Dear Friends,

Our Homeschooling Thru High School newsletter subscribers are a varied lot! Some of you have been teaching high school for many years; and as a veteran homeschooler in your circle of friends, many people come to you with questions. Or, you may be in the midst of homeschooling your first high schooler. Still others of you have yet to begin the high school adventure or you may have recently pulled a teen out of public or private school.

Regardless of your level of experience, we believe there is value for all of us to be reminded of the basics.

Prepare for Teaching High School

You'll want to prepare for the task of teaching high school by picking up at least one of these great resource books that lay a good foundation and provide many practical tips:

• "The High School Handbook: Junior and Senior High School at Home" by Mary Schofield
• "...

Dear Friends,

Fathers, we salute you and wish all of you an early Happy Father's Day! You have a unique calling to provide for your families spiritually, financially, emotionally, and physically. We thank you for the job you are doing!

To all you seniors graduating this year, congratulations! You are now ready to begin a new season of life and we look forward to hearing of your successes.

In this month's newsletter, as well as in May's, we are encouraging both moms and dads to think about and implement life-skills education for your children. Last month we talked about the skills of Managing the Home Front, Nutrition and Health, Financial Management, and Job Preparation. This month, we are adding four more skills for your consideration. Remember, exposure to these is beneficial while expertise in each one is not required. Your children have a lifetime to enjoy learning and practicing these skills.

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING--Learning the Basics

Knowledge of computers has become...

Dear Friends,

Before we launch into our topic for the May high school newsletter, we want to extend our warmest wishes for a Happy Mother's Day to the moms in our email audience. All of you ladies have our deepest respect and
appreciation for the vital roles you play in your families. You are doing much more than just teaching your children academics--as one needlework quotation says, you are "tending souls and building minds." Be encouraged this month and rest in grace as you continue to serve
your families for the glory of the Lord.

As you think over the goals you have for your high-schoolers and the values you want to impart during these high school years, take time out from the math, science, English, history, and foreign language lessons to spend a little time thinking about and mapping out a plan to teach some valuable life skills to your teen. We've come up with eight different categories of "life lessons" for you to consider. Begin now to help him or her prepare for adulthood by...

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! We pray the Lord's blessings on your family as we head into 2010. Fresh beginnings always offer new inspiration and motivation. We hope you are in that frame of mind.

If we asked you to evaluate your relationship with your homeschooled teen, would you smile or frown? Regardless of your reaction to that question, the majority of parents are very interested in improving their relationships with their teens. Homeschool parents in particular know that the close encounters homeschooling provides on a daily basis can either be a source of encouragement or cause for prayers of supplication. If you would like to take some time at the beginning of this year to equip yourselves as parents to better train and interact with your teen, we'd like to offer some suggestions for parenting resources.

Please know that we do not intend to be a substitute for your individual pastor's oversight or instruction. The titles mentioned below are merely recommendations--your pastor will undoubtedly be able...

Dear Friends,

Summer is winding down, with a new school year fast approaching. For many families with high school students, another year means coming one step closer to the often confusing college admissions process.

This email is one in a three-part series to be presented in August, September, and October--all focusing on college admissions. And it's not just for parents of seniors. Even if your child is just entering high school, it's a good idea for you to become familiar with this information before you start making college choices.

In this first newsletter, we will address the topics of spiritual preparation and the college search. In September, we will cover the application process and the campus visits. We'll wrap up the series in October with a discussion about alternatives to the traditional college route that make it possible to accumulate many college credits (and sometimes all of them!) from the comforts of home.

Finding your way through the college admissions maze can seem daunting, but by...

Dear Friends,

This month we have the privilege of bringing you a word from Sandra Corbitt, dean of students at Patrick Henry College, Purcellville, Virginia. We believe you will appreciate her wisdom and heart for helping homeschool students make the transition from home to college life (wherever that may be). You may already be putting into practice many of her suggestions, so we hope this will give you assurance that you are heading in the right direction. On the other hand, Dean Corbitt’s recommendations may be the gentle nudge you need as you seek to improve your teen’s skills in areas where they can grow. In any event, our desire is to inspire you to see the young adults your teens will soon become. And, we are here to help you along the way!

The Dean Recommends

This past fall, as dean of students at Patrick Henry College, I welcomed my sixth class of new students to campus. I have seen many homeschoolers come to the college, some prepared to be here and others needing...