IN THIS ISSUE
 
Homeschooled Teen Profiles: Laura Lee Moore  
 
Homeschool Friendly College: Union University
 
College Bound Reading List: The Screwtape Letters
 
Special Feature: Celebrating our 1st Anniversary!
 
E-Mail Etiquette: Tip-of-the-Month
 
Homeschoolers Write: The Hidden Agenda of Advertisers 

 Did You Know...? Thanksgiving was first U.S. Holiday to be declared by Presidential Proclamation - George Washington did it in the year 1789: "Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor - and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me 'to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.' Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be - That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks - for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation - for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war -for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed - for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us."

Reflecting upon her experiences that led to being crowned Homecoming Queen, Laura Lee Moore wrote a personal story that portrays the love for education first instilled by her parents and how it prepared her to thrive in university life:
 
The Homeschooler Away from Home: Surviving and Thriving in College
 By Laura Lee Moore
 
The silver tiara sparkled in the gym's overhead lights and its twinkle transported me from a basketball court decorated for a college homecoming to a medieval court awaiting a coronation. As the loudspeaker burst forth with a warbled version of my name and major, I stepped forward to allow our university president to crown me Miss Union University.
 
As I felt the crown's weight pressing against the back of my scalp and listened to my introduction, I felt far away as if I were eavesdropping on someone else's story. All the memories that brought me to this moment flashed through my mind. As I grasped my father's arm and proceeded across the gymnasium, I felt it appropriate to celebrate this significant milestone of my senior year with the man who has been both my father and teacher for 22 years.
 
I thought back to the time he grasped my hand across the dining room table as our family learned Spanish together, or the way he taught me to sing the Greek alphabet with his booming bass blending perfectly with my 9-year-old soprano. I looked up into his face and saw the same quiet pride I had seen in high school as I stole and devoured theology books from his desk and talked with him about politics and government.
 
Looking across the crowd, I spotted Dr. David Gushee, my ethics professor, and thought of the endless after-class discussions about worldview and the Christian's role in social ethics. I saw my mom in the crowd wiping tears from her eyes and thought of all the times we had laughed and cried together as she read to me for hours and helped develop my love for reading and learning. I noticed Heather - a freshman - sitting toward the top of the bleachers. Last semester I helped her study for Old Testament and introduced her to mnemonic devices. I will never forget the song we made up about the twelve tribes of Israel!
 
Homeschooling Enhances Higher Education
 
I have to admit, I wondered at times during high school if I would truly be prepared for higher education. I thought of the concerned questions from strangers about our decision to homeschool. They wondered if I would be well prepared for college or if socialization skills would be harder. As I gazed on the sea of faces of friends and mentors watching the homecoming awards, I smiled at the question, "What about socialization?"
 
Closer to the end of my formal education than to the beginning, I can confidently say my doubts are quieted and my burning questions answered. Not only was I prepared to survive as a homeschooler in college, I was prepared to thrive. Sure, I have to spend more time picking out clothes, taking notes and carrying backpacks than I did in high school, but the key principles of learning were already instilled in my character. I find my experience in home education has enhanced rather than hindered my capacity to learn, the depth of my experience and the quality of my relationships.
 
Interaction with a variety of people
 
T�te � t�tes with my dad prepared me well to engage in healthy debate with adults and students alike. As I helped new freshman transition to college life or sipped coffee and discussed key issues with my professors, I realized what an asset it is to grow up interacting with a variety of age groups rather than becoming accustomed to socializing with one set peer group. As a homeschooler, I interacted with adults at a high level, taught my younger brothers and spent significant time with people of all ages in our community. While I observe some students isolating themselves from professors they see as the enemy, I naturally expect my professors to be mentors and friends who want me to learn.
 
Independent Study
 
Growing in the discipline of independent study was an absolute necessity in a house with four children all learning at different grade levels. My mom encouraged a natural curiosity, a love for reading and self-motivation. Each semester we developed goals and identified subjects we wanted to learn about. As I tackled projects related to my goals, I discovered my education is primarily my responsibility - a truth that has carried me through many semesters of challenging classes. Professors respect a student who is actually motivated to learn. College students cannot survive by merely depending on a traditional classroom setting to gain all their information. Reading outside of class, independent research and asking good questions of the right people are survival skills for the student who wants to excel.
 
