Latter-Up

Every day, middle schoolers have countless choices competing for their attention. Learning how to determine what matters most is an important part of developing executive function skills and becoming a more independent learner.

In Week 2 of Home Room, students are focusing on prioritization and decision-making. They’re learning how their personal values can help guide their choices, manage their time, and stay focused on what matters.

We’re talking about:

Values are the beliefs, qualities, and ideas that are important to us.

Students are learning to identify the values that matter most to them and narrow those down to their Top 3.

But knowing your values is only the beginning.

The real executive function skill is learning to use those values when making decisions.

For example, if responsibility is an important value, a student might choose to spend time working on an assignment before moving on to something more enjoyable.

Students are practicing a simple strategy before making a decision:

Pause & Prioritize

Ask:

That brief pause gives students an opportunity to slow down, think through their options, and make a more intentional choice.

When your student has several things competing for their attention, try:

“What is most important right now?”

Give them time to think through the answer instead of immediately providing it.

When your student is facing a decision, remind them:

“Pause and prioritize.”

Then let them work through the questions themselves.

Afterward, ask:

“Did that choice work out the way you hoped?”

or

“What might you do differently next time?”

These conversations help your middle schooler practice decision-making, reflection, and self-monitoring without you making the decision for them.

Try not to turn prioritization into parent-controlled prioritizing.

It can be tempting to tell your student exactly what should come first, especially when you can already see the consequences of a choice.

Instead, try asking:

“What do you think should come first, and why?”

The goal is to gradually move the thinking from parent to student.

This week, notice a moment when your student has a choice to make.

Instead of immediately stepping in, ask:

“What matters most here?”

Then give them space to think.

Every opportunity to pause, consider, choose, and reflect helps your student build the executive function skills they need for greater independence.

Your middle schooler doesn't need to make perfect decisions.

They need opportunities to practice making decisions, learn from the results, and make adjustments along the way.

At Latter Up, we believe the goal isn't perfection. It's progress, one step at a time.

Keep learning, keep growing, and Latter Up.

How well does your middle schooler understand how they work best?

Before students can become more independent, they need to develop self-awareness—the ability to recognize their strengths, challenges, preferences, and the strategies that help them succeed.

In Week 1 of Home Room, students begin building an important foundation for executive function development: knowing themselves well enough to make intentional choices about how they learn, work, and respond to challenges.

We’re talking about:

Students are learning that strengths aren't just the things that come easily to them.

Persistence, creativity, responsibility, curiosity, kindness, organization, and problem-solving can all be strengths—and students can learn to recognize when they are using those strengths.

The goal is to help students move from simply having strengths to understanding:

“What strengths do I have, and how can I use them?”

Every student has things that help them work effectively.

A quiet workspace, a checklist, movement breaks, having supplies ready, knowing what to expect, or asking questions may all be examples of success conditions.

Instead of assuming that a struggling student simply needs to “try harder,” we can help them ask:

“What do I need to be successful right now?”

This is an important step toward developing self-management and independent learning skills.

1. Notice strengths.

Be specific when you see your student using a strength.

Instead of simply saying, “Good job,” try:

“I noticed you stuck with that even when it was frustrating. That was persistence.”

2. Ask about success conditions.

When your student is struggling, resist the urge to immediately solve the problem.

Try asking:

“What would help you be successful right now?”

This encourages your middle schooler to begin identifying their own strategies and needs.

3. Practice reflection.

After an assignment, project, or challenging experience, ask:

Even a one-minute conversation can help your student build the habit of reflecting, adjusting, and trying again.

Executive function support isn't about adding another list of things your student is doing wrong.

Instead of:

“Why can't you get this together?”

Try:

“What are you noticing, and what might help?”

The goal is not to manage your middle schooler more closely. The goal is to help them gradually learn how to manage themselves more effectively.

This week, notice one strength your student naturally uses.

Then ask yourself:

How can I help my student become more aware of that strength and learn when to use it?

That small shift can help build the self-awareness that leads to greater independence, confidence, and executive function skills.

Your middle schooler doesn't need to have everything figured out.

They need opportunities to learn, practice, reflect, adjust, and keep moving forward.

At Latter Up, we believe the goal isn't perfection. It's progress—one step at a time.

Keep learning, keep growing, and Latter Up.

What does it take to build a "steady home" when the world around you is constantly shifting? In this heart-to-heart episode, we sit down with Laci Zollinger to explore her incredible journey through 14 different moves and the unwavering faith that kept her family anchored through it all.

Laci opens up about the realities of frequent transitions and how she turned the challenge of relocation into an opportunity for growth, resilience, and intentional homeschooling. We dive deep into:

If you’re looking for ways to bring more peace and purpose into your daily home life, Laci’s story is a powerful reminder that "home" isn't just a place—it's the spirit we create within our walls.

Curious about our community and how we support homeschooling families? Visit our website to explore programs, events, and resources designed to inspire, connect, and encourage you on your homeschool journey.

