Doreen Blanding

“Life is school and school is life,” is the mantra at Helaman’s Academy in Redmond, Washington, where head schoolmarm Doreen Blanding plays teacher, nurse, school bus driver, cook, laundress and most importantly mom to a family of five boys and one little princess. Doreen has been homeschooling since the day she went visiting and a friend shared with her this weird and crazy idea of homeschooling. That was back in 1993 when her oldest was just barely two and she has never looked back since.

Doreen was studying elementary education went she left Brigham Young University to be with her husband in his new job with Microsoft in her home state of Washington. She would love to go back and get her paper diploma, but for now she loves getting her real life diploma. She feels she has learned more from her “on the job” training as a homeschooling mom than any school room could have taught her.

She loves music, cross stitching, sewing, gardening, reading, learning, scouting, and her family. She has served as a Relief Society President, Young Women’s President, but spent most of her time in primary as a music leader or pianist (her favorite calling). She is a soccer coach, web master and president of Washington State Latter-day Saint Family Educators (WALDSFE) and helps put on a yearly Family Education Conference for LDS families in Washington State. Her main goal in raising and training her children is to prepare them to fulfill the mission the Lord has called them to do (D&C 88:77-80).

In 2004 Doreen was asked to sit on the board of the new and exciting LDS National Homeschool Association. She is a regular contributor to the weekly free newsletter, The Sentinel and invites all to sign up.

Homeschool 101; How to do "it" when you aren't even sure what "it" is:

Parenthood is one of the most demanding, tiring job and rewarding jobs a person could ever do. It is the true face of unselfishness. When you add educating those children in your own home on top of all the other things you do as a parent, the job seems almost impossible. Come listen to Doreen as she uplifts you, informs you of laws and regulations and gives you the "you can do it" spirit as she helps you take the first few baby steps down the wonderful road of Homeschooling. You won't be sorry you started.

If you are still thinking about it, sitting on the fence, have not begun homeschooling, have questions, need a boost or just plain need information, this is the class for you.

The Reluctant Father:

Will my wife be happy doing this? (a happy wife is a happy home) or will it create too much stress? Will my children be learning the same as their peers? Will my children be missing something if they are at home and not at school with their friends? Will our family be better or worse for our choice to home school? What if...? What if...? What if...?

There are no secret answers, but we hope to explore some coping methods and some way to soften dad's heart and hopefully open his eyes to the wonderful world of homeschooling

Exploring Homeschooling Philosophies and Methods: One size doesn’t fit them all:

Once the decision to homeschool is made, your mind is either on information overload or you just don’t have a clue as to where to start. We will discuss the popular philosophies and methods used by many homeschooling families. You will find the size that fits you this year.

Biographical Information:

Homeschool 101; How to do "it" when you aren't even sure what "it" is:

The Reluctant Father:

Exploring Homeschooling Philosophies and Methods: One size doesn’t fit them all: