Untitled Header Image Untitled Header Image Untitled Header Image Untitled Header Image Untitled Header Image
 


March 1, 2024

HAHA Leadership strives to offer our members valuable field trips (for our students) and workshops (for our parents). But our heart for homeschoolers does not end at our membership. We also strive to serve the general homeschooling public. To that end, we are offering a Homeschooling 101 Parent Workshop specifically for those who are considering homeschooling.

Do you know someone who falls in that category? Perhaps they are excited at the possibility or maybe they are dragging their feet in fear. In either case, HAHA’s Homeschooling 101 Parent Workshop will be of great benefit.

We have a fantastic lineup of speakers just waiting to help parents understand homeschooling. Our speakers for PA Law, Linda Blocker, and Taking the Fear Out of Evaluations, Mindy Hogue, are both evaluators certified for Elementary, Secondary & Special Needs. They will be able to answer questions from parents of students in all grades and with all abilities. We will discuss needed paperwork, how to withdraw your child from public school and how to legally deal with an IEP. We will also discuss the difference between Cyberschool and Traditional Homeschooling as well as hear A Dad’s Perspective on Homeschooling.

We all know someone who is contemplating homeschooling for one reason or another. So please spread the word. Simply send them to the HAHA website. Just make them aware that seating is limited so it is truly a first-come, first-served event. If you wish to post on social media, you are welcome to use the .jpg from our website’s homepage.

Thank you for helping us get the word out and, as always, it is an honor and a privilege to serve you, our members, and the general homeschooling public.

Have a happy and blessed Easter,
Beth

February 1, 2024

Life has gotten crazy lately. Can anyone relate? We had a little bundle of joy join our family in mid-Dec (grandson #2), next the holidays, and then I had the privilege of spending almost 3 weeks with my daughter and her family being a mother's helper, cook, maid & toddler entertainment. It was a full-time job but I loved every minute of it! 

Grand-parenting is very different than parenting. One of the biggest challenges I faced was allowing my grandsons' parents to do the parenting and not to step in "to help". They do not discipline quite like my husband and I did and their schedule is more child-led than ours was. 

But whenever I thought about saying something, the Lord would remind me of how different MY parenting style was than my mother's: my mom bottle-fed, I nursed; my mom worked outside of the home, I stayed home; my mom sent me to public school, I homeschooled. Please understand, this is not judging my mom in any way. She did what she believed was best for me. But the world changes and we must change with it to protect and lead our children.

The few times I did have to discipline my toddler grandson, I would do it the way my daughter asked me to. When my grandson got upset (offended, actually, that Nana would dare defy his desires), I simply said, "Mommy told me to do this. This is Mommy & Daddy's house and Nana has to obey them, too." I wasn't trying to throw Mommy & Daddy under the bus but, instead, trying to reinforce the idea that Mommy & Daddy are in charge in their home. Now that I'm back home, I can only pray that the lesson sticks.

It will be a long couple of months until I see our grandsons again but these past few weeks will be fond memories that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

If you are a single parent, or living far from family, I pray God will connect you to those who will come alongside of you to support and love on you and your children. We were never meant to do life alone.

Blessings,
Beth

January 1, 2024

HAHA Volunteer Spotlight

HAHA cannot function without the help of our volunteers. So we’re starting the new year by acknowledging them.

A HUGE shout-out to our…
HOSTESSES!!!
HAHA could not offer the many field trips we do without the help of our volunteer hostesses. You are much appreciated!

Our hostesses are asked to arrive early with a list of attendees and to be the contact person with the venue for that day. Although we strive to make our hostesses’ job as easy and organized as possible, we can’t guarantee a smooth ride. Yet they still agree to hostess. We are so amazed and blessed by them. THANK YOU, HOSTESSES!

So the next time you attend a field trip, feel free to personally thank your hostess.

December 1, 2023

Christmas Traditions of HAHA Leadership

Christmas is a time of celebration and tradition. Here are a few traditions of our HAHA leaders.

Kathie deFilippo (treasurer) – Makes gingerbread houses from scratch with her kids. As my kids grew up I would celebrate the holidays making gingerbread houses and inviting several families over. Each family would receive a house fully assembled and they, as a family, would decorate it. Each family is provided a bag of icing to use to apply the decorations. The house is completely edible and I wrap them and families take them with them. I use a recipe from Better Homes and Gardens for the gingerbread and Martha Stewart's Meringue Royal Icing for the icing.

Gingerbread recipe:

4-5 c all-purpose flour

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1 c butter

1 c sugar

1 c molasses

Mix flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. In a large mixer bowl beat butter till softened. Add sugar and beat till fluffy. Add molasses and beat well. Gradually beat in flour mixture, working in last part by hand.

Divide dough into thirds. Roll each third a quarter inch thick directly onto an ungreased cookie sheet, placing wax paper over dough to prevent sticking to the rolling pin. Cut around patterns. Lift off scraps and reserve. You can make designs on the roof and the sides with a spoon or a knife to look like brick or shingles.

Bake in a 375° oven for 9 to 11 minutes or till done. Well still hot on cookie sheet trim straight edges by placing patterns over pieces to straighten. Remove and allow to cool.

I usually allow the pieces to sit a day before I assemble the houses. I let the sides harden so that they are a solid base before I put the roof on.

Meringue Powder Royal Icing:

3 Tbsps meringue powder

1 lb. (4c) confectioner's sugar

6 Tbsps warm water*

Note: Keep all utensils completely grease-free for proper icing consistency.

Beat all ingredients until icing forms peaks (7-10 minutes at low speed with heavy duty mixer, 10-12 minutes at high speed with a hand held mixer).

*For a stiffer icing, use 1 Tbsp less water.

Amy Eckel (secretary) – Makes hot cocoa, gets everyone in jammies and drives around looking at Christmas lights. Here’s a picture from last year.


Theresa Fowler (membership coordinator) – Bakes several different kinds of cookies with her kids (and now grandkids). Here’s one of her favorite recipes:

Chewy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Ingredients

· 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder I recommend sifting it if it is very lumpy

· 2 cups all-purpose flour

· 1.5 teaspoons baking powder

· ¼ teaspoon salt

· ? cup butter softened

· 1 ½ cups white sugar

· 2 teaspoons vanilla

· 4 large eggs

· ½ cup powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Combine dry ingredients: Combine cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.

  2. Cream wet ingredients: Place butter, sugar and vanilla in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix on medium-low speed just until combined - about 10 seconds each.

  3. Make cookie dough: Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and mix on low speed until incorporated.

  4. Chill cookie dough: Cover the bowl and chill the dough for at least 1 hour or up to overnight (the longer you chill, the thicker the cookies will be).

  5. Roll cookies: When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the powdered sugar in a medium bowl. Roll the dough into tablespoon-sized balls and cover them well with the sugar.

  6. Bake cookies: Place on a lined baking sheet with enough space between them (bake in batches) and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until spread and crackled. Cookies will still be soft, so let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Beth Mellott (field trip coordinator) – Watches It’s A Wonderful Life and then opens stockings filled with little gifts on Christmas Eve.


Traditions are fun and important. But the most important part of Christmas is a baby in a manger. After all, Jesus IS the reason for the season. May your Christmas be full of peace and joy!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
The HAHA Leadership Team

November 1, 2023

Most of us have heard of, or even participated in, the See You At The Pole prayer initiative that happens annually on public school campuses. Did you know there is a National HOMESCHOOL Day of Prayer? Well, there is. And it is this Friday, Nov 3, 2023. Please join us and other homeschoolers across the country in prayer. Not sure what to pray for? HomeschoolFreedom.com gives us these suggestions:
·
Give thanks for the freedom we have to homeschool our children

·
Pray for homeschooling families in your own nation and around the world

·
Pray for upcoming elections and the impact they may have on homeschooling

·
Pray for your state’s homeschool organization and its leaders

·
Pray for your elected officials to recognize that the education of children is the responsibility of the parents, not that of the nation

·
Pray for your own family—your homeschooling journey and the Lord’s guidance as you take that journey, your relationships with one another, your own children and their futures, as well as seeking ways your family can minister to others

·
Rejoice in God’s mercy and His faithfulness in all things

To find out more, go to HomeschoolFreedom.com/prayer

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Beth

October 1, 2023

Homeschooling can be hard. Homeschooling can be lonely. It can be but it doesn’t have to be. HAHA wants to help. Our mission is to connect, cultivate and compel. 

One way we do this is by offering parent workshops. Our next workshop is Hope for the Reluctant Reader, on Thurs, Oct 12, 2023 at Christ Community Church in Camp Hill (right off US Route 15) from 6:30p-9:00p. This event is open to the public but HAHA members get in for ½ price.

Our speakers, homeschool evaluators, will answer questions such as: What are some realistic reading milestones? How can I tell if my child is dyslexic or just delayed? What are some different strategies to teach reading? What does an evaluator look for if my child struggles with reading?

Sign up via the website so we are sure to have enough handouts. And feel free to bring a friend!

September 1, 2023

Starting Off The New School Year

I fondly remember the start of a new school year. I would be filled with excitement for my children to start all the lessons I had worked so hard on over the summer. And they would be filled with frustration at the loss of their summer-time freedom. Some days would start well and others … not so much as we all adjusted to the school routine.

Since we always seemed to have some kind of animal menagerie at our house (horse, goat, chicken, cat, dog, cow, rabbit, turkey, hamster – usually mixed at random), our daily routine was to get dressed, brush teeth, eat breakfast and take care of the animals. Every morning/365.

The only difference between summertime and school time was that the animal chores could happen later in the morning during the summer. So the grumbling often began early in the day with the start of school.

Then came the entire month of September when we worked (struggled?) to fine-tune our schedule. It always seemed like the routine that worked the previous school year just didn’t ever work for the current year. (What’s up with that?)

I’ve spent the last two months feeling as if I was forgetting something important only to realize I was missing lesson planning! And, as I reminisce on our Septembers past, I realize that I actually, truly do miss those days – the good, the bad and the ugly. So, my advice this month is to treasure the good days, give grace (to your kids AND yourself) on the hard days and remember this is season.

Blessings and prayers for you all as you begin another homeschool year. May God give you peace, wisdom and grace as your pour into your children.

Beth

August 1, 2023

A Matter of Life and Death

I have often thought that there should be a support group for people like me. “Hi. My name is Beth. And I am a compulsive planner….” For those of you who may not understand, let me explain. It really is very simple. Planning makes me feel secure while spontaneity stresses me.

Surprisingly, when we were first exploring the idea of homeschooling, I briefly considered unschooling. Bizarre, I know, but it sounded really fun – the children would study those things they were interested in and stay engaged in their learning. However, between my natural bent to be uber-organized and the fact that our oldest had absolutely zero interest in math, I decided against it.

Instead, I went in the opposite direction and started off planning our days down to the hour. It didn’t take more than month before it became apparent, that I needed to be less … ME. So, as I grew and matured, I learned to become semi-comfortable with a little less planning - instead of to the hour, I learned to plan lessons for each day. It looked amazing on paper!! And when it was done, I would sit back with a big, literal sigh. Mission accomplished.

