Issue #26, Dec 11, 2001

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Seedling

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Nurturing our children in the freedom of Christ
Issue #26, Dec 11, 2001
Sr. Editor & Publisher: Elissa Wahl
Assistant Editor: Teri Brown
Contributing Editor: Angel Dyke

IN THIS ISSUE

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1. Welcome from the Editor
2. Faith Walking Through High School by Barb Shelton
3. Some Options Elissa Wahl
4. Links
5. Book Review
6. Closing letter from the editor
7. Subscription Information
8. Reprint Information

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1. Welcome from the editor

Hi all, hope this newsletter is received in the manner it was
sent ... in love and through God!

Ohhh, how I pray you all are not being hit by nasty illnesses! Some
viruses are going around here and keeping folks bedridden.

Luckily, I can see we are learning new things, even as we lay in bed
watching HGTV. Sometimes seeing the education, the learning, is
hard...especially for new homeschooling parents. Now, add that worry
to the worry and self-doubts of "teaching a high schooler".

Many of you have asked me to address homeschooling high schoolers. It
IS being done! And, it is being done WELL!

I am confident this issue will point out enough resources to get you
started, and will give you self-assurance.

Psalm 29:11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses
his people with peace.

Hopefully, you too, will be at peace.


Please read on, and we pray you are blessed!

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2. Faith Walking Through High School

by Barb Shelton

Part, if not most of the problem we encounter when we come face-to-
face with the idea of homeschooling through high school is, very
simply, FEAR. Most homeschooling parents I talk with shake in their
boots at the very thought.

Others claim to be fairly fearless, but how they act belies them.
They may not think it's fear, and on the surface it may not feel like
fear, but when they have a hard time making decisions that they think
we have no "authority" to make, and when their biggest "concern"
is "requirements", I submit to you that they are walking in fear, at
least to a certain degree: Fear of college; fear of not measuring up;
fear of gaps (which call "Gapaphobia"); fear of lab science; fear of
not fulfilling requirements; fear of "failing" (us or our kids); fear
of - you name it, we fear it.

Now some of these "fears" are rooted in valid concerns! We want the
best for our kids, and we want them to make it in the world, college,
and whatever the future holds for them. However, what I see over and
over is people who are not only "concerned" about these things, they
are bending over backwards to bow down to them, avoid them, prevent
them, or whatever. The last thing on their minds is asking God what
he might have in Mind for this particular student's "high school
experience." That idea doesn't even dawn on them because their entire
focus is centered on satisfying and complying with the system, making
sure they do will within it. I submit to you that when that is the
whole goal, there is no room for what God might be wanting to do,
other than to maybe see if He says "yay" or "nay" to a particular
curriculum program.

It doesn't have to be all one to the exclusion of the other. But I
guarantee that if your Main Concern isn't seeking God first,
then "the other" will take over completely. God knows exactly what
your student is going to need past high school! But if we "seek first
the Kingdom of God" -- yes, even for high school -- then "all these
[post-graduation] things shall be added unto you." :-)

"But how?!" you ask? God is totally practical! It all boils down to
our walk with Him. It's all supposed to be part of our "faith walk"
with Him! We just get to apply faith to a new area of our lives that
was possibly "uncharted territory" for God only because we hadn't
invited Him in to that territory yet. (And He doesn't miss a thing!)
So the place to start is this: Obedience first; questions later.
Isn't this how it works when we first come to Jesus? We didn't get to
say to Him: "Well, I'm considering becoming a Christian, but first I
need to know a few things: Will I be asked to die for my faith? (If
so, I'm outta here.)" "Will I have to be a missionary? (If so, I'm
outta here.)" "Will I have to be single all my life? (If so, I'm
outta here!)" "Will I have to live by faith? If so, how will You
provide? (And how much? And when? Cold, hard cash preferred.)" "What
if I'm not very good at hearing You at some point along the way? Will
you have a Plan B to bail me out?"...

Nope, we just obeyed and then held on for the ride! Same with high
school! He will lead if we will "be still [and quiet] and know that
He is God"! (and let Him actually be God, to us!) And as far as that
last question, what if I can't hear God: If our heart is truly to
hear and obey Him, He will speak!!! One way or another!! ("My sheep
know my voice, and follow Me.")

Once you have dealt with all these issues, you will then be free to
think and see everything from an entirely different perspective. Not
that everything will now be rosy and you'll be oozing with confidence
(or maybe you will!), but you will be free -- and you will grow in
that freedom as you grow closer to God, and will be able (more and
more) to hear God's voice speaking to your heart for your child. And
you'll probably even do things somewhat differently, at least in
different areas, for each child, because they are unique and have
different futures, different works that "God is preparing (non-
generically) beforehand that they should walk in them." A unique
future warrants a unique education, right?!? Not sure? Just take
God's word for it -- on faith!

