Teaching High School | Epi Kardia

Should You Join a Co-op?

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

I’ll never forget my first co-op experience. We had too many moms with two many children of different ages trying to accomplish too much. When we hit the mid-year mark and felt that we’d really given it a shot, several of us dropped out. I think it might have been a better co-op once we’d left simply because the numbers were more manageable. Numbers are just one factor related to whether co-ops succeed or not. If you’re thinking of starting a co-op or joining an existing one, answer the following questions:

How well do you know the other members and the children of the co-op? Getting involved with other families that you don’t know well for an adventure as long term as a co-op can be a risk. They may be families that you spent time with on field trips or moms that you’ve seen once a month at meetings. Neither of those situations really reveal how families handle overall discipline or organization. They don’t demonstrate their work ethic, quality of education or time management skills. Even among believing home schoolers, we are a diverse group of people focusing on various priorities and valuing different things. We may all be saved, we may all love Jesus, but that doesn’t mean we all have the same ideas about what should get accomplished, how long it should take and who should be disciplining an unruly child. All of these situations and more are addressed during co-ops so you’ll want to consider them ahead of time. If you are attracted to a particular co-op but don’t know the families well that are involved, find other ways to get to know them. Be up front and let them know that you don’t want to join and not meet the needs of the group to your best ability.
How do you and your children handle group situations? Some children don’t do well in large groups so choosing a co-op that works with your children’s comfort levels is important. Remember that co-ops can grow, so that sweet, intimate group that you started with may expand unless guidelines are established to prevent it. Also, some children don’t respond well to other adults disciplining them, even mildly. Some adults don’t like to discipline other people’s children. I personally wouldn’t be in a co-op with a mom who wasn’t comfortable with correcting my son, when necessary. I also couldn’t be in a co-op where a parent wouldn’t want me to gently correct her child, if needed. If you have a child with a learning disability, attention challenges or underdeveloped social skills, the distractions of a co-op group could prove to be frustrating all the way around. I’m not saying that such children shouldn’t be in co-ops. I am saying that finding a smaller, tightly knit group with lots of structure and grace would work best for such a child to truly benefit and to be able to contribute. My son might enjoy a large co-op but I know that he wouldn’t benefit near as much once it grows beyond 3 or 4 other kids. Knowing your own child is an important step to defining the healthiest co-op situation for both of you.
What are the goals of the co-op? Many times, collaborating with other moms sounds like so much fun and it’s just great to get the kids together once a week. However, you probably don’t want to have a co-op that doesn’t also help meet some of your educational goals. Otherwise, you’re most likely just adding another event to what may already be a very busy week. Co-ops with specific goals and objectives tend to be more successful for both the parents running it and the children participating. For example, we are currently in a co-op that features several different goals spanning a variety of subjects. However, the main goal of the co-op is to make up for the weaknesses of teaching individual high schoolers. Our co-op goals are as follows:
- Complete our Chemistry labs in a group setting (other connected goals include: working as a team and writing a successful lab report)
- Have intelligent discussion about the history books being read (other connected goals: read with a purpose, communicate what has been read, analyze reading aloud with others and apply content to projects and other activities)
- A Bible study from a male perspective (connected goals: examine the journey from boyhood to manhood with a Biblical perspective, to be in a comfortable enough setting to discuss personal male issues and to interact with godly men as role models and mentors)
- Practice speaking Spanish with someone who is fluent.

Our co-op was derived from a need to fill the gaps of our own perceived weaknesses. We are three moms with three high school boys. We knew that if we did a Bible study, it wouldn’t be the same as having godly men share this time with our boys. None of us speaks Spanish fluently, so we combined efforts to utilize a fluent college student to converse with our boys during co-op time each week. By combining efforts, we found a way to improve the quality of education for our boys, give them time to interact with other boys their age in a meaningful way and also share the burdens with one another, making them easier to bear. Not all co-ops will be developed with the same thinking. Some families do co-ops for social reasons while others really want to focus on academics. No matter what the reason, establishing firm goals from the beginning offers a greater opportunity for success.

Do you have the time and resources for a co-op? While answering this question, you need to consider that co-ops are a combination of efforts and that means that you’ll be expected to contribute time, energy and maybe even money. If you already find your schedule tight, jumping into a co-op may just result in more stress. If you’re considering joining an established co-op, be sure to inquire about your responsibilities and commitment. As well, how much will you need to work with your child at home on co-op homework, projects, etc. Finally, will you need to travel to the co-op? How much time will be eaten up on the road, prepping for the co-op and cleaning up afterward? If you are considering starting a co-op, be sure to ask all of the above questions as well as the time, energy and money needed to get the co-op off the ground and keep it running smoothly.
Will the co-op add to the quality of your child’s education? If you could just as easily meet the goals of an existing co-op by working with your children at home, it is probably not the best choice for your family. In these situations, the co-op may become cumbersome and you’ll soon be looking for reasons to leave. Don’t rush into a co-op because it sounds like fun or because you’re pining for social interaction unless those are your primary goals. While I completely understand those needs, an educational co-op may not be the place to have them met. Wait for a co-op situation or create one that will compliment your child’s educational experience, enhancing what you’re already teaching or opening a door for a new learning opportunity. If you can find a co-op that meets educational needs and offers social interaction for you and your child, that’s certainly ideal!
What will happen if you decide you can’t continue with the co-op? It’s rare for there not to be consequences when a family pulls out of a co-op. With my first experience, the only reason no one really suffered is because it was such a large co-op that I think we did everyone a favor by leaving. But in most cases, that’s not how it works. For example, if the co-op is in your home, will you feel obligated to continue or will it be possible for someone else to take over that responsibility? Maybe you have a specific role in the co-op, such as teaching science; that would be challenging for another mom to just jump in and take over. It’s really wise to have a contingency plan in mind in case you have to quit for any reason. While you don’t want to go in thinking that you’ll be leaving, having moms able to take on multiple roles and having an alternative location are both comforting for everyone involved.
Have you asked your "principal" for his opinion? Husbands and fathers can often see beyond our desires and hopes to the practical side of being home school parents. They may note when schedules are overloaded and decisions are being made emotionally. As well, if your husband supports the decision, you may be more confident in the likelihood that it’s a healthy choice for your family.
Have you prayed over the decision? Whenever we make choices that directly affect not only us but other families as well, it’s definitely essential to spend time in prayer. When we pray, we’re less likely to make a decision based on emotional responses. If you attend a meeting about the possibility of beginning or joining a co-op, it’s wisest to leave the meeting without a commitment and take time to consider God’s will in the decision. As with your husband’s support, a decision prayerfully made usually brings with it a level of confidence that’s not there when you don’t pray.

Co-ops can be beneficial and wonderful experiences. Examining your goals and reasons for creating or participating in a co-op may allow you to make a better decision. Involving your husband and God in the decision provides an even greater opportunity for success.

Watch for the upcoming second part of this series, A Picture of a Successful Co-op. May God bless you and your family!

Beth

Posted in Parenting/Homeschooling in General, Teaching High School | Comments Off

The Big Decision

Tuesday, March 4th, 2008

It is one of the biggest decisions homeschool families have to make. I know parents who literally spend years of prayer and have many hours of discussion before making such a choice. This particular decision can change the life of a child in ways we cannot always comprehend…in both positive and negative aspects. I believe that other than choosing to homeschool, it is one of the most challenging determinations for some families to make.

Should we homeschool through high school?

After talking with parents, it amazed me that such competent, loving and devout believers struggle with this issue. I don’t mean that in a critical way, but for me it was a no-brainer. Now, many of you will say that my confidence comes from having taught school. But in reality, my confidence comes from the Lord. For me, I read the scripture, Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6 NAS), and noticed that "child" was not defined as "until he is in high school". Before I get anyone really riled up, let me answer one question. Do I believe that every family should homeschool in high school? Well, to be honest, it doesn’t matter what I believe…it’s what you believe and where God leads your family. However, I do think that we often do things in this life for worldly reasons, particularly when it comes to our children. We teach them about eternity, but are we showing them how to live it out? This is a conviction that has long plagued me, especially when it comes to making difficult, life changing decisions. While teaching my children through high school wasn’t one of those decisions, I have plenty of others. So, as you read on, please do not see me as standing in judgment of whether you homeschool high school or not, but rather as a presenter of ideas to open up a possible train of thought and aid you in carefully thinking through your decision.

