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Incorporating Delight Directed Learning in High School While Earning a Transcript

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I’ve never been a true “unschooler”, but I’ve always incorporated principles of Delight-Directed Learning into our homeschool. For us this has often meant reading through series of living books that the kids loved or diving into unit studies on topics we were interested in. But as my homeschoolers have headed into high school, it’s been a little harder to follow Delight-Directed Learning and still keep a high school transcript for graduation.

 

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Although we believe college is only one option and know that, likely, all of our children won’t attend college, we want them to have a high school transcript so that they will be prepared for whatever direction God may lead them. In order to earn the credits they need for this transcript there are certain classes that are required. So how does Delight-Directed Learning fit into this? Although we can’t totally follow the interests of our kids as they navigate through high school classes and transcript requirements, there have been some ways that we’ve been able to encourage them to follow their interests even in high school.

Determine exactly what the state’s high school transcript requirements are.

Well before my oldest child reached ninth grade, I began researching our state’s graduation requirements. I found the information and made a worksheet with the requirements listed and a place for us to write each class she took as it met that requirement. I’ve done the same thing now with my second child to enter high school. With this clear listing of requirements we can now know exactly what classes they need to take- or are not required to take.

Within those requirements, give choices.

Once you’ve determined the requirements, look at where there is flexibility. As an example, our state requires three lab sciences in high school. But which three sciences isn’t detailed. That means we have flexibility. I can now allow them to pick sciences that are more interesting to them. Just because our local public schools might order high school science in a certain way, we do not have to take those exact sciences, as long as we are meeting the requirements.

Use electives as opportunity for interest-based learning.

Our high school graduation requirements include a set number of electives. For students attending traditional schools, the choice of electives is narrowed to what the school can offer. But for us, the sky is the limit. We can take the interests of each child and find electives that fit. My oldest loves learning American sign language and has a desire to minister to the deaf. We were able to find a sign language course for her on SchoolhouseTeachers.com. It counted as a half elective credit and gave her the opportunity to learn something she really enjoyed. We’ve had fun choosing electives that correspond with things that each child really enjoys learning about.

Understand that some classes are just required.

This has been a hard realization for my children who were used to more Delight-Directed Learning throughout elementary school. Now they’ve come to high school and struggled with the idea that sometimes a class is just required. My mantra for this is “You don’t have to like it. You just have to get through it.” And some classes are just like that. They need the credit to complete the transcript and get the high school diploma. Sometimes they just need to be encouraged to keep their eyes on that end goal and plod through a class that isn’t their favorite with an attitude that can allow them to learn something and build stronger character.

 

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Although we haven’t been able to truly continue to follow a Delight-Directed Learning path throughout high school, we’ve definitely found ways to incorporate the interests of the kids while still working toward completing a high school transcript.

 

Leah Courtney is a homeschooling mom of four. Her days are filled with being a mom, homemaker, and teacher. In her (very rare) free time, she enjoys blogging, reading, and reviewing books and curricula. These days she’s learning the joys of being a mom of teens. You can read about her family and homeschooling life at As We Walk Along the Road.

 


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