UPCOMING ISSUES
In upcoming issues, we plan to explore key topics that homeschool families face through real stories and practical advice from Utah families who’ve navigated these challenges. We believe that personal stories inspire and encourage, and want to share insights that go beyond theory and into the heart of what works in everyday life. We are seeking “everyday homeschooling heroes” who are willing to share their stories and teach what they have learned. By sharing your experience, you can help others feel empowered and confident in their homeschooling journey.
In upcoming issues, we’ll focus on:
- Homeschooling with Learning or Developmental Disabilities
- Starting a Homeschool Group or Co-op
- Tips and Tricks for Homeschooling Specific Subjects
For each issue, we are seeking contributions from at least two families and two seniors or recent graduates, as well as lots of short answers for our Parent Panel.
Below, you’ll find specific submission guidelines for each section.
General Submission Guidelines
Articles should be approximately 1,500 to 3,500 words in length.
Photos are an important part of your story. We recommend submitting 10–20 photos that illustrate your homeschooling journey, including at least one family photo.
If professional photos are included, please provide written permission to publish.
A release form is required for all articles and photos.
Articles should be between 750 and 1,500 words in length.
Photos are also needed to complement your story. We recommend submitting 8–15 photos, including images related to homeschooling and your specific story.
If professional photos are included, please provide written permission to publish.
A release form is required for all articles and photos. If you are under 18, the form will need to be signed by a parent or guardian.
Answer 1 or 2 questions about your experience, providing practical advice or encouragement. Responses can be anywhere from a single sentence to a few paragraphs. If you find yourself wanting to write more than that, you may be a good candidate for a feature family article on that topic.
Topic 1: Homeschooling with Learning or Developmental Disabilities
Homeschooling often becomes the choice for families when a child’s learning differences, such as dyslexia, ADHD, or autism spectrum disorder, make traditional schooling challenging. We are looking for families and teens to share their experiences navigating education with these challenges. By telling your story, you can offer guidance, share resources, and help others who are on a similar journey.
PARENTS: How did you adapt your teaching style to meet your child’s unique needs? What resources or strategies made a difference in your homeschool? If you have a learning disability yourself—especially if it’s a generational link, such as a neurodivergent parent homeschooling neurodivergent children—we would love to hear how you’ve managed and found success.
TEENS & RECENT GRADUATES: Tell us how homeschooling with a learning disability shaped your experience and helped you succeed. What adjustments did you and your family make? How did homeschooling empower you to achieve your goals, and where are you now? Your story can inspire others to see that learning differences are not obstacles to success.
As you write your article, consider answering these questions to guide your story. Feel free to pick and choose the ones most relevant to your experience:
- Why did you decide to homeschool your children, and what were the key factors in your decision?
- What challenges have you faced in homeschooling your child, specifically related to learning or developmental disabilities?
- How did you adapt your homeschooling approach to meet your child’s needs?
- What specific strategies, resources, or curricula have been the most helpful for teaching your child?
- How do you structure your homeschool day, and what flexibility do you allow to accommodate your child’s unique needs?
- How do you handle tough days or setbacks in learning?
- What has been the most rewarding part of homeschooling your child?
- How do you balance homeschooling with other family responsibilities, such as work, managing the household, or supporting other children?
- What does a typical day look like in your homeschool?
- What strategies have you found helpful in staying motivated or helping your child through difficult moments?
- How do you manage homeschooling with multiple children, especially if some have learning difficulties and others do not? How do you balance their different learning needs, and what strategies have worked for teaching multiple children with varying abilities?
- Do you have any children who have graduated from homeschooling? How did homeschooling prepare them for the future, and how are they doing now?
These questions are designed to help guide your story. Use the ones that resonate most with your experience:
- How did your learning or developmental disability affect your experience in traditional school, and how did that change when you began homeschooling?
- What adjustments or strategies did your family make to accommodate your learning needs in homeschooling? How did you adapt your day-to-day learning, schedule, or environment?
- What was the most challenging aspect of homeschooling with your disability, and how did you overcome it?
- What have been the biggest benefits of homeschooling for you, considering your learning or developmental challenges?
- How has homeschooling helped you grow or succeed in ways you didn’t expect? Did it help you develop new strengths or skills you wouldn’t have gained in a traditional school?
- What are some specific resources or tools that helped you in your homeschool journey? Were there any particular books, programs, or apps that made a difference for you?
- How did homeschooling prepare you for life after school? Are you attending college, working, pursuing a trade, or focusing on another path? How did homeschooling set you up for this next step?
- How do you think homeschooling shaped your self-confidence or self-advocacy skills in dealing with your disability?
- What advice would you give to other teens with similar learning or developmental disabilities who might be struggling in their homeschool journey?
- What role did your family play in supporting your learning? How did your parents or siblings help you succeed?
- What is one thing you wish others knew about homeschooling with a learning or developmental disability? What misconception or challenge do you wish people better understood?
- Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in your homeschool journey?
We invite you to contribute to our Parent Panel by answering the following questions:
- What’s the most important advice you can offer to other families homeschooling children with these types of disabilities?
- What have you found that works for your student? Tell about your favorite resources, practices, methods, or tricks for making homeschool a successful, positive experience for children who learn differently.
Use this form to submit your answers.
TOPIC 2: Starting a Homeschool Group or Co-op
Homeschool groups come in all shapes and sizes, from social meetups to academic co-ops, faith-based communities, and specialized interest groups like STEM or outdoor education. When families can’t find a group that meets their needs, many decide to start their own. If you’ve started a homeschool group, we want to hear your story. Tell us what kind of group you started, the challenges you faced, and how you made it successful. Your experience could help other families find the confidence to start their own groups.
PARENTS: What motivated you to start a group and how you connected with other families? What challenges did you encounter, such as finding a location or organizing activities? How did you overcome those challenges, and what has been the most rewarding part of the experience? We’re also interested in how the group has benefited your children both socially and academically, and what advice you would offer to others thinking of starting their own group.
TEENS & RECENT GRADUATES: How did homeschool groups shaped your education? If you helped start or lead a group, tell us what kind of group it was, why you got involved, and how it helped you grow as a leader. We’d love to know what challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and how leading a group prepared you for the future. Your story can inspire other teens to take on leadership roles and make a positive impact in their homeschool communities.
As you write your article, here are some questions to consider. Answer whichever ones are relevant to your situation, but you don’t need to respond to all of them. These are just to help you get started and provide insight into what other homeschooling families want to know.
- What type of group did you create—social, academic, faith-based, or something else?
- How did you connect with other families to join the group?
- What challenges did you face when starting the group, and how did you overcome them?
- How do you manage organizing and keeping the group running smoothly?
- What has been the most rewarding part of running the group?
- What advice would you give to parents thinking about starting their own group?
- How has the group benefited your children’s education and social life?
- If you could do it again, what would you do differently?
As you write your article, here are some questions to consider. Answer whichever ones are relevant to your situation, but you don’t need to respond to all of them. These are just to help you get started and provide insight into what other homeschool teens and families want to know.
- What role did homeschool groups play in your education?
- Did you start or help start a homeschool group? If so, what kind of group was it?
- How old were you when you started the group, and how long did it run?
- Why did you decide to get involved in starting or leading a group?
- How did you find other teens or families to be a part of the group?
- What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
- Who helped you along the way—parents, mentors, or friends? How did they support you?
- What was the hardest part of starting or organizing the group?
- What was the best part of the experience?
- What did you learn from the experience, and how did it help you grow?
- How has starting or leading a group prepared you for your next steps, like graduating or starting work?
- How has being part of a homeschool group impacted your social life or education?
- What advice would you give to other teens who want to start or help lead a group?
We invite you to contribute to our Parent Panel by answering the following questions:
- What’s the most important piece of advice you would offer to someone considering starting their own homeschool group or co-op?
- What was one unexpected challenge you faced when starting your homeschool group, and how did you overcome it?
Use this form to submit your answers.
TOPIC 3: Tips and Tricks for Homeschooling Specific Subjects
Certain subjects often become central to homeschool families’ learning experience—whether it's science, math, history, or another area of focus. Some subjects may come naturally, while others may present unique challenges. If your family has a subject you're passionate about or has found a way to overcome difficulties in a challenging subject, we’d love to hear how you’ve approached it. Your story could provide other homeschooling families with new ideas and methods to teach subjects they may be struggling with.
PARENTS: Do you have a subject that feels like your "homeschooling superpower"? Whether it's science, math, history, or something else, we want to know how you’ve made it work for your family. How did you develop your approach or technique? What strategies, resources, or mindsets have been the most impactful in teaching this subject? Share how you've made it a central part of your routine, sparked excitement, and helped your children grow in understanding. If teaching this subject has changed your homeschool in a meaningful way, we’d love to hear how it’s helped your family thrive.
TEENS & RECENT GRADUATES: Is there a subject that has become your favorite or something you’ve developed a passion for during your homeschool experience? How has this subject shaped your education, and how did your family help make learning it exciting? If your focus on this subject has influenced your future goals—whether it’s college, a career, or something else—we’d love to hear about that. Share what you’ve learned, how it has prepared you for the next chapter of your life, and how homeschooling made it possible for you to pursue this passion. Your story can inspire other teens to see that learning can be fun, rewarding, and life-changing.
As you write your article, here are some questions to consider. Answer whichever ones are relevant to your situation, but you don’t need to respond to all of them. These are just to help you get started and provide insight into what other homeschooling families want to know.
- Tell me a little bit about your family and why you chose to homeschool. Did the subject you focus on play a part in this decision?
- What subject or area has become your family’s strength? Why does it feel like your homeschooling "superpower"?
- How do you incorporate this subject into your daily or weekly routine? Do you have any unique or creative ways of weaving it into your homeschool?
- What specific strategies, resources, or curricula have been the most useful and successful for teaching this subject? What has had the biggest impact?
- What’s your favorite method for making this subject fun or engaging for your kids? Do you have any special projects, games, activities, or field trips that have enriched your child's learning worked?
- If your child struggled with this subject, how did you help them build confidence and ability? What changed the game for your child’s understanding and growth?
- What has been the most rewarding part of teaching this subject to your children? How has it benefited your homeschool overall?
- How do you handle tough days (or weeks) when the subject isn’t going as planned? What keeps you motivated and moving forward?
- What have your children done with this subject? Have any of them gone on to pursue higher education or employment in this field? How did homeschooling play a part in that?
- What advice would you give to other parents who might be struggling with this subject? Are there specific resources, ideas, or mindsets that have made a big difference for your family?
As you write your article, here are some questions to consider. Answer whichever ones are relevant to your situation, but you don’t need to respond to all of them. These are just to help you get started and provide insight into what other homeschool teens and families want to know.
- What subject has been a key focus or passion in your homeschool journey, and why has it stood out to you?
- How did your homeschool experience help you spend more time on this subject or pursue it in ways you might not have been able to in traditional school?
- How did your interest in this subject shape your learning experience or impact your decisions about your future?
- What were some of your favorite ways to learn or study this subject? Did you use specific resources, books, or methods that made a big difference for you?
- Were there any challenges you faced with this subject? How did you work through those, and how did your family support you in overcoming them?
- How has your love for this subject influenced your post-homeschool plans, such as college, career, or other future goals?
- Did you ever collaborate with your parents or other family members to deepen your learning in this subject? What did that look like?
- How have hands-on experiences, projects, or real-world applications helped you connect with this subject?
- If you’ve pursued this subject beyond homeschool—through higher education, work, or personal projects—how has it shaped your current path?
- Who has been a mentor or role model in this subject? How did you connect with them, and how did they help guide your learning or passion?
- What advice would you give to younger homeschoolers about following their interests in a subject and turning it into something meaningful for their future?
We invite you to participate in our Parent Panel! This section of the magazine will feature a variety of voices and perspectives from experienced homeschool parents, offering short snippets of practical advice and encouragement on our focus topic. By answering a few short questions, you can share your unique insights and tips, helping other families by providing real-world solutions and ideas from multiple points of view.
The Parent Panel questions for this topic are as follows:
- What are your favorite ways to teach this subject? What ideas, techniques, or approaches have made the biggest difference for your family?
- What methods have you found for helping students who are struggling with this subject?
Use this form to submit your answers.