Reasons that people have given me for sending their kids to public high school:

1. I can’t homeschool high school. I barely made it through myself. While I understand your thinking, it’s not true in many cases. (At least the first part!)There is a great fear about high school because suddenly accountability is so high. Credits must be earned to get into college. I remember when I had to teach Geometry to Ally . It was a nightmare for me initially because I didn’t understand Geometry when I took it. I just don’t think that way. However, I really had to give that class over to the Lord. I didn’t know about great interactive curriculum like Teaching Textbooks and Math U See at the time. I think we used a BJU textbook. But we made it through and I learned a great deal! Was I the most qualified teacher for Ally in this subject area? Definitely not! Was I the person who was supposed to be teaching her this subject? I believe so. God doesn’t just fill in the gaps where we are weak, He gives us the Holy Spirit to pray us through those weaknesses and ask for the things that we cannot even express! In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (Romans 8:26 NIV) God has also provided others to assist me in homeschooling. Ally and I will always have a special place in our hearts for Marie Owens, homeschool mom and College of Charleston professor because she did Ally’s biology labs with her. Marie not only encouraged Ally in her love for science, but she was such an example of a scientist who loves the Lord. Next year, my son is taking Chemistry from another mom and teacher. When I met her, I praised God for her and will continue to do so! Between local teachers, online courses and well written curriculum, I firmly believe that anyone who has the desire and trusts in the Lord can homeschool through high school, despite perceived educational weaknesses.

2. I have smaller children and I really don’t have the time. I was recently reading a book about business consulting by Dr. Alan Weiss. He goes beyond business in the book and really addresses the heart of any person’s life when he says. "When you say you don’t have time to see your kids’ events, you really mean that other things are more important and you’ve decided not see their events." Now, he is speaking of priorities and business people who neglect their families for work with the excuse of "I don’t have the time." We make time for the things that are most vital to all of us in this life. We prioritize without thought sometimes. Imagine that you have found the time for your child for the last 13 years and yet, when it comes to high school, you don’t have it. You have invested so much into someone and then "lost" that time somewhere? Ironically, I have found that even though my children have taken the bulk of their high school courses with me and not outside the home, I spent less time on school with them in high school than any other school years. My time is more concentrated and thought out, but I make it despite being a full time freelance writer, half of Epi Kardia, teacher of other children and all of those other things we all do for church, friends, family etc. I am not super woman…not even close. Many of you with your multitude of children deserve that title much more than me, but I do ask God continually to help me prioritize. If you feel certain that God wants you to place other priorities over educating your high schooler then you are where you should be. If not, I would advise more prayer about it before making the decision.

3. My teen is well grounded in his faith and I see public high school as a mission field for him. Imagine how many other teens he can impact! I think that of all of the reasons I have heard in defense of not homeschooling high school, this is the one that affects me the most. The term that comes to mind is "leading the lamb to the slaughter." If God calls you to be an Abraham and to sacrifice your Isaac, by all means, obey Him. That is always the truth…obey God. He will always honor you for it. However, I would be absolutely certain that you are hearing God’s voice in this. In most cases, public school is a battle ground and you are sending your child into battle. I have taught in public school and it truly is a mission field, but before you put your teen into that mission field, be sure that God is supporting that mission. I often visualize myself standing before God as a parent, knowing that He will hold me accountable for who my children become in this world. If I do not make discipling them a priority, how can I ever disciple others effectively? I know that I have and will make many errors as a parent, but I’d rather those errors be out of ignorance, not choice.

4. My teen wants to play sports and he can’t play it outside of school. At least this is logical, although rather worldly. If your child is destined to be the next NBA star, God is not going to let school choice stop him. This is one of those areas when I feel we become more worldly than wise. I know of many high school homeschoolers whose children are very active in sports through private leagues and recreation departments. Some private schools allow outside students to play. My son currently practices Lacrosse with a private school because he likes their attitude better than the recreation department league. I called the school and asked, and they said "Yes." I praised God for that! It was an answer to prayer that took some time, but the wait was worth it.

Reasons that I have heard for why people homeschool high school include:

1. For his [her son's] emotional and psychological wellbeing. I was so afraid of him getting lost in the system and falling through the cracks. I felt like no one really cared about him or his education. -Sharon, a homeschool mom who pulled her son out of public school in his sophomore year.

2. The main reasons we homeschool in high school are we really enjoyed home schooling and the kids wanted to continue; they felt like they had superior learning and with outside classes with other kids, they wanted to maintain the strong relationships they had developed. They had time to be involved in youth groups and we liked the flexibility. I had actually told my children we would not home school in high school, but once the doors opened up with what they needed, we found a comfort level making that commitment. I would sum it up as just a different quality of life. -Sandy, a homeschool mom who has homeschooled from earlier years.

