Contrary to the common perception that handwriting has vanished from American classrooms, most U.S. states require handwriting instruction, according to a new nationwide online resource. The findings show that a majority of state education departments mandate handwriting instruction through at least third grade, with some extending requirements through sixth grade and beyond.

The interactive resource, published by Handwriting Success, provides the first comprehensive, state-by-state overview of handwriting education standards and related legislative mandates across all 50 states. 

The new database allows parents, educators, policymakers, and journalists to easily compare handwriting requirements across states. It is available at:
https://handwritingsuccess.com/handwriting-standards/

“Despite ongoing debate about handwriting instruction, there has never been a single, reliable online source that clearly showed where and how handwriting is addressed in state education standards,” said Jonathan Dubay, CEO of Handwriting Success. “Neither the U.S. Department of Education website nor other national organizations had made this information readily available online. We reviewed every state department of education website, along with relevant legislative sources, to create an accurate, transparent, and easy-to-use reference.”

Unlike other websites that focus only on legislative mandates, the Handwriting Success resource includes both education content standards and laws, with direct citations and links to original sources. The interactive map makes it easy to see how individual states compare nationwide.

“The Handwriting Success interactive map of state standards offers priceless data for everyone who cares about the future of handwriting,” said Kate Gladstone, author of READ CURSIVE FAST and International Director of the World Handwriting Contest. “Handwriting Success has a strong reputation for providing objective, accurate, and up-to-date information.”

While the database documents what states require, it does not measure how handwriting is actually taught in classrooms or how effective current instruction may be. “That’s the missing piece,” Dubay said. “We look forward to the day when data on classroom practice and outcomes become widely available.”

Research continues to explore best practices in handwriting instruction. Recent validation of a 1985 study suggests that instruction using an italic handwriting style may support stronger long-term retention than looped cursive styles. (https://handwritingsuccess.com/new-reasearch-validation-suggests-benefit-of-italic/)

“In today’s classrooms, written expression remains a cornerstone of student achievement,” said Kathleen Wright, Executive Director of The Handwriting Collaborative, a nonprofit organization focused on best practices in handwriting education. “Effective instruction depends on understanding how handwriting aligns with state standards. This interactive map gives parents and educators across the country a valuable and practical curriculum resource.”

Navigating the dynamic landscape of online educatio

n demands careful consideration in selecting the platform that aligns with your academic goals. The digital sphere is saturated with a myriad of options, each boasting unparalleled experiences. At Centric Learning Academy, we make sure every student has a meaningful and rewarding education that's different from other online educational solutions.

So what makes us unique?

Project-Based Learning Framework

At Centric Learning Academy, we are proud to be an online virtual school for grades 3-12 that offers an engaging learning environment that differs from the traditional classroom.

Our curriculum is entirely focused on Project-Based Learning (PBL). PBL is an instructional approach where students actively explore real-world problems and challenges. Students work on a project over an extended period of time, engaging in an in-depth investigation and often across multiple subject areas. This approach encourages students to take control of t

heir learning, fostering critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Here is an example of a project we offer on our platform called "DocYOUmentary":

Each project starts with a driving question that guides the student to project's purpose. In this project, students learn about what a documentary is and how they can film their own as their final product.

Projects on our platform are always engaging and include instructional videos and infographics as well as interactive activities and 24/7 live chat support!

Competency-Based Assessment

What else makes us stand out? At Centric Learning Academy, we don't grade student work in the traditional way with letter grades or scores.

Competency-Based Assessment is an educational evaluation approach that focuses on measuring an individual's proficiency and mastery of specific skills, knowledge, and abilities rather than relying solely on traditional grading methods. In this assessment model, the emphasis is on what a student can do or demonstrate effectively rather than their performance in a specific time frame.

 

How does competency-based assessment tie into student work at Centric Learning Academy?

Our certified teachers provide students with insightful feedback on their work submissions. Students then have the option to go back and re-submit new work in order to get a higher proficiency level on a specific strand. Subject areas can have multiple strands. Here's an example of what an Argumentative Writing strand for English 12 looks like:

As a parent, watching your child struggle can be heartbreaking. You want to help, but sometimes the harder you try, the more difficult math seems to become.

At Mathnasium, we often hear parents say something that sticks with us:

“You’re our last hope!”

We understand the feeling behind those words. Families come to us after trying everything they can think of to help their child succeed. They’ve spent evenings working through homework, hired tutors, searched for online resources, and hoped that something would finally click.

But we can’t help wondering: What if Mathnasium had been the first stop instead of the last hope?

Math Struggles Are Often a Symptom, Not the Problem

When a child struggles with math, it’s easy to focus on the immediate challenge. Maybe they can’t solve fractions, struggle with multiplication, or feel overwhelmed by algebra. But sometimes, the real issue began much earlier.

A student who struggles with fractions may have gaps in multiplication or division. A student who feels lost in algebra may still be uncertain about foundational arithmetic. When these gaps go unaddressed, each new concept becomes harder to understand, and frustration begins to build.

Over time, children may start to believe they simply aren’t “math people.”

But struggling with math doesn’t mean a child lacks ability. It often means they need a different approach, a stronger foundation, and the right support.

That’s where Mathnasium makes a difference. Rather than simply helping students get through tonight’s homework, we work to identify the underlying causes of their struggles and develop a plan to address them.

A Personalized Plan Makes All the Difference

No two students learn exactly alike. Some need to strengthen foundational skills, while others need help connecting concepts they’ve already learned. Some need to slow down and build confidence, while others are ready for a challenge that pushes them further.

That’s why Mathnasium doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach.

Our customized learning plans are designed around each student’s individual strengths, needs, and learning goals. Through an assessment, we identify what your child understands, where gaps may exist, and what skills need attention.

From there, our expert math instructors guide students through our research-based curriculum, helping them build understanding one concept at a time.

Instead of repeatedly practicing problems they don’t understand, students work on the skills that will help them move forward. They develop number sense, strengthen problem-solving abilities, and learn why mathematical concepts work—not just which steps to memorize.

The result? Progress that goes beyond a single assignment or test.

Confidence Changes Everything

One of the most rewarding parts of what we do at Mathnasium is watching a student’s confidence grow.

At first, a student who has struggled for months may approach every problem with hesitation. They may second-guess themselves, avoid participating in class, or assume they’ll get the answer wrong before they even begin.

But as their understanding improves, something changes.

They begin attempting problems independently. They recognize patterns. They make connections between concepts. They realize that a challenging problem isn’t something to fear—it’s something they can work through.

And perhaps most importantly, they begin to believe in themselves again.

Our goal isn’t simply to help your child become better at math. It’s to help your child become a more confident, independent learner.

We want students to develop the skills and understanding they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond. The ultimate goal is for them to apply what they’ve learned independently, without needing a tutor to guide every step.