Inevitably, every year, within a week of actually starting our lessons, life would happen and we’d be off track. Hence my need to create “catch up” days. But the real lesson I have learned over the years, became apparent this past week.…

Currently we are on vacation - all but our Whirlwind, hanging out for a week of family and fun. However, last week, as I was prepping food and laundry, it dawned on me that packing for vacation is a lot like lesson planning. You have an end game in mind but the process to actually get there takes repeated refining. And once you get your master list together, getting it all into the car (or on the calendar) is kind of like an adult version of Tetris. But vacations, like lesson planning, are seldom a matter of life and death. If you forget to pack something, there’s always an Aldi’s or Walmart or Dollar Store nearby to save the day. And likewise, if you forget something when lesson planning, it truly is possible to rearrange your schedule without anyone (but you) being the wiser.

So go ahead and write up those detailed lessons, my fellow planners. Just do it in pencil and remember, those lessons are not a matter of life and death. God created you a planner but there is something to be said for flexibility. Your children will learn just as much from how you respond to life’s inconveniences and emergencies as they will from your perfectly planned lessons. Relax. Do your best. Give it to God. And pray for grace.

Trust me. You got this!

July 1, 2023

Thoughts From the Other Side

Well, we did it. The last graduation is in the books. And a 23-year career as a homeschooling mom has come to an end. When you’re in the midst of the stress and the challenges it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But now, having survived and looking back from the other side, I have to ask myself, would I do it all over again? And the answer is unequivocally, without a doubt, 100% -- YES!

And, if I did it again, would I change anything the second time around? Of course! But those changes might surprise you. I would have hugged my children more tightly and disciplined them more gently. I would have read that favorite book the one millionth time instead of making them pick another one. I would have tried harder to overlook the dirty faces and notice the smiles instead. I would have enjoyed their corny jokes more and tried to join in with some of my own. And I would have worried less about grades and more about comprehension.

I know, some days it seems hard to believe, but trust me, mamas, the time really does fly by. The days may go slow but the years go oh-so-fast!

The financial strains were temporary, the dirty dishes were temporary, even the sibling rivalry was temporary. Today, on the other side, I love who my children have grown up to be; I love the relationship I have with them; and I love the relationship they have with Jesus. THAT is forever! So take it from one who has finished the race – don’t give up –

IT.WAS.WORTH.IT!!!


June 1, 2023

Reflections from the other side

As our homeschool journey comes to a close, I just want to encourage those of you who are still traveling – and even those who are just beginning – on that path.


IT IS WORTH IT!


Our oldest son was one of THOSE children. My mother-in-law babysat him and his sister (who was 20 months older than him) twice a week for three months from the time he was six months until he was nine months. (At which point I quit work to stay home full time) At the end of that little “jaunt” my mother-in-law bought me James Dobson’s book The Strong-Willed Child! Obviously she saw something of which I was not yet aware.

It became more apparent as time passed. I never thought I would have to negotiate – constantly – with a four-year-old or explain my reasoning to someone who wasn’t even a tween yet. Some days felt like a constant battle. “I am the adult. It shouldn’t be this hard,” I kept thinking. But is was. And most days I felt like a failure. But God was faithful and there were just enough “good” days to keep me in the game.

Fast forward almost 20 years. This past week we celebrated his graduation from Army boot camp! He still has that strong will but has, over the years, learned to temper it. And he has recognized that, when used properly, it is one of his greatest strengths. His strong will is what will carry him through his advanced training in the upcoming 10 months.

Seeing him standing at attention in his uniform gave me such mixed emotions. I found myself comparing the “then” with the “now.” Then we could seldom get him to stay in one place for more than a few minutes, Now he is standing at attention for 20 minutes straight. Then we could hardly get a word in edgewise, Now he is waiting to speak until spoken to. Then he was all impulse and emotion, Now he is self-control.

So if you are feeling like the stage you are in will never end, take comfort, my friend. It WILL end. You WILL miss this. And, best of all, it WILL be worth it!

Have a blessed summer!
Beth

May 1, 2023

A BIG shout-out to HAHA’s Leadership Team and all our volunteers for helping to make HAHA’s 2023 Curriculum & Resource Fair a success! Your leadership team spent countless hours planning, organizing workshops, contacting speakers, contacting vendors, stuffing bags, buying food and drinks, and advertising. Our volunteers spent the day speaking, manning tables, managing the café, and helping wherever needed. This event could NOT have happened without each one of you! You are very much appreciated!
THANK YOU!

April 1, 2023

When life gives you lemons….

I have (finally) gotten my head wrapped around the fact that our youngest is graduating this June. After 23 years of homeschooling, I will soon be forced to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. LOL!

However, our eldest son recently threw me a curve ball. He made a career change. In a short, 2-week whirlwind, he went from living 20 minutes away, working as an auto mechanic and a volunteer firefighter, and coming home every Monday evening for dinner and laundry to enlisting in the Army and shipping off to boot camp in MO!

My mind has not caught up with reality yet. I’m still planning Monday dinners around his preferences. I find I miss his laughter and his teasing more than I expected. And, although I am usually handling the change well, sometimes -randomly – I just cry. But then I remind myself, THIS is the goal of parenting: to raise strong young men and women who are prepared to go out into the world and make a difference for Jesus.

When I was young, my mother was forever trying to instill compassion in me (I think she saw that judgment came more naturally to me than mercy). Any time I complained about something someone said or did at school, my mom would ask, “What do you think happened to them today that would make them act like that?” I admit, it took years, but eventually the lesson sunk in and today I am so grateful for my mom’s persistence. I do try to see life from other people’s perspectives now. And it is a lesson that I’ve worked hard to pass on to our own children.

So I thought I had it mastered. I thought I understood how the military affects families. HA! Don’t get me wrong, empathy is a wonderful skill but you truly don’t know what someone is going through until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. I’m just at the beginning of this “mile” and already my preconceived ideas have been tossed out the window. Defenestrated. I am discovering that the “not knowing” is the hardest for me right now: not knowing how he is doing, not knowing his routine, not knowing if he’s made new friends, not knowing … a lot of things. The only thing I do know is that I worship a God who DOES know all those things. And I know I can trust Him.

Does that mean nothing bad will ever happen to our son? Oh, how I wish. But that is not what the Bible says. Jesus said, in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV, emphasis mine) We all know the sun shines on everyone. Likewise “trouble” happens to everybody. But Jesus has promised to walk with us and help us carry the burden.

To that end, I feel like God is asking me to reach out to all our members who have a child or a spouse in the military. I would like to add you, and your military member, to my prayer list. I would even be open to hosting a monthly prayer meeting, via Zoom or in person, so we could pray for each other and help carry one another’s burdens. If this is something you’d be interested in, please email me at HomeschooLegacy@gmail.com with your name and the name and relationship (child or spouse) of your military member. If there is enough interest, we may even create a HAHA Military Support Group. Together, with God’s help, we can do this. Together we can ….

make lemonade.

Blessings,
Beth

March 1, 2023

Homeschooling – it’s not just a job

You’ve heard it said that homeschooling is not just a job but a lifestyle. Ok, so maybe you haven't heard that - since I just made it up - but anyone who has been homeschooling even for a short time can attest to that fact. Homeschooling quickly becomes a way of life. That being said, it can also become all-consuming.

When our children were little, I became so intent on making every moment a learning experience that I forgot about fun and relaxed interaction – you know what I mean, just hanging out and enjoying one another’s company. As they grew older, my intensity increased with the difficulty of their subject content and that intensity soon became a burden to my children AND my husband. It wasn’t until our children started “acting out” that I cried out to God, feeling like a failure, and He reminded me that one of the biggest reasons we chose to homeschool was to create strong relationships between us and our kids. My organized nature – needing to have every minute of every day planned out – was actually working against my desire for relationship with my children. I just needed to chill.

But how? I questioned. There is so much to learn and do and see!

I could not figure out how or where to schedule in down time (pun intended). Because God knows how He made me, He taught me to start slowly by scheduling in “Catch Up” days. Yes, if you look at my lesson planner, I literally have the words “Catch Up Day” written down at least once a week – rotated between the different subjects. Honest! For example, this week we have a Science “Catch Up Day,” next week it is in the English column of my lesson plans, the following week it shows up in Economics, etc. And as crazy as that seems, it helps me to not only remember to focus on our relationships but it also keeps me sane when we fall behind – and we inevitably do. You would think, after doing lesson plans for 20+ years, I would have this figured out but there is always something that sneaks in and upsets the apple cart.

And I have also branched out into planning “Mental Health Days” with friends. (If my son wasn’t a high school senior, I’d call them play dates but…well, you understand) We don’t do this every week. It’s more like every three months but it does help to keep both of us sane. I struggled with the idea at first but then I came to think of it as the equivalent of a public school assembly. (Whatever helps me sleep at night, right?)

Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is to keep your priorities straight. Learning is a priority but so is character development and family bonding. If you find yourself focusing on one of those to the detriment of the others, you might want to take a step back and reassess. Ask God how to restore balance to your homeschool. He knows how He formed you – and your children. He will give you insight and strategies that will bring your home and school back into balance.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Blessings,
Beth

February 1, 2023

Happy Valentine's Day

It’s Feb and time to focus on relationships. We’ve all heard the saying, “it’s the little things that count” but do we truly believe that? Do we try to do the little things to make our spouses happy or do we brush off them off to focus solely on the “biggies?”

I would like to encourage you to not discount the effect that little things can have on your relationship with your spouse. After all, I can say, with all honesty, that butter saved our marriage! Real butter, that is.

You see, it went like this ….

We both grew up in margarine families. I figured that meant we were a match made in heaven. Little did I know.

My family kept our margarine in the fridge.

My husband’s family kept their margarine on the counter.

I hated how the counter margarine separated and looked like a puddle of oil that I was supposed to somehow get onto my bread and then consume.

My husband hated how the fridge margarine ripped and tore his bread and left him nothing to eat but a big wad of dough.

After we were married, the butter placement depended upon who cleaned off the table. If it was me, the butter ended up in the fridge. If it was my husband, the butter ended up on the counter. That meant that one of us was always irritated.

Then came the day when we ran out of margarine. Literally. Not a tub to be found in the house. My husband groused. I muttered sarcastically under my breath. Finally, out of shear frustration, I grabbed a stick of butter out of the fridge – normally used only for baking – and plopped it onto a butter dish. “Here. It’s all we have. Let’s try to be happy.”

Neither of us was, though. Until the next morning. The butter had sat out all night (guess who cleaned off the table the night before) and it was soft enough to spread on a piece of bread yet not an oily, unpalatable mess. Eureka! Butter is the key to success – in baking AND in marriage!

So this Valentine’s Day, remember the little things. Does your husband like foot massages? Grab a clothespin (for your nose, not his toes) and just do it. It IS possible for the little things to have a profound effect.

Blessings,

Beth

January 1, 2023

Happy New Year!

The days are short and the nights are long. The weather is cold and the wind is bitter. But worst of all, the holidays are over. It seems there is nothing left to look forward to except the endless drudge of school days…..

