Everytime I talk about Entrepreneurship with homeschooling parents the room is full of energy, curiosity, and bright ideas. Teens are coming with amazing business ideas and parents are asking all of the right questions. And always, the concept of money comes up. How do we teach our kids the money skills they need as entrepreneurs?
Whether your teen wants to run a lawn care service, launch a YouTube channel, or start their own Etsy shop, financial literacy is the foundation that supports all those big dreams.
So let’s talk about the essential money skills every high schooler should learn if they want to start and grow a business—and how we can teach them in a way that’s flexible, real-life, and totally doable in your homeschool.
💰 1. Budgeting Like a Boss.
A good entrepreneur knows where their money is going. Teach your teen how to:
Track income and expenses (even if it’s just babysitting money for now)
Use a simple spreadsheet or a budgeting app
Plan for expenses like supplies, shipping, marketing, and taxes
Plan for unexpected expenses so that they are not caught short.
Bonus project: Have them create a startup budget for a business idea they’re excited about!
🧾 2. Understanding Profit vs. Revenue
Teens often think, “I made $100!” without realizing that $50 went to supplies and another $20 to fees. Teach them the difference between:
Revenue (total sales)
Expenses (everything it costs to run the business)
Profit (what they actually keep)
Real-life example: Set up a lemonade stand or a digital product and walk through the numbers together.
💳 3. Managing Banking and Payment Systems
If your teen is running a legit business, they’ll need to know how to:
Use a bank account responsibly
Set up PayPal, Venmo, or Stripe (with your guidance)
Keep digital receipts and records
Manage a business license.
While creating an LLC is one of the easiest ways to start a business, most states require an owner to be 18 years or older. Parents can set up an initial LLC, and be part owners in the business until their child is of age.
This is a great opportunity to teach them about financial safety, online scams, and the importance of separating business and personal money.
💡 4. Pricing and Value
This one is tricky—even for adults! Pricing is truly an art form and has to do with the model of business you are running and brand you are establishing. Help your teen understand how to:
Set prices based on their time, cost, and value
Look at competitors and market trends
Offer discounts or “bundles” without underpricing themselves
Try this: Let them practice pricing 3 versions of a service or product (basic, standard, premium).
📊 5. Tracking Growth and Making Smart Goals
Entrepreneurship is more than hustle—it’s learning to evaluate and grow over time. Teach them how to:
Set realistic short- and long-term business goals
Track monthly income
Reflect on what’s working (and what’s not)
This builds self-awareness, confidence, and problem-solving—skills that will serve them for life.
🧭 Bringing It All Together in Your Homeschool
You don’t need to add another curriculum to do this. Integrate these financial lessons into:
Language Arts: Writing product descriptions, blog posts, emails
Social Studies/Econ: Supply & demand, market research, taxes
Electives: Let them earn credit for entrepreneurship or financial literacy!
Homeschooling gives you the flexibility to help your teen learn how to make—and manage—money while they’re still under your roof.
✨ Want to Go Deeper?
Our Entrepreneurship Electives at True North Homeschool Academy are designed just for this. With live online classes, mentoring, and real-world projects, your student can get a solid foundation in business and finance—before they even graduate.
🛒 Check out our Entrepreneurship, Personal Finance, and Accounting classes and equip your kids to step into the future with confidence!
❤️ Final Thoughts
Our teens are growing up in a world where side hustles and startups are the new normal. Equipping them with the financial and entrepreneurial tools they need now can open up a future of freedom, creativity, and purpose.
So go ahead—encourage those big ideas. Teach the money stuff. And let your homeschool be the launch pad for your teen’s next great adventure
Homeschooling can be an exciting and fulfilling journey for both parents and children. If you’re going to invest your time and effort into this adventure, why not make it lighthearted and fun? In this blog post, we’ll share seven hilarious and effective tips that will help you thrive as a homeschooler. So buckle up, get ready to laugh, and let’s dive into the world of homeschooling with a smile!
