The Third Time is the Charm
by Rebecca Kocsis We changed curriculum three times the first year we started to homeschool. Three times. The year we started homeschooling my kids were four, six, and seven. I had mostly borrowed material from a friend that was designed for traditional classroom use....
Avoiding the Inevitable
by Rebecca Kocsis Not so long ago one of the freeways near me was undergoing construction—major construction—for a couple of years. Because it was a major freeway it was a frustrating and painful experience for any of us trying to navigate from one part of town to the...
7 Ways to Simplify Your Homeschool
Editor’s Note: This time of year is often referred to as the “winter blues.” The holidays are over and the end of the school year is far off in the distance. It can be challenging to keep a positive attitude (both mom and kids!) and to keep pushing on with school. We...
What Does Forty Years of Research Say to New Homeschool Families?
by Dr. Brian Ray Although parent-directed family-based education is thousands of years old, the modern homeschool movement encompasses only about four decades. During that time, many scholars and researchers have treated homeschool parents, children, and whole...
Finding the Silver Lining
by Katie Julius Whew! We made it to 2021! Doesn’t feel much different, though, does it? I remember as a child when it was a few days before a milestone birthday. Everyone who had seen me was making a big deal about becoming a teenager. There was much anticipation...
The Beauty of Restful Homeschooling
by Danielle Poorman I realized there was a missing ingredient to the success of our homeschool. If someone told me ten years ago that I would eventually homeschool my children, I would have laughed out loud. Even as an experienced brick-and-mortar teacher, I never...
Lessons from Advent
by Katie Julius As a child, I have fond memories of both our church and family celebrating Advent with the lighting of candles on an advent wreath. When we changed churches as a teen, there was not as much emphasis on the liturgical tradition and it kind of faded...
Cancelled Christmas Traditions?
by Katie Julius It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of running from one activity to the next during the holidays. Circumstances this year have forced us to slow down a bit and focus more inwardly, making plans with just immediate family or a small...
Raise a Hallelujah
by Rebecca Kocsis Pouring over the financial reports, I had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. “I don’t believe it. Here we are again.” Unless something changed, I could put a big red box around a date on the calendar in the not too distant future. That was the...
Cheryl Kliewer Named 2020 CHEA Support Network Leader of the Year
Congratulations to the 2020 Support Network Leader of the Year, Cheryl Kliewer of Hearthstone Educators. Cheryl retired at the end of the 2019-2020 school year from her leadership role at Hearthstone after serving for 28 years! Cheryl was surprised with her award...