can also encourage students to create “step-by-step” guides for things they enjoy. By increasing their autonomy, you will help them learn to make decisions while still providing the support and structure they need to succeed. 

Involve Them and Have Fun!

Homeschooling Follower Learners is an exciting journey where structure, guidance, and encouragement are key. Ask for their feedback. See if they need/want more or less guidance, instruction, and lessons. Gradually ease up and see what they do independently after a while. About six weeks is a reasonable length of time to try something out. Then ask for their feedback and see what else would be helpful for them. As always, reach out if we can help at all.  With the right resources, like the We’re Following the Leader bundle and carefully selected books and activities, you can help these learners thrive, develop new skills, and take pride in their accomplishments. By fostering a structured yet nurturing environment, you’ll empower your Follower Learner to reach their full potential and enjoy the learning process every step of the way. 

If you’re homeschooling social kids, we’ve created this bundle just for them. It contains our most popular journals for Friend Learners and a suggested lesson plan. It and many of the journals mentioned above are on SALE for our March 2025 Follower Month.

PEEK Inside THIS BUNDLE – 

Hop over to Facebook and Instagram for a chance to peek inside the bundle. 

Stay tuned monthly as we announce a new secret theme with sales, giveaways, bundles, tips, and more.

Let us know what other questions and resources would be helpful for you to homeschool your Follower kid.

How do Fun-Schoolers handle graduation?

/ Amanda Osenga / Leave a comment

A mom recently asked about how Fun-Schoolers know when to graduate their kids and how to celebrate such a momentous occasion. Here are our thoughts on graduation-

First of all, verify you are following the legal requirements for where you live. Some states/ areas have specific requirements you need to meet before graduation is even “on the table.” The HSLDA and your local homeschool support organization are the best places to verify this info.

Second, talk to your kid. Do they want a graduation ceremony with friends who are also graduating? Would they like a small gathering with family and friends only? Do they want something just with their family? Or maybe one of the other options below sounds more appealing to them.


If learning is lifelong- is graduation even necessary?

A lot of families in our Fun-Schooling community don’t ‘do’ graduation because they view learning as lifelong. Some families do a transitional ceremony once the child moves away from the house, takes over 100% of their education, gets a job, or starts a business. They celebrate that milestone in a way like graduation might be for kids in school.

Some consider their kids graduated in May or June when they’d be graduating if they were in public school.

Families who have students who are artists, musicians, writers, dancers, etc. like to put on a performance or convocation to celebrate their student’s hard work around the age of 18. As another alternative to a “graduation” ceremony.

Several families have had big 18th birthday gatherings with friends, family, and those who have supported their kids throughout their lives. Students can put out their completed Fun-Schooling journals from Pre-K all the way to High School like a portfolio of their work for others to see.

If a graduation ceremony is a value to you and your kids- go for it! Some local high schools allow homeschoolers to walk in their ceremony. A few homeschool support organizations and conferences hold graduation. Or order a cap and gown and plan your own!! As with all things related to Fun-Schooling, there is no “right” or “wrong” way to do this. Celebrate the accomplishments of your kids- and yourself- however most feels like your family!

Read More about Homeschooling High School

The Value of Following Interests and Learning to Generate Wealth
Fun-Schooling for High School Credit
Is Fun-Schooling Enough for Students to Go From High School to College?

You Are the Expert on Your Child

/ Amanda Osenga / Leave a comment

Guest Post by Clerissa Kritzinger

Homeschooling on its own can be a challenging feat. However, when you have neurologically diverse children, it can get even trickier. They learn differently and see the world in unique ways. The mainstream approach can have you pulling your hair out before your first week is even over.

Lovely momma, I am here to tell you that when it comes to our kiddos, we are the only ones who truly know how best to educate them.

You are allowed to teach your kids in the way they learn best. My whole view on education changed when I discovered Fun-Schooling Journals. These journals help me tailor-make each child’s education with minimal effort and frustration for both parties.

It’s not a cookie-cutter curriculum. There is no one telling you what you should or should not be doing with your kids. You can absolutely do whatever works for your child.

For example:
• For a Visual Learner: Use YouTube and documentaries.
• For a Child Who Doesn’t Like Drawing or Coloring: Print pictures and paste them into their books.
• For a Reluctant Writer: Have them type out their research findings, print it, and stick it in the journal.
• For a Struggling Reader: Use podcasts and audiobooks, or even apps that convert text to speech.

