High School Archives - Julie Naturally | Teen Health Coach

5 Entrepreneurial Skills Needed For a Job in the New Gig Economy: Preparing Teens

May 3, 2025 by Julie Brow-Polanco

As homeschoolers, many of us are called upon to be more than high school instructors. We also need to be career coaches and guidance counselors. As such, we tirelessly research the ins and outs of college admission, vocational school requirements, financial aid and scholarships, and other valuable information on behalf of our teens. It’s our responsibility to make sure our teens have the skills needed for a job. Our high school students’ coursework often depends on their future career path. However, the world of work is changing rapidly and many now need these 5 entrepreneurial skills to be successful, even …

Teaching teens about Jesus is the most important act you can do

November 14, 2024 by Julie Brow-Polanco

After homeschooling for 23 years, I have the privilege of teaching teens about Jesus at a small, alternative Christian high school near me. I also have the opportunity to be health coach and personal trainer for these kids. It’s pretty awesome to influence both the physical and the spiritual health of teens. But, if they lose weight and get fit but don’t know Jesus, what difference does it make? So, teaching teens about Jesus is the most important thing that any teacher or parent can do. Some of the best books and materials I’ve come across for doing this are …

TEACH by Dennis Dinoia: How to Encourage Independent Learners

May 3, 2022 by Julie Brow-Polanco

Recently, I learned that one of my favorite homeschool curriculum providers, Mr. D Math, just published a new book, TEACH by Dennis Dinoia. I had to take a look because I’ve talked with Dennis personally and we have a lot in common. We’ve talked a couple of times about troubleshooting in homeschooling and about self-directed special needs learners on his podcast, A+ Parents. So, I was very excited to get my hands on his book. It was a very easy to read, accessible book written to students and their parents. My Thoughts About TEACH by Dennis Dinoia Full of Great …

5 Reasons why study botany in high school

August 20, 2021 by Julie Brow-Polanco

As I’m sure you know, most high schoolers take three science courses. These are: Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. Some students may also take a Computer Science course. But, in all of those courses, they rarely get advanced Botany. In fact, most children never study Botany again after third grade and can’t even name ten plants or trees in their neighborhoods. They may not even see that botany is important to their everyday lives. We need to remedy this! Let’s talk about why study botany in high school to combat the growing labor shortage and general ignorance about plants. Why Study …

Homeschool Math Curriculum: Best Options for High School

August 25, 2020 by Julie Brow-Polanco

Trying to unschool upper level math requires a lot of thought and sometimes, work, on the parent’s part. And, if you live in a highly regulated state, the challenges become even greater. It’s often time to look at homeschool math curriculum, especially if you don’t have the time or inclination to try to piece together random free options, borrowed books, and conversations with math lovers. After all, how do you document random algebraic problem-solving, especially if you are trying to apply algebra in everyday life? And, if your students are college-bound (or even need a 2-year degree), do they know …

How to set up immersion learning experiences

July 17, 2020 by Julie Brow-Polanco

Immersion learning is often affiliated with learning a new language. You learn how to speak the language by living among those who are native speakers. This is how infants learn to speak. But, immersion learning also occurs in other settings. We learn to cook by cooking. We learn to drive by driving. And, so on. In fact, this is a way of life for unschoolers. We assume that a child will learn by doing. However, we don’t always live a lifestyle conducive to this. It’s easy to learn about animals and plants through farming. But, what if you don’t farm? …

Using a Bible Commentary Gives Bible Study Depth

June 9, 2020 by Julie Brow-Polanco

Whenever I write Bible studies, I always use a variety of authoritative sources to help me. These usually include a Bible commentary, a concordance, a Bible dictionary, and study notes from other established sources. Some of these sources pose challenges for me. For one, the writing is almost always super tiny. Second, flipping through huge tomes to find meanings of words and scholarly interpretation takes a lot of time. I sometimes get lost in those books! It can also get confusing. I hesitate to set my high schooler loose on those books. I think it would overwhelm her, even though …

How to Teach Writing Skills to Older Kids

June 4, 2020 by Julie Brow-Polanco

A writer is a person who writes about stuff. In order to write about stuff, you have to know stuff and do stuff. That sounds really basic and juvenile, but it is the reason why I am against writing programs for children under twelve years old. Most of the writing prompts for younger children aren’t very exciting and they know it. But we do need to know how to teach writing skills to teenagers. A teenager has more to say than, “I did this and then I did this.” A lot of journal prompts for younger kids ask for those …

Learning outside inspires new interests

May 29, 2020 by Julie Brow-Polanco

Now that we can get outside and enjoy nicer weather, our spirits rise. But, what do we do outside? There are many benefits to outdoor play, but what if your kids are older? What can they be learning outside? Farmers and gardeners might not have this problem because there’s always something that needs to be done. However, most of us need some ideas other than grilling or playing catch. My younger son complains a lot about this. “But, what do we DO? There’s nothing to DO,” he laments. Well, I know that learning outside inspires new interests because I’ve been …

How to Promote Creativity: Some Tools and Resources

January 1, 2020 by Julie Brow-Polanco

This month, we tend to focus on productivity, new habits, and optimism about the future. It’s no wonder, then, that January is also International Creativity Month. A new year naturally opens fresh possibilities, new horizons, and novel ideas. But, did you know that many developed countries currently suffer a creativity crisis? Surprising, I know, especially with all the technological innovation going on. It seems that older generations were actually more creative, so we need to understand their wisdom for how to promote creativity. Obviously, those responsible for the current technology boom come from the Baby Boomer and GenX generations. What …

Church Youth Group: Reasons to Say No

December 14, 2018 by Julie Brow-Polanco

Should Homeschoolers Participate in Church Youth Group? Recently, I listened to a conversation happening among millennials sitting next to me at church. I wasn’t snooping as they eventually asked me a few questions to involve me in their discussion. But their observations and conclusions struck me. They knew my children and they knew a few other homeschooled youth as well. Some of them had even spent a few years of their own childhoods homeschooling. But then I heard comments like, “not sounding like my mom all the time” and “all homeschoolers are socially awkward.” They seemed to feel that attending …

Some Reasons Not to Go to College: A homeschooling mom’s perspective

October 3, 2018 by Julie Brow-Polanco

In 2018, we graduated our second child from our homeschool. The first question everyone asks upon discovering this is–you guessed it–“Where is he going to college?” Well, he’s not going to college. He completed a career assessment tool and his path doesn’t necessarily need college. The question is uncomfortable, and I wish people would broaden their view of post-high school life. When I say that he isn’t going to college, the barely-concealed disappointment says volumes about the expectations of our youth. Seventy percent of high school graduates attend college as their next step. The generally accepted wisdom is that college …