About Erin Brown Conroy

My joy is to help you become fully equipped as a mom and dad to successfully home school your child -- with the top knowledge, understanding, and know-how -- getting the best curriculum deals, best teaching and learning info, and best "free stuff" -- and getting the best tools and helps "out there" today" -- So that you can enjoy your relationship with your child even more than you do now.

At this very moment, sitting there at the computer -- reading these words -- you and I have a connection. Do you believe it? Let me show you...

How did it all start?
I actually began teaching at 16 years old, teaching music lessons. Right away the love for teaching became rooted into my life, and I went on to college to become a teacher. Something else was happening at that time, too: Walking up to receive my bachelor's degree (Western Michigan University, 1981), I was pregnant with my first child.

Well, like all first-time moms, my ife changed in big ways.  The truth became apparent: My first calling isn't teaching -- It's being a mom. I know you can relate when looking into your child's eyes -- wanting to give her the best in the world...including her education. So when my daughter was four, I enrolled her in the most prestigious preschool in town. But when I went to the preschool to observe one day, to my absolute horror, my highly-intelligent daughter pretended to not know her letters at all - to fit in with the other kids.

At about the same time, I heard Raymond Moore speak about home schooling on a Focus on the Family broadcast. It was the early 80's, and the movement was just starting to break. Though home schooling was "illegal" in our state, I knew it was my God-given responsibility to give my daughter the best. After that preschool "observation episode," I knew it probably wasn't going to happen in a "traditional" school setting. So the decision to Home School came naturally. It was the absolute best decision ever made -- for all my children.

Personal Growth...
Probably much like you, I realized that good parenting -- and good teaching -- didn't just plop out of the sky; good parenting and good teaching are skills to be learned, not "a given" that we're born with. I wish I could say that I sprinkled fairy dust over my head and instantly become a fantastic parent and teacher to my child, but you and I both know how hard we truly have to work at growing and maturing in our head knowledge AND our heart attitudes. An official piece of paper from a university in teaching doesn't make you a good teacher. It can help get you going. But becoming a MASTER TEACHER -- in mind, motivation, and heart -- takes learning much more.

Do you read books and magazines like crazy, listen to audio and video programs, go to seminars, and keep learning and growing? If you're like me, you do -- Because you've realized the high-powered value of continually growing -- and maturing -- no matter what our age. After all, when it comes to our children they deserved our best. As moms and dads, we absolutely need to "never stop learning."

Why Home Schooling?
I have to admit, I've "tried out" moments of putting my children in public and private schools for a year (thinking my role was "complete"). It didn't take long to realize that home schooling really was STILL the best option -- Not just for ACADEMIC learning, but also for PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, MATURITY, and SPIRITUAL learning. The fantastic benefits and joys of home schooling are SO GREAT -- with the excellent learning that takes place, the ability to address each child's specific learning needs, the solid family relationships built, the closeness and sharing of life together....Oy! How could there be anything else?!

Life has a way of bounding forward -- and now with 13 children and another degree [MA, WMU 1991] in working with "special populations" in rehabilitation), life is never dull. The wonderful joy of birthing three children, having two stepsons, and adopting eight children from overseas makes life....um....well....ABUNDANT! My oldest is now 25 and an MD in residency in Virginia, and our youngest is six years old. Many of our kids came to us with "special needs," (physically and with learning and emotional challenges). And within home schooling, they're all growing in leaps and bounds. If you can't tell already, along with my husband Shawn, they're the deepest joy and passion of my life.

The years go by...
Do you ever look back and say, “Where did the time go?” Yup – I do that, too (In fact, I've had a few of those, "Oh-my-goodness-I'm-almost-50" moments lately...!). Professionally working with families now for over 30 years, serving on professional and parent boards in education, home schooling, and adoption since the early 80's, speaking at conferences for almost 20 years, teaching university courses in Leadership, Writing & Research, Organizational Development, Personal Communication, and Health & Wellness....OK, thinking about it makes me even more breathless than doing it! As a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), and as faculty at Cornerstone University's Professional and Graduate Studies Division (PGS), I've tutored, taught, counseled, supervised, and directed individuals and groups. It's a fantastic ride. But above it all, my children’s lives and the family is number one.

There have been many years of trial and error. I’ve been allowed the privilege of working with all kinds of children:  With special physical needs, emotional needs, and learning challenges; with ADHD, ADD, and behavioral issues; with giftedness, creativity, and incredible internal beauty. Many of these kids have been your kids; some of them are mine.

Let's get real...
You and I have a lot to share together. I think I've tried just about every curriculum out there (THAT gets expensive!). And I think I've made just about every mistake you can make (THAT is humbling!). The good news is that while "taking notes," God has allowed me to learn and not make the same mistakes again. I'm sticking to practical strategies and ideas that get me to what I need for my child right now. And I'm dedicated to sharing those strategies and ideas with you.

God's grace allows each of us to live and breathe and pour ourselves into all He has called us to do and be.  It's about becoming.  Through a continual day-in-and-day-out, 24-7 battleground of living and learning, God has allowed me to write three books (20 Secrets to Success with Your Child [2003], "My Kid is Driving Me Crazy! 14 Realistic Expectations that Make Parenting Easier [2004], and 40 Days to Balanced Parenting [2004]) and a health program for moms (www.totallyfitmom.com) and writing, reading, and spelling curricula (Word Mastery Skill Builders, Handwriting Skill Builders, and The Complete Mastery Reading & Spelling Program...a 12-year journey of creating, testing, and perfecting a way for ALL children and adults to learn to read -- no matter what their learning style, background, or learning challenges).

Let's talk...
I love the fact that the Internet allows us to communicate and get to know each other worldwide. So through speaking engagements, www.erinbrownconroy.com,  media interviews, articles, new books, new curriculum development, and personally consulting with families (www.yourexpertparentingcoach.com), you and I can meet and be enriched together.

Let's share...
This site is valuable. Take advantage of all of the resources here. Get what you need for a great home schooling experience. Create fantastic learning experiences that you all enjoy. Become closer to your child. And feel better personally about who you are and how you home school.

Let's Grow...
And get better and better, together. This site is On the Grow. We're in "redesign"....with new interviews, new booklets - including the new, "The 121 best Resources for Home Schooling Families: Where to Go to Get What you Need", "Free Stuff," and hot curriculum deals.