• Elijah Company: Also called the Home School Market Place, this website provides FAQ's on various curricula and homeschooling philosophies, homeschooling resources, parenting books, and a link to Homeschool World (Practical HS Magazine).
  
  
• Konos: The "Grand-daddy of Unit Studies", established by veteran homeschoolers, Jessica Hulcy and Carole Thaxton, who live locally in the north Dallas area.  We have been blessed to have Jessica Hulcy as a PEACH speaker in the past.
  
  

• Cornerstone Curriculum: Cornestone Curriculum was established by David and Shirley Quine, veteran homeschoolers who live locally, to achieve three primary goals for homeschooling  their children:
  • To know, love, and serve the Lord;
  • To stand against the ideas of the secular culture;
  • To be able to reason from the Biblical world view.

• No Greater Joy: Books about parenting, homeschooling, and encouragement. 
  
  
• Smoothing the Way:  

  Smoothing the Way is a support group dedicated to serving first-year homeschooling mothers. Each month a topic of specific interest to the new homeschooler is offered.  Veteran homeschooling moms and guest speakers are available to inform and encourage those who have decided to take on the exciting, yet sometimes daunting, task of educating their own children.  If you are homeschooling children ages two through five, "Starting the Way" seminars can encourage you and address learning which teaching methods and materials work best for this special age group.  Learn how to use these important years to build a love of learning.

 

• Well Trained Mind: newsletter, list of resources, their books, link to Peach Hill Press, etc.
  
  
• Whole Heart:   The mission of Whole Heart Ministries is "to encourage and equip Christian parents to build a biblical home and a godly heritage by nurturing, disciplining and educating their children at home."  Whole Heart Ministries strives to serve Christian parents and their children worldwide through ministries of speaking, teaching, training, writing and publishing that focus on the biblical and practical aspects of home nurture, home discipleship, and home education.  Our ultimate objective is to come alongside Christian parents to help them prepare their children to become Christian leaders in the next generation.
   

College Preparatory Classes (SAT / PSAT / NMSQT) 

The sites listed below are resources to help homeschool high schoolers prepare for college. 

• Jean Burk's College Prep Courses
  Watch “Free College Can Happen to You” and “How to Ace the SAT”- video seminars by Jean Burk at www.collegeprepgenius.com/freedownload

   

  Jean Burk is the author of College Prep Genius and has written numerous articles about the SAT and PSAT tests, College Prep, and How to Get Free College. She has been featured as an SAT expert on Fox 4 (Good Day Dallas), CBS(Primetime News) and KXAS 5 (NBC Today),  TXA21 and The Homeschool Channel. She homeschooled both her children and they each received incredible scholarships because of their PSAT and SAT scores. Some of the benefits included full tuition, room and board, unlimited laundry and lunchroom passes, study abroad stipends, etc.

  She currently travels and speaks about the importance of college preparation at conventions, book fairs, schools, libraries, etc. She has taught her “Master the SAT” Prep Class all over the United States. Her company has a new book series called VocabCafé that will help teenagers and younger children increase their knowledge of SAT level vocabulary words through fun and wholesome books. Her teaching DVD was released in the Summer of 2008.   

  
  

 

Standarized Testing

Homeschoolers interesting in having their children tested with the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, Stanford Achievement Test, etc. can investigate the following websites for such opportunities.

• THEO Co-op
  THEO offers the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, and the Stanford Achievement Test.  Contact them directly to determine dates for tests and fees. 

• McKinney Christian Academy (MCA)
  McKinney Christian Academy has opened their doors to homeschoolers who would like to take the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT), and PSAT. Please contact MCA directly to determine dates for testing and fees or to obtain additional information or for a registration form.

• Bob Jones University (BJUP)
  Press Testing and Evaluation Services
  BJU Press Testing & Evaluation Service offers reliable, nationally recognized tests. They offer resources for the Stanford and Iowa Tests, along with learning ability tests such as the OLSAT and CogAt.  They also have information regarding Career Direction and Personality Profiles.  BJU Press is also an excellent resource for college preparatory materials.

Home School Friendly Educational Stores

Did you know you can use your PEACH ID Card to save money at local retail establishments that offer educator discounts? We can't guarantee it, but many retail establishments will accept your PEACH ID as proof of educator status.  Check out the Plano Area Retailers for a list of retail establishments offering educator discounts. 

• Mardel Book Store 
  Your homeschool headquarters. Mardel carries products from the following vendors: BJU Press, Saxon Publishers, Alpha and Omega Publications, Common Sense Press, Shurley English Instructional Materials, ISHA Easy Grammar Systems, Apologia Educational Ministries, Common Sense Press, Five in a Row, Handwriting without Tears, plus many more!  The Plano Mardel Store is located at:
  2300 Coit Road, Ste. 100 | Plano , TX 75075
  Phone: (972) 867-1656 | Fax: (972) 867-4276

• Christian Educators Resource Bookstore
  The center is dedicated to support and encouraging the home education community in North East Texas.  They provide direction for new homeschooling families, testing services, resources for special needs, and communication between local support groups.  Check their web site for the updated calendar of events and forums on relevant and current topics.  They provide a bookstore with new and used curriculum, classrooms for various classes, and teacher talks.

• Home Educators Resource Bookstore
  Thousands of new and used home school materials!  They also buy used curriculum, materials and books.  Home Educators Resource is your one stop shop for all your home school needs. Whether you come in to our retail store or shop our secure online catalog, you will find everything you need to help you be the best teacher you can be.  Two locations, Lewisville and Duncanville. 

 

Home School Financial Assistance

• The Home School Foundation
  The Home School Foundation is the charitable arm of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) and is dedicated to bringing hope and tangible help to homeschoolers in need. It has a variety funds which provided nearly 1 million dollars in assistance and related expenses to homeschooling families last year.   To best serve the home school community families must be aware about the foundation and its funds, so that those who have been blessed are able to bless others. Click the link above for additional information. 

Avoiding Homeschool Burnout 

Gail Felker, in Homeschooling Today magazine, says homeschool burnout is a condition in which "the teaching parent is anxious, depressed, discouraged, overwhelmed, and ready to quit. Burnout is not uncommon. Special-needs schools, churches, and nursing homes, for example, have a large employee turnover due to burnout. Demanding, people-oriented professions are most at risk. For the home-schooler, it often results in sending the children back to public school."

If you have ever been at this point, then the following set of articles might be helpful!!  Read what Ellyn Davis, previously of "The Elijah Company" and now of "The Home School Marketplace", has to say about burnout and ways to avoid it and get out of it.

• Avoiding Homeschool Burnout (Part 1)
• Avoiding Homeschool Burnout (Part 2)
• Avoiding Homeschool Burnout (Part 3)

Homeschooling Grows Up
"Homeschooling Grows Up" is the largest research survey to date of adults who were home educated. Over the last decade, researchers, professionals, parents, the media, and many others have asked repeatedly: How do homeschooled students turn out? Can a homeschool graduate get into college or get a job? How do they fit into society? Are they good citizens? Are they happy?

In 2003, the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) commissioned Dr. Brian D. Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute, to conduct a study to answer these questions. The results of his research demonstrate that homeschoolers are succeeding.  Go to the HSLDA website and view this report online, download it in PDF form, or order your free brochure from the HSLDA online bookstore!

 

Information and links on the PEACH web site does not necessarily indicate endorsement by PEACH.  Information is provided to PEACH members to assist in home schooling their children.  PEACH members are expected to verify information and investigate for themselves whether information from these links would be appropriate for their particular family situation.