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Copyright by Barbara Edtl Shelton.
This article is used by permission from the author.
The Shelton's operate a home-based ministry to homeschoolers from
their home in Longview, WA, primarily through the books that Barb has
written.
All of Barb's speaking and writing is on topics of vital interest to
burning-out as well as brand new and wanna-be homeschoolers. Barb's
resources reflect her "lite" approach to homeschooling that is based
on the verse in Matt. 28:11 in which Jesus says "My yoke is easy, my
burden light." With vulnerability, humor, God's Word, Barb's heart is
to inspire parents to pursue God's unique plan for the education
of their children, and she offers much practical help in doing so.
You'll be challenged, irritated, and moved to laugh, cry, think and
re-think your views about education, and best of all, get set free or
freer) in Jesus! They may be contacted via their website:
http://www.homeschooloasis.com

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3. Some Options
Elissa Wahl

Well, while I don't yet have a high schooler, I have been researching
options for years! I will share some here, in the hopes that they
afford you ideas and also reassurance.

Video School....Abeka and probably plenty of others, put out video
classes. This is a more expensive option.

Community College....dual enrollment in CC and "high school". Some
states even pay for this. Check out your local requirements,
often "high school" students can take courses at age 15 or
thereabouts, and "graduate" high school, with an associate's degree.
This path is of course great for transferring to a 4-yr college.
Also check into their "virtual campuses". Many credits are being
offered via the internet or local cable providers. There are many
benefits to this...not having to drive to class, being able to do it
more on your time....

Along the same line....high school classes offered by colleges,
through the Internet. ORU offers such a course, University of TX
( http://www.utexas.edu/cee/dec/uths/ ), U of Minn (
http://www.cce.umn.edu/gateway/highschool.shtml ) , Stanford (
http://www-epgy.stanford.edu/ ) , John Hopkins U (
http://www.jhu.edu/summer/pc/ ) This is just a
taste...research!! You will find many more.

Correspondence type schools....that will offer a diploma....Clonlara,
North Atlantic Regional School, American School...

Pre-packaged curriculums...Alpha Omega, Robinson, there are a million
to choose from.

Eclectic/Unschool....use some of this, some of that, real books, real
experiences. Parents issue diploma as the overseers of the education.

Apprentice.....get in on the ground floor of child's career choice.
If interested in being a veterinarian, call local vets and ask if
they can volunteer there....just learn the ropes and advance as able,
eventually for pay. This is also a great way to get businesses to
pay for your continuing education!

Likely, there are options that I havent listed, due to oversight,
unknown options or the unforeseen options that will be greeting our
children in the future years.

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4. Links

Learn in Freedom
Site offers lists of colleges that have accepted homeschoolers,
research on socialization, info on learning to read at home and much
more.


Cafi Cohen's Homeschool Teens and College
Articles, message boards, sample college application essays ..a must
see site


Quail Haven's High School Homeschool Links
Chock full of links....sample transcripts, scholarship info, testing
info...so so much to see here!

Clonlara
Relaxed private school covering, issues diploma.


North Atlantic
Regional Schools
Private school, issues diploma


American School of Correspondence


Oral Roberts University Homeschool College Program
College courses through correspondence while finishing high school

collegeboard.com
Planning for college, taking the tests, getting into college....this
site has it all!


SAT Question of the Day


CollegeNet.com
college searches, financial aid, application info, scholarship info
and more


Diplomas


Diplomas and/or Transcripts

High School Reading List

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5. Book Review
by Elissa Wahl

"And What About College?" by Cafi Cohen

Well, by now you should know, I'm not going to review a book for you
all, if it's not helpful!
This is actually my second time reading this book....I am sure if you
buy it you will get more than one reading from it too..it is that
informative.

The author starts the book telling us her story, her beginnings in
homeschooling and her mistake of not keeping a daily or even monthly
journal. The result of that oversight, was this book. She wants to
help other understand how to record, what to record and how to get
colleges to look at your child's individual achievements.

While some space is devoted to testing and scope and sequences, much
of the book revolves around record keeping, turning those records
into a transcript and presenting a whole package to the college of
choice, complete with cover letter, resume and transcript.

The latter half of the book may be the most practical. The appendix
spans 65 pages and includes samples of transcripts, homeschool course
descriptions, cover letters, resumes, application essays and loads
of resources.

This is a good book for new homeschoolers as Ms. Cohen explains some
terms such as unit studies, unschooling etc, and also puts fears to
rest that our kids can go to college if they so choose...but also for
the seasoned homeschool parent, who is just unsure how to present
their child's education in the most concise, yet interesting manner.

I highly recommend this book, not just as a library loan, but as a
keeper!

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6. Closing Letter

Well, we pray that this issue has touched you...please feel free to
forward this ezine to any who might be interested.

If you feel led to submit an article, a link, a book review, anything
at all, please email Unschoolr@aol.com

Back issues are available both online at our website:
http://www.inspirit.com.au/unschooling/
and at yahoogroups
http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/Seedling

Until next time,
Be blessed you all!

Elissa Wahl
Teri Brown
Angel Dyke

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7. Subscription Information

Subscribe at : http://yahoogroups.com/community/Seedling or email
Unschoolr@aol.com

Unsubscribe at: http://yahoogroups.com/community/Seedling or email
Unschoolr@aol.com

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8. Reprint Information

Individual authors herein retain their own copyrights. You may
freely copy this entire newsletter or material from this newsletter
in other nonprofit publications (unless otherwise marked in the
article), but you MUST include the author's name and this entire
notice:

"Reprinted with permission of Elissa Wahl from Seedling, a
Christian Unschooling E-Zine. For a free subscription, send
any e-mail message to Seedling-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit
URL: http://www.ChristianUnschooling.org"