BS in elementary education with a minor in sociology from Gordon College in Wenham, MA I have a teaching certificate for grades K-5 issued by the State of Massachusetts.

Total of 6 years teaching in private Christian schools 2 years of substitute teaching in a private Christian School 25 years of homeschooling my 5 children (pre K - some high school) Taught classes to multi-age groups in homeschool co-ops VBS and Sunday School teaching (preschool - grade 5)

I have taught pre K through 11th grade in a home school setting. I have taught grade 2-6 in a traditional classroom.

All core subjects at a grammar school level.

New Hope Academy combines classical education and Charlotte Mason's philosophies in its approach to education. Much of the curriculum centers upon good books as well as teaching children to develop good habits and become deep thinkers. As a 5th grade homeroom teacher, the opportunity to read rich literature to my students is built into our schedule as well as nature study and artist/composer study. Two of the questions I often ask my students is "what do you notice about -" and "what does this remind you". These two questions prompt them to think about ideas and make connections in their learning. Additionally, I encourage them them to connect their learning to the Word of God.

Upon graduating from college, I taught for 4 years in a private Christian School in CT. For the past 2 years, I have taught grade 5 and 6 math at New Hope Academy. I have also taught Sunday School and VBS at the church we attended as a family. In addition, the homeschool co-ops I facilitated were all Christian based. My husband and I also worked in youth ministry early in our marriage. We were volunteer leaders with Young Life for 3 years. We also were the junior and senior high school youth leaders at our church for 2 years.

I don't remember a time when I did not believe in God. As a young child, my mother took us to church and would pray with me at night. We moved when I was 8 and stopped going to church regularly until I was in 7th grade. When I was 14, my best friend shared with me how she asked Jesus to come into her heart while she was at camp. I did not understand what she meant as the church we attended did not talk about the need for salvation. I asked her more questions and made the decision to ask God to forgive my sins and chose to follow Jesus. God put some wonderful mentors in my life in high school that helped me grow in my faith. For over 40 years I have been on this amazing, wonderful journey of faith - growing more and more in love with Jesus.

Education should seek to foster a love of beauty, wisdom, and truth in children. Because God is the ultimate source of wisdom and truth, education should point the student towards faith. It is not knowledge for the sake of knowledge; it is knowledge so that we can know God and His creation more intimately. Children are not "machines" to be filled up with information for the sake of performance. They are fellow image bearers who have a purpose in the kingdom of God. As parents and teachers, of course we give our children a solid academic foundation, teach them to become critical thinkers, and develop a life long love of learning in them. But we should also be guiding and leading them in discovering their identity in Jesus and their purpose in His kingdom.

The grammar stage focuses on learning/memorizing facts - acquiring information ("what") The logic stage begins to connect learning, emphasizing analysis and understanding the relationships between information and ideas ("why") Rhetoric's goal is to have students begin to draw conclusions and express ideas clearly and persuasively - critical thinking. Central to its curriculum is good literature and the study of classical courses (Latin, history, science, arts, etc.) with a focus on truth and beauty.