Welcome to the next issue of Keep on Track

Our Focus in this e-zine is Encouraging Leadership Skills

Each Keep on Track Issue endeavours to provide the reader with practical advice and food for thought.

• Greetings from Marianne
• News
• Considering our Goals
• Application
• Organizational Tips
• Coming soon

Greetings from Marianne

It is true that some people are born more naturally to leadership than others and some of you may question whether or not leadership skills is one of your homeschooling goals. Not everyone seeks to be a leader, but those who want to be a leader can develop leadership ability and many qualities of effective leadership continue to grow from experience in the leadership role.

A good leader should exhibit qualitites which we would definitely want to encourage in our children, such as integrity, honesty, humility, courage, commitment, sincerity, passion, confidence, positivity, wisdom, determination, compassion and sensitivity.

Leadership also is far more about serving than leading.

Proverbs 11:14 (New International Version) "For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure."

Proverbs 12:24 (New International Version) "Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor."

Read more about Nehemiah and his leadership style and lessons we can learn about how God used him.

News - Monthly Giveaway!

I have been away on holidays (sorry to make you jealous of my wonderful holiday in outback Australia!! ), and now I would like to let you know who won the Monthly Giveaway for April -

Well, I couldn't decide between the entries ( I would have loved more comments and ratings from the readers to help me make the decison!!, but thanks to those who did respond :)) and so decided to give the DIY Planner to two people.

Congratulations to Suzi writing about the Unexpected Nuke. We pray for Suzi's family as her husband undergoes open heart surgery before cancer treatment and I do hope that a planner may somehow come in handy for your family.

Congratulations also to Jackie Cogdell and her chaotic but amusing household! I am glad you are still smiling and I hope the Homeschool Planner will be a useful tool in your family. Jackie from Cobram, Australia... could you please contact me to receive your prize!

Thanks also to the other entries!! There were a number of other interesting entries. Read them here and add a comment!!

The next Monthly Giveaway or Homeschool Freebie is a gift voucher from Amazon ($15US) Or from Christian Book.com Or if you are from Australia $20Au from Fishpond.com.au

I will contact the winner of the May- June Giveaway at the end of June,(remember to add your email to your entry) and send them the Gift Certificate to the bookshop they prefer.

What do you need to do to win the Homeschool Freebie of May/June?

Well, I have found this amazing little book filled with great memory aids and have been inspired to use it. I actually intend to add some of the great tips of my website. It is not only about Grammar and Spelling, but includes fun ways to remember all sorts of stuff - like geography, world history, the human body, the sky, the calendar and much more using old-school mnemonic devices - catchy and quirky rhymes etc.

So this time, I would like you to do the same - add some of your Memory Aids: Tips and Tricks about how you help your kids remember "stuff."

• Times Tables
• phonograms
• Dates
• Capitals
• Tricky spellings

Inspire us with your Memory Aids: Tips and Tricks!!

You can do that at the Homeschool Gallery. Free Homeschooling Ideas: Memory Aids.

Read more about the contest at the Monthly Giveaways Page.

Add your Tips and Tricks and then, read other entries - add a comment, and give it a rank. You are allowed to ask family or friends to comment and vote for you!

Also, there are some more questions which need answering here:

Help Cathy here who is suffering from homeschool-burnout!

-What age do you teach life skills? Add your ideas.

Why are you homeschooling? Can you answer this? Add your comment.

Add to the Homeschool Gallery and inspire another homeschooling family.

Enjoy and help others by adding your home school curriculum reviews.

Lastly, I also added a number of pages on Business Skills and how homeschoolers can become teen entrepreneurs. There are a number of pages to explore under Business Skills on the navigation bar. Check out the new Online Computer Course to Build a Website - a perfect fit for the homeschooling family!

Encouraging Leadership Skills

In one sense, we all need to display leadership. Perhaps our children will not be running a business (although many homeschoolers do this), or leading a company or a church or a group of people, but there are many other roles in our lives which do require leadership.

I would want all of my sons to be leaders in their homes. Leadership skills are still needed to run a Bible Study, a home group, teach a Sunday School class, manage a household and teach the next generation! All of you who are reading this - are leaders - teaching and guiding your own children. If we broaden our understanding of leadership, we can see that it enters all of our lives in some way and therefore the qualities which we can develop in our children will be to their benefit.

Charles Swindoll in his devotional book, "The Finishing Touch" describes the book of Nehemiah as Leadership 101 in God's curriculum. It is a great idea to read the book of Nehemiah.

I would like to list the seven qualities that Swindoll recognizes in Nehemiah. Swindoll writes:

1. "Nehemiah has a passion for the project. Whatever the project may be - rebuilding a wall or providing leadership for a school, chairing a board or pastoring a church, organizing a ministry of putting together a musical - passion, vision, enthusiasm, drive and determination are absolutely essential. Nehemiah could hardly sleep as he pictured the need and imagined himself involved in the process of accomplishing the objective."

   This reminds me of how important it is that our children have a passion for something in their life. Where are they headed? What do they love? What drives them and how can I encourage this? How can I provide them with opportunities which help them to put their God-given passion into action? How can I motivate them to work towards a great project?

