Last year I had the opportunity to meet and chat with Debra Bell. She is an amazing person and a living homeschool legend! I only wished she lived next door to me so I could glean from her on a daily basis.
I had the privilege of interviewing her a second time this month (via email) for the Apologia Blog Hop. Don’t miss learning from Apologia’s fabulous speakers including Davis and Rachael Carman—owners of Apologia, Zan Tyler, Elizabeth Smith from HSLDA, Jeannie Fulbright, David Webb, Clay Clarkson, Sally Clarkson, Sherri Seligson, Debra Bell, Larry Blythe from the Apologia Academy, and Sarah Clarkson!
Not only are the interviews with these amazing homeschoolers, there are also prizes! (Scroll down for my giveaway)
Before you hop over and read the other interviews you’ll want to read my interview with Debra below. If you are homeschooling a high schooler or even considering homeschooling through high school Debra has some great insight for you.
Why did you start homeschooling, and when you started did you realize you would homeschool your kids through graduation?
I started homeschooling because I wanted my kids to love to learn.
I was influenced by John Holt, who started out as an educational reformer and then became an early advocate of homeschooling. I was teaching gifted kids at a public high school at the time, and I couldn’t believe how disengaged they were from the learning process. An article by Holt got me questioning the whole system of education in this country, and that got me in a whole lot of trouble (I was a third generation public school teacher) but everyone came ’round in the end.
I started writing books on homeschooling to help legitimize my choice. I also am a Christian and my husband and I wanted to pass our Christian values and worldview on to our kids. We wanted the best opportunity we could find to do that, and we felt homeschooling fit that bill.
I never intended to go all the way through to graduation! I started out thinking 3rd grade at the latest. Boy was I wrong.
What was your biggest challenge in regards to homeschooling through high school?
Adolescence and menopause coinciding.
Seriously – the intensity of the schedule. We had four teenagers at one point (not a plan), and they all had lots of activities, interests and social circles they wanted to keep up with. I spent more time in the car than anywhere else.
But, by the grace of God ( and that alone) we got through. They all managed to get through college, get married, and get jobs!
What is your advice to parents who feel they aren’t equipped to homeschool a high schooler?
You aren’t.
But by the end of it, you might be and then you can help homeschool the grandkids.
Listen, homeschooling parents need to realize there is more to do than humanly possible. We are trying to be the teacher, the guidance counselor, the principal, the school nurse — it ain’t happenin’. The better plan is to recognize you are a fellow lifelong learner-in-process, too. So come along side your teen and join in the wonder and awe of exploring God’s incredible creation.
All the things you don’t have a clue how to accomplish — put that on your prayer list and use this season to show your kids what faith in God really looks like. Let Him author your high school homeschool story so He get’s all the glory for what He does — not you.
What resources to recommend for parents homeschooling a high schooler? (websites, books, planners, etc).
Funny you should ask — I’ve been very busy since my homeschooling days came to an end.
I’ve put out a couple of books and a series of homeschool planners. I think The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Teens
(Apologia, 2010) is a good place to start if you want to build faith for high school plus find a wealth of practical tips.
I’ve included the top 10 websites, top 10 free online tools, checklists for graduation, sample transcripts, guidelines for winning academic scholarships and a lot of vignettes from not just our own experience; but many others, too. It’s as thick as my original The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling
(Apologia 2009) so I cover a lot of territory.
Following on the heels of those two books, Zan Tyler, my editor at Apologia, and I have developed a series of homeschool planners for parents, teens and students. These planners are unique in that they focus on two important objectives: 1) Documenting God’s faithfulness in our homeschooling life and 2) Raising an independent learner.
The Ultimate Homeschool Planner for Moms, Ultimate Weekly Planner for Teens and Ultimate Daily Planner for Students will all be availabe from Apologia by the end of summer.
Additionally, I’ve been teaching AP English online now for ten years; and this year, I’m joined by several other experienced homeschool parents and teachers. Together we are offering a slate of middle school and high school college prep courses that also prepare students to earn college credit for their high school work through CLEP and AP testing. Your readers can find out about these classes and a lot more about homeschooling through high school at my website: DebraBell.com.
Deb’s Ultimate Homeschool Planner was just released today! I have two copies of The Ultimate Homeschool Planner
Don’t forget to visit the Apologia Blog Hop for other interviews and awesome prizes!
If you have any questions for Debra please leave them in the comments. She said she has time available to answer them!