Why Wait Until Math Becomes a Crisis?

Many parents reach out when a report card reveals a problem, a major test is approaching, or their child has fallen so far behind that catching up feels overwhelming.

We’re here for those students, and it’s never too late to make progress.

But early support can make a tremendous difference. Addressing learning gaps before they grow can help prevent the cycle of confusion, frustration, and declining confidence that makes math feel scary in the first place.

You don’t have to wait until your child is failing a class. You don’t have to wait until homework becomes a nightly battle. And you certainly don’t have to exhaust every other option before asking for help.

Whether your child needs to strengthen foundational skills, prepare for algebra, improve school performance, or get ahead of grade-level expectations, Mathnasium can help create a path forward.

Think of it as an investment in your child’s mathematical foundation—not just a solution to the problem they’re facing today.

Let’s Make Math Less Scary—Together

If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “You’re our last hope,” we want you to know that we’re glad you found us. We’re honored to be part of your child’s journey, and we’re ready to help.

But we also want families to know that Mathnasium doesn’t have to be the last resort. We can be the first step toward a stronger foundation, greater confidence, and a more positive relationship with math.

Your child doesn’t have to struggle alone, and you don’t have to figure it all out at home.

At Mathnasium, we meet students where they are, help them understand what’s holding them back, and give them the tools to move forward with confidence.

This October, let’s take the fear out of math.

Contact Mathnasium of Greenville Five Forks to schedule an assessment and discover how a personalized learning plan can help your child build skills, gain confidence, and see math in a whole new light.

Because math doesn’t have to be scary—and your child’s story doesn’t have to start with “last hope.” It can start with a plan.

Mathnasium of Greenville Five Forks
1756 Woodruff Road, Greenville, SC

Starting therapy can feel like standing at the edge of something completely unfamiliar. If you’ve never been to therapy, and no one in your family has either (maybe they’re even judging you for considering it), then this really is uncharted territory. And the unknown is scary for all of us. 

Maybe you've thought about reaching out for months—or even years—but the thoughts keep you hesitating–What am I even supposed to say? What if I cry? What if I don't know where to start? What if it’s awkward? What if my friends make fun of me?

If that's you, you're not alone.

One of the most common questions we hear at as therapists ourselves is, "What happens in the first therapy session?" The good news? It's likely much less intimidating than you’re imagining. And the answer is surprisingly simple: it’s the beginning of a conversation.

Our goal isn't to analyze you or put you on the spot (contrary to how all those TV therapists make it seem!). It's simply to begin getting to know you and your story. At its core, therapy begins with curiosity. A good therapist isn't trying to fit you into a diagnosis or a formula—they're becoming a student of your story. They take time to listen without judgment, understand your unique experiences, and get to know the person God created you to be. Healing begins with feeling genuinely known.

You Don't Have to Have It All Figured Out

One of the biggest misconceptions about therapy is that you need to arrive with a perfectly organized explanation of what's wrong.

You don't.

Some people come in because of anxiety, relationship struggles, grief, or burnout. Others simply know something feels "off," even if they can't quite put words to it yet.

That's okay. In many ways, that's exactly what we're here for.

We like to say that part of our job is helping you make sense of what feels overwhelming. You don't have to organize your thoughts or rehearse your story perfectly before you come to therapy. We'll help you connect the dots, notice patterns, and understand how your experiences, relationships, and emotions fit together.

Think of it this way: if you're the traveler, your therapist is the guide. You're the expert on your own life—we could never know your story better than you do. But we've spent years learning the terrain. We know the common obstacles, the places people often get stuck, and the paths that tend to lead toward healing. We'll walk alongside you, helping you find your footing one step at a time.

Your first session is about beginning a conversation. Your therapist will ask thoughtful questions, listen well, and help you begin to untangle what feels overwhelming—always at the pace that feels safe for you.

Getting to Know You

Your first session is mostly about understanding you.

We'll talk about what brought you in, what's been especially difficult lately, and what you hope might be different six months from now. We may ask about your relationships, family, work, or previous counseling experiences—not because we're checking boxes, but because every person's story deserves context. We know that no one exists in a vacuum!

Think of it less like an interview and more like sitting down with someone who's genuinely curious about what it's been like to walk in your shoes. Like a guide studying a map before setting out on the trail, your therapist is working hard to understand the landscape of your life– the 30,000-foot view. Rather than focusing on one isolated struggle, they're looking for the patterns, relationships, and experiences that have shaped your story. As therapy continues, those pieces begin to come together into a clearer picture of how your past connects to your present.

You Set the Pace

Many people worry they'll be expected to share their deepest hurts the moment they sit down.

That's not how healing works. And it’s certainly not what we expect. 

At Dwell, we believe healing happens at the pace of safety—not pressure, and certainly not efficiency. Trust isn't built in a single session; it's built over time. Your therapist's job isn't to rush you through your story; it's to create a space where you feel safe enough to tell it. 

In fact, one of the bravest things you might do in your first session is simply show up.

And that's enough.

Therapy should be a collaborative process, not something that's done to you. You're always welcome to say, "I'm not ready to talk about that yet," or, "Can we come back to that another time?" A good therapist will honor those boundaries, because meaningful healing isn't created by force—it's built through trust. Remember, you have a voice in where the conversation goes.

What About Faith?

Because we're a Christian therapy practice, many people wonder what that actually means in the therapy room.

At Dwell, we believe you shouldn't have to choose between clinical excellence and biblical faithfulness. We integrate evidence-based therapy with a Christian worldview, caring for the whole person—mind, body, soul, and relationships. (Dwell)

At the same time, faith integration is never forced. We want to understand what is meaningful to you and honor that throughout the counseling process. For some clients, that looks like incorporating Scripture, prayer, or conversations about how God meets us in our suffering. For others, faith may simply provide the lens through which they understand healing, relationships, and hope.

Our role isn't to preach to you or to be a spiritual guide. It's to walk alongside you with compassion, clinical expertise, and the confidence that lasting healing can embrace both emotional and spiritual growth. (Dwell Ministry)

It's Okay to Ask Questions

Therapy is a relationship, not a performance. Unfortunately for some of you, there is no prize for “winning” therapy or healing the fastest. 

This is your journey, and you’ll get out of it what you put into it. And that includes investing on the front end by making sure you find the right therapist for you in your current season of life. 

As you look for a good fit, to ask your therapist questions about their approach, what future sessions might look like, or how they'll tailor therapy to your goals. We want you to feel informed, comfortable, and confident that you're in the right place.

Finding the right therapist isn't just about credentials—it's about finding someone you trust to walk with you. Like a seasoned guide, a good therapist brings experience, perspective, and the right tools while recognizing that your journey is uniquely your own.

You Don't Have to Do This Alone

Taking the first step toward therapy can feel vulnerable. It can also be the beginning of hope.

