Yes, homeschoolers qualify

This is the first question, so let's settle it. The Minnesota Department of Revenue's Income Tax Fact Sheet 8 says that if your child is in kindergarten through 12th grade, "it does not matter if they are attending a public, private, parochial, or home school." The condition: as a home school, you must report to your local public school district each year and meet the reporting requirements of Minnesota's compulsory attendance laws. In practice that means the reports you send your resident district's superintendent under Minn. Stat. 120A.24 — the initial report, then a letter of intent to continue by October 1 each year. If you're doing those, you're in.

The credit: money back, even if you owe no tax

The K–12 Education Credit (Minn. Stat. 290.0674) equals 75% of what you paid for qualifying education expenses for a child in grades K–12, up to $1,500 per child. It's refundable. If the credit is bigger than your Minnesota income tax, Revenue sends you the difference. That makes it the more valuable of the two benefits for families who qualify.

The catch is an income limit, measured by adjusted gross income, and you can't claim it if you're married filing separately. Here are the numbers, by tax year:

• Tax year 2025 (the return you filed in 2026): the full $1,500-per-child maximum applies with adjusted gross income of $75,820 or less. Above that it shrinks, and you don't qualify at $81,820 or more with one or two children, $84,820 with three, or $87,820 plus $3,000 for each additional child.
• Tax year 2026 (expenses you pay this year, claimed on the return you file in 2027): Revenue's inflation-adjusted phase-out threshold is $77,550, and income must be less than $83,550 with one or two children, $86,550 with three, or $89,550 plus $3,000 for each additional child.

The subtraction: for everyone else, too

The K–12 Education Subtraction (Minn. Stat. 290.0132, subd. 4) has no income limit and works with any filing status. Instead of a refund, you subtract qualifying expenses from your taxable income, up to $1,625 for each child in kindergarten through 6th grade and $2,500 for each child in 7th through 12th grade. There's no family maximum, only a per-child maximum. Because it lowers taxable income rather than paying you directly, what it's worth depends on your tax bracket. It's smaller than the credit dollar for dollar, but it's there for every family, including those over the credit's income limit.

What they pay for

Revenue's Fact Sheet 8a on home school expenses is the list to keep handy. In short:

• Counts: nonreligious textbooks, reading books, academic books and teacher's editions; paper, pens, art and shop supplies; buying or renting equipment such as musical instruments and calculators; testing fees for grade advancement; tutoring, music lessons and academic enrichment from a qualified instructor.
• Counts, with a limit: home computer hardware and educational software, up to $200 per family for the credit and $200 for the subtraction.
• Doesn't count: internet service, memberships (museums, zoos, the YMCA), correspondence school fees, desks and whiteboards, encyclopedias, PSAT, SAT or ACT fees, seminars for the parent, religious instruction, and instruction by the child's parent, grandparent or sibling.

That last one surprises people. You can't count your own teaching time. The credit and subtraction cover what you pay others and what you buy.

How the two fit together

You can't use the same expense for both. Revenue says to figure the credit first, then use any qualifying expenses the credit's limits left over for the subtraction. One rule trips families up: the 25% of expenses the credit doesn't cover can't be moved to the subtraction. Spend $1,000 on curriculum for one child, qualify for the credit, and you get $750 back. The other $250 is simply done.

How you claim

There's no application, no approval and no approved-vendor list. You claim the credit on Schedule M1ED and carry it to Schedule M1REF; you claim the subtraction on Schedule M1M (line 13 on the 2025 form). You claim expenses in the year you paid them. You don't mail receipts with your return, but you must keep itemized receipts and invoices and show them if Revenue asks. And if your income is low enough that you don't normally file, you have to file to get the refundable credit.

A lot of families already use them

Revenue reported in August 2026 that, last year, more than 46,000 families received the K–12 Education Credit, for an average credit of $389, and more than 123,000 families received the subtraction, for an average of $1,491. Those numbers include every kind of school, not just home schools.

One change to know

Minnesota used to let qualifying families assign their refund to a bank or nonprofit to get the money sooner. That law, Minn. Stat. 290.0679, was repealed for assignments after December 31, 2025. You now claim the credit the ordinary way, on your return.

A family running the numbers

The Lindqvists homeschool a 4th grader and an 8th grader near Brainerd and file jointly, with adjusted gross income of about $70,000 in 2025. That year they paid $900 for math, science and literature books for both kids, $600 for Tuesday-evening algebra tutoring for their older son from a tutor with a bachelor's degree, and $300 for a used laptop. On Schedule M1ED, the books and tutoring came to $1,500, plus $200 of the laptop (the most the credit allows for computers), for $1,700. Seventy-five percent of that is $1,275 — well under their $3,000 maximum for two children, so their credit was $1,275. The other $100 of the laptop went to the subtraction on Schedule M1M, under its own $200 computer limit.

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

Your checklist

• File your initial report and your October 1 letter of intent with your district each year.
• Keep an itemized receipt for every curriculum, supply and lesson purchase.
• Check tutors' and teachers' qualifications before you pay.
• Figure the credit first; send leftovers to the subtraction.
• Use the tax year 2026 income limits for what you pay in 2026.
• File a Minnesota return even if you owe nothing, if you qualify for the credit.

For curriculum, tutors and classes, browse our Minnesota vendor directory, and check the Minnesota Education Calendar for fairs and testing dates. A listing on My Learning Source doesn't mean a purchase qualifies — only Revenue decides that.

My Learning Source is an independent marketplace and is not affiliated with the Minnesota Department of Revenue, the Minnesota Department of Education, any Minnesota school district or the Minnesota Legislature. Tax rules, forms, line numbers and income limits change from year to year — confirm the current Revenue instructions or ask a tax professional before you file. Family examples are composites, not real individuals.

The short answer

• Virginia has one private-choice program: the Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits program, created in 2012.
• It gives donors a state tax credit for gifts to approved scholarship foundations. The foundations give scholarships for private school costs.
• There's no education savings account, no voucher and no state tax credit or deduction for what parents spend on homeschooling or private school.
• As the Code reads now, the donor credit applies to taxable years before January 1, 2028.
• The IRS lists Virginia as taking part in the new federal scholarship tax credit for 2027.

The Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credit

The program lives in §§ 58.1-439.25 through 58.1-439.28 of the Code of Virginia. A person who gives money or marketable securities to a scholarship foundation on the Department of Education's annual list earns a Virginia tax credit equal to 65% of the gift. An individual has to give at least $500, and credits are issued only on the first $125,000 an individual gives in a taxable year. That limit doesn't apply to businesses. The Department of Education issues credits first-come, first-served, and no more than $25 million in credits can be issued in a fiscal year. A credit that's more than the donor's tax can be carried forward for five years.

The foundations must spend at least 90% of the tax-credit donations they receive on scholarships, and the scholarships pay qualified educational expenses — tuition, instructional fees and school-related materials — at nonpublic schools. Students qualify through income limits and the law's school history rules: for example, a student who attended a Virginia public school for at least half of the current or prior year, a child eligible to enter kindergarten or first grade, a prior scholarship recipient, or a student who just moved to Virginia.

Why homeschool families can't use it

The scholarships pay a nonpublic school. A family teaching at home under the home instruction law or the religious exemption isn't enrolled in one, so there's nothing for a scholarship to pay. That's not a judgment about homeschooling. It's how the program is written.

The sunset to watch

§ 58.1-439.26 says the credit applies to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, but before January 1, 2028. Unless the General Assembly extends it, donors can't earn the state credit for gifts in 2028 and later. If you give to a scholarship foundation, or your child's private school depends on these scholarships, keep an eye on the 2027 session.

The federal scholarship tax credit

Starting January 1, 2027, a new federal credit lets donors claim up to $1,700 ($3,400 if filing jointly) for cash gifts to a scholarship-granting organization on a participating state's list. States choose each year. The IRS lists Virginia among states participating for 2027, as of October 22, 2026. We didn't find an official Virginia page on the election or a list of organizations as of November 2, and news reports in October said the decision for later years was unsettled. We'll update our guide when the Commonwealth posts its process.

What doesn't exist

• No education savings account.
• No voucher.
• No state tax credit or deduction for homeschool costs.
• No state approved-vendor list for homeschool purchases.

Virginia does fund public options — charter schools, college partnership laboratory schools, governor's schools and division-run virtual programs — but those are public schools, not homeschooling. A child enrolled in one is a public school student.

What it means for homeschool families

For most Virginia homeschool families, school choice programs simply don't touch the budget. You pay your own way. The money questions that matter are practical: testing or an evaluator for the August 1 evidence of progress, dual enrollment tuition at a community college, driver's ed, and curriculum. Your legal footing doesn't depend on any of these programs. It comes from the home instruction statute and the religious exemption.

Homeschooling's legal footing in Virginia

None of these programs is what makes homeschooling legal. Virginia law gives parents three routes. Home instruction under § 22.1-254.1 is the one most families use: a notice to the division superintendent by August 15 with a list of subjects and evidence of one of four options, then evidence of progress by August 1 after each year. The religious exemption under § 22.1-254(B)(1) is a separate route through the school board for families conscientiously opposed to school attendance for bona fide religious reasons. And § 22.1-254 also allows teaching by a tutor or teacher with the Board of Education's qualifications, approved by the superintendent. School choice programs change with legislative sessions; these routes are the ones your family's education rests on.

The home instruction statute opens with a line worth knowing: when its requirements are met, instruction of children by their parents is "an acceptable alternative form of education under the policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia."

A family weighing it

The Coleman family in Chesapeake homeschools two daughters and has a son at a small private school. Their son's school told them about the scholarship foundations, and because he attended public school the year before and their income fit the limits, he received a scholarship that covered part of his tuition. For the girls, nothing changed: the family still files a notice by August 15 and sends test scores by August 1, and they budget for curriculum themselves.

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

Questions families ask

Is there any Virginia money for homeschoolers? We found no state program that pays homeschool costs as of November 2026.

Could a federal scholarship pay homeschool costs? That depends on federal rules and on each organization's choices. Don't count on it until an organization tells you in writing.

Does choosing private school for one child affect the others? No. Each child's schooling is separate. One can attend a private school while siblings are taught at home.

For the dates that do matter, see the Virginia Education Calendar, and for curriculum and classes, our Virginia vendor directory.

My Learning Source is an independent marketplace and is not affiliated with the Virginia Department of Education, Virginia Tax, the IRS, the Office of the Governor or any scholarship foundation. Programs, credits and deadlines change — confirm current rules with the agency or organization that runs each one before you act. Family examples are composites, not real individuals.

The short version

• It's a refundable Oklahoma income tax credit of up to $1,000 per eligible homeschool student per tax year. It has been available since tax year 2024.
• It pays back 100% of qualified expenses you paid during the calendar year, up to $1,000 per student.
• Refundable means that if the credit is bigger than the Oklahoma tax you owe, the Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC) sends you the difference.
• There is no application. You claim it on your Oklahoma return with a separate Form 591-D for each student, plus copies of your receipts.
• Expenses over $1,000 for one student can't be carried to another year.

Who counts as a homeschool student

The law behind the credit is the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act, 70 O.S. 28-101. For the homeschool credit, the student has to live in Oklahoma, be eligible to enroll in an Oklahoma public school, and be educated under the "other means of education" exception in 70 O.S. 10-105, the compulsory attendance law. Form 591-D says the student must be at least 4 years old by September 1 of the year you claim.

Two groups get tripped up here. First, a student enrolled in a virtual charter school is a public school student, even though the work happens at the kitchen table. That student doesn't count. Second, you can't claim expenses from any semester your child was enrolled in a public or private school. On Form 591-D you attest that the student wasn't enrolled in a public or private school for two semesters that year. The OTC's rule describes homeschool as full-time education in the home.

Who can claim it

The Oklahoma taxpayer who actually paid. That can be a biological or adoptive parent, a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, a legal guardian, a custodian or another person with legal authority to act for the student. Only one person can claim the credit for a given student. If Grandma pays for the math curriculum and you pay for the tutor, sort out ahead of time who files for that child, because the credit can't be split between two returns.

What counts

The statute and the 2025 Form 591-D list four kinds of qualified homeschool expenses:

• Tuition and fees for nonpublic learning programs, online or in person.
• Academic tutoring from an individual or a private tutoring facility.
• Textbooks, curriculum and other instructional materials, including supplemental materials or associated online instruction required by an education service provider.
• Fees for nationally standardized assessments, such as college admission tests and AP exams, and tutoring or prep courses for those tests.

The form's instructions also list what doesn't count: internet access; laptops, tablets, screens or any device that provides internet access or is needed to use your materials; equipment for sports, dance, music or other elective lessons; memberships; and field trips. Each expense can be claimed only once, so a family subscription shared by three kids is one expense, not three.

How you claim it

You claim the credit on the return for the year you paid the expenses. Money you spend in 2026 goes on your 2026 Oklahoma return, which you file in 2027. The OTC's income tax help page says Oklahoma returns are typically due April 15.

• Fill out one Form 591-D for each homeschool student.
• List each expense: its type, the vendor, a description, the date you paid and the amount.
• Use Form 591-D-SUP if you have more than 10 expenses for a student.
• Attach legible copies of every receipt.
• File it with your Form 511 (residents) or 511-NR. The OTC won't process a 591-D on its own.

On the 2025 forms, the credit goes on Form 511, Part Three, line 29 (Form 511-NR, line 29). The OTC hadn't posted a 2026 Form 591-D when we checked in October 2026, so look for the current version before you file.

The cap you should know about

Starting with tax year 2026, homeschool credits statewide are capped at $5 million a year. If claims would go over, the law has the OTC publish a percentage that scales everyone's credit down. The OTC's reports show $3,588,881 claimed on 2,716 returns for tax year 2024 and $4,475,649 on 4,001 returns for tax year 2025 (preliminary). That's under the cap, but the number of families claiming is climbing. We found no published reduction percentage as of October 2026.

A family that did it right

Dana Whitfield homeschools two boys near Stillwater. In 2025 she bought a math program and a literature set for each of them, paid a local tutor for her older son's algebra, and paid the ACT fee in the spring. She kept every receipt in a folder taped inside a kitchen cabinet. When tax time came, she filled out two Forms 591-D, one per boy, and split the shared science kit by listing it once on her younger son's form. Her older son's expenses came to $1,240, so she got $1,000 for him. Her younger son's came to $610, so she got $610. Because both were taught at home the whole year, neither tripped the enrollment rule.

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

Common mistakes

• Claiming a laptop or tablet. Devices aren't covered, even for online classes.
• Claiming the same family subscription for two children.
• Claiming expenses from a semester a child spent in public school or a virtual charter school.
• Throwing away receipts. The OTC can audit and take back credits it finds don't qualify.
• Waiting until April to look for paperwork. Start a receipt folder in January.

Where to go next

Keep your receipts, read the current form when it's posted, and talk to a tax professional if your situation is unusual. If you're shopping for the year, our Oklahoma vendor directory lists curriculum, tutoring and class providers, and the Oklahoma Education Calendar has test dates and homeschool days. Ask any provider for an itemized, paid receipt. It's the single most useful thing for your Form 591-D.

My Learning Source is an independent marketplace and is not affiliated with the Oklahoma Tax Commission, the Oklahoma State Department of Education or the Oklahoma Legislature. Tax rules and forms change every year — confirm the current Form 591-D and instructions with the Oklahoma Tax Commission or a tax professional before you file. Family examples are composites, not real individuals.

Why Does Losing a Game Feel Different From Failing a Test?

Imagine watching your child play their favorite video game. They spend twenty minutes navigating obstacles, solving puzzles, and defeating opponents. Suddenly, they make one wrong move. Their character loses, and the screen flashes "Game Over." What happens next? They immediately press "Try Again."

Now imagine that same child struggling with a mathematics worksheet. They get several answers wrong, push the paper away, and declare, "I'm terrible at math!" Why can the same child respond to failure in two completely different ways?