Does this describe your outlook at the beginning of every January? It certainly did mine for a number of years. My love of everything Christmas would come to a screeching halt when the holiday season was finished and life headed back to the same old, same old.

Then I began to realize how MY mood affected my husband and my children – not to mention the family dog. Excluded from that effect was the family cat, who was truly psycho and only cared about food and attacking you as you walked by. And since my main priorities did not include said psycho-kitty, I decided a change was in order.

The first change was simple. I decided to save my snowmen decorations and only put them up as I was taking down my Christmas decorations, leaving them up until Easter. I know it seems like a trivial thing but it actually gave me something to look forward to. Yes, Christmas is over but here’s something new and fun to look at.

The second change was more difficult. I realized that something more important than my environment needed to change – the real change had to be my heart. The post-Christmas Grinch needed to be kick to the curb. I needed to CHOOSE to be grateful. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” It sure felt as if my spirit was crushed and my bones had no life left in them. I needed a cheerful heart. I needed to change how I thought about the post-Christmas season. Surely there was SOMETHING good to be found during those long, dark months before Spring.

Proverbs 18:21 tells us, “The tongue has the power of life and death and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Well, if I was given a choice, I would definitely choose to eat life and not death so I realized I needed to change not only the way I thought but also how I spoke. I needed to start speaking positive, healthy and uplifting things to myself and my family. “It’s an ugly day outside” became “It’s the perfect day to read a book with a cup of hot cocoa.” Of course, MY cup of cocoa would be spike with high octane coffee but the kids didn’t need to know that now, did they? And as I intentionally began looking for the positive – and voicing it – others seemed to catch on. It almost became a game of sorts. If someone would say something negative, someone else would comment with, “Yeah, but…” and it would cause all our Grinch-hearts to grow a few sizes.

Then I found Proverbs 4:23 which says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Yes, these newly-expanded hearts definitely needed guarded for it was extremely easy, especially in the beginning, to fall back into the old thoughts, comments and habits. Guarding our hearts took effort. Sometimes it was a daily, or even an hourly, choice. But over time, the new thoughts, comments and habits began to take hold and become a true part of who our family was.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful day and the idea of pausing your busy life to truly appreciate all you’ve been given, is admirable. But gratitude should not be relegated to one day, or even one month, a year. If we can train ourselves to see and appreciate the small things, the silver linings even, and live in a state of gratitude, even the darkest and coldest nights will be cause for thanksgiving. And, if I cannot find any other thing to be grateful for, I am grateful for you, my HAHA family.
“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3

May you have a happy and blessed 2023!

Beth Mellott

December 1, 2022

Christmas Greetings

I love Christmas! No, I mean, like really. Truly. Honestly.

I.LOVE.CHRISTMAS!

The lights, the sights, the sounds, the movies – just everything about it. In my mind, December is the month of peace and joy. Excitement and goodwill are in the air and it’s practically tangible. I have a dozen CDs of Christmas carols and, beginning Black Friday, they play daily. (I only wait until Black Friday in deference to my husband otherwise the songs would start in October!)

I also love gifts. Especially giving them. And it’s even better if the gift was something that was NOT on their Christmas list – you know, that special little thing that they didn’t realize they wanted – or needed. The “oh, my, I DO need that; how did you know?” –type gift.

I have often wondered if God might not feel sort of the same. We did not know we needed a Savior but he sent us one anyway. And when we “open” His gift and realize that it IS truly something we want – and need – I expect he gets a thrill of delight. And I imagine his smile is a million times bigger and brighter than mine.

In all the hustle and bustle that comes with this season – the lights, the sights, the sounds, the movies – let’s not forget the greatest gift of all. Jesus.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”
Isa 9:6&7 (NIV)

From our house to yours - Merry Christmas, HAHA family!

Beth Mellott

November 1, 2022

Happy November!

Thanksgiving. The day when we take our cue from the Pilgrims and recognize all that we have been blessed with. It sounds so easy. However, it always seemed as though my children were so quick to complain and so slow to be grateful. Then one day I realized that I wasn’t any different. Why IS it so easy to look at what we don’t have and so difficult to recognize all that we DO have?

The world does not help us with that struggle. Between commercials telling us we NEED the latest and greatest toy/device/car/house (you name it), our economy and world tensions, it is super easy to end up with a tainted, disillusioned, and even bitter outlook. But for our sake – and even more importantly, for our children’s sake – we must make the effort to “look on the bright side.”

Sure, gas prices have made it more difficult to do all the “running” we’d like to do but, on the bright side, we are still able to homeschool – we may just have to do more of it at home than we used to! As the old adage goes, there is always something to be thankful for. And, let’s not forget the greatest blessings for which we have to be thankful – our children!

And something for which HAHA Leadership is thankful is our new student editor!

Introducing our new student newsletter editor!


My name is Luke Fesler and I am the new student editor for HAHA. I’ve been home schooled since 2013 and I’ve enjoyed every year of it. My favorite part of homeschooling is having the ability to go places and do things I otherwise wouldn’t be able to do.

I don’t write anything very compelling but I do enjoy reading stories and learning about English. I also created the Homeschool Chess and Game Club.

I applied for this position because I looked forward to learning more about editing a newsletter. This opportunity also allows me to use English in a more professional setting, and to have the work experience that this job provides.

So far I am enjoying the ability to serve fellow homeschoolers in this capacity and I look forward to the future of editing the newsletter. 

HAHA Leadership wishes all of our members a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

October 1, 2022

Thoughts to Ponder

We just returned home from Ohio where we visited our daughter, son-in-love, and 1-year-old grandson, Ezra. It was fun to watch our grandson experience his first birthday party. He was clueless as to what was happening, why there were so many people in his house, and what was expected of him – especially when they set a small cake on his highchair in front of him.

Ezra tentatively poked it with one finger and looked up at everyone to see the reactions. When he was not scolded, he put his entire hand on the cake and spent quite some time confused about the icing that stuck to him - wiping it on his highchair tray, wiping it on his belly & finally wiping it on the cloth cover of his seat. As everyone laughed at his antics, he got excited and began to smack the cake with both hands and giggle.

I found it interesting that he did not try to eat it. His daddy had to get some icing on his finger and feed him. Ezra tolerated that first bite of sweetness but the second bite, with cake, was promptly spit out. Ezra’s lack of experience and understanding caused him to reject the very thing that most people crave.

At that moment, I had an epiphany. How many times does God hand me an opportunity and, because of my limited understanding, I misinterpret it as a problem to be eliminated rather than an experience to be embraced? Perhaps I need to stop for a moment and ask God how He wants me to proceed before I automatically try to remove the opportunity from my life. Perhaps I am ready to grow or move forward and my stubbornness - and need for routine and stability - is actually hindering what God is trying to do in my life.

These are the deep thoughts I am pondering as I sip my coffee on this crisp, cool, autumn morning. And I do not believe I am alone in this journey. Homeschooling, whether it is your first year or your twenty-first year, is FULL of such “opportunities.”

So my prayer for us this month is: May we learn to embrace the surprises that come our way this school year. And may we rely more and more upon the God who loves us so that we may realize the full potential of every opportunity.

Blessings,
Beth

September 1, 2022

Life is a funny thing.  Just when you think you have it all figured out, life throws you a curve ball.  I’m learning that the key to living a less stress-filled life is to be flexible enough to handle those unexpected curve balls - to roll with the punches, so to speak.  You can try to dodge out of the way but none of us are as supple as we used to be and somehow or another those curve balls seem to find us – no matter how hard we try to dodge them.

Kris Stoddard, HAHA’s president for the past several years, experienced some unexpected “curve balls” in her own life and needed to focus her time & energy in a different direction. To that end, she has stepped down.  Her guidance, wisdom, and strength will be greatly missed.  She has left some incredibly big shoes to fill!!!

Kris’ decision does not mean HAHA’s demise, however.  The ministry of HAHA is an important one – one in which our leadership team strongly believes.  Therefore, we are committed to continuing the mission of providing the homeschool community with as many resources and opportunities as we can.  

With that in mind, I am writing this article as HAHA’s new president.  Who would have thought?  Not me.  Never in a million years!  I am a behind-the-scenes-type person.  So this is my “curve ball.”  And, to be honest, I am not sure I am capable of filling Kris’ shoes, but I do promise to do my best – while I rely heavily on the other members of our leadership team as no one person could hope to do everything needed to make this organization run smoothly.  So I would simply ask our members to extend grace during this transition period - for all of the leadership! 

It is possible that things may end up looking a little different as leadership navigates through these changes but our duty to our members will never waver.  Homeschooling is more than just a trend – it is a responsibility.  And HAHA is dedicated to helping our members fulfill that responsibility.  Our hearts are to serve the homeschool community with integrity and Christ-like character.  

Curve balls can be uncomfortable and scary.  They can stretch us in ways we never thought possible.  But, whatever curve ball life throws at us, we can always rest in the knowledge that we have this promise in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)

So I pray for God’s blessing on your school year – and on the curve balls that may come your way!

Beth Mellott

August 1, 2022

Happy August Everyone!

Since this is my last official newsletter as president of HAHA, I want to leave you with a word of encouragement. There is a Bible verse that pops up often when life becomes hard and I am tired and want to give up or run away. It’s Galatians 6:9 - “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”  This verse has spurred me on so many times when the going gets rough.

God promises his children that if we don’t give up, in time, our efforts will pay off! We will reap a harvest. We cannot allow discouragement to take hold and lead us. If we do, we will eventually give up. As homeschoolers, if we persist in our good work, we will experience good results just like a farmer experiences a great harvest after a season of hard work, sweat and maybe even some tears. 

What exactly is the harvest we reap from homeschooling our children? Here are a few possibilities:  closer relationships, a love for learning, independent learners, kids who value family, know who they are, and can be of great value to their communities. This is a harvest that is becoming increasingly diminished in our culture. God is so good to give us such a promise. And you know what? I’ve yet to run into a parent who regrets homeschooling their kids. Rather, I hear how thankful they are that they decided to homeschool and how their family has thrived and benefited from it. 

Homeschooling your kids is hard work, but it is a labor of love that will bless you and your family.  So don’t give up! Keep doing the good that you are doing as homeschooling parents. When it gets hard, go to God for encouragement. He is faithful to His promises! My life is a living testimony of this. 
 
God bless you all,
Kris

July 1, 2022

Hello HAHA Members,

I hope you are all enjoying your summer break. While HAHA’s activity calendar has slowed down for the summer, the planning of fall field trips, volunteer opportunities and classes has not! But even before all of that, we will be enjoying HOMESCHOOLIBRATION on August 9. This is HAHA’s annual family picnic. It’s a chance to meet other homeschoolers, chat about homeschooling, and have some fun. The leaders all hope to see you there and especially get to meet those of you who are new to homeschooling and/or HAHA. It is also an opportunity for you to invite a friend who is interested in joining HAHA to come check us out.

You should all be aware by now, per the letter sent to members last month, that I am officially stepping down as President at the end of this month. I stepped in to keep HAHA from fading out of existence until a president could step in and take over. Here I am three years later, and still trying to find that someone. Regardless, I cannot continue due to other obligations and responsibilities. We have been searching for someone who would have the abilities and vision to step in and keep HAHA running, yes, but hopefully to also take HAHA into the next season and keep it relevant to the current needs of the homeschooling community. 

