Homeschool Companion

Today’s devotional is about Tent Caterpillars. I have used these creatures for numerous science experiments, but probably the most fun is having races with them. During our Questions Parents Ask section, we talked about how you really know God. Our guest today is Brenda Walsh, a television host/producer and best-selling author of many books, including her life story, Battered to Blessed; a five-vo...

Weeds aren’t always Weeds, the title of today’s devotion. That may lead to collecting wildflower seeds and making your own wildflower garden. In our Curriculum Corner, we continue the discussion of celebration and its benefits for one’s health. We continue our interview with Randy Fishell, editor of Guide magazine, a character-building story publication for young people ages 10-14. He is the autho...

Today, we talk about the Jimson weed and help others learn to recognize it. Next, during Curriculum Corner, we discuss why celebrating is important. Following that, in our Questions Parents Ask section, we address common concerns before beginning our interview with Randy Fishell, Editor of Guide Magazine. He shares that Guide has developed a Young Writers course designed for middle- and high-schoo...

The betrayal of Judas causes us to pause and examine our own motives and actions. During Arts-n-Crafts, we make sensory bottles. Even older kids love to make these. We talk about Carnegie Units in high school and what they mean for college-bound students. Then we go to our interview with Steve and Becky Harling, who believe that strong listeners enjoy greater credibility, navigate conflicts better...

What are all the ways a family can show compassion, first toward each other and then in their neighborhood and community? During Arts-n-Crafts, we learn first aid, make sympathy cards for shut-ins, and practice our listening skills. During Curriculum Corner, we debate homeschooling high school vs. traditional high school. Next, we segue to our interview with Pastor Wayne Jamel. He works as a Pasto...

What are all the ways a family can show compassion, first toward each other and then in their neighborhood and community? During Arts-n-Crafts, we learn first aid, make sympathy cards for shut-ins, and practice our listening skills. During Curriculum Corner, we debate homeschooling high school vs. traditional high school. Next, we segue to our interview with Pastor Wayne Jamel. He works as a Pasto...

How does a family embrace their calling? What is a Calling? This topic is discussed during the first part of the show. During Arts-n-Crafts, we make a family collage, survey our children’s interests, and have a home fire drill/plan. Then we debate co-ops vs. microschool. At last, we complete our interview with Dr. Dick Stenbakken about his highly professional enactments of Biblical and Historical...

The Title of today’s devotion is Capturing Faith Memories. Then, during Arts-n-Crafts, we make a family album and paint a rainbow in watercolor over a scripture verse. Next, we debate online learning vs. textbook learning. Then we go to our interview with Dr. Dick Stenbakken. Dr. Stenbakken has presented first-person narratives all over the globe with clients as diverse as small rural churches to...

The story of Elijah and Mt. Carmel reminds us that nothing is impossible with God. During Arts-n-Crafts, we make a suncatcher. The hope is that children will learn to let their light shine, the light that comes from God. This is a great transition to the forest classroom curriculum topic. Next, we begin our interview with Becky and Steve Harling about their book, Listen Well, Lead Better. Steve an...

Our devotional today is about Mollusks. So, we have fun making a water bottle squid and a clay starfish. Then, we discuss Resurrection Sunday and Passover. And look at ways to help our children learn. Next, we conclude our interview with Benny DiChiara. DiChiara believes that it is important to engage with others, even when we don’t know them. Share the gospel, bring them hope, and let God give th...

The topic of today’s devotion is the sting, especially from bees and hornets. During Arts-n-Crafts, we make honey bee slime. At Curriculum Corner, we discuss the winter holidays and different educational experiences children can have. Then we begin our delightful interview with Benny DiChiara. Since his last interview with us, DiChiara and his band have launched the SALT EP. This project is based...

Today’s devotion focuses on snails. These slow-moving creatures have a lot to tell us about God, the creator. Next, during Arts-n-Crafts, we make some cute snails. Then, we continue our discussion on teaching through the holidays. For our interview segment, we discuss Matt Markins, President and CEO of AWANA, and his book Forming Faith. This message helps us understand what isn’t working, why it d...

One of the biggest defenses many animals have is the ability to play dead, or remain perfectly still. In today’s Arts-n-Crafts segment, we learn about quail. Moving on to Curriculum Corner, we explore how to integrate holidays into our homeschool curriculum. Finally, we begin our interview segment with Matt Markins about his book The Story We Tell Our Children. This book issues a timely call to ch...