The answer involves psychology, motivation, and how we present challenges. Games often make failure feel temporary, while traditional school assignments can sometimes make mistakes feel like judgments of intelligence. What if parents could make academic challenges feel more like video games, where every unsuccessful attempt becomes another opportunity to improve?

The Science of Productive Failure

Educational researchers have discovered that struggling with a problem bef

ore receiving instruction can sometimes produce deeper understanding. Professor Manu Kapur calls this approach productive failure. Instead of immediately providing the correct answer, teachers allow students to experiment, make mistakes, and investigate possible solutions befor

e explaining the underlying concepts.

A 2021 meta-analysis by Kapur and colleagues examined 53 studies comparing problem-solving before instruction with traditional instruction followed by problem-solving. Researchers found a moderate overall learning advantage for the problem-solving-first approach, with a standardized effect size of approximately 0.36.

Imagine a student learning about electricity. Rather than immediately explaining how circuits work, a parent provides a battery, insulated wires, and a small low-voltage bulb. The student experiments with different connections until the bulb illuminates. Their unsuccessful attempts create questions that make the eventual scientific explanation more meaningful.

The important lesson is that failure itself does not guarantee learning. Students need appropriate challenges, helpful guidance, and opportunities to understand their mistakes.

Why Video Games Make Trying Again Exciting

Well-designed video games introduce increasingly difficult challenges while providing immediate feedback. Players discover what went wrong, adjust their strategy, and attempt the challenge again. This creates a powerful learning cycle:

Attempt → Feedback → Adjustment → Another Attempt → Improvement

Interestingly, this process resembles the scientific method. Scientists develop hypotheses, conduct experiments, analyze results, and modify their understanding. Their discoveries often emerge through repeated attempts rather than immediate success.

Club Piklbal is a community-centered, indoor pickleball club that welcomes players of all ages and abilities. Whether you are just beginning or an experienced player, we have something for you. For more information, please visit our website at www.ClubPiklbal.com or email us at Play@ClubPiklbal.com

Why Kids Need to Move: Beyond Recess

The Power of CrossFit: Strength First, Conditioning Second

1. The First Half: Strength Training for Developing Bodies

• Neuromuscular coordination: Teaching the brain and muscles to work together efficiently.
• Skeletal strength: Increasing bone mineral density during crucial developmental years.
• Body awareness: Enhancing balance, kinesthetic awareness, and joint stability.
  
  

2. The Second Half: Metabolic Conditioning

Building More Than Muscle

Genesis 1:11-12 tells us God made every plant to carry its own seed, each after its kind. After the flood, He promised that seedtime and harvest would not cease as long as the earth remains (Genesis 8:22). A seed hunt lets your children see that promise for themselves. It costs nothing, fits in one afternoon, and works for every age at your table.

What You Need

A paper bag or egg carton for each child, a magnifying glass if you have one, and a notebook. Your yard, a friend's farm or a neighborhood walk all work. Many parks don't allow collecting, so check the rules or just look and draw there.

A word on safety. Nothing found outdoors goes in anyone's mouth. An adult should positively identify a plant before little hands pick from it, because some common Arkansas plants, like pokeweed, have poisonous berries. Bring gloves for prickly seed heads, wash hands afterward, and check with your doctor about any allergies or health conditions.

The Seed Hunt, Step by Step

Gather. Walk slowly and look low and high for acorns, pine cones, sweetgum balls, winged seeds, dried sunflower or coneflower heads, and pods left in the garden. Take one or two of each and leave plenty behind. Our heavenly Father feeds the birds (Matthew 6:26), and in November He often does it with these very seeds. Taking a little and leaving a lot is stewardship a five-year-old can practice.

Sort. Spread everything on the table. Younger children sort by size, color or shape. Older children sort by how each seed travels: on the wind, hitching a ride on fur or socks, carried off and buried by animals, or just dropping and rolling. Ask them to point to the part that does the work. Each design fits its job, and that is no accident.

Draw. Each child picks one seed and draws it large with the magnifying glass. A kindergartner can label it with a word or two. A fourth grader can measure it, describe its texture and write a sentence about how it travels and what plant it came from.

Save. Flower seeds like sunflower and coneflower can go in a paper envelope labeled with the name, date and place found. Keep it cool and dry. Acorns are different: they die if they dry out, so press a few into a pot of soil right away. Many tree and wildflower seeds need a winter's cold before they sprout, so leave the pot outside and watch it in spring.

The Lesson Under the Lesson

When you finish, read John 12:24 together. A seed has to fall into the ground before it can bear fruit. That is a picture of the gospel your children can hold in their hand.

It fits this month, too. In 2 Corinthians 9:10-11, Paul describes God as the One who gives seed to the sower and bread for food, and he ties that provision to thanksgiving. At your Thanksgiving table, let each child show their drawing and share one thing they noticed. Gratitude grows when children have looked closely at what they are thankful for.

Where to Go from Here

Slow, hands-on looking like this is what Eden's Table is built on: one plant a week for 36 weeks, taught through Scripture, science and the rest of the school day. Week 1 is free: lavender for Sprouts (K-2) and elderberry for Seedlings (3-5).

Get Week 1 free: https://edeninstitute.health/freebies?utm_source=my_learning_source&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=directory_listing&utm_content=november_article

Planning to use Education Freedom Account funds for something new in January, from any provider? It helps to start now. The state reviews each Direct Pay request before paying it, which can take several weeks, longer in busy stretches. Our Arkansas page explains ordering by invoice through ClassWallet.

Arkansas EFA ordering guide: https://edeninstitute.health/esa/arkansas?utm_source=my_learning_source&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=directory_listing&utm_content=november_article

Camila
Founder, Eden's Table

After watching my seventeen year old daughter progress through the first level of The Animation Course, I began to understand how this worked so well. 

A Principle Approach

Both my daughter and I were unfamiliar with the basic principles behind animation. We had watched a lot of animation on the screen together over the years, without having any understanding of the techniques being used to transform interconnected lines on a flat screen into a living, moving 3D image in our minds. It's a bit like learning about the rules of perspective in art and then looking at a painting and seeing how that technique was employed. Like in any kind of 3D art medium, there are techniques that make this illusion convincing. There's a reason Van Gogh's Starry Night looks so high and grand and far away; Van Gogh used specific techniques of perspective to create that impression on the canvas, but until you know the technique, you only feel the effect of it. While no one may hang your work in an art gallery, you can use the same techniques with a pencil and scrap paper to produce the effect of distance. 

So too with animation. While my daughter is not animating a Disney movie, she now can both understand and employ some of the simpler techniques used by animators to create the illusion of movement. And because animation itself can be as simple as a black and white drawing, or as complicated as a blockbuster movie, the students are able to put these techniques into practice at a level that suits their maturity and experience. 

Making the Grade

The grading system in the Animation Course couldn't be simpler. If the assignment is completed satisfactorily, the student receives an A minus. If they do outstanding work, they might get something higher. Or they might fail to submit work at all. Grades are typically used by both student and parent to know if a student is mastering the material, and it serves this base line purpose. But the feedback from the individual instructor is where the real gold of this program lies. By offering specific, one-on-one feedback, the student is given targeted advice that allows them to improve, and directs them to the specific problems they might have in their work. This is the kind of feedback that cannot be transmitted by a letter grade. My daughter found it quite motivating to be given specific details that would improve her work, and then have her instructor acknowledge where she had improved the following week. Even though the feedback was fairly brief and just an impersonal video, it was a weekly acknowledgement of where she had succeeded. Her animation homework visibly improved as a result of the feedback she received. 

Making Progress 

The final aspect of The Animation Course instruction that really impressed me was the incremental nature of the instruction being given. The lessons were well-organized in a way that allowed the students to build on the previous lesson. In this way, the feedback my daughter received from her grader allowed her to 'fix' those mistakes in her next assignment. She was able to continue practicing skills taught in the first lessons in each assignment, while simultaneously adding new ones. This is exactly how a good class should be structured, and provides the scaffolding a student needs to develop at their own pace. After completing the first level of The Animation Course, my daughter is not only excited to continue with level two, but is working on sketches for animating a music video, just for the fun of doing so. The techniques she learned through The Animation Course were taught thoroughly enough that she is now able to put them into practice on her own, which is exactly what a good class is all about.