Debra Bell is the best selling author of the award-winning Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling, the Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Teens and Ultimate Planners. A former high school and college English teacher, Debra and her husband Kermit home educated their own four kids K-12.
I would love to win this. My son is only 18 months, but I really want to homeschool him!
I would love to win. I am currently homeschooling a Sophmore in HIgh School and a 7th grader. Thanks for the opportunity.
Great article! We have benefited from Apologia, reading Debra Bells info, & books over the years. Would love to be the winner of The Ultimate Homeschool Planner.
Thanks for a great post! We started a few weeks ago, this year with a 1st grader and a 5th grader (both boys), and this is the first year we’re having them ‘do’ school together for most subjects. Anything to help organize is something I would love!
I would love to win this contest. My son just entered into his 1st year of high school today, I homeschooled my daughter through high school and I know how beneficial this would be. What a great gift and what a great insperational interview. Thank you for everything you do.
I could use this planner to help organize my homeschooling day of 7 yr. old triplets!!!
I have six awesome children, all with one very imperfect mother. Is Debra Bell available to just move in with us?
Seriously, stocking up on all your resources! Thank you!
Thanks for the chance to win!
I loved The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling and would love to win the planner!
I love the sense of the spirit and realistic goals in this interview!! I wish she was my next door neighbor too, but a copy of her planner…. that would be almost as good. I hope I win!!
Would LOVE to win this!! I think there is nothing better than a good planner!!!
This unorganized mom could use all the help she can get.
I’ve had my eye on this planner – would love to win one!
This planner looks fantastic! Would love to win one. Thanks for offering it.
Oh, what a wonderful giveaway! I love Debra Bell. Her Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling is the best homeschool book I have ever read and helped me so much in my early years of homeschooling. (And her comment about menopause and adolescence coinciding is dead on correct.)
I love Debra’s advice to those who don’t feel equipped to homeschool their high schooler(s). We have one starting high school, another coming up behind her, and another in a good handful of years. I can’t believe we’re here. Where has the time gone?!
I got to see a glimpse of this awesome planner! Would love to win. kbalman@gmail.com
As you know, I love Debra Bell. Would love to win this
“All the things you don’t have a clue how to accomplish — put that on your prayer list and use this season to show your kids what faith in God really looks like.”
That has to be the best advice I have heard! I am going to print that out and put it somewhere I can see every day!
Thanks for the opportunity to win this great resource!
I have an 11th and 9th grader this year. I would love to use these resources.
I would love to win this! This is my first year homeschooling my children (6th & 9th grade).
This would be so great! Would love to win!!!
I have been looking forward to the Homeschool Planner for months!!
I am seriously considering homeschooling my 3 children. There is just NO way I can put them in the public system here in Mobile. Not only are the values taught far from anything I find acceptable in our Christ-centered household, but the quality of education is too low. I currently have them enrolled in a Faith-filled private school. You can imagine the cost. I am the sole bread winner of the family. The financial burden, although worth bearing a thousand times over to assure my children a decent, faith based, education, is a bit tough. I am willing to sacrifice my time (I’d get up early to go to work, come home teach them, then carry on with the rest of the household responsibilities) in order to the best I can for them and our family as a whole. I have concerns because my children are 3rd, 4th, and 10th grade? Is this too big a bite? Is it possible to teach them when there is that big of a span? Also, I heard that they do not get a diploma? If they choose not to go to college, will this affect them? I do believe they will all choose college, but I do not want MY choices for their life to get in the way of where they SHOULD go in life. God may have something better planned.
Joey,
We will stand with you in prayer for this decision. Even though the age span will be one of your particular challenges ( All homeschooling families have big challenges, they just differ), you can group the 3rd and 4th grader together – a lot of your curriculum choices can be the same for both kids there. And perhaps you can find some local high school level co-op classes for the 10th grader or even some online classes. What you want to focus on is facilitating the coursework for the high school student — not actually teaching it. Save your teaching for the younger kids. Get your kids in on praying about this decision and expecting God to show up in a big way to meet your needs. Look for His grace and mercy. It’s your own particular God story for your family memory book.
Thank you. This has been on my heart for a few years now. The kids are with us in our prayer and all three are eager. As I find comfort in some areas new concerns arise in others….Isn’t that the way, huh? It does seem that for every concern there is a solution and the obstacles to doing this seem to be falling away. I believe I am going to do my best to do the on-line classes for my teenager as they permit him to be in “attendance” at an accreditted school granting him a diploma upon completion, if we take this route…. Thank you for your prayers and information. The teenager’s education is the one that concerns me most at this point as he is already in 10th grade. We just keep doing our research and praying. It is nice to hear others stories and see they agonized over similar decisions.
