By Robin Charbonneau

Recently, I finished putting together my children's year-end portfolios. This year there were five to be completed. This is an annual undertaking that I always look forward to with excitement and a fair amount of dread. It takes some time to gather everything together – my planbook and journals, each child's pile of notebooks, textbooks and books read, our completed projects and perhaps some incomplete ones as well. And there it is, all in one place, a representation of our whole homeschooling year spread across tables and couches, even the floor, and the time for reflection begins. 

By Kathy Green

St. Ambrose, an early Church Father who lived in the 4th century, is believed to have said, “Our door is faith; if it is strong enough, the whole house is safe.” As homeschoolers, that quote embodies so much of what is at the heart of our desire to homeschool.  We want our homes to be a place of security, love, learning, peace and spiritual growth. For most of us, that means our home must be a refuge where the presence of God is truly felt and faith is lived out. 

By Sarah Buchwalder

Are you experiencing stress or anxiety in your homeschool?

You've probably heard the expression, “Get your own life jacket on first” or “You can’t pour from an empty cup” before, or have been told on an airplane to secure your own oxygen mask before helping another passenger. Is this selfish advice? Of course not! If you don't have your own flotation device on, two people could drown instead of one. If you do, you're in a much better position to save someone.

By the HOME Team

Are you having trouble motivating your child to read? Does one or more of your children fall into the “doer” category? Instead of curling up with a book, these children are on the move, preferring to build, create and produce. What a gift! They are natural kinesthetic learners and action oriented!

By Kathy Green

Public libraries are a beloved resource for many homeschool families, offering free access to books, research tools, and community programs. But sometimes, families need to limit their use or find other options — whether due to distance, limited availability, or a desire for more appropriate learning experiences. 

The good news? There’s a world of alternatives that can keep learning exciting, flexible, wholesome and affordable! Home, church, community book swaps, and homeschool networks are all places where good books can be found.