Have a Vision
Where’s the Fun in Being a Reactor? Imagine your homeschooling journey as an epic adventure. Start with a proactive vision that excites you and your children. Envision the kind of individuals you want to become at the end of this journey. Do you want to be witty conversationalists, curious learners, or imaginative problem solvers? Having a clear vision will keep you motivated and make the journey even more enjoyable.
Gather Your Stuff
It’s Time for a Homeschooling Party! Who says gathering educational supplies can’t be fun? Turn it into a celebration! Get creative and organize a homeschooling supply scavenger hunt. Look for blackboards and whiteboards, pencils, paper, books, and even CDs. Remember, homeschooling can be as simple or as extravagant as you want it to be. Serve up a feast of educational goodies that will make your homeschooling experience memorable.
Use Your Stuff
From Dust Collectors to Learning Catalysts Don’t let your educational supplies gather dust and become junk. Plan your lessons and incorporate those supplies into your daily routine. Develop self-discipline, and create a yearly, weekly, daily, and seasonal schedule. Stick to your plan and watch the magic unfold. Remember, clutter is stressful, so declutter and remove what you don’t use. A tidy learning environment leads to a happy homeschooling experience.
Laugh Out Loud
Don’t Forget to Enjoy the Ride In the midst of lesson plans and assignments, it’s important not to take everything too seriously. Keep a light-hearted attitude and laugh at the little things. Find joy in the learning process, celebrate small victories, and embrace the imperfections. Laughter is the secret ingredient that adds flavor to your homeschooling journey, making it all the more delightful.
This full year class will get your kids reading quality literature and give them something to laugh about. Yep, the Bard was funny! He created words and understanding his stories gives your kids a warm introduction to the Great Conversation!
Read Voraciously
The Teacher’s Time to Shine As the teacher, you have the unique opportunity to keep learning and growing alongside your children. Dive into books that spark your curiosity and share your excitement with your little ones. Read aloud to them for hours, taking them on magical adventures. Encourage your kids to read on their own and explore stories that ignite their souls. Let reading become a gateway to endless laughter and discovery.
Converse About Everything
No Topic Left Untouched Homeschooling opens up a world of possibilities for engaging conversations. Discuss your vision, hopes, dreams, and everything in between. Engage in light-hearted banter about your favorite books, current events, and even more complex topics like faith, politics, and love. By fostering open dialogue, you’ll create a safe space for your children to express their thoughts, ideas, and curiosities.
Share Your Faith Live It, Love It, Teach It
If faith is an integral part of your life, don’t be afraid to weave it into your homeschooling journey. Share with your children how your faith shapes you, challenges you, and brings you comfort. Make faith a living experience by incorporating it into your daily activities. Encourage your kids to explore their own spiritual paths and embrace the beauty of your family’s unique faith story.
Bible at the Movies!
If you’re not sure where to start with sharing your faith, this class is it! Students enjoy The Chosen series while doing a deep and thorough dive into the Bible, having amazing discussions, writing papers and doing projects. Taught by professional musician, Melissa Grande, your kids will gain a rich perspective on the power of the arts, along with Bible skills and faith development!
Homeschooling doesn’t have to be a serious and mundane task. By embracing a lighthearted and fun approach, you can create a homeschooling experience that is both effective and enjoyable. Keep a clear vision, infuse laughter into your days, read voraciously, engage in meaningful conversations, and share your faith with your children. Remember, homeschooling is an adventure filled with growth, laughter, and love. So, buckle up and embark on this incredible journey together!
As the world of Homeschooling has expanded and options have increased and become more focused, it’s a great time to be homeschooling.
Frankly, the options for High School Homeschooling are better than ever! As the world of homeschooling has expanded and the unknowns of the next school year loom, parents of high schoolers are wondering how to plan for what’s ahead. A basic understanding of a typical course of study can be a simple and helpful guide to planning the future, even when that future seems uncertain!
