Better Writing With Public Practice

When our girls started their bluegrass band they got in the habit of a 2-hour practice every Saturday morning. I liked that because I was home and could enjoy hearing them make music together. This went on for many weeks and they got better as time went by. Then I had...
The Cost, Value and Affordability of the Ron Paul Curriculum

The Cost, Value and Affordability of the Ron Paul Curriculum

In this episode Richard Emmons assesses the affordability and value of the Ron Paul Curriculum compared to other homeschooling options. How Much Does the Ron Paul Curriculum Cost? There is an annual membership fee of $250 per family to join the Ron Paul Curriculum...

When life gives you weeds, make dandelion salad?

We lived in a log home in the woods for most of our homeschooling years. Yet we had a great big lawn because we grew up in suburbia. With a big lawn came lots of dandelions in the spring. This usually meant a lot of work for my wife Kathleen and me. We picked a ton of...

Choosing a Phonics Program For Your Family

According to Dr. Sam Lamerson, “58% of the U.S. adult population never reads another book after high school.” Why is this? The main reason is public schools complicate the process. Too much new theory and not enough phonics. Children aren’t taught to read by sounding...

My Grammar Nazi Mom

It wasn’t easy growing up in the late ’60’s and early ’70’s. The Vietnam War. Inner city riots. Bell bottom pants. And the New Math and Scientific Reading. Fads and fashions come and go. You deal with it and know that ugly fashions eventually go out of fashion. My mom...

Ever get a call from Dr. James Dobson?

Our first year of homeschooling had been going a few months. Kathleen was trying to teach Christina how to read along with other kindergarten subjects. How hard could it be? The student to teacher ratio was in our favor. And Kathleen had “home educated” Christina from...

My first day of Kindergarten

My Mom told me about that day again and again as she faded into Alzheimers. “You didn’t say goodbye! You ran to class!” Most kids would cling to their mom’s skirt and not let go. Many would sob. Hissy fits happened. This was understood and expected because this was...

The Confidence To Homeschool

We’re supposed to walk by faith not by sight. This is much tougher than it sounds especially when you’re just starting out. One episode of Focus on the Family and I was ready to jump into homeschooling with both feet. Nike had been running “Just Do It” ads for 4 years...

Why Homeschool?

Our homeschooling journey began with an episode of Dr. Dobson’s Focus on the Family radio show. In 1991 we had no idea what homeschooling was or how it worked. We wanted the very best for our daughters. This included education. I have mixed memories of elementary...

Can Homeschool Moms stop teaching and children keep learning?

I never really enjoy April Fool’s Day. Especially in the age of the Internet. Bad news travels fast. Hoaxes travel even faster. 4 years ago someone announced that Ron Paul was running for President again. False. That one hurt. Yesterday I read that Trader...