Greetings and blessings to all the homeschooling high school families!  My name is Lori Havens, and I'm honored to be writing for The Front Porch . . . I'll be taking over for Lori Lane, who is on to new and wonderful adventures!  As I've read through Lori's past entries, I've realized that I am stepping into some very gifted shoes.  My thanks to her for the blessing her writings have been to me and to countless others, no doubt.  I pray that my humble musings here will be a blessing to you all, as well.

Summertime has finally come to Illinois.  Weather-wise, it certainly took its time arriving!  We are enjoying meals outdoors, the gentle sway of the hammock on the back patio, warm sun on our skin, etc.  Just writing about it brings about those feelings of lounging and laziness!  I remember the intense longings for summer vacation when I was in high school . . .

 May into early June . . . intense study for final exams . . . the high school pressure-cooker was full on!  Do you remember it?  Go back . . . picture yourself there.  You're sitting in classroom after classroom, knowing that the end is just around the corner.  The teachers are talking, but for moments at a time, your mind isn't comprehending what they are saying, because you can hear the birds outside the window . . . yes, the one that all that glorious warm sunshine is beaming through.  The leaves on the tree outside that window are deepening in their green color, and thoughts of lazy days with no schoolwork fill your mind.

Fast forward--you've just completed your last final exam . . . your eyes are glued to the clock's second hand, as you and your friends strain to bolt out of the classroom like a bunch of racehorses out of the starting chutes...bbbbrrrrrriiiiinnnnggggg!  There is a collective "whoo-hoo!!!" as an entire building erupts in the shear joy of freedom . . . it's summer vacation!!!

Fast-forward again--this time, to late August or mid-September.  You've just walked into your math class . . . Algebra I, Algebra II...the books are opened, and the teaching begins.  You will spend the next month or two learning absolutely nothing.

Why?  Because you will need to spend these months reviewing what you spent so many hours doing last year, re-learning concepts and formulas that you once knew, but "lost" over those wonderful, lazy, hazy days of summer vacation. 

Mom and Dad, is this what you want to experience in your homeschool math time this coming August/September?  If you're like me, right now all you want to do is climb in that hammock in the sun and rest.  You don't want to think about the upcoming school year just yet!  Believe me, I am with you!  It is very important for both parent and student to have that blessed time of rest . . . a break to allow the body, mind, and spirit to be refreshed. 

Ecclesiastes 12:12 is a good verse to keep in mind as our high school students toil throughout the school year:   " . . . of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh."  At some point in the school year, we do need to let them take a break!  For our family, that break comes primarily in the summer, but there are some studies that we simply do not allow them to break off from completely: math, and foreign language.  These are particularly susceptible to the "use-it-or-lose-it" syndrome, and we do not enjoy spending the beginning of our academic year re-learning "lost" material!  Summertime studies do, however, often take on a different "shape" in our home, in order to provide a rest for their "study-weary flesh."  Join me next week for Part 2 of "Summertime Counts,"  for a discussion of strategies for keeping skills sharp while keeping it restful.

May God Bless you,

Lori

Lori Havens has been married to Kevin for 24 years.  They live in Illinois with their two sons, Bryan (17) and Nathan (15), and dog Sunny (9).  Lori enjoys writing, gardening, reading, and the outdoors.  She is the author of "Should I Be A Nurse? A Journey of Self-Exploration for Those Considering a Career in Nursing" and  "7 Essential Questions Every Future Nurse Must Ask."    You can find her blogging at both Homeschool Blogger and Homestead Blogger .

1. If God is in control of everything, then he is definitely in control of my child's test scores.
2. If God is in control of my child's test scores, then he can open the doors to the right college for my child.
3. If God wants my child at a particular school, he will provide the way. 
4. I need to make sure to document my child's high school activities and curriculum as a backup to standardized test scores.
   

• Keep a complete and detailed reading list of the classic and recreational literature that my student has read throughout their high school career.
• Keep copies of their written work.
• Keep letters of recommendation from employers and teachers they have had for classes outside of the home.
• Keep detailed accounts of leadership activites and opportunites throughout your child's high school career.
•  Keep detailed accounts of all extra-curricular activities and opportunities throughout your child's high school career.
• Keep pictures of your student's projects created throughout their high column.
  

This time of year I tend to get a little saddle sore . . . a little weary in the journey and a little tired of the wild ride or sometimes "monotonous" ride we take on this homeschooling path. Although this isn't an earth shattering observation, I am going to go ahead and share it with you in hope of reminding you of this very important fact. You are NOT alone! This time of year because of the quietness after the holidays . . . because of the winter weather, and because of our weariness we have a tendency to isolate ourselves and forsake the idea of fellowship. However, God has given us friends and fellow sojourners to give us encourgement along the way. I think this is true for all homeschool moms but can be especially true for those of us who are homeschooling high schoolers. I encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to be with other mothers, other kindred spirits who can encourage you in the journey. If you can't fellowship face to face, try to fellowship over the phone, listening to encouraging workshops, fellowship online BUT FELLOWSHIP and seek encouragement from those who are on the path with you. Friends and fellowship is a God-given gift . . . don't take it for granted.

Faith and Courage,

Lori Lane

As I've watched my third son basically breeze through high school math by using Teaching Textbooks, I have thought back about my two older boys and their high school math programs. Once again, I'm reminded how important it is that we approach each of our children individually.

My first son and I tried three DIFFERENT math programs before one "took" for him when it came to beginning high school math. We tried a private tutor. We tried Abeka videos and finally came upon Math-U-See. By the time we found Math-U-See it was time for my second son to begin high school math and so they did Algebra I together. However, my second son was not challenged enough with that approach so we kept a special tutor for him who challenged him in math. (He's the one that was accepted into Georgia Tech.) So you see, even with the first two boys, even though we could share SOME of our approach to math in common, we still had to individualize it to meet each child's needs. Math-U-See would have bored my third son and so Teaching Textbooks and an occasional tutor have been the answer for him.

For us, it wasn't that any of the programs we tried were not good programs, they just weren't the right ones for that particular child. Why am I sharing this with you? Because I see so many parents try to use the same approach to math with each student. I don't know of another subject that needs MORE of an individualized approach than math, and I don't know of any other high school subject that brings more frustration to parents AND students. How I WISH that I could have been taught math according to my learning style instead of being forced to learn it like everyone else. Maybe I wouldn't break out in a cold sweat now. . .every time I see fractions and decimals. HA! If your student is struggling with math, take a look at your teaching style and the approach of the curriculum you've chosen and then compare it to the type of learner you know your child to be. Chances are, if your student is struggling, it may just be as simple as the wrong match up in these areas. Don't make math a DO OR DIE situation. . .be flexible and most of all, stay calm as you walk through the math maze so that your student stays calm and positive. This way, he will be able to keep an open mind toward this subject if it is one that he is currently struggling with.

Faith and Courage,

Lori Lane

Lori is married to the love of her life John and together they have four sons ranging in age from 23 down to 10. She is the author of “Beginning With The End In Mind”, a frequent speaker on home education, family and the arts, as well as serving as the Executive Director of The Artios Academies. (www.artiosacademies.com) You can see some of the pictures of their home in the central Colorado Rockies by visiting Lori’s website at www.theendinmind.net where you will receive encouragement for the journey.

During this time of year, my mind goes to traditions that our family has had over the years. This year I thought about foregoing a few of those traditions and see if I could let them slide under the radar since I entered the season a bit tired. I told myself that now that my kids were getting older, (23, 21, 15 and 10) and they are boys, surely they wouldn't notice if I didn't bring out ALL the traditional decorations or make all the traditional dishes or follow our traditional holiday schedule. Boy, was I wrong! I thought I was finished getting the Christmas decorations up and thought that the fact that I had NOT set out our Snow Village houses had gone unnoticed. . .but it wasn't two minutes after I announced that I was done that my boys both noticed that the village was missing. Can't put anything past them!

