Homeschool Foundations

Our homeschool program is a private, family-operated secondary education program created to provide Emma and Sarah with a rigorous, individualized, and meaningful high school education. The program combines parent-led instruction, independent academic work, experiential learning, dual-enrollment coursework, research, service, leadership development, and career exploration.

The program is grounded in the belief that education should prepare students not only for college and future careers, but also for thoughtful participation in their communities and responsible service to others. Coursework is designed to build strong foundations in core academic subjects while also encouraging research, analysis, problem solving, creativity, ethical decision making, and independent learning.

Emma and Sarah’s education is structured to meet and exceed the requirements of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Homeschoolers Accreditation Agency. It also allows them to pursue advanced academic interests, including science, engineering, veterinary medicine, public service, music, the arts, and the humanities. Through this approach, the homeschool program supports both academic achievement and the development of mature, curious, capable, and community-minded young adults.

Our homeschool program is academically focused and individualized. Emma and Sarah meet daily for instruction, which may include direct teaching, guided discussion, independent reading, written assignments, laboratory work, research, projects, assessments, and experiential learning. The smaller instructional setting allows for close mentoring, immediate feedback, flexible pacing, and extended exploration of complex topics. They are expected to come prepared, participate actively, complete assigned work, revise and improve their writing and projects, and take increasing responsibility for managing their own learning.

The homeschool uses a block-style schedule, allowing extended periods of focused study rather than short class periods. This schedule supports deeper reading, longer labs, research-based assignments, project development, writing and revision, and sustained discussion. It also provides the flexibility needed to balance required coursework with college classes, field experiences, competitions, and advanced interests in science, engineering, veterinary medicine, public service, music, and the arts.

Learning Environment

Emma and Sarah have studied a wide variety of academic subjects, including traditional fields along with more specialized areas based on their individual interests. They have taken four years of English language and Literature and three years of Spanish.

Math subjects have included Geometry, Algebra I and Algebra II, Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus, College Math, Statistics, and Calculus I. Their instruction in the Sciences is also expansive with Biology with Lab, Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry with Lab (high school and college level), Physics with Lab (college level), Engineering, and Computer Science. In addition, our curriculum has included American Government and Politics, Cultural Geography, US History, World History, Music Theory and Performance, Visual Art, Physical Education, and Health and Safety.

Subjects of Study

Beginning in 11th grade, dual enrollment at Mount St. Mary’s University expanded the learning environment beyond the home setting. Emma and Sarah enrolled in college courses taught by university faculty and taken alongside traditional college students. They both have taken Chemistry I with Lab and Recitation, Physics I with Lab, Calculus I, and Public Speaking.

In addition, Emma and Sarah have worked with university faculty on several research projects, deepening their understanding of biology and anatomy/physiology and their skills with laboratory equipment. These learning experiences have provided access to advanced content, independent grading, college-level expectations, classroom and laboratory experiences, and direct preparation for the academic demands of higher education. Their dual-enrollment work has also strengthened independence, time management, study habits, and academic communication.

Dual Enrollment

Experiential learning away from home is an important part of Emma and Sarah’s homeschool program. Their education includes STEM competitions and research presentation trips throughout Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Michigan, and other states. These experiences allow them to present their work, receive feedback, engage with peers and professionals, and see how research and engineering design are evaluated beyond the home classroom.

Their education also includes field trips to art galleries, museums, classical concerts, historical sites, and natural environments across the United States. They have visited major cultural institutions in New York and Washington, D.C., as well as museums and performance venues in other states. These experiences support learning in history, literature, music, art, politics, science, and culture.

Historical and architectural travel has included national memorials in Washington, D.C., presidential birthplaces and historic sites associated with Harry Truman, Abraham Lincoln, and Dwight Eisenhower, and Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, including Fallingwater. Together, these experiences connect academic study to real-world contexts and encourage curiosity, civic awareness, creativity, scientific observation, and practical application of knowledge

Travel to varied natural environments has also enriched their education. These include the coastal plains of the Carolinas, Virginia, and New Jersey, as well as the Great Plains of the Midwest, the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, and the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina.

Experiential Learning

Public service, leadership development, and career exploration are integrated into Emma and Sarah’s education as important extensions of academic learning. The homeschool program emphasizes that education is not limited to coursework, but also includes developing responsibility, initiative, ethical judgment, and the ability to contribute meaningfully to others.

Through public service, Emma and Sarah apply these values in practical ways, including volunteer work with local seniors and service as Citizen Archivists with the National Archives.

Leadership development is supported through roles that require responsibility and communication, such as serving as junior members of city council and as ambassadors with the National Society of High School Scholars. Career-oriented experiences, including working a few hours each week at a local veterinary clinic and participating in veterinary shadowing opportunities, allow them to connect academic interests in biology, animal health, and science with real professional settings. Together, these experiences deepen their education by linking knowledge, service, leadership, and future career preparation.

