Scheduling For Success Part 1: Home On the Long Range

What part of Whitmore School doesn’t sound like a dream come true?

• 24/7 access to classes
• no required “seat time”
• a full year to complete up to 6 credits

What parent or teen wouldn’t immediately think about how to spend all the free time they’re going to have? Sleeping in, travel, field trips to cool places, time for sports and other pursuits of passion, FUN ,FUN, FUN! Yes, it’s true, it CAN be all that and more, BUT…

“Failing to plan is planning to fail.”

I walk around with a tiny Ben Franklin on my shoulder, doesn’t everyone? Anyway…

Helping your teenager manage their time is of critical importance, especially when your teen is given the reins to their own education. Trust me, everyone in the house will be much happier if the day’s, month’s, and year’s expectations are laid out from the very beginning.

Arm yourself with graph paper, a pencil, and a variety of colored hi-liters. I know we all have smart devices that can track everything we do, but this is serious and requires something tangible and permanent!  (I’m not suggesting permanent –permanent, there’s always room for flexibility, that’s why I said pencil, not pen.)

When we decided “Cruiser” was going to start taking high school courses, I sat down with him, the aforementioned office supplies, the Whitmore School’s Course Catalog, and the D-1 requirements from the NCAA. Across the top of the graph paper – four columns labeled Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior. Along the left side of the paper- five areas of study: English; Math; Science; Social Studies; and Electives. Along the bottom of the graph – a written description of how many hours in each area of study were needed to graduate from high school and get into a 4 year college. He was 12, (yes, an early high school student), but we were not going to let that stop us from mapping out the next four years of his life. Together, we filled in all the boxes with specific classes. Some were my picks, most were his.

The four year plan graph resides in a file with other items that state requests me to keep on file since he doesn’t attend a brick and mortar school. When he finishes a course, the box gets highlighted. It’s a beautiful work of art. Really. Just like a Picasso…

 “Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” —Pablo Picasso 

Whitmore School is an accredited private online high school with an award-winning curriculum.

Written By:
Stephanie M.
Mom of Cal M.

October 19, 2017 in Academic Success in Online School, Virtual School vs. Homeschool

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