Author Archives: Adriana Zoder

Jan 27 2026

From Law Books to Children’s Books: My Chat with Marteena Rodriguez-Drinnen

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I recently had the joy of welcoming Marteena Rodriguez-Drinnen to the Homeschool Ways podcast. Martina is a lawyer, a children’s pastor, a new mom, and now an author of the sweetest children’s book series, The Adventures of Tiny Tale. Her first book, Always Room for More, is all about welcoming a new sibling with love and reassurance. We had such a heartfelt conversation – it felt like chatting with a friend over coffee!

Always Room For More

Always Room For MoreVersion 1.0.0

Martina shared her journey so openly. She started in psychology, pivoted to law (after God clearly redirected her!), and practiced juvenile law. She even failed the bar exam the first time but tried again and passed. “Fail forward,” right? I love that! It reminded me of my own detours – I was headed to law school too, but God had other plans with marriage, motherhood, and homeschooling. Continue reading »

Jan 19 2026

The Sad Princess and The Reading Buddy App

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In a recent episode of the Homeschool Ways podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Alex Faisman. Alex is the creative mind behind the Reading Buddy app and a talented author-illustrator of whimsical children’s books. With over 400,000 families using his free app worldwide, we can see how Alex’s contribution to literacy has already made a mark. His books bring a unique blend of technology, art, and passion for early literacy to homeschooling families.

The Sad Princess by Alex Faisman

The Sad Princess by Alex FaismanVersion 1.0.0

Alex’s journey began as a self-taught artist who drew for over 55 years, later teaching in schools – an experience he found deeply inspiring. As a father of four and former collaborator with a company supporting children with autism, he channeled his talents into creating tools that help young minds connect with the world. This led to the Reading Buddy app (available free on Google Play and the App Store), developed with neuroscientist Andre Vasheski from Boston University. Continue reading »

Jan 13 2026

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 much 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 »

Jan 10 2026

$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 »

Dec 30 2025

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 »

Dec 21 2025

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 »

Dec 19 2025

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 »

Dec 8 2025

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 »

Dec 2 2025

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.

Nov 23 2025

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 »