home education

How to Transform Your Homeschool: Perfectionism to Joy

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Homeschool moms! Let’s throw our stress overboard! Let’s release the things that cause stress! Let’s set ourselves (and our kids) free from unreasonable and irrational expectations. Somehow, we imagined that these unrealistic goals were the right way.
Untangle yourself and your kids from the things that choke out the joy in learning!
Here’s how:
One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the ability to take their thoughts captive and release burdens that were never meant to be theirs to carry. As homeschooling parents, we often focus on academic achievement, but if we aren’t careful, we can unintentionally plant seeds of anxiety, perfectionism, and self-doubt in our children’s hearts.
God never intended for us to live weighed down by fear or the need to perform for approval. Matthew 11:28-30 reminds us to come to Jesus for rest, and 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to take every thought captive in obedience to Christ. These truths are not just for us as parents—they are essential for our children as they grow into the people God created them to be.
So how do we weave these lessons into our homeschool days?


The Hidden Burden of Traditional Schooling
In many educational settings, children are trained to work for grades, external approval, and the fear of making mistakes. Every assignment is graded, every test has red marks, and progress is often measured by how few errors they make rather than how much they have learned.

When children are constantly evaluated this way, they internalize a dangerous belief: “I am only as good as my ability to get things right.”

This burden is heavy, and I’ve seen how it plays out in adulthood. It creates individuals who are afraid to take risks, explore new ideas, or step into their God-given creativity. Instead of growing into confident problem-solvers, they become people-pleasers, perfectionists, or those who avoid challenges altogether because they fear failure.
When I was young, I struggled with traditional academics. I saw myself as someone who wasn’t smart enough, always focusing on my weaknesses rather than my gifts. I even failed third grade!!!
But when I embraced learning on my own terms (at age 13) following my curiosity, using creativity, and celebrating progress instead of perfection—I discovered a love for learning that has lasted a lifetime. This is the heart of Fun-Schooling.

How Fun-Schooling Releases Burdens
Fun-Schooling is not about performance—it’s about passion, mastery, and lifelong learning. Instead of burdening our children with the fear of failure, we give them the tools to learn with confidence and joy.
In our home and in thousands of Fun-Schooling families, kids don’t study to earn grades or please a teacher. They study to pursue knowledge, build skills, and prepare for the future God has for them.

Traditional school teaches kids to focus on their mistakes.
Fun-Schooling teaches kids to focus on their gifts.

When kids are given the freedom to research, explore, and follow their interests, they become fearless learners. They know that making mistakes isn’t failure—it’s part of the process. Instead of becoming burdened by anxiety, they develop the mental strength, confidence, and peace that are uncommon in traditionally schooled children.

Teaching Kids to Take Thoughts Captive
So how do we practically help our children apply 2 Corinthians 10:5—taking every thought captive—and Matthew 11:28-30—laying down heavy burdens?
Here are a few ways to include character teaching in your homeschool day…

Click here to keep reading!

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The Story of Fun-Schooling: Happily Ever After

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

I never set out to start a movement—I was just a mom trying to help my kids love learning again. 💡

One of my daughters struggled with dyslexia. Traditional workbooks drained her confidence and made her hate reading. So, I created hand-drawn journals—full of coloring pages, storytelling, and creative prompts—and suddenly, she thrived! 🌿✨

Other moms started asking for copies, and before I knew it, Fun-Schooling was born! Families around the world—especially those with dyslexia, ADHD, and creative learners—discovered a better way to homeschool: interest-led, joyful, and stress-free.

Now, with over 300 books and a global community of families, Fun-Schooling is helping kids fall in love with learning again. ❤️

If homeschooling feels boring, stressful, or rigid—maybe it’s time to Fun-School! 🎨📚

💬 Have you tried Fun-Schooling? Share in the comments! Ready to get started? Visit funschooling.com

How to Organize the Chaos (Chore Charts & Home Learning Plan)

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Thirteen years ago, all the kids were 12 and under and I organized EVERYTHING. Now that they are all ten and up I organize very little moment by moment activity, I just make sure the basics are covered. Running a home with 8 kids under 12 was a very different season. Above is our “chore chart” for that season (see others below!). It was a great way to motivate and keep things on somewhat of a schedule. So funny that Esther at age 10 was going to the coffee shop for two hours a day. We lived on Main Street and she loved having her chill time there.

This was my actual Home-Learning Plan five years ago. It is simple for parents and delightful to kids!

  1. Logic Games
  2. Read Favorite Books
  3. YouTube Tutorials
  4. Nature Time
  5. Online Math Games or Serious Stuff
  6. Kitchen Time
  7. Spelling Games
  8. Complete 5 Workbook Pages or 5 Fun-Schooling Journal Pages
  9. Play Outside
  10. Art & Drawing
  11. Just Dance
  12. Chores
  13. Online Games (a reward for chores and school)
  14. Family Time and Board Games
  15. Movie Time
  16. Music Practice
  17. Dyslexia Games
    You can do these activities in any order, but Movies and Online Games should be close to last.

For chores, we would create new schedule once every 3 or 4 months. Everyone liked knowing exactly what areas of the house they were responsible for.

Chores are largely about teaching life skills and serving others. This journal can help!

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!

The Inspiration Behind Dyslexia Games (Try For Free!)

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Written by Ella Bundy from podcast content

When it comes to parenting, you never quite know what challenges you’ll face. For me, one of the biggest surprises came in the form of dyslexia. My oldest daughter, Anna, is the first one that we discovered is dyslexic, and it’s really an amazing story!

My first son, Isaac, was a natural when it came to letters and reading. He was already reading by age five, so I figured I’d use the same approach with Anna. But Anna was different – a free spirit who could never sit still. At four, she showed zero interest in reading, so I decided to step back and let her explore her own interests, like drawing and nature.

By the time Anna turned six, I felt it was time to focus on helping her learn to read – but it quickly became apparent that something wasn’t clicking. Phonics made no sense to her. She would get upset, she would get angry, she would cry. She would get one word correct one day, and then, the next day, she’d forget it. We tried again when she was seven, even bringing in a teacher, but the struggle continued.

As Anna approached eight and still couldn’t read, I started to worry. With five or six children at that point, my in-laws began suggesting that I might be too busy with the younger ones to teach her properly. It was heartbreaking when, at nine years old, Anna told me she didn’t care about learning to read because it was too hard for her to differentiate between letters. She declared she’d just be an artist and a mom instead.

I remember sitting there, stunned by her words. After a moment of reflection, I gently told her, “Anna, God wouldn’t have given us the Bible unless he was going to give us the ability to be able to read it.” It was then that I realized we needed a different approach. Anna was a real problem-solver, so I decided to try and outsmart her reluctance to read by creating something that turned reading into a problem-solving challenge.

Click here to find out what Sarah did next (and access some free resources)!

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Four Grade Levels in One Year: Former Foster Child Finds Success and Confidence with Dyslexia Games

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment
Dyslexia Games Series B

Written by Heather Vaught

Eight-year-old Kassidy faced significant challenges with reading and learning in the public school environment. Thanks to Dyslexia Games, she’s at grade level and bursting with newfound confidence.

“She was eight years old when she came into our family,” says Jill Cain, adoptive mother of former foster child Kassidy. “It was a night and day difference between her and my biological children. She didn’t know letter sounds, but she could read some sight words, which didn’t make sense to me. There were other things too; it was like a jumbled puzzle that didn’t add up.”

Jill homeschools her biological children, but because Kassidy was a foster child at the time, she had to be in public school. The school provided her with a personal aide for an hour each day, but it didn’t help. Jill suspected dyslexia, but the school didn’t agree and passed Kassidy to the next grade, even though she couldn’t read.

The Emotional Toll

“When it came time for school or homework, she was completely shut down. She would cross her arms and not even try,” remembers Jill. “And when she did try, it was tears.”

Jill finally convinced the school to test Kassidy, and a dyslexia diagnosis was confirmed. She also convinced the school to hold her back the next school year to give her more time to learn and catch up with her peers. In the meantime, Jill researched dyslexia resources online.

