HSLDA

Dear Friends,

The school year is winding down and summer is fast approaching. It's not too early to consider what you and your teens will be doing to occupy your time after the school books are tucked away. If you feel in need of a refresher course before the next school year begins, why not plan to join us for one or both of the HSLDA High School Teacher Training sessions in June and July. You can register for these dates on our website.
 

Your teens, on the other hand, may be planning to earn some income through summer jobs. Since jobs may not be abundant this year, it's important to begin the search now.

In preparation for job interviews, your teen should work on updating his resume and gathering some references to include on it. Be sure your teen knows that it's important to receive permission from his references before listing their names on his resume. On the...

Dear Friends,

As we march into spring, you may find that your older children are itching to put their studies aside and experience "life!" And if your juniors and seniors are having second thoughts about whether college is really for them at this stage of life, we suggest that you assure them that options other than college are legitimate and worth investigating. This newsletter will help to guide them on their way.

Students interested in entering the marketplace and earning a salary right after they graduate can gain experience in a business establishment, an office environment, or an apprenticeship which will prove educational, challenging, and may ultimately lead to a lifelong career. Some companies are actively seeking motivated high school graduates who are willing to forego college for on-the-job training.

Some high school graduates will want further skills training without attending college. For these students, vocational and technical/trade schools offer certification programs for numerous careers. As...

Dear Friends,

Marching (!) right along through the school year, this month we would like to share with you information regarding the military and its enlistment policy towards homeschoolers. Although we realize not everyone's child may be planning to enter the military, we felt sharing pertinent information regarding how the military views homeschool graduates would be helpful in case your child determines at some point during his high school years that he or she would like to explore this path after graduation.

We wish to commend and thank those of you in the homeschooling community who have family members serving our country in the military. We appreciate you and your family. The military is an honorable profession, and we are grateful for the service you give and the sacrifices you make.

As with any other option you are considering for your child's post high school years, it is crucial to prayerfully and pointedly consider all of the ramifications of a military decision. Seek out the Lord's wisdom and...

Dear Friends,

For many families, August is the time to put those finishing touches on plans for a new school year. If your teens are entering the junior or senior years, be sure to schedule time to research the myriad of schools and training options available after high school graduation.

It can be a daunting task to narrow down the possible institutions to which your teen will apply. So to help you select a school that will fit your teen, we would like to offer some suggestions.

General Parameters

The selection process becomes less intimidating if you take time to list some major factors in priority order that are important to your family. Your list of factors may differ, but as a possible starting point, here are some items to think about.

Location

• How far from home do you want your teen to be?
• What type of transportation will be involved in getting your teen back and forth from school (car, bus, train, plane, subway)?
...

Dear Friends,

We hope that the month of August finds you enjoying barbeques, the pool, and the hammock. Summer is a wonderful opportunity to kick back and enjoy your teens. While you are relaxing, please know that we've been working for you! We've organized information on a number of tests that you may want to consider incorporating into your teen's plan for the next school year. Many parents of high schoolers have questions regarding the PSAT, SAT, SAT Subject, ACT, PLAN, Compass, and Explore tests. Let's take a look at each test specifically in relation to homeschooled students.

(Note: Even if your teen is unsure about attending college, we recommend that he take a college entrance test while in high school when subject knowledge is "fresh" rather than possibly having to take the test several years after high school.)

PSAT

PSAT/NMSQT: The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test not only prepares students to take the SAT, but it is...

Dear Friends,

Homeschool parents know how important it is to stretch available dollars as far as possible. Two for one deals  (such as earning both college and high school credit for the completion of one course) or saving tuition dollars by testing out of certain courses are attractive options for homeschooled teens.

Some teens--but not all--may be up to the challenge of working hard and possibly earning college credit for coursework completed during high school. If your teen is not yet ready for these advanced courses and testing opportunities, don't feel badly or think that your teaching is substandard. The Lord created each of our children with a variety of talents and abilities, and teens should not be encouraged to take courses that they are not prepared to successfully complete. (You may want to reread one of the past newsletters entitled, "Eureka! Average to the World but Special and Unique to God.")

On the...

Dear Friends,

October reminds us that we are heading down the homestretch of 2009. It's a time to rejoice in the glorious shades of reds, browns, and golds that are visible in pumpkins, chrysanthemums, and corn stalks; the smell of fall air and apple cider; and the fun of jumping into those piles of leaves. Speaking of October, here is a riddle for you. Excluding leap years, October always starts on the same day of the week as what other month? Read to the end of the newsletter to find the answer! :)

Along with these sights and smells of fall, this time of year also brings thoughts of college visits to plan, college application deadlines for seniors, transcripts....

And that brings us to this month's topic of calculating grade point averages (GPA). We regularly receive questions from parents asking: What is a GPA? How is it computed? We want to address these questions as well as give you additional information that you may not have even considered yet, but may need to know.

Definition

Dear Friends,

These winter months are good times to stay warm at home...and work on transcripts! Regardless of what your teen anticipates pursuing after graduation, it's important for you to generate a high school transcript for him or her. So, there's no better time to begin than now.

At the inception of the HSLDA high school program, we provided information on how to create a transcript. Since then, many families have joined the ranks of homeschooling through high school, so we thought it would be a good idea to revisit the subject with updated information.

If your child has never attended a public or a private school, then it's likely you've not seen a high school transcript in a while. To most homeschool parents, the word "transcript" elicits almost as much fear as the word "fire" in a crowded room! Some parents think that they cannot create such a document. We hope that reading this newsletter will allay your fears and give you confidence that you are capable of issuing a...

Dear Friends,

This month marks the second anniversary of HSLDA's Homeschooling Thru High School program. You, our readers, have energized and encouraged us by reading and responding to our newsletters, using our resources, and visiting our website. We thank you!

June brings thoughts of those lazy days of summer soaking up the sun while enjoying the great outdoors. If your solitude is punctuated with cries of "I'm bored!" we may have just the solution for you! Why not use the summer to explore contests/competitions which may be available to your children and use this free time to begin preparing for them. Or, begin researching sources for scholarships for your children who are approaching high school graduation. Let us get you started on your
search.

CONTESTS/COMPETITIONS

Having opportunities for your children to showcase their talents and abilities gives them a desire to develop those areas and motivates them to pursue excellence.

Our...

Dear Friends,

February is here, and the school year keeps rolling along. As a homeschooling parent of a high schooler, you  continue to be busy with teaching, driving, and most of all...praying! We've enjoyed speaking to many of our HSLDA members as you've called or emailed us with your questions. You have our respect and admiration as you train up your children in the way they should go.

We know that your time is precious, so we are glad to do anything we can to make your job a bit easier, save you minutes, and perhaps find you some money. Now that we have your attention...

This month's newsletter topic is College Financial Aid. We hope the information we provide below is beneficial for you, and points you in the right direction to search out whatever additional details you may need. If your child is not planning on attending college, you may want to just keep the information handy for later reference if  his plans change, or you may want to pass on the information to another homeschooling family...