The Knowlton Family

Hello from the Knowlton family. My name is Lynn. My husband and I, along with our two children, live on a small farm east of Memphis, Tennessee. We have homeschooled from birth our two children, ages eight and eleven. When I think back to the time when our first child was born, I remember thinking how incredible these people were who homeschooled. I thought to myself, I could never do that. Well, a friend of mine living in Texas had been homeschooling their four children for a number of years. As I was talking to her one day, she reminded me of how she is a very unorganized person. Well I knew, of course, that this was very true. She said to me, “If I can do it, as unorganized as I am, I know you can do it!” She pointed to God’s grace as the reason for her success with her children. And I was very impressed with her children. Well, she was right! Thanks for the encouragement, Melinda.

So, here we are, and although we are not homeschooling experts by any means, we can share with others our successes and failures. Homeschooling is not something our family does from 8:00-3:00, Monday through Friday; it is a way of life, EVERYDAY. Our days are filled with the educational activities that are part of living on a farm. We feed animals, care for them when they are sick, play with and train them. The children learn about birth, life, sickness and death through the care of God’s creatures. We build fences, chicken coops, and sheds. We learn to measure, follow recipes, and double or triple ingredients while cooking. We write letters and knit dishtowels to send to grandparents. We learn about the three states of matter, how to read a mercury thermometer and how to weigh objects in ounces and pounds while making candles. We learn about the successes, failures, struggles, courage, and Godly character of missionaries and other famous men and women throughout history by reading great books.

Our family learns together by worshiping, playing, working, reading and doing formal lessons. This method of education lends itself perfectly to life on a small farm. Although this is the way we do things, it is important to remember that there are many different ways to homeschool and just as many tools available. We use a muddle of different resources. Here are a few of the things we use: The Holy Bible, Making Math Meaningful, whole books, encyclopedias, Usborne books, English from the Roots Up, and Teaching Reading at Home and School. The parent resources I most enjoy are The Well Trained Mind by Jessie and Susan Wise, A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola, For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer McCaulay and Educating the Whole Hearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson.

We have learned that what is easy for one child will sometimes be harder for the other. Likewise, what is interesting to the one is sometimes boring to the other. But the most important thing we are learning is to love God and love one another. I am realizing how much I really didn’t, but should have, learned in school. The most important things I, as a mother, am learning is to trust God and to be patient.

I wish I could say that every day was perfect. It isn’t. But by the grace of God, the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the loving support of my husband, I am able to move forward and my children are learning.

We are here to help if you need us. Just email Lynn@HomeLifeAcademy.com and we’ll respond as soon as we can. If you have administration questions check FAQ or call the HomeLife office at (901) 380-9220. May God bless you and your family.