Welcome!

Featured / Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Hi, I’m Sarah.  About 10 years ago, I designed a new style of homeschooling called Fun-Schooling.​Fun-Schooling is fun for kids, effective at helping them learn, and EASY for moms!​

Fun-Schooling is using kids’ natural talents and passions to ignite a love for learning.  Then, no more nagging and prodding is needed and homeschooling becomes fun!  Many thousands of families have Flipped to Fun-Schooling and aren’t looking back.

At the core of Fun-Schooling is the Fun-Schooling Core Journal.  We have over 50 different Core Journals based on a myriad of interests.  These journals organize the learning of all the core subjects revolving around their passions.​

Along with the Core Journals, we use books from the library or bookstores, card and board games, art supplies, internet and video games, like Minecraft and Prodigy.​

I have kids that love horses, so we do Fun-Schooling with the Horses Journals.  I have kids who love Minecraft, so we Fun-School with Minecraft Journals.  And the same with kids who love musical instruments, making money, baking, dinosaurs, and pets, etc, etc.​

We have many other add-on books in all the subjects to supplement the core journal.​ So if you want to make homeschooling fun for the kids while making sure they are learning, and you want it to be easy for moms, try Fun-Schooling!​

To get started, click over to the bookstore and watch the video about “How to choose the right books”.  You can also visit the active Facebook Group or Forum to connect with thousands of other Fun-Schooling moms.​

Blessings,

Sarah Janisse Brown

Mom of 15

The Montessori Method

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

The Montessori Method was founded by Maria Montessori

  • An Italian educator in the late 1800s/early 1900s
  • She was the first female Italian doctor
  • Advocated for women’s rights and child labor laws
  • Studied child development and learning before opening her own school
  • She researched educational approaches and philosophies throughout the ages and studied children in-person to create her approach
  • Pulled heavily from the work of Jean-Marc Itard and Edouard Séguin

Main Focuses of a Montessori education

  • Very hands-on and sensory focused
    • The Montessori schoolroom engages all the senses
    • Activities are referred to as “works”
    • These works will engage multiple senses at a time
    • The environment itself is kept low-sensory and very tidy- everything has a place and is always put back in that place. Only one work out per child at a time. Known as a “prepared environment”
    • Lessons are incredibly tactile with things like sandpaper letters, counting beads, building blocks, and lots of manipulatives
    • Play is work- and children should not be interrupted while working or playing. A big focus is on letting them do things at their own pace with full concentration
  • Everything is adapted to be child-size and child-friendly
    • Works will be put out on low shelves, kid-size tools are made readily available and presented to the child from a young age, kid-size chairs, tables, etc.
    • In the kitchen, kids will have their own set of kid-size cooking items and a special stool to be able to stand up at the counter
    • Kids are given real glasses instead of plastic and “real” tools that are simply child size
    • Taught to work with careful consideration and attention to detail
  • Big focus on Life Skills
    • Taught from a very early age and children are encouraged to be independent from toddlerhood
    • Excellence in completion and attention to detail is a bit part of learning Life Skills
    • Self-care, cleaning, cooking, sewing, and other basic Life Skills are taught beginning in toddlerhood
    • Gardening and farm work are often a part of the daily school tasks
  • Natural materials
    • Plastic is almost never found in a Montessori setting
    • Wood, fabric, and glass are the primary materials found
  • The main core educational subjects are taught along with a big focus on art, citizenship, independence, nature, and engaging in the community

Other tidbits

  • In a school, children are grouped with a wide age range- usually 2-4 grades all together
  • Self-directed learning lets children progress at their own pace
    • Still guided by an adult with each work very carefully introduced in a methodical way
    • Children then can work through things at their own pace and based on their own interests
    • There’s not usually a strict schedule of X subject at X time
    • Instead, children will know what they are expected to accomplish in a day and be given the freedom to complete their tasks in the order they desire
  • No screens until at least 4th grade
  • Age 0-6 is a key age for introducing concepts, life skills, and development
  • Some similar components to Waldorf and Charlotte Mason but starts academic instruction at a much younger age and is much more methodical

Stay tuned for our next post where we will talk about integrating the Montessori Method into your Fun-Schooling!

Fun-Schooling According to AI

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

This intriguing blog post was written by an AI Chat Bot when it was asked the question, “What is Fun-Schooling?”

Fun-Schooling is an alternative approach to traditional education that emphasizes creativity, self-directed learning, and play-based activities. The curriculum is typically presented in the form of activity books, journals, and games, with a focus on engaging learners in a way that feels enjoyable and fun.

The main goal of Fun-Schooling is to foster a lifelong love of learning, rather than simply imparting information for the purpose of passing tests. By allowing children to explore their interests and pursue their own curiosities at their own pace, Fun-Schooling aims to create a more personalized and meaningful educational experience.

One of the key aspects of Fun-Schooling is its use of hands-on activities and real-world experiences to teach academic subjects. This might include field trips, art projects, science experiments, and other interactive learning experiences that allow children to see how the concepts they are studying apply in the real world.

Overall, Fun-Schooling is a flexible and adaptable approach to education that can be tailored to the needs and interests of each individual student. It seeks to make learning a joyful and engaging experience that empowers children to take ownership of their own education and become lifelong learners. 

Fun-Schooling emphasizes experiential and hands-on learning, which means that students are encouraged to explore the world around them and learn from their experiences. Some examples of how Fun-Schooling incorporates real-world experiences into the curriculum include:

1. Field trips: Fun-Schooling often involves field trips to museums, zoos, farms, and other places of interest. This allows students to see firsthand what they’re learning about in their textbooks and make connections between what they’re learning in school and the world outside the classroom.

2. Project-based learning: Fun-Schooling often involves project-based learning, where students work on long-term projects that require them to research, plan, and execute a real-world task. For example, students might design and build a garden, create a business plan for a lemonade stand, or write a play and perform it for an audience.

3. Community service: Fun-Schooling often incorporates community service projects, which allow students to give back to their communities while also learning valuable skills. For example, students might volunteer at a local food bank, organize a fundraiser for a charity, or participate in a beach cleanup.

4. Apprenticeships and internships: Fun-Schooling often encourages students to seek out apprenticeships and internships in fields that interest them. This allows them to get hands-on experience in a real-world setting and learn from professionals in the industry.

Overall, Fun-Schooling incorporates real-world experiences into the curriculum in a variety of ways, all with the goal of helping students develop a deeper understanding of the world around them and a passion for lifelong learning.

Fun-Schooling takes a creative approach to learning by encouraging students to explore and express themselves in new and creative ways. For example, instead of simply reading about a historical event or scientific concept, students are encouraged to create their own creative projects or presentations that demonstrate their understanding of the material. This can include things like creating a play or skit, building a model or diorama, or even creating a comic book or graphic novel based on the topic.

By taking this creative approach, students are able to engage with the material in a more meaningful way, as they are encouraged to think critically and creatively about the information they are learning. This also helps to foster independent thinking and problem-solving skills, as students are given the freedom to explore and express themselves in a way that works best for them.

Overall, the creative approach of Fun-Schooling is designed to help students develop a love of learning that will last a lifetime. By incorporating fun and creative activities into the learning process, students are able to stay engaged and motivated, leading to greater success and enjoyment in their educational journey.

Fun-Schooling was created by a homeschooling mother named Sarah Janisse Brown. She found that traditional schooling methods were not meeting the needs of her children and decided to try a more creative and child-led approach to education. She developed a curriculum based on the idea of incorporating real-life experiences into learning, allowing children to learn through play and exploration rather than rote memorization.

The curriculum includes a variety of resources such as workbooks, journals, art projects, and games that focus on different subjects ranging from math and science to history and literature. Each resource is designed to spark curiosity and encourage critical thinking, helping students develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.

The benefits of Fun-Schooling are numerous. By incorporating real-life experiences, children are able to see the relevance and practical applications of what they are learning, making it more meaningful and engaging. Additionally, because the curriculum is child-led, students are able to pursue their interests and passions, leading to greater motivation and enjoyment of learning.