Sometimes healing is like catching sight of a small flicker of light at the end of a long, dark forest. You know it's there, but no matter how hard you've tried, you can't seem to find your way to it on your own. Maybe that's because healing was never meant to be a journey you walked alone.

Maybe what you need isn't more grit or willpower. Maybe you need a trusted guide to walk alongside you. And maybe God, in His kindness, has designed healing to happen not only through insight, but through safe, honest, and redemptive relationships.

You don't have to have it all figured out before you begin. You just have to take the first step.

Whether you're looking for Christian therapy in Greensboro, therapy in Cary, or online therapy anywhere in North Carolina, our team is here to provide warm, evidence-based care rooted in clinical expertise, genuine compassion, and biblical truth.

Author: Kalie Moore, MA, LCMHC, CCTP, PMH-C, Co-Founder of Dwell Christian Therapy + Training

WHAT IS THE 3-MINUTE RULE?

Simple: On your busiest days—I’m talking about those days stuffed with events, homework, deadlines or whatever else—even on these days, practice for at least 3 minutes. The rule stems from a universal musical truth: the best practice habits aim at consistency, not volume. How often you practice is much more important than how long you practice.

This echoes the advice I heard from a world renowned drummer. He said his practice habits could be described as, “a little, a lot.” He said that this means to practice just a little bit at a time, all the time. Don’t go for very long without practicing, and when you do practice, don’t practice for very long. This is much better than neglecting practice for days, and then doing a sudden two-hour marathon session on a Saturday. Instead, do “a little, a lot.”

WHY THE 3-MINUTE RULE?

Because your hands, fingers, mind and ears long for their old ways. It’s like a strong gravity toward the easy and familiar. If you miss a day or two of practice, you’ll quickly lose what you’ve learned. Think of a taught rubber band that snaps back the moment you let it loose. This is what happens to your hands and mind when you skip practice, and it’s especially true for newer players.

Here's another universal musical truth: the shorter the time you’ve been playing your instrument, the quicker your fingers, hands, mind, and ears will snap back to their original, untrained condition! But The 3-Minute Rule will hold your place. It prevents musical backsliding or regression. We often think it’s not worth practicing at all unless we can practice for 15 minutes or more, but this is not true! Practicing/playing for merely 3 minutes is much, much better than not playing at all.

WHAT COULD I POSSIBLY ACCOMPLISH IN 3 MINUTES?

Turns out, quite a lot. You won’t improve in leaps and bounds in 3 minutes, but the cumulative effect of this rule is incredible.

As a private music teacher of 20+ years, I’d say the average student spends about 50% of their practice time relearning what they had once known or developed: rebuilding calluses, retraining and re-strengthening finger muscles and flexibility; memorizing, once again, how to play that D/F# chord or the Major Scale, and so on. This is because they often miss several days of practice each week, similar to Student A:

Instead, practice every day. Aim for 15 or 20 minutes a day, but if your schedule is already crammed, an ideal practice week might look like this:

Though it doesn’t meet the 20 minute per day ideal, Student B’s schedule reveals a very healthy practice week, because no day was missed.

Now consider Student A and Student B after one year. All other things being equal, the difference in their abilities will be huge. Student B will be much more technically and musically proficient, every time. Student A will have logged more practice time over all, but Student B is still much better off—all thanks to those 3 little minutes, saving the day, every day.

DON’T SAY OR THINK THE WORST THING EVER.

The worst thing ever is the “I’ll make up for it by practicing 2 hours this Saturday” excuse. Sometimes I still make this excuse—but it’s a terrible idea!

Just try it for anything else:

“I didn’t eat any meals this week...but I’ll eat 14,000 calories on Sunday.”

“I didn’t exercise at all this week...but I’ll make up for it by running a marathon on Friday.”

“I didn’t brush my teeth at all this week...but I’ll brush for 20 minutes on Saturday.”

You get the point. Don’t miss a day! If these valuable 3 minutes are focused, you can easily keep the dust off your playing, and on all the days you can practice 15-20 minutes (or more), you’ll improve very quickly!

WHAT SHOULD I PRACTICE IN 3 MINUTES?

As long as it’s focused practice, it’s hard to go wrong. You can change it up, too: on one 3-Minute day, do warmup exercises to keep your fingers strong, fast, and flexible. On the next 3-Minute day, review chords or rhythms. Remember that it all comes down to consistency! If you play every day, even for 3 short minutes, nothing will stop your progress!

That is when portfolio and assessment documentation for renewal is due. One month after the May 1 application close. Right in the middle of the busiest stretch of the homeschool year.

Families who start assembling in May are trying to recreate nine months they already lived. It shows, and it is miserable. So let's talk about the version where you don't do that.

Why a portfolio exists at all

Two systems are running in parallel in Utah and people mix them up constantly.

The first is homeschool law. Under Utah Code 53G-6-204, since May 7, 2025 you file a one-time notice with your local school board. The board acknowledges it within 30 days. There are no required records, no credentials, no inspections, no testing. If you filed on or before May 7, 2025 you do not refile. That is it. Utah asks essentially nothing of homeschoolers.

The second is the scholarship. This is a separate deal you opted into, and it comes with its own documentation requirement at renewal. You are not being asked for a portfolio because you homeschool. You are being asked because you took the money.

That distinction is worth holding onto, because it reframes the work. This isn't the state supervising your family. It's the condition attached to a specific check you chose to accept.

Build the habit in September, not May

Anna Redd in Logan runs a simple system for three kids, and it takes her maybe ten minutes a week. One folder per child per school year. Every Friday she photographs one or two pieces of work per kid and drops them in. Field trips get a photo. Finished projects get a photo. Anything that took real effort gets kept.

(A composite example — names and details are illustrative, drawn from situations homeschool families commonly describe.)

By April she isn't assembling anything. She's selecting from a pile that already exists. That is the whole difference between ten minutes a week and a ruined Memorial Day weekend.

What to keep as you go

• Dated work samples across the year, not clustered in one month. Three from fall, three from winter, three from spring beats twelve from April.
• Range across subjects. Math, reading and writing, science, history, and whatever else you actually teach.
• Photographs of things that don't fit in a folder — the model, the experiment, the art piece, the performance, the robotics build.
• Course and class records. If your teen is taking a technical college course or an outside class, keep the enrollment confirmation and whatever completion record the provider issues.
• Provider invoices and schedules. A tutor's monthly invoice documents both the spending and the instruction.
• Any assessment results you have, if your family uses assessments.

Keep more than you think you need. Deleting later is free. Recreating is not.

The requirements can change — check them each year

Here is the honest caution: the specific format, the acceptable assessment options, and the exact submission mechanics are set by the program and are published in the program's own materials. Those materials get updated. The program manager changed hands on May 16, 2025, which reset a lot of procedure that families had gotten used to under the previous manager.

