Welcome to Family Friday! This week, we’re excited to introduce you to the Cline family—Ty, Jess, and their three energetic boys: Ethan, Will, and Zack. Let’s take a look at what makes this family special, their favorite activities, and their unique approach to education through their journey with A One-Room Schoolhouse.
Getting to Know the Clines
We are the Cline family! Ty and Jess have been married for ten years and are blessed with three boys: Ethan, who is almost 7, Will, who is 4, and Zack, who is 2. As a family, we love to be active and explore the outdoors. One of our favorite activities is riding bicycles together. We enjoy biking on some of the beautiful rails-to-trails paths in our area, discovering new places as a family.
During the summer months, you can often find us at Keystone Lake, soaking up the sun and enjoying the great outdoors. We also love spending time at Ty’s parents’ cabin in central Pennsylvania. Many of our weekends are spent there, mowing the yard, trimming trees, riding ATVs and gators, playing in the creek, hiking, and ending the day around a campfire. It’s a place where we connect with extended family and create cherished memories, from hunting in the fall to sledding in the winter.
Our Favorite Family Activities
As a family, we love activities that bring us closer together. Biking is a big one—especially as the kids get older and start riding themselves. Ethan, our oldest, loves playing board games, and it’s something we enjoy doing together. We’re excited to include Will and Zack more in these family game nights as they grow.
Ethan has also been having a blast playing deck hockey and is considering giving soccer a try. However, finding a soccer program that doesn’t have a Saturday commitment is challenging, as weekends are often spent at the cabin. When we have some downtime, we also enjoy catching a Pittsburgh Penguins game on TV and cheering them on!
Our Faith and Educational Approach
Our faith in Christ is central to our lives and influences all of our decisions, including how we approach education. Ty and I both grew up in the church and found our faith early on, which has shaped our values and family life. When it came to our children’s education, we felt called to homeschool, especially with the vast resources and supportive communities available today.
We chose The Good and the Beautiful curriculum early on because it aligns with our values. When we discovered A One-Room Schoolhouse, we realized it was a perfect fit—allowing us to blend homeschooling with a supportive community environment. We appreciate how much learning can happen outside of the traditional classroom structure and enjoy the flexibility that homeschooling offers.
Why We Chose a Homeschool Hybrid Model
We were excited to begin our homeschooling journey but also wanted to find a community where we could make friends and provide our kids with opportunities for extracurricular activities. A One-Room Schoolhouse offers a perfect balance, providing a hybrid model that combines the flexibility of homeschooling with structured group learning.
Friends, flexibility, location, values, and affordability were the key factors that led us to choose A One-Room Schoolhouse. Our friends, the Benders, highly recommended it, and we loved the flexibility of choosing 1, 2, or 3 days per week. When A One-Room Schoolhouse opened an East/Plum campus—just a 20-minute drive from us—it seemed like a perfect fit.
What We Love About A One-Room Schoolhouse
What we love most about A One-Room Schoolhouse is the strong sense of community. We have met new friends, both parents and classmates, which has been incredibly encouraging. Homeschooling can feel isolating at times, but this community makes us feel supported.
Ethan looks forward to his time at the Schoolhouse, especially the elective days where he gets to participate in unique classes like cooking with Frau Kelly. The field trips are another highlight, providing us with opportunities to visit places we wouldn’t have considered on our own.
The Benefits We’ve Seen
Since joining A One-Room Schoolhouse, we’ve seen numerous benefits for Ethan:
- Academic: Ethan has picked up bits and pieces of German and enjoys teaching us what he’s learned.
- Social: He’s made great friends and looks forward to seeing them regularly.
- Emotional: He’s excited about his Thursdays at the Schoolhouse and never shows any reluctance to go.
A Memorable Experience
One of Ethan’s favorite experiences was participating in hands-on cooking days with Frau Kelly. He also loved the field trips and enjoys the flexibility of not having to get up and go somewhere every day, which suits his learning style and our family rhythm.
Advice for Other Parents
For any parents considering a homeschool hybrid model, we highly recommend A One-Room Schoolhouse. It offers the flexibility of homeschooling while providing community and opportunities for extracurricular activities and social connections that you might not get otherwise. The community at A One-Room Schoolhouse is wonderful—filled with parents and kids who share a love for flexible learning and a passion for Christ.
Looking Ahead
We’ve truly enjoyed our first year with A One-Room Schoolhouse and look forward to many more. We’re excited to continue growing in this supportive community and watching our children thrive in their education and faith journeys.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the Cline family. We hope to connect with more families and share our experiences and journey together!
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