Depending on the diploma you are going to receive, you may have to take two courses of a foreign language. Spanish is the most common choice for these types of programs, though other languages are available at some schools.

Math is another of the online high school courses that you will have to take. Algebra, pre algebra and geometry are common. You can also take other math courses like trigonometry and calculus. You will find that these courses are easier than you may remember from your high school days.

Another required course is English. You must take four separate classes of English. You will also probably have to take courses in literature, as a complement to the English.

Also, think about other online high school courses like physical science and biology, as well as other math classes and electives. Many students are pleasantly surprised to learn that these courses are actually quite easy to pass. Visit ContinentalAcademy.com to learn more about these.

Another major theme: You don’t have to teach. They just need to learn. You don’t necessarily have to teach ANYTHING in high school, you only have to make sure your children learn it. I didn’t know the answers to a lot of the math or science. You’d think I would because I’m a nurse, but it’s not true!  I completely lost it with math about a month into Algebra 2. Everyone loses it in high school math – everyone. But, again, it’s not our job to learn the stuff. We just have to make sure our student learns the stuff.

My kids did chemistry and physics completely on their own. They did Algebra 2, pre-calculus and calculus completely on their own. I only gave them the tests, and had to look up the answers. By the time we got to calculus, I didn’t even know what the symbols meant anymore. I only knew that the answer had to look like the answer in the book. I had one mom tell me her high school wasn’t working because she could no longer teach them writing.  She said “they are better writers than me – and I’m a professional.” I just had to point out to her that homeschooling appeared to be working because they WERE succeeding. Once you get into high school, writing is mostly about practice. Edit the papers for spelling and grammar, yes, but it’s mostly important to practice, practice, practice.

I couldn’t keep up with the books either. I have confessed before that I didn’t do “literature analysis” with my kids. I just asked them if they liked the book (to which they usually said “yes” and not much more.) They have grown up and done fabulously with the honors literature courses in college, so I know they weren’t damaged by my weaknesses. I couldn’t keep up with my kids reading either, but you know what? They were reading thousands of books for fun, and I didn’t stress out about reading those books ahead of them. So why did I stress out about reading their school books ahead of them? I don’t know! Consider public school for a moment. Would the teacher pre-read every book? No, just the one or two they used in a year. Would the teacher be able to help with writing more than you? No, likely it would be just grammar and spelling.

What about science? I didn’t help my kids at science at all, but my boys both got straight-As in college science after homeschooling, so I know that it worked. My concern with the comments that “Homeschooling isn’t working” is that people forget the alternative. Homeschooling may be hard (OK, it absolutely IS hard) but it is much more effective than a public or private school. It is the 1 to 1 tutoring, the mastery before moving on, the absolute love for the student that make homeschoolers succeed. None of those things are available at a public or private school. There are lots of resources for homeschoolers. Online courses, tutors, co-ops, video programs, and curricula for every learning style. You may need help, but that doesn’t mean that homeschooling isn’t working OR that putting your child into school is THE one and only answer to problems.

Not everyone is a fan of fast online bachelor degree programs, as they argue it’s too compressed to learn everything you would in a normal program. Others argue though that accelerated courses are simply the best, easiest and most convenient way of earning your bachelors degree as an adult.

A basic online bachelors degree program may take a student up to five years to complete. This is because the flexibility of online courses allows students to take as little as one class at a time so they can fit their study into their already hectic life schedule.

It is now possible to minimize the time it takes to get a degree by doing an online accelerated bachelor degree program. The fastest online degrees are possible from accredited distance learning colleges, and credits can be transferred if you have earned them from another accredited college. Fast online bachelor degrees are possible in as little as two years through some of the accelerated online degree programs that offer a concentrated year round schedule.

The biggest advantage of taking an accelerated program is obviously that you can get the degree you want as quickly as possible. For most people that need stems from wanting to get a better job and maximize their salary in a position that requires a degree that you don’t yet have.

The other thing to consider is that they have flexible scheduling which means you can organize your study schedule around your current job and lifestyle and you can complete the fastest online degrees from the comfort of your own home.

While this is a great benefit, there are disadvantages as well. Some of these may be that with an online program you don’t get the true college experience of a traditional university. It can also be hard to cram everything into such a tight amount of time. While online programs utilize new technology to offer the best experience they can, for some it doesn’t replace the face to face interaction with teachers and other students.

Taking an online program will [save you money|cost less versus a traditional college program. This is not to say that they are cheap, considering that anytime you get a degree from an accredited university there’s going to be a hefty bill attached. That’s why its advisable to keep your eyes peeled for fraudulent schemes on the internet that offer a degree in a few weeks or a month and want to charge a one time fee on your credit card on day one.

There are plenty of resources available to a prospective online student when it comes to selecting the program that makes the most sense for you personally. Don’t make your selection based on how much something costs. Take into consideration factors such as what career you want to pursue, what types of subjects would you like to take and how fast you can finish the program.

If you’re in a rush to receive your degree, then there’s no time to waste. You need to start planning and researching immediately to find a fully accredited program that suits you best. Getting your bachelor degree is possible in two quick years, so are you ready to discover a fast online degree program?