One of my favorite professional experiences was as the Director of Instructional Effectiveness at one of the nation’s largest private, Christian high schools. My role included implementing a framework for measuring and growing teacher effectivess. In working with teachers, I designed a simple system for developing expertise one tiny step at a time. This is the same approach I have to maintaining excellence in my own homeschool experience and coaching other moms to sustainable homeschool success.

While the director, I also led the creation of a school-wide curriculum. The guiding principles for the design were centered on objectives that were easy to measure yet challenged students toward critical, real-world thinking. Each lesson objective was aligned with the overall goal of helping students achieve the disciplines and character that support successful, adult, Christian life. The principles I’ve used for years as a professional educator can be translated to the homeschool context to promote freedom, confidence, effectiveness, and enjoyment.