The social media world is lighting up questions about homeschool curriculum. Perhaps it's the weather, the time of the year or just something in the water. Whatever it is, right now the hope and promise of the next school year is more exciting than the current one. And with this excitement come the questions:

"Which Core should I get for my students?"
"What's this homeschool program like?"
"Should I use this resource or that one?"
"What do you do about _______?"
"How would you modify this?"

The insights of homeschool moms are in high demand. I see people asking all over the internet: forums, Facebook, blogs. As the questions swirl around the World Wide Web, I'd like to share a few places where you can consistently get great advice about homeschooling:

1. Sonlight Homeschool Advisors
   Sonlight's Advisors are homeschool moms, not sales people. Advisors aren't a group of people sitting in a call center or office waiting to sell you stuff. Sonlight's Advisors are homeschool moms who make time in their day to answer your questions about homeschooling and homeschooling with Sonlight.
2. Homeschool Conventions
   It's no coincidence that the convention season begins around now. This is the time you want answers, so this is time to provide them. Homeschool moms from all over the nation (and even one or two internationally) lug their boxes of Sonlight stuff to conventions to show you what Sonlight is like. They answer your questions, show you the materials and then make themselves available as a resource for you throughout the year.
3. Virtual Booth
   The Virtual Booth is my baby. I poured a lot of time and effort into this tool. You can get the basics of a convention booth before you take the effort and time to visit one. You can poke around a Sonlight convention booth, get lots of foundational information, and find some fantastic resources without moving form your spot right now. And the two "hosts" of the Virtual Booth? Also homeschool moms.

If you're looking for advice from homeschool moms for your upcoming homeschool year, we've got you covered. Chat with an Advisor. Find a homeschool convention. Or swing by the Virtual Booth.

 ~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

You make decisions on a daily basis that radically influence the lives of those around you. Your choice in schedule, rations, workloads and emphasis rivals that of any corporate executive. You may not feel like your life is a well-oiled machine but, with all the balls you keep in the air, you're doing great. ...mixed metaphors and all.

When I was young, I believed that leaders possessed a certain special something that enabled them to stand out in a crowd. As I've witnessed people over the years, that view has shifted. People like to be told what to do, what to think, what the right answer is. There are many areas of my own life where I'm happy to let someone else do the research, filter the details and give me the summary. I don't want to be responsible to know all that. And, in most cases, I don't have time anyway. But in those areas where I feel a certain level of proficiency, a modicum of mastery, I gladly share my take.

Leadership, then, isn't being someone or something special. Leadership is stepping up and deciding, directing and taking responsibility.

You do that every day.

While much of the rest of the world leaves the decisions about their child's education and daily interactions to others, you have bucked the trend. Certainly there are areas where you still take the advice and insight of others--your homeschool curriculum, for example. But in the practical outplay of your day, the buck stops with you.

You are a leader.

What sets you apart from the rest of the world in this area is that you have been willing to take responsibility and make decisions.

The world needs more people like you.

 ~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

P.S. I totally understand the pressure to "get it right" when you realize that people are letting you make the choice. It still rattles me a little when someone here at Sonlight lets me make the final call. If, like all great leaders, you'd like some insights and answers from someone who has gone before you, please feel free to contact a Sonlight Advisor. These homeschool moms will be happy to answer your questions and offer you their expertise as you make important curriculum decisions.

"I'm giving up. I can't do this anymore."

The words barely echo the true hurt and frustration. Another homeschooler is experiencing burnout or worse. Life has conspired to cripple this individual, and in a last resort of cathartic expression a blog post is born.

Moved, I click over from my RSS Reader; only to discover the post has been removed. The internet remembers, even what we'd like to forget. I have, through the power of technology, caught a glimpse into a scribbled out experience of life. The blog author has "taken back" what they wrote. But what I don't know--and rarely ever see--is why the post was deleted. Did they feel too vulnerable? Did they realize they were merely feeling overwhelmed last night? Did they discover something that made them change their mind about the whole thing? And why, I wonder, did they publicly post it in the first place if they now feel it no longer appropriate to share?