When my older boys have called home checking our holiday plans and sharing their excitement to head home for the holidays, they always seem to ask if I would be fixing a certain favorite dish while they are home, or if we would be going to the Christmas Eve service or if we are still going to watch the movie, "Wonderful Life" on Christmas Eve. You know. . .traditions bring with them a sense of security for us, no matter what age we are. As parents of teenagers, sometimes I find it easy to kind of step back from those traditions, thinking that the kids might not be interested, or might consider them lame. However, even if they do consider them lame a year or two while they are growing up, it is important for us to continue those routines and family traditions. They give us a sense of belonging, a sense of security, and a sense of family.

So, even if this is one of those years when you are tempted to try and fly "under the radar" with a few missing traditions because you think they don't mean anything to anyone other than you, let me encourage you that even your high schoolers AND your college age kids, need that sense of belonging. So, stick to your guns! Pull out those cookie sheets, pick out that tree together, be sure and have the family favorite movie ready to watch, and be sure to savor the moments, while cherishing the child.

Faith and Courage, Lori Lane

Lori is married to the love of her life John and together they have four sons ranging in age from 23 down to 10. She is the author of “Beginning With The End In Mind”, a frequent speaker on home education, famil,y and the arts, as well as serving as the Executive Director of The Artios Academies. (www.artiosacademies.com) You can see some of the pictures of their home in the central Colorado Rockies by visiting Lori’s website at www.theendinmind.net where you will receive encouragement for the journey.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I have to admit that ours was a bit bumpy with stomach flu going through the house, and celebrating on Friday instead of Thursday. My poor husband was so disappointed that the feast had to be postponed. "It's the biggest feast of the year," he said. BUT, it tasted just as good the following day and I'm happy to report that we are all on the mend. That being said, not only did we have to show some flexibility with regards to our Thanksgiving plans this year, but I was reminded again, that flexibility with our homeschool schedule is also possible AND important.

Those of us who are homeschooling high school students, realize that with the end of the year approaching, we are quickly approaching the end of the semester as well. For me, this is always a good time to stop, observe and adjust. Recently, I realized that we had gotten ahead on some subjects and needed to put some extra time into some other subjects in order to stay on schedule. Thus, our daily schedule of "classes" and assignments were adjusted. Flexibility! YEA!

In addition, with the approach of Thanksgiving I realized that we had some holes and some foggy memory regarding some of the specifics of the Thanksgiving season and the holiday itself. (Don't tell anyone!) Once I realized this, we flexed again, and went online, found some resources to help us, and revamped and adjusted our approach to history leading up to Thanksgiving. Once again, I was reminded that it is important to always keep the desired "end result" in mind. To have those desires written down so that I can refer to those goals frequently and be reminded of where we are on track and where we may be missing the mark and need to adjust in order to reach our goal.

As an example, part of the result John and I desire, is that our children really understand the spiritual heritage they have in America's founding. Knowing that, when we realized that there was some confusion on the specifics of Thanksgiving, we felt it absolutely necessary to use the ideal time of Thanksgiving week to focus on reinforcing those specifics and meeting that goal. At the beginning of this semester, I spent several weeks talking about "beginning with the end in mind" and how to set goals for your child and for your school year.

However, it's hard to hit a goal if you forget what your goals are. I used to hear someone say quite often, "If you don't know where you are going, you will end up where you are headed." In other words, you better know your desired destination and keep focused on it, or you will get caught in a bunch of U-turns and deadends.

May God keep the goals clearly fixed in our minds and may WE stay flexible enough to adjust to meet those goals. For more on this subject, please be sure to listen to my recent blogtalk radio interview with Diana Waring of Diana Waring Presents/History Alive. She spoke about this in many areas of our homeschool lifestyles and philosophies and I know it would be a great encouragement to you. Just visit: www.blogtalkradio.com/theendinmind

Faith and Courage, Lori Lane

Lori is married to the love of her life John and together they have four sons ranging in age from 22 down to 10. She is the author of “Beginning With The End In Mind”, a frequent speaker on home education, family and the arts, as well as serving as the Executive Director of The Artios Academies. (www.artiosacademies.com) You can see some of the pictures of their home in the central Colorado Rockies by visiting Lori’s website at www.theendinmind.net where you will receive encouragement for the journey.