Foundation of Faith and Learning
 
The sound of my dad slowly turning the weathered pages of his Bible, our family discussion of Revelation in the van on the way to a field trip and the precious hours our family spent in prayer together are a part of the memories of my school days. Learning the tenants of Islam by witnessing to Arab friends in our local gas station and discussing the value of sanctity of life in a Postmodern culture helped me think critically, know what I believe, and integrate my Christian worldview into all aspects of my life - including education. As my primary teachers and mentors, my parents had the greatest shaping role in my values. No one has had a more significant impact on my character. Because of their investment in my personal walk with Christ as well as sound biblical teaching, I am grounded in my faith as well as academics. I learned from my parents early on that faith and learning are inextricably tied.
 
Not Surviving but Thriving
 
Growing under my parents' instruction as well as learning independently has allowed me to walk away from my college experience with a new level of articulation in my beliefs, a treasure of quality relationships and a reinforced foundation in addition to my degree. As I hugged my dad on Homecoming Day and looked out across the crowd of fellow servants, friends and teachers, I realized I could victoriously affirm my home education as a preparation in more than facts and figures. At the climax of my college experience, I celebrate my unique education as a lesson in living life to the fullest.
 
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Do you like to write? Well, why don't you send us something! Become a part of Homeschooling Teen magazine and submit a letter, article, poem, short story, or review to:  [email protected]

Homeschooling Teen ~ Celebrating our 1st Anniversary!
 
Homeschooling Teen has featured quite a few famous teen homeschoolers and homeschool graduates beginning with our first issue! Check them out:
 
Alyssa, Rebecca, and Lauren Barlow are three talented sisters best known collectively as BarlowGirl. Now in their 20's, the trio from Elgin, Illinois were homeschooled before becoming the popular Contemporary Christian group they are today. Although at first glance the threesome may look like typical rock stars, they are radically different role models than most young women in the public eye. In today's culture, the fact that they boldly stand for purity, modesty, and commitment is considered extreme by many. The three Barlow sisters pattern their lifestyle around Romans 12:2 which says, "Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." For these young women, the main thing isn't being a celebrity and getting rich; it's living godly lives, having a sense of self-worth, and being true to who they really are even when they're not perfect.
 
Christopher Paolini is a homeschool graduate and best-selling author. Paolini states, "Everything I did was only possible because my parents were dedicated and loving enough to homeschool my sister and me. My mother, a former Montessori teacher and author of several children's books, took the time to instruct us every day. Aside from textbook lessons, she had us perform many exercises designed to stimulate our creativity." Christopher was able to pursue his passions and develop his talents to a higher level than is possible in an ordinary school setting. Like many homeschoolers, he wasn't afraid to tackle projects by educating himself. He also learned that a little hard work and persistence pays off. His Eragon book was even made into a major motion picture.
 
Victoria Kasten is a homeschooled author who has sold thousands of her books worldwide. She writes historical fiction and stories about horses, and on her website she also sells matching t-shirts to go with the books. In addition to horses, history, and writing, Victoria enjoys 4-H, music, and playing the violin. Victoria donates a portion of her profits to Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, Betsy-Tacy Society and the Northfield Historical Society. Victoria has participated in many events such as homeschool conventions, book tours, and book signings. Since 2007, Victoria has also been teaching at Young Writers Workshops about character development in a story. In 2008, Victoria was chosen as a finalist for the Women, Inc. Magazine contest "The Difference is You" in the "Rising Young Star" category.
 
The 5 Browns - all homeschooled siblings - are piano virtuosos, adept at performing individually or together in various combinations from duo to five-piano arrangements. It's their ability to play in perfect synchronization on five grand pianos at once that makes them really stand out. These brothers and sisters are breathing new life into the classical music genre with their youthful exuberance and dynamic stage presence, awakening the joy of classical music among audiences of all ages. While most teens would consider classical music to be "old and boring," the 5 Browns consider it to be current and relevant. Desirae says, "When you start playing without thinking or feeling, then I can see how it could get really boring. But when you're throwing yourself into it, somehow you find new things in the music and new things that come up in your mind or how you're feeling that make you come alive.... It's all about love and hate and anger and joy, all these things that teenagers experience... so... translate it to your emotions, to your experiences."
 