Incorporating Fun-Schooling into a curriculum can also foster creativity and independent thinking, as students are encouraged to explore and express themselves in new ways. Overall, Fun-Schooling provides a unique and effective approach to learning that can benefit students of all ages and abilities.

Pretty accurate!!

How to Dedicate Your Children to God

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

This is the story of my call to dedicate each of my children to the quest of the kingdom of heaven.

A couple weeks ago I woke up before the sun with a gentle voice whispering to my spirit “Give me Leah, as Hannah gave Samuel to me to be a prophet…”

So I grabbed my journal and started writing down the calling that was revealed to my heart for each of my children. I’m a mom of 15 kids. After having ten beautiful babies, my husband and I were called to adopt five more. So we did.

It was really something special to wake up to the sound of the Spirit within me speaking to me a calling over every one of my children.

This experience happened the day after visiting the Asbury Revival and after watching the movie Jesus Revolution.

I believe that God is on the move in a powerful way, and He is raising up a generation of royalty. I believe we are going to see a revival like never before spread across oceans and nations, and it will bring life, healing, deliverance, reconciliation, empowering, and a longing for truth and purity to millions and billions of souls. This revival will break out all over the world and bring people of every language, tribe, nation, race, religion, culture and creed into the revelation of the truth, hope and way of the Messiah. Light is shining!

If you have it on your heart to dedicate your children to the fulfillment of their heavenly callings this might be an inspiration to you…

In the end I’ll walk with you through a prayer to dedicate your children to God, too, based on 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:17

My dedications are inspired by the Prayers of Paul the Apostles in his letters to the churches, they are also inspired by the Psalms of David, and the visions of Daniel, John the Apostle and Ezekiel. I especially treasure the dedication of Samuel, by Hannah, and the prayers and declarations of Mary and Zacharias in the New Testament concerning their promised children.

1 Samuel 1:22-28, 2:1-11

Luke Chapter 1:46-55, 1:67-80

Garden of Heaven – Desert of Earth

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / 1 Comment

He heard our prayers in the desert

The sweet sweet song of the bride

This is the life coming up from the earth

Where once it was parched and dry.

This is the blooming wilderness

A wasteland covered with grace

Watered by tears of mercy

Crying out for His Kingdom today.

And these are the seeds that were planted

before the storm clouds arrived

This is the garden of heaven

This is the path of the Bride

This is the hard heart of Earth

Where the Bride of Christ gathers bouquets

And is the place where the daughters of grace lift up their sweet psalms of praise

He sends out streams in the desert

Preparing the way of the Bride

This is the life coming up from the earth

Where once it was parched and dry.

Inspired by Isaiah 35.

Is His Story the Musical Biblical? The Perspective of a 72-year-old Grandmother!

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Guest post by Georgia Weyant Janisse.

People are asking.

His Story the Musical is faithful to the Bible.  It begins with the words that begin the Gospel of John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  In the musical Jesus is born of a virgin, heals the sick, cleanses the leper, raises the dead, feeds the 5,000, walks on water; and He is crucified and dies – then raises from the dead! 

Yes, there are some added backstories.  The Bible doesn’t tell us that Mary had been praying for the coming of the Messiah; or if Matthew was feeling trapped by his own greed, in his life as a tax collector; and we don’t know if the leper who said to Jesus “If you are willing, You can make me clean” had a family that he was isolated from.  But the Bible is silent in many of the details of people’s lives – as John wrote in the very last verse of his gospel: “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:25) In this way His Story is similar to how The Chosen adds backstories and personalities without interfering with the biblical doctrine.

This musical was created to reach nonbelievers and people who might never go to church or listen to a preacher, or even open a Bible – and show them who Jesus is, His love, His compassion, His sacrifice, His power, His ability to bring hope and new life.  It communicates to this generation the way the music of the Jesus Movement reached my generation.  

Fifty years ago, my life was totally and permanently transformed by the love and power of Jesus.  The new Christian music of the early 1970s – with electric guitars and drums had a beat and sound that had never before been used to bring glory to God.  His Story the Musical is unique and created for this time.  It’s true to the Bible and displays Jesus clearly to this generation – not aimed primarily at Christians, though it is a wonderful blessing to so many believers.   In these fifty years of living for Christ, I have always been reading through the Bible – most years I have read through the complete Bible – though some years I have slowed down a little and take a year and a half, or two. I love God’s Word and have a solid grasp on what is scriptural and what is not. I love listening to His Story and I can’t wait to see it on stage. (click here to continue reading)

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Difficult Emotions Matter

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / 1 Comment

“In the multitude of anxieties within me, Your comfort delights my soul.” King David

It’s normal to struggle with a multitude of anxieties from time to time in life! Some anxiety is extremely relevant! Some grief is very necessary! Some anger is often justified! Some pain is for a reason!

If you are struggling with pain, grief, anxiety and anger – it’s normal… as long as you can name the reason for your struggle. The struggle is real, it’s normal, it’s human, it’s a valuable process. What I’m saying is that if you know the reason behind your feelings – chances are you are feeling something normal!

In our culture we might be prompted to believe that ALL our difficult emotions are bad and should be drowned out by intervention or pills.

Our difficult emotions matter. We need to listen to them, and bring them to God so that in the midst of a multitude of anxieties His comfort can delight our souls. Take time to journal and pray through your emotions. Can you identify WHY you are feeling the struggle?

Don’t drown it out.

Listen to the cry of your heart. Cry it out in song, poetry, Psalms, sobs, and prayer. His comfort can delight your soul, in the midst of it all.

So often we are ashamed of the struggle and think there is something wrong with feeling our emotions. It’s normal and healthy to experience emotions related to real life pain and struggle.

If you can’t identify the root of your struggle there might be a hormonal or mental health issue. If you are sad and angry and grieving for no reason at all, you may need some serious help.

But if you are struggling for a reason, don’t be so hard on yourself for feeling your very human emotions.

We need our emotions.

They can actually bring healing.

When we face our emotions, and acknowledge the pain, loss or injustice that created our feelings we can start to work on the root cause, or just say to ourselves and our dear ones: “It’s okay to cry, sleep in, listen to the same song over and over, and even curl up in a ball on the bathroom floor!

And it’s okay to ask for help so you can give yourself some respite! Don’t just put on your big girl pants and pretend like you are fine when you are not. It’s okay to let go of some tasks in life that are overwhelming you right now. It’s okay to say NO to pressure to be something you are not, while you heal.

So often moms with little ones feel depressed, and overwhelmed, and lonely, and tired. And they wonder what’s wrong.

What you are going through is normal!

It’s really hard to not get enough sleep! It’s hard to heal from a c-section! It’s hard to care for a baby and preschooler!

It’s hard to work outside the home and try to keep the home running too! It’s really hard to lose a loved one to death, a move, or a break-up!!! You have a reason to cry. Life is hard and pills or alcohol or escapism will not fix it.

It’s okay to feel the struggle!

I think a lot of us struggle more than we were created to, because we have no village, no support system, no compassionate partner in life to share the burden with, no connection with a close mother, sister or auntie.

Women, we were created to live in community. But our modern lifestyle puts jobs and education before family and we disconnect from the roots that sustain and support us.

Maybe instead of drowning out the heartache we should stop replacing human contact with phones.

Maybe we need to work on healing broken family relationships and forgive our mothers, sisters, aunties, friends and grandmas for not being perfect.

I’ve been around long enough to see that a friend or family member can be deemed disposable if they make one mistake too many. Sometimes we are like fair-weather friends – who are there when everything is fun and easy… but gone when a friend is hurting and grieving!

We don’t seem to know how to be there for our friends and family who are struggling with emotional pain. We don’t try to get out of our comfort zones to find out how to support a friend through loss, we just let them go, make new friends, or just quit trying because relationships are a lot of work.

Or we try to customize our “village” to surround ourselves only with people who believe exactly what we believe and we sever those connections when differences arise.

We no longer live in tight communities where we have to work out our differences.

We can change churches, jobs, schools, states, and spouses if we are not “happy”.

But what if being “happy” is not found in having the perfect life, surrounded by the perfect people, doing the perfect things?

What if happiness can be found IN the Multitude of our Anxieties because God’s COMFORT DELIGHTS our SOULS!!!

Did you get that? SOULS!!!!

It’s the SOUL–they can rise above all the pain, grief, anger, sadness and exhaustion because they are not of this world. The soul can experience joy, peace, hope, delight, and comfort no matter what’s happening in the mind, heart, body and earthly story. I’m okay, through a multitude of earthly anxieties my soul is flourishing! It’s the soul that sings in sadness.

Depressed? Sad? Grieved? Angry?

Let your soul delight in eternal comfort and never ending love.

When we are born into God’s family, when we receive the love and gift of God’s rescue through Jesus, our souls come to life, and there is peace that passes understanding.

Do you want to thrive and overcome the pain? Healing starts with the soul. If you need help figuring out how to revive your soul do a search in the Psalms of the Bible for the word SOUL.

If you need a friend to pray for you, just let me know in the comments. How’s it going with your soul? How can I pray for you?

Songs in the Desert

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

This is a little awkward for me, but it might bless someone. I recorded 90 minutes of worship in the desert of Israel this morning for my kids and grandkids. If YouTube outlives me, these songs will remain for future generations.

These are the songs I grew up hearing in my home, many from the Jesus Movement.

I was a baby of The Jesus Revolution, born into Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California, where Chuck Smith was pastoring my hippie parents in a big white tent.

These are precious melodies that became my childhood lullabies, and I gathered more of these songs throughout my childhood and teen years. These are the songs that changed my heart and brought me into sweet communion with Jesus.

As I sing them, I return, in my heart, to the places where I first believed, and His love just washes over me. Excuse my tears. I can barely contain the love I feel as I just bring all these songs into this desert.

This is the desert where Jesus prayed and fasted for 40 days.

My daughter Anna had booked a shack on the edge of the desert so she could come here to fast and pray over His Story: the Musical in the week before she moves back to Texas to launch the show.

Anna invited me to come. It wasn’t convenient, still having ten children at home. But with help from my husband, who is home with them now, and a few friends who are hosting three of our teens, and with the help of my adult daughter, Rachel, caring for my three littlest girls, I was able to come. Thank you.

I felt like the Lord wanted me to record one of my worship times in the desert, especially for my little girls, and my two little grandsons, James, age 2, and tiny Isaiah – who is due in May.

I am pretty shy about singing, but it’s okay, It’s for the kids. I can usually sing on key, so I’m doing what I can with the voice God gave me, so if He wants me to embarrass myself by publishing my singing… okay. My heart is in it.

I imagine that this ninety minutes of worship might best be enjoyed by babies as they fall asleep. Babies love listening to a mother’s singing without the accompaniment of instruments.

Two Are Better Than One

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Companionship is such a precious gift. Friendship, family, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, husband and wife.

We need others.

I was just reading the words of Solomon today and thinking about how damaging it can be for so many young adults who are sent off alone to college, and they end up becoming so lost, distant from all familiar connections at a time when they are so highly influenced.

And we wonder why our child struggles so deeply with truth, identity, connection and boundaries.

I don’t think that humans were designed to be severed from their families and communities like this.

Of course most people in our culture think this is somehow healthy and right and it builds up independence. But sometimes the drive for independence is a one way ticket down Lonely Street.

The words of Solomon:

There is one who is alone,

without companion son nor brother.

Yet there is no end to all his labors.

Nor is his eye satisfied with riches.

But he never asks ‘For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?’

This also is vanity and a grave misfortune.

Two are better than one,

Because they have a good reward for their labor.

For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.

But woe to him who is alone when he falls,

For he has no one to help him up.

Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm, But how can one be warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.

And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:8-12

I’m so thankful that my daughters have each other and have close friends that they adventure with, work with, go on missions with and serve with.

I’m so thankful that my son and his sweet wife Rita have been companions and have been together when most young adults do things like college, first jobs, immigration, missions and travel alone. I love that they have each other.

I’m so thankful that I lived near Josh all through his college years, his parents asked us to wait until after college to get married, so I found a way to move to a town near his school so we could spend time together and be there for each other, and go to the same church.

I’m so thankful that Anna invited me to be her companion on her trip to Israel. She felt called to go fast and pray in the Judean Desert before going back to Dallas with Rachel to launch His Story The Musical. Today we are learning Jerusalem and going to the place where Jesus spent 40 days fasting.

In times we must go out alone, Jesus is our companion if we receive Him. In times we are called to go alone God brings us companions along the way. But if you are going alone, or if you are sending your child out alone- beware- send them because it’s a calling or a mission and they have been prepared to be cut off from everyone and everything familiar. Don’t just send them out alone because that’s what is normal in our society. Just because it’s normal it doesn’t mean it’s right, good, healthy, natural or in your child’s best interest.

Don’t send them out alone because it’s the default, or because society obligates you to do so. Is it what is really best?

My daughter Anna waited until Rachel turned 18 before she moved out at 21, so she and her sister could go together. They went to Mexico, Dallas, New York and came back to Indiana for a while. Then Rachel came home for 6 months while Anna traveled with other sisters and friends. Esther moved to Oahu, and lives with a friend who is a wonderful companion, like a sister, so blessed. And she visits us multiple times each year.

I just want to encourage the parents who have a heart to set their child on a path unlike the default. I know that a lot of people agree with the idea of launching their kids early into far off places alone, and maybe that’s your child’s calling. Just pray that companionship is part of their story too. Loneliness leads to all kinds of dark places and it’s a big reason for depression, and most young adults in our culture struggle with depression. Does anyone ask why?

We need companions, sisters, brothers, best friends, spouses, mothers and fathers, cousins and partners. Not phones. Phones can never take the place of people.

Be a companion. Be the one who lifts up another when they fall. Be the one who keeps the other warm. Be the one who labors for others. Be the one who enjoys life’s rewards with others. Be that person who loves, forgives, heals, encourages and works hard to make someone else’s life rich and full.

Be the one who is that friend!

And if you want to be sure that your children are never lonely – have more kids, have them close together, adopt a sibling group, or a couple orphans around the same age who have no one.

Filling your life with children is only hard for a short time, but the blessings are endless.

How Often?

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

How often do we choose logic over faith?

How often do we give into fears of the unknown?

How often do we silence the voice of the hope that is calling us to something so much greater?

How often do we exchange our callings for a false sense of security?

How often do we exchange a blessing for a lie?

How often do we give in to the naysayers and critics, silencing the voice of faith?

How often do we spend what little we have on things that will never least, while tossing eternal things into the trash?

How often do we let opportunity die because it didn’t match the plans we had in mind.

How often do we do what is socially acceptable or popular instead of doing what’s right?

How often do we settle for so much less, because somehow we feel safer when we say no to change?

How often do we play it safe when our callings, passions, and destinies require risk?

How often do we get stuck in a rut because we refuse to push the gas pedal?

How often do we suffer lack because we failed to plant the seeds of spring time?

How often do we count the cost and decide we would rather live a mediocre life.

How often do we go with the flow when it’s just dead fish drifting down stream?

How often do we give in to doubt, when faith stirs in our souls?

How often do we sit when we should be standing up for what we know is true?

How often do we stand still when it’s time to run?

Are your choices are motivated by these?

Fear

Logic

Laziness / Comfort

Lies

Doubt

Safety / Security

Criticism

Or these:

Faith

Hope

Calling

Blessing

Passion

Eternity

Truth

It’s your life. You can change it.

You can decide today to stop being a fear driven person.

You can choose to change your perspective.

Start by evaluating whether you have been making life choices based of FEAR.

If so, make a list of things you would do differently if FEAR was irrelevant.

Throw out fear, and start over.

Try this:

“I said no to ___________ because I was afraid of _________________ .”

Now really, what could happen if you choose faith instead of fear? What if the opposite happened and none of your fears evolved?