HAHA was such a huge help to me when I was just getting started with my homeschooling journey many years ago. That’s why I stepped up. If you are benefiting from the services HAHA offers, will you consider volunteering to help in some capacity? Please reach out to any of the leaders. Our email addresses are listed under “Contact Us” on the member side of the front page of our website. You will be sent a form to fill out so that we can determine where you might fit. 

Thanks for your consideration. It’s been a pleasure serving you all.
Kris

June 1, 2022

Greetings Homeschooling Friends,

I hope you enjoyed getting to hear from the other HAHA leaders for the past several months. They are wonderful ladies and have so much to offer you all as seasoned homeschooling moms and grandmoms. 

I’m sitting here asking myself what homeschooling moms are thinking about right now. What was I thinking about at this time of year when I was still homeschooling? I was usually thinking about making summer activities for my kids, house/home projects that needed to get done. a daily summer routine to fill the hours that we would normally be homeschooling. It always took me a few weeks to transition from the Sunday mindset of preparation for another week of homeschooling to rest and relaxation or other activities we wanted to do. It was my annual gift - to have a summer break. May I offer some advice from my own experience?

Regarding your kids: 
I know I don’t have to tell you to plan activities and a summer routine for your kids. That’s what you do. However, don’t be afraid to let your kids experience some boredom. It takes a week or two for them to come off their busy, scheduled school year and get back to self-motivated play, projects or activities that they come up with themselves. This is so important for healthy development! Kids need to have time to rest and think too!

Keep reading aloud. This is the one thing that should be on your year-round schedule. Keep reading aloud to your kids as much as possible.  The benefits are inestimable! (I could write a whole article about this piece of advice alone!)  It enhances brain development in so many ways for all ages - even teenagers! 

Regarding you, Moms:
Slow things down. Don’t pack so much into your summer that you feel like you didn’t get the refreshment you needed when it comes time to getting ready for the next school year. Be intentional about your own refreshment. 

Plan a few fun activities that you do without your kids. Take a hike, go to a movie, go out to eat, visit a museum, go to the pool with a friend, spouse or go solo if that appeals to you. Do whatever you enjoy even if it means sending the kids to friends’ houses and staying home alone. (Just don’t do housework! Unless of course, that is refreshing to you. LOL!)

Read a book or two.  Read one fiction book you can lose yourself in and one non-fiction book that will enrich you in some way. We want our kids to love to learn. That’s easier if we nurture our own love of learning, too! If you say, “I don’t have time to read a book.” I would suggest scheduling an SSR (sustained silent reading) time into your daily routine in the summer for your kids. Then leave the dishes in the sink and you sit down and read too! 

However you choose to spend your summer, I wish you rest and refreshment. I also hope to see you at HOMESCHOOLIBRATION on August 8. (See the HAHA calendar for details.) HAPPY SUMMER TO YOU ALL! 

May 1, 2022

Hi!  

Many of you know me – or at least know my name.  I am Beth Mellott and the Field Trip Coordinator for HAHA.  I have homeschooled since 2000 and have one more year left.  I have graduated two homeschooled students with my last one going into 12th grade next year.  Then I will need to figure out what I’m going to do with the rest of my life.  What DO I want to be when I grow up???

Even though I am on the tail end of our family’s homeschooling journey, nothing prepared me for the challenges my son & I have faced this year.  In June of 2021, my almost 17-year-old son, had his wisdom teeth removed.  Life quickly went downhill after that.

He started dropping weight, having sleep issues and focusing problems; he developed tremors and went from doing 30 pushups at a time to not being able to do even 1.  Talk about one freaked-out momma. 

After blood work, three specialists, xrays, MRIs, and lots of doctor visits it was determined that he has Graves’ disease – a hyper-thyroid issue. My son flat out refused to go on medication so we have been taking a homeopathic route to his healing – a safer but MUCH longer option.

His inability to focus for extended periods of time totally wrecked my lesson plans.  We went from my planned 8 high school credits plus a part-time job and possible dual enrollment, down to 3 credits.  Period.  He was forced to quit his part-time job and dual enrollment wasn’t even an option.

Me, the queen of cracking-the-whip-to-stay-on-schedule, had to surrender that integral part of myself.  No schedule was worth jeopardizing my son’s health any further.  Knowing that was a no-brainer; living it was entirely different.  Our school day looks nothing like it used to.  We start later.  We go slower.  We do less.  We take more breaks – sometimes even to the extent of an entire “mental health” day off.  We study when he is up to it – whether that is morning, afternoon or evening.  It is a constant struggle for me to NOT look at how far behind we are.  I am used to being finished for the year by mid-May.  This year it is looking more like mid-June and I simply need to be ok with that.

Instead of fretting, I must constantly force myself to look at how much he has improved since September.  We still start later than I want to and go at a slower pace than we used to but he focus has improved and we have gradually been able to add in more work. He may even get 4 credits accomplished this year!

None of this has been to shame him (he has actually given me permission to write about this) or to cause you to feel sorry for us.  On the contrary, it is to showcase the beauty and flexibility of homeschooling.  If my son had been attending public school, even if we had dropped several of his classes to the bare minimum allowed, he would not have been able to keep up with the pace.  Homeschooling has allowed us to adjust our schedule to do the amount of work he is capable of, at the pace he is best able to learn.  Some days go well, others not so much.  So, we continue with the homeopathic doctor and we rely on God – a LOT!

Because of the amount of credits my son completed in his freshman and sophomore years, he will have enough credits to graduate next year.  This “bump in the road” has thrown this school year (and possibly my sanity) off kilter but it has not completely derailed our life.  Homeschooling has actually allowed us to flow with the challenges and has made me an even stronger proponent of this lifestyle.  So when life throws you a curve ball – and at some point in time it will – I would encourage you to stay the course and look for ways to adapt.  Contact someone you trust to help you navigate the unknown – whether that is ideas and suggestions for how to change your routine or physically getting someone else to help you teach. What your homeschool day looks like may be entirely different from someone else’s – it may even be entirely different from how it looked last year.  But that is OK.  Not only are you teaching your children “school work” but you are also teaching them “life lessons” in how to respond to the unexpected and keep moving forward.

Don’t give up!  Lean on God – in the good times and the hard times - and let your children see it.  Then, when they experience hard times in their life, your example will lead them.  I am reminded of Psalm 78:1-7, “…We will not hide them from the children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done….So the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.”

Beth

April 1, 2022

Hello my name is Theresa Fowler.

     I was asked to join the HAHA board as a former homeschool mom who sometimes helps to homeschool her grandchildren. We have four children who we homeschooled kindergarten through high school graduation. Our daughter has 4 children aged 1-1/2 to 10 years of age. I have asked her to talk about her life as a homeschooler.

Hi everyone,

     I am Emily. As my mom said (or didn’t say), I was bribed with éclair cake to talk about myself. I am a proud product of homeschooling, and now consider myself a 2nd generation homeschooler as I teach my own kids (ages 10, 5, 3 and 1 – so you can imagine the chaos in my house as I attempt to type).  

     Back in the 90s/00s, we were often met with odd looks or comments when we told someone we were homeschooled. The comments were usually predictable, 
“Who is your favorite teacher?” Haha, very funny, and yes my teacher kisses the principal.
“Do you have gym class?” No, we never go outside and the weekends spent at out-of-state soccer tournaments definitely do not count.
“Where is your denim jumper?” It’s dress-down Friday, thus our ‘normal’ shorts and t-shirt uniform.
“Oh, you don’t look like a homeschooler!” Yup, we are imposters and forgot our disguise today.
“How do you make friends?!” We don’t. Unless you count sports teammates, neighbors, homeschool co-op classmates, co-workers and church friends.

     Despite not attending a public or private school at any point in my childhood, I would never describe myself as missing-out, less-than or neglected. In fact, the benefits and opportunities I was given as a homeschooler far surpassed the once-yearly moments of anxiety I would feel as I entered the maze of a public high school to sit for standardized testing. Alas, I have overcome.

     In all seriousness, if you are considering homeschooling, new to homeschooling, or are a seasoned veteran like my mom, I would love to offer my encouragement to your seemingly endless days and worrisome thoughts of inadequacy.  As I said earlier, my parents made the choice and sacrifice to homeschool myself and my siblings, in a time where there was minimal homeschooling support or resources. They chose one of the only curriculum available, a traditional curriculum meant for private schools by Bob Jones University. My mom formed a homeschool co-op with four or five other friends, where we pioneered a weekly meet-up with each mom teaching according to their strengths. Dissecting frogs with my mom (on a sticky, humid porch) with a bunch of other kids was my mom’s offering as the parent with a science degree. Other extracurriculars such as cooking and messy crafts (taught by the mom with a home economics major) were also out-sourced to these days. 

     These simple, play-filled days graduated into busy middle-school and high-school times of more intense weekly classes taught by former teachers, involvement in public school sports, and employment at the local library, veterinary clinic, and website development. Each of us was allowed and encouraged to be involved in working or interning or participating in activities that interested us. Where did the time come for pursuing personal interests?  Should we not have been doing 8+ hours of ‘school’ per day? Some came from genetically influenced time-management skills, but for the most part, my mom ensured that busy work was kept to a minimum. We completed all required subjects at or above grade level, but science credit was also given for working as a veterinary technician, phys. ed. for playing school and club sports. From a young age, we were encouraged to develop the ability to learn and research for ourselves. Not that my parents were not well-educated and very capable teachers, but because a life-long learner continues to crave knowledge, whether it comes from textbooks, YouTube videos, the library, hands-on experimenting, or shoulder-to-shoulder learning from an expert. 

      As a homeschool mom in 2022, our job is no easier than it was for my parents. I understand this as I travel the same journey with my children. However, the vast amount of curriculum choices makes it possible to tailor to every child’s learning ability (check out the curriculum fair at the end of April!). What you pick for your creative youngest doesn’t have to work for your analytical oldest. A brief Google search reveals groups for those who are classically minded, academic classes such as organic chemistry, geometry, or creative writing - taught by certified teachers, elective classes such as “eating with science” taught by passionate parents, forest schools for kids who need to be one with the mud, and everything in between. Join the public school sports teams, marching band or theatre performances, or reduce your school interaction to the yearly mailed communication.

     The homeschool mold has been broken wide open, and no longer is there the homeschooler ‘look’ that defined us in the 90s. For my family, this looks like a plaid uniform two days a week at a classical collaborative school, and the other days of the week they wear the distinctive marks (and smells) of learning horsemanship, chicken raising, crafting with all things sparkles and generalized sibling adventures.

      All this to say, make this adventure what works for you. Utilize all the resources, or make it up yourself. Go out to a new museum every day, or learn in your own backyard. If the popular, colorful curriculum you chose is stressing you or your kid out, there is nothing wrong with the black and white textbooks (Saxon math grad here, if you know you know). Take a day off when someone needs it. Or a week. Pursue your career and show your kids how to balance both work and school. Or stay at home full-time and demonstrate daily dedication to your family. Embrace Dad’s days off when he wants to help/interrupt and let him take the reins on a new creative topic (my poor kids get to learn about actuarial analyzing when this happens). If Mom is on the couch with morning sickness, strew around some books on embryology and fetal development and let the big kids teach the littles. Have a newborn in the house causing chaos? Put down the textbooks and research basic child development with your own living and breathing simulator.

      We are living with a bunch of little sponges that will absorb what we present to them, whether it looks like a color-coded daily lesson plan or just involves some chalk in the driveway.

- Emily

March 1, 2022



Hello dear HAHA members!

My name is Amy Eckel and I serve as the secretary for HAHA. I am married to my college sweetheart, Dan, and we have four kids, ages 6, 9, almost 10, and almost 13, and live in Paxtonia. 

Our family started our homeschool journey when my oldest was 4 years old. I wanted to get my feet a little wet because my home was filled with little ones and I was feeling very overwhelmed at all the choices and what to do. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed spending a little bit of time working with my eager little student. Unfortunately, there were many very hard days.

We started having problems early on, I mean I had two little ones and I was sleep-deprived, and trying to meet all my expectations for her and myself as a mom. Thankfully, we decided to join a homeschool co-op and I quickly found out I am not the only one going through struggles.

Throughout the years we experienced many challenges with math, learning to read at the age I expected, sitting still and paying attention, and challenging circumstances with one of my boys. It seemed to me he was on the Autism Spectrum but we were so very hesitant to get him evaluated. We had our reasons, mostly because I was a special education teacher and felt I could work with him just fine, nor did I want him to have a label. He is verbal and very smart, but man was he a challenge! At my wit's end, and after talking with a few friends and family, we decided to go ahead and have him evaluated. Sure enough, he was diagnosed right away as having Autism Spectrum Disorder. I was overwhelmed, but I felt all my questions and worries were confirmed. Because we had "the golden ticket" we said yes to the services we wanted, we changed our goals and expectations to fit our family, and we are doing so much better! We have our challenges for sure, but we have support.

I guess I share all that, especially using the word expectation a few times. We need to set personal, realistic goals and expectations, but you also have to realize you need to adjust and change, including during the school year. As long as you are meeting requirements, which really are not too strict, you do what is best for your family. We have changed curriculum in the middle of the school year, even more than one. Once, we stopped a subject that was hard just to take a break from it and the heartache. 

I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit more about me and my family! I would love to talk to you and get to know you more. If you see me at a field trip or event, or want to send me a message, please say hi! I am happy to talk with you.

Amy

February 1, 2022

Hello HAHA Members,

You may be used to seeing a letter from our president Kris Stoddard in this space. Over the next few months, we will utilize the President’s Letter to introduce you to the other members of the HAHA leadership team. 

That said, my name is Aimée Jones (pronounced like amazing but the “zing” is silent).  I serve as the vice-president of HAHA. I am happily married to J.R. with two kids, Cole (13) who was born on Leap Day, and Elise (8). We also have two crazy dogs, Jude and Clover. 

We began our homeschooling journey in North Carolina but then took it on the road after God called us to Pennsylvania for my husband’s job. After moving to PA, I was a little lost with how to homeschool, build community, and set up a home. That was a year of much growth and discovery. 

I quickly sought out any and all advice on homeschooling. As I discovered these pearls of wisdom and tried to implement them all, it led me to more confusion, a feeling of failure, and frustrated children. What was I doing wrong? It was then that God urged me to listen to Him for the wisdom and guidance we needed to educate our children. What a relief! I didn’t have to lean on my own understanding, a lesson that never seems to stick in my brain. I learned to let go of whatever expectations I created and allow myself to enjoy the journey. 

This led us to a much easier path of learning. We started to pay attention to our family rhythms, our children’s interests, and discovering the different learning styles of each child. The biggest thing I got rid of was comparison, aka the thief of joy. Our style was our style with counsel woven in. It was pointless comparing it to other families because, well, they aren’t my family. Every family is unique, and every child within a family is unique as well. The more I embraced this the more I realized that I didn’t need a concrete plan, in fact the more flexible I became the more I saw both kids start to find their groove and thrive.

Of course we still struggle and there are times we have to pivot, but doing so is possible because the one expectation that I find helpful to place on myself is to be flexible. Now I take it year by year and try not to eat the elephant all at once, just one bite at a time. HAHA has been a huge part of making this possible. The community and resources I have found here has been a much needed life line for me and I hope that you have discovered this for yourself. 

With so many options due to our current circumstances, I want to encourage you to embrace what works for you and your family. It’s your journey, no one else's, so make it your own and keep moving forward. 

Aimee

January 1, 2022

Dear HAHA Members,

HAHA is a volunteer-led organization that works hard to put together field trips, events, and workshops for the homeschool community. We would not exist without our volunteers! 

Are you looking for a place to lend a hand and share your talents? Do you have as little as one hour a month to spare? Have you benefited from one of the HAHA programs in the last year? If you answered yes to at least one of these questions and if you are able to help out our organization, we would love to speak to you about becoming a volunteer on the leadership team.
                                                
Volunteering with HAHA can prove to be a very rewarding opportunity. Full training and support will be provided. If you have a desire to lend a hand or share your talents, we would love to talk to you about becoming a volunteer. Click here to send an email to let us know. 

December 1, 2021

Dear HAHA Members,

I love the Christmas season! It makes me want to break out the crafting supplies and dive into the world of DIY.  Giving homemade gifts to others is so much fun. It is but a tiny reminder of what Christmas is all about…the giving of the greatest gift of all, the Saviour of the world. No doubt most of you have heard these words, maybe in a pageant or play long ago:  “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” This “gift” is the reason for the spirit of giving here at HAHA, not just at Christmas time, but all through the year.

The four women who serve on the board, Beth, Aimee, Theresa, and Amy, do so because they have a desire to serve the homeschooling community…that’s you! They receive no payment for this, nor do they often receive praise or thanks for what they do. From coordinating endless field trips and classes to planning workshops and yearly events, to moderating our facebook page to website upkeep to countless other tasks that most members are unaware it takes to keep HAHA running, they donate their time, attention, and energies to serving you without expectation. 

Would you consider taking a few moments of your time this season to give the gift of thanks and/or a word of encouragement to one or more of your HAHA leaders this season? No shopping for craft supplies or anything else is required! All it takes is an email address and a few moments of your time. If you go to the HAHA website and click on the “Contact Us” tab, you will find each leader’s email address. I would love it if our leaders received many “gifts” this month. Just a few words can make a big difference!!

A very Merry Christmas to you all!
Kris

November 1, 2021

Hello November! 

And especially, hello to my fellow HAHA Members,

Where in the world did October go? As I gaze out my window, the wind is whipping, leaves are flying every-which-way, it’s raining, and my feet are getting cold - all sure signs of the impending winter season. Even though the changing season will drive us indoors more often, our mission to educate our kids keeps moving along. Prepare to hunker down, pull out indoor activities and games, dig into read-alouds, and resurrect hobbies! 

Of course, even during the winter season, HAHA will continue to offer its members a multitude of field trips and classes, so keep checking the HAHA calendar. And if you do not get the weekly updates and you want to, go to your profile on the website and change your preferences so that you don’t miss out on anything, including the second workshop in a series of three workshops for homeschooling parents. The first one was in October and addressed homeschooling struggling learners. The next one, in February, will be our second annual Homeschooling Thru High School workshop. Visit the calendar for details.

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. Spend time with family and friends and be sure to express gratitude for all that God has blessed you with. It’s so important for our kids to learn to be thankful. Hearing you give thanks every day, leads the way!  

God bless you and your families,

Kris

October 1, 2021

Hello HAHA Members,

Can it possibly be October already?? Many of you have been homeschooling for a couple months now. You might never think this about yourselves, but do you realize how courageous you are?  Homeschooling is not a calling for the weak of heart. It takes conviction, dedication, sacrifice, endurance, and good old fashioned hard work. I want you to know that I respect and admire each and every one of you for your decision to homeschool your kids. 

If you are overwhelmed or for some reason can’t find your “groove”, don’t give up! There are many other homeschooling parents who have been where you are and felt like you feel. There is always hope. There are always other methods or strategies to try that will work better. Some of you may feel like you were forced into homeschooling because of all that is going on in our public schools right now. Homeschooling can be an amazing journey! Please reach out to another homeschool parent for help and encouragement. There have been times when one simple idea from one single conversation made all the difference for me when I was homeschooling. 

If you are taking advantage of HAHA’s many field trips, you have access to other parents, many of whom are veteran homeschoolers and who would be happy to listen and offer encouragement. Additionally, in an effort to support and encourage you, we have scheduled three evening workshops this year.

  • Homeschooling Struggling Learners - Oct. 28

  • Homeschooling Thru High School - Feb. 11

  • Homeschooling 101 - April 14

Mark your calendars. Details will be posted on HAHA’s calendar shortly. As always, HAHA members will have first access at sign-ups and a minimal cost.

“Hard things are put in our way not to stop us but to call out our courage and strength.”

God bless each of you and your families this fall!

Kris

September 1, 2021

Dear HAHA Members,

How are you all doing? I know many of you have begun your home school year already and many of you are about to.  HAHA is here, walking right alongside you for another year to offer support and resources that will help. In August we enjoyed HOMESCHOOLIBRATION, a fun family picnic day to kick off another exciting year of homeschooling. There were about 200 of you who showed up, which was so encouraging after the difficult year of 2020.  It was great to see many familiar friends and meet quite a few new ones! We are so grateful for the unprecedented number of businesses out there in the community who donated all the wonderful gifts for our give-aways this year.  Families also enjoyed a traveling “zoo” this year, shopping for used curriculum, and having their faces painted by a dynamite face painting artist.

As we step into September, you can look forward to many field trip and class opportunities as well as a few parent workshops that will include: Help for Struggling Learners, Homeschooling 101, and for the second year in a row, Homeschooling Thru High School. Be watching for dates, times, & places VERY soon. By the way, if you ever want to shoot us an idea you have that you think would benefit the homeschooling community, go for it! We’re always watching and listening for new ways we can serve you all. Just click on the “Contact Us” tab on our website.

I truly wish you all a wonderful homeschooling year! And whether or not you are a praying person, I want you to know that you are being prayed for - specifically that God would bless your efforts to educate your children and that those of you who struggle in any particular way would have your needs met, whether it be finding the right curriculum, having enough finances, finding friendship, or having the strength, wisdom, and courage to homeschool. 

God bless you!

Kris Stoddard

August 1, 2021

Dinner Time!

We all want our kids to nurture healthy personal habits whether it’s eating, brushing their teeth, exercising, or reading. We work hard to help them develop these habits.  But what about nurturing healthy family habits? Is there something your family does together on a regular basis that promotes the health of your family? Take a minute to consider it! Can you name one thing? Two things? Maybe you thought of summer family vacations, or going to church together. 

When I think back over our years of raising kids, there’s one family habit we insisted on developing and that paid off in a big way. Dinner Time. The around-the-table kind. In our home, the call for dinner could be heard almost every evening and kids would come running from every corner of the house and gather around the dinner table to eat supper. This family habit was way more than just time to eat. It became a time to teach, learn, and strengthen our family relationships.