Focus on the Core 4 in High School
You should focus on the Core 4 high school subjects and then add electives and extra-curricular ones. Some of this will depend on what type of transcript you are creating and where your students plan to land after high school. Vocational programs, college or university, ivy league or conservatory, or the Military all warrant focusing on different aspects of your student’s learning program.
I will link to classes we offer here at True North Academy since we try to create classes with a typical course of study plan for each age group. Still, you should choose the curriculum or classes that work best for your family. It’s always awesome if you decide that means our online classes, but we want this blog article to help you make an amazing transcript for your high schooler, even if TNHA classes don’t fit your plan.
Typical Course of Study: High School
Let’s start by looking at high school as a four-year program. This will give us a long-view approach and help us determine what classes make sense within our subject areas. I’ll list each subject and then a common 4-year course of study. You are going to want to focus on the Core Four and go from there:
(History can also include other areas or times of History like Ancient History)
Once you plan these, filling in with electives and extracurricular activities will be much easier.
Typical Course of Study: High School – Electives and Extra-curriculars
Foreign Language– this can be any Ancient or Modern Language. Keep in mind that Latin is a fantastic foundation for grammar and learning how to learn a Foreign Language, and Critical Languages are a great way to earn Scholarship Dollars; French, German, Spanish, Hebrew, Chinese, Latin
Physical Education – ½ credit each year. Check out our amazing Dance at the Movies for a fun credit of P.E!
Music – a general overview of music, including Music Theory, Voice, Songwriting, or instrument lessons- also counts. Check out our Music at the Movies for a fascinating look at the power of music in culture!
Art/Humanities – a general understanding of Form and Color, Photography, Photoshop, etc.
Bible/Apologetics Studies – should include a general overview of the Old and New Testament, Church History, and Apologetics. Every educated person was expected to have a general understanding of the Bible and could easily reference books and passages. Take time to read and discuss the Bible together and memorize Scripture. Awanas and the Bible Bee are excellent programs to commit the Bible to memory.
Basic Computer Information Systems – Powerpoint, Video Editing, Internet Safety, and Accountability.
Health – should include general health information, introduction to addictions, cybersecurity and addictions, ages and stages, and reproductive health.
Vocational & Career Interests, including Entrepreneurship – in today’s quickly changing market and the gig economy they will inevitably be a part of, your students need to explore Vocational and Career Options as Life Skills and Personal Finance.
Typical Course of Study electives can vary and be wildly diverse. Think about students’ areas of interest and what’s available to them. Many students delve deeply into a subject area that piques their interest, like art, drama, music, electronics, etc. And don’t forget to provide a robust reading list for your high school students, including short stories, novels, plays, and poems.
High School is also a time to explore new areas of interest so take some time to seek out and expose your student to activities and unique experiences.
Include Community Service in Your Homeschool
A typical course of study for your high school should also include Community Service– I would recommend 15 hours a year or more. It’s tricky with Covid, but you can always write letters to service men and women and collect coats or food for the local coat drive or food pantry. You might have to get creative, but high schoolers typically are creative.
Please teach your students about internet safety and how to protect themselves from addictions, pornography, and perpetrators. Teach them how to manage social media and how to be accountable. Getting snared in addiction at a young age can have devastating implications for them. I highly recommend Glow Kids for every parent and young adult.
Testing Options and More
ACT Test Prep can save you thousands of dollars in Scholarship earned, National Latin Exam looks great on a transcript, and our Performance Series test is a straightforward way to assess where your student is at and helps them gain confidence with standardized tests.
Want to know more about credits, transcripts, and standardized tests to ensure your high school student is getting a typical course of study? Survive Homeschooling High School is a comprehensive eBook that will walk you through how to plan and prepare for high school. Suppose you have a good handle on your high school plan but want help with the logistics of a transcript or assigning credits. In that case, you may want to check out our Academic Advising- we offer Academic Advising, SPED Advising for nontraditional learners, and NCAA Advising for those looking to compete for an NCAA position.
It’s a great time to homeschool, and the options for High School Homeschooling are better than ever! Check out our live online dynamic, interactive classes taught within an international community by world-class teachers! Students interact and work together- we believe excellent education occurs within a community!
Money Saving Bundles
And, in case you didn’t know, we offer Bundles for terrific savings.
We hope you have found our quick guide to a typical course of study for high school helpful. We invite you to join our Facebook group to let us know and to chat with other homeschool parents about credits, transcripts, curriculum, and everything homeschool.
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Many of us consider music an elective and one of those homeschool subjects that we may “get to.” But I contend that music is a life skill which informs us in many areas of our lives. Chiefly, It allows our kids to develop executive functioning as well as transferable skills.
I encourage you to carve out time for music. Just consider that you probably already do. What’s on your playlist? How many hours a week do you listen to music while you workout, or are in the car? Music is an integral part of our lives. Accordingly, the songs we listen to, the movies we watch, as well as the worship we offer can change our mood and – above all – lead to redemption.
A Universal Language
Music is a Universal Languages, along with Math and Latin. As has been noted, we can communicate to others with music, even if we lack a common language!
I’ve teamed up with Melissa Grande, a professional Musician and one of our amazing True North Academy teachers to talk about some of the obvious benefits of studying music!
10 Benefits of Studying Music
Stress Management & Therapeutic Benefits – Music calms the soul, gives kids the ability to express emotions and work off the wiggles! It utilizes many neural pathways to learning. Music education is kinesthetic, and auditory, but also visual as they develop eye-hand coordination and the ability to read music.
Quick Thinking Skills – playing an instrument requires the student to think quickly. That requirement increases exponentially if they are playing with a band of any kind. Kids become quick thinkers as they have to check what’s going on with other musicians.
Social Skills – these become well developed through music as students learn collaboration & communication skills. Skills are required for coordinating with others in the home about best practice times. Social skills are used when working with other musicians, coordinating with teacher and developing as a performer.
Responsibility and Discipline – are a natural outcome of music studies as students learn to take care of their instruments. It also requires that they focus on practicing and tough out the physical hardship of developing their craft.
Problem Solving – is one of the many gifts of studying any art. Students must simply work to understand the music. The sounds of their instrument and how to create music with others involve problem solving skills.
Time Management and Deadlines – are integral to developing as a musician. You must show up to lessons on time, show up to practice and performances while juggling other responsibilities and demands.
Pride in Accomplishments – (and learning that you have the ability to Do Hard Things). We want good things for our kids, and might even have to guard against serving up fun too often. Instead, teach them to hold out for deep joy and fulfillment when they have overcome and can enjoy their accomplishment.
Perseverance and Patience – we know that good things come from years of practice and investment. Excellence comes with practice. Our kids learn this as they wrestle with loving their instrument and playing music over the long term.
Creative Expression – this might seem obvious but is not to be overlooked. Music allows our kids – and us- creative expression. Who hasn’t lip-synced at the top of their lungs in the car alone? Who hasn’t cried, hearing a touching song, or choked up singing Handel’s Messiah? Music moves our spirit and soul and unlocks hidden emotions and allows us to become more fully human.
Self Expression – along with creative expression, music allows us to express ourselves as individuals. We all have a song to sing and a beautiful story to tell. Music allows us another avenue to share that with others!
A Lot of Bang for Your Homeschool Buck!
Music is one of those courses of study that give you so much bang for your buck. Your kids learn a fantastic academic skill, that can garner them scholarship dollars and amazing opportunities. As they develop their skills, music will help them maintain their positive mental health. They will develop transferable skills that will hold fast throughout their lives.
Not sure where to start with Music Education in your homeschool? Check out True North Academy Music classes. We believe in and value music education so much that we offer k-12th grade opportunities that will inspire and delight!