How to give good gifts to your children is the topic of today’s devotion. Then we make dandelion play-dough. During Curriculum Corner, we talk about STEM and how you can call many of the things that you do STEM lessons. Finally, we conclude our interview with Amber Parker, a writer and speaker who helps others activate their faith and deepen their walk with God. She serves on staff at Advancing Na...

What do Mosquitos have to do with our relationship to God? Listen to today’s show to find out. During Curriculum Corner, we conclude our discussion on multi-age teaching and learning. Then we go to our interview with Dr. Josue Orellana and his daughter, Rebecca. He concludes his thoughts on the previous interview about ADRA, and then we talk about homeschooling from Rebecca’s perspective. Every ch...

Today’s devotional title is When Gorillas Go to Bed. So, for Arts-n-crafts, we make a gorilla. Next, we conclude our discussion on multi-age teaching and learning. Then we segue to our interview with Dr. Josue Orellana, who is the director of ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency). The Adventist Development and Relief Agency is the international humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventis...

The Angler Fish is the topic of our devotion. This interesting creature looks harmless, but dangling from the front of him is a worm-like structure that lures other fish close enough to his mouth for him to catch them. During Curriculum Corner, we discuss the benefits of multi-age teaching and learning. Next, we conclude our interview with Amanda Ramoutar about her book Simplified Worship. Every c...

Our devotion today is about the Firefly. The firefly lets its light shine. So, during Arts-n-Crafts, we make a paper-roll suncatcher. During Curriculum Corner, we talk about commercial versus homemade curriculum. Then we begin our interview with Amanda Ramoutar, author of Simplified Worship. This book is a meticulously crafted resource designed for novice and experienced church officers who grappl...

What are the various ways we can thank God? So, during Arts-n-Crafts, we make a Praise Chain. Then we talk about the costs of the Charlotte Mason curriculum. Finally, we go to our interview with Bruce Van Natta and his miraculous escape from death when a Peterbilt Diesel truck fell off the jack and crushed him. The documentary Investigating the Supernatural, Angels and Demons, includes his story a...

What are the various ways we can thank God? So, during Arts-n-Crafts, we make a Praise Chain. Then we talk about the costs of the Charlotte Mason curriculum. Finally, we go to our interview with Bruce Van Natta and his miraculous escape from death when a Peterbilt Diesel truck fell off the jack and crushed him. The documentary Investigating the Supernatural, Angels and Demons, includes his story a...

What Does God Want Me to Do Today? Is the title of our devotion. During Arts-n-Crafts, we make a Red, Yellow, and Green Light device to help us stay on task. We also do a home safety inspection. In the Curriculum segment, we discuss the curriculum products we would need for Traditional (School-at-Home) homeschooling. Next, we begin our interview with Misty Phillip, author of The Trojan Horse of th...

Let’s go on a prayer walk. While we are on our walk, we can make it a walk of gratitude and begin going through the alphabet. “God, I’m thankful for air.” “God, I’m thankful for the blue sky.” During Arts-n-Crafts, we imagine how we can pray indoors if the weather is bad. During Curriculum Corner, we look at the expenses for the homeschooling program, Classical Conversations. Next, we conclude our...

What Can God Do? Of course, we believe that He can do anything He wants to do; He is sovereign. But why doesn’t He? For our Arts-n-Crafts section, we plant seeds and study Matthew 17:20 about the mustard seed. During Curriculum Corner, begin the discussion of what types of curriculum products you need to obtain to do the type of homeschooling you want to do. Then we go to our interview with Bonnie...

Every person has a chapter in their life they don’t read aloud. Remember when you need to vent, vent upwards. During our Curriculum Corner, we discuss ways to teach the dyslexic child. Then, we begin our interview with Becky Nordquist. She was the victim of abuse and has dealt with tragic loss, but she has found hope and peace in Jesus along the way. Becky Nordquist and Music for the Soul have emb...

What Is the Fear of the Lord? Today, you will understand what it means to fear the Lord. During Arts-n-Crafts, we put various objects on a tray, let our children look at it for a few minutes, then cover the tray and see how many items they can remember. During Curriculum Corner, we conclude our review of Coalition for Responsible Home Education. Next, we went to our interview with Jeff Kolkmann, a...