Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! We pray that the Lord brings you refreshment to begin 2011. If when flipping your calendars you  find a month already filled with activities, events, deadlines, doctor appointments, and more, we understand. We  flipped our calendar page too.

As we present possibilities for your teens' involvement, we encourage you to remember that no one is expected to try out all of the suggestions. In fact, you may want  to file this newsletter away for another day (or another year!) and concentrate instead on the full plate in front of you. On the other hand, if your energy allows and your teens are gung ho, then read on.

There are many potential avenues to involve your children in competitions and organizations that provide opportunities to recognize, reward, and promote their  achievements. Each of your teens has been gifted in a unique way. Not all of them will excel in the same way, so seek out areas where your teens' traits and qualities can shine.

...

Dear Friends,

Now that another school year is well underway, you may be wondering what records are necessary and how to document your teen’s courses and extracurricular activities. On the other hand, is recordkeeping still on the back burner of your mind—something you know you should do but keep putting off? Since you are your teen’s school record keeper, now is a good time to set up a system. Staying on top of this responsibility will spare you from panicking when it is time to create your teen’s transcript. He or she will bless you for your efforts especially when compiling a resume or completing a college or job application.

Why Keep Records?

Although no one may ever ask to see the records we suggest you keep, they are important nonetheless. “Legally, recordkeeping enables you to demonstrate that you are providing an appropriate education for your child,” writes HSLDA Chairman Michael Farris in his book Home Schooling and the Law. “Whether it is true...

Dear Friends,

If February is a month in which you find your enthusiasm waning because the hustle and bustle of the holidays are  behind you and the freshness of spring has yet to arrive, then we have something special to suggest for you and your family. Instead of spending time in the doldrums, plan some fun activities for your high schoolers to participate in during the rest of the semester and well into  summer. Be sure to include your high schoolers in the planning--that's part of the fun!

We've collected a number of entertaining ideas for events and activities other homeschool families have tried. You may want to plan a similar activity, or use these to jumpstart your own imagination. Some of these ideas will be targeted mainly to teens, others to the whole family, and still others to the seniors looking forward to graduation--of course, any and all can be adapted to your personal preferences.

Due to your own personal convictions, some activities we've listed may not be suitable for your family...

Dear Friends,

Congratulations to all parents graduating their teens from high school. Our hats are off to you, Moms and Dads!

Some of your teens may have definite plans for the next step, but often high school graduation brings up the question of "What next?" especially for students who do not have clear direction for the future. Honestly addressing your teen's indecision can take some of the pressure off and prevent hasty decisions not in your teen's best interest. A gap or transition year immediately following graduation will give your teen time to gather his thoughts, look into career possibilities, or simply grow and mature. Let's investigate some available opportunities and benefits a gap year affords.

MATURITY

Children don't necessarily mature at the same rate. There are those who are "born old," while others are "late bloomers." Usually the former group knows what they want to do in life and how to go about doing it. The latter group, however,...

Dear Friends,

During the teen years, it may be tempting to eliminate field trips from your school schedule simply because your days are full teaching high school subjects. But we'd like to encourage you to keep going on field trips with your teens! A field trip provides a wealth of information; it helps your teens to experience many different educational opportunities, and it affords an opportunity for all of you to enjoy learning outside of a textbook.

Planning a Field Trip

Organizing a field trip does not have to be time-consuming. First, off the bat, keep them to a manageable number. Then ask your teens to suggest ideas for areas/interests that they are curious about and assign them some of the responsibility for nailing down the details. Much of the planning may be done online which will save you time. Some field trips require very little planning. For example, one phone call to a local author setting up a day, time, and location to meet may be all it takes to arrange a great field trip that will...

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...