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What Is Whitewashing? (And Why It Matters in Homeschooling)
If you’ve been in progressive homeschool spaces for a while, chances are you’ve run across the word whitewashing—especially in conversations around history and literature. It’s a term that’s often misunderstood or brushed off, but it’s one that deeply impacts how our kids see the world, understand history, and relate to others. So let’s talk about…
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Where Build Your Library Falls Short: A Call for Greater Inclusivity in Secular Homeschooling
Build Your Library is often recommended in homeschooling circles as a well-structured, secular, and literature-rich curriculum. For families searching for a Charlotte Mason-inspired approach without religious content, it can feel like the golden ticket. It’s organized, affordable, and offers a book-loving path through education, which is no small thing. But while BYL has many strengths,…
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Why I Use Levels Instead of Grades in Our Homeschool
When people ask what “grade” my kids are in, I usually pause. Not because I don’t know—but because that word doesn’t mean what it used to in our home. We don’t really do grades. We use levels. And there’s a good reason for that. For years, I tried to make grade levels work. I matched…
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What We Mean by “Secular and Inclusive”
In the world of homeschooling, the words secular and inclusive get thrown around a lot. But when you start looking closely, those words don’t always mean what you think they mean. You’ll find “secular” programs that still frame science through a religious lens. You’ll find “inclusive” resources that offer little more than a token picture…
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Is BookShark Secular? Inclusive?
For many secular homeschoolers, finding an open-and-go curriculum that doesn’t include religious bias can be challenging. BookShark has been applauded by many as a “secular” option, often marketed as an alternative to Sonlight, a well-known Christian homeschool curriculum. BookShark itself seems to be moving away from calling themselves “secular” and instead is calling themselves “faith…
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Introducing My Free 36-Week Kindergarten ELA Guide (Based on Fishtank Learning!)
If you’ve ever tried using a high-quality classroom curriculum for homeschooling, you know it can be a lot to adapt. Fishtank Learning is an amazing, free resource designed for classroom teachers, but it isn’t always homeschool-friendly. That’s why I created a 36-week Kindergarten ELA guide—to make it easier for homeschoolers to follow while keeping the…
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Why Diverse Literature Matters in Homeschooling
When we as parents choose books for our homeschool, we’re directly shaping the way our children see the world. Literature is one of the most powerful tools for learning. It’s not just about reading and writing, but about people, cultures, and identities. Diverse literature is essential in homeschooling because it provides representation, broadens perspectives, challenges…
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Welcome to Number Town! A Hands-On, Playful Way to Learn Shapes and Numbers
Math should be fun, engaging, and meaningful, especially in the early years. That’s why I created Building Number Town, a hands-on, project-based approach to learning shapes and numbers 1-10. This free resource is designed to help young learners explore number sense through creative play, making math feel like an adventure instead of a chore. What…
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Free 36-Week Secular Homeschool Guide for K-2
A Free 36-Week Guide for K-2: Using Zearn, Fishtank Learning, and BFSU Homeschooling can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to piece together a structured, high-quality curriculum without spending a fortune. That’s why I created a free 36-week guide for K-2 that brings together three excellent resources: Zearn, Fishtank Learning, and Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding…
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The Problem with White Authors Writing Black and BIPOC Characters
In recent years, the publishing industry has seen an increased push for diversity, with more books featuring Black and other BIPOC characters hitting the shelves. On the surface, this seems like progress. But a deeper look reveals a troubling pattern: many of these books are still being written by white authors. While some may have…
