Learning Styles/Languages

“What’s this?”- Tips for homeschooling curious kids!

/ Amanda Osenga / Leave a comment

If your kid is always asking “What’s that?” or “What happened?” and dives into research like it’s a treasure hunt, you’ve probably got a Detective Learner. These curious kiddos are a joy, with their endless questions and passion for uncovering answers. You can help channel their investigative energy into their homeschooling. Homeschooling curious kids can sometimes be tiring; they often have a lot of questions. Today I’ll provide a few tips to help them- and you- thrive. 

Who Are Detective Learners?

Detective Learners are all about solving mysteries and digging deep. They’re the kids who love libraries, computers, and anything that feels like a puzzle—whether it’s figuring out how reptiles tick or why Minecraft blocks behave the way they do. They’ll take apart a gadget just to see what’s inside. They ask a million “What?” questions: “What’s it made of? What happened next?” They might spend months or even years obsessed with one topic. These kids will either guard their knowledge like a secret or share it like they’re teaching a masterclass.

Understanding Their Learning Style

Detective Learners thrive when they can chase their passions and dive in deep. They can become experts young, especially if you let them focus on what they love. Some might be super private about their research, treating it like a personal mission, while others can’t stop talking about their latest findings. Many Detectives, including some with Asperger’s, have a knack for hyper-focus and love science & hands-on experiments. They need structure and the right tools to keep their curiosity from feeling overwhelming. 

Tips to Help Your Detective Learner Thrive

  • Follow Their Passions: Let your Detective choose their study topic—whether it’s bugs, inventions, history, or something totally out of left field. Encourage them to go deep; don’t worry if they stick with one subject for ages. Let them use our core journals to dive deep into anything they want to learn about while covering all the required subjects.
  • Set Up a Research Haven: Create a cozy spot with a desk, good lighting, research materials, and shelves for their books and projects. Libraries are a favorite place, so plan regular visits to let them hunt for answers. Give them plenty of uninterrupted time and space to dig in. Include a copy of Lost & Found or another Brain Games journal. These are full of puzzles to solve that Detectives love.
  • Encourage Hands-On Exploration: Detectives usually enjoy flexible guided learning, especially materials that let them uncover facts. Our theme journals like All About Bugs, 7 Subject Science Portfolio: Minecraft & The Real World, and Travel Dreams: 30 Cities are goldmines. These are a fun way to let your student deep dive into their interests!
  • Nurture Their Career Dreams: Help them learn about the career path they are interested in. It’s not uncommon for a Detective to know what they want to do for work at a young age. If unsure, How to Make Money gives children dozens of options for potential jobs. It will teach them how to take their interests and make a financial future with them! They’ll research money-making ideas, from starting a business to side gigs, building skills for their dream career while satisfying their need to plan & research.
  • Be Patient with Their Questions: Those “What?” and “Why?” questions are their learning engine. Answer what you can, then point them to resources. Fun-Schooling journals can take a bit of pressure off of you by allowing them to learn how to answer their own questions.
  • Explore Unexpected Interests: Detectives often love patterns and systems, which can appear in surprising places like dance or movement. If they’re curious about how things move, the Book of Dance lets them investigate dance history, styles, and even physics. It’s a sneaky way to blend their analytical side with creativity. Or let them learn about Science, Cultures, Mythology, and Animals with Endangered, Extinct, and Legendary Animals. Sometimes, presenting something new and unexplored for Detective kids is a good idea. They do tend to get tunnel vision and may miss a new interest!
  • Protect Their Focus: When they’re deep in a project—whether it’s a science experiment or a carefully built Lego set—try not to interrupt. Their concentration is intense, and they need space to think. 

A Word on Balance

Detective Learners can get so caught up in their research that they forget to come up for air. Gently nudge them toward balance with activities like time in nature or art, to stretch their minds. They also might need additional support with Language Arts, as these kids are often very science-minded. Warrior Word Work is a good place to start with younger Detectives; Pirate Pronunciation for older students. 

If they’re private about their work, give them space but ask gentle questions like, “What’s something cool you found out today?” For chatty Detectives who share every fact, listen with a big smile—they’re letting you into their world.

