An Interview with Charlene Notgrass Podcast 142

   Recently Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker had the pleasure of sitting down and visiting with Charlene Notgrass of Notgrass History. Charlene and her husband, Ray, started their homeschool curriculum company in 1999 when they developed a Bible-based curriculum for homeschooling families. Soon after it was released, a homeschooling mom approached them at a convention and asked them to develop a Tennessee history curriculum. Intrigued by the idea, Ray did exactly that. A few years later, Ray mentioned to Charlene that he felt led to write a U.S. History course. He was inspired by a singular experience he had had as a high school student when his history teacher and his English teacher decided to combine their knowledge to create an integrated program of study for the year. He found the coursework that year to be very engaging and beneficial; therefore, he decided to meld multiple subjects into his curriculum as well. The result of Ray’s efforts was Exploring America, a high school course that integrates American history, English, and the Bible. Other curriculums followed after that, including a high school course in world history that follows a similar format. Charlene appreciates the way IEW equips students with the skills they need to effectively write about history in their coursework. She encourages students to write applying IEW methodology to the writing prompts provided in the Notgrass curriculum. We hope you enjoy listening to Podcast Episode 142 and gain a little insight on how Notgrass History promotes writing, which in turn promotes a deeper understanding of historical events. As Charlene puts it, â€Å"We learn by doing and thinking and experiencing all at the same time.† Additionally Charlene offers an encouraging daily blog for homeschooling mothers to encourage them on their journey that you may also enjoy checking out.