So do not run your renewal off a group chat post from two years ago, and do not run it off this article either. Pull the current requirements from the official Odyssey UFA Handbook in the fall, before the year gets away from you, and again in March.

What is fixed in statute is the date. May 31. That one you can plan on.

Sequence your spring properly

Three deadlines stack up:

• March 1 — returning-student applications open. Apply that week.
• May 1 — all applications close.
• May 31 — portfolio and assessment documentation due.

The families who suffer are the ones who apply on April 28 and then start the portfolio on May 20. The families who don't suffer apply March 1 and finish the portfolio in April, when there's still slack in the schedule.

There is zero advantage to being late and real risk in it. Put all three on your education calendar with a two-week warning on each.

Keep spending records in the same rhythm

Renewal documentation and spending documentation are different requirements, but they run on the same habit. If you are already photographing work every Friday, photograph the week's receipts too.

You need an itemized receipt and proof of payment for anything reimbursed outside the Marketplace. You also want a running total by category, because extracurriculars and physical education are each capped at 20% of the award — $800 each on a $4,000 award, $1,200 each on a $6,000 award. Knowing where you stand in January is how you avoid a shortfall in March.

Think about rollover while you're at it

Renewal season is also when the rollover math matters. Unspent funds roll over at two-thirds of the remaining balance, capped at $2,000. That is a reason to end the year with a deliberate balance rather than a panicked June spending spree on things nobody needed.

A $900 leftover becomes $600 next year. A $4,500 leftover becomes $2,000 — so at that size you're better off spending some of it on something genuinely useful. Either way, decide on purpose.

A realistic year

• August/September: set up the folders. Pull the current renewal requirements from the handbook.
• Weekly: ten minutes. Work samples in, receipts in, spending log updated.
• December: quick audit. Do you have fall samples across subjects? Any subject missing?
• March 1: apply for renewal. Re-check the current documentation requirements.
• April: select and assemble. You're curating, not creating.
• Early May: submit. Don't wait for the 31st.

Bottom line

The portfolio is not hard. It is only hard if you compress nine months of evidence into the last ten days of May. Ten minutes a week and a folder eliminates the problem entirely.

Read our Utah Fits All guide for how renewal fits with the rest of the calendar, and compare notes with other Utah families in our community — just verify anything you hear there against the official handbook before you act on it.

My Learning Source is an independent marketplace and is not affiliated with the Utah State Board of Education, Odyssey or the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program. Program rules and amounts are set by the state and can change — confirm details on the official program pages before making financial decisions. Family examples are composites, not real individuals.

Three Ways to Spend

ClassWallet gives you three roads. Know which one you're on before you spend a dime.

Paying a private school or microschool. You link your account to the school, and the school invoices you inside ClassWallet. You approve the invoice. Clean. No money passes through your checking account.

Paying vendors. You pay approved vendors directly from your account. This is the simplest way to buy curriculum and materials, because there's no reimbursement to wait on.

Reimbursement. You buy something yourself, then submit a request to get paid back. This is the road where families get stuck. So let's slow down.

Reimbursements That Actually Go Through

ADE says a reimbursement request needs proof of purchase showing three things:

The purchase date. The vendor name. A line-item description with the cost.

That's it. That's the whole game. A card slip that just shows a total doesn't tell anybody what you bought. A photo of the box doesn't show what you paid. An order screen that cuts off the item list doesn't cut it either.

Look at Tom, a homeschool dad in Hot Springs. He bought a science kit and a stack of readers at the same store and submitted the reimbursement with his card slip. It showed a date, the store and a total. No line items. He had to go back, get the itemized receipt, and resubmit. The money came through after that, but he lost time he didn't need to lose. Now he asks for the itemized receipt at checkout, every single time, and uploads it that same night.

(A composite example — names and details are illustrative, drawn from situations homeschool families commonly describe.)

How Long Does It Take?

ADE says reimbursements are typically deposited within 14 business days. Business days. Not calendar days. That's close to three weeks. And ADE says it can be longer at the start of a quarter, when a lot of families submit at once.

So what does a smart family do? Don't front money you can't afford to float for a few weeks. If a purchase is big, look for a way to pay the vendor directly instead of reimbursing yourself.

And remember the money comes in quarters. For 2026–27, it's $1,802 per quarter per student, or $2,002.75 for Succeed Scholarship students. ADE lists 2026–27 disbursement dates of August 20, 2026, October 29, 2026, a third-quarter date in early 2027, and April 8, 2027. Check ADE for the exact third-quarter date.

Don't Go It Alone

ADE runs ClassWallet webinars for families and providers. If you're new, sit through one. An hour of your evening beats a month of confusion.

And before you buy anything that isn't clearly on ADE's eligible expense list, ask the Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment first. Don't buy and hope.

The Bottom Line

ClassWallet isn't hard. It's picky. Feed it the right paperwork and it pays.

• Attend an ADE ClassWallet webinar before your first purchase.
• Pay vendors or schools directly whenever you can.
• For reimbursements, always get an itemized receipt with date, vendor name and line-item costs.
• Submit reimbursements promptly and plan on about 14 business days, longer at the start of a quarter.
• Find vendors and providers at Find Vendors, and read our full guide at Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts.

My Learning Source is an independent marketplace and is not affiliated with the Arkansas Department of Education, the Education Freedom Accounts program or ClassWallet. Program rules, amounts and dates change every year — confirm details with the Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment before making financial decisions. Family examples are composites, not real individuals.

What Being on the Marketplace Does and Doesn't Mean

Vendors apply to participate on a rolling basis through Odyssey, the organization helping administer the program. They must have the right to transact business in Texas and meet program requirements. That's the floor.

But think about what that floor doesn't tell you. It doesn't tell you whether a math program fits your kid. It doesn't tell you whether a tutor shows up on time. It doesn't tell you whether an online course is any good. Approval to participate is not a quality rating. That part's on you.

A Round Rock Family Does Their Homework

Meet the Carters in Round Rock. Their daughter Maya is 12, crazy about computers, and ahead in math. Her homeschool account was funded with $2,000 for the 2026–27 school year. Mom and Dad wanted two things: an online coding course and a math tutor who could push her.

(A composite example — names and details are illustrative, drawn from situations homeschool families commonly describe.)

They found three coding courses that looked great on the surface. So they started asking questions. What does a week actually look like? Is there a live teacher, or just videos? Can we see a sample lesson? What happens if Maya is bored in two weeks? One provider answered everything clearly, with a sample lesson and a plain price. One was vague. One never wrote back. Guess which one got the money.

For the tutor, they asked for a short trial session and references from other homeschool families. The first tutor was fine. The second one got Maya excited about math again. That's the one they booked.

Your Vetting Checklist

Before any TEFA dollar leaves the account, run the vendor through these questions.

