Did you ever imagine that the world of homeschooling could be filled with big game animals, dangerous hunts, and wild adventure on far away continents? Bridgeway Academy student McKenzie Sims of Evanston, Wyoming – and star of the television show “Young Blood” on the Outdoor Channel – tells us firsthand how exciting the life of a homeschooler can actually be with the right opportunities!

McKenzie’s extreme love for the outdoors, animals, and the sport of hunting began on his family’s 90 acre ranch in Wyoming. For the Sims family, hunting is a tradition that they consider a privilege and not a given right. They practice good stewardship toward the land and the care and preservation of the animals that live on it. Hunting together as a family has brought them a sense of unity and pride in their accomplishments. And a homeschool education through Bridgeway is the way they manage to juggle long travel commitments and film schedules!

Here McKenzie tells us of his exciting African safari hunt in his own words:

I became involved with hunting at a young age. At two years old, I was riding horses with my parents as they hunted elk. Once I was old enough to sit in a saddle by myself, my dad would lead my horse in the mountains. I would also go out hunting small game and coyotes. I enjoy both bow and rifle hunting. I enjoy a challenge!

In 2010, I went on my quest to be the youngest kid to complete Africa’s Big 5: the harvest of a lion, a leopard, a cape buffalo, a rhino, and an elephant. I wanted to accomplish this on film in one safari. I knew it was going to be tough and long but I never would have thought it would take 45 days!

I started my adventure in South Africa where I darted (green hunt- no kill) my white rhino and hunted some plains game. When I darted my white rhino, she was put to sleep so the people could check her health and for pregnancy. I spent 7 days there. From South Africa, my dad, cameraman and I flew to Tanzania where I intended on completing my quest and spent 28 days in Tanzania.

When I arrived in Tanzania, we spent the first few days hunting leopard and lion bait. The best bait for lion is cape buffalo. Then I had two of the big five down. During this time, we were also tracking elephants and looked at a lot of them but could not find one legal bull. In Tanzania, there is a specific weight criterion that the tusks on the bull need to be 35 pounds or more. If you shot a bull under that weight you would be penalized by fines and possible jail time. I finally got my leopard on day 10 and I got my third trophy for the big five.

Now all my attention was focused on the lion and the allusive big tusker (elephant). In the 18 days we spent looking for the legal bull we could not find one. I was pretty burned out and thought about giving up. Every day we would either see elephants from the road or track in on them but we could not seem to find the right one. On day 19, I got my lion. That is when my dad decided that we needed to come up with a different plan for harvesting my elephant.

My cameraman called a good friend of his in South Africa to help us find a backup plan. Marius told me “There is a permit available at the Timbivati Game Reserve, would you be okay to wait a couple of days for the paperwork?” I of course replied “Marius, whatever you can do to help us I’ll be forever grateful.” In the meantime, I decided to go out for one last day in Tanzania to try for some of the plains game I had not harvested.

Next, we were off to Nairobi to catch a commercial flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. After another short charter flight and a 30 minute drive, we were at Buffaloland Safari’s. This is the place I would be staying and hunting plains game while I finished waiting on all the paperwork and permit to be completed.

Finally, everything was ready for me to begin. As my group arrived at the Timbivati headquarters to pick up our game scout, I was so ready to just find this elephant and get it over with. After driving around which seemed to be a lifetime but was only 3 or 4 hours, we saw lots of elephants but not a single shooter. As my team and I pulled up to a water hole to have lunch, we spotted a big bull in the water bathing himself and drinking.

I was ready to go after this great animal but by law you cannot harvest an animal within one kilometer of water so I had to wait for the bull to walk away from the water. After about thirty minutes, he slowly went out of sight and I began to track him.

Then there he was 30 yards away from me eating on some Keisha tree. My dad just turned around and asked me, “Are you ready son?” That is when I finally completed my big five by harvesting this magnificent bull. His tusks weighed 78 and 83 pounds. I was so happy that words could not explain. All the effort we made to get this quest completed was all i could ask for but being able to make it a success was the icing on the cake.

I want to add that I am able to do all of these amazing travels because of my dad and mom. They have been very supportive of me through all of this. My dad finances everything for me – I am very grateful for all they have done for me.

McKenzie dreams of one day becoming a professional hunter and opening his very own museum to showcase the amazing animals he has come across in his worldly travels. Good luck and happy hunting McKenzie Sims!

Homeschool Student Spotlight: On the Hunt for Big Adventure with McKenzie Sims

The decision for your family to adopt the homeschooled learning environment for your children may have been difficult – or it may have been quite simple. According to the National Home Education Research Institute, more than 2.04 million students were being homeschooled in 2010 – it’s a recognized and valuable educational format that is increasing rapidly with each passing year. And with such increases come a fresh wave of choices in curriculum – which although is both exciting and full of promise, can be a bit confusing and doubt-inducing for parents.