I am well-acquainted with change. We update Sonlight every year, seeking ways to better serve you. This means that every year you benefit from what we've learned in the past. On the other hand, change is hard, and it can be incredibly frustrating too. In fact, we list our yearly curriculum updates as one of the reasons you may not want to buy from Sonlight. We make the changes and move forward. So I know things disappear and are replaced with new ideas and thoughts.

But "ghost posts" are different. They indicate some change in thinking. And it makes me curious: Why the change?

Have you ever bumped into a deleted blog post? Have you ever removed one of your own? What changed your mind?

 ~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

"The culture there assumes it's your responsibility to keep things locked up. It's not someone else's responsibility to not take your stuff."

We were discussing, over lunch yesterday, the ideas summarized by Vishal Mangalwadi. One of my co-workers shared about her experience studying in South America. The culture of theft was just one of the radical differences there from what we experience here in the US.

Then, as I stood in the shower this morning, three key ideas suddenly clicked together. Here's my thesis: Piracy has created a culture of theft in the United States and, just as "adult entertainment" has completely changed, the digital revolution demands of us a higher level of holiness.

I'm sure you're aware of the ways the internet has changed the face of the "adult" industry. It is no longer required to go to a seedy part of the city and physically purchase a dirty magazine. Now, from the comfort of your favorite computer chair, you can obtain just about any kind of "adult" material you may be interested in... for free. And, as virtual worlds continue to claw their way into reality, Huxley's Brave New World of the Feelies inches closer. "How are men going to remain faithful to their wives in such a world?" one of my coworkers asked.

"The solution," I was quick to propose, "is to become more holy. Unfortunately, you can't legislate holiness and it's not easy. But these advancements in technology are forcing us to become more like Christ."

The internet--coupled with digital delivery--has made piracy a common practice as well. Right now, I could find just about any song I could imagine online. With a little more effort, I could have it on my computer. It's little wonder, then, that I get questions every week from Sonlight students asking about the legality of copying music. If you can find this stuff on major legal sites, how can it be illegal/wrong?

Well, teenagers aren't the only ones discussing this topic. John August recently blogged about sheet music piracy and both his post and the fascinating original article have been flooded with comments on both sides of this issue.

Here's what struck me this morning: The arguments often boil down to a fundamental disagreement over responsibility. Is it your responsibility to keep your stuff locked up, or my responsibility to not take your stuff?

Yes, just as we could argue about the complexities of obscene materials on the internet, we could go around and around with the issues surrounding digital copyright law. But as I stood under the hot running water of my shower--something my coworker did not have when she lived in South America--everything clicked:

I'd rather not live in a culture of theft.

Talk to your kids about being Christ-like and piracy.

 ~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

P.S. I'm not a lawyer, but I'm happy to share what I know and think about this issue if you have specific questions. This is important because your children are growing up in a world where their morality is the only thing between them and an endless stream of instantly accessible sin. It's much easier to practice being like Christ in the little things right now.

You are a one man band.

...so to speak. I realize you are probably not in a band and most of my readers are female. The band man thing is a metaphor. As a homeschool mom (parent), you do most of the teaching on your own. The common critique of such a system--by those with a different educational model--is that you can't possibly be proficient enough to compete with a "professional educator" who is armed with an educational degree and tends to teach but one subject... a subject said educator has "emphasized" in their formal studies.

My formal college studies involved a general overview of filmmaking. I didn't "emphasize" a single aspect of filmmaking. I never took a course on cinematography or lighting. I didn't have a class dedicated to sound design or animation. No one taught me how to color correct a sequence or normalize an audio file. I've had to constantly teach myself the ins and outs of web compression as they change from year to year. I am the epitome of the one man band filmmaker. If it needs to be done, I need to make it happen.

Am I limited? Absolutely. I wasn't able to have a monster shot I needed for Sonlight Field. I don't have a studio where I can control the lighting and sound of my productions. I have to get people who really don't want to be on camera to look great. My mom is a good sport, letting me force her to be in my videos. And I've been quite successful at getting people to agree to be on tape <smile>.

But am I ever going to be on the same level as Hollywood?

No.