Our goal is to learn—no matter what tools we have to use to reach that goal. Our job is to teach our kids how to learn and to become lifelong learners because we never stop learning.

For me, teaching my kids how to learn and how to utilize the tools available to them is one of the most important skills I can impart. It is a skill that will ensure they can follow their own path and be independent in a world that often encourages dependence. Even if the outside world—or even family members—might not agree with the way your kids learn, that is more than okay. Having a happy and thriving child is far more important than the opinions of others.

Journals for neurodiverse kids can be found here.

Read more articles like this-
Equipping Our Children in a Rapidly Changing World
How to Spot Your Child’s Natural Interests
Inspiring Your Children to Read

Homeschooling Social Kids- You’ve Got a Friend in Me! 

/ Amanda Osenga / 1 Comment

Are you homeschooling social kids who always want to work on school with someone else? Do they thrive with field trips, with friends, and snuggling with you on the couch to read? Are they interested in social studies, watching other people, and understanding more about social behaviors? Have you ever thought to yourself, “I wish they would be willing to work alone for a bit!”? 

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are raising what we call a Friend Learner.

We know it can be a challenge to find a balance in educating kids who would much rather be social than “do school”, today we’ll offer some tips to help them thrive.

Homeschooling Social Kids- You’ve Got a Friend in Me! 

Friend learners want to learn with more friends involved! We recognize this can be tricky. Especially when you have other children to give your attention to. Or maybe, like me, you’re raising an only child and don’t have the ability- or energy- to be their primary social outlet every day. By tapping into their desire to connect & learn about others, you can find an educational approach that works for both of you.

Tips for helping social kids learn-

Merge homeschooling with social time

This is the biggest key for Friend learners. We have to let go of the idea of “school” looking like quiet work alone with these kids. Yes, I will provide you with tips for how to get some quiet alone work below. AND your Friend learner is going to totally wither if this is what they’re expected to do all day. 

Our Co-Op handbook has 30 projects Friend Learners can work on with others. It is a mix of life skills, outdoor activities, and community service projects your Friend Learner will love.  These do not have to be done with a co-op. Let your friend learner pick who to complete them with- friends, family, a small group, or-yes- a co-op. Some Friend Learners want to do one a week while others want to do one a month, quarter, or semester to really dive in.  Work with them to figure out what they’d most like to do. 

Let them study their interests

These kids are often interested in social studies. They really enjoy learning about other cultures, communities, people groups, careers, and all things people-related. Animals are also often a big interest, and they may want to involve a pet in their school day.  World Tour is an especially popular journal for Friend learners as it involves cultures and animals! The Guide to Birth Work is popular among a lot of Friend teens who want to either be involved in birth work or have children of their own one day. By tapping into their interests, you can set them up to love learning. As a bonus, they’ll often be more than willing to work on school work alone when it is something they are interested in.  

Utilize time together in nature and field trips

Your Friend learner will open up in a totally different way outdoors and on Field Trips. Homeschooling social kids usually means a lot of outings. These kids often really enjoy going out with our Bird Watching Journal. Bird watching is a perfect togetherness activity, especially as you learn more about different birds using the Book of State Birds. Kids get so excited when they correctly identify a bird out in nature and document it themselves! They also feel more bonded through the shared experience with whomever they’re bird-watching. Field Trips are another great way to provide this outlet for them.

Provide ways to set up their school work together

Give your child a dedicated chunk of time together to set up their learning. It will help meet their need for time together, and that, in turn, will fill their bubble enough they’ll be able to work independently for a bit. Math Mysteries is a favorite for Friend Learners. You can create problems for them to solve in this journal. Kids often love it when you create silly or seemingly extremely difficult problems- that they can meet with success! 

If you can take a bit of time to read together every day, that will make a big difference too. A Day Like Tomorrow is a fun little book about being together wither others and animals. Gather up some beautiful Living Books to read together before your child starts their school work. Fill their cup of “togetherness” time and tap into something they are learning about.

