Embarking on a New Journey

This week marks a new beginning for our family.  Starting tomorrow morning at 8:00am we are HOME SCHOOLING!  Many reasons motivated Brian and me to pull Nathan and Maren out of public school.  Essentially, all reasons boil down to one realization:  while public school works for many, we feel compelled to try something different.

I began researching our schooling options early this year.  I counseled with several home schooling mothers, attended a home schooling conference, held a home schooling meeting in my home with several women in our community, and searched to find a custom-made curriculum that would suit the needs of my children.  In my research I came to understand how many resources and options are available for home schooling families.  As a college graduate in education, this was thrilling to me!

Nathan and Maren are enrolled in an online school called Williamsburg Intermediate.  They will attend daily classes online, view and interact with their classmates (face-to-face with teachers and students throughout the world via webcam), work on group projects, take tests, and do all the other things that kids do.  This school is nationally accredited, is held accountable for academic results, administers exams and provides report cards and transcripts.  Williamsburg's classical education approach, methods and philosophies match the educational goals we have for our children.  Here is a sneak peak into their curriculum programs for this school year:

Leadership Program	Humanities Program	STEM Program
Self leadership	Social Studies	Science
Group leadership	Language Arts	Technology
Heroes, Adventures, Gifts, Barriers	Literature	Engineering
Literature/biographies	Art	Math
Creative writing	Memorization	Art
		STEM Classics & Biographies

We feel that Williamsburg Intermediate will provide an excellent, well-rounded education for our children. Nathan and Maren have enrolled in a variety of extracurricular activities to ensure plenty of positive social experiences.  We are looking forward to an exciting school year!  We will keep you posted on the many adventures of schooling at home.

Baby Olympics

Charlotte competing for individual gold on balance beam. 

Our Deacon

On Sunday, our twelve year old Nathan was ordained by his father to the office of a Deacon.  He is excited to be in the Young Men's program.  Nathan has a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and will magnify his priesthood through serving others.  I couldn't be more proud of this fine young man.  He has a kind heart and eagerness to do what is right.  It was a special day, one that I have dreamed about for years.