More Than Physical Education: Why MMA Is Great for Homeschool Families

Homeschooling families understand that education goes far beyond textbooks and classrooms. Building confidence, developing character, staying physically active, and learning to work with others are all important parts of raising capable, well-rounded children.

At Championship MMA in Van Buren, Arkansas, we provide an opportunity for homeschooled students to develop these essential life skills through structured martial arts training.

We also understand that many parents choose homeschooling because they want greater influence over their children’s learning environment, safety, and the values they’re exposed to.

Socialization matters, but so does the environment in which it takes place.

Our classes give children opportunities to build friendships, interact with peers, practice teamwork, and develop communication skills in a safe, structured, positive atmosphere where respect, discipline, and accountability are expected.

Students learn authentic Boxing, Wrestling, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu while developing physical fitness, coordination, self-defense skills, and the confidence that comes from overcoming challenges.

At Championship MMA, we believe martial arts should do more than teach children how to defend themselves. It should help them become young people who are confident, respectful, disciplined, and prepared for life’s challenges.

We’re proud to be an Arkansas Education Freedom Account (EFA) program vendor and welcome homeschooling families looking for a meaningful addition to their children’s education.

Championship MMA | Van Buren, Arkansas

www.vanburenmma.com

At The Diamond Standard Coaching, we believe leadership is a skill that can be developed. Students don't have to wait until they're older or hold a specific title to begin building confidence, responsibility, and resilience. Leadership grows through everyday experiences, one decision at a time.

The foundation of leadership starts with personal responsibility. When students learn to manage their time, stay organized, communicate effectively, and follow through on commitments, they develop habits that serve them well in school and throughout life. These everyday skills help students become dependable, confident, and prepared to face challenges with a positive mindset.

Strong student leaders demonstrate qualities such as:

• Taking initiative instead of waiting for someone else to act

• Treating others with kindness and respect

• Communicating clearly and listening to understand

• Solving problems with creativity and perseverance

• Learning from mistakes and continuing to grow

One of the biggest misconceptions about leadership is that confidence comes first. In reality, confidence is built through action. Every time a student volunteers an idea, helps a classmate, takes on a challenge, or steps outside their comfort zone, they strengthen their belief in themselves. Small moments of courage eventually become lasting confidence.

Leadership also looks different for every student. Some students naturally enjoy speaking in front of groups, while others lead quietly through consistency, empathy, and encouragement. Helping students recognize their unique strengths allows them to develop an authentic leadership style rather than trying to fit someone else's definition of a leader.

As students prepare for college, careers, and adulthood, leadership skills become increasingly valuable. Employers and colleges consistently look for individuals who can communicate, collaborate, solve problems, and adapt to change. These are skills that extend far beyond the classroom and create opportunities throughout life.

At The Diamond Standard Coaching, our leadership coaching helps students develop practical skills they can use every day, including:

• Building confidence and self-awareness

• Strengthening communication and decision-making

• Setting meaningful goals and creating action plans

• Developing resilience when facing challenges

• Learning to collaborate and inspire others

Every student has leadership potential. With the right guidance, encouragement, and opportunities to grow, students can develop the confidence and character to make a positive impact in their schools, families, communities, and future careers.

Leadership isn't about having a title. It's about becoming the kind of person others trust, respect, and want to follow. And that journey begins with learning to lead yourself.

• Needs more academic challenge
• Learns significantly ahead of grade level
• Is gifted or highly advanced in one or more areas
• Is twice-exceptional
• Is not thriving in a traditional classroom
• Needs greater flexibility in how they learn
• Wants to learn with other intellectually curious students

LEGO bricks do more than entertain. They strengthen fine motor skills, problem solving, and spatial thinking. They also help students turn abstract ideas into something they can hold and test.

Red Mountain Bricks already uses that approach in our store. Brick Bunch is our regular children’s class. It is fun and entertaining, with guided builds and creative play. Brick Explorers Academy is our homeschool program. It covers similar building skills, but with a stronger educational focus. Several of these classes use official LEGO Education sets, so students work with tools designed for real classroom learning.

Additionally, Katy, one of our owners, is a Utah licensed professional in art education. Additionally, she has 20 years of experience teaching art. That background shapes how we plan each class. Lessons have clear goals and age-appropriate challenges. Students follow a guided build when needed, then use those skills to invent their own designs.

Red Mountain Bricks is an authorized vendor for the Utah Fits All Scholarship and the Children First Education Fund. Qualifying families can use scholarship funds for our classes.

We can also support teachers, homeschool groups, and schools. We help plan lessons, supply bricks and Education sets, and host special classes or events at the store. Our team participates in school STEM and STEAM events. Possible themes include habitats, simple machines, mosaics, stop-motion projects, or a shared classroom city. Share the grade level and learning goal, and we will design a build that fits.

Ready to bring brick-based learning into this school year? Check current classes at events.redmountainbricks.com. Or visit us at Phoenix Plaza, 929 W Sunset Blvd, Ste 2 and ask about a custom session for your students.

Whether your child eagerly reaches for chapter books or needs encouragement to open one, these simple ideas can help you create reading moments they look forward to.

Start With Their Interests

A child who loves animals might enjoy a funny pet story. A reader fascinated by mysteries might be drawn to clues, puzzles, and unexpected discoveries.

Ask what they would like to read about, then offer a few choices. Picture books, graphic novels, nonfiction, and chapter books can all have a place in their reading life.

Reading level is one consideration. The subject, format, and maturity of the story matter, too. Look for books that feel approachable while giving your child something interesting to explore.

Attach Reading to Something You Already Do

Choose a familiar part of your day: after breakfast, during an afternoon break, or before bed.

Begin with an amount of time that feels manageable for your family. You might share one picture book or read a chapter together. A routine you can comfortably repeat is easier to maintain.

Keep a small basket of books nearby so getting started takes very little preparation.

Keep Reading Together

Independent reading does not have to replace shared reading.

Take turns reading pages, read aloud while your child draws, or enjoy a story together after the schoolwork is finished. Older children can enjoy being read to as well.

Let conversation happen naturally. You might ask which character surprised them or what they think will happen next. Some days, simply enjoying the story together is enough.

Make Room for Favorite Books

A book does not have to be new to be worth reading.

Children often return to familiar stories because they love the characters, illustrations, humor, or comfort of knowing what comes next.

Keep those favorites within reach while introducing new choices alongside them. A personal bookshelf can hold both well-loved stories and adventures waiting to be discovered.

Give Them Something to Look Forward To

A library visit, choosing the next family read-aloud, or receiving a book in the mail can add anticipation to your routine.

For families who enjoy discovering books at home, an Owl Post Books book club offers handpicked selections delivered each month. Options include Imagination Minis with one book and Imagination Boxes with three books, with age groups from babies through YA readers.

Every book is theirs to keep, giving readers new choices for their growing home library.

Explore Owl Post Books for Your Family

Owl Post Books was founded in 2017 and is owned by an educator with 18 years of teaching experience. Our book clubs help families discover stories for readers at different ages and stages.

Choose monthly, 3, 6, or 12-month subscription options, with free subscription shipping. Holiday gift shoppers can also select their first holiday ship date at checkout.

Explore our book clubs and holiday gifts:
https://www.owlpostbooks.com/holiday-gifts

However you build your routine, leave room for your reader’s interests. A comfortable spot, an inviting book, and a little time together are a lovely place to begin.

School of Rock Greenville brings music to life with programs for ages 3 through Adult. With instruction in guitar, bass, drums, keys, and vocals, students can discover their first instrument or take their existing skills to the next level.

Our performance-based approach combines private instruction with band rehearsals in select programs, giving students the opportunity to learn songs, collaborate, and perform together. Along the way, they build confidence, make friends, and become part of a supportive musical community.

Tier 1 Pre-enrollment is now open! Become a Headliner Founding Member by November 14 and receive a waived $149 registration fee, a $100 gift card, a Headliner T-shirt, a swag bag, and scheduling preference, subject to availability.

One refundable $250 deposit reserves your whole family’s spot—even with multiple students! Your deposit will be credited toward your first month’s tuition, or refunded if the program isn’t the right fit.

Program Info at a glance...

• Little Wing | Ages 3–5: Playful music activities introduce rhythm, melody, and instruments while building listening and teamwork skills.

• Rookies | Ages 6–7: Students explore guitar, bass, drums, keys, and vocals in a group setting while learning musical fundamentals.

• Rock 101 | Ages 8–13: Beginner to intermediate students build foundational skills through a weekly 30-minute private lesson and 2–3-hour band rehearsal.

• Performance | Ages 8–18, based on readiness: Students develop their skills through a weekly 30-minute private lesson and 2–3-hour band rehearsal, preparing for live shows at real venues.

• Adult Program | Ages 18+: Adults learn and grow as musicians while rehearsing with a band and preparing for live performances.

• Lessons Only | Typically ages 7–adult: Weekly 30-minute private lessons provide personalized instruction in guitar, bass, drums, keys, or vocals.

• House Band | Eligible youth students, by audition: Selected students represent School of Rock Greenville through additional rehearsals and performances at community events and venues.

Enroll + More Information on Programs & Pricing Here: https://pci.jotform.com/form/262937071757063

Website for Greenville Location Here: https://www.schoolofrock.com/locations/greenville

🤘 Find your instrument. Find your band. Find your people.

The crunch of frozen ground beneath our boots. The sparkle of frost on bare branches. The excitement of discovering animal tracks, breaking the ice on a puddle, or seeing our breath in the cold morning air.

The warmth of a crackling fire, a steaming cup of tea between cold hands, and the pleasure of sharing a homemade meal with friends beneath the open sky.

Every season has its own pleasures, but winter brings a special kind of beauty. The landscape grows quieter, the air becomes crisp, and familiar places take on an entirely different character. A garden that was overflowing with vegetables just a few months earlier now rests beneath the frost, while the animals grow their winter coats and settle into the changing rhythm of the season.

Here in Idaho, we're fortunate to live in a place where the outdoors is part of everyday life. From summer days along rivers and lakes to autumn hikes, snowy mountain adventures, and bright winter mornings, each season offers something worth experiencing.

In Norway, there's a concept called friluftsliv, meaning roughly "open-air living." It's the simple idea that spending time outdoors is part of a good life, whatever the season. It's a philosophy that feels right at home in Idaho.

And perhaps one of the loveliest things about spending time outdoors throughout the year is how familiar we become with the changing seasons.

A puddle we splashed through yesterday becomes a sheet of ice today. Frost reveals delicate patterns on leaves and fences. Bare branches expose birds' nests hidden all summer. The first snowfall transforms familiar paths, while animal tracks tell stories of creatures that passed through before we arrived.

Children who spend time outdoors throughout the year witness these changes firsthand. They notice how the garden changes as temperatures fall, how animals adapt to the cold, and how the landscape continues to change even during the quietest months. The familiar becomes new again with every season.

And there are benefits beyond the discoveries themselves.

Natural daylight helps regulate our circadian rhythms, influencing sleep, energy, and mood. During winter's shorter days, time outdoors gives us an opportunity to experience the daylight that's available, even beneath cloudy skies.

Research has also connected children's contact with nature to physical activity and mental well-being. A 2021 systematic review published in Pediatrics, examining 296 studies, found positive associations between time in nature and children's health, particularly physical activity and mental well-being.

Winter offers plenty of opportunities for movement, too. Walking across uneven or frozen ground, climbing, balancing, carrying firewood, tending animals, and exploring a landscape transformed by the season all engage our bodies in different ways.

There's satisfaction in accomplishing something on a cold morning, whether it's carrying feed to the goats, collecting eggs, or discovering how to navigate a slippery patch of ground. Along the way, children develop resourcefulness, confidence, independence, and a growing awareness of their own abilities.

They also become more familiar with their own needs. They learn when another layer would feel good, when it's time to warm up, and how to adapt as the weather changes throughout the day.

There's a saying we particularly like: “There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.”

Warm layers, wool socks, waterproof boots, and weather-appropriate outerwear make an enormous difference in how comfortably we can enjoy the outdoors. It's much the same preparation we make for a day of skiing, hiking, or exploring Idaho's mountains in winter.

At Urban Green Harvest, we follow the seasons and adjust our daily rhythm with the weather. We also have sheltered spaces available when conditions call for them. With a little preparation and the right clothing, there's so much to enjoy about spending winter outdoors.

As autumn gives way to winter on our homestead, the rhythm of our days changes.

The garden rests, but the farm is still full of life. Our goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, rabbits, and other animals still need daily care. Water troughs freeze, eggs need collecting, and there's always something that needs doing.

Our outdoor kitchen continues preparing warm breakfasts, hearty soups, and homemade lunches. The fire becomes a gathering place for tea, stories, conversations, and time spent together.

There are muddy boots, rosy cheeks, cold noses, warm hands, and the satisfaction of a day well spent outdoors.

And as the weeks pass, the children experience winter in all its variety. The first hard frost, the changing light, the occasional snowfall, and the return of a sunny afternoon that feels almost like spring. Each day brings something a little different, even in the same familiar place.

There's something valuable about growing up familiar with the seasons. About knowing what a cold morning feels like, noticing when the days begin to lengthen, and understanding that the natural world continues its work even in the quietest months of the year.

Winter is a season of discovery, connection, warmth, and wonder, with its own pleasures and possibilities.

Childhood doesn't have an off-season. And neither should our appreciation for the world around us.

❄️ Winter Farm School Enrollment Is Open!

Our Winter Semester (December-February) is just around the corner!

Urban Green Harvest welcomes children ages 4–12 for a fully outdoor, screen-free, child-led Farm School experience in Boise, Idaho.

❄️ Winter Semester Savings

Enroll before December 1 to take advantage of our winter semester discounts!

• 5% off full-semester enrollment.

• Up to 3 payments for flexibility.

• An additional 5% off when paying the semester in full.

Core Day: 9:30 AM–2:30 PM
Extended Day: 8:30 AM–3:30 PM

Homemade meals and snacks are included according to the schedule selected.

At Sams Tutoring Online, we believe exceptional education begins with something far more powerful than textbooks, worksheets, or test scores: a child's confidence.

What makes us different? We don't simply teach subjects. We build relationships, nurture confidence, and help students discover what they're truly capable of achieving. Our philosophy is simple: Praise the child, the achievement will follow.

Our tutors aren't just knowledgeable educators. Every member of our team holds a graduate-level degree and brings the patience, enthusiasm, kindness, and expertise necessary to make learning an exciting, positive experience. We specialize in individualized, one-on-one K–12 literacy and mathematics instruction for neurodivergent, neurotypical, and gifted learners, recognizing that no two students learn exactly alike.

We don't believe in forcing children into a one-size-fits-all educational system. Instead, we adapt our teaching methods to fit each child's unique strengths, challenges, and learning style. Our lessons are engaging, energetic, and designed to help students experience those incredible "Aha! I CAN do this!" moments.

Perhaps most importantly, we believe quality education should be accessible and affordable. We work closely with families, celebrate every accomplishment, and measure success not only through academic improvement but also through the confidence, independence, and enthusiasm our students develop along the way.

At Sams Tutoring Online, we don't just change grades. We change how children see themselves as learners.

And that can change everything.

Sams Tutoring Online — Changing students' outcomes, one life at a time.

🌐 Visit our website to learn more.

📞 501-306-9595

Praise the child, the achievement will follow.

At the end of the day, many parents want the same thing: to raise happy, capable and confident children. There is so much pressure for the modern day parent. One of the pressures that parents are faced with is the feeling that it is our job to keep our children entertained and happy every moment of the day. 

Why Screens Are So Tempting

The reality is that we are often tired and overwhelmed. We are pulled in a million different directions everyday- juggling work, laundry, meals, relationships, our own health, community involvement, and countless responsibilities that come with our everyday lives. And on top of that, we are trying to raise kind, resilient and capable children. Are they eating enough healthy foods? Are they meeting developmental milestones? Do they have friends? Are they getting enough movement and free play? Then there’s the question we all wrestle with: Are they getting too much screentime?

First of all, pat yourself on the back: you’re doing it! You are clearly a concerned and loving parent if you are looking into how to best support your child’s development. That’s the first step! Whether your child has unlimited access to screens or a daily schedule you want to reduce, I’ve got you covered. 

Remember, this isn’t an all or nothing situation. We live in a society that puts everything on a screen. For many families, completely disconnecting from screens isn’t possible. Our goal is to be thoughtful about our child’s screentime and to understand how screens impact our child’s development.

What Children Miss When Screens Replace Play

How are screens impacting our children’s development? Here’s the part that often surprises parents. The problem occurs when screens replace learning opportunities for children. Screens themselves aren’t the enemy. The concern begins when screens replace everyday experiences that help children learn, connect and grow. Children learn best through play, interactions and experiences. When we hand children a screen each time they declare they are bored, they are missing out on opportunities to develop important skills.

When screens replace play and interaction, children have fewer opportunities to build skills such as:

*fine motor: think grasping a pencil, buttoning clothing
*gross motor: large and core muscles- the ability to safely climb playground equipment
*attention: ability to sit still and listen while an adult explains something or reads a book
*problem solving: working through difficult tasks 
*emotional regulation: building a tolerance for discomfort and the realization that discomforts end 
*speech and language: a child’s vocabulary, conversation skills, ability to ask and answer simple questions
*creativity: building a strong imagination and thinking outside the box

The Good News: You Don't Have to Eliminate Screens

Children learn routines quickly. By this time, your child may expect a screen at certain times. Maybe your child knows that the grocery store, a restaurant, the waiting room of a doctor’s office, or a car ride means screentime. Once a child expects a good thing, adults can expect that children will let us know when we fail to provide that. For younger kids, that usually means an emotional breakdown (read: child throws a fit). So…how do we as parents preserve our mental health AND begin to decrease our child’s screentime? The answer is surprisingly simple: start small.

Let’s agree to get rid of the idea that our kids won’t have access to screens at all. We are simply decreasing the amount of time they spend on them.

Start Small

If you normally give your child a device when you strap them into a grocery cart, your goal isn’t going to be to get through a 45-minute grocery shopping trip screen-free. Your goal is to start the errand without a device. Set your first goal, maybe that is to get through 5 minutes without a device. Or maybe to make it through the produce section without a device in your child’s hands. You can do that! And so can your child, with a little practice and consistency.

Step One: Set the Expectation

You’re going to set the scene ahead of time. Let them know the plan. You may say, “The device is going to stay in the bag until we get to the bread aisle,” or “We are going to set a 5 minute timer. When the timer goes off, we can get the device out of our bag.” Timers are my favorite, especially for younger children. Children tend to respond better to a timer because it’s the timer- and not the adult- that is signaling it’s time for a transition. This usually causes less frustration from the child. You can even give them a little control and ask them, “Should we set the timer for 5 minutes or 6 minutes?”

Step Two: Stay Consistent

Do exactly what you said. This is key. You must show your child that they can trust what you say. If you promise the device after the timer goes off, the device comes out after the timer goes off, not before and not a minute after. This is part of building a child’s resilience and emotional regulation. If your child is upset because they can’t have their device immediately, you can acknowledge their frustration, AND hold your boundary. Will this always be easy? No. Will your child react in the same way each time? Probably not. They are humans. Some days they will be more tired, hungry, or frustrated. That’s OK. That doesn’t mean this isn’t working. It just means they are humans having human emotions. 

Is this worth it? Yes. 

Remind yourself: every time you do this, you are teaching your child something much bigger than how to get through a grocery store without a device. You are teaching your child patience, flexibility, trust, and confidence that they can handle difficult and uncomfortable moments. These are important life skills that have reach far beyond that of screen time. 

You don’t have to ignore your child’s feelings while holding the boundary. You can offer them comfort and acknowledge their disappointment. Stay calm and stick with the plan. This could look like, “I know you are sad that you can’t have the device right now. I get sad when I can’t have things I want, too. When the timer goes off, we will get your device out.” It’s ok to continue shopping. Your child may be sad. They may be mad. As long as they are safe, remind yourself that it will be OK. The moment the timer goes off, you say, “Oh, our timer is going off! It’s time to get the device out!” Your child has now learned: they can trust what you say, they can survive 5 minutes of this activity without a device in their hands, and they can endure moments of emotional discomfort.

Lay on the Praise

“You did it! I know that wasn’t easy. I’m so proud of you for waiting until the timer went off.” You are praising their resilience and isn’t that one of life’s most important skills? We will all face difficulities in life. Being resilient allows us to push through those tough moments.

If your child was especially upset, continue this practice with the 5 minute timer set several times before extending the time. Be sure to set the scene prior to the screen-free time everytime. For your comfort, you may start this practice at home; that way, you’re not concerned about being in public with your child having a hard time; that’ll just stress you out even more.

If your child handled the 5-minutes-screen-free like a champ-and they likely will eventually-you can bump up the timer next time! You decide the time-maybe it’s 7 minutes this time, maybe it’s 10. Eventually, my friends, you and your child can make it through outings for longer periods of time without a device. It may feel like it takes a long time to reach your goal. It may take 3 months-maybe 6 months to get to your goal, but don’t get discouraged. STAY CONSISTENT and DO WHAT YOU SAY. If you follow those two guidelines, you will find success. 

Progress Over Perfection

Remember, the goal isn’t to go from 5 hours a day of screentime to zero hours. The goal is to find a healthy balance so your child has plenty of opportunities to grow, play, connect and learn away from screens. With your loving support and small, consistent changes, your child can become less reliant on screens over time. They will discover they can cope during moments of discomfort, live through moments of boredom, enjoy diving into imaginative play, appreciate connecting with you and others and even learn the valuable skill of waiting. Sometimes those moments will be tough for you and for your child, but that’s where the growth happens. And when you and your child put in the work, you will start to see something wonderful-you’ll watch as their confidence, resilience, creativity, and independence grow. And that? That’s priceless.

About Empowering Kids Pediatric Therapy

At Empowering Kids, we partner with families to support children’s communication, development, and independence through pediatric speech-language and occupational therapy. Through our blog, we share practical, evidence-based ideas to help families support their children’s growth at home.

For homeschooling parents and educators, this simple activity can transform an ordinary lesson into a deeper learning experience. Instead of asking students only to read, listen, memorize, and complete assignments, we can encourage them to become teachers themselves. When children know they will have to explain something to another person, they often approach learning differently. They pay closer attention, organize information more carefully, and begin thinking about the questions someone else might ask.

Educational researchers call one part of this phenomenon the protégé effect: the idea that preparing to teach, or taking responsibility for another learner's understanding, can improve the teacher's own learning. Teaching also encourages retrieval practice, elaboration, self-explanation, and metacognition—thinking about what we know and what we still need to understand.

What Happens in the Brain When Students Teach?

Learning is not simply about placing information into the brain. It is about creating meaningful connections between ideas and being able to retrieve and apply those ideas later. When a student explains a historical event, scientific principle, or mathematical equation to someone else, they must do more than recognize the correct answer on a worksheet.

They have to retrieve information from memory, arrange it into a logical sequence, translate complicated concepts into understandable language, and connect new information to knowledge their audience already possesses. These activities require active mental effort, which can strengthen understanding and make weaknesses in knowledge easier to recognize.

For example, a student studying the American Revolution might remember that the Boston Tea Party occurred in 1773. But when asked to teach their family why the protest happened, they must explain taxation, representation, British colonial policy, and the growing conflict between Britain and its American colonies. The date becomes part of a much larger story rather than an isolated fact.

The same principle applies to science, mathematics, language arts, and career education. A child who can explain why an experiment works, how to solve a fraction problem, or what causes a disease has demonstrated a more

 meaningful level of understanding than someone who can merely repeat a memorized answer.

Importantly, the benefits do not come from speaking alone. They come from the mental work involved in preparing, retrieving, explaining, questioning, and correcting understanding.

Two Scientific Studies That Show Why Teaching Helps Students Remember

The research provides encouraging evidence that teaching others is an effective learning strategy, particularly when students know beforehand that they will be teaching. Although it is not scientifically accurate to promise that students will remember a fixed percentage of everything they teach, controlled studies have measured meaningful improvements in comprehension and retention.

Students Who Taught Remembered More After One Week

In 2013, researchers Logan Fiorella and Richard E. Mayer published The Relative Benefits of Learning by Teaching and Teaching Expectancy in Contemporary Educational Psychology.

Students learned about the Doppler effect, a scientific principle explaining how the observed frequency of sound or light changes with movement. Some studied normally, others prepared to teach, and another group prepared and delivered a recorded explanation.

The students who actually taught performed significantly better than the ordinary-study group both immediately and after one week. The preparation-only group's advantage was significant immediately but not after a week. These are standardized effect sizes rather than percentage increases, and the experiment involved a specific lesson rather than every school subject.

For parents, the lesson is important: asking a child to explain a subject aloud may do more for lasting understanding than simply asking them to read it again.

Five Fun Ways Parents Can Turn Their Students Into Teachers

1. Make Your Student the Teacher for Ten Minutes

After a lesson, give your child ten minutes to teach the family what they learned. Provide a whiteboard, paper, or household objects as teaching aids. Encourage them to explain the subject without reading directly from their notes. For younger children, a three-minute lesson is a great beginning.

2. Let Your Child Create the Quiz

Instead of parents always asking the questions, have students create five questions about their lesson and quiz their siblings or parents. Challenge them to explain why each answer is correct. Writing questions forces students to identify important information and distinguish between understanding and memorization.

3. Have Them Demonstrate a Science Experiment

Let students select a safe experiment, such as testing which objects float, investigating plant growth, or observing a baking soda and vinegar reaction. Have them explain their prediction, demonstrate the experiment, and describe the scientific principle. Parents can ask what might happen if one variable changes.

4. Host a Weekly Family Learning Night

Once a week, invite each child to present something interesting they studied. One might explain the fall of Rome, another how interest accumulates in a savings account, and another how insects communicate. Encourage questions and discussion, but avoid making it a high-pressure performance.

5. Create a Student-Led Video Lesson

Have your child record a three-to-five-minute explanation of something they learned. They could demonstrate a math problem, describe a historical event, or explain a career. Let them watch their recording and identify one thing to improve. The video can remain private and be shared only with family or a teacher.

Don't Be Afraid When Your Child Says, "I Don't Know"

One of the greatest benefits of teaching is discovering what we do not understand. When students encounter questions they cannot answer, parents have an opportunity to encourage investigation instead of supplying the solution immediately.

A child explaining the digestive system might be asked why stomach acid does not normally digest the stomach itself. A student describing ancient Egypt might be asked how workers moved enormous stone blocks. An aspiring entrepreneur teaching about business might be asked why a profitable company can still run out of cash.

These questions create curiosity and provide a reason to return to books, lessons, experiments, and other reliable resources. When students research an answer and return to teach it, they practice the habits of lifelong learners.

Parents can also help students revisit their lessons a few days later. Teaching once is valuable, but teaching again after a delay gives children another opportunity to retrieve information and see what they remember.

From Learning to Teaching: Bringing the Adventure Home With Xogos Education

At Xogos Education, we believe learning should inspire students to discover, investigate, explore, and share their knowledge with others. Through the educational platform at www.XogosGaming.com, students can explore educational games and free elective classes covering fascinating subjects ranging from history and science to personal finance and medical career preparation.

Imagine a student taking a class about human anatomy and then explaining to their parents how the heart works. Another student explores ancient civilizations and creates a family presentation about the inventions that changed human history. A teenager studying personal finance could teach their siblings how to create a budget, save money, and understand compound interest. Someone exploring medical careers could share what different healthcare professionals do and why their work matters.

The adventure does not have to end when students finish a lesson or turn off their computers. In fact, that may be when one of the most valuable parts of learning begins. Maybe they will even try a game or two that solidifies these lessons.

Our goal at Xogos is to make education engaging enough that students want to explore these subjects, discover new interests, and share what they have learned. By combining educational games, adventurous elective courses, and opportunities to apply knowledge outside the digital world, we hope to help parents and educators turn students from passive recipients of information into curious, confident learners.

The next time your child finishes a lesson, don't simply ask, "What did you learn today?" Instead, ask, "Can you teach me something you learned today?"

You may be surprised how much they know—and how much more they discover when given the opportunity to become the teacher.

The official list

The Georgia Promise Scholarship regulations define "qualified education expenses." Paraphrased, they are:

• Tuition, fees and required textbooks for eligible core courses and career, technical and agricultural education (CTAE) courses at a participating private school, an accredited community college or postsecondary institution, or a nonpublic online learning program or course.
• Tutoring by an educator certified by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
• Curriculum, including supplemental materials the curriculum requires, as approved by GESA.
• Services from a licensed physician or therapist, including occupational, behavioral, physical and speech-language therapy.
• Transportation: no more than $500 a year to a fee-for-service provider such as a bus, taxi or ride-share, to or from a participating school or service provider.
• Account management fees, other expenses GESA or the State Board authorizes, and individual expenses approved by the program's parent review committee.

The rules that trip people up

1. If it's not in the marketplace, you probably can't buy it. The family handbook says families will not be reimbursed for purchases made outside the marketplace, with the exception of eligible transportation. The curriculum you bought at a convention, the used textbooks from a co-op sale, the online class you paid for by credit card: none of that comes back to you.

2. Approval happens at the item level. GESA approves the provider and then each individual "offering." A curriculum company can be approved while a particular product it sells is not listed. Check that the exact item is in the marketplace before you plan around it.

3. Tutoring means certified tutoring. The tutoring expense is for an educator certified by the Professional Standards Commission. A brilliant college student down the street who isn't certified is not a Promise tutor, no matter how good they are.

4. Family members are out. Expenses billed by family members are not qualified expenses, and the regulations define family broadly: parents, stepparents, guardians, siblings, half-siblings, stepsiblings, grandparents, step-grandparents, aunts, uncles and first cousins. Your sister the licensed speech therapist cannot be paid from your child's account.

5. Core subjects first. The vendor handbook flags several categories, including curriculum, textbooks, educational classes, online classes, subscriptions and tutoring, as eligible only for core subjects. Fiction and nonfiction book purchases are limited to books required by a participating private school or a provider such as a curriculum company or tutor.

6. Electronics have caps. The eligible expense list puts price limits and quantity limits on computers, tablets, monitors, printers and accessories. Read the current list on the program site before you assume a laptop is covered at full price.

7. No late fees. Account funds cannot pay a late fee you were charged for paying tuition or another bill late.

A family's first quarter

The Delgados in Gwinnett County chose home study for their sixth grader. In their first quarter they bought a complete math curriculum and a science lab kit through the marketplace, then booked a weekly reading session with a certified tutor they found listed there. They also wanted the history program their old co-op used. It wasn't in the marketplace, so they paid for it from their own pocket and asked the publisher whether it planned to apply as a vendor. They didn't try to get reimbursed for it, because the handbook says that won't happen.

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

What you can do with your own money

Nothing in the regulations stops you from paying for something from another source. Section 16.6 says a parent may pay for any tuition, fee, service or product from a source other than account funds. So the program sets limits on its money, not on your whole homeschool. Use Promise for what it covers well and pay directly for the rest.

Rollover: don't race to zero

Unused funds roll over, up to 50 percent of the total deposited into the account for the current school year. There is a catch on the other end: if an account sits inactive for two consecutive school years, or the student graduates from high school, the remaining money goes back to the state general fund and the account closes.

So a family that ends the year with a moderate balance keeps up to half of that year's deposits. A family that never spends anything for two years loses the account.

Four questions before every purchase

Most spending mistakes can be caught with a short checklist. Before you direct a dollar, ask:

• Is this exact item or service listed in the marketplace? Not the company. The item.
• Does it tie to a core subject or an approved career-technical course? If the category is restricted to core subjects, a hobby course won't pass.
• Is the person delivering it qualified the way the rules require? Certified for tutoring, licensed for therapy.
• Is anyone in the transaction a relative? If so, stop.

If you are unsure about a category, ask GESA in writing before you buy. The program's parent review committee exists in part to decide whether particular expenses qualify, and a written answer protects you in an audit far better than a forum post does.

What gets you in trouble

Every parent signs an attestation agreeing to use account funds only for qualified education expenses. GESA audits accounts at random every year. It can make a parent or student ineligible for misuse and refer substantial misuse to the Attorney General. And no provider may refund, rebate or share account funds with a parent. If a seller offers you a kickback or a "credit" for buying through the marketplace, walk away.

Bottom line

Plan purchases around the marketplace, not around your old shopping habits. Start with the eligible expense list and the family handbook on mygeorgiapromise.org, see our Georgia Promise Scholarship guide for the bigger picture, and look up which providers are already approved on our vendor directory.

My Learning Source is an independent marketplace and is not affiliated with the Georgia Education Savings Authority, Odyssey or the Georgia Promise Scholarship Program. Program rules, approved items 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.

Stop. Do the math first.

The rollover rule

Unspent funds roll over at two-thirds of the remaining balance, capped at $2,000.

That's it. That's the whole rule, and it changes the end-of-year calculation completely.

Run some numbers:

• Leftover $300 → $200 rolls over.
• Leftover $900 → $600 rolls over.
• Leftover $1,500 → $1,000 rolls over.
• Leftover $3,000 → $2,000 rolls over.
• Leftover $4,500 → two-thirds is $3,000, but the cap holds it at $2,000.

Notice where the cap bites. Two-thirds of $3,000 is exactly $2,000, so $3,000 is the break-even point. Below $3,000, every dollar you leave unspent returns 67 cents next year. Above $3,000, additional unspent dollars return nothing.

The real question: what is a panic purchase worth?

Here is the comparison nobody makes.

You have $900 left in June. Option A: buy a curriculum set you're not sure you'll use, because "it's free money." Option B: leave it and get $600 next year toward something you actually chose.

Option A only wins if the thing you buy is worth more than $600 to your family. A curriculum you picked in a panic, in the last week of the program year, because the clock was running? That is not usually worth $600. It's usually worth whatever it costs to store it in a closet.

Joy Tanaka in Lehi ran exactly this play two years running. The first year she spent the tail end of her award in late June on a math program a friend recommended. Her daughter hated it and they abandoned it in October. The second year she left roughly $800 in the account, took the rollover, and put it toward a tutor she'd actually researched. Same money, wildly different outcome.

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

Two-thirds of a good decision beats all of a bad one.

When you should spend it down

This is not a blanket "always save." There are clear cases where spending makes more sense:

• Your balance is over $3,000. Above that line, extra unspent dollars roll over at zero. If you're sitting on $4,000 in May, spend down toward $3,000 on things you genuinely need and keep the rest.
• You have a real, planned purchase. A device you were going to buy anyway. Next year's curriculum you've already chosen. A summer program your kid is enrolled in. Planned is the operative word.
• The item will be harder to get later. A vendor's approval status can change, and a program you rely on may not be listed forever.
• Your award band is about to drop. Unlikely, but if circumstances change, plan for it.

When you should leave it

• You're browsing for something to buy. If you had to go looking for a way to spend it, you don't need it.
• The category is capped and you're at the ceiling. Extracurriculars and PE are each limited to 20% of the award. Hitting the wall means you cannot solve the problem by spending more in that bucket anyway.
• You have a known expense next year. A teenager heading into technical college coursework, a therapy plan starting in the fall, an expensive class. Rollover is the cleanest way to pre-fund it.
• It's already late June. Goods over $1,000 get extra review, and approval is not instant. A late big purchase may simply fail to clear.

The age-band angle

Here's a planning move most families miss. For 2026-27, home-based students ages 5 through 11 get $4,000 and ages 12 through 18 get $6,000, with age measured as of September 1.

If your child is about to cross into the higher band, next year is when the bigger expenses become affordable anyway. That argues for spending down a large balance this year on real needs rather than banking it.

If your child just crossed into the higher band and you suddenly have more money than plan, that is exactly when a deliberate balance and a two-thirds rollover makes sense. Don't let a bigger award force bigger spending.

Plan the balance in March, not June

The sane version of this is not a June decision at all. It's a March decision.

In March you already know roughly what the rest of the year costs. You know your category totals. You can look at the number and say: we're going to land around $700, that's fine, that's $467 next year. Or: we're going to land at $3,800, so we should move next year's curriculum purchase into July and use it properly.

Either way you decided. You didn't react.

Remember the July 1 wall

One more piece of timing. Spending before July 1 of the program year is not reimbursed, except for private school tuition and deposits.

That cuts both ways. It means you cannot pull next year's purchases into June. It also means the July 1 restart is a clean line — whatever rolls over is waiting when the new year opens, and you can buy properly in July instead of frantically in June.

A simple end-of-year checklist

• March: project your June balance. Write the number down.
• April: if the projection is above $3,000, list real needs and spend toward $3,000. Not wants. Needs.
• May: place any large order early enough for the over-$1,000 review to clear.
• June: do nothing you haven't already planned. Let the balance roll.
• July: new funds plus rollover arrive. Buy the things you chose calmly in the spring.

Bottom line

Two-thirds, capped at $2,000. Below a $3,000 balance, unspent money is worth 67 cents on the dollar next year. Above it, the cap eats the difference.

The worst move is a June purchase you'd never make in October. Check the current rules in our Utah Fits All guide and confirm them against the statute at le.utah.gov, then decide with a calendar instead of a clock.

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.

The 2026–27 Eligible Expense List

For 2026–27, ADE lists these eligible expenses: tuition and fees, uniforms, testing, instructional materials, tutoring services, curricula, supplemental supplies, specific technology devices, transportation costs and fees for college courses.

For a homeschool family, that covers a lot of ground. Your math and reading curriculum. The workbooks and manipulatives that go with it. A tutor for the subject you dread teaching. The approved reading and math test your child needs. Even college course fees for an older student ready for more.

Read the Fine Print on Technology

Notice the words: specific technology devices. Not any technology. Not whatever gadget your teenager wants for Christmas. If you're thinking about a device, find out exactly which ones qualify before you swipe a card.

That's what Carla did. She's a homeschool mom in Searcy with a fifth grader and a ninth grader. Her plan for the first quarter was curriculum for both kids, plus a laptop for her ninth grader's online coursework. The curriculum was obviously on the list, so she bought it right away. The laptop she wasn't sure about. So she contacted the Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment first and held off on buying until she had an answer in hand. She also had an idea for a hands-on field trip that wasn't on the list at all. Same move: she asked before spending a dime.

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

The Ask-Before-You-Spend Rule

Here it is, the rule that saves families headaches. If an expense isn't listed, ask the Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment before you spend.

Why does this matter so much? Because the money is public money with rules attached. If you buy something that doesn't qualify and try to get reimbursed, you're the one holding the bill. Asking takes a little time. Guessing wrong costs real dollars.

And don't take your cousin's word for it, or a comment in an online group. What someone else got approved for, in some other situation, isn't your answer. The office is.

Spend Like It's Your Own Money

Because it basically is. It's your child's education. The families who get the most out of the EFA plan the year before they shop. Core curriculum first. Testing budgeted. Tutoring for the weak spots. Then the extras.

Remember, too, that money arrives quarterly. For 2026–27, that's $1,802 per quarter per student. Don't spend the whole first quarter on day one and then realize you forgot the test in spring.

The Bottom Line

The list is generous. The rules are clear. Stay on the list, and when in doubt, ask first.

• Write out your year's needs before you shop: curriculum, materials, testing, tutoring.
• Match every planned purchase to ADE's 2026–27 eligible expense list.
• For anything not clearly listed, including technology questions, ask the Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment first.
• Keep itemized receipts for every purchase.
• Shop curriculum, tutors and services 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.