A Mother’s Role in Raising Sons

Here she shares her heart on raising and teaching sons. You may be surprised to learn that she begins with the story of a Nazi war criminal!

Education is Spiritual

Without realizing, we parents usually absorbed a visceral “definition” of education from our experiences as students in public schools. The unspoken beliefs were seen as the very essence of education. But are they? Seeking God’s Word for His view of education shows the exciting heart-based (rather than merely brain-based), personal, relational, rewarding adventure it was meant to be.

Hot Rods and Hope Chests: Boys and Girls and History

We men and women cannot stop laughing (or crying!) over the differences between us. Mom, are you considering these same differences when teaching history to your sons? We gals can enjoy relating to people of the past, but guys engage best when seeing God's historic unveiling of the potent truths which have past/present power and future impact. This audio will transform your odyssey through history, igniting in your boys and girls both current interest and world-changing vision!

Labcoats and Literature: How "Story" (Living Books) Can Power Your Homeschool

We use the terms "story" and "living books," but is there a meaningful difference between living books and regular materials? Does it matter? Michelle explains what truly makes a book "living" and why it is thus inspiring, powerful, unforgettable…and an ultimate tool for teaching. Using a test tube, a statue of The Thinker, and a goofy plastic flower, you can imagine that the concepts come to life entertainingly!

Mission Impossible

Michelle shares the painful realization that she has, while trying to be a good mother, unwittingly insinuated herself into areas of her sons' training where God has gifted men with special impacts. While exploring the unique post of fathers (in teaching godly manhood, building a work ethic, etc.), Michelle became conscious of powerful obstructions and their fettering of Christian parents trying to reproduce the faith in the next generation. Fathers (and mothers) report seeing the awesomeness and challenges of their mission in a whole new way!

yrotsiH: Do We Have "History" Backwards?

How did I have it backwards all those years as a student, even in my Christian school, and later when I began homeschooling too? The aim of those "history classes" was knowing more about people. Ironically, while I was teaching history that way, I was worried: Would my children know God? Would they be sure of His reality? Would His truths ever seem connected to real life? Finally, I realized! History is actually a prime opportunity to reveal God as Initiator (and much more), parade His truths convincingly, see the results of human response in the past, and prepare our offspring to gift the world with the truth now and in the future. Talk about "meaningful!"

SchoolhouseTeachers.com

Regular monthly contributor of Reading Recommendations column, for multiple years.

TOS 2015

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Numerous articles in Annual Print edition and monthly issues over the years.

TOS 2015

AJTL Renaissance Lapbook and Study Guide

with Nancy Fileccia & Paula Winget

"A Journey Through Learning" asked Michelle to provide textual “study guide” content for their lapbook on the Renaissance; the meaty addition is readable, engaging, informative, and contains spiritual insights.

A Journey Through Learning 2013

AJTL Vikings Lapbook and Study Guide

with Nancy Fileccia & Paula Winget

"A Journey Through Learning" asked Michelle to provide textual “study guide” content for their lapbook on Vikings; the meaty addition is readable, engaging, informative, and contains spiritual insights.

A Journey Through Learning 2013

AJTL Titanic Lapbook and Study Guide

with Nancy Fileccia & Paula Winget

"A Journey Through Learning" asked Michelle to provide textual “study guide” content for their lapbook on the Titanic; the meaty addition is readable, engaging, informative, and contains spiritual insights.

A Journey Through Learning 2012

AJTL American Revolution Lapbook and Study Guide

with Nancy Fileccia & Paula Winget

"A Journey Through Learning" asked Michelle to provide textual “study guide” content for their lapbook on the American Revolution; the meaty addition is readable, engaging, informative, and contains spiritual insights.

A Journey Through Learning 2011

TruthQuest History: Ancient Greece

Greek achievements (in government, art, architecture, math, science, and philosophy) were stellar, and we explore them thoroughly, but we can understand their outcome and legacy only when we probe their spiritual base. Thus, TQH: Ancient Greece offers students a prime example of the development and consequences of the humanist philosophy. Even their religion--the famed Greek mythology--was man-made. Students will fluently comprehend these issues, for they will be meeting these noted achievers in the context of their beliefs and contrasting those with God's eternal truths. (Part of a multiple-award-winning, spiritually probing, literature-based history curriculum; one of Cathy Duffy's 100, 101, and 102 "Top Picks.")