I would love one of these! We’re moving into our 3rd year of homeschooling child #1 and child #2 is being added to the mix in a more serious manner now. I need a new system!
this is our first year homeschooling! we have 3 boys 7, 4 3/4, and 2 3/4. and we could use all the help we could get!!!! id love to win it!!! thanks!
I would love to win this planner. I have her book The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Teens and have learned a lot from her.
This planner looks like just what I need to get through this year! We’re just beginning 7th and 10th grades, with high school credit in each grade! And we’re planning to move mid-year. I would love a chance to give this planner a try!
Sweet! This is perfect timing for us…we just built our first book shelf last night and will do the second one tonight. Into the wee hours I’ll be organizing all our homeschool stuff onto those shelves.
We’ll be working on PreK4 and Tot school though. Reading through this giveaway may just boost my confidence enough to exceed my enthusiasm.
Debra sounds like a very wise woman!
I would love to have that planner!
I started homeschooling in ’85. 4 graduated and married, 2 still in college, 3 still homeschooled…so I figure in ten years I should be finished…except for helping out with the grandkids, starting this year. Praise God for his faithfulness. The planner would be helpful.
This is my first year homeschooling…starting with my 14 and 16-year-old sons who have always gone to public school. Would love to win the planner : )
I’d love to win the planner!
Love your comments. #7 is is high school and I am still learning, working with other moms and preparing for when the grandsons are ready for school
I would love to win your new planner. Debra’s Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling was the first book I read on homeschooling & now her high school book is helping me with my teen.
I loved reading Deb’s comments on homeshcooling your high schooler. It has been a scary process for us but I realize it doesn’t need to be with God’s help and great resources available to us through such amazingly giften people in the homeschooling field! Thank you for the opportunity to win this planner!
i’m looking for the perfect planner so i’d love to win this!
I have been soooo looking forward to this planner being available! I have a high school freshman and 3 siblings behind him. This would be so helpful to us!
I would LOVE to win this planner!!!
I would love to win this so I’ll have it for when we start kindergarten at home next year!
I would love this! I am struggling with keeping up with all our daily plans and trying to keep it together. Thank you for the honesty, too.
I would love to win this. I am currenty homeschooling preschool to highschool.
I heard Debra speak a couple of years ago and she was hugely encouraging to me! The planner would be such a blessing.
I would love to win your planner!
My daughter just turned 13. Let me tell you how much she and I both need some extra planning/guidance/organization in our days! Thanks for this opportunity!
I homeschool a sophmore and a kindergardener. I would love to have this.
I am homeschooling my daughter beginning this year. I am a college graduate and am so intimidated by this. My daughter loves to learn and I know she’ll do well but I am scared of messing this up. I’m praying for sanity and cooperation. LOL
The thought process Debra went through is exactly how mine started…I wanted my kids to love to learn. With one advanced reader and one wiggly worm I knew the classroom would be drudgery to them. With the oldest only in second grade, I have already been more and more convinced that we may take this road much farther than I originally thought. I am actually excited about the prospect. We are just taking it year by year, but I think this will be a great journey.
we have been homeschooling for the past 5 years and this year is the first year we are going apologia. I am really excited . The planner however would be a great thing… Thanks and Blessings.
I have been following Debra for many years now. She is such a blessing. I know the planner has to be the best coming from Debra.
Thanks for the encouragement! I have been homeschooling for 5 years now and continue to learn and grow each year, right along with our 3 kids! We have a middleschooler and 2 upper elementary age. I would love to use the planner!
I would love to win this! It looks awesome!!
The planner looks wonderful!! I enjoyed “previewing” it earlier.
I have been homeschooling since 2004, when my oldest daughter was 5. She is now 12, and starting 7th grade. I never expected to homeschool this long, but we are now quickly approaching the teen/highschool years. The transition from homeschooling during the elementary years to the middle school years was not smooth and maybe this book is just what I need to give me confidence to homeschool through highschool.
What a great giveaway! This is my first year homeschooling my four kids, quite a challenge! I’m sure a good planner would be very helpful.
I love learning from those who have already “been there.”
I’ve never used a planner before, but I really need to get started using one!
I would love to win this planner. Looks great!
karhostetter@verizon.net
This is my first year for high school. I can use all the help I can get! Thanks for chance to win.
I read the intro to Debra’s planner. It looks awesome.
