The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled.
We use cookies for performance, analytics and marketing. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies. For more information, view our Privacy Policy.
Stephanie is a California-certified teacher, homeschool mom of two, and an Instagram content creator dedicated to helping parents homeschool while maintaining their careers. She provides valuable resources that empower families to successfully balance work and homeschooling, showing that with the right tools, it’s entirely possible. When she's not creating content or teaching, Stephanie and her family love to spend time outdoors, kayaking and paddleboarding, with their loyal dog Winston always by their side, offering a little extra help during homeschool sessions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR | Trisha Kondratek is in her seventh year of homeschooling her four boys, ages 7 to 12. As a family they chose to begin their homeschool journey as their oldest was going into first grade; which opened the door to more family time, traveling, and learning at each child's pace. Prior to homeschooling, Trisha was heavily involved in photography and the arts community, and now enjoys introducing her boys to the arts and humanities. Reading, exploring, and learning along side her boys has become the biggest bonus of being a homeschool mom. The family is more often than not spotted at the hockey rink or lacrosse field for practices or games in the evenings and weekends. Trisha, and the Kondratek family as a whole, are thankful for the quality time homeschooling has afforded them, even during the busy sports seasons.
ABOUT OUR GUEST | In college, Nate Noorlander double-majored in philosophy and history teaching. After a stint as a project manager with a disaster repair company, he moved to Beijing, China, where he taught IGCSE and A Level history at the Cambridge International Curriculum Center of Beijing Normal University. He also spent time touring in India and trekking in Nepal. Worn out by the Beijing air, Nate moved home with his family and taught English and history at Mountainville Academy, and then the American International School of Utah. At AISU he developed mini-courses in boredom and awareness (probably close to what many people call mindfulness) based on Heidegger’s ideas about technology, and Nicholas Carr’s ideas about what the internet does to our brains, areas of study that (perhaps ironically) he finds compelling. Done in this time by life in the beautiful mountain west he returned to Beijing, where he taught IB History, IB English, and Theory of Knowledge at the Yew Chung International School of Beijing. When Covid-19 hit he was coaching the boys' basketball team and gearing up for an end-of-season tournament in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, ignorant of what was coming. The trip was canceled, his family just made it out of Beijing on a flight three times its usual cost, and he stuck it out in the shuttered city for another six weeks. When life didn’t change, he left too. Since then it’s been all history with The Nomadic Professor.
ABOUT OUR AUTHOR |Tanya Warpula is a multifaceted individual, whose life is characterized by a passion for education, photography, and adventure. She is a skilled professional photographer, capturing important moments with an artistry that reflects her keen eye for detail. Also a dedicated BookShark Advisor, Tanya has been instrumental in guiding families through enriching journeys. Tanya's commitment to education extends to her role as a mother, as she homeschooled her five children, imparting not just knowledge but a love for learning. Being a Navy wife, she embraced a life of resilience and adaptability, navigating the challenges of frequent relocations with grace.
Sarah is a homeschooling mother to six children, three of whom have special needs. She has always had a passion for education. She taught English at a private school in China and was a middle school English teacher in the US. Sarah is also an accomplished musician; she has performed in multiple music halls across the country, including Carnegie Hall in NYC. She currently continues to teach piano and voice lessons in addition to homeschooling her amazing children, reading every book she can, and laughing as much as possible.
With Sarah coming from a public school background, and a career in public education, homeschooling was never in her life’s plan. However, over ten years ago, that life plan changed and she has been enjoying her homeschooling journey.
She loves what homeschooling has done for her family, in bringing them closer together and the memories they get to make. While it took some time to find the right curriculum for her family, they have been using the BookShark curriculum for six years now and it has been the best decision.
Sarah is passionate about encouraging parents in their homeschooling and family life. She loves showing families that homeschooling can be done anytime, anywhere, and on any budget! You can follow her homeschooling journey on her YouTube Channel: youtube.com/herculeanhomeschooling
ABOUT OUR AUTHOR | Sharon Wilson Miller is originally from southern California but now lives just outside Chicago with her husband and is a homeschool mom of 2 (9 and 11). Sharon holds a BFA in Theatre Studies from DePaul University, she spent many years as a Stage Manager working regionally and on some large-scale touring musicals. Sharon is also a licensed massage therapist and enjoys her work as an Advisor for BookShark.
Hi I'm Ximena! Mother of two - one graduate and one in 10th grade. Our homeschool journey started in 2014. We loved learning through piles of readers and cuddling up on our couch with a good “read aloud". Beyond our academic adventures, our family shares a love for travel, gourmet experiences, and cozy movie nights.We are big fans of The Office and we love laughing together out loud. I love encouraging other homeschool parents through fun and practical tips, along with my bff!
Check out our website at www.chipsnsalsahomeschooling.com
Angela Marie D’Antonio is an online Barton Dyslexia Reading and Spelling Tutor. She has been homeschooling her two daughters for over a decade, beginning with preschool and continuing through high school. For four years, she worked in sales and customer service for a homeschool curriculum company. In her free time, you may find her cooking, watercolor painting, gardening, hiking, or taking college-level continuing education courses for fun.
Melissa is a former early childhood teacher who lives in Wisconsin with her husband and three children.
If she’s not actively homeschooling her three kids, Melissa is running her kids to activities, baking for the local farmer’s market, working in her garden, or reading. Melissa loves a good historical fiction book; her current favorite is the Outlander series. Melissa and her husband take a secular approach to homeschooling their three children.
Melissa also has a homeschooling YouTube channel, The M Word by Melissa, that focuses on homeschool encouragement, curriculum flip-throughs, and all the fun of homeschooling.