Is the purchase an approved expense? The official list includes online educational courses or programs, textbooks and instructional materials, private tutoring, academic assessments, educational therapies not covered by benefits like Medicaid, and more. If what you're buying doesn't clearly fit, stop and check.

Does it blow the tech cap? Computer hardware or software can't exceed 10% of the amount transferred to the account that year. On a $2,000 award for 2026–27, that's $200. Software subscriptions count toward that.

Is the price clear? A good provider tells you what you're paying and what you're getting. If you have to dig for it, that's a signal.

Can you see the product before you commit? Sample lessons, trial sessions, preview pages. Serious providers usually have something to show you.

Is the vendor someone in your family? If so, stop. TEFA funds may not be used to pay a family member.

Will you have a clean record? The Comptroller must contract a private entity to audit accounts and eligibility at least annually. Keep confirmations, invoices and notes on what each purchase was for.

Don't Rush It

Remember, money left at year-end rolls over as long as your child stays in TEFA. There's no prize for spending fast. The Carters spent on the coding course and tutor, then stopped. The rest sits in Maya's account until they find something worth buying.

Your Bottom Line

The Marketplace makes buying easy. Your job is to make buying smart.

• Confirm the purchase fits the official approved-expense list.
• Ask for a sample lesson, trial session or preview.
• Get references from other homeschool families when you can.
• Watch the 10% hardware and software cap.
• Never buy from a family member with TEFA funds.
• Save every confirmation and invoice.
• Start your search on our vendor directory, confirm Marketplace participation, and review our Texas Education Freedom Accounts guide.

It's your child's money. Make every vendor earn it.

My Learning Source is an independent marketplace and is not affiliated with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Texas Education Freedom Accounts or Odyssey. Program rules and amounts are set by the state and can change every year — confirm details on the official program site before making financial decisions. Family examples are composites, not real individuals.

What changed

Senate Bill 538 rewrote the statute governing extracurricular participation. The old language listed public, private, charter, home education and PEP students separately; the new law uses one term, "eligible student," and gives home education and PEP students the same footing. The headline change: a home education or PEP student may now participate in extracurricular activities at their zoned public school or at any public school in the district. Several districts have read the any-school provision as applying to athletics, with non-athletic activities such as band and clubs remaining tied to the zoned school, so check your district's adopted policy before assuming either way.

Fees

The law lets schools charge home education and PEP students activity fees, but with limits: a fee cannot exceed what full-time students at that school are charged, and districts must post all such fees on the district website. Homeschool advocates note a further distinction in the final bill: home education students may not be charged fees that public school students are not also charged, while PEP students may face a capped, board-approved fee. If a school quotes you a number, ask to see it on the district site.

Proving academic eligibility

A public school athlete has a GPA. A homeschooler proves progress instead, by a method agreed between the parent and the school principal. The methods mirror the home education evaluation options: review of the student's work by a certified teacher of the parent's choosing, grades earned in correspondence or dual enrollment courses, a standardized test score above a set percentile, or another method allowed under the home education statute. Bring your most recent annual evaluation to the first meeting; it usually settles the question.

The catches

• One school per year. Once a student participates at a school, they participate there for the rest of that school year. Choose deliberately.
• Not the same sport at two schools. Playing one sport at two different schools in one year requires approval from the athletic association's executive director, which is rare.
• Athletic association rules still apply. Physicals, age limits, transfer rules and season calendars are unchanged.
• Tryouts are tryouts. The law grants access to try out and be considered, not a roster spot.

Action items

• Find your district's updated extracurricular policy, adopted for 2026–27, on the district website.
• Contact the athletic director at the school you want before the season starts; deadlines for physicals and paperwork come early.
• Have your annual evaluation or test scores ready as proof of academic eligibility.
• Check the posted fee schedule and keep a copy.

Coaches, clubs and PE providers who serve homeschool families are in our vendor directory, and Florida co-ops with their own teams are on the co-ops directory.

My Learning Source is an independent marketplace and is not affiliated with Step Up For Students or the Florida Department of Education. Program rules and amounts change every cycle — confirm details on the official program pages before making financial decisions.

Tutoring vs. Homework Help

Which Does My Child Need?

If homework has become a nightly struggle in your home, you’re not alone. Many parents wonder whether their child needs tutoring or simply structured homework help. While the two services are often confused, they serve very different purposes. Choosing the right one can make a meaningful difference in your child’s confidence, progress, and overall attitude toward school.

Let’s break down the difference so you can make an informed, stress-free decision.

Understanding Tutoring

This story might sound familiar to you, or even like you are living it right now.  But this story started about 35 years ago.  I was in middle school and I liked to draw.  I was pretty good at it too, at least that’s what many people told me.  It was around the time in a kid’s life when people start to ask “what do you want to be when you grow up” and the kid must think about it a little more seriously.  You can’t just say ‘professional baseball player’ and leave it there.  You need a plan, something that seems legitimate like a college to go to and proof that people can do this and survive for real.  Around this time, my family embarked on a vacation/road trip that included such timeless sights as the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam and to cap it all off the piéce de résistance...Disneyland.  I was already enamored with cartoons in general, but somehow on this trip it made it seem all the more real.  This was California, where the cartoons I loved had been created, by real people!  My mother called up the Walt Disney Feature Animation Company and asked how her son could become an animator.  They told her for me to work on drawings of humans and animals in motion, and for me to learn more about California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), a college Walt Disney himself had helped create to promote all the arts, but one department specifically was created to train animators.  It was the only accredited college in the United States at the time that had an Animation Department.  Now I suddenly had the answer to that ever-present question.  “When I grow up, I’m going to be a Disney Animator.”  It wasn’t just a pipe dream, “Look!  This is where I’m going to go to college.”  I remember sitting with my high school guidance counselor the first time and telling him this very thing.  He looked up the college, realized I wasn’t kidding, and said “Well, it seems like you have a plan.”

I had loved watching cartoons and drawing them since I could remember, but I had no formal art training.  As I got toward the end of my high school career, I took an art class at my public high school, but it wasn’t enough.  The portfolio that I submitted to CalArts was rejected.  I had to get much more serious about my art.  Whatever natural talent I had wasn’t going to be enough, it was now time to work!  And not just work, but to embrace a humility that I wasn’t comfortable with.  If I was going to improve, it would be because I listened to the people and voices that gave me critique, not just encouragement.  In fact, I had been living on an ‘encouragement-only’ diet about my work.  It felt good to have people tell me they thought my art was great, but it didn’t help develop my skill.  And drawing only when I felt like it didn’t help either.  I needed to be disciplined in my approach.  I spent the next 2 years at the University of North Texas studying fine art.  I had one great professor who wouldn’t grade my work because he knew I hadn’t spent enough time on it and I could do better.  He was right.  I applied myself over the next two weeks and I surprised myself with the project I produced. 

