I’ve written in the past that homeschooling for us is a rhythm and a lifestyle, rather than a prescription. We’re highly interest-led, and follow passions more than curricula. I’ve neglected, however, to emphasize how essential a good homeschool library has been to that lifestyle. Diving into topics that arise out of life and spark the…
Category: Homeschooling
“Not Back to School”
I’m late in the game for homeschooling bloggers posting their 2019-2020 curricula, because, well. . . we homeschool year-round, and I don’t plan months in advance, so I didn’t think I had much to offer. Because each month depends upon the kids’ progress and interests, I’ve really no idea what we’ll be doing in December….
Homeschool Games List
Over the years games have become central to our homeschooling. We play at least two games daily, and have found them to be a wonderful way for the kids to learn practically and gently. They also provide great opportunities for us to learn together, forging memories, fostering closeness, and teaching the kids to respect one…
Snow and Supermoons: Homeschool Day-in-the-Life, Year 3
This is the third year that I’m participating in the “homeschool day-in-the-life” linkup at Simple Homeschool. When I reflect back on previous years, I’m stunned at the Lord’s work in our lives. Homeschooling was never the plan. But God steered us this way, and the process has shaped and molded our family so unexpectedly, the…
Heavy (and not-so-heavy) Topics
My writing for the Gospel Coalition has delved into some somber territory lately — but hopefully in ways that will help. The following two articles were published recently: Postpartum Depression and the Christian In the Debate Over Physician-Assisted Suicide, Words Matter On a more lighthearted front, I recently gave an interview for How Do I…
A Lifestyle of Learning
A friend of mine who is an educator recently commented, “You’re trying to be a parent and a teacher. I don’t know how you can do that. That’s hard.” I appreciated her sympathy, but the truth is I’m not a “teaching” in the typical sense that comes to mind, when we consider brick-and-mortar schools. There…
The Gift of Firelight
My thoughts on this blog often focus on God’s grace in the face of brokenness. I talk a lot about our struggles with our son’s sensory processing disorder. I reflect upon my own failings, my tenuous confidence in my transition from the hospital to the home, and the idols with which I struggle. I too…
Writing on Depression; Talking about Homeschooling
Depression has spiritual ramifications, often steeping sufferers into a despair that threatens faith. Unfortunately, while as Christians we rush to support neighbors through hospitalizations for other medical conditions, with depression we often fall short. My most recent article on TGC explores how to love our neighbor in depression: Why Christian Love Matters in Depression On…
Sunlight Through Cloudbreak: Homeschooling Day-in-the-Life, Year 2
A year ago when I first wrote about our homeschool days for the day-in-the-life linkup at Jamie Martin’s Simple Homeschool, we were less than a year into the journey. With trepidation, we inched forward to test the ground beneath us, ready to abandon efforts should the foundations crack and give way. I struggled with the…
How Surgery Prepared Me (and Didn’t) for Homeschooling
In many ways, my career ill-equipped me for homeschooling. Surgery is all about protocol. In an emergency, when the blood pools on the floor, the blood pressure on the monitor drops, and panic swells in the room, surgical training teaches you to lean into procedure. You cut out the noise, ablate the chaos from your…
Kathryn Butler 