Hey guys, I hope you have been getting a chance to enjoy your summer. We typically just work through the whole thing, but we've had a bit of a staycation with family so I was able to soak in a little break from recording math videos with puppets (have you seen the blooper yet?). I wanted to pop into your inbox with a few polls as we vision cast and plan out our future. If you've been here for a bit, you will know that one of the unique aspects of Gather 'Round is the fact that you get to be a...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Is what I'm doing enough? Let's take a moment for a little disclaimer lest this is taken out of context and someone accuses me of a works-based salvation doctrine—something I am emphatically not saying. I am not asking this question about salvation, but rather about my focus and priorities. As a homeschooler, my "enough" gauge is all about what and how much, baselines and improvements. As a mom, it is about connection and discipline, my children's character and the peace in our home. As a...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Alright, lets talk. This past weekend, Jonathan and I took our teens and some of their friends to a youth conference in Atlanta (if you don't follow me on socials, go check out some footage we got here). All I can say is, this generation is hungry. They worshipped, they wept, they prayed for one another . . . they were there for it. I have been getting asked, "In just a short conference, is there really any change that will come from it?" I get it, the big flashy conferences with all the hype...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Obviously from my email last week, you have a pretty good idea that I'm asking a lot of questions right now. I'm evaluating priorities, I'm considering the cost, and I'm doing a whole lot of listening. I don't know what else to say other than that I feel the fear of the Lord over everything I do right now. How much time am I spending on my phone? What am I saying yes to? What am I saying no to? Did I ask the Lord? Flippancy is slowly dying over here as I find myself swung into extreme...
3 months ago • 2 min read
I'm tired—bone weary tired—of algorithms and hooks and scripts and AI generated content that is so predictable it feels downright condescending. I'm sick of striving—losing sleep at night that I have to somehow find the key to growth and sustainability. I'm irritated with the back-patting reels that are just saying what people want to hear, they all tell the same story: Growth is simple—you're just missing this one easy hack that I'll give you for a comment, for a follow, for a small fee. The...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Homeschooling is changing. More specifically, it's diversifying. I'm not just talking about the change from it being a primarily Christian movement to becoming more mainstream . . . I'm talking about different walks and needs entirely. It used to be a Gideon's remnant: the few who felt called to do something different. Now, more people are homeschooling than ever before—ones who never would have thought it was possible. Some where both parents work full time to make it doable in this economy....
3 months ago • 1 min read
Independent Enrollment for the Online Academy is Open! The big news is that we have also introduced a monthly payment plan (with zero interest) that is at a special rate if you register before July 1st. AND we have family discounts available (the more you add, the more you save). Take a look at what your per child rate is below with this new 12-month payment plan to see how great this deal is: One student is $125/student/month Two students are discounted to $112.50/student/month Three...
3 months ago • 2 min read
You may remember that we recently did a little refresh of Ready to Read 1, the first book in our full year Kindergarten through Grade 1 program. We are continuing our way through the series and today we get to announce that book 2 is now finished as well. Allow us to introduce to you the new and improved Ready to Read: At the Pond! What we changed: First up on the new list, is that we tweaked the design a bit to make the fonts and colors match our new feel, redid some illustrations, and added...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Independent Enrollment for the Online Academy is officially open! The big news is that we have also introduced a monthly payment plan (with zero interest) that is at a special rate if you register before July 1st. AND we have family discounts available (the more you add, the more you save). Take a look at what your per child rate is below with this new 12-month payment plan to see how great this deal is: One student is $125/student/month Two students are discounted to $112.50/student/month...
4 months ago • 2 min read