In fact, it can simply be overwhelming for some parents. How in the world can you choose the best home school curriculum for your child when there are so many great materials out there? How can you navigate all the selections and make the most of a limited homeschooling budget? How do you know which type of curriculum will best suit your child’s personality? Homeschooling is all about individuality, options, and tailoring programs to personal needs. So what are your needs?

7 Real-World Questions to Ask Yourself Before Choosing a Curriculum

1. Why have you chosen homeschooling?

Sometimes this fact alone will influence the type of curriculum you may be searching for. Perhaps you are looking for a faith-based curriculum that is focused on core values. Some choose homeschooling because of living in a poor demographic area, lack of quality public schools, or a transition to a different culture as a result of relocation. Some families require flexible learning times due to their child’s burgeoning athletic/musical career or hectic travel schedules.

2. What is your own teaching experience?

Some parents have very specific ideas in mind for teaching, and want the freedom to tailor their own program and experiences for their child, having the utmost confidence in their ability. Other parents are a bit hesitant or lack confidence in their natural abilities, and are looking for as much help as possible in structuring a well-rounded curriculum that meet their state’s standards. Be frank about what your own teaching limitations are in order to select the best materials for your curriculum. But also know there is SO MUCH support available for you should you need it in any subject!

3. What motivates your child?

Some children are born with specific talents that are identifiable at an early age – which makes it easy to focus on career goals and structuring a curriculum to further enhance their abilities. (Although sometimes this makes it difficult for them to accept the subjects that are not so pleasing to them, but are necessary for a good foundation nonetheless.) Others need to be stimulated and pushed to find their motivation and meet their educational goals.

4. What are your child’s limitations?

In an ideal world, your child would be brilliant in math, excel in reading, and write beautifully, eager to set out on each task after a full morning of chores and exercise. In reality…. Well, not so much. Nobody is perfect at everything, and that is both o.k. and natural. Identify your child’s weaknesses (and strengths – because you will want to focus on those areas to in order to prepare for a successful career) and list them according to importance. Ask yourself – is this weakness something that MUST be corrected in order to provide a building block for future learning? Learning what to let go, and what to focus on correcting is critical to building a solid curriculum.

5. What is your child’s individual learning style?

The one subject we don’t often study – our own individuality – is one that is truly intrinsic to all other academic subjects! How our brains process information and adapt to new learning situations is definitely worth discovering – and it may take some trial and error before your figure it out. Homeschool curriculums can vary from traditional textbook/lecture styles, to highly interactive hands-on activities, to online social forums with immediate feedback from teachers and other students. That’s the sheer beauty of it. Look into the definition of different learning styles and see if you can identify with one or more that may fit your child.

6. What are your priorities right now?

Know that these priorities will change from semester to semester, or year to year, but think long and hard about your goals TODAY. Of your options to place focus on, what are building blocks that other learning depends on? For example, time limitations may force you to choose between spelling and math for your ten-year-old son, so ask yourself – which skill or subject is needed as a foundation for his other learning? The spelling may be picked up in other little ways, through games, other subjects, reading books, etc., but will he be able to move on to the next topic in math without being proficient at division with remainders?

7. What are your own limitations right now?

Be honest with yourself here. How are your current finances? Are you crunched for time with athletic schedules or outside work with little time for lesson preparation? Don’t ignore these very real and commonplace circumstances just because you’d like to be able to do lots more. You’ll only get frustrated and down on yourself. What could be a limitation for you (for example little time for lesson preparation) could in fact become a great benefit to your child (becoming a proficiently independent learner). The best homeschool curriculum for you right now may not be the one that “looks” phenomenal, yet takes up too much of your time to prepare for adequately. If you go with a curriculum that you are not capable of enacting, you will not be benefitting your child at all.

Choosing a homeschool curriculum that best fits your family’s lifestyle, your child’s educational needs and learning style, and your own limitations as a teacher and parent is often a daunting task. But know that your curriculum can always be changed if it doesn’t go as well as you had originally hoped. And there are plenty of resources out there to help you along the way!

How Do You Build a Homeschool Curriculum That Best Suits Your Child?

Most of us today would agree that the traditional school system is flawed. Percentages show that public schools are struggling to produce an even moderate trickle of motivated students ready to embrace higher academic learning. Drop-out rates, poor grades, and lack of enthusiasm in general are still the norm in many districts – and money woes including severe economic budget cuts are not helping matters. The past few decades of education have been coined as the “Industrial Age” of learning, where students are assembly-lined through the educational process, often burning out along the way.

Enter the picture: a new wave of learning where each student has his or her own customized plan that excites them and has them looking forward to returning to school each day. If you haven’t heard of the concept of Mass Customized Learning (MCL) you can imagine it as simply this: instruction is tailored to each student’s individual needs and motivating interests – at their particular learning level. The use of technology helps make this mass customization possible through personalized digital learning.

According to Beatrice AcGarvey and Charles Schwahn, co-authors of the book Inevitable: Mass Customized Learning, MCL means for a student that:

“Every day when I go to school, I am met at my individual and personal learning level, I am able to learn in my most powerful learning modes, I am motivated to want to learn with content that is of interest to me, I feel a sense of challenge, I am successful, and I look forward to returning to school tomorrow.”

Sound familiar to you? Homeschoolers may be getting the benefits of MCL already – through the customized learning resources and curriculums already available at their virtual fingertips. Students are engaged in learning when they are met at their individual learning level, when they are allowed to learn through one of their favored modes, and when they are allowed more access to content that is of most interest to them. A tailored homeschool curriculum is all about the customized learning process – just without the mass!

But even parents who homeschool need to face the fact that our own children are growing up in quite a different world then we did. They have been immersed in a digital age from infancy, and they think and learn differently as a result. Our own teaching styles may need to reflect this. According to Schwahn and McGarvey, we should consider this about our children:

• They have learned to manipulate technology early and have never been afraid of it
• They are controlling markets and their cultural environment … the world is listening to their desires and giving them what they want
• They expect immediate digital interaction; they no longer accept one-way broadcasts
• They not only consume information but also create information, and in the future they will transform organizations, politics and inevitably education
• They are empowered outside of school through their digital know-how

Are we – both parents and teachers – ready to embrace all forms of technology and utilize them to help our children learn faster, better, and in a style that they find both personally pleasing and motivational? Yes!

The benefits of customized learning – and the vast resources available through homeschool curriculums and online learning opportunities – are as follows:

• Each student can learn anything they choose at any location from world-class experts using the most transformational technologies and resources available to enhance their personal interests and life fulfillment
• Each student has his/her personal learning needs met every hour of every day
• The opportunity to learn at an individual’s optimum rate of speed—to advance as far as time and motivation allow
• The elimination of fear of failure and boredom when students have more input in determining what and how they learn
• Learning opportunities in a number of formats that focus on interaction, involvement, and relevance
• Technology-based learning that closely matches the natural learning activities available in gaming activities and social networks

So will Mass Customized Learning become the wave of the future – and permeate the traditional school system? Our motivated homeschooling families are figuring out the amazing MCL formula already … so let’s hope so for a better future for all children through customized learning plans.

Is Mass Customized Learning the Wave of the Future?

It is a valuable lesson for children to understand that community service means so much more than merely fulfilling course requirements or sharpening up a college resume. Truly, there can be no real community without the service of its individual members. And nothing can prepare our children or teens to go out into the world with a wide range of understanding as to the way a community functions as a complex whole than individual personal service, and the leadership skills necessary for success in the adult world.

Service also builds a sense of value and self-esteem. It teaches compassion and empathy for the plight of others. According to developmental psychologist Marilyn Price-Mitchell, “research shows that civic engagement promotes higher academic achievement and develops many skills , including critical thinking, organizing, and planning. It also helps young people form an identity, an essential role of adolescence. But all volunteer jobs are not created equal and finding the best experiences for teens can be challenging.” She offers some very good suggestions for talking with your tween or teen about community service and its benefits on her site, www.rootsofaction.com.

So where to begin? Let’s look at some of the varying categories of community service. Hopefully we can give you a few ideas to discuss with your homeschool student and tweak their sense of excitement!

Environmental

1. Young Homeschooler. Set up a seed or plant exchange in your neighborhood. Make invitations and mail them. Come together and plant your treasures in a location where everyone can see and enjoy your efforts. Elect the youngest member of your family to be the “energy watchdog” to make sure that all lights, t.v.’s and appliances are shut off when not in use.

2. Teen Homeschooler. Start a local environmental club. Work together and pool ideas such as building trails, building wildlife habitats and bird boxes, plant trees, or start a children’s nature garden complete with labels and learning lessons.

Senior Citizen

1. Young Homeschooler. Have your child pick an art project, organize the materials, and then visit a nursing home or an elderly neighbor or shut-in. Let your child lead the project with the senior(s), and take pictures of those you have visited as a parting gift. If you can’t physically visit, you can always do the project at home, and then mail it with a hand-written letter from your child.

2. Teen Homeschooler. Organize a neighborhood “helping hands” program for your local seniors – involve and motivate other friends, family members, and teens as well! There are ALWAYS tons of jobs that need to be done, especially in inclement weather – picking up groceries or prescriptions before a snow storm, and shoveling snow or mowing grass are always excellent choices. In a healthy community, the young and able should always respect and aid the elders whenever possible – without need for compensation.

Special Needs Children or Adults

1. Young Homeschooler. Take some toys to the cancer ward of a children’s hospital. Although some may find it “depressing” it is an important lesson that health is a gift no matter what your age, as is the strength and dignity to deal with whatever challenge a family is dealt. Compassion learned at a young age is invaluable.

2. Teen Homeschooler. Visit a rehabilitation center. Learn about patients with special needs. Volunteer to help – sometimes dealing with special needs individuals takes training and patience – both of which are important in all aspects of life.