For kids with Asperger’s or similar traits, routine is everything. Create a predictable schedule, but let them pick the topics. If they’re super protective of their projects (or that one special Lego creation), set clear boundaries with siblings about respecting their space. Above all, celebrate their expertise—it’s their gift, and you’re helping them shine.

Enjoy! 

Homeschooling a Detective Learner is like being their partner on a grand investigation. They’re wired to ask questions, solve puzzles, and chase their passions, and you get to be their guide. Listen to their interests, give them room to dig deep, and watch them become the experts they’re meant to be. 

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We cultivated this Detective Learner bundle with your curious students in mind! It contains our most popular journals for kids who love research, puzzles, and problem-solving. We’ve also included a suggested lesson plan to make implementing it easier.

Helping your creative student THRIVE

/ Amanda Osenga / 1 Comment

Does your child seem to learn like no other? Are they bursting with ideas? Do they need to build, paint, draw, photograph, and create? Is it hard for them to sit still- they always need to MAKE something?

If your child is always sketching, storytelling, or turning random objects into masterpieces, you might just have a Creator Learner. Let’s dive into how to nurture their gifts and make learning a joyful adventure!

Creator kids are the dreamers and doers. They don’t just want to learn facts—they want to make something with them. These kids show their true colors when given freedom to create. They’re the ones building elaborate LEGO worlds, not because they’re told to, but because their minds are buzzing with stories and possibilities. They learn best when they can express themselves, whether through art, music, writing, or even math turned into a creative puzzle.

What Else Can I Do?- Helping your creative student THRIVE

Homeschooling a creative student is about giving them tools to bring their ideas to life. Here are some ways to spark their imagination:

  • Let Them Tell Stories: Creator Learners love weaving narratives. The Secret World of Talking Animals lets your students dive into imaginative worlds and craft their perfect stories. While Creative Comic Book Spelling journal turns spelling practice into comic-strip adventures, letting kids craft stories while mastering words. Mix in a bit of history study with the Past Times Paper. Put students in the role of the reporter of key events in American history.
  • Make Math Imaginative– Math can be painful for creative students because it feels too rigid. Try Create Your Own Book of Complicated Math Concepts—it’s a playful way for students to approach math. They can design their own problems & projects and write stories around numbers. It helps make math a creative quest. This is also a good option to use alongside your chosen math curriculum to solve equations and document learning.
  • Music as a Muse: If your child writes their own tunes or dreams of performing, the Singer & Songwriter and its companion Workbook are perfect. These guide them to write songs, explore emotions, and even design album covers, blending music with self-expression.
  • Building Art Skills: For kids who want to develop their drawing skills, try Teach Yourself to Draw. These books encourage them to explore techniques and create portfolios of their own designs. The Artist Core Journal lets your Creator Learner study all the basic school subjects with a focus on art. They’ll complete art challenges, work on their skills, and learn about art & art styles worldwide.
  • Give them the World as Inspiration: My Wide World Fashion School gives your student a chance to design clothing inspired by cultures worldwide—they’ll even sneak in some social studies along the way! Tropical Birds Research Journal incorporates nature study, science, and art. The color photos capture the imagination of artists and there are plenty of drawing and coloring opportunities included too.
  • Capture the World: Creator Learners often see beauty everywhere. The Camera Quest journal turns photography into a learning adventure, prompting them to snap photos and write about what they see. It’s like a scrapbook of their unique perspective. This is also popular with students who have desires for a career in filming.
  • Destress and Relax: Even Creator Learners need a mental workout. Morning Light Brain Games offers puzzles and activities that feel like play but sharpen their thinking, giving them new ideas to fuel their next project.

Creator Learners thrive when the focus is shifted away from grades or perfection to joy, creativity, and discovery. Homeschooling a Creator Learner means trusting their process. They might not follow a straight line, but they’re building something incredible. When they’re deep in a project, they’re learning to think, solve problems, and express who they are. That’s the heart of Fun-Schooling—celebrating their gifts, not fixing their “flaws.”