TruthQuest History/ThinkWrite LLC 2011

TruthQuest History: Beginnings (Creation/Old Testament/Ancients/Egypt

Explores the thrilling plans God set into motion when He created man and woman as His servants on this planet, as those plans shape history. Students see that they are next in the chain of God's work on earth! Also probes some of the great questions of life, such as human suffering. Focus is on God revealing Himself to the world through the Israelites and the writing of the Old Testament, and students also meet (and compare) neighboring civilizations which intersected with Israel, such as Sumer, Babylon, Egypt, Assyria, Hittites, Phoenicia, the Canaanites/Philistines, and proto-Greeks. Part of a multiple-award-winning, spiritually probing, literature-based history curriculum; one of Cathy Duffy's 100, 101, and 102 "Top Picks."

TruthQuest History/ThinkWrite LLC 2011

AJTL Welcome to Ellis Island Lapbook and Study Guide

with Nancy Fileccia & Paula Winget

"A Journey Through Learning" asked Michelle to provide textual “study guide” content for their lapbook on Ellis Island; the meaty addition is readable, engaging, informative, and contains spiritual insights.

A Journey Through Learning 2011

AJTL Pioneer Days Lapbook and Study Guide

with Nancy Fileccia & Paula Winget

"A Journey Through Learning" asked Michelle to provide textual “study guide” content for their lapbook on Pioneer Days and Westward Expansion; the meaty addition is readable, engaging, informative, and contains spiritual insights.

A Journey Through Learning 2011

AJTL Knights Lapbook and Study Guide

with Nancy Fileccia & Paula Winget

"A Journey Through Learning" asked Michelle to provide textual “study guide” content for their lapbook on Knights; it is readable, engaging, informative, and also contains spiritual nuggets where possible.

A Journey Through Learning 2011

Homeschooling Today Magazine

Regular monthly columnist and author of multiple articles over an extended period.

2010

TruthQuest History: Renaissance/Reformation/Exploration

This extremely important period—a fork in the road—reveals the different responses which developed to the ills of the late Middle Ages. We see where those before us sought answers (humanism or God’s Word), and how the “searchings” of the great artists, scientists, mathematicians, architects, businessmen, writers, philosophers, rulers, and explorers affected their awesome achievements. Their “truth quest” and the decisions made by many others in response, impacted the future of many nations--those which were on their way to cataclysm and those headed for greater freedom. The issues are not Catholic vs. Protestant, so can be used by people of both leanings. (Part of a multiple-award-winning, spiritually probing, literature-based history curriculum; one of Cathy Duffy's 100, 101, and 102 "Top Picks.")

TruthQuest History/ThinkWrite LLC 2005

TruthQuest History: Age of Revolution I (America/Europe, 1600-1800)

The big ideas of the previous two centuries (Renaissance & Reformation) fomented upheaval for society during the 1600s and 1700s: the Puritan Revolution and Glorious Revolution in England and Scotland, the Thirty Years' War in Central Europe, religious struggles in France, the work of Peter the Great in Russia, and the Scientific Revolution throughout Europe, etc. The same roiling issues led the Pilgrims into the Mayflower, as exploration and settlement of the New World (by many nations) began and impacted the Native Americans. As truths and untruths were further built upon, deep change came to many nations. The vast differences between the American and French Revolutions give convincing proof. The great musicians, scientists, and authors were also caught in the clash of ideas. Indeed, the so-called “Enlightenment” spread the humanistic ideas of Voltaire and Rousseau east to Frederick the Great's Prussia and Catherine the Great's Russia, and west to America. What were the results? Where might we see God's hand? (Part of a multiple-award-winning, spiritually probing, literature-based history curriculum; one of Cathy Duffy's 100, 101, and 102 "Top Picks.")

TruthQuest History/ThinkWrite LLC 2005

TruthQuest History: Age of Revolution II (America/Europe, 1800-1865)

It was during the 1800s that the river of humanism began to cut a many-streamed delta across the western world (Europe, America, etc.): mankind believed his "progress" placed him at the center of government, science, industry, philosophy, and literature, with the power to rewrite life's most basically-held truths. But the fountain of spiritual renewal was also bubbling in a concern for missions, abolition of slavery, revival, and more. News of the successful American Revolution had given many freedom-parched Europeans a desire for liberty too. Their problems were very real, but they had to decide who had the answers: God, Karl Marx, or the sophisticated humanism swiftly consuming even the Christian church. Meanwhile, we see Napoleon's conquests, the Industrial Revolution, the Romantic Movement in art, the rise of socialism, etc. In fledgling America, both the War of 1812 and the fearsome Civil War/War Between the States were faced, while pioneers poured into the new Louisiana Purchase and down the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails. (Part of a multiple-award-winning, spiritually probing, literature-based history curriculum; one of Cathy Duffy's 100, 101, and 102 "Top Picks.")