3. The reasons for homeschooling in high school do not change from homeschooling in earlier years. They’re basically the same reasons we started homeschooling to begin with. First of all, we feel like God’s called us to it. Secondly, we enjoy it. We love having our son with us, being involved in his education and him being part of our everyday lives. -Susan, a homeschool mom who’s son started out in private Christian school.

4. As she was wondering about going to public high school, we prayed with my oldest during her last year of middle school. As parents, we did not have peace about sending her to high school–why would we give her up now, during this crucial time? As she prayed, she came to the conclusion on her own that her prayer and study time with the Lord would be drastically limited if she went to public school. (Besides, they wouldn’t let her go in pajamas.)Those high school years were among the most precious with her–God blessed her mightily, in many ways, as well as blessing us with a very close relationship as a result of that time together. –Dana, the other half of Epi Kardia.

Finally, if you’re interested, I should include the reasons we homeschool. A calling from God is definitely the main reason for our homeschooling. Establishing strong relationships with my children beyond the norm, being able to disciple them on a near to full time basis and taking responsibility for their entire education, spiritually, emotionally and academically, all affected our homeschool decision. To be honest, John Paul and I, the only ones at home at this point, also enjoy the flexibility of creating our own days without the government telling us when to do what.

I hope that this blog has been thought provoking and encouraging. Prayerful consideration and trust in the Lord will never lead you astray. I pray this for you, our readers, as well as for Dana and me.

Many blessings!

Beth

Posted in Teaching High School | 5 Comments »

Reluctant Writers – Part 3 High School and Beyond

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008

Don’t Panic!

I often use that phrase when talking to parents about their high school students, particularly when the subject of writing is involved. High school brings about a whole new type of anxiety. The clock seems to tick faster and many times, the student seems to be much less concerned about getting an education than the parent. Let me reiterate…don’t panic! You are not in control, but that’s okay…God is!

My daughter was not a reluctant writer in high school. She was a major overachiever and while writing was not a love for her as it is for me, she wanted to please her parents and God. Academics came easily in most cases and when something was challenging, she had serious self motivation. Little did I know that my son would be the opposite. He has a wonderful imagination and sometimes even a good attitude, but he simply doesn’t like transferring ideas from his head to paper. It is time consuming. It is frustrating. It is not fun. It is, to put it simply, outright hard. So, what’s a parent or teacher to do?

9 Key Points to Teaching Older Reluctant Writers

To begin with, read Part 2 of this Reluctant Writers series. There are many ideas in that article that apply to high schoolers as well: limiting assignments, using high interest topics, and communicating clearly and often. But high school writers are not middle school writers and they need to be treated differently in some ways.

1. Self-editing – This skill is vital for high school students to acquire, even reluctant writers. As with all difficult areas, begin small. Have your student only edit for capitalization the first go around. With every assignment, add something new to look for including punctuation, sentence structure, spelling, etc. For Epi Kardia users, there is a self-editing tool that you can adapt and use. It is on the Tools CD or in the Epi Kardia Parent’s Manual tools section. Begin with self-editing smaller assignments and move on to longer ones as your student begins to build confidence.

2. Modeling – Whether you realize it or not, your high school student is watching you closely. I didn’t realize this until my daughter was at college and we talked about it. Make sure that your high schooler sees you writing, even if it’s just email. Let him or her “catch” you reading your email aloud back to yourself so that you can edit it. For boys, it is even more important for them to see Dad or male siblings doing this. Boys often develop an attitude that academics, and especially writing, are “girl” things. You probably self-edit without even thinking about it. I rarely send an email without reading it aloud. It is not uncommon for my child to walk in and find me talking to the computer. Okay…sometimes it’s frustration! However, it’s often me reading my writing aloud.

3. Ask your high schooler for help – I know this sounds odd, particularly for a reluctant writer. However, when a student perceives himself as needed, it builds confidence. You may ask your student to help out by reading a short assignment from a younger sibling or even something you have written yourself. Obviously, you don’t want to ask him to do something that is beyond his ability at the time, so be sure to work through basic self-editing skills prior to making such a request.

Why all of this focus on editing? Students who can edit their own work feel better about themselves and build confidence. Editing is a different skill than writing and it is not uncommon for a reluctant writer, at this level, to understand how writing should look without being excited about doing it himself. As well, the more editing practice that occurs the better the writing skills later.

4. Essay writing – the basic essay styles (expository, narrative, persuasive, comparison/contrast and descriptive) are vital for high school students to master.

Work on the styles one by one moving from simplest in form (expository, narrative and descriptive) to more difficult (persuasive and comparison/contrast). Most students like certain styles over others which is natural. Be as encouraging as possible when your student finds a style that fits his personality and consider even adding an additional assignment to fit that style. It will build confidence. Allow more time for the styles that do not appeal to your student.
Before beginning any essay writing, read through examples of essays in that style to help your student have a very clear understanding of the format. Reassure your student that there will be multiple draft opportunities to get it right.
Outlining is essential for every student (different outline types are discussed in the Epi Kardia Parent’s Manual) and mastering this skill will provide structure and again, build confidence in a reluctant writer’s ability to get the assignment completed.
Consider writing an essay together. While this may feel like pulling teeth, it is well worth the effort. It will also remind you of how challenging it can be to complete such assignment, insuring future compassion from you!
Vary essay lengths. Many schools push the 5 paragraph essay and yet, most colleges prefer a student with a more varied writing style. Encourage your student to write shorter and longer essays. You may even want to start with a mini-essay of only three paragraphs. Descriptive essays are good candidates for this writing assignment.
Be patient. Yes, the clock is ticking, but four years of high school can include a wide variety of experiences. Also remember that your student will grow and mature more in those four years so every problem need not be tackled in the freshman year.

5. Practical writing skills allow a high school student to practice writing without the pressure of a graded assignment. Thank you notes, emailing correspondence (yes, you can say that no emails will be sent to relatives without being edited first), writing a resume, even writing a description for selling an item on Ebay or in the newspaper can be valuable experience.

6. Tie writing into what your student loves. If your student has a strong interest in music, have him write song lyrics. If he loves to read, relate assignments to his free time reading rather than books from his literature class. I once discovered that a writing student of mine, who perceived himself as a non-writer, could write technical material explaining the complex workings of a paintball gun like a pro. He soon realized that he was definitely a writer and could continue on to other things, but his love for paint ball brought out skills he didn’t realize he had. Sometimes removing the focus from the writing itself and putting it on the highly interesting subject can be all it takes for a student to get the job done.

7. Research papers are a fact of high school life. The great thing about a research paper is that it can be broken down into smaller components and worked on a little at a time. See the Epi Kardia Parent’s Manual for more information about how to teach a research paper assignment. Most students take a semester to write a paper, but for a reluctant writer, consider taking up to one school year. There are no rules about how long it should take, but a college bound high school student should have at least two research papers under his belt by graduation. For reluctant writers, the topic will make all of the difference. With the first experience, most definitely allow the student to select the topic. You may want him to give you a list of possibilities and you narrow it down, but it should be topic of interest. Keep the first research paper shorter (6-10 pages) for a reluctant writer. Even a shorter paper will seem overwhelming. Communicate clearly about how there will be significant time and the work will be broken up with smaller deadlines throughout the year, then stick with those deadlines as much as possible. If there is an issue keeping the deadline, don’t let it be a result of your neglect (not having something graded on time, not getting your student to the library, etc.). Nothing is more discouraging to a student than being told that his work is so important but perceiving by your actions or lack of action that the work is not. Grade each segment of the process because there is less pressure with multiple grades than one major grade.

8. Considered writing projects or paired writing. Often high school students will contribute more and gain more confidence if they are not alone in their endeavors. Discuss this with your student prior to making any decisions. If your student is adamant about not wanting to write with another student, don’t push it. In my experience, however, most students feel less pressure when more than one person is involved.

9. Look into writing courses. This may seem odd for a student who is already insecure about his abilities, but again, I have found through teaching high school writing courses that male students, in particular, respond better in a structured, class setting. They often work harder because they do not want to appear incapable in front of their peers. It is essential to interview the instructor if you have a truly reluctant writer. Reluctant writers tend to achieve more with teachers who have a sense of humor and are encouraging, without allowing the student to deviate from the course. Grace and understanding when a student is struggling balanced with accountability is not always easy to find in an instructor, but definitely not impossible. Talking with other parents and students about instructors is typically wise. Just remember that every parent is not looking for the same qualities in a teacher, so be sure to decide what is most important to you before making a decision.

Teaching a high school student is truly a sacrificial act for many parents. When that student is a reluctant writer, the jewels on the crown increase exponentially! Just remember that this is only aspect of your student and that you both will make it through with prayer, patience and time. Feel free to email us through Epi Kardia (info@epikardia.com ) if you have any specific relucant writer questions or situations. God bless and know that the fruit of your labor will not go unnoticed!

If you missed the first two posts in the series, please check out Reluctant Writers – Part 1 The Early Years and Reluctant Writers – Part 2 The Middle Years.

Posted in Teaching High School, Teaching Writing | Comments Off

Reflections with the Oldest Now in College

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008

Am I smart enough? Am I organized enough? Will I be able to discipline myself enough? Will I be able to make a workable plan and stick to it? Will I ruin my kids not doing science/history/art/-you fill in the blank- this year? Will I be able to teach high school? Will my kids be able to get into college? If they do get in, will they be able to hack it? Sound familiar?

As my oldest finishes her first semester at college and we wait for those first grades to be posted, I reflect on these questions I have asked myself over the years, and the answer is: No, I’m not smart, organized or disciplined enough! But God has blessed in spite of my limitations. Most of us would not consider ourselves brilliant, but we all have the desire for our kids to grow up to be independent learners, to be kind to others, well-rounded, responsible citizens, well-informed about the issues surrounding us, and even more importantly, to have a heart for God. Isn’t it interesting that I didn’t mention that they needed to be perfect spellers, get all A’s in high school math, or be able to remember all the US Presidents in order? Academics are important, but they are not the most important. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt 6:33 I know, I am taking this verse out of context and I know it doesn’t mean that if we do devotions everyday after breakfast that my kids will get straight A’s. But it does mean that we are instructed to keep first things first and place spiritual training and discipling ahead of algebra, in my humble opinion. What does this look like, you ask?

It has looked differently in our house as the kids have grown older, but one of the most important things, as parents, is that we have tried to put into practice what we are teaching. It doesn’t do me any good to require that the children speak kindly to one another when I am not speaking kindly to their father. It isn’t productive for me to tell them to be respectful, if we, as parents, are not respectful of one another and of them. That doesn’t mean that we are perfect, but we try to do our best, and we apologize when we mess up. (Which in my case, can be often.)

Have regular devotions, geared to children’s ages. That doesn’t mean to “dumb them down,“ it just means that it works best to have devotions short and include singing and object lessons when they are younger. After breakfast worked best for us, just because it was the beginning of their day before we started working on different activities. We also chose a hymn a month, talked about the words and memorized at least the first verse. Note, in our house, parents get up earlier and have personal devotions before children get up. As children get older, we get ‘meatier.’ By the time they were in late elementary and middle school, we were working through the book of Romans, a few verses at a time. Also at this age, we encouraged our kids to start having their own devotions, either when they first woke up or before they went to bed.

Model that treating each other well and following instructions are more important than getting the (academic) work done. Many a time we have put away the books to attempt to unravel a sibling squabble. Work is not continued until apologies are made and forgiveness offered. As well, work that has been done without regard to following instructions is often required to be done again. Not that I recommend being a stickler on the non-essentials–but if I have asked that someone show each step on an algebra problem, then the work is not done until those steps are included. And as painful as it is, writing a well-crafted essay always takes more than one draft.

As a family, serve each other and serve others outside of the family. Make a game out of looking for ways to serve one another each day or each week. If the parents of a household are doing all of the serving, then things are out of balance. I know it is much simpler and faster to clean a bathroom yourself than train (and retrain) a child to do it, but the investment in time and energy is worth it. Children will someday be spouses and parents themselves (God willing) and will then be required to serve, so they might as well grow up learning how to do it now. Serving others can include bringing in a neighbor’s paper and mail while he is traveling, mowing a lawn for a single mom of small children, watching a young mother’s baby so she can get something done, or helping to make and deliver a meal for someone who is ill. Include your children in all such activities. When they are old enough, give them an opportunity to minister to another culture, for example, by going on a missions trip to a poor area of the U.S. or to a foreign country. Better yet, go as a family. This can be life-changing!

Homeschooling provides such a fertile atmosphere for shaping and molding your kids’ hearts; I am very grateful to have that opportunity, and it is going all too quickly! Now as our Christmas vacation draws to an end and my daughter is making plans to go back to college, I am so thankful to see some of the fruit of our labors. And her grades, you ask? Well, let’s just say she has a lot to live up to next semester!

In His Grace,

Posted in Encouragement | 1 Comment »

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Should You Join a Co-op?

The Big Decision

Reluctant Writers – Part 3 High School and Beyond

Don’t Panic!

9 Key Points to Teaching Older Reluctant Writers

Reflections with the Oldest Now in College

WOULD YOU EPI KARDIA USERS GIVE US JUST A MOMENT?

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