Have you seen the newest homeschooling magazine? Actually, it’s not a magazine in the usual sense, but is more a resource to supplement your homeschool curriculum. The Home Educator’s Tutor is a treasure chest of old-time nature projects and stories, games, poems and other literature, famous speeches and letters, antique arts and crafts ideas, biographical sketches of famous men of long ago, Bible verses in Latin (with the English alongside) for copywork, and much more. In addition, each issue contains several full page art prints, as well as a CD with folk songs, hymns to sing, and the featured composer’s music. The Home Educator’s Tutor can be used as its own study or as a jumping off point for deeper study. The Home Educator’s Tutor, published by homeschooling parents J.R. and Paula Augustine, arrives at your home quarterly and is suitable for all ages.
We asked Paula to tell us a bit about this new product.
What made you decide to publish The Home Educator’s Tutor?
Our kids have grown up with music as a part of their lives. Both J.R. and I have some musical background. As I began discussing with moms online about homeschooling, I noticed a common thread. Many moms found it difficult to include the fine arts at home and this did not leave a positive feeling for them. I started asking myself, “What if a magazine could become a resource for the fine arts?” The idea was born.
Does each issue have a theme?
There isn’t an overriding theme for each issue. Instead, there is a plan for each section. The character and outdoor studies each follow a new theme each issue. For example, the character studies revolved around humility for term one and obedience for term two this year.
The fine arts section has more of an annual theme. The composers and artists are chosen from a time period, but are from different schools with different influences. Thus, we have had Haydn from Austria and Handel largely based in England this year.
The literature section is a little bit different. Some elements are thematic — the original documents are from early U.S. history this year, while other elements follow a subject area. The younger children are studying Norwegian fairy tales and the high school students Norwegian myths while the middle age group is reading Greek myths.
How is The Home Educator’s Tutor different from other homeschooling magazines?
The Home Educator’s Tutor is not about news or about homeschooling or how-to articles. It does have some of these themes with it, and the summer issue will carry more of this type of support.
It is an affordable resource offering extras for a liberal (generous) education. The Home Educator’s Tutor can stand on its own, offering high quality educational materials above and beyond the 3R’s, or become a resource – a jumping off point for an in depth study of one or all the sections it covers.
I hope parents enjoy sitting down to a picnic reading nature stories, or taking the magazine and CD along in a car trip, or sending it along with their children overnight to read with grandparents. I pray this resource will offer a positive and relaxing light to a busy mom’s day.
How do you decide what material to include in each issue?
We set up a plan for each year and follow it. Ideas on what to include are gleaned from Charlotte Mason’s Ambleside schools, Classical educational material, Charlotte Mason educational materials, and other noted and trusted suggestions within the homeschool community.
Who would most benefit from your magazine?
Homeschooling parents who are looking for a great affordable resource to help them offer a more generous education to their children. This resource especially works well for those who are feeling disorganized, those who are especially busy with other circumstances, and those who want to offer more without much money or time invested.
Can you give us a peek into an upcoming issue?
This spring’s term three will take a look at Johann Sebastian Bach. He had such an impact on music that many think of music in terms of pre-Bach and post-Bach. The fairy tales bring a bit of laughter with Boots and his brothers. There will also be an American writer considered by some to be a genius and by others disturbed.
In the summer issue we’ll shift gears a bit. There will be a smattering of parental helps, next year’s plan to help prepare, and some ideas on how to make the most of The Home Educator’s Tutor in the coming year. Readers won’t want to miss it.
Paula Augustine
J.R. and Paula Augustine home educate their four children in Tennessee. They have gleaned their educational style from Charlotte Mason and classical ideas. J.R. has a B.S. in Pastoral Leadership and Paula is working on finishing her B.S. with a focus on music and education.
Has something happened to this magazine? I can’t find it. Please advise. Thanks.