The Jonas Brothers are known for their straight-laced, squeaky-clean image despite their foray into the world of rock 'n' roll - long a refuge for teen angst and rebellion. Although they are evangelical Christians, the Jonas Brothers decided not to go the Contemporary Christian Music route. One of the reasons for the genre direction was to reach more teenagers. The Jonas Brothers are aware of the positive impact they can have on millions of kids, and it's a responsibility they take seriously. The Jonas Brothers abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. In addition, they are committed to remaining chaste before marriage and they all wear purity rings on their left-hand ring finger. Nick Jonas says, "We use it as a chance to witness. We want to be a Christian influence in the pop music world. It's definitely a mission field."
 
Erik Demaine, named "one of the most brilliant scientists in America" by Popular Sciencemagazine, is a rising star in the area of theoretical computer science - specifically computational geometry, data structures, and algorithms. As a child, he had an unconventional educational background of homeschooling on the road followed by entering college at a young age, earning his bachelor's degree at age 14.  Describing formal school as "just an excuse to meet kids and hang out with them," Erik says, "I learned to read early, but it never was as interesting to me as personal experience. I didn't read textbooks as an undergrad. My father, Martin Demaine, had home-schooled me until I went to university. He was against the whole school thing, [and] wanted to be engaged in my education. Also, my father wanted to travel, so around Grade 2 we started traveling around North America, Canada, and the United States. I got to see a lot of different cultures, meet lots of different kinds of people, different backgrounds, different ages."
Tim Tebow is the first homeschool graduate to be awarded the Heisman Trophy for most outstanding player in collegiate football. Tim's parents, Pam and Bob Tebow, have been called "homeschool pioneers" because they began homeschooling in 1982 before this form of education became popular. Teaching their children to honor God was the main reason for their decision to homeschool. "If I could get my kids to the age of 25 and they know God and serve God and had character qualities that pleased God, then I knew God would be happy and I would be happy," explained Bob Tebow. "The only way I could do that was to do it myself, commit to God that this is my job," the senior Tebow continued. "Traditional academics had to take a back seat to God's Word and character building." In addition to family values and character training, the Tebows focused on each child's individual learning styles, interests, and goals. All five of the Tebow children went on to receive college scholarships. In addition to the Heisman Trophy, Tim earned the Maxwell Award as the nation's top football player twice. He also won the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best quarterback, and the James E. Sullivan Award as the nation's most outstanding amateur athlete in any sport.
Zac Sunderland, born to a family of yachtsmen and shipwrights, has been sailing since an early age - a sailboat was literally his first home. This 17-year-old from Southern California, the eldest of seven children, recently made history by being the first person under 18 to sail around the world alone - a remarkable journey that took slightly over a year. Zac was inspired by the story of Robin Lee Graham, who at 16 years of age departed on his own solo global circumnavigation in 1965, but Graham did not finish his voyage until the age of 21. Graham was unschooled at sea for many of his teen years. Zac, a homeschooled straight-A student, brought books along to study on board so that he could finish his high school education during the 40,000-mile journey: "I have all my books with me. I have one more year to finish at high school and I have to send back my tests (via e-mail) to my mum. She's going to grade them and make sure I am doing well." Zac's solo circumnavigation may be just the beginning of many more adventures to come, as he is already planning on climbing Mount Everest. In the meantime, Zac also hopes to write a book and put together a documentary using video footage of his voyage.
 
Akiane Kramarik is a homeschooled teen and art prodigy. Self-taught in painting, Kramarik has seen her artwork exhibited in museums around the world since she was 10. From an early age, Akiane showed a high degree of technical skill in the making of her strikingly realistic paintings. They appear to have been made by the steady hand and experienced eye of a much older, professional artist. It was this fine quality of her art that led her to be labeled as a child prodigy. She is a member of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, and was selected as one of the twenty most accomplished visual artists in the world. Akiane gives a substantial portion of her sales to various charities.
 
Olivia Bennett is a 19-year-old nationally recognized art prodigy who found her unique visual gift after being diagnosed with leukemia at age 5. Her colorful floral and wildlife paintings have been compared with such masters as Georgia O'Keeffe and Claude Monet. Olivia was homeschooled through high school in a K-12 program offered by Texas Tech University. This allowed Olivia to concentrate on her art career, which is what she really wanted to do. She could "just drop everything and paint" whenever she was in the mood. Homeschooling also gave her freedom to travel. As a cancer survivor, Olivia is dedicated to helping others who are suffering hardships whether it's from illness, hunger, or poverty. In 2003, Olivia was named "One of Twenty Teens Who Will Change the World" by Teen People Magazine.
 