Houses of Worship

1. Young Homeschooler. If you are not already involved with a church or house of worship, contact one locally and I am sure they will be wonderfully appreciative of any volunteer efforts, no matter what your faith may be. Nursery room and bible school help are often very much needed and appreciated!

2. Teen Homeschooler. Youth Fellowship is often an excellent and welcome place to hone your leadership skills and do good for others at the same time. Offer to teach a bible school study class – or a series of them depending on how many volunteers you get – and make sure that you include fun activities that the youngsters are not likely to forget (you’ll even have fun yourself!)

Animal Welfare

1. Young Homeschooler. Make cards or flyers by hand with your child, and start a community drive to collect food and supplies needed for a local animal shelter. Go door-to-door if necessary and deliver your collections personally.

2. Teen Homeschooler. Organize a neighborhood feral cat watch, and get involved with a safe-capture & spay/neuter program through your local animal shelter. Many clinics will spay/neuter ferals for re-release at no cost, if someone is willing to take the time to safely catch them in a special trap, deliver them, and then re-release them after the procedure. Feral cats do NOT lead easy lives, so reducing the overall population by just a few animals can save hundreds of kitties from suffering down the road.

There are quite a few additional community service ideas available for you to peruse online. Whatever you decide to pursue, remember to:

• Find a topic or cause that truly interests and motivates your children, and works well with their individual personalities.

• Make sure that the project is attainable with your current resources and timeframe.

• Once a project is selected and started, see to it that it is then followed through to fruition. A completed service, done well, will be the ultimate satisfaction for your child or teen.

And who knows – you may set off a chain of events that can change lives in ways you never even expected!

Community Service Ideas for Your Young (Or Not-So-Young) Homeschool Student

“I want to be one of the greatest soloists in history.”

No indecision, no second thoughts – Bridgeway homeschooling student and violinist Kitsho Hosotani began playing his instrument of choice at age four because he knew, instinctively, it was his dream to be the best.

His recent orchestral debut with the Fox Valley Symphony in Illinois was a resounding success. A review touted Kitsho as “charming those in attendance with a masterful skill of the instrument.” The review went on to laude his gifted command of the violin, particularly his articulate precision in bowing and his pristine clarity throughout the piece.

It’s remarkable Kitsho Hosotani is merely age 11. And his passion for the violin and his musical accomplishments only continue to grow, along with his skills in PR and marketing. Visit his webpage to learn of upcoming soloist events Kitsho will be featured in, or even listen to him wield his magic  on YouTube!

Although Kitsho began homeschooling only recently, he feels that it is definitely the right choice for him. “When I have a performance or competition, I can balance the amount of homework by setting it aside for the next day without worrying about having to catch up immediately.” The ability to organize and strategize by adjusting his curriculum around intensely busy practice sessions or his travels is a marvelous boon to his advancing career in music. And this form of organization is a life skill all students can certainly benefit from!

When asked if he feels he is missing out on anything by homeschooling, Kitsho avidly responds “No, not at all! Most public schools do not let students work at their own pace , they just move ahead and ahead without pause.” Mischievously, Kitsho adds, “Plus there is something very lucky that homeschoolers don’t necessarily have … students collapsing in sweat!” Kitsho also enjoys bike riding, tree climbing, and reading the Harry Potter series.

Kitsho offers some advice on conquering nervousness in front of a large crowd. “When people become nervous, it can cause them to panic, especially if they are unprepared. So be prepared! But when nerves happen, it is useful to keep in mind that you must only focus on what is important and ignore what is not.”

When asked for words of advice for other students who want to set goals and reach them, Kitsho mentions that it may be a waste of time “looking” for extreme goals. But if you have a certain goal within you, and your schedule gets very hectic, you must be willing to give up something in return for achieving that goal. It’s a give and take. Kitsho also advises students not to put a limit on themselves. This is not to say that all hopes and dreams are achievable. But if you give yourself a limit early on, you may not ever become aware of what you can truly accomplish.

Kitsho also mentions the importance of remaining humble. The reason why most young students come so far in their goals is in large part due to those who support them — parents, teachers, and mentors. When asked of future goals, Kitsho replied, “My goals are definitely certain. I want to be one of the greatest soloists in history.” But with the wisdom of one much older he adds, “I cannot see into the future. Of course I will try to continue with this goal, but failure can happen. If so, I will aim for other goals. Life has many opportunities.”

Congratulations on your achievements Kitsho Hosotani, you are quite a role model for other Bridgeway Homeschooling students!

Homeschooling Violinist Extraordinaire: Kitsho Hosotani

“Tell me and I may forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I will understand.”

~ Chinese Proverb

As a homeschooling parent and teacher, I am sure that by now, you have figured out this one major truth in education: there is so much more to teaching a child than merely covering the appropriate curriculum. Even as adults, after years of learning “practice” – at a dry boardroom lecture, could you fully focus and grasp every aspect and angle of the presentation? And then move on to recall it, and use it appropriately and creatively in future applications? If you can, I would be enormously surprised – you may just be a genius WITH the added benefit of a photographic memory!