So, if your child’s desk is a mess of sketches, half-built models, or story fragments, don’t worry. You’re not raising a kid who fails—you’re nurturing a Creator Learner who’s growing every day. Grab one of these journals, step back, and watch them soar.

If you’re homeschooling creative kids, we’ve created this bundle just for them. It’s also a popular Mom School bundle! It contains our most popular journals for Creator Learners and a suggested lesson plan. It and many of the journals mentioned above are on SALE for our April 2025 Creator Month.

PEEK Inside THIS BUNDLE – 

Hop over to Facebook and Instagram for a chance to peek inside the bundle. 

Stay tuned monthly as we announce a new secret theme with sales, giveaways, bundles, tips, and more.

Let us know what other questions and resources would be helpful for you to homeschool your Creator kid.

Read more about Fun-Schooling Creator Learners

Discover Your Child’s Secret Learning Language with Legos!
Understanding Super-Creators: How to Nurture Your Child’s Creative Spirit
Do You Have a Super-Creator?

Fun-Schooling & “The Let Them Theory”: A Perfect Match

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

As a mother of 15 and the creator of Fun-Schooling, I’ve spent decades helping families embrace a natural, joy-filled approach to learning. Recently, as I’ve been reading The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins and listening to her podcast, I realized just how deeply her philosophy aligns with what I’ve been teaching through Fun-Schooling for years.

For me it started on the day I woke up, a homeschool mom of eight who was worn out micromanaging their education and depressed because there was no joy. So I said, “Today I will just say YES to whatever they want to do.” I had created a beautiful environment for learning, but curriculum was boring, limiting and too much work for me. I was drained and wanted to enjoy being a mom while homeschooling. I told my kids, “We are going to Fun-School today”. It was amazing. The learning that happened amazed me, and the joy set us all free.

Mel’s Let Them theory is about releasing control, allowing people to make their own choices, and letting go of the urge to micromanage. Fun-Schooling is based on the same principle—letting children study what they love, explore their passions, and skip the boring, outdated schoolwork that kills curiosity. Instead of forcing learning through rigid, one-size-fits-all curriculums, we let kids take the lead, trusting their natural desire to grow, explore, and create.

Here are ten ways Fun-Schooling and The Let Them Theory are a perfect match:

Let Them Learn What Excites Them

Mel Robbins encourages us to let people pursue their own interests, even if we don’t understand them. Fun-Schooling follows this same logic: if a child is obsessed with horses, let them dive deep into everything horse-related—biology, history, art, business, and storytelling—all through their passion.

Let Them Skip the Boring Stuff

Traditional education forces kids to memorize facts they’ll never use, leading to burnout and frustration. But what if we let them skip what doesn’t spark their curiosity? In Fun-Schooling, we trust that when a child is deeply engaged, they’ll develop the skills they need naturally.

Let Them Make Mistakes

Mel emphasizes that people learn best through their own experiences. Fun-Schooling embraces this truth—kids don’t need to get everything “right” the first time. They need freedom to experiment, fail, and try again without fear of judgment.

Let Them Go at Their Own Pace

Not every child learns on the same timeline, just like adults don’t all hit milestones at the same time. Fun-Schooling allows kids to develop skills when they’re ready, not when a curriculum says they should.

Let Them Create Instead of Conform

Mel Robbins challenges us to step away from people-pleasing and embrace individuality. Fun-Schooling does the same by giving kids the space to create, imagine, and build rather than just regurgitate facts.

Let Them Follow Their Curiosity

We trust that adults will figure things out when they’re interested in something—why don’t we extend that same trust to children? Fun-Schooling encourages kids to chase their curiosity, knowing that a self-motivated learner will always go further than a forced one.

Continue reading by clicking here.

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We’re Following the Leader: Nurturing a Love of Learning Through Structure and Guidance

/ Amanda Osenga / Leave a comment

Are you homeschooling a child who thrives on directions and instructions? Does your child prefer to work with clear boundaries and structure? Does your child follow instructions in kits and recipes exactly? Is your child eager to please and loves to gain approval from adults and others they respect?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are raising what we call a Follower Learner.

