|
Home
2009 TESTING
AP ENG 2008
On-Line Store
Debra's Books
Articles
Seminar Topics
Deb's Bio
Deb's Schedule
E-Mail Us
Purchase Orders
| |
 |
Announcing Debra's new affiliation with
Apologia
Educational Ministries.
Look for The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling, 10th Anniversary Edition
and Debra Bell's Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Teens to be released by Apologia
in 2009. |
|
Hey there! Thanks for checking out
our little corner of cyberspace. I'm delighted to
share a bit of our homeschool journey together. Before we get
started, here's a bit about me:
|
I used to teach high school and college English in traditional settings - from that you
can figure I have a few degrees and professional credentials. About
twenty years
ago, though, friends of mine without degrees or teaching experience started to homeschool
and got better results than I did in the classroom, so I paddled my boat into their stream.
|
|
I
wrote all about this and more in the Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling, published by
Thomas Nelson - that turned out to be an
award-winning best-seller. The book made our lives very exciting, but a lot busier as well.
|
|
I
also like to start things, including the Home School Resource Center.
This is our
family business that has been serving the homeschool community the past 20 years.
|
|
In addition, for years I taught English
classes at CHESS (Creative Home Educators Support Services) family school and I also
directed the Learning Center homeschool co-op. You can read more about
these co-operative efforts in some of my
columns. In my twilight years of homeschooling, I helped
to start Encore! Home School Productions, which puts on an annual,
full-scale musical and occasionally charters bus trips to
NYC to see Broadway shows and shop in the Village.
|
|
Today, our four kids are all grown,
one is in grad school, one is married, and I'm back in
school, finishing a doctorate in Educational Psychology -- so I
can continue to serve the homeschool community to a greater
degree.
|
|
|
Now here's the stuff I like best about my life:
|
I live in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, just downwind from
the Hershey chocolate factory! (One of the perks of marrying the right
man.)
|
|
I've been married almost 30 years to a guy named Kermit who loves tolearn and loves to be with his kids and wife. He has many endearing
habits, one of which is taking virtual vacations - which means he goes
down to AAA, gets a pile of brochures on some exotic place like Tahiti
and then sits on our bed enjoying the experience without spending a
dime. (Did I say Pennsylvania Dutch?) I use to start packing my bags,
but now I know better.
|
|
All four of our kids graduated from
homeschooling and they love to learn, (argue and debate). They've all been
homeschooled from the start. I thank the Lord everyday for my family life - our house is
filled with laughter, creativity and grand conversations
as well as silly,
inane ones and we must report occasionally very bad attitudes (mine
not withstanding).
|
|
The very best thing about my life is all the Bells know they are each
sinners saved by grace, enjoying the unmerited favor of our Lord daily.
So from that secure position, I intend to share honestly with you all the
ups and downs, joys and sorrows, inspired and mundane moments of
homeschool life!
In His Sovereign Grace,
Debra
|
|
|
|
|
|
I
|
|
|