I had applied to CalArts after my Freshman year at college and was rejected again, but not wanting to give up, I applied a third time after my Sophomore year and was finally accepted!  Packing everything I could fit into two suitcases I set off for California.  The work and the humility increased as now I was studying among the very best artists I had ever met.  But I realized that my determination to succeed was my greatest advantage.  Animation and drawing are skills that can be practiced and improved with time.  As long as the artist is determined. 

Very soon after I got my first job drawing backgrounds for the second season of The Simpsons and one job led to another until I was able to reach my childhood goal and became a Disney Animator in the late 1990’s.  It wasn’t easy and there were many bumps in the road, but it certainly was worth it.  I try to pass on the lessons I learned both to my own kids and to my students.  If it worked for me, it can work for you.  Hard work, practice, humility.  None of these are very exciting at the beginning of the journey and many times they are downright unpleasant.  But with consistency, over time, they transformed the little kid who liked to watch cartoons into the grown up ‘kid’ who got to make them.

But choosing the right enrichment resources can feel overwhelming.

You want your child to explore science, develop problem-solving skills, think creatively, and build confidence. You also want learning to feel engaging and age-appropriate—not like another stack of lessons to complete.

What if some of those important skills could develop through building, experimenting, creating, and playing?

That's where Preschool STEAM comes in.

Why STEAM Belongs in Your Homeschool Day

Young children are naturally curious.

They wonder why things happen, investigate how objects work, build structures, make predictions, and try new ideas.

These everyday experiences are the foundation of STEAM learning.

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. For young learners, these subjects don't need to be taught separately or introduced through complicated projects.

They can come together naturally through hands-on exploration.

A child building a bridge with blocks is exploring engineering.

A child testing which objects float is investigating science.

A child creating patterns with colorful materials is developing mathematical thinking.

And when something doesn't work the first time? That's an opportunity to problem-solve, redesign, and try again.

Enrichment That Complements Your Homeschool Curriculum

Preschool STEAM isn't designed to replace your homeschool curriculum.

It's designed to enrich it.

Whether your family follows a structured curriculum, a literature-based approach, or a more flexible homeschool routine, hands-on STEAM experiences can give children opportunities to apply what they're learning.

For example, after reading a picture book about spiders, your child might investigate shapes and design a spider web using craft sticks, pipe cleaners, and playdough.

A story becomes an engineering investigation.

Geometry becomes something your child can touch, build, and explore.

And learning extends beyond the pages of a book.

A Simple Approach to Play-Based STEAM

At Preschool STEAM, we use a three-step method to make hands-on learning approachable for parents and educators.

1. Invite Play

Begin with a picture book, an interesting question, or a small collection of materials.

You might ask:

"Can you build something that will hold a pumpkin?"

Then offer blocks, craft sticks, and a small pumpkin.

There's no need to demonstrate exactly what the finished structure should look like.

2. Observe Wonder

Give your child time to explore.

Watch what they build, what they notice, and what they change.

If their structure falls, resist the urge to immediately fix it.

Instead, ask:

"What do you think happened?"

"What could you try next?"

These moments encourage independent thinking and perseverance.

3. Extend STEAM

Follow your child's curiosity into deeper learning.

Could they build a taller structure?

Would a different material work better?

How could they measure their creation?

One simple play experience can lead to investigations across multiple STEAM subjects.

What Makes Preschool STEAM a Good Fit for Homeschool Enrichment?

Designed for Young Learners

Preschool STEAM focuses on developmentally appropriate experiences for children ages 3–6.

Children learn by doing, touching, building, moving, creating, and investigating.

Uses Everyday Materials

You don't need an expensive collection of specialized equipment.

Many experiences use materials such as blocks, cardboard tubes, craft sticks, paper, recycled containers, and natural objects.

Encourages Independent Thinking

Rather than asking children to copy a finished example, Preschool STEAM encourages them to develop and test their own ideas.

Children have room to be creative, make mistakes, and discover different solutions.

Flexible for Your Homeschool Routine

Some families may enjoy a short STEAM invitation after morning reading.

Others may build an entire afternoon around an investigation.

You can adapt experiences to your child's interests, abilities, and attention span.

Makes Planning Easier

You don't have to start from scratch every time you want to introduce a hands-on learning experience.

Preschool STEAM provides ready-to-use ideas, materials lists, guiding questions, and opportunities to extend the learning.

What's Inside the Preschool STEAM Lab?

The Preschool STEAM Lab gives families access to a growing collection of playful learning resources, including:

• More than 700 hands-on STEAM experiences

• 12 monthly Play Guides for year-round inspiration

• Storytime STEAM activities connecting picture books with hands-on discovery

• Simple materials lists and guiding questions

• Activities that encourage creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving

You can choose experiences that connect with your current homeschool themes or follow whatever sparks your child's interest.

Studying pumpkins in the fall? Explore measuring, balance, and engineering.

Reading about animals? Investigate habitats and build shelters.

Learning about shapes? Create sculptures, structures, and patterns.

The possibilities grow with your child's curiosity.

Making the Most of Your Arkansas Education Freedom Account

Arkansas's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program helps eligible families access approved educational resources and services.

If you're using an EFA to support your homeschool, you may be looking for enrichment that adds meaningful value to your child's education.

Preschool STEAM offers hands-on learning experiences that can complement your existing curriculum while supporting early science, math, engineering, and creative-thinking skills.

Before purchasing with EFA funds, confirm that the specific Preschool STEAM resource and purchasing method are approved under the current program requirements.

Bring More Wonder Into Your Homeschool

You don't need to be a science expert.

You don't need a dedicated STEAM classroom.

And you don't need to have all the answers.

Sometimes, all it takes is a good picture book, a few simple materials, and a question worth exploring.

Preschool STEAM helps you

This past year I watched kids write musicals, launch businesses, and heal in weeks, not years. The only thing I changed was getting out of their way. I call it Inside-Out Education.

An article by Andrew Freeman,  Founder of Coherence Education

I already knew kids were amazing, but nothing prepared me for the remarkable, mind-blowing things I’d witness them doing this past year.

• A thirteen-year-old wrote a full-length musical — twenty original, orchestrated songs in less than 16 weeks. One of the songs, sung by a classmate, is so tender it touched me to tears. 
  
• An eleven-year-old cured her own peanut allergy through meditation. She was recently featured on Dr. Joe Dispenza’s YouTube channel, where the segment has drawn 27K views — and she gives Coherence Education a shout-out at the 5:11 mark for opening her heart and making the healing possible. She’s also built a YouTube channel of original animations teaching kids about heart coherence, and written an illustrated book — all in less than 24 weeks.. 
  