Setting up your Friend Learner’s core journal with them is also helpful. Some Friends open up a blank core journal and feel overwhelmed. Homeschooling with Pets is one of the most popular core journals for Friend learners. Sit down with them once a day or once a week to “preview” what they will work on. You may need to make some notes in the journal for what exactly they should be working on- which book, how many pages from the book, etc. Some Friend learners also like to have a note made for activities they can do with someone else. 

Mom School!

Friend Learners LOVE it when Mom (or another adult/older sibling) sits next to them during school. Mom School gives you an opportunity to be a good example of lifelong learning while giving your child the feeling of connection they desire. You can invite your Friend learner to color in your journal or “help” you with different words as you’re reading/writing. Many moms homeschooling social kids like to select a journal to work on together. You and your child can each get a copy and learn with each other.

Leave space for creativity, art, and “breathing room” for their brains

Even the most extroverted of children- and adults- need time alone. They will burn themselves out and sometimes even make themselves sick if they don’t get it. We incorporate a lot of art and creativity in our journals to give a pause. Art has been shown to help the brain process what it has already learned- as well as just life in general! It is critical for Friend learners to become comfortable with taking time alone to pause and go inward a bit. Comfort & Joy Brain Games is a favorite for Friends- full of all things cozy and togetherness. Have your student do a few pages from it every week.

Involve other family members or friends

If possible, invite someone else older to come alongside your student for part of their schooling. They can work through a journal of interest together, sit and read aloud, or take them on field trips. Laura & Leah’s Journal for Two and Spelling Time for Two were both created with Friend Learners in mind! So was our Storytelling Book. These would be fantastic journals to bring someone else to work on with your student. Older siblings often really enjoy getting to “teach” their younger sibling. Or see if a nearby relative, friend, or trusted neighbor can help. We’ve even had distant relatives purchase a journal to work on via video chat with a child. Get creative in involving others. 

Ask for their feedback and go with the flow

It can be hard to find balance when homeschooling social kids. Ask for their feedback regarding having their desire for time with others met. Sometimes, we make our plan, and it goes well for a bit, so we don’t think to check in again. I find checking in about every six weeks is best. Six weeks gives everyone a good feel for the current rhythm and then changes can be made. Be willing to go with the flow. Your Friend learner will likely have cycles where they desire more or less time with others. You are their best advocate! 

If you’re homeschooling social kids, we’ve created this bundle just for them. It contains our most popular journals for Friend Learners and a suggested lesson plan. It and many of the journals mentioned above are on SALE for our February  2025 Friend Month.

WIN THIS BUNDLE – 

Hop over to Facebook and Instagram for a chance to WIN the bundle. Hurry, the contest ends on Saturday, February 8th. 

Stay tuned monthly as we announce a new secret theme with sales, giveaways, bundles, tips, and more.

Let us know what other questions and resources would be helpful for you to homeschool your Friend kid!

What is copywork?

/ Amanda Osenga / Leave a comment

We include copywork pages in almost every Fun-Schooling journal. Sometimes, a mom asks, “What is copywork?” or “What do I do with these copywork pages?” Today, we wanted to explain copywork, how it is done, and why we incorporate it. 

What is copywork?

Copywork was popularized in homeschooling by Charlotte Mason but has been a part of education—and writing—for much longer. Professional writers, copywriters, students, CEOs, and others use copywork. In a home education setting, copywork involves a student copying a passage from a book, scripture, or poem.

The student, teacher, or parent can select this passage. Some families print up a selection of copywork passages for a student to keep in their journal and complete. Other families mark passages that stand out while reading for students to refer back to. Personally, I like to use book darts for this! 

Copywork has been proven to be one of the most effective ways to teach spelling, grammar, punctuation, writing mechanics, and style. Writers regularly use copywork and copy passages from other writers whom they want to emulate. It helps create a muscle memory for writing well! 

How does a student do copywork?

Copywork is simple. Students should copy the passage using their best handwriting, going slow and steady to ensure no errors. It is an exercise in handwriting, spelling, language arts, and attention to detail. 

Some children may do best if they put a solid piece of paper on the passage they are copying. They can then move this paper down line-by-line to avoid the visual overstimulation from too many words on a page. Sometimes, you may want to provide two pieces of paper to cover everything except the current line a child is working on. 

How much should my student be completing?