Even the best of us fall prey to our daily routines; and we trudge through them without really looking around us. There are lessons to be learned (easy ones without the involvement of online research and complicated curriculums), and these are the life lessons that can really stick with a child as he grows to adulthood.

Such lessons can be found in three basic ways: through taking note of events in the natural world around us each day, through something known as Observational Learning, and through active involvement in experiencing our world’s history. Let’s take a look at how we can incorporate all three into our daily learning!

The Natural World

Professor of Outdoor Education at Idaho State University, Ron Watters, tells us “I have been in education all of my life, and I’ve always believed that for the learning process to be effective it has to be related to life experiences.” He believes that spending time outdoors, immersed in nature and observing it through each one of our senses is vital for both physical and mental development.

Throughout the entire course of history, children learned, played, worked, and grew – largely out of doors. It has only been recently that we have transitioned to a more sedentary lifestyle, behind the computers, the televisions and the desks. How do we turn this around in today’s academically competitive world? Is participation in sports really enough? Dr. Watters firmly believes the answer is NO.

Experiencing the outdoor world as a family can jump-start the learning process by doing, as well as building bounds. It reduces stress, and increases mental and physical well-being. Even if you are just walking outside with your child – think like a naturalist. Why did that particular butterfly alight on that species of flower? Is it migrating? When will it lay its eggs? What is the lifecycle of that butterfly? The questions become endless, and the excitement built by experiencing that butterfly firsthand is untouchable within the classroom walls.

Observational Learning

According to Wikipedia, Observational learning (also known as social learning or modeling) is a type of learning that occurs as a function of observing, retaining and replicating novel behavior executed by others. Observing a particular behavior does not mean that you automatically adopt that behavior, but that your brain files it away for later use.

This can be applied to teaching by watching how other people, strangers, friends, celebrities, or national leaders react to various situations — then discussing outcomes. It can stimulate logical thinking, creative strategizing, and the visualization of differing outcomes to situations should a different tact be adopted. In a sense, it can lead to an “exponential” form of brain power – and one that can be invaluable in the academic or business world.

Observational learning can also have behavioral consequences – negative modeling can produce a not-so-healthy response if your child decides they want to give it a go as well. Of course, all parents have experienced this issue at one point or another! Just make sure the unpleasant consequences of certain behaviors, should you happen to observe them, are a large part of your discussion as well!

Historical Learning

History is ripe with lessons for children to draw and learn from. It also has a tendency to be as dry as the Dustbowl period of the 1930’s. Kids can quickly tune it out – they can’t visualize it, so they don’t grasp it. So how can we make history come alive for them?

According to Kate Kelly, of America Comes Alive , effective storytelling skills by the parent or teacher are essential in generating excitement and a feeling of history being “real.” You need to find correlations in little things from our world today and relate them to the past.

“Children can learn about the past at almost any age; they just need to have the story be told in a way that they can understand it,” says Kelly. “If you’re re-attaching a button to one of their shirts and your child is watching, you might note that in your grandmother’s day, her mother had to MAKE clothes for the family — store-bought clothes were too expensive.”

Kelly also feels that there is nothing more compelling than when kids can identify with children of another era. For example, Lewis Hine (1874-1940) documented the plight of children at labor. His work with a camera was so persuasive that it eventually led to changes in child labor laws. You can visit this excellent resource for bringing history to life for your child at HistoryPlace.com – on this site, your student can get an excellent idea of what their fate might have been if they had lived seventy-five or one hundred years ago. This may help them to appreciate all the opportunities afforded to them in today’s world.

The World As A Classroom

Remember to keep your feelers up for any little teachable moments that may come up during the course of the day. Take time to get outside the house, observe and investigate your surroundings, discuss events that are happening in today’s world as well as the amazingly rich history in our nation’s past. You might find that you are learning and absorbing just as much as your child!

Look, Listen, Learn. The World Around You as a Homeschooling Teacher!

George Washington, Winston Churchhill, Ronald Reagan, Bill Gates – we can all agree that they have been monumental influences in American history. How can we, realistically speaking, even begin to aspire to be like them? Many homeschoolers are quite motivated – but some of us are shy and hesitant, quiet, a little bit lazy, or just plain unable to believe that we could ever lead a nation, a state, or a corporation – no matter how hard we try. But here is one big fat hint that you would do well to remember at this point in your life:

Developing leadership skills NOW will help you in EVERY SINGLE future aspect of your life. Friendship, college academics, interviews, marriage, and beyond – it’s truly a no-brainer. And it’s not that hard!

There are many different types of leaders, just as there are many different cultures, creeds, and colors of skin in this great and diverse world of ours. You can be homeschooled. You can be shy. You can be young. But you still can lead! Make your choice – TREMBLE OR SHINE!

