Homeschool Help for the Middle Schoolers: Do Big Things!

My daughter was the first in our family to accomplish the National Novel Writing Month challenge (www.nanowrimo.org). During middle school, she wrote a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. I had never heard of NaNoWriMo, but I let this challenge fulfill her homeschooling requirements (plus math) for November that year-and she did it!

The following year, my three children, my husband, and I, all completed the NaNoWriMo challenge and wrote 50,000 word novels in November. It was a family event! Every day we updated our word counts and shared our inspirations with each other.

Prior to the challenge, my son didn’t enjoy writing. But when given leeway to create an imaginative story without being too concerned about grammar or plot, he finished the job! A ten-page paper was easy after writing over 100 pages.

Our middle school students can do exceptional things. Some of the students in our homeschool support group organized carnivals, concerts, banquets, raising upward of $3000 for local orphanages, crisis pregnancy centers, and other community service organizations.

These projects develop leadership qualities. It also demonstrates to students, they can make a significant difference for good in this world.

The beginning of the school year is a great time to find out what concerns your middle schooler, and determine together how they (with some direction from you) can help meet a need in your community. They can plan fundraising events, organize clean-up projects, work with Habitat for Humanity, publish a newspaper, produce a concert, etc.

Homeschooling affords our children time and opportunity to accomplish great things. This is such a timely message of hope for our young people.

So, middle schoolers, go out there and do big things!