HIGH SCHOOLERS: Make the most of your summer! (It’s almost over!)

by Allie Olsen
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Summertime… and the livin’s easy!

At least that’s what we often long for. After heavy course loads during the school year plus sports, competitive debate, co-ops, work and other extra-curriculars, moms and high school students alike long for a break! But have you considered that your 2.5 month vacation is what makes the rest of your school year so hectic?

As “Mamma” to 7, I longed for the lighter load of summer this past school year! But I’m not writing school off entirely. Using this time to grow familiar with Homeschool Manager’s extra features like the Book List & Volunteer Hours, helps me be more efficient during the school year. I can use down time (that I don’t normally have) to edit scholarship essays and to drive the kids to volunteer opportunities. I’m making this summer work for me and helping my children learn to manage their long-term goals. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Create a High School Bucket List

Let’s start with a fun idea: A HS Bucket List. Think of anything you hope to accomplish while in high school… Do you want to conquer your fear of heights by going zip lining? Learn how to make chocolate mousse? Change a tire? Learn a foreign language {wait, you have to do that to graduate in most states!} Hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail? A bucket list is a place to jot goals and dreams.

Summer School FTW

What subject plagues you all school year long? For my son, it’s math. He’d rather write a research paper, speak in front of hundreds or mow every neighbor on the block’s lawn than do another math lesson. So he’s doing it this summer. Let me tell you why this is a good idea: There’s no extra stress to make this subject worse than it really is. The only thing competing for his time is the beach and one can only handle so much Florida sunshine in a summer. Knocking out math now frees him up spend more time on the school he loves during the busy school year.

Use Homeschool Manager’s Volunteer Hour Tracking

Many colleges smile on community service for admission and most scholarships require it. Spend some of your summer giving back to the community. Read this list of creative ways to get community service hours. Homeschool Manager makes it easy to track your time so when it’s time to gather info for your college applications, it’s just a click away.

Scholarship Applications

You can make $8 an hour at a minimum wage job… or you can earn hundreds of dollars in the same time through a college scholarship! Make a point of submitting an application a week (or more if you’re sitting in a chair complaining, “I’m bored!”). Here is USA Today’s list of the 10 Best Sites to Look for Scholarships.

Fill out that Book List

You didn’t write every book you read last year in your Book List, did you? Use this summer to type those in and get in the habit of
entering books as you go! Homeschool Manager keeps track of books for you. We even have a place to record number of pages and notes so 2 years from now you can remember why you should recommend that book to a friend or not!

 

This summer, consider mixing a bit of responsibility in with your down time. Take control of your high school to-do list and make this summer work for you.
And as you start preparing for the new school year, let us help you start the new year off right! Check out what other moms are saying about Homeschool Manager here and read a blogger’s review of homeschool manager, too. Happy Summer!

Here are a few helpful resources for you to explore:

1. High School Resumes

2. Volunteer Hours

3. How to determine the credits required by your state to graduate in each subject.

4. Scholarship Essays/Applications

5. Visit colleges and trade schools.

6. Create a Highschool bucket list.

7. Take the ACT and or SAT

Published by Allie Olsen