The dinner table was where our kids learned to practice good manners, listen and respond to others and get to know their parents’ and siblings’ likes and dislikes. Dinner Time provided a chance to show our kids that what they had to say was valuable, interesting, or funny, and teach them that what others had to say had value, too. Dinner Time was fun. We tried many ideas over the years that made it interesting and engaging. From a Table Talk jar to playing “Black magic” or “Name the States” to sharing something they had made or learned that day in history class,  or discussing current events over after-dinner mints & tea, we kept it fun and engaging. In the midst of life’s challenges and struggles (And we had many!), it strengthened our family and made our home a positive place to live and homeschool. 

In the midst of all your planning and scheduling this year, consider reviving Dinner Time in your house with your family. It is a habit worth building. There are lots of great ideas for making your Dinner Time a happy, healthy time - just Google it. Oh, and one more thing - a Dinner Time Rule. No phones at the table, only people! ; )

Speaking of family gatherings, I hope to see you at HAHA’s family gathering on August 9! Check the calendar for details.

God bless your 2021-22 school year!

Kris

July 1, 2021

Dear HAHA Members,

By the end of May I was usually desperate for a break from homeschooling...I didn’t even want to think about it anymore. June would fly by and usher in July, bringing looming thoughts of the coming year with it and what needed to be done. On its heels a very resistant feeling of not being ready to deal with it yet. What if I never felt ready? What if my dread of entering yet another school year never went away?  As you know, that is a scary prospect for a mom because mom’s emotional state and attitude very much affects her kids’. I needed my kids on board and excited for the year to come or we’d have an uphill battle ahead of us. 

But then our curriculum would start pouring in and I’d start browsing through new ideas for our daily schedule and routines. I don’t know about you, but I get pretty excited about new ideas.  Plus, every so often I’d hear one of my kids yell, “Mom! There’s another box!” We’d drag it in through the front door and open it like it was Christmas.  My kids would especially look for the history books we’d been waiting for, so they could pour over them and see what we’d be learning that year. Somewhere along the way, I’d find myself getting excited and ready for yet another year.

There may be some moms out there who can relate to my experience. There may also be moms whose dread of the coming year doesn’t go away.There may also be new homeschooling parents out there who are still trying to figure this whole homeschooling thing out. Wherever you are on that scale, I want to personally invite your whole family to attend our yearly HOMESCHOOLIBRATION in August. We consider this our HAHA “family” picnic and the HAHA leaders and I love meeting and chatting with you! HOMESCHOOLIBRATION really helps generate enthusiasm for the coming year and it reminds you that you are not alone. There are many others who can relate to you and your experience...no matter where you are on the spectrum.  We gain so much by casually chatting with each other, sharing ideas, resources, and encouragement - not to mention lots of fun to be had by both parents and children! 

Click here to go to the HAHA calendar and check out the details.

I’ll be there to greet you!

Kris

June 1, 2021

Hello HAHA Members,

With schoolwork and evaluations coming to a close for another year, many of you are no doubt already working on making many decisions regarding your children’s curriculum for next year. It can be challenging. There are so many choices, it’s mind-boggling! Making wise decisions regarding our children’s education requires really knowing our kids, doing lots of research, getting counsel from other moms, and in the end making a decision we hope will work out. 

There is another step to consider, however. It has made all the difference in my past years of decision-making. There is Someone who knows your child even better than you do - how he/she thinks and learns, his/her strengths and weaknesses, and even the number of hairs on his/her head! Every year before I started researching, I would ask God to help me make wise decisions - not only about curriculum but also extracurricular activities too. My desire was to meet their educational needs and only commit to programs and activities that would help in the most needed areas of growth and development while still leaving plenty of time for family at home.  I knew I needed supernatural help in making these decisions for my children. So I prayed and God led.

You can pray, too. Try asking God to help you make your decisions regarding what’s best for your kids. Acknowledging God and inviting Him to be part of the process honors Him and He delights to answer those kinds of prayers! He’ll give you the wisdom you need.

Hey, just a quick mention - We have held our annual Homeschoolibration for two years in a row now and this year will be the 3rd. We will be deciding on a date & venue as soon as possible and will let you know. It’s an awesome event to kick off the new 2021-2022 school year. (Gosh! I remember those years being used in books and movies as futuristic dates! Oy! I’m getting old.)

Kris Stoddard

May 1,2021

This month I have a special surprise for you all! Below is a letter to you from one of the biggest fans of homeschooling I know, and a bit of a clown to boot. Enjoy!


Howdy Homeschool Moms,

I was on my way home from Walmart the other day with my dear wife after an early Saturday morning grocery shopping trip. She lovingly looked at me and said, “Thanks for going with me. That was really helpful.”  I got kudos from my wife for simply getting up, hopping in the car, and driving her to Walmart for a two-hour grocery shopping trip. (Probably would have only taken her 90 minutes if I had stayed home.) To make it better for me, she even let me go look at the camping equipment while she looked at the unmentionables. I soon returned as she was about to hit the chips/candy aisle. Perfect timing!

I told her it was a piece of cake in light of her having to, for 30 years, not only go grocery shopping every week but take time to plan meals, pick up the groceries, then put the groceries away! Our brief conversation came to a close as we continued our ride home. (Yes, I did help put the groceries away, you doubters!!)

Now to the meat of the story. After our conversation, my mind began to think about all of you homeschooling moms and what you do on a daily basis.

Get up - sometimes at ungodly hours and in some cases, already having been up during the night with little ones, 
Get yourselves ready for the day,
Get kiddos up and ready for the day, 
Feed them breakfast,
Clean up after breakfast,
Prepare for lesson plans,
Scratch lesson plans & change plans since the initial plan didn’t go so well,
Prepare & execute lunch
Send kids out back to play - Ahhhhhhhhh, but no resting for you yet!
Clean up lunch mess,
Referee the kids in the backyard before they kill each other,
Play tag with the kids in the backyard,
Finish schooling,
Prep dinner,
Welcome hubby home
Serve dinner
Clean up dinner
Participate in after-dinner activities which could include spending most of that time after serving your family in so many ways including carting your kids hither and yon (I love saying that.)

All this plus teaching, encouraging, training, hugging, and chatting with your kids and husband along the way. Now, I am not naive enough to think that you all do all of the steps above to 100% perfection. That is not my point. Here is my point:

The time, energy, effort, and sacrifice you put into this adventure we all call homeschooling is incredibly admirable and very much appreciated. You have 100% respect from this homeschool dad. Ladies, you are doing an amazing job for your kiddos and for your family, especially in these uncertain times. I gotta believe our Father above is very proud of you all as this earthly father is also.

Earlier, did I mention laundry, house cleaning, grocery shopping, meetings, co-op class preparation……...just sayin’!!!

God bless you all,

Bruce Stoddard, proud husband of Kris Stoddard

April 1, 2021

Dear HAHA Members,

It’s officially spring and it’s so nice to see the signs of it popping out everywhere and I’m sure you all have been going outside to enjoy the warm sunshine. When my kids were young, we used to go for nature walks in the woods and look for signs of spring. They would draw pictures in their nature sketchbooks and record what they observed. We would do that several times throughout the spring and each time there were new plants, leaves, and flowers to discover. Those walks are precious memories. I hope you are making memories of your own!

Since March 1, HAHA leaders have been working hard to plan two events for you. Our Homeschooling Thru High School Workshop on April 15 will seek to help those of you who are currently homeschooling high schoolers or are preparing to in the future. Many homeschooling parents have asked for this, so we’re really excited to offer it. You can check the details out on our website at https://www.homeschool-life.com/346/. This event is limited to 25 participants, so if you plan to attend, go quickly to the website and sign up on the calendar.

Then in May - on the 22nd - we will be holding our Homeschool Curriculum & Resource Fair. What will you be able to enjoy there? Used curriculum that you can purchase, vendors who offer extracurricular activities and services to homeschooling families, parents highlighting their favorite curriculum in mini-workshops every half hour, a notary who will notarize affidavits for free, coffee, concessions, and more. You can sign up on the HAHA calendar, so we can get an idea of how many might be coming, or just show up. We are very excited to host this and meet all of you! 

Spring is a great time for cleaning out, so gather all that un-used curriculum you have, and bring it to the fair to sell! Be sure to go to the calendar and sign up if you want a used curriculum vendor table. We will be limited in how many we can host, so don’t delay. https://www.homeschool-life.com/346/events/?public=1&private=

Regarding the Curriculum Highlights workshops - approximately one month in advance, we will let you know what curriculums will be highlighted so that you know what time to plan on being at the fair. Attend that part of your day, or attend ALL day! It’s up to you. Oh and you can bring the whole family with you, or leave them home and enjoy a mom’s day out. It’s up to you. Hope to see you there!

Kris

March 1, 2021

Hello HAHA members,

I hope this letter finds you all staying the homeschool course through the dragging winter months. Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of the winter season. Thankfully March will usher in spring, which will hopefully rejuvenate us and our home schools too.

Here at HAHA headquarters, we are working on a couple of spring events for you to look forward to. In addition to our loaded field trip and class calendar, we are excited to offer a workshop in April (date forthcoming) that many of you have expressed a need for - Homeschooling Through High School. We have secured two evaluators and a former homeschooling teacher (yours truly!) who will provide valuable information on PA Laws, recordkeeping, dual enrollment, course ideas, diploma programs, parent-issued diplomas, and more! Each attendee will be given handouts to take home. As soon as we have confirmation of our venue, we will post all the information regarding this workshop on the calendar and front page of our website.

We are also working on a Curriculum & Resource Fair in May. This event will provide a place for homeschoolers to sell their used curriculum and resources. Additionally, we will be inviting vendors who provide services for the homeschool community, such as art and music teachers, evaluators, tutors, and local businesses, to come and be available for you as you seek educational opportunities for your kids. We also hope to find several homeschooling parents who would like to bring their favorite curriculum (popular homeschool curriculums), then show and tell other homeschooling parents about it. If you would be willing to take part in these “curriculum shares”, please contact me, Kris Stoddard, at heykstod@gmail.com or private message me on Facebook. 

Finally, many of you know that finding space has been one of the biggest challenges in the homeschool community. We are currently meeting with local church leaders who might be willing to share their spaces with leaders in the expanding homeschool community. A venue resource list will be available soon and will include location, contact information, and what each facility has available by way of space. We could use your help with this resource! If you know of a church leader or building manager who might consider this, would you let me know?  Just email me at heykstod@gmail.com or private message me on Facebook. It would be so helpful if you could give me a contact name too if possible, however, I’ll take all the suggestions I can get.

God bless!

Kris Stoddard

February 1, 2021

Dear Members,

I hope this letter finds you warm, content, and in good health! 

February begins what I call the “looking ahead and pre-planning phase” for many homeschooling parents. We begin to think about what the next school year will look like. For some of you, it means deciding whether to continue homeschooling or not; for others, it means thinking through what classes your kids will need, the curriculums that will work best, and even co-ops and extra-curricular activities you want your kids to participate in.