• A thirteen-year-old walked into our final Money Mastery for Kids showcase and blew away a panel of “Sharks” in our Shark Tank–format finale. His tree-net business is on track to “net” him $10K+ this year — all in less than 8 weeks. Numerous other students launched businesses over those same eight weeks.
• Students have shown incredible psychic abilities in class. Many have learned to see and read through blindfolds, accurately remote-view hidden objects, and send healing to animals in distress on the other side of the world. Yes, just like you, I was taught these things are scientifically impossible. Luckily, nobody told our kids that. 

For most adults, any one of these accomplishments would take years — if ever. 

So what’s the secret? Did I just happen to hit the lottery and have a bunch of outliers come into my school? 

No. These are brilliant kids, but for the most part their parents report that they were just “normal kids” before they came into our school and were unleashed by our “Inside-Out” learning methodology. 

Honestly? The secret to their tremendous creations wasn’t anything I taught them.

The secret was me just getting out of their way.

Every Child Is a River

Here’s how I picture it. Each child is a river — a powerful current of energy flowing in their own unique direction. 

Most schools think the way the kids’ current is flowing is wrong. They decide to divert it, dam it, or even make it try to flow back upstream! That, I’m convinced, is why so many kids hate school. 

Inspired by the Sudbury School philosophy, I decided my job as an educator was to respect the path of the kids’ rivers, believe in their inherent desire to learn and create, and just to clear the way so each of their respective rivers could run unimpeded.

The result? Kids create at a genius level and LOVE coming to school (our biggest complaint by far is that our vacations are too long). 

A River Needs Banks

Here’s where people get me wrong. When I say “get out of the way,” they picture chaos — kids doing whatever they want, all day, with no direction.

The opposite is true. A river without banks isn’t free. It’s a swamp.
What makes a river powerful is that it’s channeled.

So we build banks. A rhythm to the day. A mentor who holds the vision alongside them. Real deadlines, real audiences, real stakes — a Shark Tank panel, a showcase, a published book. 

Accountability the child actually wants, because it’s pointed at their goal, not ours. True hope and optimism for the future.

Practically Speaking…

So what do the banks actually look like? The magical engine of Inside-Out Education is the two hours a day kids spend in our Genius Zone Project Rooms.

Parents tell me all the time: “There’s no way my kid could focus for two hours.” That’s true when it’s work they don’t want to do.

Genius Zone work is different. When the project is something a kid is genuinely excited about and wants to do — something that uses their natural talents and lines up with their values — focus stops being a battle. 

There’s literally nothing they’d rather be doing.

The kids work side by side in a Zoom room, heads down on their Genius Zone Project — the thing they love to do, are naturally great at, and care deeply about. 

As they work, they see the other kids working away on their projects, and the sense of camaraderie creates a wave of contagious focus.

The proof that this works? We never assign homework. And many of our students pour extra hours into their projects on their own time. Not because they have to — because they want to.

It turns out the river banks aren’t a cage. They’re a catapult.

Life Coaches? For Kids???

I got a life coach — when I was 45 — and it was incredibly helpful to have someone in my corner who believed in me and provided expertise, encouragement, and accountability.

I wondered what it would have been like if I’d had a life coach when I was a kid. So I made sure every one of our full-time students got paired with their own Life Coach — a caring, non-family adult they meet with one-on-one every week. 

Someone to ask: “How are your projects going? What could be going better? How are you feeling — and how’s life?” It’s someone in their corner to be accountable to, to be encouraged by, and — quietly powerful — someone they want to show up for, because they want to be as amazing as their coach believes they are.

Nouns, Verbs, and the Age of AI

Recently I wrote about how school trains kids to become nouns — doctor, lawyer, accountant, engineer — and how AI is rapidly taking over those noun jobs.

What I saw this year is the antidote. These kids aren’t being trained to be replaceable nouns. They’re becoming irreplaceable verbs — creating, building, healing, innovating, connecting — expressing exactly the divine human capacities no machine can replicate.

As we move into the Age of AI, we can’t afford to keep preparing our children the same way. It’s bad for the kids, and bad for the parents who support them.
The future is going to DEMAND that our kids be at their human best.

And as parents — why would we want anything less?

After using Studio Sprout for more than a year I asked Emily to do an interview with me.

Her answers left my heart beaming! Here is her story.

What was it like before you found Studio Sprout?

I struggled to put together an art curriculum. I was still learning which projects to use with each grade and material choices were exciting but overwhelming.

Finding your video tutorials and step-by-step lesson plans were a saving grace.

I've learned so much from you about materials and techniques and that's given me more confidence to add my own ideas to projects.

The supply lists are really helpful too. They get me organized which saves me time - I can plan ahead and go into the week knowing what to prep.

From the moment I reached out - even before I became a member - you were offering to help me. That kindness meant a lot to me.

The first Studio Sprout lesson we did was the Affirmation Portraits. It is a universally loved project at our school. I even got their classroom teachers involved.

The steps are easy to follow, and the end results are SPECTACULAR.

How does Studio Sprout continue to support you in the classroom?

I have a confession that surprises people when they learn what I do for a living: I graduated from high school hating history. Yes, the person who eventually created Historical Conquest, an educational card game designed to make history exciting, once considered history one of the least interesting subjects in school. It wasn't because history lacked fascinating stories. It was because so much of what I experienced involved reading textbooks, memorizing names and dates, completing worksheets, and preparing for tests. I learned enough to get through the assignments, but much of that information disappeared shortly afterward.

Looking back, I realize that I didn't necessarily hate history. I hated the way I was learning it. I loved games, competition, strategy, creativity, and figuring things out for myself. But those interests rarely found their way into my history lessons. What if someone had asked me to plan a Roman invasion, build a medieval castle, negotiate a peace treaty, or develop a game based on historical figures? Would I have approached history differently? I believe I would have.

That is why I encourage parents to occasionally put away the worksheet and give their children something they can build, investigate, debate, experience, or create. The objective isn't to eliminate reading or memorization. It is to give children experiences that make what they read meaningful enough to remember.

Why Hands-On Learning Can Make a Difference

Educational research supports combining instruction with active participation. Research on retrieval practice by psychologists Henry Roediger and Jeffrey Karpicke has demonstrated that actively recalling previously learned information can strengthen long-term retention. Research on active learning, including a major 2014 meta-analysis published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has also found improved academic performance in undergraduate science, engineering, and mathematics courses compared with traditional lecturing alone.

Although those findings do not mean every hands-on activity automatically improves learning, they reinforce an important principle: students benefit when they must think, explain, retrieve information, solve problems, and apply what they know.

A worksheet can certainly accomplish some of those things. But so can a historical simulation, model, game, debate, or creative project—and sometimes those activities reach students who have struggled to connect with traditional instruction.

Here are 25 activities homeschool parents can use to turn history into something children actively experience.