TruthQuest History/ThinkWrite LLC 2005

TruthQuest History: American History for Young Students III (1865-2000+)

From the Wild West to World War II...from the Wright Brothers to the Vietnam War...from the Arctic explorers to the heartbreak of September 11...students explore the dramatic people and events of our recent history. But this is no human-oriented study, for our real focus is a gentle probing of the spiritual upheaval of the period, as we prepare our children’s precious and innocent hearts to understand the nation around them. (Part of a multiple-award-winning, spiritually probing, literature-based history curriculum; one of Cathy Duffy's 100, 101, and 102 "Top Picks.")

TruthQuest History/ThinkWrite LLC 2005

TruthQuest History: American History for Young Students II (1800-1865)

America is off and running! She's settling in with her new presidents, and must show England (in the War of 1812) how serious she is about being a free nation. The wonderful values in America's Constitution fostered a surge of creativity and hard work, which helped kick off the Industrial Revolution in the U.S., and sent many more pioneers west. Excitement was in the air: trains were chugging, the Pony Express was zooming, new inventions were changing life, settlers were pouring down the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails, and whole new sections of the West were being added to America! But would American success lead to American pride? Would the people seek God first? The answer to that question helps children understand how America handled the problems she was facing: displaced Indians, terrible working conditions in many factories, the plight of slaves, enlarging government, and finally the Civil War. (Part of a multiple-award-winning, spiritually probing, literature-based history curriculum; one of Cathy Duffy's 100, 101, and 102 "Top Picks.")

TruthQuest History/ThinkWrite 2005

TruthQuest History: American History for Young Students I (Exploration-1800)

Youngsters love meeting Pocahontas and the Pilgrims, cowboys and Indians, George Washington and Daniel Boone, and enjoying the rich smorgasbord of living, don’t-miss books! Yet, children also seek meaning, so we don’t just present famous people and events, but nudge them to watch for God's hand, realize that He is real and active, grasp that only upon His principles can a nation be well-built, and that it is an honor to be his ambassador on the earth. (Part of a multiple-award-winning, spiritually probing, literature-based history curriculum; one of Cathy Duffy's 100, 101, and 102 "Top Picks.")

TruthQuest History/ThinkWrite LLC 2005

TruthQuest History: Age of Revolution III (America/Europe, 1865-2000+)

Tackling the most profound needs of our day (spiritual at their heart), students see that many folks were yearning for a world without God, a world wherein mankind did not spring from a Creator and could thus rule himself. Darwin granted their wish. But much more than an issue of primordial ooze and monkeys, evolution would fuel the unbelievably drastic changes which still shake western civilization in each sphere of life--art, law, human worth, government, education, science, business, and more. Students will also see that the euphoria of "progressivism" yielded deep discouragement and alienation, fueling the tragedies of the 1900s, such as World War I and II. Humanism’s fragmented and mechanical view of life was mourned in much modern art and music. Yet, that is not the end of the story! God and His truth are still the only source of life, freedom, prosperity, and joy. Thus, students will focus not on the post-modern, post-Christian world they are inheriting, but on the great mantle of authority which rests gloriously on the young believers who chooses to find their place in HIStory and share the revitalizing truth! (Part of a multiple-award-winning, spiritually probing, literature-based history curriculum; one of Cathy Duffy's 100, 101, and 102 "Top Picks.")

TruthQuest History/ThinkWrite LLC 2004

TruthQuest History: Ancient Rome

The study of Rome offers a unique insight into a civilization built on human power. Their understanding of it led to some excellent governmental and engineering advancements, but without acknowledging God's higher power, the stage was set for tyranny. Yet into this mighty realm, came the centerpiece of civilization--Jesus Christ! Why then? How did the early church begin to affect the world? Was it affected by the world? Why? The Roman emperors expected the church to collapse; instead, their empire did. Hmmm. That makes for some interesting history! The reasons must be learned by modern Americans, if a similar collapse is to be avoided. (Part of a multiple-award-winning, spiritually probing, literature-based history curriculum; one of Cathy Duffy's 100, 101, and 102 "Top Picks.")

TruthQuest History/ThinkWrite 2004

TruthQuest History: Middle Ages

The powerful Roman Empire, which had ruled the western world, was gone…but the Christian church wasn't! The “Middle” Ages had begun, and the church of that time had the incredible privilege of being the leading force in Europe. How did it handle that opportunity, especially when Roman mistakes made life after their empire so difficult? How did Christianity shape the watching kings and spreading feudal system? While humanistic historians call the early medieval centuries “dark,”TruthQuest History reveals different causes for the “darkness,” ones that modern Christians must understand, for we face similar challenges...and opportunities! Yes, the kids will go to battle with dashing knights and storm mighty castles, but they'll also see the deeper currents and the slowly upwelling spring of humanism which would overflow in the subsequent Renaissance period…and they'll know why! (Part of a multiple-award-winning, spiritually probinge period…and they'll know why!

TruthQuest History/ThinkWrite 2004