Many children may only be able to get through a sentence when beginning. Some families choose to have their children focus on a length of time, ensuring they’re doing their very best work. Others require a specific length of text. Keep an eye on your child to see how they are progressing and adjust accordingly. 

Early elementary– 1-5 sentences, 5-10 minutes.
Late elementary– 1 paragraph-half a page, 10-15 minutes.
Middle school & high school– half a page to a full page- 15-30 minutes.

Remember- these are just general guidelines! You will also find a handful of our journals encourage writing the same short passage seven times. Repeating something seven times cements it into your memory and creates new neural pathways. This can be beneficial when you’re looking to memorize or emulate someone else’s writing. 

If your child can fluently write independently, you may be surprised it takes them much longer to do copywork. This is normal. The child is paying strong attention to detail, focusing on their best handwriting, and no errors. Whereas, in other writing tasks, they know they can go back to edit and aren’t as concerned about writing perfectly. 

Why do you include copywork in Fun-Schooling journals?

We believe it is one of the best ways to teach a child all the aspects of writing. It is also beneficial for developing attention to detail, focus, and concentration. And we have seen the studies about how effective it is across disciplines- not just writers! You’ll find copywork in our Mom School journals too. It’s a fantastic skill for everyone. Copywork helps you store important words and skills in your mind and heart. 

What if my kid doesn’t like writing?

Having your child do some copywork every day is essential. Copywork is a no-pressure form of writing where they do not have to remember the mechanics, think of ideas, or worry about spelling. It can be effective for kids who are reluctant or struggling writers. Here are a few other tips for kids who struggle with writing-  

First of all, writing is much more difficult than we realize! Schools push kids to write and writing skills kids are not developmentally ready for.  It’s perfectly normal for kids to struggle with and dislike writing.

Use gel pens or colored pencils to make it extra fun! From there, you can decide how much writing you want to require your child to do.

Our Dyslexia Games helps with writing. It is excellent for all children- not only those with Dyslexia, especially younger children. We’ve had just about as many non-dyslexic kids use it as those with Dyslexia. I highly suggest it for helping with writing, reading, spelling, problem-solving, math, creative writing, and comprehension.

A couple of other ideas/ suggestions:
– Print PDFs “booklet” style. This prints them smaller and gives children less of a “blank canvas” to work from, making writing less intimidating.
– Let kids draw, color, or cut out photos and collage in their journals instead of writing.
– Kids can dictate to you and you can write for them.
– Use talk-to-text and print their answers.
– Discuss the answers and make a few notes after your discussion is over

– Kids can repeat journals. Let them write a couple of short sentences when they’re younger and then revisit the same journal years later and expand!
– Our pocket-size core journals are also a popular option for kids who don’t love to write. They’re tiny and not as intimidating as a full-size blank page. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1539449793/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1539502821/

You can also use PDFs digitally with the following apps/programs-

-Goodnotes
-Kami
-Notability
-Liquid Text
-PDF Expert

Make sure your child does some copywork every day. It’s the best way to teach writing skills. 

We hope this helps answer the “what is copywork” question. Feel free to reach out if we can offer any additional clarity. 

Check out this article for more helpful writing tips. 

Find our copywork journal here

Homeschooling Active Kids Who Love ADVENTURE!! It’s a Wonderful Life!

/ Amanda Osenga / Leave a comment

Are you raising a kid who always wants to be on the go, go, go? Do they thrive with field trips, time in nature, and lots of variety? Are you homeschooling active kids who love adventure? Have you been told they have ADHD but in your gut, you think they just need more activity and excitement than other kids? 

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are raising what we call Explorer kids.

Many parents find it overwhelming or challenging to raise these kids. With the right shift to meet their needs, it doesn’t have to be.

Homeschooling active kids can be a WONDERFUL life!!!

Explorer kids are frequently labeled as ADHD, hyperactive, and distractible. We want to acknowledge these diagnoses are often relevant, and you should always listen to your doctor’s advice. It’s also important to recognize these are frequently slapped on kids being asked to learn in a way their brains are not wired to. Tinkering with what works best for them can help them—and you—have a wonderful life.

Tips for helping active kids learn-

Give them lots of variety

We’ve specifically designed Fun-Schooling journals for these kids. Journals like Homeschooling Active Girls and Homeschooling Active Boys have lots of variety, creative projects, and invitations to get outside and move!

Let them dive into their passions.

These kids are not typically going to do well when told exactly what to do. They’ll often shut down or feel like they’re being micromanaged. It’s okay to provide books, journals, documentaries, etc, you think are critically important to their education. It’s also essential to give them a say and let them at least choose their own “electives” or plan their school year with you. These kids often love travel and space. They enjoy journals like All About Space, Mission to Mars, and Explorers & Pioneers.  

Nature, nature, and more nature!

Explorer kids do best on the move. Nature feeds their minds and souls. Our Wilderness Adventure Handbook is one of the most popular journals for Explorer kids. It gives them a chance to get outdoors and learn how to not only enjoy it but also survive and thrive.

Provide ways for them to pursue excitement.

Explorer kids would go on field trips all day, every day. However, we know this is not practical for most families. Therefore, providing ways for them to satisfy this need for excitement is helpful. You can combine this with helping them dive into their passions. Journals like All About Sharks, Fun-Schooling with Dragons, and Exploring our Planet—especially the Minecraft version—give them a chance to do this, along with plenty of variety in their days! 

Make the “boring” subjects as fun as possible.

Spelling, writing, and math are typically the top subjects Explorer kids complain about. The journals we’ve already talked about can help with writing and some spelling. Explorer kids enjoy our Four Seasons Spelling Time because it combines nature spelling and taps into their creative wiring. Pirate Pronunciation is an excellent option for older kids with a strong foundation who need to learn the basic mechanics of writing and the English language. Comic Book Math is a fun entry-level math resource. Life of Fred and Khahn Academy are popular math options for these kids. 

Remember to leave space for relaxation, processing, rest, and boredom.

Boredom is good- modern society has forgotten that. You can read more of our thoughts on boredom here. It’s essential to help your Explorer kids learn to calm down their busy brains. Give them “white space” to process their learning, rest, and relax.  Fire Light Brain Games is a favorite for Explorer kids. It’s full of nature-themed activities designed to help with mindfulness and mental clarity. We incorporate coloring and brain games in our journals to help with this also. 

Let go of the mindset of traditional schooling.

Homeschooling active kids means their school education will look vastly different from their peers sitting in a classroom all day. This is fine! It is a blessing to customize your kid’s education to what they need. If you recently pulled them out of school, you may need to provide a period of deschooling. Deschooling allows them to fall in love with learning again—or maybe even for the first time—and heal any wounds from the classroom. 

Have fun!!!

Explorer kids help us see and experience the world in different ways. Let them bring fun, adventure, and excitement into your home, and you will all thrive!!!

If you’re homeschooling active kids, we’ve created this bundle just for them. It contains our most popular journals for Explorer kids and a suggested lesson plan. It and many of the journals mentioned above are on SALE for our January 2025 Explorer month.

Stay tuned monthly as we announce a new secret theme with sales, giveaways, bundles, tips, and more.

Let us know what other questions and resources would be helpful for you to homeschool your Explorer kid!


Homeschooling High School | Preparing Your Child For Their Future Callings and Careers

/ Amanda Osenga / 4 Comments

One of our focuses is having teens choose a major from a young age. We do this so they can focus on building the skills needed for their future careers and callings. Fun-Schooled teens who choose a major can graduate High School having already started their own business- or with an impressive portfolio to jump right into the work world. Last month, we talked about homeschooling college-bound teens. Today we will focus on homeschooling High School when your teen plans to enter the workforce after graduation.

Top Tips for Homeschooling High School

We said this last month, and it’s worth repeating today. Ensure you know the legal High School requirements for where you live. The HSLDA is an irreplaceable resource for understanding your local laws. Also, check out our comprehensive guide on assigning credits to journals.

If your student is not already actively selecting their school materials, now is the time to start. Let them select some, or all, of their journals and the resources they’ll use alongside them. It works well to offer 5-10 choices for your students to select from if they get overwhelmed by too many options. You can do this with journals and book selections.

Get help from your community as needed. This track focuses on the skills kids need to step into their future careers and calling. You may not know exactly what they need to know and that’s ok! Give your child a chance to interview a few people in their desired field to get answers. Shadowing and internships can provide valuable information and build skills.

It’s okay to repeat a journal completed at a younger age. Because students combine journals with academically appropriate materials, they will get a different experience. High Schoolers can go more in-depth than they did when they were younger. Plus, we know there will never be 100% retention on any subject of study. Repeating a journal will allow your student to get closer to mastery and pick up things they missed last time.

FAQs for Homeschooling High School

What if my student has no idea what they want to study?

Parents often tell us asking the question, “What is your future career or calling,” elicits a lot of “I don’t know” answers. It’s a huge question and can feel heavy for a lot of teens. We suggest asking “What do you want to do?” and “What do you want to know?” This can apply to things they want to do and know right now at this stage in life if needed. As they hone their skills, they’ll think through what they’d like to do later in life. Here are a few more tips for using these magic questions to jumpstart learning.

How do you select materials that are High School level appropriate?

Many Fun-Schooling families like to pursue Charlotte Mason-based book lists to select materials. Ambleside Online, Wildwood, Simply Charlotte Mason, and Sabbath Mood Science are popular options. From 7th grade up, these programs use High School and College level materials. Simply Charlotte Mason also has a great book finder that allows you to narrow down books by grade and search for a specific subject or keyword. You can also search “living books + (subject)” to find more.

Other families head to the library and ask librarians for help. If you do not live near a library, most libraries have a free option to chat with a librarian online and get suggestions- or you can call. They’ll be able to help you choose age-appropriate materials and provide lots of great suggestions.

You may also get support from your local public high school. Some public schools are more supportive than others of homeschoolers. We’ve heard of teachers being willing to sit down with homeschool families and offer suggestions for materials.

As mentioned above, interviewing someone in the student’s desired field is a wealth of information. They likely have books and resources they’ll lend your student- or can provide plenty of titles and websites.

What about learning gaps?

Don’t fear “gaps.” All students come into life with gaps; learning everything we are taught is impossible! Once they’re in the workforce, they are so well equipped to know how to learn that they’ll be perfectly capable of filling in any gaps. Students can take courses at a community college if there’s something specific they have to know for their future career or calling that they can’t teach themselves. Check out this post for a few other thoughts on gaps.

How does Fun-Schooling help a student prepare for their future career or calling?

We have written several blogs about this which I will reference below. The short answer is that Fun-Schooling lets students dive deep into their field of study. It teaches them how to learn and gain skills. Students are set up for success for a lifetime no matter what career path or calling they choose- or how many times they change their path throughout their lives. The skills they will develop at home will help them find success no matter what they hope to do one day.

How and Why to Choose a Major at a Young Age
Choosing a Major & Why 13 Is the Magic Number
Transitioning Toward Adult Life
Raising Employees?

What are the top journals for High School students to use?

Find out the most popular journals High Schoolers preparing for their careers and callings in this post–

More tips for high school homeschoolers

About the Author- Amanda Osenga is a Fun-Schooling mom in Columbus, Ohio. She is also the social media manager and Virtual Assistant for Thinking Tree. Her family combines Thinking Tree books with the Charlotte Mason method using books from Ambleside Online and Wildwood Curriculum. In her free time, Amanda is an avid reader and loves to be outdoors.

Top Journals for High School Students

/ Amanda Osenga / 2 Comments

Fun-Schooling journals provide students with the skills they’ll need to be successful in their future careers and callings. Students get to dive deep into their desired field of study and enter the workforce after graduation with 4+ years of mastery behind them.

High Schoolers can use any of our journals. These featured journals we’ve created specifically to help teens dive into their careers and callings. Just because a journal isn’t featured here, doesn’t mean they can’t use it! And teens can repeat journals they completed at a younger age alongside different age-appropriate materials. We often have students who continue using Fun-Schooling journals as young adults to continue learning.

The Artist Fun-Schooling Journal Art majors of all abilities will be challenged by various art prompts and encouraged to explore their creative interests. Students will approach learning as a whole and cover math, reading, language arts, and more while studying art.

The Animal Lover’s Fun-Schooling Journal Designed for students majoring in animals. Great for students who are going into zoology, veterinary medicine, or another animal-based field.

The Athlete’s Fun-Schooling Journal Document learning in multiple school subjects while also exploring different sports. Covers traditional sports such as basketball and baseball and unique sports like breakdancing and kayaking.  Students will even learn about chess as a sport!

Camera Quest offers students the chance to do a deep dive into the world of photography. Students will learn techniques and get lots of practice.

Design a Dress Students majoring in fashion will get to design dozens of different dresses. Also popular for teens who are exploring modesty and their own sense of style.

The Baker’s Fun-Schooling Journal & The Chef’s Fun-Schooling Journal For students majoring in culinary arts, cooking, and homemaking. Also helpful for students to learn how to cook before they live on their own.

Guide to Birthwork A research guide for aspiring mothers, midwives, doulas, lactation consultants, childbirth educators, nurse-midwives, and OB-GYNs.

Life Skills Provides 36 essential skills to know before launching into adulthood. Includes fun hands-on activities and lots of practice opportunities.

High School Homeschooling Handbook allows students to cover all the major subjects in one journal. Students can select materials that fit in with their passions and future goals while completing this journal.

The Singer and the Songwriter journal and creativity journal Step-by-step exercises to inspire and improve your songwriting skills. As well as easy-to-follow steps through exercises and workouts designed to enhance your vocal skills.

The Songwriter’s Fun-Schooling Journal For songwriting and theater majors of all abilities.  While studying songwriting, students will approach learning as a whole and cover art, math, spelling, language arts, and more.

How to Make Money An interactive guide to uncovering passions, igniting ambition, and providing the practical tools needed to set and accomplish financial goals. Great for students to discover what they’d like to do in the future.

The Writer’s Fun-Schooling Journal Students majoring in writing or who will need writing for their future careers will love this journal. Includes writing prompts, character development, storyboards, oral practice, lyrics, tips, and more.

PEEK INSIDE these journals here

What other journals is your High School student using? Share in the comments to help other families!

Make sure to check out part 1-

More About Fun-Schooling High School

About the Author- Amanda Osenga is a Fun-Schooling mom in Columbus Ohio. She is also the social media manager and Virtual Assistant for Thinking Tree. Her family combines Thinking Tree books with the Charlotte Mason method using books from Ambleside Online and Wildwood Curriculum. In her free time, Amanda is an avid reader and loves to be outdoors.

Fun-Schooling Learning Challenges | Tips for Homeschooling Learning Disabilities and Special Needs

/ Amanda Osenga / Leave a comment

Last week we told you about our series on Fun-Schooling each grade/age. Grateful parents have been telling us all week how excited they are. We’ve had several questions asking about learning disabilities, special needs, and medical struggles.  We know homeschooling learning disabilities and special needs can feel overwhelming.

Today I’m glad to tell you we will also discuss these topics this school year. We hope this series will not only help parents better support their children but will help you learn about different learning challenges.

First, we’ll introduce the challenge and how it typically expresses itself.
Next, we’ll share common learning adaptations and tips to optimize learning.
Then, we’ll talk about building a learning plan/curriculum.
Last, we’ll share the most popular journals for children with this learning challenge. 

Remember– This series will be based on the average child with this learning challenge. We recognize most of these have a huge range of expression. This is intended to be a supportive overview.  The bell curve is extremely important to remember throughout this series. Some children will fall outside of this average. We’ve chosen to homeschool for a reason- so we can customize our children’s education to their unique academic level and needs This is especially important for children with special needs, medical concerns, and learning disabilities.

Sounds great, what’s the plan?

February ‘24- Reluctant/ Struggling Writers
March ‘24- Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities/Disorder
April ‘24- Autism
May ‘24- Anxiety & Depression
June ‘24- PANS/PANDAS
July ‘24- ADHD
August ‘24- Chronic Health Problems & Cancer
September ‘24- Trauma and Transition 
October ’24- Dyscalculia
November ’24- Dysgraphia
Dec ‘24- Executive Functioning Weaknesses 

Please let us know what specific questions and struggles you’d like to see addressed in this series. We hope it will be helpful for your family. 

Disclaimer- The content of this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition or disease. Please seek advice from your healthcare provider for your personal health concerns prior to making any changes for yourself or your child.

About the Author- Amanda Osenga is a Fun-Schooling mom in Columbus, Ohio. She is also the social media manager and Virtual Assistant for Thinking Tree. Her family combines Thinking Tree books with the Charlotte Mason method using books from Ambleside Online and Wildwood Curriculum. In her free time, Amanda is an avid reader and loves to be outdoors.