When asked what some of the “problems” or “issues” are that I see in the homeschool world, I cannot help but consider high school. Having three kids in this category, I sometimes find myself struggling to meet their individual needs—which, as it turns out, there are a lot of. Truly, I don’t know if anything could have prepared me for these years. In the same way that motherhood was a crash course for me, parenting teens is like a pop quiz that I had no idea was coming (and which I didn’t study for) every day of my life. Sometimes I feel like I go from one in-depth counseling session to the n ..read more

With Gather ‘Round Homeschool launching every month, I am usually not the person writing anymore… there just simply isn’t enough of me to go around. I spend my days planning and vision casting future units, making the large plans, organizing timelines and deliveries, editing and proofing, answering questions from writers and designers and proofers, and keeping up with the projects we have going on. And yet, somehow, in the busyness of launching our Europe unit, I had an idea. “Let’s do a Christmas one!” This was only a few weeks ago, I wanted to write it, and yes, I was crazy! I have spent t ..read more

One of the things I love most about this Gather ‘Round vision that God gave me, is how it is so incredibly creative and new every single month! We have a large team of creative people who all work together to help make these units and I am so excited to share with you a sneak peek at our brand new release (anticipated to hit the shop November 26th): Europe! This unit includes all the amazing features of our Asia unit with some fresh improvements. We tried to be more intentional and have less research with upper elementary. The writing style is more engaging and every lesson has an extension a ..read more

Separation of Church and State… that idea permeates not just politics but also the business world. Good business is when you put faith on the back burner so everyone feels welcome and you can stay focused on business. Like a clinical hospital… good business is when you stay “professional” and don’t get personal. In the past few years I have had people question me when I post controversial or faith-based content. Why wouldn’t I just make it easier for myself and have a positive environment without all that hate and conflict? To be honest, I’ve asked myself that same question. Is this my fight ..read more

If you are in the market for an elementary homeschool science curriculum, this post is your one-stop shopping guide! Learn the key features of various programs, watch a short video clip where you can peek inside and see how it is laid out and whether or not it will work for your family! If you like this style of review, you can watch the full comparison video on my YouTube channel or watch the Math comparison or LA comparison reviews to help with other subjects you may be looking for. Also, don’t miss the curriculum quiz to help you choose curriculum, with hundreds of recommendations based on ..read more

Somewhere along the line of my homeschool journey I have acquired a few stragglers. Like the ones who lag behind on a walk because they saw something interesting, I have a few children who are lagging behind in their lessons because it seems anything is more interesting to them than school. The arbitrary line of “normal” seems to mock me these days. My kids are either ahead of the curve or behind, not one seems to fit the box they are supposed to fit for their age. I carry the weight, the ones who are behind cause me to question where I have gone wrong and what I can do to help them succeed ..read more

Homeschooling is incredibly challenging. Just when you feel like you have figured something out, everything changes. The shifting sands of homeschooling can be exhausting and overwhelming but we don’t need to be a victim to our circumstances! I asked my Facebook group what their biggest homeschool challenges were and was inundated with comments. I have put together a huge printable list of challenges along with some practical tips that you can use to help you rise above them! Simply subscribe below to get the free printable and purchase my session from Teach Them Diligently Denver to hear me ..read more

About a year ago I posted a video about Why we were not using The Good and the Beautiful (TGTB) and it exploded. Nearly every week, consistently and without fail, I receive at least one hate mail e-mail from someone. They are long, they are well-thought out, they are barbed with insults and condemnation. Nearly every single day I get notifications of new comments on my YouTube video about this, both good and bad, this isn’t going away. Over the past year I have watched. I have seen this issue divide, I have heard both sides, I have seen the community and TGTB groups, I have followed the thre ..read more

I wanted to write a post to help explain what Build Your Bundle is, how it works this year, how you can save the most money, my favorite bundles, and a free printable to help you plan your shopping. Don’t forget that I am a contributor to the sale with my two brand new courses (Total Time Management for Kids and Start a Blog + YouTube channel for kids) which means I make a percentage of the sale if you click on my link. The way it works this year is last click which means if you want me to get the credit, you have to click on my link last PLUS I have an exclusive giveaway for people that suppo ..read more

Homeschooling is not cheap. The more kids you have, the more supplies and books you need, the more strain it can put on the finances. But it doesn’t have to be that way! There are so many ways to save money and homeschool on a budget! Let’s talk about some money saving homeschool hacks plus an AMAZING giveaway and homeschool deal at the bottom, so stay tuned! Homeschooling on a budget Hack #1: The Dollar Store! The dollar store! There are so many amazing educational goodies that you can find at the dollar store! Everything from curriculum to school supplies to coat supplies, incentives and mor ..read more