In addition, we featured two famous homeschooled teens from history:
 
Joan of Arc - Only 17 years old when she was put in command of the French army, Joan of Arc is the youngest person to ever command a national military force - a feat that is all the more remarkable considering she was a girl.
 
John Quincy Adams - Homeschooled by his gifted mother and tutored by his distinguished father at the time of the American Revolution, this teen was already an experienced foreign diplomat at age 19.
 
Now it's Your Turn!
 
This year we want to include more profiles of HST subscribers - so that means we need to hear from YOU!
 
If you are involved with an amazing project, have a special interest that you're passionate about, possess a unique skill, talent or ability, or have accomplished something positive and extraordinary for a person your age or in your situation - be sure to tell us about it and we will feature you in our magazine!  
Contact: [email protected]

First in Flight: Wilbur & Orville Wright
Wilbur and Orville Wright were brothers who built the first successful airplane which they launched on December 17, 1903. Wilbur was born in 1867 and Orville was born in 1871. The sons of a circuit preacher, the boys grew up in a home that had two libraries-the first consisted of books on theology; the second was a large, varied collection. The Wright household was a stimulating environment with parents who nurtured creativity, constructive play, and all sorts of academic pursuits. Both boys were free to experiment and explore whatever interested them. Orville wrote of his childhood: "We were lucky...there was always much encouragement to children to pursue intellectual interests; to investigate whatever aroused curiosity." Learn more about the Wright brothers here: 

The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword
     This year, Patrick Henry College invites aspiring writers to answer the call - more specifically, A Call to Pens. PHC's first short story competition for students ages 12-18 was set in motion last year by PHC student, Peter Forbes (now an alumnus of PHC) who wanted to support the college and give young writers an opportunity to create original works of fiction that thoughtfully reflected a Christian worldview. Over 250 students nationwide responded to the "call" with mature, well-written stories, and we eagerly await the response of participants this year.
A Call to Pens is a contest with a broader mission than winning prizes. If we wish to shape the culture, we must first engage it - in all aspects of life. Quality Christian literature engages the culture in a less direct manner than other vocations, but it is no less important.
"The pen really is mightier than the sword," says Dr. Gene Veith, Provost at PHC and author of several books regarding Christianity and culture. "Writers really are the unacknowledged legislators of mankind. Writers played a major role in bringing down the Soviet Empire simply by writing stories that changed people's sensibility. Changing our own culture in a more God-pleasing direction cannot be done by political action alone. Changing the culture is a cultural task, and for that we need Christian writers. The Call to Pens contest is designed to help raise up those writers."
For those interested in entering the contest, please visit www.phc.edu/acalltopens.php  .There will be two separate divisions, each with a separate theme, based on age. Several cash prizes will be awarded to the top writers in each division. All proceeds of the competition will be given to PHC's Annual Scholarship Fund. The entry deadline is December 30th, 2009; winners will be announced in March, 2010. 