Here at HAHA, we’ve made resources available to help with this process. If you are beginning homeschoolers, there are resources listed on the front page of our website (public side - before you log in).  You can start there. Then once you log in, under the resources tab, you will also find listings of co-ops, evaluators, and community resources. Additionally, many organizations and businesses advertise their services to you in our monthly e-newsletter, on our calendar, and on our Facebook page. Please take advantage of these helpful and convenient resources. And by all means, let us know if there are other ways we might help you!

With all the restrictions, we have felt like our hands have been tied when it comes to planning in-person activities for you all - besides field trips, that is. However, we are hoping to start those back up again. We are planning a curriculum and resource fair in the spring. (Yes, we’ll try again - on a smaller scale perhaps.) Be watching for details. We are also considering offering workshops. Please help us out with what you might need by going to the front page of the website and clicking on the survey. Or click here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSetoyyXroVLFk5X16RuesfCMAoZBo9qAeHk6jsnFykjkDtkpw/viewform?usp=pp_url

Have a happy February!

Kris

January 1, 2021

Happy New Year!

How many of you are hoping for a better year in 2021 than we had in 2020? I think it’s safe to say that we are ALL hoping for that. So why not kick the new year off with an “Evening of Encouragement”? On January 23, HAHA will be putting on a special, virtual evening of encouragement especially for you! The evening will be divided into two parts: a panel of experienced homeschooling parents and a special presentation by veteran homeschooling mom & dad, Mike & Debbie Frost. 

First, our panelists will be sharing their homeschooling wisdom, ideas, and experiences in response to questions generated by our own members! If there is a topic or issue you would like us to consider for the presentation, let us know by going to the sign-up on the front page of the HAHA website or by going to the calendar.

Then the Frosts will seek to encourage us in our marriage relationships in the midst of busy homeschooling years. Homeschooling takes an incredible amount of time, energy and resources. Is your relationship with your spouse the last thing on the list to be nurtured? I know it often became an afterthought for me during my homeschooling year. However, I think we would all agree that if our marriage relationships are struggling or falling apart, our children are affected negatively.  And conversely, if our marriages are thriving, our children are more happy and secure. I know I am very curious to hear what the Frosts have to share!

In conclusion, here are a couple of cute jokes to help you keep a sense of humor.

  • My husband purchased a world map and then gave me a dart and said, “Throw this and wherever it lands—that’s where I’m taking you when this pandemic ends.” Turns out, we’re spending two weeks behind the fridge.

  • 121 days at home and the dog is looking at me like, “See? This is why I chew the furniture.”

God bless your new year!                                                                                            
Kris

December 1, 2020

Hello fellow HAHA members,

How was your Thanksgiving? I hope it was happy despite the restrictions! In the past, I have found that being intentionally thankful is a highly effective strategy for fighting discouragement and overcoming disappointment.  I don’t know about you, but I have found myself grumbling and complaining more during this season than usual! 

Another way of dealing with a difficult season might be to focus on making your homeschooling day more exciting to you and your kids by coming up with fresh, new ideas. A while back I posted a short note on our Facebook page about the J-Term idea I had come up with and used for my kids. Someone suggested I share that here because we have so many new members this year! So here it is:

I knew that Messiah College ran a J-Term every January for their students. This was a time when students could launch out into ministry experiences, travel abroad, study something different, or apprentice for a month. As Christmas came and went one year, and I was dreading the “after holiday” season of getting the kids back into the swing of school studies, the thought occurred to me that we might run our own J-Term!  The kids could each study something they were interested in for 3-4 weeks with a presentation at the close of it. I made a simple template of how it would work and we went for it. 

I informed the kids BEFORE Christmas of what we would be doing and that they needed to be thinking about what they might want to study. Do you know what happened? Christmas came and went and there was NO dragging them out of bed to do school. They were so excited! And even better, so was I!  We leaped enthusiastically into January and the kids delved into their respective studies while I guided. It was amazing. 

The next year when we were approaching December, one of my kids came up to me and said “Mom, I’ve been thinking about what I want to do for J-Term this year” and went on the excitedly list the options she was deciding between. I hadn’t even mentioned it yet! The kids proceeded to be excited to get to school after the holidays AGAIN - even asking if we could start sooner than we had planned.  It was so cool. 

J-Term encompassed all of our language arts (grammar, spelling, handwriting, reading, writing, vocabulary, etc.), history, and sometimes science. (We continued to do math separately.) We always started J-Term with a trip to the library to get LOTS of books. The kids would enjoy just reading and looking at pictures and even watching documentaries in the information-gathering phase. The presentation at the end could be a storyboard, a science fair trifold display, or a PowerPoint presentation. They LOVED presenting to friends & family. They were SO proud of their work. This is one of my favorite memories from our homeschooling years. Why not try out a J-Term with your kiddos? Be creative and make it what you want it to be. I’d love to hear how it went.

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Kris

November 1, 2020

Dear HAHA Members,

Hasn’t it been a beautiful fall? My husband and I have been hiking on the weekends and each time we go out, there are more leaves that have fallen off the trees allowing us to see more of what surrounds us. Change is happening! The colors of the leaves have changed from green to reds, yellows, and oranges, the temperatures have begun to fall, even the smell of the air has changed. Fall will gradually morph into winter - whether we want it to or not. So we adjust. We pack outdoor items into the shed or garage for the winter. We turn the thermostat up to keep warm. We put the summer clothes away and replace them with warmer clothing. We exchange screened doors for storm doors. 

We’ve all been confronted by other changes over the past eight months. You have done what you needed to do to adjust to the change, including working from home, ordering groceries online, making or purchasing face masks, and yes, even bringing your children home to be educated. Homeschooling your children is not a simple or easy change, is it? But it was the right choice for so many. In my humble opinion, it was brave. I commend those of you who have stepped into this new frontier without really knowing what it was all about. You certainly did not choose the easy route, but you chose one of the most rewarding and beneficial ones!

Here at HAHA, we are working to provide services that will help you along the way. Field trips are an extremely valuable way we do that. I want to acknowledge our coordinators, Aimée Jones and Beth Mellott, who do a tremendous job of hunting down fun, educational field trips for you all. Honestly, they go above and beyond when it comes to serving you all. Some of the field trips take a lot of planning and communication before it all comes together. I know that they are working on planning a few more teen-oriented field trips for the future, so be watching for those. 

By the way, if you ever have an idea for a field trip, you can suggest that field trip by going to the website, logging in, and click on “I am…” then “Suggesting a field trip”.  These two ladies will look into it. And the next time you see them, I encourage you to let them know how much you appreciate all that they do! Or even shoot them an email message. All board members’ email addresses can be found on the website under “Contact Us”. 

I wish you all a wonderful fall and Thanksgiving holiday. Be watching for a couple of special events in the near future that we are working on! And again, if there is anything we can do for you, please let us know.

Kris

October 1, 2020

Hello HAHA Members-

Many of you have made it through your first month or more of school! Congratulations. I hope it is going well. It’s not easy but it can be very rewarding to work hard!  There are many of you who started homeschooling for the first time this year and I think about you a lot. I hope you are taking advantage of the field trips and park days we have planned. These activities are a great way for you to get to talk to experienced homeschooling parents and for your kids to make friends. The next park day is on Friday, October 9 from 11:00-2:00 at Winding Hill Park - North in Mechanicsburg. I am hosting this one and I would love to meet you! 

I look back on my homeschooling experience from time to time - especially when I’m asked questions by current homeschooling parents. How do I get started? What curriculums would you recommend? How many hours should I be spending on school each day? How in the world do I homeschool my independent, strong-willed child? Or my struggling learner? Or my child who will do anything to avoid doing her math at all costs? How do I homeschool a teenager?? So many questions and hours of answers. But I want to set all those questions aside for now and ask you all a more important question - one that significantly affects both the environment and the success of your homeschool and your child’s well-being. It is a question I was often reminded of and wrestled with through the years.

How is your relationship with your kids?  Do you pursue your individual children as diligently as you pursue researching and finding the right curriculum? Do you chase after your child’s heart with the same determination you exercise in searching out the right classes, tutors, extracurricular and social opportunities for your kids? It is so important to keep the main things the main things when homeschooling. Your relationship with your kids is a MAIN THING. And it gets tested for sure!

There are many ways we can nurture good relationships with our kids, but I recall one very simple way that was shared with me years ago and I’ve never forgotten it. Here it is:  Look at your child in the eyes every day. Take time to REALLY look at them - with love and compassion. This practice is not just for those bottle-feeding years.

Some days I would get through a whole day of homeschooling and realize that I couldn’t recall ever looking into my child’s eyes that day! I would get caught up in what I needed to accomplish without any consideration of the WHO I was trying to accomplish it with!  So I began to practice looking into my child’s eyes. It’s amazing what you can see if you stop and look. You can see their hearts through those eyes! And even more amazing, sometimes all it took was one of these lingering looks of love to feed my child’s soul, and there would be a sense of peace where I had begun to see attitudes and behaviors breaking down. Other times it took more - a hug, a break, a snack, an activity done together. Nevertheless, the effects were noticeable! Try it yourself and see if it makes a difference. It will not solve all your problems, but it sure will help you keep your relationship a MAIN THING in the midst of the hustle and bustle of homeschooling.

Kris

September 1, 2020

Dear HAHA Members,

Well, by now most of you have begun your school year or at least are getting ready to begin. This is my first year NOT preparing to homeschool any of my children. I’m really missing the building excitement my kids and I felt as we got ready for the year to come - buying school supplies, organizing & decorating the school room, watching for delivery trucks pausing in front of our house to leave “presents” on our front porch, then opening those “presents” to see what’s inside, setting and posting schedules and calendars, decorating covers of binders, and on and on!

But you are still in the midst of those days, so let me encourage you to take time and enjoy them. Take pleasure in getting to know your kids inside and out and helping to build character in them. Figure out how to motivate them and fuel their love for learning. Kids naturally love learning and they thrive on schedules and routines, don’t they? Set up a routine that works for you and your family. As homeschooling parents there are so many creative ways to run your home school. What an amazing way to love and nurture your kids! 

One thing we all LOVE about homeschooling is the freedom to set our own schedules and the ability to do spontaneous things. Make use of this freedom to stave off times of drudgery, isolation, and intensity in your homeschooling life by attending HAHA Park Days this fall.  They begin in September and run through October. Anyone can host one, however, the HAHA Board Members are specifically hosting two in September and two in October. We have so many new members, most of whom are new homeschoolers. We’d love to get to know you and help you in any way we can. 

Lastly, I want to invite you all to fully explore HAHA’s website and be sure you are taking advantage of all the tools it offers. If you don’t necessarily want to go as public as our facebook page to ask your questions or to get help from other homeschoolers, we have a Forum you can use. This keeps your request or questions “in the family.”  (Be sure you have checked “yes” to receive  forum emails so that you can respond to other’s postings. You can check that by clicking on “Profile.”)  Additionally you will find “Classifieds” where you can post items you want to sell to other members. Of course, the biggest draw for HAHA members is the vast array of events and activities found on our “Calendar”. It’s color-coded so that you can more easily find what you are looking for. 