7 Easy Things Homeschoolers Can Do To Increase Leadership Skills Painlessly

1. List Your Personality Traits. Putting it all down on paper will help you to identify your problem areas, and your attributes. Be honest; remember you don’t have to share the list with anybody. Decide which traits will help you or hinder you in your quest for increasing your leadership skills. If you have trouble with creating this, here is the mother-of-all-personality-traits list to help you get started. After you’ve completed your list, circle the top five that YOU feel are important on developing (or reducing) to achieve your goals in the future.
2. Who’s Your Mentor? Think about it for a bit – who in your life do you really admire the most? Who do you feel has got it “going on”, and possesses many of the personality traits that you want to work on from point # 1? Can you contact this person? Follow their progress, their story? Hook up through social media? Learning by observation and emulation is essential – you are not “copying,“ you are simply “absorbing.” Your own personal character – the one that is uniquely you – will emerge over time.
3. Sign up online. We’re talking about a weekly blog/newsletter/leadership class. An actual class that you can enroll in would be ideal, but not all of us have that option. There are many free opportunities available – even ones geared for youth and student leadership. Check them out now!
4. Just Show Off. It’s ok in some instances to be a total show-off! Grab any chance you can get to stand up in front of others and voice your opinion and ideas publically. This can be done in a manner that does not belittle others, but merely expresses your thoughts and feelings. It CANNOT hurt you, but will give you feedback and ideas for the next opportunity that comes along. Force yourself at first, if you are shy, and it will ABSOLUTELY get easier over time.
5. Start A Club. What interests you as a homeschooler? I will bet there are others out there who have similar interests, and with the internet at your fingertips, the possibilities are endless. It might be best to start locally. This way you can actually meet and socialize with new friends/contacts, but if that option is not available to you – reach out to others across the country through social media or forums.
6. Practice on Your Bro. (Or Sis). They may hem and haw, but you will be teaching them future skills as well. If you are shy about a presentation, or the efforts you are making to lead a club or new activity, use your siblings as the initial guinea pigs – you can be sure they will tell you what they really think!
7. Socialize. For homeschoolers, it sometimes is hard to do. Social time gets pushed aside as something that is not academically necessary, or comes after the schoolwork AND additional activities are finished (which means you are exhausted and don’t feel like doing anything at all.) But your fun time – your friend time – is critically important to your leadership development. Don’t neglect it. It IS as important as school work in many respects.

As much as this article was meant to pep you up and get you jazzed for leadership opportunities, it is equally important to cut yourself some slack should things go awry. Life is trial and error. You have a long way to go. Love yourself first!

“Leadership is the special quality which enables people to stand up and pull the rest of us over the horizon.” ~ James L. Fisher

What’s Your Leadership Style? Make Homeschooling WORK for You (No Matter What Your Personality)

Many of us envision “leadership” as something that takes place in the boardroom, or in a graduation valedictorian speech. Leadership is seen as the measure of ultimate success in the business world or in academia. But truly, leadership encompasses more of the very manner in which we live our daily lives, the decisions we make, the way in which we carry ourselves, and the full measure of our inner self worth. Leadership is about how much we love and trust ourselves, and how well we communicate with others.

Is Your Child A Leader?

Some scholars will argue that certain children are born with a natural capacity to lead – the theory being that they have either “got it” or they don’t. These scholars believe that leadership is more of an innate skill than one that is learned. Admittedly, some kids are born exhibiting the traits of leaders they are the ones who can stand up and speak for themselves, rally their friends and peers during playtime and in school situations, and in general, show much less public fear than other children. They draw attention (sometimes negative) but whatever the case, other children flock to them, and want to do as they do.

Now consider the shy child, the one less likely to raise his or her hand. The one who dislikes being the focus of attention. This child is more likely to follow others, to go with the flow, and to not branch out into an individual direction. This child may need to be poked, prodded, and pushed into certain social activities sports, or other things outside the realm of a normal routine day, and parents can find this very frustrating. Is this innate as well? Does this child have a chance at flowering as an individual, voicing a strong opinion, and standing up as a leader in adult, family, or business situations down the road?

As with most issues in life – nothing is truly black or white – but actually just a shade of gray. Although some children may be blessed with a natural ability to lead, such traits can be taught and enhanced by teachers and parents. They absolutely can!

What Can You Do as a Parent and Teacher?

First and foremost, realize that we all make mistakes in both parenting and teaching.  But where we can be proactive is in making a continuous positive effort to get back on track when patience is lost, or plans go awry. The teenage years are particularly a tumultuous time and rebellion is going to happen – it just is. Ask yourself – as both parent and teacher – have you been controlling your child’s actions too much – or conversely giving him or her too much freedom with little responsibility or consequence when they mess up? Be sure to ask for deeper explanations as to why your teen opts for pink hair – what EXACTLY is their personal motivation for this? And if it’s truly just for a little attention in the moment, what will the consequences be down the road?