25 Hands-On History Activities for Your Homeschool

1. Build a Medieval Castle

Recommended Ages: 7–16

Use cardboard, building blocks, LEGO bricks, or recycled materials to construct a medieval castle. Have students research defensive walls, towers, gates, moats, and keeps before beginning. Then challenge them to explain how their castle would withstand an attack. Older students can calculate scale, estimate building materials, or compare castles from different regions.

What Students Learn: Medieval engineering, geography, military strategy, architecture, and problem-solving.

2. Create a Living Timeline

Recommended Ages: 6–18

Stretch a long piece of string across a room and attach cards representing historical events. Add pictures of historical figures, inventions, discoveries, and civilizations. As you study new subjects, place them on the timeline. Ask students what else was happening around the world during the same period.

What Students Learn: Chronology, cause and effect, historical connections, and the relationship between civilizations.

3. Hold a Historical Mock Trial

Recommended Ages: 10–18

Choose a historical controversy, such as whether a particular military commander made the right decision or whether a government policy was justified. Assign students roles as attorneys, witnesses, and judges. Require them to research the historical evidence and defend their arguments.

What Students Learn: Critical thinking, persuasive speaking, historical interpretation, and evaluating evidence.

4. Cook a Meal from History

Recommended Ages: 5–18

Research foods eaten in ancient Rome, colonial America, medieval Europe, or another historical society. Prepare a meal using accessible ingredients and discuss how geography, agriculture, trade, and economic circumstances influenced what people ate. Compare wealthy and ordinary households.

What Students Learn: Agriculture, trade, geography, culture, and everyday historical life.

5. Create a Historical Newspaper

Recommended Ages: 9–18

Have students become journalists covering an important historical event. They might report on the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, or the completion of the transcontinental railroad. Include headlines, interviews based on documented viewpoints, illustrations, and advertisements appropriate to the period.

What Students Learn: Writing, research, historical perspective, and distinguishing facts from interpretations.

See the rest of the list soon, here at www.MyLearningSource.com

That is the idea behind Eden's Table, the curriculum I write for K-5 families: one plant a week, studied slowly enough that your children actually remember it. Here is the rhythm we use, so you can try it this week with a plant from your own kitchen or yard.

Why one plant at a time works

Young children learn best when a subject has a face and a story, and a single plant gives them both. Over five days, one plant can carry Bible, science, language arts, math, art, history, geography, Latin and health without stacking ten subjects into one morning. You teach one thing well, and the other subjects ride along.

It is also how Scripture frames the work. In Genesis 2:15, Yahweh placed Adam in the garden to tend it and keep it. Teaching a child to notice, name and care for one plant is a small, real act of that same stewardship.

A five-day rhythm you can start this week

Choose a common kitchen herb from the grocery store, such as mint, basil or rosemary. Then:

1. Day 1, meet the plant. Look, smell and touch. Have your child sketch it and label the root, stem and leaf. Younger children can point and name; older children can write.
2. Day 2, read and wonder. Read Psalm 104:14 together and talk about why Yahweh made plants for both animals and people. Keep a list of your child's questions.
3. Day 3, kitchen lab. Make something simple, like a cup of mint tea or rosemary butter. A grown-up handles the stove and knives; children measure, stir and describe the smell and taste.
4. Day 4, count, map and remember. Count leaves, measure a stem and find on a map where the plant first grew. Ask how families long ago used it.
5. Day 5, tell it back. Ask your child to narrate what they learned in their own words, then add a drawing and one new word to a notebook page. That page becomes the start of a year-long record.

A note on safety

Start with herbs you bought or that an adult has positively identified. Children should never taste wild plants on their own, because some common Arkansas plants have toxic look-alikes. If your child has allergies or a health condition, check with your doctor before tasting anything new. Plant study is about observation and stewardship first.

If you want it done for you

Eden's Table builds this rhythm into 36 weeks of open-and-go lessons at two levels, Sprouts (K-2) and Seedlings (3-5). Each level teaches 36 different plants in three books (Teacher's Guide, Student Notebook and Read-Aloud Storybook), with kitchen labs, memory songs and a family story that runs through the year.

You can try a full week free. Sprouts begins with lavender and Seedlings with elderberry. Get Week 1 free

Using your Arkansas EFA

Eden's Table is an approved Arkansas Education Freedom Account vendor. You can order the printed set by invoice through ClassWallet Direct Pay, and our Arkansas page walks you through each step. See how to order with Arkansas EFA

I would love to hear what your children notice this week.

Camila
Founder, Eden's Table

Everything we teach kids about money is about how much.

How much to save. How much to spend. How much to give.

But somehow, it never feels like enough.

Because if you don't know what you want, no amount will ever be enough.

We assume we know what we want. But what if we don't?

The Awesome Stuff starts one step earlier. With a pause, and one question:

Is this my Awesome Stuff?

Sometimes the answer is yes.

But sometimes it's not. And the thing you wanted a moment ago just doesn't matter as much anymore.

I took my boys shopping once and gave them each some money. I told them to spend it however they wanted. But before they bought anything, they had to pause and ask: Is this my Awesome Stuff?

Will picked up a toy plane. I watched him pause. I watched him ask the question.

And then he bought the plane.

At first, I was a little bummed. Then I realized it didn't matter.

He paused. He thought about it. He bought it on purpose.

I wasn't trying to teach my kids not to buy things. I was teaching them to notice.

Now Will is a senior in high school. Over the years, I've watched him develop a clear sense of what's important to him. He doesn't seem caught up in chasing trends or wanting things just because his friends have them.

He knows what matters to him. And what doesn't.

That's what I want for my kids. Not perfect decisions. Thoughtful ones.

Try This With Your Kids Tonight

Ask them:

What's something you love even more than a room full of presents?

Let them answer. Don't rush the why.

Then tell them about something you really wanted that wasn't as amazing as you thought.

Ask them:

What's something you really wanted, but didn't like as much once you got it?

Then:

What's something you got that you loved just as much a year later?

That's it. Don't explain the lesson. Let them find their own answers.

Because the goal isn't to tell kids what's worth wanting.
It's to help them figure it out for themselves.

Start With a Conversation, Not a Lesson

That's the idea behind The Awesome Stuff Homeschool Program.

Five short conversations about spending, saving, investing, giving, and building a life you love. About 15 minutes each.

You'll get The Golden Quest, a story that brings the ideas to life, along with Discovery Cards, a parent guide, an ebook, an audiobook, and Reflection Pages for your kids.

One program for the whole family. One card works for everyone. Younger kids keep it simple. Older kids go deeper. And sometimes, the youngest child's answer is the one that hits hardest.

The Awesome Stuff Homeschool Program is an approved vendor for Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts, so eligible families can use their EFA funds to purchase it.

You don't need to be good with money to teach your kids about it.

You just have to wonder about it out loud, with your kids.