What started me homeschooling? Part 2 & author news
Feb 11, 2026 7:06 am
Our Quirky Kid
I’m going to tell you how I got into homeschooling, part 2.
Last month I told you about how I discovered that my firstborn was a special needs child. She seemed normal, but when she reached the age of four, I found out she had some quirks.
We put her in the Catholic school down the street when her triplet brothers were born and things at home got a little crazy. It was 1992. She was barely five years old, starting in full day kindergarten. She seemed to manage all right, though the teachers reported she did some odd things.
She wasn't looking people in the eye. On the playground, she didn't engage with the other kids. Instead, she watched ants go about their busy little lives.
"Shannon" didn't learn to read in first grade. So I got "Hooked on Phonics" and tutored her at the beginning of second grade. She caught on and became a regular bookworm by the end of second grade. She loved to read factual books about dinosaurs and bugs. All in all, she was happy through elementary school. She struggled with math, so we worked on times tables a lot. Memory work was hard for her. So was P.E.
Then, she got to sixth grade ... (to be continued).
Looking for That New Favorite Kidlit Author?
We've mentioned author Becca Wierwille before, a Christian author friend writing heartwarming tales for kids. She has a new series starting, junior detective tales featuring a girl and her perceptive dog.
Are you interested in funny, heartwarming Christian chapter books for your young readers—or that you can enjoy together as a family? The Scout and Barnaby Mysteries are lightly illustrated chapter books for kids ages 6-10, written by award-winning children's author Becca Wierwille. These stories star a girl and her unusually perceptive dog who team up to solve mysteries at a Christian wilderness camp using her love of big words and his super sniffer.
So you're in the mood for checking out new stuff?
I haven't personally vetted these offerings, but I think they're worth looking at. First of all, a collection of free kidlit for Valentine's Day:
Next, a young-adult tale by Laurie Bowler. Magic. Time travel. Ancient secrets. A father's mysterious disappearance holds the key to unlocking powers beyond imagination.
*******
As a reader of my newsletter, you should have downloaded The Grandfather Clock, the special prequel short story for my Guardians of Time series.
I'm SURE you didn't download the audiobook for this story, since I just had it made. You can access it here as well.
Learn more about my Guardians of Time tales for young middle grade, and my YA time travel tale, at my website, https://www.phylliswheeler.com .
I hope and pray that your life is full of praise. Keep in touch! Feel free to reply so I can get to know you!
Phyllis Wheeler, Author