Follower kids often thrive in a more traditional school-like setting. This doesn’t mean they can’t be home-educated, though. Today, we’ll offer a few tips for helping your Follower Learner develop a lifelong love of learning.

Homeschooling Follower Learners- Nurturing a Love of Learning Through Structure and Guidance

Unlike Explorers, Follower learners are not necessarily driven by a need to “discover” or question the material. These learners want to do things correctly and succeed by the given standards. 

Usually, these students won’t ask, “Why do I need to know this?” They’ll be motivated by the learning process itself, completing assignments accurately, and getting approval from others. However, outside-the-box thinking may be a bit more difficult for these students. Sometimes, this can be hard for parents who want a more relaxed homeschool. These students often require more effort from parents to provide a setting with clear expectations, schedules, and structure.

Building Skills and Confidence in Follower Learners

One of the best ways to support Follower Learners is to provide materials that cater to their need for clear instructions and guidance. Some of our more open-ended journals will frustrate Follower Learners. Parents may need to provide guidance and direction for these kids. For example, a sticky note with exactly what pages should be read from which book, how long an answer is required, and any other guidelines. We also offer several more structured journals, some of which I’ll mention below. As your student completes these activities, they will build confidence! 

Our journals offer predictable, engaging content and activities that help Follower Learners develop attention to detail, focus, and comprehension skills. Through these resources, your child can develop a love for learning.

Creating a Structured Learning Environment

Your Follower Learner likely appreciates a schedule. Starting the day with something like “circle time” and a visual schedule can be helpful. You do not have to be rigid in saying x activity at x time. Providing them with an expectation for what will occur in what order helps. Many families with Follower kids include pictures of the journals a student will be working in for the day. Have a quick wrap-up at the end of the day. This will give your Follower a chance to see all they accomplished and receive feedback- which they thrive on- from you or another adult! 

Journals like Transportation History and Adventures Around the World will appeal to their love of lists, charts, and historical facts. Each section of these journals is structured the same way, giving your Follower learner a clear expectation and predictability for what’s to come. Meanwhile, topics like Rocks & Minerals, All About Rainforests, and American History Timeline will appeal to their interest in organized, factual knowledge and clear timeframes. These provide a lot of structure and guidance—American History Timeline is one of our most structured journals.

Activities and Projects for Follower Learners

It is essential to have projects and activities that allow Follower Learners to follow instructions. Piano Lessons for Kids gives students a chance to learn to play without needing to hire outside help! They include lots of structure and detailed instructions for your students to learn to play the Piano confidently. The lessons will also appeal to their desire to please others by providing beautiful music for your home. 

Candlelight Brain Games is the most open-ended suggestion I will make today. Though it still appeals to Follower Learners. The goal of our Brain Games is to complete the missing parts of the pictures. Many Follower kids love it when a parent, older sibling, or another adult works on these with them. These allow students to embrace imperfection and creativity. If they become completely stuck, you can complete part of the page to give them an idea of what to do- or let them watch you finish it in your own copy.You can also encourage their love of lists and organization with projects like the Garden Research Handbook, which outlines the steps of planning and cultivating a garden. Through hands-on activities, they can see their plans come to life.

Fostering Independence While Providing Guidance

These learners also LOVE to follow any rules they possibly can. The Top 30 Grammar Mistakes is always a favorite for Follower Learners. It clearly outlines exactly what you should and should not do in Grammar. It is a journal students will sometimes complete once in late Elementary School/early Middle School and then again in High School. No matter your student’s future career or calling, knowledge of proper grammar will be needed. This is an excellent way to provide it in a way they can independently learn.

Our goal is always to help foster independence in our children. Rocks & Minerals and All About Rainforests also include fun hands-on projects for your students to complete. These give them another chance to follow instructions and learn to complete projects independently. Of course, you’ll be there to offer any needed guidance. For the most part, students should be able to complete these projects alone. 

You can also encourage students to create “step-by-step” guides for things they enjoy. By increasing their autonomy, you will help them learn to make decisions while still providing the support and structure they need to succeed. 

Involve Them and Have Fun!

Homeschooling Follower Learners is an exciting journey where structure, guidance, and encouragement are key. Ask for their feedback. See if they need/want more or less guidance, instruction, and lessons. Gradually ease up and see what they do independently after a while. About six weeks is a reasonable length of time to try something out. Then ask for their feedback and see what else would be helpful for them. As always, reach out if we can help at all.  With the right resources, like the We’re Following the Leader bundle and carefully selected books and activities, you can help these learners thrive, develop new skills, and take pride in their accomplishments. By fostering a structured yet nurturing environment, you’ll empower your Follower Learner to reach their full potential and enjoy the learning process every step of the way. 

If you’re homeschooling social kids, we’ve created this bundle just for them. It contains our most popular journals for Friend Learners and a suggested lesson plan. It and many of the journals mentioned above are on SALE for our March 2025 Follower Month.

PEEK Inside THIS BUNDLE – 

Hop over to Facebook and Instagram for a chance to peek inside the bundle. 

Stay tuned monthly as we announce a new secret theme with sales, giveaways, bundles, tips, and more.

Let us know what other questions and resources would be helpful for you to homeschool your Follower kid.

Understanding Super-Creators: How to Nurture Your Child’s Creative Spirit

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / 1 Comment

I’ve written before about super-creators, but I think it’s important to remember just what a super-creator is, and how to nurture your super-creator child! Two of my kids are super-creators — they’re driven by a powerful internal vision of what they want to make and are laser-focused on bringing that vision to life! They often resist learning anything unless it directly serves their creative goals, and struggle with learning by lecture or lessons directed by another person.

A super-creator doesn’t just want to create — they almost need to create. Their journey is deeply personal and non-negotiable, with anything that interferes with their creative process which is seen as a roadblock or a threat. Some projects take hours, others years, but their focus remains unwavering! It’s this determination that I find so admirable! These children have a vivid mental picture of the end result and seem to work backward, figuring out the steps needed to make that vision real. Often, what they imagine is far beyond their current abilities, but they’re not deterred!

Super-creators are deeply absorbed in their work, and anything they perceive as unrelated to their goal can feel like a distraction. If parents or teachers try to divert their attention, they can become disengaged or resistant. However, when adults come alongside them, supporting the process without taking over, the results can be incredible!

Too often, our culture tries to mold super-creators into obedient, “well-behaved” students, thinking we’re teaching discipline. In doing so, we risk stifling their natural gifts. Super-creators are rare, and if you have one, you’ve been entrusted with something truly special — a rainbow unicorn!

Do you have a super-creator? What challenges have you faced? What wins have you celebrated? And how blessed you are to be raising such talented and driven children!

Here is a prayer for creatives that will bless your child!

Writer’s Bundle
Fashion Bundle
Arts Bundle

Homeschooling Active Kids Who Love ADVENTURE!! It’s a Wonderful Life!

/ Amanda Osenga / Leave a comment

Are you raising a kid who always wants to be on the go, go, go? Do they thrive with field trips, time in nature, and lots of variety? Are you homeschooling active kids who love adventure? Have you been told they have ADHD but in your gut, you think they just need more activity and excitement than other kids? 

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are raising what we call Explorer kids.

Many parents find it overwhelming or challenging to raise these kids. With the right shift to meet their needs, it doesn’t have to be.

Homeschooling active kids can be a WONDERFUL life!!!

Explorer kids are frequently labeled as ADHD, hyperactive, and distractible. We want to acknowledge these diagnoses are often relevant, and you should always listen to your doctor’s advice. It’s also important to recognize these are frequently slapped on kids being asked to learn in a way their brains are not wired to. Tinkering with what works best for them can help them—and you—have a wonderful life.

Tips for helping active kids learn-

Give them lots of variety

We’ve specifically designed Fun-Schooling journals for these kids. Journals like Homeschooling Active Girls and Homeschooling Active Boys have lots of variety, creative projects, and invitations to get outside and move!

Let them dive into their passions.

