My husband, Thomas, and I, never imagined that we would homeschool our children. However, as we considered all the available options and prayed for guidance, divine intervention via Maureen Dion led us to Christiana Homeschool Academy. The community, curriculum and longevity of CHA made homeschooling seem doable.
In 2011, we enrolled our two oldest children, Haden and Willa. Over the next nine years, they received a solid classical education. Mrs. Garrison, Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. McQuin, Mrs. Staley, Mrs. Lohrmann, Mrs. Willet and many other amazing tutors filled their hearts and minds with goodness, beauty, and Shurley jingles.
And as they learned, so did we! Sometimes I think the parents benefit even more than the students because we get to re-read, re-learn and re-memorize everything with each successive child. After the second or third time, “The Charge of the Light Brigade” is just rolling off your tongue.
However, as we approached the high school years, I felt led away. We considered private school, public school and finally decided in the aftermath of the pandemic, to strike out on our own. The past three years have been very interesting. Full of adventures, some failures, and lots of growth. I firmly believe this was God’s will for our family. He revealed a path for Haden that might’ve been harder to discern otherwise. He also gifted our family with perspective. A perspective that has served to strengthen in each of us the many lessons we learned at CHA.
It’s just human nature to take things for granted, but our faith calls on us to resist that inclination through gratitude. Well, after being part of CHA for so long, we took many things for granted that were quickly revealed once we left. The world without HAS’s is actually a scary place- seriously!
We discussed these contrasts as a family and marveled at the differences. However, I’m pleased to say that the foundation Haden and Willa received at CHA remains, and they’ve continued to build upon it. From the seemingly insignificant page protector to our dogged insistence on a rough draft, we stayed true to our CHA roots (BTW - absolutely no institution exists that teaches writing as well as CHA.)
While we could mitigate some of these differences, others were largely out of our control. We each gained our own perspective as we navigated this new territory. For myself, I was shocked by the inability of adults to constructively handle conflict. Apparently, the world outside of CHA hadn’t read Teaching with Love and Logic and didn’t understand the concept of Praise, Confront, Praise!
Praise, Confront, Praise!
For those of you that might not be familiar with this CHA mainstay yet, the basic premise is that when we need to discuss a potentially difficult situation with someone…a tutor, parent, or administrator, we first begin by “praising” something. This step forces you, no matter how emboldened by your undeniable correctness, to think about that person or situation, and find something to be grateful for… to praise. Then you can discuss the point of conflict or disagreement – hence “confront” and finally end again with “praise.”
To some of us this may come naturally, but ever since I learned this strategy at a tutor meeting, I’ve put it to use. At CHA, it’s so ingrained into the fabric of our communication that when someone begins a conversation with a compliment, you’re bracing for what’s coming next. However, this type of intentional communication is not the norm in the rest of the world. I know, how naïve of me to think otherwise, but I was steeped in the intentional goodness of CHA.
And so, our family has returned to Christiana with our youngest, Oteilla. And I can say with certainty that the Tuesdays are worth it! The classical, Christ-centered education at CHA will equip your children with the ability to think, and not to be of this world, but to be renewed, to be intentional, and to follow God’s will.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.
This is part of the Board Bits: Tips, Tricks, and Hacks series. Is there a question about CHA or homeschool that you would like answered?
Submit inquiries to Tracey at [email protected]
In 2011, we enrolled our two oldest children, Haden and Willa. Over the next nine years, they received a solid classical education. Mrs. Garrison, Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. McQuin, Mrs. Staley, Mrs. Lohrmann, Mrs. Willet and many other amazing tutors filled their hearts and minds with goodness, beauty, and Shurley jingles.
And as they learned, so did we! Sometimes I think the parents benefit even more than the students because we get to re-read, re-learn and re-memorize everything with each successive child. After the second or third time, “The Charge of the Light Brigade” is just rolling off your tongue.
However, as we approached the high school years, I felt led away. We considered private school, public school and finally decided in the aftermath of the pandemic, to strike out on our own. The past three years have been very interesting. Full of adventures, some failures, and lots of growth. I firmly believe this was God’s will for our family. He revealed a path for Haden that might’ve been harder to discern otherwise. He also gifted our family with perspective. A perspective that has served to strengthen in each of us the many lessons we learned at CHA.
It’s just human nature to take things for granted, but our faith calls on us to resist that inclination through gratitude. Well, after being part of CHA for so long, we took many things for granted that were quickly revealed once we left. The world without HAS’s is actually a scary place- seriously!
We discussed these contrasts as a family and marveled at the differences. However, I’m pleased to say that the foundation Haden and Willa received at CHA remains, and they’ve continued to build upon it. From the seemingly insignificant page protector to our dogged insistence on a rough draft, we stayed true to our CHA roots (BTW - absolutely no institution exists that teaches writing as well as CHA.)
While we could mitigate some of these differences, others were largely out of our control. We each gained our own perspective as we navigated this new territory. For myself, I was shocked by the inability of adults to constructively handle conflict. Apparently, the world outside of CHA hadn’t read Teaching with Love and Logic and didn’t understand the concept of Praise, Confront, Praise!
Praise, Confront, Praise!
For those of you that might not be familiar with this CHA mainstay yet, the basic premise is that when we need to discuss a potentially difficult situation with someone…a tutor, parent, or administrator, we first begin by “praising” something. This step forces you, no matter how emboldened by your undeniable correctness, to think about that person or situation, and find something to be grateful for… to praise. Then you can discuss the point of conflict or disagreement – hence “confront” and finally end again with “praise.”
To some of us this may come naturally, but ever since I learned this strategy at a tutor meeting, I’ve put it to use. At CHA, it’s so ingrained into the fabric of our communication that when someone begins a conversation with a compliment, you’re bracing for what’s coming next. However, this type of intentional communication is not the norm in the rest of the world. I know, how naïve of me to think otherwise, but I was steeped in the intentional goodness of CHA.
And so, our family has returned to Christiana with our youngest, Oteilla. And I can say with certainty that the Tuesdays are worth it! The classical, Christ-centered education at CHA will equip your children with the ability to think, and not to be of this world, but to be renewed, to be intentional, and to follow God’s will.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.
This is part of the Board Bits: Tips, Tricks, and Hacks series. Is there a question about CHA or homeschool that you would like answered?
Submit inquiries to Tracey at [email protected]
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