2. "Second, Nehemiah had the ability to motivate others. Without people, who needs leaders? And what good is leadership if it cannot move people to action? Leaders like Nehemiah inspire others to do their best.

3. Third, he had an unswerving confidence in God. Leaders who are genuinely Christian in their philosophy or style are people of prayer. While they may occasionally doubt their own ability, they do not doubt God's invincible commitment to His work. Nehemiah's journal is filled with prayers - silent ones, short ones, specific ones. He constantly reminded the people of the Lord's presence and protection."

   Am I an example of prayer to my children? Do they know the short, specific prayers I raise? Do I model an unswerving confidence in God? Am I training them to trust completely in a sovereign God who has all things in his hands?

4. "Fourthly, he was resilient and patient through opposition. From the first day when they started to mix the mortar, until the final day when the last gate was hung, critics stayed near... and vocal. Nehemiah endured it all - sarcasm, suspicion, gossip, mockery, threats, false accusations - you name it. None of these things moved him. He heard what was said but refused to let it sidetrack him. The best leaders have broad shoulders and have no trouble shrugging off petty offences."

   That's a great lesson in perseverance!

5. "Fifth, he had a practical, balanced grip on reality. Nehemiah was no airheaded cheerleader: 'You see the bad situaiton we are in, ' he said in his opening speech to the people (2:17). He had the workers stay at the job with diligence, but he also stationed others, in shifts, to guard the wall from attack. He acted without overreacting; he was gracious but unbendingly firm. good leaders maintain that needed balance between being positive adn being aware of the negative. Their heads may soar in the heavenlies, but their feet stay firmly fixed on earth's dirt.

6. Sixth, he had a willingness to work hard and remain unselfish. All strong Christian leaders have at least one thing in common: diligence. They know the time, but they don't watch the clock. Diligence mixed with excellence pays off, as it did with Nehemiah who was 'appointed to be their governor in the ladn of Juday' even before teh wall was done (5:14). the balance of that fifth chapter also reveals that he accepted the promotion humbly and willingly sacrificed for the good of the people. Nehemiah is a pattern of servant-hearted leadership.

7. Seventh, he had the discipline to finish the job. Good leaders are finishers. When the task loses its luster, they don't rush elsewhere. They stay at it in season and out. As Nehemiah recorded, "So the wall was completed - in fifty-two days." (6:15) Mission accomplished."

Application

Another list, (although it is not from a Christian perspective,) I enjoyed reading was taken from www.businessballs.com and describes leadership behaviour which I thought was very apt.

How can this apply to us in a homeschooling situation? Talk about it!

So much of our teaching is done by modeling and also by discussion, so one idea would be to print out this list as well as the 7 Qualities we learn from Nehemiah - and discuss Biblical characters who God chose to be leaders. I read the list below and automatically think of the apostle Paul who was used so mightily by God - He needed to defend himself from attack from the "super apostles", needed to work incredibly hard in his gospel work, sent many letters of encouragement which proved his love, understanding and appreciation of his fellow believers, needed to be firm and clear in his letters when dealing with certain characters and behaviours. Of course there are some things on the list which do not apply and things we perhaps don't even agree with - but it is excellent food for thought and for discussion.

This excerpt below was entitled, "Leadership Behaviours and development of leadership style and skills".

If it's not clear already, leadership is without doubt mostly about behaviour, especially towards others. People who strive for these things generally come to be regarded and respected as a leader by their people:

• * Integrity - the most important requirement; without it everything else is for nothing.
• * Having an effective appreciation and approach towards corporate responsibility, (Triple Bottom Line, Fair Trade, etc), so that the need to make profit is balanced with wider social and environmental responsibilities.
• * Being very grown-up - never getting emotionally negative with people - no shouting or ranting, even if you feel very upset or angry.
• * Leading by example - always be seen to be working harder and more determinedly than anyone else.
• * Helping alongside your people when they need it.
• * Fairness - treating everyone equally and on merit.
• * Being firm and clear in dealing with bad or unethical behaviour.
• * Listening to and really understanding people, and show them that you understand (this doesn't mean you have to agree with everyone - understanding is different to agreeing).
• * Always taking the responsibility and blame for your people's mistakes.
• * Always giving your people the credit for your successes.
• * Never self-promoting.
• * Backing-up and supporting your people.
• * Being decisive - even if the decision is to delegate or do nothing if appropriate - but be seen to be making fair and balanced decisions.
• * Asking for people's views, but remain neutral and objective.
• * Being honest but sensitive in the way that you give bad news or criticism.
• * Always doing what you say you will do - keeping your promises.
• * Working hard to become expert at what you do technically, and at understanding your people's technical abilities and challenges.
• * Encouraging your people to grow, to learn and to take on as much as they want to, at a pace they can handle.
• * Always accentuating the positive (say 'do it like this', not 'don't do it like that').
• * Smiling and encouraging others to be happy and enjoy themselves.
• * Relaxing - breaking down the barriers and the leadership awe - and giving your people and yourself time to get to know and respect each other.
• * Taking notes and keeping good records.
• * Planning and prioritising.
• * Managing your time well and helping others to do so too.
• * Involving your people in your thinking and especially in managing change.
• * Reading good books, and taking advice from good people, to help develop your own understanding of yourself, and particularly of other people's weaknesses (some of the best books for leadership are not about business at all - they are about people who triumph over adversity).
• * Achieve the company tasks and objectives, while maintaining your integrity, the trust of your people, are a balancing the corporate aims with the needs of the world beyond.

How else can we apply and encourage leadership skills in our homeschooling family?

1. As stated above: Discussion. Discuss Biblical characters such as Moses, Gideon, Abraham, Joseph, Barnabas and others. Some were more willing leaders than others - how did God use them, mould and shape them?

2. Writing: Write about the leadership qualities which God developed in these characters and how God used them for His own glory. Read and Copy some Aesop's Fables which reflect a certain quality or lack of..
   • The North Wind and the Sun (persuasion is better than force)

     The north wind and the sun argued which was the stronger. On seeing a traveller they agreed a suitable test would be to strip him of his cloak. First the wind blew with all his might, but the more he blew, the more than man wrapped the cloak tightly around himself. When the sun's turn came, he gently beamed at the man, who loosened the cloak. The sun shone brighter still, and the man threw off his cloak.

   • The Crab and his Mother(lead by example not by words)

     A mother crab criticised her son for walking sideways, whereupon the son asked his mother to show him how to walk straight. Of course the mother crab was unable to walk any straighter than her son, and soon apologised for criticising what she herself was guilty of too.

   • The Soldier and the Horse (look after what is of value)

     A soldier tended his horse well during the wars and the horse served him well. At the end of the wars the soldier treated the horse badly, with little food, no shelter and heavy drudging work. War broke out again and the soldier went to use the horse as before, but the wretched beast collapsed, saying that the poor treatment had turned him into an ass, and he would not be restored to a trusty steed in just a moment.

3. Give our children responsibility which develops leadership skills. Even our young children can be given full responsibility and management over a certain task in the household. Check out my page on Learning Stages for the Focus, Best Teaching Methods and Real Life Learning are for each age and stage.

   There are good reasons to rotate chores for children (so they can learn a number of jobs), but I find it easy if they continue on in one chore for a long time and take full responsibility for it (emptying the dishwasher every time it is needed; putting out the bins each time; setting the table etc.) That way I can remember who has/hasn't done their job and there cannot be any excuses such as, "No, I only do it on Mondays and Wednesdays...I did it in the morning, and now it is her turn to do it..." and so on.

   It is also true that giving our children more control of what they are studying develops confidence, purpose and direction - all leadership type of qualities. You can read more about a Leadership Education on my Thomas Jefferson Education Page. Also on How to Design Your Own Thomas Jefferson Education.

4. History/Science/Art. As you continue to read about characters in History, Science and Art, kings and rulers in history, generals, inventors, leaders in Science, - assess their leadership, not only to this above list but to the 7 qualities Nehemiah exhibited as a leader. Read, Discuss, Write.

   - Work on a History, Science or Art project in a group setting. Discuss your aims, goals, possible difficulties and strengths of the exercise before you begin. - Set up a business venture - selling fudge, growing and selling vegetables, babysitting, lawnmowing. Perhaps before you enter the venture, you can assess it from a leadership perspective as if you were beginning a small business. You might like to use this SWOT analysis. -Bring the project to completion - going through all the steps - setting up, advertising, producing, committing to it, finishing the job.

   (I have also added a section to my webstie on Business Skills)

Organizational Tips

Time and time again, I hear of young mums going from one activity to another with a bunch of very small children in tow.

That's fine if that gives you the energy and drive to keep going.

However, I am sometimes concerned about those who chase activities so their children will not "miss out" at the expense of their own energy. Please understand I am not having a go at anyone who wants to get involved in all sorts of things all through the week ... but I want to tell those who do it out of guilt... that you don't have to!

The organizational tip I would like to leave you with this time - is keep your life simple. Homeschooling is not a race; it is a marathon. There are many days and weeks ahead of you. I know that when my children were little, we spent most days at home so that we could lead a peaceful life. As they grew older, I could get more involved in activities, but still I cherish the days where we have no agenda except to spend time together doing whatever!

Keep your life simple - you don't need to be doing everything! Keep your life simple - Say "No" to activities in which your children cannot be with you. Your time will come soon enough when you can go to Church events or day-time Bible Studies etc. Keep your life simple - Plan ahead and arrange to do all your errands on the one day. Keep your life simple - have a menu plan of simple, quick to make meals. Keep your life simple - teach your children to do chores so they can help you manage your home. Keep your life simple - Have some routine in your day so that you are not asked constantly, "What do we do now?" Keep your life simple - Write out a schedule or step by step charts on how to complete a certain job.

I have written more about this in this article, How to Avoid Homeschool Burnout - Be Aware of Homeschool Peer Pressure.

Coming soon...