These kids are not typically going to do well when told exactly what to do. They’ll often shut down or feel like they’re being micromanaged. It’s okay to provide books, journals, documentaries, etc, you think are critically important to their education. It’s also essential to give them a say and let them at least choose their own “electives” or plan their school year with you. These kids often love travel and space. They enjoy journals like All About Space, Mission to Mars, and Explorers & Pioneers.  

Nature, nature, and more nature!

Explorer kids do best on the move. Nature feeds their minds and souls. Our Wilderness Adventure Handbook is one of the most popular journals for Explorer kids. It gives them a chance to get outdoors and learn how to not only enjoy it but also survive and thrive.

Provide ways for them to pursue excitement.

Explorer kids would go on field trips all day, every day. However, we know this is not practical for most families. Therefore, providing ways for them to satisfy this need for excitement is helpful. You can combine this with helping them dive into their passions. Journals like All About Sharks, Fun-Schooling with Dragons, and Exploring our Planet—especially the Minecraft version—give them a chance to do this, along with plenty of variety in their days! 

Make the “boring” subjects as fun as possible.

Spelling, writing, and math are typically the top subjects Explorer kids complain about. The journals we’ve already talked about can help with writing and some spelling. Explorer kids enjoy our Four Seasons Spelling Time because it combines nature spelling and taps into their creative wiring. Pirate Pronunciation is an excellent option for older kids with a strong foundation who need to learn the basic mechanics of writing and the English language. Comic Book Math is a fun entry-level math resource. Life of Fred and Khahn Academy are popular math options for these kids. 

Remember to leave space for relaxation, processing, rest, and boredom.

Boredom is good- modern society has forgotten that. You can read more of our thoughts on boredom here. It’s essential to help your Explorer kids learn to calm down their busy brains. Give them “white space” to process their learning, rest, and relax.  Fire Light Brain Games is a favorite for Explorer kids. It’s full of nature-themed activities designed to help with mindfulness and mental clarity. We incorporate coloring and brain games in our journals to help with this also. 

Let go of the mindset of traditional schooling.

Homeschooling active kids means their school education will look vastly different from their peers sitting in a classroom all day. This is fine! It is a blessing to customize your kid’s education to what they need. If you recently pulled them out of school, you may need to provide a period of deschooling. Deschooling allows them to fall in love with learning again—or maybe even for the first time—and heal any wounds from the classroom. 

Have fun!!!

Explorer kids help us see and experience the world in different ways. Let them bring fun, adventure, and excitement into your home, and you will all thrive!!!

If you’re homeschooling active kids, we’ve created this bundle just for them. It contains our most popular journals for Explorer kids and a suggested lesson plan. It and many of the journals mentioned above are on SALE for our January 2025 Explorer month.

Stay tuned monthly as we announce a new secret theme with sales, giveaways, bundles, tips, and more.

Let us know what other questions and resources would be helpful for you to homeschool your Explorer kid!


From Artist to Curriculum Developer: A Unique Journey

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / 1 Comment

Written by Ella Bundy from podcast content

Before I started school, I was really interested in everything.

Growing up, my mom was an oil painter who had a library of books about the greatest artists in history – Michelangelo and Rembrandt and Leonardo da Vinci. I remember being really little and being fascinated with Leonardo da Vinci’s artwork, wanting to trace and recreate it. His inventions and drawings, even at such a young age, were so inspiring. At the same time, my dad was working for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center and this made me fascinated by space travel. I wanted to be an artist. I wanted to be an astronaut. When I was really little, I was so curious about all these different topics – and I was excited about going to school, because I thought that school was going to make me everything I wanted to be!

Instead, I was happily surprised by the benefits of home-schooling. I remember that my mom got a stack of those black-and-white-speckled composition journals, and she wrote a different subject on the cover of each one: science, social studies, history, language arts, etc. She told me, “Go to the library and ask the librarian to give you a book for seventh grade on every subject.”

So I went to the local library, and the librarian pointed me to a section of “over-sized books.” She said, “These are big, beautiful books. Just flip through them, and when you figure out what you’re interested in, let me know! I’ll tell you what subject those topics cover.”

I flipped through dozens upon dozens of books, picking out all the things I wanted to learn about. Ancient Egypt, the Oregon Trail, Victorian architecture, the history of clothing, childhood brain development, nutrition and wellness. By the time I’d chosen all of these different interests, I wasn’t sure how they could all add up to cover the main subjects my mom had planned for. So I brought my findings back to the librarian and I remember her saying something about the beauty of real learning. She said, “Every topic covers every subject.”

In the days and weeks after that encounter, I went to the library and I turned all those composition journals into topic-based journals instead of subject-based journals. In the back of my mind, I had an idea forming that it would be really cool to be a curriculum developer for kids who learn like I do, and I almost went to college to do just that!

Instead, life had other plans for me. Rather than moving from high school to college, I got married and was working as a missionary in Hungary. I was in Russia. I was in Austria, Romania, Serbia, just serving. And loved it! For a while, I was worried I wouldn’t have time to build curriculums because of how quickly my life had changed, but I did end up helping create curriculum for vacation Bible schools and Christian curriculum. When I was still being home-schooled, I’d done a series of illustrations for Calvary Chapel’s curriculum for children. I’d nearly forgotten about it until I was on the mission field and in all those different places I was serving with Calvary Chapels, I saw my artwork! It was really surprising and gratifying, and reminded me just how important a calling creating curriculum was to me.

When my family and I settled down, this calling only grew stronger, and I think that’s a big reason for why I ended up creating the Fun-Schooling journals and Dyslexia Games. It was crucial for me to be able to help my kids – like my daughter Anna, who was dyslexic and needed to learn to read through logic games and puzzle. I had to find ways for my kids to be interested and happy with what and how they were learning! And it also became really important for me to build home-schooling resources that would help support other parents like me to do the same for their children!

Click the image below to check out the hundreds of journals now available at Thinking Tree Books!

New Year Inspiration for the Creative Learner

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

My daughter, Rachel, keeps this prayer within view as she paints.

“GOD, Raise up a company of creatives who are madly in love with You. Raise up a company of creatives who have been content with creating for You and with You in the secret place. Raise up a company of creatives who create from Your presence to lead others into Your presence. Raise up a company of creatives who are content with being nameless and faceless as long as Your name is made famous.

“Raise up a company of creatives who create as worship unto You instead of obligation to man. Raise up a company of creatives who are aware but unimpressed by the culture. Raise up a company of creatives who dream and think beyond themselves—a company of creatives who have generations in mind.

“Raise up a company of creatives who passionately pursue Your presence over performance, righteousness over relevance, relationship over opportunity, obedience over sacrifice, character over gifting, collaboration over competition, Kingdom over culture, and intercession over infatuation.

“Raise up cultural architects—those creating the content that will rebuild cities that have been ruined, infusing them with the culture of heaven. Raise up hope dealers—those offering messages of hope instead of doom. Raise up laid-down lovers—those consistently pursuing the heart of God over the praises of man. Raise up gold miners—those searching out and finding facets of the Father in all of His children.

“Raise up ministers of reconciliation—those serving the agenda of heaven by restoring people to relationship with the Father. Raise up servant-leaders—those choosing to serve others with their creativity instead of themselves.

“Raise up families and communities committed to creating safe places for sons and daughters to be equipped and empowered into destiny, who are cultivating communities filled with sons and daughters who are so secure in their identity that competition and comparison are squashed.

“Raise up storytellers and history makers, songwriters and swag makers, sculptors and script writers, painters and photo takers, videographers and music makers, actors and ambiance architects, jewelry geniuses and coffee curators, authors and movie makers, preservers, protectors and producers of beauty who are committed to telling Your story.

“Raise up those committed to creating things that persuade hearts towards amplified affection and allegiance to King Jesus, committed to carrying Your presence into the earth through their creative expressions until the whole world knows. Tell Your story through Your sons and daughters. The earth is yearning for their revealing.”

AMEN.

By Jasmine Weiler

Shop all of our journals for your creative learners here.

Super Simple Homeschooling

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment
Our horse-loving daughter, Naomi.

When it comes to homeschooling, I’ve always taken an approach centered on creativity and real-world preparation. I begin to teach my children when they’re very little that you can create something with what’s around you that people will pay money for.