Personal and Career Development

Our homeschool program meets and exceeds the instructional requirements established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Emma and Sarah complete a minimum of 8 hours of academic work per school day, totaling at least 990 hours per school year across a minimum of 190 instructional days. Their academic work often extends beyond these minimums through dual-enrollment coursework, independent research, STEM competitions, community service, and career-oriented experiences.

Our homeschool program is academically focused and individualized. Emma and Sarah meet daily for instruction, which may include direct teaching, guided discussion, independent reading, written assignments, laboratory work, research, projects, assessments, and experiential learning. The smaller instructional setting allows for close mentoring, immediate feedback, flexible pacing, and extended exploration of complex topics. They are expected to come prepared, participate actively, complete assigned work, revise and improve their writing and projects, and take increasing responsibility for managing their own learning.

The homeschool uses a block-style schedule, allowing extended periods of focused study rather than short class periods. This schedule supports deeper reading, longer labs, research-based assignments, project development, writing and revision, and sustained discussion. It also provides the flexibility needed to balance required coursework with college classes, field experiences, competitions, and advanced interests in science, engineering, veterinary medicine, public service, music, and the arts.

Learning Environment

Subjects of Study

Emma and Sarah have studied a wide variety of academic subjects, including traditional fields along with more specialized areas based on their individual interests. They have taken four years of English language and Literature and three years of Spanish.

Math subjects have included Geometry, Algebra I and Algebra II, Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus, College Math, Statistics, and Calculus I. Their instruction in the Sciences is also expansive with Biology with Lab, Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry with Lab (high school and college level), Physics with Lab (college level), Engineering, and Computer Science. In addition, our curriculum has included American Government and Politics, Cultural Geography, US History, World History, Music Theory and Performance, Visual Art, Physical Education, and Health and Safety.

Beginning in 11th grade, dual enrollment at Mount St. Mary’s University expanded the learning environment beyond the home setting. Emma and Sarah enrolled in college courses taught by university faculty and taken alongside traditional college students. They both have taken Chemistry I with Lab and Recitation, Physics I with Lab, Calculus I, and Public Speaking.

In addition, Emma and Sarah have worked with university faculty on several research projects, deepening their understanding of biology and anatomy/physiology and their skills with laboratory equipment. These learning experiences have provided access to advanced content, independent grading, college-level expectations, classroom and laboratory experiences, and direct preparation for the academic demands of higher education. Their dual-enrollment work has also strengthened independence, time management, study habits, and academic communication.

Dual Enrollment

Experiential Learning

Experiential learning away from home is an important part of Emma and Sarah’s homeschool program. Their education includes STEM competitions and research presentation trips throughout Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Michigan, and other states. These experiences allow them to present their work, receive feedback, engage with peers and professionals, and see how research and engineering design are evaluated beyond the home classroom.

Their education also includes field trips to art galleries, museums, classical concerts, historical sites, and natural environments across the United States. They have visited major cultural institutions in New York and Washington, D.C., as well as museums and performance venues in other states. These experiences support learning in history, literature, music, art, politics, science, and culture.

Historical and architectural travel has included national memorials in Washington, D.C., presidential birthplaces and historic sites associated with Harry Truman, Abraham Lincoln, and Dwight Eisenhower, and Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, including Fallingwater. Together, these experiences connect academic study to real-world contexts and encourage curiosity, civic awareness, creativity, scientific observation, and practical application of knowledge

Travel to varied natural environments has also enriched their education. These include the coastal plains of the Carolinas, Virginia, and New Jersey, as well as the Great Plains of the Midwest, the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, and the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina.

Personal and Career Development

Public service, leadership development, and career exploration are integrated into Emma and Sarah’s education as important extensions of academic learning. The homeschool program emphasizes that education is not limited to coursework, but also includes developing responsibility, initiative, ethical judgment, and the ability to contribute meaningfully to others.

Through public service, Emma and Sarah apply these values in practical ways, including volunteer work with local seniors and service as Citizen Archivists with the National Archives.

Leadership development is supported through roles that require responsibility and communication, such as serving as junior members of city council and as ambassadors with the National Society of High School Scholars. Career-oriented experiences, including working a few hours each week at a local veterinary clinic and participating in veterinary shadowing opportunities, allow them to connect academic interests in biology, animal health, and science with real professional settings. Together, these experiences deepen their education by linking knowledge, service, leadership, and future career preparation.

The program meets and exceeds the instructional requirements established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Emma and Sarah complete a minimum of 8 hours of academic work per school day, totaling at least 990 hours per school year across a minimum of 190 instructional days. Their academic work often extends beyond these minimums through dual-enrollment coursework, independent research, STEM competitions, community service, and career-oriented experiences.

Simmons and
Simmons Group