When a Child Isn’t Talking Yet: What Parents Need to Hear

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As parents, we tend to notice everything about our children—especially when something seems delayed or out of step with expectations. Few concerns are as emotionally charged as wondering why a child is not yet talking.

In this post, I want to share an important message for homeschool parents, inspired by my recent conversation with Bate Ilondior, author of I Am Joshua. Her story is not about panic or comparison. It is about clarity, courage, and doing what is best for your child.

 

Homeschool Ways Podcast Episode 11

Homeschool Ways Podcast Episode 11

 

When Speech Doesn’t Come Easily

Bate’s son did not speak until he was four years old. Like many parents, she heard well-meaning comments suggesting that he would “catch up,” that some children are simply late talkers, or that brilliance sometimes comes with delay. Continue reading »


$250,000+ In Scholarships

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Now that it is 2026 and all the letters of acceptance and scholarship offers have come in, I can give you a report. My son received over $250,000 in aggregate scholarship funds. One of the universities offered him a full ride – a merit scholarship. So that’s a wrap. This is my Ta-Da! moment as a homeschool mom.

Teenager at the Front Desk

My son working at the Front Desk of Zoder’s Inn and Suites

Here’s what we know for sure: Continue reading »


Happy New Year, 2026!

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Don’t you love the last week of the calendar year? You don’t “have to” do anything. You get to spend time with your family, friends, drink hot chocolate, binge some shows while throwing popcorn in your mouth, and generally be of good cheer. We are looking forward into the future.

Zoder Family

Grateful for my family

The news reminds us that homeschooling is on the rise. School safety, indoctrination, and a global pandemic have pushed our numbers ever higher in the last few years. Continue reading »


Merry Christmas, 2025!

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I pause to reflect on the magic you’ve brought into my world this year. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being the heartbeat of this blog community. Your unwavering support has turned Homeschool Ways into more than just a blog. Our corner of the internet represents a cozy virtual hearth. We gather here to swap stories, strategies, and the occasional homeschooling mishap. Above all, this blog serves real homeschool families.

Homeschool mom and teenage children

My husband took photographed us by our treehouse, which he built as we were beginning our homeschool journey

On the other hand, now we have a YouTube channel and an award-winning podcast. As I keep learning about producing video content, I thank you for your patience with my burgeoning skills. 🙂 Continue reading »


My Son Just Graduated from High School One Semester Sooner

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In Tennessee, if you are college-bound, you need 22 credits on your high school diploma. My son just finished all of his requirements this month – December 2025. Yes, his official graduation ceremony will happen in May 2026, but this month marks the end of his high school. He is done. I am done homeschooling. Boom. Just like that, 13 years (almost) of homeschooling him are over. I can’t believe I just typed that.

Teenagers cutting a cheesecake

My daughter slicing the cheesecake I made for my son’s 18th birthday

What is there left to say? I feel grateful. Grateful for the privilege to mold him and to help him become all that God wants him to be. At this point, he is thinking about starting his own business. Many people take a gap year between high school and college. My son will probably do that. At least, that is what is looking like now for him. Continue reading »


Choosing a Music Teacher Doesn’t Have to Be Overwhelming

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If you want to give your child the gift of music but feel intimidated because you never learned an instrument yourself — you’re not alone. Homeschool moms write to me saying:

“Where do I even start?”
“What instrument should we choose?”
“Is my child too young?”
“How do I know if the teacher is good?”

Young girl with violin

My daughter played in the Knoxville Youth Symphony Orchestras for six years.

This guide breaks down the 5 steps I wish I had known when I started my children in violin and piano (and then harp for my daughter). Continue reading »


Amazon Prime – Why We Love It

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Of course I like supporting small businesses and Amazon is anything but. At the end of the day, there is room for all in our lives. We have Amazon Prime and have had it for years. It is a part of our lives now.

Amazon Prime Logo

Amazon Prime Logo

Three reasons we love Amazon Prime:

  1. Fast shipping – Even though I plan my life way in advance, there are days when I need something fast and I cannot drive to the store for it. Thanks to Amazon Prime, I receive supplies within two days.
  2. Subscribe and Save Subscriptions – Every household needs some staple items on a regular basis. You set the frequency of the order and can cancel at any time. In addition, you pay less money for these items. What’s not to love?
  3. Most of the time, Amazon is cheaper than brick-and-mortar businesses. Not for everything, of course. But when I am in a bookstore and I see a book my kid wants, I pull up my Amazon app and check to see if their price is better.

 

If you are ready to give Amazon Prime a try, click here to lock in this year’s price. As an Amazon Associate, I make a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through my affiliate links. Thank you for your support! It means a lot to me and I appreciate it.


Kindle Books – Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

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What’s the next best thing to a physical book? A Kindle book. Digital books have one advantage over physical books: they don’t take much space. If you travel a lot as a family, don’t even think about bringing your textbooks with you. A Kindle is the only thing you will need (for each child, of course).

Kindle colorsoft

Kindle Colorsoft – glare-free, 16 or 32 GB of storage, colors, up to 8 weeks of battery life, wireless charging

If your child does not yet have a Kindle e-Reader, please know there are seven different models to choose from:

  1. Kindle Paperwhite – glare-free, 16 GB of storage, 7″ tall, up to 12 weeks of battery life
  2. Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition – same as above, but 32 GB of storage and wireless charging
  3. Kindle Paperwhite Kids – same as 1 above, plus cover and a 6-month subscription to Amazon Kids
  4. Kindle Colorsoft – glare-free, colors, 16 GB of storage, 7″ tall, up to 8 weeks of battery life
  5. Kindle Colorsoft Kids – same as above, Amazon Kids+ for one year, Parental Controls, no ads, no notifications (interruptions)
  6. Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition – same as above, but 32 GB of storage and wireless charging
  7. Kindle Scribe with Redesigned Display – the mother of all Kindles, with journaling – absolutely amazing

You cannot go wrong with any one of these. We have several Kindle Paperwhites and a Fire Tablet. Continue reading »


Give the Gift of Audio Books

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Do you spend a lot of time in the car, taking your children to co-op, doctor’s appointments, violin lessons, science olympiad practice, soccer etc? That is the perfect time to listen to books together. In this post, I am sharing only one resource, but it is the key that unlocks a lifelong relationship with books and knowledge: Audible memberships. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Boy listening to audible books in the car

Listening to books in the car doubles your teaching efforts.

I read 1,000 books before Kindergarten to my children. By the time we enrolled them officially in our homeschool as “Kindergarten students,” my children could read on a 3rd grade level. Use this Reading Level Test to assess where your child is now. Continue reading »


Thanksgiving Books for Children of All Ages

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Over the years, we have been reading all sorts of books about Thanksgiving: from board books to picture books to chapter books to full-on memoirs. As the children grow, the books change, naturally. You are busy, especially now around the holidays, so I have put together a book list for your convenience. You can always find them at your local library or purchase them for your homeschool. Affiliate links – thank you for your support!

The Story of the Pilgrims

The Story of the PilgrimsVersion 1.0.0

 

The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh

A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting

‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey – delightful parody to the original Christmas poem

Thanksgiving in the Woods by Phyllis Alsdurf – based on a true story from upstate New York

Thanks for Nothing! by Ryan T. Higgins – A Bruce Bear Book – love him!

Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas

Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende Devlin

Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano

One Tough Turkey by Steven Kroll

Happy Thanksgiving, Biscuit! by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving by Charles Schultz

The Story of the Pilgrims by Katharine Ross

 

For Older Kids

If your children are teenagers, I would look into getting them some of these titles. Continue reading »