Try this:

“I will say yes to ______________ because this is the way to_________________.”

It’s the people who say NO to fear and then step out in faith who live life to the fullest.

21 Thoughts About Core Journals

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

1. I originally created the Core Journal so I could take a break from customizing each child’s curriculum around their interest, while making sure we included copywork, nature study, logic, film study, math time… I wanted a way to document internet based learning, library based learning, and include the Charlotte Mason goodies into each day without searching for the individual notebooks.

(View the Core Journals Here: https://www.funschooling.com/homschooling-bookstore-core…)

2. I was about to have our tenth baby and wanted to take time off, but keep learning going, according to the daily structure that works for my kids.

3. They need to have a balanced plan that covers the basics, while allowing them to dig deep into the topics they love.

4. We were also about to move from Florida to Ukraine and I wanted a way for each child to have all their work in one portfolio.

5. My kids were already studying their interests, doing copywork, nature study, logic games, drawing, reading and watching documentaries… But nothing was being documented. Sometimes I would be busy or sick and they would watch YouTube and read all day and not remember to do the simple things like nature study.

6. I only planned to use the Core Journal for 6 weeks, but found it to be wonderful long-term for some of the kids.

7. My Detective and Explorer kids really thrive with them.

8. My Friend learners enjoy them when doing it with others, but like the smaller themed journals best.

9. Followers who are motivated to study a topic like the routine, but they find the journals to be too open-ended and they may try to just get by with whatever is the minimum to move on. With Followers, a strong example is needed, this we have Mom-School.

10. Creators like a lot of variety, and in some stages of life really need to learn to have more structure, for them the journals are not open-ended enough and they may feel limited… So they skip pages or repurpose them. Not all children have the drive, skills or personality to really embrace to potential of the core journals. They don’t work for everyone.

11. Many kids are okay with a system that doesn’t require them to use a lot of research, creativity or thought. These books are designed to be a launch pad for learning.

12. Kids who are in a rush to move on to play, chores, gaming, social media, or personal projects may feel that the core journals are just something that should be rushed through so they can do what they love.

13. It’s okay for a child to not use any system of learning that doesn’t work. For the many kids who have a Follower Learning Style they will actually do better with some classroom style learning, fill in the blank, memorize and test methods.

14. For the Super-Creators the core journals may feel boring and limiting. You need to know your child.

15. My Detectives and Explorers do especially well, but work in different ways.

16. The Detectives need quiet and focus, while the Explorers move from place to place all over the house and yard, and need to be told that chores come after they finish their work in the core journal, so they don’t rush. They really learn to look forward to the activities they love in the daily routine of the book.

17. For kids who thrive on structure they enjoy using a core journal daily, but really need to know what is expected. I suggest doing the first 20 pages together to teach the child how to do copywork, a nature study, or creative writing. It’s so important to be an example.

18. In most cases, don’t say “when you finish you can play Xbox” — they will rush. It works much better if the next activity is something they don’t mind putting off while they focus on their work, like cleaning a bathroom. For example say: “You can take as much time as you need to finish five pages, then show me your work and I’ll show you how to clean out the oven.”

You will be amazed at how much detail they pour into their work.

19. It’s also very important to be available to your child to help them find the right documentaries and books to study their topic. Most of the actual learning isn’t in the journal, it’s what the journal reminds them to do.

20. So know your child. If they don’t put their heart into learning with a core journal, what will they put their heart into? Starting a business? An online course? A textbook? A series of Documentaries? A boxed curriculum that tells them exactly what to memorize? A classical education? Dance school? An internship? Volunteer work? Building a fort? Sewing a dress? Baking? Full-on Unschooling?

21. Some kids are like, “I don’t care… Whatever!” Then they get on their phones and post 80 selfies, and play games until midnight, and complain about everything that requires any effort at all. In that case you just need to pull the plug and light a fire under the child.

I hope that helps someone out there! Let me know if there is a specific example of a child’s struggle that I can help with.

What is your child like? Of these 21 thoughts what stood out to you and why?

See a Flip-Through of the core journals here: