Hi, I’m Jen.
I’ve always wanted two things for my children:
- An excellent education
- A lifelong love of learning
I’m a homeschooling mom of two who, like you, faced a difficult decision.
My children were enrolled in a well-regarded private school, but sometimes you have to go off the beaten path to reach your destination.
I wanted my children to love learning and to see education as a part of life, not a chore that they were forced to do.
I didn’t want my children to just learn how to do well on tests;
I wanted them to learn how to think.
When my daughter was 7 and my son was 4, we officially withdrew them from school and started on our homeschool adventure.
We didn’t just want to reproduce school at home. We wanted an education that would make learning engaging.
We wanted adventures, experiences, and inspirations.
If this is what you, too, want for your children, you’re in the right place.
Let me tell you more about how we made this life-changing decision.
I never thought I’d homeschool my kids.
I was an adjunct psychology professor pursuing my Ph.D in education and social change. I also ran a successful life-coaching business.
My children were enrolled in a private school. I thought this was the way life was supposed to be.
Then, a few things happened that made me think differently.
One evening, when my daughter was in first grade, I was going through the bedtime routine with her and trying to convince her to hurry up.
I knew, in school, she’d been working on telling time so I pointed to the clock in her room and asked her to tell me the time.
She told me that she couldn’t do that because the big hand was pointing to the 10 and, “in school, we’ve only learned o’clock and thirty and we’re done with time, so I don’t need to know that.”
I was stunned.
In just first grade, she was already getting the attitude that learning was only something she did for school.
She wasn’t learning that the knowledge was important for life.
At that point, we started to seriously consider homeschooling.
Beginning our homeschool journey
We made the decision to homeschool with some trepidation. Like most parents, we take our children’s education very seriously and we wanted to do what was best for them.
I started reading and learning more about homeschooling. I talked to friends who were homeschooling their children.
One of my graduate school professors who had experience as a classroom teacher encouraged me to take the leap. She told me that, looking back, she wished that she had homeschooled her own children.
I felt prepared to start our homeschool adventure. I was excited and so were the kids.
Our first year was filled with more misadventures than adventures.
I had big dreams for my children, but I wasn’t sure how to make those a reality. Does that sound familiar?
It seemed like there were thousands of options for curriculum materials! Others recommended so many things that just didn’t work for us. I didn’t know how to customize the plan to fit our family.
I wasted a lot of money. Even worse, I wasted precious time. It seemed like my kids were falling behind instead of jumping ahead.
No one was really enjoying the process. Rather than a grand adventure, school had become a chore dictated by a boxed curriculum. Is that how you’re feeling right now?
Then, let me tell you how I turned our homeschool around.
During our second year, I took a step back and reassessed.
I drew on my knowledge of psychology and education. I used a bit of my project management experience and a bit of my life coach training. I did a LOT of reading and research.
I found a balance between child-led and parent-directed that reassured us that our children were getting an excellent education that was inspiring curiosity and a love of learning.
I made a clear plan so we’d know if they were on track for their long-term and shorter-term goals.
I decided to add in more adventure and experiential learning.
We rented an RV and took a 3-week trip across the country. The kids earned their Junior Ranger badges at 5 national parks. They read books about the historic sights and states we visited. Together, we traced our route on a U.S. map.
My husband and I got to see the wonder in their eyes when they saw the Grand Canyon.
This was why we started homeschooling. The kids were finally moving forward towards their educational goals and enjoying the journey!
Recently, in talking with my daughter, I theorized that someday people wouldn’t have to go to school because they’d just be able to download information to their brains. My daughter looked shocked and said, “I hope not. I like learning new things. Learning is fun. That would take the fun out of it.”
At that moment, I knew for sure that I had achieved what I had set out to do. Our learning adventure had instilled in her a love of learning.
It took a while, but I discovered how to find the right balance between structure and freedom.
I identified educational methods that are engaging and interesting.
I developed a method of planning that keeps our homeschool on track to meet our educational goals.
That’s exactly what I will show you how to do.
How I help you create the best learning environment for your children
You, too, want to give your kids the best learning experience. You want to set them up for success AND instill a love of learning. But you’re unsure how to do that.
That’s where I come in.
You can confidently homeschool your children, even if it seems a little scary at first. I will work with you to uncover a clear path to success for your homeschool. Your path will be different from everyone else’s, and I’m here to help you navigate the path and find a way to transform your child’s learning experience.
Education & Experience
Why should you trust me with your child’s education? I combine all of my diverse education and experience to help parents like you.
- Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology
- Master’s in Business Administration
- Life coach training from the Co-Active Training Institute
- Six years as a project manager at a Fortune 100 company
- Seven years as an adjunct psychology professor and college advisor
Are you ready to start your homeschooling journey?
Your child is not like every other child, so why should their education be like every other child’s education?
Your child’s education should be extraordinary.
It should instill innovation, creativity, and a passion for learning.
We never stop learning, even as adults, and the education that works best for your child is one that will prepare them for a future of critical thinking and lifelong learning.
During our time together, we will focus on your children as individuals. I will guide you in discovering a homeschool strategy that is custom-tailored to your family.
No more learning just for the purpose of passing tests.
It’s time to redefine education and create an education that works for your family.
Photo Credit: Katie Willis Rhodes Photography