It’s All About Dialogue

Even with younger children, you need to approach all sorts of situations with open, frank dialogue .  Begin having “adult” discussions with your child at a young age. It is up to us to stimulate children to think about “why” they do the things they do, and “what” the outcomes may or may not be. Here are some ideas to get you going:

• Begin early in childhood by simply modeling the kind of behavior you wish your child to someday exhibit. How you handle stressful situations is paramount! Also start very early with assigning responsibilities to your child – small ones initially, then larger with age. Don’t slack off because it’s just “easier to do it yourself.”
• Teach organization. Build structure and order into all your school (and home) projects by beginning with a clear vision, a course of action in accomplishing tasks, and a time frame. Of course, this is easier said than done, but as mentioned earlier – when things go awry, just get back on track the next time!
• Build communication skills. This is probably the most important leadership skill there is. Ask children questions about what THEY think, and why – all the time – and do NOT give them your thoughts or your opinions right away. Reading is also the cornerstone of communication, so read, read, READ with your child!
• Allow them to make their own choices. Yes, even if you think it’s the wrong one. Use empathy – suspend your own judgment and give up being right for the moment. Let your child voice in the end why he or she feels the decision was a good one or a bad one.
• Approach problems that arise by searching high and low for a win-win agreement with your child. Discuss what a “win” in a problem situation would be for you (the parent/teacher) and your rationale. Then conversely, discuss what a “win” would be for your child, and why. Can you problem solve, and come to a joint solution that works for you both by meeting both of your needs at the same time? Go as far as to put it on paper to create accountability. This takes practice!!

Summary

As parents, it is natural to want to tell our children what to do, and expect complete respect and compliance. It’s the way many of us were taught, and in some respects, the way it should be. However, teaching leadership is going to involve deviating from a dictatorship and delving more into the art of democracy. You will be surprised at just how much of the “adult world” children can grasp at a young age if given the freedom of choice, thought, and a thorough investigation of the many possible outcomes.

It will take your guidance. It will test your patience. You will need to fight that parental urge to always protect against a negative outcome. But in your child, it will build pride, foster self-worth, and increase confidence in the future. Plant the seed and nurture it!

Plant the Seeds of Greatness in Children– Growing Our Leaders

When Clark Jones has an idea, he doesn’t just run with it. He plants it, helps it to sprout, and lovingly aids its growth and maturation through an admirable knack for organization and outreach to others. When Clark began looking for an Eagle Scout project, an idea was soon born – one that combined both the power of prayer and the tranquility of nature.

“One Sunday, I passed by our chapel’s center courtyard. I looked at it through the glass doors, thinking how dreary it seemed that day. But I also realized that this was prime real estate going to waste. You could see the chapel’s belfry from the courtyard, and the open sky. Why not turn this into a prayer garden?”

Chaplain Campbell, of Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., had mentioned to Clark how much folks had enjoyed a prayer garden at one of his old churches, and that he felt their own chapel needed some “new life.” Clark took the information right to heart, and the intensive planning process for the Eagle Scout project was soon underway. Luckily, he had the solid foundation of a homeschool education, and tons of support from his family, friends, community, and church.

Born into a military family, Clark was transitioned into homeschooling in the 2nd grade, along with his twin brother Blake. After being stationed at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington D.C., the Jones family realized that schooling options for their children were fairly limited. The public schools in the area had a reputation of being dangerous and received poor academic ratings. And the cost of private school in Washington was astronomical, not to mention the tediously long bus ride. With a large homeschooling community already in existence on base, the Jones family decided to take the plunge.

Previous to their move, the Jones children had been attending a private Christian academy in Rembert, South Carolina. Clark remembers a class size of about twenty students where individual attention was not always available. “The kids who got in trouble, or had the worst grades got most of the attention,” he noted. “But the teachers were great and really tried to help me understand things when they could.”

Clark loves the individual planning involved with homeschooling. “Especially with Bridgeway – if I don’t understand something, I can go watch a lecture again in an instant. And there isn’t one teacher corralling thirty kids in a room,” he adds. With homeschooling, a parent has a very special insight into their own child’s learning speed and abilities.

Although some critics will say that homeschooled children have less social or sports opportunities, Clark has found this sentiment just isn’t so. “I am truly blessed to be part of such a large, talented homeschooling group here (the Bolling Area Home Educators). There have been so many fantastic opportunities offered to me: a play group, a cross-country team, fencing lessons taught by Hungarian world champions, Tae Kwon Do lessons by an Olympic gold medalist, art classes, a bowling league, parties, and a great teen group. I don’t think there is anything I don’t like about homeschooling.”

Clark’s super-positive attitude about learning, life, and faith propelled him right through the rigorous process of orchestrating and completing his Eagle Scout project. Once approvals from the Base, the Chapel, and Civil Engineering were received, he jumped right into the fund-raising process necessary to raise money for the project. And how did he manage to reach out to so many people in a short amount of time? Social media: Clark decided to build a Facebook page to chronicle his journey and ask for support.