God bless your school year!! Don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the leaders if you have a need or an idea. Our emails are located under the “Contact Us” link after you sign-in to your account.

Kris

August 1, 2020

Dear HAHA Members,

Can it possibly be August already? How can time go so slow but so fast all at once?? And how are you all doing? I wish I could meet each one of you and chat! The best I can do for now is try to meet those of you who come to our HOMESCHOOLIBRATION event this Monday from 11:00 AM -3:00 PM. This year’s kick-off to the school year is more of a come and go event, so show up when you can, and leave when you need to, however, we will have drawings for a great assortment of gifts every half hour throughout the 4 hours we are there. 

We will also have lawn games and table games available for everyone. (Feel free to bring your own too!) We could not have face painting this year...for obvious reasons, but we will serve Rita’s Italian Ice at about 12:30 PM, so pack your lunches and come hang out with us! Like last year, there will be a check-in table where you will receive tickets for both the drawings and your Italian ice, so be sure to stop there first. We are also excited to give a special gift to each family that comes. 

I want to especially welcome our new members!  Some of you took advantage of our free trial period in July. I hope you found that becoming a member of HAHA would be more than worth the $30 it costs to join. Our fiscal year begins August 1, so all members will be receiving an invoice to pay your membership fee for the coming year. I encourage you to take care of it right away, so that you can continue enjoying the many benefits of membership. We will have computers available at Homeschoolibration for those who want to take care of paying or registering right then and there. 

While we have some events and ideas we are working on for the future, we value your thoughts and ideas. If you ever have an idea of how HAHA can serve the homeschool community even more, feel free to contact one of the board members under the “Contact Us” tab on our website. But beware! If you offer an idea, be ready to be asked to run with it! (No pressure! Lol.)

God bless you all,

Kris


July 1, 2020

Happy July dear HAHA members! 

I hope this letter finds you all healthy and enjoying your summer break!  I know there are some families who school through the summer, but hopefully, it’s a lighter schedule and you are enjoying lots of summer activities. As you know, it’s been necessary to curtail our activities, however, we are really looking forward to kicking off the next school year with our HOMESCHOOLIBRATION once again this year on August 3rd! Be ready to renew your membership starting August 1!

Judging by how many have already signed up, you are seeing the advertisements on the website and our Facebook page.  Fair warning - if sign-ups reach 250 attendees, we will have to cut it off, so make sure you get registered! We will do much the same as we did last year - eat Rita’s Italian Ice, give away some awesome door prizes, and enjoy being together. Be sure to bring your lunches! Additionally, you can also load up any used books, curriculum, or materials that you might want to get rid of and sell right out of your trunk that day! We thought this might help since we did not get to have our Curriculum & Resource Fair this year. 

This month we have also enjoyed two meetings so far with parents who are looking for alternative educational options given the fall plans brick and mortar schools are considering. The homeschool community is growing! I hope you will welcome and be of help to new homeschool families as you might encounter them. We now have a page on the public side of our website that allows these families to connect with someone who can help them (under the “I am…” tab) and also a FAQ page that answers some of the basic questions. You can refer friends and neighbors there. We will also have two more Zoom Q & A meetings for prospective homeschoolers on July 8 and 20. Friends and neighbors can sign up on the public calendar.

I hope to see you soon!
God bless,
Kris


June 1, 2020

This month we hear from HAHA Board Member Theresa Fowler as she shares about her homeschool journey with her kids and now her grandkids.

Hello! My name is Theresa Fowler. I was asked to join the HAHA board as a former homeschooler and a grandma who sometimes helps to homeschool her grandchildren.  I am a nurse and a math/science person, not a writer, but allow me to tell you a little bit about my homeschooling experience. We have four children and started to homeschool the oldest when he was in kindergarten in 1990. I was involved in HAHA way back then for a while. Eventually we homeschooled all four kids through high school graduation.  All four went on to graduate from college. I totally enjoyed homeschooling--of course it's much easier to say that on this side of it.  Yes, there were chaotic days, days when I was unsure if anyone was learning anything, but I would not change a thing!! I enjoyed seeing each of the kids learn how to read. I loved seeing the "ah ha" on their face as they understood some new math concept. I loved that each child could further explore areas they were especially interested in.  

My eldest loved computers from day one. He is now a part owner of a web company in Ann Arbor. My daughter loved animals - ask any Mechanicsburg librarian. She read every animal book in the library multiple times. Because she was homeschooled she was able to work for the local veterinarian and learn more about biology and health. She is now a nurse and a nursing instructor at Messiah. She loves children (her fourth is due in October) and if you were to visit her home, you would see that she still loves animals! Our third child always loved business and anything to do with business. He and his wife (also a nurse) live locally and he works at Soccer Shots.  Three of our children  played on the local high school soccer team. Our youngest recently graduated from college, got married and works in business.  He has had many loves--knives, cameras, cars etc. If you see really nice pictures of my grandchildren it's because he has taken them. Homeschooling allowed him to play with many of his special interests. I know it is now cliche but I do believe homeschooling "creates lifelong learners".

As a homeschool mom, I had a few friends who also started homeschooling when I did and I believe that was part of the success. It was so helpful to get together and fellowship with  other moms who knew my struggles.  It was great for our kids to get together as well. As a homeschooler you need a few really good friends! HAHA was (and is) a great way to meet others--either at field trips, Homeschoolibration (coming again this August) or on our Facebook group.

Thank you for allowing me to ramble about my family. I look forward to getting to know you and yours. May God bless you and your families! 

Theresa Fowler

May 1, 2020

Hello Sheltered Friends,

How are you all doing?  While there have been many blessings about this “coronacrazy” season, like getting a much needed break from busyness, taking walks with our friends or families, having time to  bake, put puzzles together, revive a hobby, or read a book, if you’re anything like me, you might be feeling like it’s getting loooooooong. We actually joined my niece and her family for dinner last week and it was like Christmas, only the gifts were not wrapped. 

The gifts included being somewhere other than home and being with people other than the ones I’ve been cooped up with for eight weeks!  As much as I love them, well, for an extrovert like me who is refreshed and energized by being with people, I miss other people!!  Zoom meet-ups help, but it’s no substitute for the real thing. Thankfully, we are beginning to see small signs of daily life begin to shift back to normal. Now when I want to get out, it can be someplace other than the grocery store or Dollar Tree!  Hey, Staples is open!!!  School supplies, here I come! Suddenly, I have a need for pens. 

And what is going on at HAHA, you ask?  It has been pretty quiet on that front, but believe me, we are still alive and kicking, ready to jump into action once we have the green light. We were so disappointed to have to cancel our Curriculum & Resource Fair, which would have happened this month. However, we will try to make it up to you in August at our second annual Homeschoolibration.  Many of you remember this event from last year.  It was lots of fun. 

This year we will make sure it is just as fun and even more worth coming to!  Set aside your used curriculum because we plan to have a huge tent and tables where you can sell it.  We will also invite vendors whose services you and your kids might be interested in checking out - like instructors of karate or musical instrumental lessons, tutors, evaluators, and many others. We will get a date to you as soon as we have our venue secured, so be watching for that.

April showers bring May flowers!  May this month be beautiful to you in many ways! I’m hoping one way is to be able to go more places, be able to meet with people, and do it all without wearing a mask!

Here’s hoping...

Kris

April 1, 2020

Things felt very surreal as my husband and I perused the increasingly empty shelves at the grocery store and then as I delivered one of my kids to an appointment and found myself having to navigate through orange cones leading cars through a testing site for COVID-19, complete with a police presence, large white canopies, and medical personnel milling around in masks & gowns. Wow! I pinched myself to make sure I was awake. Ouch. Yup, I was awake alright.

While I waited for my daughter at her doctor’s appointment, I decided to walk over to Dunkin Donuts and grab a latte. Halfway there, it hit me that I would have to go back and get the car since the dining area was not open and I would have to use the drive-through. So I walked back, got in the car, and then I remembered that my driver’s side window doesn’t work. Hmmm...I considered for a minute if I should just forget about the latte. Well, THAT wasn’t happening, so I pulled into the drive-through lane, up to the speaker, opened my door and ordered. Not a problem. Then I pulled up to the next window just right so I had room to open my door and pay. After offering an embarrassed explanation about my window not working, I paid, then received my longed-for latte.

It got me to wondering...What if, for whatever reason, I couldn’t get my coveted latte or morning cup of joe anymore? Losing what we’re used to having does have the potential to bring out impatience, self-pity, worry, anxiety, fear and the like. But, coffee deprivation aside, real hardship can also bring out compassion, camaraderie, and good will. And I’m seeing a whole lot of the good side happening and I bet you are too. We are all “in this together” and it’s reviving a creativity and community that often gets neglected in the midst of our very busy worlds of work, school, and activity. That’s a good thing. 

So how is HAHA helping during this season?  

  • We’ve gathered and posted valuable resources on our website for everyone to easily access.  Check it out on the front page.  

  • As most of you know by now the governor has officially signed an amendment to Senate Bill 751 that waives regulations regarding evaluations, having them done & submitting them to your school district, and standardized testing. In another article in this e-newsletter, we outline some considerations and recommendations to consider in regard to these waived regulations. 

  • We are also working on offering our support to evaluators who are going to “get the short end of the stick” in this amendment deal. We are offering them free advertisement and we will work with them to get their messages regarding their services out to the homeschooling community. Be watching for their ads!

Last, but not least, we have obviously had to postpone or cancel field trips and classes. This is unfortunate, but we pray that soon this virus will stop spreading and we can be back up and running again! In the meantime, “keep calm and homeschool on.” Be assured that God always has great purpose in all that He allows. And watch for the good things He accomplishes through this strange season of limitations and deprivation - beginning right in our own families and extending to our communities, government and beyond!

Thinking of you all,

Kris 


Regarding Evaluations

"Senate Bill 751 was amended to include these waivers and other changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Wolf signed the bill into law today. It is effective immediately. This means that for the 2019-2020 school year, homeschooling parents will not be required to:

  1. Include the results of a nationally normed standardized achievement test (or the Pennsylvania statewide test) in their student’s portfolio. This is currently required for students in 3rd, 5th, and 8th grade.

  2. Conduct an annual written evaluation of educational progress as determined by a qualified homeschool evaluator.

  3. Send the qualified evaluator’s certification to the local superintendent by June 30.”

While this is helpful for many, it also evokes several questions for homeschooling families:

What about maintaining our records for each child’s completed grade?

What about my senior who is graduating?

What about high school students who need transcripts and evaluations in order to secure a diploma? (parent-issued or a program-issued)

First of all, keep records for all of your kids. 

Second, even though evaluations are not required this year, you can still have an evaluation if you choose to and if your evaluator is offering them. Contact your evaluator for information and procedures they have come up with to make that happen.

For grades 7 & 8, we recommend that you talk to your evaluator regarding the keeping of records, especially keeping track of state-required topics.

High school students really must have an evaluation since what they do counts toward a diploma. Again, evaluators will be determining individually how this can happen, so you will want to contact an evaluator. For example, I am scanning and sending samples and paperwork to my daughter’s evaluator who will then look at them, update her records, and then conduct an interview with my daughter via video conferencing.