The Focus & Follow-Through Lab

Jennifer Abayowa

Jennifer Abayowa is a homeschool parent, co-op lead teacher, and Project Approach educator with a background in science and medical communications. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and has spent 13 years helping healthcare companies communicate complex ideas through compelling stories. She brings her love of science and storytelling into the classroom, creating experiences that make learning exciting, meaningful, and memorable.

Jennifer believes that every child is uniquely gifted and designs lessons that blend science, storytelling, creativity, and real-world problem-solving. Her classes often include projects, entrepreneurship, public speaking, and opportunities for students to develop leadership and collaboration skills. She strives to create a learning environment where children are encouraged to ask questions, pursue their interests, and discover that they can make a positive difference in the world.

9 years old - 16 years old 

What if your child did not just start things, but actually finished them?

Your child may have incredible ideas, creativity, and big dreams. They may want to invent something, start a business, write a book, build a project, or make a difference in the world. But when it comes to planning, staying focused, and following through, they get stuck.

The Focus & Follow-Through Lab is a hands-on, Project Approach life skills lab where students:

• Understand how their unique brain works, including their strengths, personality, habits, and learning style.
• Learn practical, personalized systems for planning, time management and productivity (e.g., the Pomodoro technique), and breaking big goals into manageable steps.
• Build stronger habits of responsibility, follow-through, and independence, completing projects with less reliance on parent reminders.
• Grow in leadership and confidence as they contribute to the lab community, research topics deeply, communicate ideas clearly, and present their work effectively.
• Complete a meaningful project from start to finish based on their interests.
• Create and present a business idea, product prototype, or entrepreneurial venture of their own.

 

This lab draws on principles from the Charlotte Mason method, emphasizing strong habits, full attention during focused work, meaningful projects, and reflection through narration.

Students participate in a 15-week program that alternates between Immersive Lab Weeks and Independent Work Weeks

During Immersive Lab Weeks, students participate in a 3-hour guided lab session.

During Independent Work Weeks, students put their skills into practice as they work toward their goals and projects independently while receiving personalized feedback from the instructor. Lab Mentors (ages 15 and 16) will also have opportunities to develop and practice leadership skills.

This alternating rhythm teaches students one of life's most important skills: how to work independently while staying focused, accountable, and moving toward meaningful goals.

What a 3-Hour Immersive Lab Session Feels Like:

• 30 minutes — Arrival, Mini Lesson, & Planning Time: Teacher gives a brief lesson on a skill or tool. Students map out what they want to accomplish and break their work into clear, manageable steps.

• 40 minutes — Focus Session #1: Students rotate through lab spaces while practicing staying on task, managing distractions, and building time awareness.

• 15 minutes — Reset + Break: A short break to recharge and refocus.

• 40 minutes — Presentations & Focus Session #2: Students respond to prompts, show their work, and continue exploring different lab spaces.

• 15 minutes - Reset + Break: A short break to recharge and refocus.

• 30 minutes - Students complete their planning sheets and submit goals to work on for the next week.

• 10 minutes - Reflection + Wrap-Up: Students review their progress and plan next steps

Students explore:

• Spiritual gifts
• Personality types
• Strengths and natural tendencies

Outcome: Students begin to understand how they are wired - and how to work with their strengths instead of against them.

A space where students:

• Map out their day or week
• Break large goals into clear steps
• Learn how to prioritize what matters most
• Come up with a clear daily plan to work on their project at home

Outcome: Students stop feeling overwhelmed and start knowing exactly what to do next.

A structured environment for:

• Practicing sustained focus
• Using productivity techniques like the Pomodoro method
• Building time awareness
• Working on tasks, projects, business ideas, and entrepreneurship

Outcome: Students strengthen attention, reduce distractions, and learn how to stay with a task.

A space to:

• Practice speaking clearly and confidently
• Share ideas and project progress
• Build communication skills
• Respond to narration-style prompts:
  • "Tell me what you worked on today."
  • "Walk me through your thinking."
  • "What was most interesting to you?"

Outcome: Students gain confidence expressing their thoughts and presenting their work.

A calm, inviting space where students:

• Research and explore topics based on their interests.
• Engage with living books that inspire ideas and curiosity (e.g., biographies, story-based non-fiction, and idea-rich books)
• Slow down and think deeply

Outcome: Students build focus, learn how to explore and comprehend deeply instead of skimming, and develop a habit of independent reading.

A safe space to:

• Talk through frustration
• Problem-solve when stuck
• Learn how to reset after distractions or setbacks

Outcome: Students build resilience and learn how to keep going when things get hard.

None

• Weekly personalized feedback to guide growth
• Weekly project check-ins to ensure consistent progress
• 1-3 parent touchpoints to keep you informed and supported

At some point, every parent realizes:
"My child is capable... they just need the tools."
This lab gives them those tools -
in a practical, supportive, and real-life way.

Class Day: Tuesday
Start Date: September 1, 2026
Class Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Class Length: 3 Hours
Class Frequency: Weekly
Duration: 15-week semester course

Minimum Students: 10

Maximum Students: 16

Course Fee: $349 per semester (paid to instructor)

Supply Fee: $45 per semester (paid to instructor for the purchase of supplies)

Administrative Fee: $65 (paid to Rooted Resource Center)

Recommended but optional: Parents should have their student bring a laptop, iPad, or Chromebook (to type and perform light research). 

Moderate weekly expectations

Parents will support consistency in project follow-through and time management habits.

Please check all the boxes to ensure full payment. Thank you!