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 »

Nov 22 2025

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 »

Nov 19 2025

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 »

Nov 18 2025

2025 Thanksgiving

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I am so grateful for Thanksgiving. What a great holiday! A day to remember what we have as a gift from Providence and to acknowledge how truly blessed we are. Yes, we eat and fellowship, but above all, we give thanks to the Creator for His goodness towards us.

Gratitude Journal

Gratitude Journal

Friends, if you feel like you have nothing to be grateful for, think again. You are alive, reading things on the internet on some rather expensive device, willing and able to homeschool, you had a good meal not too long ago, you have a home and a family and children. You probably have a car and a pet. Do you know how many people in the world would love to be in your position? Look around you. All the things. Give thanks for what you have. If you develop gratitude for what you have, you will receive more. But if you despise and neglect and mismanage what you already possess, you will have more to complain about. Gratitude is key to receiving promotion. Continue reading »

Nov 11 2025

Preschool-3rd Grade Homeschool Books – Black Friday Sale

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In order to help homeschool moms who are just getting started, I have decided to slash prices on all my homeschool books. Get 50% off all my early elementary homeschool books now through December 1 at 6pm. Use code BF2025.

This mom of two preschoolers told me recently how much she was learning from my book, 101 Tips for Preschool at Home. She said, “As I read, I have questions. And you answer my questions in the next paragraph or the next chapter. You understand exactly what a mom who is trying to learn about homeschooling needs to know.”

 

101 Tips for Preschool at Home

101 Tips for Preschool at Home

Preschool Book

 

Kindergarten Book

101 Tips for Kindergarten at Home

101 Tips for Kindergarten at Home

 

First Grade Book

101 Tips for First Grade Homeschooling

101 Tips for First Grade Homeschooling

 

Second Grade Book

101 Tips for Second Grade Homeschooling

101 Tips for Second Grade Homeschooling

 

Third Grade Book

101 Tips for Third Grade Homeschooling

101 Tips for Third Grade Homeschooling

 

These are digital downloads available instantly as PDFs you can print or keep on your screen.

If you would rather purchase a paperback copy or a Kindle version, click here for my book list on Amazon.

Take advantage of this offer now, during the Black Friday season of wise savings.

Thank you for your support!

Nov 10 2025

Most Wished For Items – 2025 Edition

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As we all start looking for Christmas gifts for everybody on our list, here is the ultimate list: Amazon’s Most Wished For Items. This is not about keeping up with the Joneses. I am simply taking the guesswork out of your busy holiday season to help you.

12 Days of Beauty Amazon

12 Days of Beauty Amazon Kit

We browse through this list which real people have wished for and it gives us ideas – like this 12 Days of Christmas Beauty Kit. It’s an Advent calendar and a self-care statement in one. What a great idea, right? This is brainstorming. It saves you time and energy. For sure, it will spark some creativity. You’re welcome. Continue reading »

Nov 6 2025

Coaching 1:1 Now Available at 50%

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Ever wish you had a trusted advisor to listen to your concerns, cheer you on for your victories, and suggest changes you cannot even think about?

Adriana Zoder - Homeschool Coach

Adriana Zoder – Homeschool Coach

We all have blind spots and someone with experience can unlock your next level homeschool. The most successful athletes hire coaches for a reason. Why not hire a homeschool coach?

After several people have asked, I have created a Coaching Product. Please click the button below to get more details.

Now through December 1, 2025 at 6pm, I am running a Black Friday special, 50% off. Use code BF2025.

Buy my product

Enjoy!