And that's okay. I have incredible flexibility and control over what I produce, when I produce it, and how I go about it. I don't require budgets of millions of dollars. I get to learn new things on a regular basis. I am free of the political and moral nastiness of "the industry." And what I create just so happens to bring joy to thousands of families all over the world.

Not bad for a one man band.

As a homeschool mom, you have incredible flexibility to teach your children in a way that benefits them the best. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars per student each year (even if it may feel like that sometimes <smile>). You get to learn new things. You are free of the political and moral issues surrounding "the industry." And what you do also brings joy and meaning to you children who will ultimately have the opportunity to spread that throughout the world.

Not bad for a one man band.

 ~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

How's the first month of the year been treating you?

Perhaps you've spent it chilled out by the pool, enjoying a green smoothie while your children play quietly with each other, taking breaks now and again to do their studies. Your family has done the cooking and the cleaning. In fact, life has been running itself so well, all you have to do is pick what meal you'd like your little helpers to make you.

Life's good.

Of course, your life may be good... but on the opposite end of that spectrum. You feel buried. Your children, your house, your husband, your pets all need your attention--not to mention the laundry and the dishes. If that's you, you may find some really great tips and reminders by watching the Organize Your Home for Success video.

I can relate to feeling swamped. Right now I've got a ton to do for the new catalog season, and I've got very limited time to get it all done.

When you think of it, please pray for us. We need wisdom as we work to make the website easier to use. We have a ton of code updates and content changes we need to make as well.

I haven't had much time today to do any preparation for blogging. I like to let my brain mull over an idea while I work throughout the day. That way, when the time comes to write, I've got something say.

Today, I didn't have that luxury. My brain has been fully occupied with other projects and tasks. The idea of creating a meaningful post felt overwhelming. "I wish I had it all planned out for me beforehand. A blueprint makes building a lot easier," I told myself.

Blueprint

Suddenly, I realized that we are constructing a blueprint for you.

The effort we are pouring into the design and function of Sonlight's homeschool curriculum today will be the blueprint you can use tomorrow. We do what we do so you don't have to do it. We want you to be able to do the things we can't help you with--such as spending time with your kids and cooking meals--without getting bogged down with the things we can do for you.

We can build you a homeschool blueprint.

One of the pragmatic goals of Sonlight's homeschool curriculum is to save you the time, effort and brain power needed to gather, schedule, plan, organize, and think about your homeschool lessons. So on days when you feel buried, like me, you can still offer your children a meaningful day of learning without adding one more thing to your plate.

 ~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

The black plastic recorder contrasted nicely with the sheet music in front of me. I was at a weekly homeschool group. We were doing our music lesson. Well, we were supposed to be doing our music lesson.

Come to think of it, I wasn't thinking about my recorder or the music. I was goofing off. So where the handful of other kids. I don't remember what had us so amped. I can't recall why we were giddy. I don't even remember being that abnormally off the wall. But we mindlessly brought our teacher--a sweet homeschool mom--to the end of her rope.

"That's it!" she finally bellowed. "If you're not interested in learning, just take your games outside."

The room fell silent. What were we supposed to do?

"Go," she commanded.

We went.

I placed my recorder on the railing of the back deck. The joy had left our game. We tried to play, but it was half-hearted. We had failed. We had broken the system. And, I learned that day, there comes a point where being a rebel isn't fun anymore.

I realized I needed to share this story after Susan blogged about her unmotivated son. I am definitely one of those bloggers who extols the benefits of homeschooling when it comes to the love of learning. I mean, I'm blogging for a company that guarantees you'll love homeschooling. Even so, there are times and there are subjects that simply require putting your nose to the grindstone. There are days when it may be better to just go outside and play. Effort isn't always equated with joy.

But when you see progress because of your effort?
When you begin to gain mastery?
When you use tools that resonate with you?
When you've got a system that works for you and your family?

Then--then--homeschooling is a joy. Not always. Not in everything. But in general. Overall you and your children will love learning together. And it could be that you need to find those resources that inspire your students. I had to switch math programs one year because the one I had was boring me to death. After we moved to a math program that was more in line with my personality, I again rocked in math.

When do you notice your students are unmotivated? What do you do when you feel like you're constantly reminding them to keep working? Have you ever kicked your kids out of class?

 ~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester