Coping with Criticism
by Karen D. Koch Choosing to homeschool at times can feel as if we've placed a target on our forehead and asked people to take shots at us. But we don't need to cower or always be in defense mode. Our Decision We chose homeschooling a long time ago for many reasons....
Help! My Child Won’t Listen to Me
by Janelle Knutson Many moms have come to me ready to give up on homeschooling. The culprit is an ongoing battle between them and their child over school work. Perhaps you can relate? Maybe you’ve given homeschooling a try only to find that being home all day with...
When Should My Child Take Pre-Algebra and Geometry?
by Janelle Knutson For many homeschool parents, the upper grades can bring on a wave of anxiety as they try to figure out what they need to teach their child. Math is one of those areas. When is your child ready to move from the foundational math he’s been doing in...
Slaving Away?
by Rebecca Kocsis How well I remember those days of caring for small children and homeschooling, too. I remember collapsing on the sofa after we put the kids to bed and not being able to move. I didn’t even want to walk to my own bed. I remember being so mentally...
Life Without Music Would ♭-Flat
by Karen D. Koch Music matters. I majored in journalism in college but accidentally minored in music because I took so many electives in the music department. So years later as a homeschool mom, I wanted to incorporate music into our curriculum. However, music lessons...
35 Ideas for Family Service
by Karen D. Koch Does your family have a ministry or mission? Moving overseas is not the only way to serve. Our fragmented society does all it can to “divide and conquer” our families, even Christian homeschooling families, with too many activities, different...
Help! I Need a Mentor
by Karen D. Koch We all need mentors in many areas of our life, and homeschooling is no different. When I first began homeschooling, I was desperately in need of advice, support, and practical support. I was blessed to join Napa Valley Home Educators that provided...
Why Volunteer?
by Susan K. Stewart You are a busy homeschool mom or dad, right? You already have many duties at home or at work; your time doesn’t seem your own. So why would you add one more thing to your busy life, no matter how good it sounds? My life is filled to the brim:...
Most Likely to Make a Million
by Karen D. Koch (I wrote this article nearly five years ago, and amazingly, am now on the cusp of graduating my second child from homeschool/high school and my oldest from college at age 19. It's been a crazy journey, but I'm sending courage to those of you who...
Christmas Tree Catastrophe
by Karen D. Koch Christmas 2002 holds one of our funniest Christmas memories, although at the time it seemed more catastrophic than humorous. Setting: Hubby: just had extensive knee surgery (bone cutting, re-alignment, metal plate, new ligament, etc.) with something...