If you have a struggling learner, chances are you have had a few sleepless nights wondering what the future may hold for your child after high school. Honestly, struggling learner or not, what parent hasn’t? The difference is, you probably worry just a little bit more. And that can’t be helped. It hasn’t been an easy road getting this child from bundle of joy to feisty teen through school! Here are some tips to help you launch your homeschool graduate:
One
Start exploring after-high school options early. Start talking to your teen about his interests as soon as he is willing. By 13 or 14, many children are starting to show signs of strengths and weaknesses. What kinds of activities is he drawn to? Is he good with his hands? Is he a people person? Is he mechanical? Answering these questions can help you create a path forward for him.
Two
Help him to find a part-time job. Working very quickly helps to weed out what type of work one wants to do and doesn’t want to do. An excellent employee can also turn part-time into full-time work after graduation. Besides, what teen doesn’t want a little extra cash?
Three
Be realistic when discussing future plans. If he isn’t college material, be careful in setting up plans that don’t lead him to thinking he is. Have frank discussions with him helping him to understand how to explore his strengths and look for jobs/careers that he will thrive in.
Four
Remember that many schools will accommodate students with documented learning disabilities. This will require documentation from a medical professional. You are also able to provide accommodations yourself. If you have a child with dyslexia, locating audio books to replace printed books can help. Or perhaps sitting down with him and helping him with his math assignments to get through that dreaded required math course. This is not to say to do the work for him but if he has dyscalculia, offering accommodations to help him line numbers up or remember the steps in the process to solve an equation can be the push he needs to pass that class!
Five
Explore apprenticeship opportunities or internships. Hands-on experience is the way to go when traditional book learning is hard. Once the apprenticeship is complete, this can possibly lead to full-time employment as your child is not only learning a skill but making connections in his chosen field.
Six
Explore trade school options. Many students enter the trades because they enjoy working with their hands and often learning leans towards doing rather than reading about doing. As with apprenticeships, often students have an easy time finding employment as many trade schools will place them with companies seeking new employees once coursework is completed.
There are many paths your struggling learner can take after high school. It is important to help him start exploring options early and give him time to discover his strengths and how to use those strengths to his advantage when choosing a career path. You know him better than anyone else so use that knowledge to steer him in the right direction. Set realistic expectations but be creative in looking for ways to help him enter his chosen field.
Maybe medical school isn’t in his path, but think about all the jobs that support physicians or hospitals. There are thousands of people that work in hospitals and not all of them are doctors! You can explore the possibilities of future careers with any field your teen is interested in. The only thing that is required is a desire to help your student and the ability to think outside of the box. Hmmmm…..that sums homeschooling up nicely, doesn’t it?