Planning a Homeschool Graduation

Perhaps you remember last year when I shared about my daughter’s graduation ceremony. Now, perhaps, it’s your turn. Perhaps your child has diligently studied the last four years and you now approach the end of his high school career. I know you want to recognize him for his efforts. But, where do you begin? In our family, three of our six children have completed their homeschooling and we've recognized each one of them differently. Here are some ideas to help you plan a memorable commencement for your child.

As quickly as possible, choose a date and stick with it. If your child has friends in different schools, your calendar may fill up with graduation events before you even make up your mind. Once you have your day and time, you can get on with the rest of your plans.

Decide how much money you want to spend. Discuss this with your child from the start to avoid hard feelings when he realizes he can't book the local stadium for 1,000 of his closest friends. If you do not have a lot of money to spend, relax. You don't have to spend a fortune to have a good time.

Choose a location. We have attended homeschool graduations in homes and civic buildings, at parks, or at the graduate's place of worship. Our one son celebrated this special day with a friend from church at the local community center. We had a picnic in a pavilion and a volleyball game following.

Order your supplies. Diplomas can be purchased from several places. HomeschoolDiploma.com, HSLDA, and Diplomastore.com are a few to check out. Some sources will provide only the piece of paper that you must fill in and frame. Others will provide a nice binder. And then others will print the name on, as well.

Plan the day. Most ceremonies include some type of music, speeches, and the presentation of the diplomas. Having your child speak, expressing thanks to his parents, or other key adults in his life, and sharing his goals for the future, would be appropriate. It is also touching for a parent to share hopes for the graduate or special, fond memories of his growing up years.

Finally, a gathering of friends and family is never complete without food. Whether you serve light refreshments or a full meal is not important. Just keep things simple, so that you can spend time with your family and friends. And, if finances are stretched, don’t hesitate to ask for help. If you expect a large crowd of people, a covered dish is always a good idea.

This is just a sketch of all I could share with you regarding planning a graduation ceremony. Plus, if you belong to a support group that hosts a ceremony for their graduates, perhaps you’ve been asked to coordinate this event; and you have no idea where to begin. Well, I have written the book on homeschool graduations. Planning a Homeschool Graduation is now available as a PDF download. With 33 pages of tips, information, and worksheets that you can print out and use, this booklet is chock full of everything you need to know whether you plan to graduate one or twenty.

This week only I am offering this booklet for an introductory price of $9.99. If you might be interested, or think you know of someone who will, take advantage of this opportunity to save. Next week the price will go up.

You can see more information about Planning a Homeschool Graduation here. Or, to order now, you can simply click here. After doing this several times, I knew that others would appreciate this valuable resource and wanted to offer it to you here.

If you've already graduated a child or two, I would love to hear what you've done to celebrate.

Blessings,