Homeschooling High School: Helpful Tips
From Homeschool Into College: Does it Work?
By Janice Campbell
Now that homeschoolers have proven to be high achievers in both academic and social realms, they are being actively courted by many colleges. However, just as many homeschool parents paused before placing their young children on the big yellow school bus, they are now considering whether the traditional model of sending young people to live on a college campus for four years is an ideal way to meet the goal of higher education. Homeschoolers have blazed trails in elementary and secondary education, and they are now earning early college credit through exams or dual-credit classes, completing college at home, or simply choosing to attend a local college while living at home.
Why Not Live on Campus During College?
According to Dr. Jeff Myers of Inspired Leadership, spending four impressionable years of life living closely with the world is similar to the immersion method of learning a foreign language. If parents are willing to have their child absorb the good, the bad, and the ugly along with academics, four years in a dorm is the way to go. Most parents feel that older teens still need daily mentoring, stabilizing family relationships, and spiritual answers to the questions that inevitably arise when studying academics presented through a secular filter. According to Anne Miller of the Home Educators Association of Virginia, whose four oldest children were attending college at the time of this writing, living at home keeps young people from developing a self-centered attitude as they continue to serve the family through helping with home chores and interacting with younger siblings.
Earning College Credit in High School
Students who are capable of undertaking challenging work can accumulate a year or more of college credit while still in high school. Traditional-school students take Advanced Placement (AP) classes, followed by an AP test, in order to place out of entry level courses in college, but homeschoolers can go a step farther and earn actual credit by taking a CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) test, rather than the AP exam.
Students can prepare for exams by doing extra study on their own, taking an AP or honors class (online or traditionally), or by participating in an advanced co-op. Advantages of earning college credit while still in high school include:
Time - One 90-minute CLEP exam covers one or two semesters of a subject, and by taking several carefully selected exams, it is possible to shorten the time it takes to earn an associate's or bachelor's degree by a year or more.
Money - The cost of earning 3-6 credits is about $75.
Advanced placement - Instead of sitting through a basic class that covers material learned in high school, students can skip directly into more advanced and interesting classes.
Students who plan to use CLEP exams to get a jump start on college need to create a high school curriculum plan that includes advanced-level course material for subjects in which tests will be taken. These subjects will be recorded on the high school transcript as AP or honors courses, and students receive weighted grades (one extra grade point) for each class. College credit is awarded by the college the student attends in the future, and it is based upon a passing score on the CLEP exam. Not all colleges award credit for exams, so it is important to select a school that does.
Dual-credit classes are another way to get a jump start on college. To earn dual-credit, a student studies a subject in a community college class instead of a high school class, and earns both high school and college credit. Mature teens may be ready for the challenge of the classroom atmosphere, and taking dual-credit classes can provide a gradual transition into a more structured learning environment.
College From Home
If you have heard of the Swann family, you know the idea of college from home is not new. Each of the Swann's many children was homeschooled, not only through college, but also through graduate school, receiving their master's degrees at an age when most other teens are graduating from high school. This family used traditional correspondence courses for each level of schooling, and this is still possible, but the Internet has dramatically increased the number of options available. Students at home can participate in classes which include a variety of online elements, including virtual labs and real-time discussions. The degree earned at home is just as marketable as a degree earned on-campus, and it often comes with less spiritual risk.
Attending College While Living at Home
This final option is probably the most familiar - students attend a traditional college, but live at home, rather than on-campus. While this option limits the choice of a college to one within reasonable driving distance, it provides several advantages. In addition to being more economical than on-campus living, this option provides students with the familiar, supportive environment of home and family in which to process all the new information they are receiving. Second, they have instant access to spiritual, academic, or personal counseling from someone who knows and loves them, and who shares their spiritual worldview. Third, the presence of other family members of various ages with various needs helps to remind young people that they are not the center of the universe - self-centeredness can be a problem for students whose primary consideration is "my schedule, my classes, my choices." And finally, this option enables students who are academically ready for college, but younger than traditional college age, to benefit from the home atmosphere while they mature.
Just because our teens are growing up, it isn't necessary to follow the path of the world in their education. If we don't want the results we see in the culture around us, we can change the input. The purpose of college is an education, resulting in a degree, and each family has many options for achieving that goal.
Janice Campbell, author of Get a Jump Start on College! A Practical Guide for Teens, Transcripts Made Easy: The Homeschooler's Guide to High School Paperwork, and the Excellence in Literature series, has been writing and speaking in central Virginia since the late 1980's. She homeschooled her four sons from kindergarten into college, using the principles she now shares in her books, her blog, workshops, and e-newsletter. To order Janice Campbell's high school materials, see:
http://xboltabo.jceved.hop.clickbank.net/

First in Flight: Wilbur & Orville Wright
Wilbur and Orville Wright were brothers who built the first successful airplane which they launched on December 17, 1903. Wilbur was born in 1867 and Orville was born in 1871. The sons of a circuit preacher, the boys grew up in a home that had two libraries-the first consisted of books on theology; the second was a large, varied collection. The Wright household was a stimulating environment with parents who nurtured creativity, constructive play, and all sorts of academic pursuits. Both boys were free to experiment and explore whatever interested them. Orville wrote of his childhood: "We were lucky...there was always much encouragement to children to pursue intellectual interests; to investigate whatever aroused curiosity." Learn more about the Wright brothers here: