Meet Kenzi and Rylee White!!
Kenzi, an 8-year-old animal lover, and Rylee, her 6-year-old sister, are two energetic girls with a passion for exploring the world around them. Both sisters are deeply enthusiastic about animals, especially horses. Kenzi is a proud member of 4-H, eagerly preparing to embark on market animal projects in the upcoming spring, planning to showcase goats and pigs at the fair. Her interests span from spending time at her grandparents’ farm to indulging in arts and crafts, coloring, and building. Meanwhile, Rylee shares Kenzi’s love for animals and is especially fond of horses. When she’s not riding or playing with animals, she enjoys card games, crafting, and tumbling on the trampoline. As a 4-H Cloverbud, Rylee is excited to join her sister in showing animals when she’s old enough.
This year marks Kenzi’s second and Rylee’s first year of homeschooling, with their first year at A One-Room Schoolhouse (AORSH). The family has embraced this change, enjoying a mix of home-based learning and the collaborative environment of AORSH.
White Family Life!
The White Family is passionate about sports, particularly competitive cheerleading, where both girls shine. Kenzi is now in her fourth season, while Rylee is in her third. In addition to cheer, both sisters are dedicated softball players, enjoying the sport in both spring and fall.
The White family loves to travel, often in connection with their cheer competitions. They cherish the time spent with their cheer family, staying in hotels before competitions, where swimming and camaraderie set the tone for a successful day. Their travel adventures extend to twice-yearly visits to Texas to see family, a summer beach trip, and an occasional camping getaway. Back home, downtime is spent on house projects or helping out at the grandparents’ farm, fostering a sense of togetherness and connection with nature. Local outings to places like Top Golf, movie nights, or swimming at their uncle’s house with cousins are other treasured family moments.
A Family’s Approach to Education
Shifting Perspectives on Learning
The family’s experience with education has evolved significantly. After time in the public school system, they realized that education is not one-size-fits-all. Kenzi and Rylee each have distinct learning styles—Kenzi thrives with visual, game-based learning, while Rylee responds best to auditory instruction. Their homeschooling journey has allowed them to tailor educational experiences to each child’s needs, fostering a deeper understanding of concepts.
Choosing a Homeschool Hybrid Model
After a year of homeschooling with Kenzi, it became clear that both girls would benefit from the social interaction that a hybrid model offers. They enjoy learning at home but also crave the energy and engagement of a different environment. This realization led to their decision to join AORSH.
Experiences at A One-Room Schoolhouse
Connections with friends already attending AORSH, coupled with the appealing schedule and teaching methods, played a pivotal role in the family’s decision to enroll. They appreciated AORSH’s curriculum, which includes “The Good and the Beautiful” and a structured rotation for subjects and electives. The hands-on learning opportunities and family-like atmosphere felt like the perfect fit.
Gone are the days of morning struggles and tears over school. The girls are now excited to learn, and their newfound enthusiasm for education has been a transformative change.
The family’s primary goal is for their daughters to genuinely understand what they are learning. Kenzi struggled with the fast-paced environment of public school, often feeling overwhelmed. At AORSH, the more hands-on, exploratory approach suits her perfectly, allowing her to progress at her own pace. The girls also benefit from ample outdoor time, which is crucial for their active natures. AORSH’s mix of indoor learning and outdoor play fosters a love of learning and keeps the girls engaged and curious.
What the family appreciates most about AORSH is the active involvement of parents. Volunteering in the classroom offers a firsthand view of their children’s learning, allowing them to see how their daughters engage with lessons and participate in class activities. This involvement has enriched their understanding of the girls’ strengths and challenges, inspiring new ideas for learning techniques.
AORSH has fostered a genuine love of learning in Kenzi, who now eagerly seeks new ways to grasp challenging concepts. For Rylee, who has always been diligent, AORSH has demonstrated that education can be more than just traditional lessons—it’s an adventure filled with hands-on activities and exploration.
A Favorite School Memory
Kenzi’s most memorable moment so far was when the exotic pets visited to kick off their Mammals Unit in Science. She was thrilled to hold a snake and loved every moment of the experience. Rylee’s favorite memory is from when the Fire Department came to school; she was ecstatic to get hands-on experience with the fire hose!
A Message of Gratitude
The family is grateful for the nurturing community they’ve found at AORSH—a place where both children and parents are seen, heard, and valued.
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