Making matters worse, Kassidy was bullied at school. “The experience in public school greatly affected her,” laments Jill. “Her self-confidence was so low and it affected our relationships. She was very isolated.”

Fighting for a Fair Chance

In Jill’s online research, she stumbled upon Dyslexia Games by Sarah Janisse Brown. It looked promising, but Jill wondered if it would help Kassidy learn. “I knew she was bright and capable as she excelled in so many other areas,” notes Jill. “But how do I even do this, if the public school can’t do it?”

She decided to shelve her doubts, but the next step was for Jill to get legal permission to homeschool Kassidy. “I went all the way to the top,” she says. It took time, but finally, they were granted permission, and their homeschooling journey began.

Jill initiated some “deschooling” time first to give Kassidy a chance to decompress and build confidence and security. Then, when she felt like Kassidy was ready, she started her on just one page a day in Dyslexia Games.

 “It really drained her,” notes Jill. “It was completely exhausting to do one page. There were days she just wanted to bail, and I was unsure whether this was the right way to proceed because we didn’t see any progress.”

Breakthrough! Four Grade Levels in One Year

Persistence paid off. After about three weeks, Jill observed the first signs of improvement. When she pointed out something that needed correction, Kassidy figured it out herself. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh! This is working!’” Jill exclaims.

That was just the encouragement they both needed to keep going. As they progressed through the program, Kassidy experienced several more breakthrough moments in letter recognition, reading skills, and math skills.

“She had about a six-month jump in math in six weeks, that I just can’t explain except for Dyslexia Games,” Jill adds.

Jill turned the reins over to Kassidy, who began doing several pages a day. By the end of Dyslexia Games, Series B, she was reading at a 4th-grade level, representing a jump of four grade levels in one year.

Kassidy’s confidence soared. “We’re a read-aloud family,” says Jill. “We go around the room and read aloud. Before, she would refuse. Now she will read an entire chapter!”

Click here to keep reading about Kassidy’s story, including some tips from Jill!

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Unlocking Potential: How Dyslexia Games Transformed Learning for a South African Family

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Written by Heather Vaught

When traditional schooling failed her son and the pandemic forced shutdowns, Clerissa Kritzinger turned to homeschooling, which ignited a love of learning in her family.

“I was at my wit’s end,” Clerissa Kritzinger recalls. “We had tried everything the traditional system offered, but nothing seemed to work. The tension in our relationship was palpable.”

Clerissa’s journey began with her oldest son’s struggles in school. Despite various therapies and medications for his ADHD diagnosis, his situation didn’t improve. 

The Kritzingers moved Anthony to a tutoring center, hoping that a smaller environment with more one-on-one attention would make a difference. Then facing pandemic-related school closures, Clerissa found herself alone with her son’s reading difficulties.

A Turning Point: Discovering Dyslexia

Homeschooling was not common in South Africa, but with the pandemic, it became a widespread reality. Clerissa found herself with no other choice. She quickly discovered that teachers had been sugar-coating Anthony’s progress, and she was upset. She chose a different curriculum, hoping that would make a difference.

It wasn’t until her friend, Alene, suggested her son might be dyslexic that Clerissa found a new direction. After researching and finding Nessy, a free online dyslexia screening tool, she confirmed her son’s condition. 

“It was a moment of relief and clarity,” she shares. “Finally understanding the cause of my son’s struggles opened up a world of possibilities.”

Alene also recommended Fun-Schooling journals and Dyslexia Games by Sarah Janisse Brown, author and founder of Thinking Tree Books. 

Slow and Steady: The Impact of Dyslexia Games

“You’ve got to be kidding me. How is my kid going to learn to read by doing pictures?” says Clerissa of the moment she first looked through Dyslexia Games. “It did not make sense to me.”

Alene reminded her that her daughter began reading within three months of using Dyslexia Games. “Just trust the process,” she advised.

So Clerissa plowed ahead with assigning her son two pages a day. She was surprised to see him enjoying the games and asking for more pages. His concentration began to improve. 

Then, a month and a half in, Anthony started to pick out random words during daily activities like grocery shopping or playing a game. At three months, Clerissa introduced a phonics program and he took off with it.

“It was like night and day,” Clerissa explains. “He’s never been depressed since we started homeschooling and using Dyslexia Games. The meltdowns that used to happen every single day at school just stopped. Now, his favorite place is the library.”

“The Dyslexia Games approach is so different from traditional methods,” Clerissa notes. “It’s like it speaks directly to the dyslexic brain, creating new neural pathways for learning to read.”

Click here to continue with Clerissa’s story.

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The Beautiful, Calming Power of Core Journals

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

As a homeschooler myself I enjoyed delight-directed learning, library-based homeschooling, unschooling, and lots of unit studies and learning through projects. My education as a homeschooler was fun, but very spontaneous and disorganized at times.

As a homeschool mom, I began to study many philosophies of education and thought I had to pick just one at first. We started with Classical Education and Unit Studies, but that all fizzled out when I started homeschooling my second child who was adyslexic super creator and the third who was a genius type of neurodivergent detective!

By my fourth formal year of homeschooling my 5, 6, 7 and 8 year olds, I had introduced a eclectic array of homeschooling techniques that were inspired by Charlotte Mason, Jon Holt, Maria Montessori, Edith Schaeffer, the Bible, and my mother! All while mixing in the classical techniques that worked well for my oldest son.

People asked us if we were unschoolers, because my children’s activities revolved around their needs, curiosity, passions and childish career dreams. With children these ages, we did so many projects instead of workbooks to understand how the world works… and how to master it!

Combining travel, adventure, nature, real books, art, people and love created the theme of our learning adventure that revolved around three meals a day in a big Victorian house on Main Street. But unlike unschooling, we were seeking organization, a schedule and rhythm to our learning process. We were trying everything and experimenting with everything based on my leadership in the home, while honoring the curiosity of each child. We called it Fun-Schooling.

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Autumn Crafts & Fun-Schooling Ideas

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Autumn is one of the best times of year for a variety of reasons – holidays, family gatherings, and of course the changing of the leaves! As a way to learn from and cherish the season, here are a few activities your fun-schoolers can do during the fall:

  1. Leaf Identification & Prints Take a nature walk to collect leaves, and teach kids to identify different tree types! Once home, you can use paint or other art materials to create leaf prints by pressing painted leaves onto paper. This introduces children to plant science and creates beautiful fall art. It’s perfect for younger children, and gets them inspired by and connected with nature!
  2. Pumpkin Science & Math Pumpkins and gourds are great for hands-on learning! You can teach your children how to measure their heights, circumferences, and weights, then compare pumpkins of different sizes. For a long-term project, you can also carve or decorate a pumpkin, and plant its seeds to observe how they grow!
  3. Autumn Sensory Bin
    Fill a bin with seasonal items like dried leaves, small pumpkins, pine cones collected from your yard! Then, you can let your kids explore the textures and sizes, practicing sorting and scooping. This activity promotes sensory development and imaginative play!
  4. Fall Harvest Collage
    Provide construction paper, fabric scraps, and dried leaves for kids to create a fall harvest scene or abstract collage! This craft encourages creativity and fine motor skills, all while celebrating autumn colors and textures! It’s also a fun way to learn what sorts of leaves and seeds are in your yard during the autumn season!
  5. Autumn Storytime & Craft Read a fall-themed book to your children, or have one of your older children read to the younger ones! Afterward, have kids create a craft based on the story, like making their own scene or even a fall item, like a scarecrow! This combines literacy, creativity, and storytelling.
  6. DIY Bird Feeders Teach your children about wildlife by making bird feeders from pine cones, peanut butter, and birdseed! Hang them outside to attract birds and observe different species, helping children understand the importance of nature conservation! You can even use the Fun-Schooling Birdwatching Journal!

Find more nature-themed Fun-Schooling journals here!