Take one of my daughters, for example. She had a passion for dogs and horses her entire childhood. Instead of forcing her into a generalized curriculum, we built her education around her love for animals, helping her explore how she could turn that passion into a meaningful career.

Of course, many parents worry, “Well, what if my kid’s not interested in something?” To me, that’s not a roadblock — it’s an opportunity. I don’t focus only on a career. What it comes down to is your child’s innate calling. One of my sons needed to be the kind of person who does a diverse number of different things. He needed to try a variety of experiences and be encouraged to explore, and this helped his calling to surface!

I tell my kids this: “When you’re 13 or 14, if you’re ready to start a business, we’re going to invest in your business.” When I was young, kids used to be excited to be 16 and get a driver’s license. Now you see 13-year-olds excited for their first phone. In our family, instead of focusing on getting a phone, my kids look forward to that moment where we’re going to invest in their business. They know to think toward that and plan toward that leading up to their 13th birthday.

The journal I worked on together with Naomi.

Instead of spending $100,000 for them to get a degree for who-knows-what, I’d rather invest early in something that’s meaningful to them. We start by investing one to three thousand dollars in their interests, and then we spend the next 4 or 5 years immersing them in the careers they want to have. They get one-on-one lessons, equipment, and a high-quality learning experience in their fields as teenagers. It’s about letting them major in the thing they want to do.

I really believe that as I encourage that child to follow that path and their calling, the doors are going to open for them. As that calling begins to develop, I look for an opportunity to find a mentor or a Masterclass to continue their knowledge beyond what I can provide. It’s not about following a rigid path but is instead about trusting the process and nurturing their growth along the way.

My approach isn’t about perfection or endless resources. There are a variety of ways to homeschool your children in a career-based fashion when limited budgets come into play. That’s where creativity comes in! In 2014, we were living with 9 kids, on $80 a day. Our home was in Croatia, and it had no running water. We had one electrical outlet, and we got our water out of a cistern. Even then, I found ways to support my kids’ dreams.

For example, my first son had dreams of becoming a chef. For his 13th birthday, we made an Amazon wish list for friends and family, and every item was related to his dream of being a chef. Within a year, he ended up being a personal chef for a woman with celiac disease. When given resources and support, I truly believe a child with a calling can achieve their wildest imaginings!

Another way I help support my children is by letting them be a part of the Fun-Schooling journals. When my kids are ready to jump into a career, I make a Fun-Schooling book with them that they can sell as a way to help fund their goals.

Ultimately, when parents worry about how their kids will make a career out of niche interests, I tell them to just trust. If your child loves dinosaurs, don’t worry that he loves dinosaurs. A lot of times we worry about how our child is going to make a career out of their interests, but it ends up coming down to the same thing. Just trust.

How to Spot Your Child’s Natural Interests

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

What is a natural interest? A natural interest is an area of life that you’re drawn to! For a lot of people, they might call this their hobby or side project. Natural interests can cover a vast variety of subjects – from a specific animal to the overarching act of reading, to drawing with charcoal or recording/writing music! Natural interests are our callings. So how do you spot this in your child from an early age?

Identifying your child’s natural interests can help guide their growth and learning! Here are some simple ways to spot what excites and intrigues them:

  1. Observe Their Early Play: Pay attention to the activities they choose most often — whether it’s building, drawing, or imaginative play! These can reveal their passions, such as an interest in architecture, fashion, or writing creative stories!
  2. Follow Their Questions: The “why” and “how” questions they ask can point to what they’re curious about, like science, nature, or history!
  3. Notice What Captures Their Attention: Take note of what they focus on for long periods and what they ask to learn more about — this shows what they’re naturally drawn to!
  4. Encourage Exploration: Provide different activities (arts, sports, books) and see what excites them the most! Giving them a variety of topics to learn about can help you notice which ones they focus on the most! By observing your child’s play, questions, and actions, you can help nurture their natural interests and encourage their growth!

Learn more about preparing your child for their future calling/career here.

Find journals for every possible area of interest imaginable by clicking the image below!