Oh so excited that Deb will be speaking at my umbrella’s homeschool conference in November! I would love to get a copy of the planner now! Thanks
I’ve got 7,5 and 3 year old. I need all of the planning help that I can get!
I would love to win this! I homeschool three … 1st,2nd, and 3rd grades. We love Apologia.
Man, this really makes me want to have a planner. I’ve got a high schooler and I’m terrified every day I’m going to shaft the poor kid. My two younger boys, ages 11 & 8, are both in fourth grade and so for them, it’s just not as scary. I’ve got all sorts of plans and organizational tools I designed for myself (so I don’t get lost AND because they need to “know where we’re going”) but I’d really love an organizational tool from someone who has been there, done it, and done it WELL. My whole goal is to raise three boys who are contributing members of society and overall- STRONG CHRISTIANS who realize they can do anything with God. If I didn’t have God, I’d just crumple and give up. He gives me the strength I need to continue on when it gets really hard (and it does, every day, since my oldest is Aspgergers and my middle kid is PDD) and I want them to see how much I lean on my faith!
Hi! Just found your blog and am really liking it! Would LOVE to win this homeschool planner as I’m about to start my first year of homeschooling with my dd10 and ds8.
Would love to win your goodies! We homeschool an 8th and 4th grader and have 2 younger ones not in school so planning is so important to us!!
Tammi C
I am in my 7th year of homeschooling. I still need help keeping organized and everything running smoothly.. There is a 3 grade gap between my oldest and next 2. Then my youngest is a toddler..
As a homeschooling Mom to 3 kids, I would LOVE to win this! Thanks for the chance.
bamagv at aol dot com
Enter Leigh.
Reading this article REALLY helped me realize that I, alone, can not do this. I have to rely more on God. I am currently driving myself crazy trying to make sure I have all the “right” curriculum. I am seeing that there will never be a perfect curriculum and that with God he will fill in all the gaps. I have to be more prayerful about every detail. I do need to “come along side” my kids in learning and not put so much pressure on myself to know it all. Thank you so much for your honesty and inspiration!!
Thanks for the great interview. The new planner sounds great!
Wonderful interview! We’re just beginning homeschooling, and I’m very excited!
I would LOVE to win this planner – now I’m off to visit her website to look around. Thanks for a great give-away!
I would love to win this planner. I have been drooling over the sample on the website. It looks like just what I have been looking for.
Thank you for sharing! My two oldest are in 11th and 9th grades. It is definitely overwhelming, but honestly, I love it. I look forward to checking out the resources you recommend.
I love Debra Bell. When I was first thinking about homeschooling before my kids were even shcool age, I read her book, Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling and was convinced that homeschooling was for us. My kids are now just getting ready for highschool. I would love to read her book on homeschooling teens (can’t believe the time has flown so fast!), and I would really love to win the planner.
Thanks for the opportunity to win. I would love own this planner!
This is my first year homeschooling….all I can say is its gotta be God because I would never take on such a task on my own but a friend told me if its God it’ll be easily entreated~ a good gift so I’m holding to this~ ‘the blessing of the Lord makes rich and He adds no sorrow to it’ (Pro 10:22)~ thats my motto for this year!
Thank you for your good work in this. Thank you also for the perspective you are giving me on the important things.
The planner would be a blessing
I have already ordered the planner from CBD, but would love to receive one to give away. I am the co-director of our homeschool group, and would love to bless a family with one of Debra’s planners.
This was such a helpful article. Thank you for including it today.
I just discovered this blog & am so happy & excited. Thank you for what you are sharing. I would & desperately need a planner. Have a great day!
Wow – Thanks for sharing the interview ~ I have a 14 year old starting high school (homeschool) and several of my concerns were addressed! Thanks!!!!
I’ve homeschooled for 17 years now including 3 through highschool and I am just starting highschool with my baby. The comment you made about being equipped to teach highschool made me laugh out loud. I definitely want to check out your resources as I still feel like I could use all the help I can get. Thankfully the Lord helped with my other 3 daughters because I could not have done it myself.
I loved Debra’s advice to parents who feel they aren’t equipped to homeschool high school. Absolutely true! I think I’ll post it on fb! (With proper credit being given to Debra, of course!)
Thanks for the opportunity to win! Your article made me cry. Thanks for the encouragement to give God all the glory, cuz He knows, that’s the only way we are doing it! We are in our 10th year of homeschooling. We’re new to high school and we have a 7th & 5th grader.
