Please use a #2 pencil and fill in your choice with a complete, dark circle.

1. Customizable learning environment
2. Parent-child interaction
3. Low teacher to student ratio
4. Nurturing environment
5. a through d
6. No Scantron^®

I got thinking about this when I saw the comic in this post.

I'm not a fan of the standardized test. There are much better ways to go about measuring understanding, retention, application, recall... You know, all those terms we imply when we talk about "learning" and "education." Unfortunately, since schools don't have option e above, they must resort to the tools of f.

But here's what struck me today as the image of multiple-choice teen gnawed at the back of my mind: My friends have always thought just as creatively as I do. In fact, many of them are more brilliant than I'll ever be.

So, sure: Smile sadly at the incredible limitations mass produced education demands. Be thankful for the privilege we have to educate our children at home. Consider the many blessings we enjoy as homeschoolers. But do not, do not, stick your nose in the air and believe for a minute that the children in "the other system" can't function as well as yours.

I am well aware that the school system is flawed. In spite of this, my friends have turned out amazingly well.

The encouragement we should take from this, in my mind, is we don't need to worry about our own children. We're giving them so many fantastic opportunities, what gaps and struggles we encounter can and will be overcome with a life-long love of learning.

What have you found makes your homeschool experience great?

 ~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

She sits, head in her hands.

My wife's fingers gently comb through her hair. We three sit quietly. I squeeze her, my eyes brimming with tears for her pain. There are no words which would help.

Her phone chirps. Her dad is calling, making sure she's okay and accounted for. "But it's not like this at home," she confides to us. "We're not this close."

She's not the first teen I've talked with who feels this way. Homeschoolers and other-schoolers alike: At some point, for some reason, there is often a disconnect between parent and child. Looking back, I see it in my own life as well.

Park Bench

There's this idea I keep bumping into in the homeschool world: "Parents must be the ones to train their children." I get the biblical mandate. I understand the importance of parental involvement. I'm not suggesting that parents shouldn't be involved in their child's life. What I don't like is the idea that parents should be the only mentor/instructor/teacher. That does not lead to good things. And, really, that's not a reality which can be achieved in a healthy environment.

Homeschooling is great, not just because you can be so involved in your child's life, but you can also help them find resources beyond you.

The question, then, is: Who are your children's mentors? Where do your kids go when they are in pain, or frustrated, or confused and--for whatever the reason--don't feel like they can come to you?

What things are you doing/have done to help make sure your children find good mentors?

 ~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

We just returned from the fabric store. The cloth can be fun, the patterns nice, the knickknacks interesting, the possibilities endless. But possibilities are dashed against the reality of a budget. As fun as homemade items can be, they can cost way more than what can be procured at a place that handles this stuff in mass.

Mass production/distribution--be it cars, curriculum or craft supplies--works in part by buying in bulk and passing on those savings to you. That gap in price is enough to keep businesses going and, in my case, me from taking the time to do it myself.

As we looked for the items we needed, we stopped by the patterns. 'Incredible,' I realized. 'They sell enough patterns to pay for the design, production, and printing of these catalogs, which includes paying the tailors, models, and photographers.'

But the price variation of mass distribution was tugging on us as well. "We'll buy one of these here for today, and we'll check the price online later."

Interestingly, this Do-It-Yourself price gap does not apply to most home improvement projects. Why? You can't mass produce custom shelves that fit my basement.

What things have you found to be prohibitively expensive to do on your own? What things are you glad others can do for you for less?

 ~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

This blog is currently powered by Blogger. I don't have any plans of changing. But I've read about many corporate/professional bloggers who have moved to other platforms because of one reason or three. I'm grateful I haven't had to cross that river. That'd be a ton of work.

On the other hand, I have moved Sonlight's video content off our servers and onto Sonlight's YouTube channel. Again, it's not perfect--and I just ran into a limitation that's borked one of my projects... bah! But YouTube is the internet video site. And it is very nice to no longer worry about compatibility, servers, and quality options.

Needless to say: I love free tools that work and help me do my work better.

Of course, I gladly pay for other tools that make my life better as well. My cameras. My computers. My curriculum. I absolutely love finding a great deal, but I know I'm going to be shelling out some dough. And it's totally worth it.

There are also times--like this afternoon--when beating my head against a free option just doesn't seem worth it. In those moments I am tempted, sorely tempted, to start looking around for an option that works right.

What are some of your favorite tools?

 ~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester