Let me extend a giant WELCOME to all our NEW Parents, Learning Coaches, and Students. We are so excited to have you in our homeschool community!

My name is Rebeka Heath, and I am one of the Family Liaisons for Sequoia Grove and live in Butte County. I'm a veteran homeschool parent and this year, I have 9th, 8th, 6th, 5th, 4th, and Kindergarten students, plus a super fun preschooler! 

The amount of resources, opportunities, and choices offered by our school can be overwhelming, especially if you are new to the homeschool universe. Sometimes, I *still* feel like I’m drowning in choices, even though I’ve been doing this for 11 years!

It’s fun to spend a few hours (or days) getting lost in the sea of curriculums, subscription boxes, manipulatives, games, toys, and programs… but after you do, I encourage you to take a step back and take a few deep breaths. Think about WHY you chose this homeschool path. Decide with your family WHAT you want to accomplish this year and HOW you want to spend your time and energy. Sometimes, people formalize these into a mission or vision statement, but I like to think of them as our right now priorities. You can then use these priorities to help you navigate your choices (and remember, priorities can always change as you go!)

Having clear priorities makes it much easier to say no to things that might be tempting but not necessarily helpful to your situation. A lot of extracurricular activities and classes might be a great choice for a family prioritizing exploring outside interests but not for a family that wants to prioritize simplicity and family time. A family-style read aloud curriculum is great if your priority is family learning, but not so great if your priority is ease of learning with a busy schedule.

I’d like to invite you at the beginning of this year to take a few weeks to acclimatize to these new systems, really think about what you want for your family this year, and take time to make informed decisions. Ask questions and utilize our lending library and all-access offerings to explore which options work *for you.* Try different schedules and learning styles to see what works best for you. And, most importantly, enjoy the journey!