Check Out K-12 Classes to Get Their Creative Energies Flowing
Music at the Movies- a life changing Music and Apologetics course! Pair this with Strategy: War and Peace for an integrated approach to world view and history !
The Art of Songwriting – perfect for budding musicians and writers!
Introduction to Voice – learn how to sing- this course can also count towards science credits.
Art & Music I – one of our most popular Elementary classes last year! This is a Charlotte Mason inspired course that teaches Art through the Seasons. Children learn to play the tin whistle along with learning about music.
Art & Music II – for those who couldn’t get enough of Art and Music I. (or for older kids) Students will again have inspiring Art through the Seasons lessons and learn rhythm through bucket drumming!
From Handicrafts to Technology
Take a look at more than 30 electives available on our website. True North Academy offers elective courses that are creative and practical.
This quotation from Charlemagne is timeless. We have always heard that it is beneficial to learn another language, but do we really believe it? Well, I do.
“To have another language is to possess a second soul.” – Charlemagne
My Visit to Spain
As a cautious high school student, I boarded my first plane flight to Spain with a group of strangers. Armed only with three years of poorly learned high school Spanish I ventured headlong into a homestay with a wonderfully patient family. Later in my junior year of college, I lived in Córdoba, Spain for an academic year taking classes in Spanish and living life in a Spanish dorm. I quickly had to learn to navigate in my new world.
My Second Soul
So this brings me to my second soul. That summer after my junior year in Spain I was invited by my brother to be a translator on a mission trip to Mexico. I however was not a believer. I was very far from God. A dear friend suddenly died while I was in Spain and the heartbreak of losing him so young shocked me to my core. “What could I say of myself if I passed suddenly as he did?” The big questions of eternity loomed in my heart and my head.
While in Mexico I was paired up with a pastor’s wife and we did door-to-door evangelism together. She used her parallel Bible and I would read and explain concepts in Spanish. It was during that trip after many late-night talks that I surrendered myself to Jesus. I gained my second soul through Spanish.
Why Choose Spanish?
Aside from the beauty of the language and the connections you will make as you study it, Spanish is the language of over 450 million people in the world! By learning Spanish you will be able to understand your native English more. And you will be humbled by how much you do not know about your own language!
I hope you will be able to join me (Emily Harkey) and my students this year in our journey into Spanish with True North Academy, or with another curriculum or class – it is truly through the struggles and joys of learning another language that you are able to “possess a second soul”.
More About Emily & Her Spanish Classes
Currently, Emily Harkey teaches Spanish A, Spanish B and section two of our Spanish Level One classes. We are thankful for her expertise. She really immerses the students in the language and culture and she loves the benefits of the interaction students get in her online classes. Hear more from her about her philosophy and teaching styles in the video below:
Thank you, Emily, for sharing from your heart! If you want to learn more about why your child might want to learn Spanish, check out our blog post 5 Reasons to Study Spanish!
Spanish Curriculum Giveaway!
Enter from May 21 – June 4, 2021: True North Academy is giving away Spanish curriculum. Enter for a chance to win our self-paced elementary level Spanish curricula from Risas y SonRisas or Level One (used for Spanish 1) or Level Two (used for Spanish II) of the Spanish curriculum, Breaking the Spanish Barrier. It’s an exciting opportunity and one we hope you will ENTER TO WIN! True North offers Spanish classes for your elementary students as well as Spanish for middle school (junior high) and high school Spanish levels 1-3.
Simply follow the instructions in the widget and you will automatically be entered for a chance to win one of these 4 prizes.
Pin This to Enter Giveaway
See the Rafflecopter Widget above for other entry opportunities – you can do them all and get multiple entries. Check carefully some of them can be done once per day for even more chances to win.
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Aside from the beauty of the language and the connections you will make as you study it, Spanish is the language of over 450 million people in the world! By learning Spanish you will be able to understand your native English more. And you will be humbled by how much you do not know about your own language!