Although a bit off the regular subject, I have found myself a bit frustrated lately with my high schooler and high schoolers in general, especially those around 15 or so.

It seems like sometimes aliens inhabit our once responsible teens and replace them with someone who can walk past piles of dirty clothes on the floor, dirty dishes on their desk, unfinished homework and normally routine chores. All of a sudden it seems like the things that we have worked so hard to instill in them, as far as good habits goes, disappear for a time.

Now, I know that this too shall pass. I've been through it twice before and I've also worked with dozens of teens who have passed through this age and they AND their parents have lived to tell about it and those kids are now very productive and godly individuals. However, it doesn't SEEM like this phase will ever end when you are in the middle of it. I do have to admit to you that I think part of my frustration is that I let down the standard a bit during this time. That seems especially true during this time around. I feel more tired the third time through this phase and so I'm finding myself not holding the standard as high for my high schooler or for me. So, we end up in a vicious cycle. I lower my expectations......and the standard slips lower....so I lower my expectations....and the standards slips lower.

Now, I do believe in grace at certain times and phases of life. However, I also know that we get what we expect and INSPECT when it comes to our children. SO, instead of letting down, the past few days, we've had some heart to hearts about doing "all" things to the best of our potential for God's honor and glory. We've discussed the future and how we are setting ourselves up for success or failure by the character we show now.

And all the while, I've been realizing that someone needs to talk to me about the same thing. I've lowered my expectations of myself lately. . .kind of let myself off the hook and it is time to "man up" so to speak and "run the race" well. Thus, I find myself not only needing to set and keep the standard with my high schooler, but also needing to set the example.

Faith and Courage,

Lori Lane

Lori is married to the love of her life John and together they have four sons ranging in age from 23 down to 10. She is the author of “Beginning With The End In Mind”, a frequent speaker on home education, family and the arts, as well as serving as the Executive Director of The Artios Academies. (www.artiosacademies.com) You can see some of the pictures of their home in the central Colorado Rockies by visiting Lori’s website at www.theendinmind.net where you will receive encouragement for the journey.

The last few weeks I have been building a case about the importance of arts education within our homeschool schedule and our family’s lifestyle. Hopefully by now, you are eager to hear of ways to incorporate the arts within your homeschool. So, let’s get started with music first of all.

1. The obvious resource often used is private music instruction. In most areas instruction in voice, piano, violin and other instruments is readily available.

2. To encourage your child to develop an interest in music, incorporate into your home. Buy high quality CD’s of great classical favorites and let your child’s ear GORGE on the beautiful sounds made my classical compositions. Don’t lecture about them, at least not at first, but make it a part of your lifestyle.

3. Take your child to concerts of various kinds with a special emphasis on concerts that feature wonderful classics or music from a particular time period in history that you may be studying.

4. Invite a musician into your homeschool group and ask them to tell about their experiences with creating and performing music. Ask them to explain the instrument they play and why they chose that instrument.

5. Look for local youth choirs both homeschool and/or community related which offer high quality instruction in vocal performance and feature music classics of all eras.

6. In your study of history, incorporate the study of a specific composer’s life and music.

7. Investigate various community orchestras and bands that your student can participate in.

8. Enroll in a music history class at the local community college.

9. Sing in the church choir.

10. There are some great biographical CD’s out there based on various composer’s lives which also incorporate the composer’s various compositions. These are fascinating and are easily put on an Ipod to be listened to on the go.

11. If your student is new to music instruction and is a bit hesitant or reluctant to start, spark their interest by doing some of the above mentioned activities in groups so that it is not only educational but also social.

12. View Francis Schaeffer’s “How Should We Then Live”

Next week, I will do the same type of thing with art. Please be sure to contact me if you have any questions.

Faith and Courage,

Lori Lane

Lori is married to the love of her life John and together they have four sons ranging in age from 23 down to 10. She is the author of “Beginning With The End In Mind”, a frequent speaker on home education, family and the arts, as well as serving as the Executive Director of The Artios Academies. (www.artiosacademies.com) You can see some of the pictures of their home in the central Colorado Rockies by visiting Lori’s website at www.theendinmind.net where you will receive encouragement for the journey.