Author ​

I am a logophile from birth. I love words. I love The Word. 

So, I read until I realized I had something to teach. Then, I taught the great works of the great voices of the past I loved to read. Finally, I realized I have something of my own to say and I began to write.  

Check out the "Books" tab to find what is already in print, and (when I remember to update it!) news on what is in the pipeline for 2021! 

Teacher

Discovering the call and response of the Great Conversation of literature has been one of the joys of my life. After leading one-day homeschool academy courses for home-educated high school students for well over twenty years, I had a truly revelatory experience in the classroom one day. We were studying Tale of Two Cities, discussing the retribution against the Marquis by the villagers. Suddenly, we were talking character, values, morals, and students were revealing their own hurts and hearts, were quoting Scripture, were asking ME what was right.  

I realized at that moment that homeschooling parents should not want me to be teaching these great classic works and themes. They need me to empower THEM to have these discussions. So, I put my courses online and created teacher guides to enable them to do just that. In my online/anytime courses at  The Red Couch Reading Room, I attempt to engage students in that same joy. Created especially for home-educated high school students, the teacher's guide empowers parents to guide and discover the meaningful discussions literature is intended to inspire and includes grammar refreshers, vocabulary units, writing prompts & helps, and socratic seminar experiences. The courses are wonderful for parents to teach their own students and also for those who wish to teach a small co-op.  

Speaker

I love to speak at homeschool conventions, on topics ranging from "Literature as a Life Coach" to "Creative family devotions" to "How to Teach Writing from a Literature Foundation."  In addition, I speak occasionally at ministry training events, generally on creating family resource centers and encouraging families in discipleship. 

My 2020 speaking calendar has, of course, been upended by the Covid19 closures of conventions nationwide, but be on the lookout! My "Coming Up" page will soon list all the places you can look for me in 2021!​​

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