About Rachael
I'm a 2nd generation homeschooler and momma to five wonderful children. There is my journalist, who loves to tell or write about anything and everything; my artist, a detail oriented child who loves to create works of art in any medium, from pencil and paper, to pastels and watercolors, charcoals and acrylics, and even breads, pastries and cakes! Then we have the younger three- my little teacher, who absorbs information like a sponge and loves to teach it to someone else; my musician, who even sings her prayers and my little engineer who at the age of 10 months had already learned to disassemble a remote... if only he could put it back together!
I'm currently rebuilding my strength and health after finally beating a 30 yr struggle with auto-immune disorders that caused numerous pregnancy complications and nearly robbed me of my sight! Though my vision is returning now too, I continue to use boks on a tablet or computer that allow me to enlarge as needed. Still, it's nice to be able to use a real book again! No words can ever convey to you what it's like as a mom to run out of strength after simply cooking a meal or washing a load of dishes. My joy at being able to move past that and rebuild my strength and stamina is inexpressible. As part of my recovery, we've decided to take our homeschooling outside for the year. I'll let you know how that goes! :)
We live in a small city in beautiful southern Pennsylvania, a place I love for everything but the food. As a southern girl, just can't get used to sweet cornbread, hehehe! The people here though are wonderful and the most supportive people I've ever known. The seasons are breathtaking too and even in town I can find enough nature to thrill my children's hearts! On top of all that, we have a wonderful regional medical center that does very well with my middle daughter's medical needs. God bless the doctors and nurses in Hershey!
I'm currently rebuilding my strength and health after finally beating a 30 yr struggle with auto-immune disorders that caused numerous pregnancy complications and nearly robbed me of my sight! Though my vision is returning now too, I continue to use boks on a tablet or computer that allow me to enlarge as needed. Still, it's nice to be able to use a real book again! No words can ever convey to you what it's like as a mom to run out of strength after simply cooking a meal or washing a load of dishes. My joy at being able to move past that and rebuild my strength and stamina is inexpressible. As part of my recovery, we've decided to take our homeschooling outside for the year. I'll let you know how that goes! :)
We live in a small city in beautiful southern Pennsylvania, a place I love for everything but the food. As a southern girl, just can't get used to sweet cornbread, hehehe! The people here though are wonderful and the most supportive people I've ever known. The seasons are breathtaking too and even in town I can find enough nature to thrill my children's hearts! On top of all that, we have a wonderful regional medical center that does very well with my middle daughter's medical needs. God bless the doctors and nurses in Hershey!
My Philosophy
Though I was usually a Teacher's Pet, school was miserable for me. At the beginning of eighth grade, I persuaded my parents to homeschool me and never looked back! At that time homeschooling wasn't really 100% legal in PA. Of course it wasn't 100% illegal either, so we spent a lot of time that year and the next going around to legislators' offices trying to push our current PA homeschool law through. It was an amazing experience, one that shaped my life!
On one occasion, I got to hear Dr Raymond Moore speak. It was then that I discovered my all consuming passion (outside of my faith that is). From that time, I devoured every book on educational philosophy that I could get my hands on. From Raymond Moore, to John Holt, Maria Montessori to Charlotte Mason, even John Dewey- I read them all!
In the 80's and early 90's there weren't a whole lot of resources available for homeschoolers. In our home, there wasn't a lot of money available either, so we went to a lot of used bookstores. I fell in love with old books. I learned then that you can teach yourself ANYTHING with a good book and a notebook! (Well, a pen and highlighter don't hurt...) There weren't a lot of lesson planning tools out there either, so my dad taught me to do it the old fashioned way with a notebook, a pencil and a calculator. "No, wait, forget the calculator, this is supposed to teach you something," he said. Okay then, just the notebook and pencil!
From these humble beginnings, I developed a conviction that homeschooling didn't have to take prodigious amounts of time, money or energy! Now, with my oldest in 11th grade, I'm even more certain of it! A homeschool doesn't have to come out of a box to be successful. In fact, its more fun if it comes from outside the box entirely! All you need are the right resources. Through the years, I've spent a lot of time matching people with the resources they needed to be successful in their own homeschool... and THAT is how this blog was born!
Blessings,
Rachael
On one occasion, I got to hear Dr Raymond Moore speak. It was then that I discovered my all consuming passion (outside of my faith that is). From that time, I devoured every book on educational philosophy that I could get my hands on. From Raymond Moore, to John Holt, Maria Montessori to Charlotte Mason, even John Dewey- I read them all!
In the 80's and early 90's there weren't a whole lot of resources available for homeschoolers. In our home, there wasn't a lot of money available either, so we went to a lot of used bookstores. I fell in love with old books. I learned then that you can teach yourself ANYTHING with a good book and a notebook! (Well, a pen and highlighter don't hurt...) There weren't a lot of lesson planning tools out there either, so my dad taught me to do it the old fashioned way with a notebook, a pencil and a calculator. "No, wait, forget the calculator, this is supposed to teach you something," he said. Okay then, just the notebook and pencil!
From these humble beginnings, I developed a conviction that homeschooling didn't have to take prodigious amounts of time, money or energy! Now, with my oldest in 11th grade, I'm even more certain of it! A homeschool doesn't have to come out of a box to be successful. In fact, its more fun if it comes from outside the box entirely! All you need are the right resources. Through the years, I've spent a lot of time matching people with the resources they needed to be successful in their own homeschool... and THAT is how this blog was born!
Blessings,
Rachael