In teaching your home-schooled teenager how to write well, what are the most important writing skills they need to learn? Different writers would likely produce different lists of skills, but here are five that I consider at least among the most important for effective writing.

1. Change weak verbs to action; omit useless words.

Although maybe not as important as my second on this list, I place…

Many parents of home-schooled teenagers ask themselves: "Is my child missing out on science or math or even writing skills by not being in the 'mainstream?' Will they survive college?" Having been both a home-school dad and a public and private high school teacher, I know the questions. I also know the answers. "NO! Your child is not missing out." And: "They will make you proud."