From High School Teacher to Homeschooling Mom by Joni Nichols

My mother used to get choked up when she saw a yellow school bus. She started off teaching in the inner-city--children for whom her classroom was a refuge. I went on to become a public school teacher, too, though the yellow school bus always seemed like a nightmare to me.

Both of my parents were public-school teachers. I never intended to become one, but the bug passed on to me, when in college, I wanted to help kids discover the joy of writing that I had discovered.

Comprehensive Music Education in Cool Springs by Ben Steckly

Hello homeschooling families! My name is Ben Steckly and I recently opened a music school in Cool Springs called the Nashville Piano Academy. Here’s why:

Prior to living in Nashville, I taught piano in Texas in a wonderful network of music teachers. Last year I moved to Nashville to work in music publishing. As I spent more time getting to know families around the Nashville/Franklin area, I began to get the feeling that many of the music educations their children were receiving were not taking full advantage of the host of opportunities that can be found in “Music City.” It then became my mission to not only educate students about music, but show them how music plays a role in the

The Wonders of Essential Oils by The Wellness Studio

We are so happy to be able to talk with you today about the wonders of essential oils! As natural wellness providers, we have been familiar with the use of essential oils for all kinds of ailments both physical and emotional. In the past we have used several different companies and had marginal results so we kind of dropped off from using them at all for a while. Last year we were introduced to doTERRA by a friend who felt like they were something we would be interested in. Honestly we

When Homeschool Moms Write Novels by Keely Brooke Keith

When I started this website, one of my goals was to provide a platform where Williamson County area homeschool parents and students could let the community know about the products and services they provide to fund their homeschooling. So far, I've posted articles from homeschool parents who teach archery lessons, sell essential oils, tutor other students, write children's literature, and teach driver's ed and from homeschool graduates who now teach everything from fencing to violin. 

I'm continually amazed by the posts from other parents and the wealth of talent in our community. I didn't plan to chime in myself, but I'm currently preparing for the launch of my second novel and my uber-supportive husband suggested I write a post on HiWC to let my neighbors and friends know about my books. So here goes... 

The book launch I'm referring to is for Uncharted Redemption, the second book in the Uncharted series. This series is adult inspirational fiction and began with The Land Uncharted, which was released October 2014.

I'm a fun-driven person and all about the giveaways. So far we've given away smoothies, a massage, and a year's worth of custard on HiWC. For the next couple of weeks I'll take entries to win autographed copies of the first two books in the Uncharted series. If you'd rather buy them now, go for it and support my homeschooling. If you want to try to win them, head over to our Giveaway page and enter to win.

There you have it: when I'm not teaching homeschool lessons, I write books. What do you do between teaching homeschool lessons? Feel free to comment below or message me if you'd like to write a post about your projects.

Happy Homeschooling!
Keely 

Greek 'n' Stuff by Karen Mohs

Our first book, Hey, Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! – The Reader, started out as a Christmas gift for our very bright and inquisitive four-year-old nephew, Andrew. He was so pleased, he carried his new book around with him for weeks, showing it to everyone, including the headmaster of a private school who was a family friend.  The headmaster wanted to use The Reader in his school (and requested workbooks to go along with it), homeschooling friends wanted copies, and so the adventure

Historic Travellers Rest: How to Make History an Adventure!

Historic Travellers Rest has been providing hands-on history experiences to Middle Tennessee students for more than 20 years.  Today, Travellers Rest provides unique field trip adventures through Nashville’s historic past for more than 10,000 school children a year.  Our goal has always been to make history an adventure. Learning about the past should be an exciting journey for students and teachers alike!

Homeschool groups are invited to book a field trip with

Dual Enrollment Offers Great Advantages for Homeschoolers by Tina Shreeve

Homeschooling affords great opportunities for students who wish to earn college credit during their high school years. Dual enrollment allows students to immerse themselves in real college courses, getting a head start on a post-secondary education while still at home and under their parents’ guidance. Homeschool students have an advantage in pursuing dual enrollment courses, as they are not bound by the limits of the school day and courses offered at their particular institutions. Students have the option to take virtually any course for which they meet the prerequisites; however, HomeLife Academy counselor, Lani Carey, recommends some good starting points:

Why Music Matters by Lauren Conklin

What do Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, Woodrow Wilson, and Henry Ford all have in common? Besides being highly successful innovators and leaders, these men shared a passion for the violin. All of them were avid students of music in their spare time.
 

I believe, and current research tends to support, that their training as violinists helped to shape the characteristics that made these men extraordinary. Einstein himself claimed that his academic brilliance was directly influenced by his music education. Whenever he was

Invitation to the NWTF Family Adventure Village by PJ Perea

Join the National Wild Turkey Federation at their Family Adventure Village Feb. 13 -15, 2015, Gaylord Outdoor Events Center.

Daily Admission to the Family AdventureVillage is free to the public. Young people, students and those just young at heart don't want to miss the Family Adventure Village!

Owl's Hill Nature Sanctuary by Mary Katherine

For over twenty years, Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary has been a wonderful place for homeschool groups to come visit and learn. We offer a variety of programs, from a pond ecology class to a habitat hike. Each of our programs is age appropriate and tied to current grade level standards. Your group is welcome to come early or stay late for a picnic lunch or snack. In addition to over twenty education programs, we have weekend events, volunteer opportunities for older children, birthday parties, and educational summer camps. Check out the Owl’s Hill website to learn more about our education programs and fun events. 

Owl's Hill Nature Sanctuary
545 Beech Creek Road
Brentwood TN 37027
615-370-4672
www.owlshill.org

 

Cub Scout Pack 747 by Kris Thurman

Cub Scout Pack 747 is a homeschool oriented pack. We meet in Brentwood at Forest Hills United Methodist Church located at 1250 Old Hickory Blvd. on Monday evenings. 

What is Cub Scouting? 

Cub Scouting is fun! No matter what grade you are in, first through fifth, it can be a blast. Do you like to learn by doing? This is just the place. You can learn to tie knots, set up a tent, shoot a bow and arrow (archery). Have you ever cooked a meal on a campfire? Sent a secret code to a buddy? Built a birdhouse? Played Ultimate? Hiked? Earn rewards for doing these things in Cub Scouts.

The Benefits of Cub Scouting

As a worldwide brotherhood, Scouting is unique. It is based on the principles of loving and serving God, of human dignity and the rights of individuals, and of recognizing the obligation of members to develop and use their potential. It is a movement dedicated to bringing out the best in people. Cub Scouting doesn't emphasize winning as an end result, but rather the far more demanding task of doing one's best.

Reaching Reluctant Readers by Cynthia Port

But I HATE reading . . .

A reluctant reader is anyone who does not show a natural interest in reading. This definition is very broad, encompassing children with learning disabilities and visual or psychomotor issues. But even when such issues are absent, a child may still treat reading like a chore, and I would know. Though we read equal numbers of books together, I have one child who did and one who did not experience an early love of reading. For the latter, trimming her toenails—for the third time—had more appeal than picking up a book.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way Home From The Library

With my reluctant reader, the keys to getting her into reading were books to rival the immediacy and entertainment value of any TV show or computer game. She started with simple graphic novels