👉 Check it out here: Latter Up: A Latter-Day Virtual Co-Op 

Here is the resource highlighted in this episode—perfect for exploring further and supporting your homeschool experience:

Relationship Matters with Dr. Gordon Neufeld explains why a secure emotional connection is the essential foundation for learning. For homeschool parents, this video is an invitation to prioritize your relationship over the curriculum, as a healthy attachment is ultimately your most effective teaching tool.

In this episode of Latter Up, we dive into the inspiring and relatable story of Kristin, a mother who never envisioned herself as a "homeschooler."  In this episode, Kristin joins us to share her candid transition from traditional schooling to a personalized home education. We discuss:

Whether you're curious about homeschooling or facing your own life pivot, Kristin’s story offers the grounded perspective you need to find joy in the unplanned.

Curious about our community and how we support homeschooling families? Visit our website to explore programs, events, and resources designed to inspire, connect, and encourage you on your homeschool journey.

👉 Check it out here: Latter Up: A Latter-Day Virtual Co-Op 

Here is the resource highlighted in this episode—perfect for exploring further and supporting your homeschool experience:

Just Serve is a free community service platform that connects volunteers with local projects, offering homeschoolers a practical way to fulfill service requirements, build real-world skills, and even start service clubs within their study groups.

In “Of Things That Matter Most,” Dieter F. Uchtdorf gently invites us to focus on what truly lasts—faith, family, and becoming who we’re meant to be— where learning is shaped less by external checklists and more by intentional choices about what we choose to prioritize and cultivate in daily life.

Thank you for your love and support to the Quigley family.

Curious about our community and how we support homeschooling families? Visit our website to explore programs, events, and resources designed to inspire, connect, and encourage you on your homeschool journey.

👉 Check it out here: Latter Up: A Latter-Day Virtual Co-Op 

Here is the resource highlighted in this episode—perfect for exploring further and supporting your homeschool experience:

In “"The Spirit of Revelation,",” David A. Bednar teaches that revelation comes gradually as we move forward in faith with a reminder that learning and growth unfold step by step over time.

The Barron’s ACT Study Guide Premium 2026 gives homeschool students structured practice and strategies to prepare effectively for the ACT and track academic progress.

Vivid Vision: A Remarkable Tool For Aligning Your Business Around a Shared Vision of the Future - helps families clearly define their long-term goals and direction, supporting intentional, values-based homeschooling.

In this episode, we sit down with Jamie Lund to discuss the transformative power of faith, resilience, and personal growth. Jamie shares her unique journey, offering a candid look at how leaning into gospel principles has helped her navigate life's complexities and find deeper purpose.

The conversation explores the balance between "reaching outward" to serve others and "leaning inward" to strengthen one's own spiritual foundation. Jamie’s insights serve as a powerful reminder that our personal stories are still being written and that there is always room for renewal and hope, regardless of past challenges.

Curious about our community and how we support homeschooling families? Visit our website to explore programs, events, and resources designed to inspire, connect, and encourage you on your homeschool journey.

👉 Check it out here: Latter Up: A Latter-Day Virtual Co-Op 

Here is the resource highlighted in this episode—perfect for exploring further and supporting your homeschool experience:

Overcoming Dyslexia by Dr. Sally Shaywitz provides homeschool parents with a science-based roadmap to identify reading struggles early and implement a detailed home program to strengthen their child's reading skills and self-esteem.

We’re clearing the air! In this final episode of the series, we tackle the most common practical questions about schedules, faith-based learning, and transitioning from traditional schools.

We invite you to visit the resources highlighted in this episode —perfect for exploring further. Take your time, pray about it, and listen to the rest of our series as you decide what’s best for your family.

FAQ - review answers to commonly asked questions.

✨Enrollment Page - watch an orientation video and fill out the interest form to schedule an appointment with a member of the board.

What kind of young adult is your child becoming? We zoom out to look at the "Mentor with Meaning" philosophy and how we prepare students for life beyond the classroom.

We invite you to visit the resources highlighted in this episode —perfect for exploring further. Take your time, pray about it, and listen to the rest of our series as you decide what’s best for your family.

Youth Initiatives - showcases the interactive programs available to help support your student in their learning. 

✨Enrollment Page - watch an orientation video and fill out the interest form to schedule an appointment with a member of the board.

Homeschooling can feel lonely, but it doesn't have to be. This episode highlights how LatterUP supports the whole family, offering mentors and community for parents.

We invite you to visit the resources highlighted in this episode —perfect for exploring further. Take your time, pray about it, and listen to the rest of our series as you decide what’s best for your family.

Parent Support Calendar - important dates including parent support meetings such as curriculum support meetings, teaching support meetings, and family activities. 

✨Enrollment Page - watch an orientation video and fill out the interest form to schedule an appointment with a member of the board.

What does "co-op" actually mean for your schedule? We demystify the contribution model, explaining how families share responsibility to keep the community sustainable and affordable.

We invite you to visit the resources highlighted in this episode —perfect for exploring further. Take your time, pray about it, and listen to the rest of our series as you decide what’s best for your family.

Contributions Catalog - see the variety of opportunities to choose from for your contribution or submit an interest form with your own contribution idea.

✨Enrollment Page - watch an orientation video and fill out the interest form to schedule an appointment with a member of the board.