You will need to remind yourself that even a robot can "bark out" assignments: "Work page 32 in math book. Do page 25 in your language workbook. Reading textbook: Read the story beginning on page 40 and answer the questions at the end of that story." In that sort of setup, you would simply function as a study hall monitor who would peek in occasionally to see if your child appeared to be on task. 

Teaching, however, is in stark contrast to that kind of arrangement. As one homeschool mom quipped, "Teaching is not just checking off pages and clocking in time."

Parents are always interested to know when their teens should begin taking these tests. There is not a hard and fast rule. Often you can gauge when your teens are ready to tackle them. Since the math section covers material from basic math, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and some Trig, your teen will need to realize that these scores may be lower if he/she has fewer math courses completed when starting to take the tests. In light of that, it may be wise to consider completing at least Algebra 1 and Geometry before taking the tests.

I remember my children’s teen years, and sometimes I wonder how we lived through them. Someone always had to be somewhere, and as much as I tried to keep a rein on activities, many times I felt like screaming, “WHOA!”

   How do you help your teen to bring balance into his schedule? How do you train her in time management skills that will be useful now and the rest of her life? We’ve found some helpful resources for you.

During the high school years, you may want to carve out some time to guide your teen in thinking about his/her future career.  What would be helpful and where do you start?

In order to help your teen narrow down the choices, consider designing and offering your teen a Career Development elective course...

From the number of phone calls and emails we are receiving, you all are busy making final preparations for a new school year.

   Before your calendars are completely full, take a look at what’s going on for you at HSLDA and maybe in your area, http://www.hslda.org/about/calendar/.

It would probably be scarier to yell “transcripts” in a room full of homeschool parents than to yell “fire”!  At least it seems so from the number of questions and expressions of panic I receive from parents teaching their teens at home.

   Let me help to put your fears to rest. Simply defined, a transcript is a record of the academic course work that a student completes during high school.

Your son or daughter may live, eat, and sleep in your house, but is he/she a long way from home spiritually? Nothing can be as discouraging for parents as seeing their teens turn away from the Lord in spite of their good efforts to raise them in the nurture of the Lord.

   What’s a parent to do? As someone who empathizes with your heartache, I suggest that you soak in His word.  You’ll find that the Lord will supply you with cool water for your journey.