“Creating the Facebook page” definitely facilitated reaching more people. That page was responsible for about 75% of the monetary donations I received. Social media can help you reach people you normally wouldn’t. Bands, organizations, and other charities can reach a whole new wealth of people in this manner. In the end, I had 43 people following my page, and nearly all of them ended up making a donation.

Once the funds were raised – $1000 in total – urban planters, which could be placed on top of concrete, were purchased as well as whisky barrels to plant trees in. Clark conducted thorough research to determine what hardy plants could survive outdoors with little maintenance. Soil, peat moss, perlite, wood and hardware were also purchased for the project. On Saturday, November 14th 2011, over 20 volunteers helped Clark build the prayer garden, which culminated in 2 benches, 4 planters, and 4 whiskey barrels all filled with plants and trees, and a birdbath in the middle of it all. Clark said he is very proud of the outcome, and humbled by all the people who took time and money out of their own lives to support the prayer garden effort.

When asked about his future, Clark says he is considering a career in the Air Force, or perhaps even in the music field through the University of Georgia. What is clear is that given Clark’s amazing talent for coordinating and motivating people to work jointly together, his future is wide open to many exciting possibilities.

“My relationship with God has helped me with all things in life. And in all things, I want to follow God’s plan for me as well.” And with that sentiment in mind, the path Clark Jones might find himself on in the future will surely be bright!

Homeschooling Student Showcase: Clark Jones Plants the Seeds of New Life With Gardening and Prayer

Hailing from the port city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the coast of the Red Sea, Kari Peiscopgrau is no stranger to a rich variety of cultures with differing points of view. Through her strong faith and dedication to the homeschool journey, she is making an impact through leadership, creativity, positive thinking, and a willingness to respect other cultures without losing her own sense of self.

Kari has recently earned her Silver Award with Girl Scout Troop 2872 – the highest national award that a Girl Scout in grades 6th through 8th can earn! A ceremony recognizing Kari for this great achievement was held this past June in Indiana. She also has earned her God and Church Award in 2011, a Christian award earned by grade level that allows her faith to grow as strong and true as her own exceptional character.

Here are some excerpts from a recent interview with Kari:

BA: When did you begin homeschooling and why?

IP: I started homeschooling at the age of 12 after moving to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in June of 2010. My family decided on homeschooling because the school options in Saudi Arabia are limited.

BA: How is homeschooling different from public schools in Saudi Arabia?

IP: The homeschool curriculum gives me the opportunity to work at my own pace. In the local school, there is little space to work independently. Everyone is at the same level, with little room to be creative or work in a more advanced curriculum.

BA: What do you like most about homeschooling? And the least?

IP: The curriculum is tailored to my own needs and strengths, and the flexibility of it offers something that is not possible in a regular Saudi school. But there are no days off due to the weather in Saudi Arabia!

BA: Tell us more about your experience with the Girl Scouts and the achievements you have made in that program.

IP: My experience as a girl scout has really been a great part of my life. The program has taught me to help others, to never give up, and to always believe in myself. I have earned the Leadership, Bronze, and Silver Award, along with many badges. I have also earned the God Award for the Brownies, Juniors and Cadets. Currently I am working on the last part of the program for the Seniors which will entitle me to the four star award recognition.

BA: Describe why you received your God and Church award and what it means to you.

IP: The God and Church program allowed me to learn how to know Jesus on a more personal level, how to worship God, and learn about the talents given to me and how to use them. It was a self discovering journey where I had the opportunity to work with the youth and provide voluntary work for the Church and reach out to others. It was very important for me to achieve these awards. It is an important way to keep growing spiritually.

BA: Any special experiences you would like to share with us?

IP: Saudi Arabia is a beautiful country with a different culture, views of the outside world, and many contradictions. I have learned that cultural education is as important as basic education. We must learn to accept, understand and respect other cultures and their point of view without losing ourselves in the process, this has been a journey with great satisfaction and trials along the way. I was surprised to see that we might look very different but in reality we are individuals with dreams and hope for the future. I also learned that sometimes we take for granted the freedom that we have back home.

BA: What are your plans or dreams for the future? Colleges you are interested in?

IP: Living overseas has opened my eyes to a whole new view of the future and what I would like to be. I want to continue my schooling, followed by College, and I want to keep traveling and experiencing adventures and other cultures. I am not sure what college I would like to attend. I have considered Michigan State University, Rice University, Butler University or maybe even to study abroad. I have also considered a military career as an aviator. Whatever I choose, it would be because it will give me the opportunity to be a better person and serve God, to honor Him in everything I do.

Thank you Kari for sharing your experiences with us. We wish you all the success you dream of in 2012 and beyond!

Student Showcase: In a Far-Away Desert Land – Introducing Kari Peiscopgrau