Homeschoolers and Scholarships | The Unique Advantage of Winning a Scholarship

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Homeschoolers Have a Unique Advantage When It Comes to Winning Scholarships

One of the most common questions people ask me is, “Which scholarships can my homeschool student apply for?”

I’m happy to report that the answer to that question is that nearly every scholarship open to public or private school students is also open to homeschool students. I can’t think of a single scholarship that expressly excludes homeschooled students (although I’m sure they do exist). In short, if the student meets the eligibility requirements for a scholarship, homeschoolers should also assume that they are eligible.

Homeschoolers have a unique advantage when it comes to scholarships, a strategic edge that public and private school students don’t have. They can seamlessly integrate scholarships into their curriculum. Let me explain. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) oJers a scholarship called “Voice of Democracy,” open to all high school students, including homeschooled students. The theme changes yearly, but it’s always related to civics or history. Homeschoolers can incorporate the scholarship into their curriculum, using it as a tool to learn about these subjects while they craft their essay for the scholarship. Moreover, because the scholarship requires an essay, the scholarship entry can also be used as part of the language arts curriculum. And, because the student must record themselves reciting their essay, this scholarship can also be used as part of a speech and oration curriculum. This strategic approach allows homeschoolers to apply for more scholarships in less time than their public and private counterparts, who usually must complete school assignments before working separately on scholarships. These opportunities are not limited to high school-aged students. There are scholarships for middle school and elementary school-aged students, as well. This resourcefulness is a key advantage for homeschool students in the scholarship journey.

During my years as a Scholarship Coach, I have found one way in which homeschooled students are (sometimes) at a disadvantage when it comes to scholarships, and that revolves around third-party “validation.” This term refers to the credibility and impartiality that a recommendation or an extracurricular activity from a third-party educator or organization can provide. While some scholarships are won based solely on a student’s essay or a project, many scholarships require letters of recommendation as part of the application package. If mom or dad is the student’s teacher, as is often the case for homeschooled students, a teacher’s letter of recommendation from mom or dad doesn’t hold as much weight as a letter from a third-party educator. One way to compensate for this is to involve homeschooled students in some level of third-party education. I’m a big fan of dual-enrollment programs, where students earn college credit while in high school. Not only can this reduce the number of courses a student will later have to take in college, but those dual-enrollment professors can be a tremendous third-party source for letters of recommendation for scholarships.

Many scholarships look at more than just a student’s academic record. Some scholarships also consider extracurriculars, volunteering, leadership, and work experience. Of course, many homeschool students are involved in activities. However, I have found that some homeschool students struggle to find meaningful extracurriculars because they don’t usually have access to as many after-school clubs and sports as their public and private school peers. Organized extracurriculars provide opportunities for homeschool students to “level the playing field” with their public and private school competitors. The key is “organized.” To use a sports example, a student might be a fantastic baseball player, but if he’s only competing in the church rec league, his resume isn’t as impressive as the student on the high school varsity baseball team. But that same student can “level up” by playing for a local Babe Ruth League team. The same logic of “third-party validation” that applies to teacher letters of recommendation also applies to the extracurriculars that a student participates in.

Whether a homeschooled student plans on attending college, trade, or technical school or jumping into the workforce, there are scholarships for everyone. The scholarship landscape is not limited to a particular path; it’s a hopeful and optimistic field that caters to all aspirations. While many scholarships are geared toward college-bound students, plenty are specifically for trade and technical schools. Some scholarships even send a check directly to the winner, with no stipulation that the funds be used for educational purposes! So, even if your homeschooler doesn’t have college plans, scholarships can still provide a potentially lucrative “side hustle” for your student. Of course, take the time to learn about each scholarship before applying if those considerations are relevant to your student. As I like to say, “Scholarships are for everyone!” including homeschooled students.

BIO: Dave Peterson, aka Dave The Scholarship Coach, is the father of a recent college graduate who earned nearly $100,000 in scholarships, allowing him to earn a debt-free college degree. As the founder of Scholarship GPS, Dave works with students and their families to help them on their scholarship journeys. More than half of the students in Dave’s Class of 2025 Scholarship Coaching program are homeschooled students.