God’s blessings to each of you!
THANK YOU! Some words I needed to hear as we begin this journey with our now 4 yr old daughter.
wow..this would be a great resource. I am entering my 2nd year of homeschooling..
Thank you for your website, its a lifesaver.
God Bless
I am drawn to the student planner because it helps raise an independent learner–love that!!
We twins are just starting school and we are homeschooling them, and need all the help we can get.
Oh how I would love to win this! I’ve been searching for a good planner my whole life it seems!
This would be a much-needed resource as I will be juggling two little ones while homeschooling my 4th grader this year.
I was a schoolteacher for 2 years and my students adored me — We had so much fun together! So, I expected the same with my own child…Wrong =( She hated being homeschooled (K5) last year =’( This year, I will be homeschooling her (1st Grade) and her sister (K4) and I need all the wisdom I can get! I want my children to love school and to love learning — I Need HELP — I want this book!!! =)
This would be wonderful! I’m a beginner and planning is one thing I need to concentrate on right now!
I would so love to win one of these!! My oldest is going into 9th this year and I have 4 others coming up behind him. Keeps me beyond busy for sure!
Thanks for the wonderful giveaway! I would really love to win this planner! This is my first year homeschooling! I have a 9th, 7th and 4th grader! I thought maybe a planner would help me keep better track of our daily lessons! Thanks again!
Would love to win this I have the 4 yr high school one and love it.
I would SO use this – this year. I’m starting to ‘set’ up our home school room in our basement- my son is only starting Pre-school this year… but we have a long & fun road of adventures ahead of us for the next 16+ years and I want to start homeschooling off right by having our own space of learning! I definitively need help getting organized!
I loved her honesty when she stated that none of us are fully equipped..lol..sometimes I feel like I’m fully prepared and sometimes I wonder what in the world am I doing? Thanks for this interview..I’m excited to look at her resources….
This would be great to win! Thanks for the chance
We chose to homeschool our children for some of the same reasons as Debra. We have some great members of our church family that are also public school teachers that can also be a valuable resource. I’d love to see the tips in the book as we have two teens being homeschooled now with two more in the wings.
Give my vote to Joey Grace Marchant please – as much as I would love it – I know it would help her more.
I would love to win this!!!!
This is my first year homeschooling, feeling a little overwhelmed and he is only in Kindergarten!!!! Next year I will have two!! (1rst grader and a kindergartener!!) Every little bit helps, being organized sounds like something I need!
I would love to have this planner! I just started homeschooling my firstborn and I love schedules and organizing!! I have been trying to come up with my own school organizer with no luck!
Words would not describe how much I could use those planners this year! Im having one of those “defeated” feelings of homeschooling before the year even starts! Thanks so much for this opportunity!
I am preparing for my oldest to start high school. He should have started last year, but he is learning disabled and I was working nights most of my homeschooling career. I have serious guilt about all we have failed to acomplish and fear high school, but I’m praying a lot and know God will help us through. I am most concerned with knowing what to do to prepare him for college-as well as doing what needs to be done to get him accepted. He has always struggled with writing (not physically-but putting thoughts together and putting them on paper). That is one of the most important skills needed to get into and do well in college. Scares me to death that he won’t be able to get into a good college because of this. I am going to check the websites and books out. Thank you so much for this post. (Apologies for my emotional and probably irrational post-and for typos as I am posting from my phone.)
I would LOVE to win this! Homeschooling a 1st grader and a 12th grader, and one has cerebral palsy and tons of medical appointments–I need all the organizational help I can get!
This would be so helpful! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
This looks like a great planner. I could really use this for this year. Thanks!
Great article, thank you for the good info!
Unorganized homeschooling (is that an oxymoron?) mom of three…NEED to win that planner! ; )
I would love to win a planner. Enjoyed the interview.
I’m kinda, sorta in desperate need of this. Please!
LOL
I also posted this on FB!
Is the Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling for anyone, or just parents of teens? It seems that it is, since there is a separate one for teens, but just checking to make sure. Sounds highly beneficial!
Oh this would be wonderful for my family! My oldest is starting HS! My middle son is in 3rd. And this year with a 1 yr old running around any and ALL help would be awesome!!
Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling is hands down one of the best hschooling books I have read. I wish I had of come across it last year when I was beginning our journey. I highly recommend it to any homeschool-newbie or veteran.
I would love to win this. I am such a planner junkie!
This will be my first year homeschooling and scheduling and planning are my hardest things to do. I get sidetracked easily.