Conversations: Donna Baer

Painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

Planning Ahead & Simplifying

I met Donna Baer about 4 years ago when I first joined the Classical Conversations co-op with my oldest son. Donna Baer is absolute dynamite. She is a mother of TEN who homeschooled each child all of the way through, an author, an ivy-league grad, and a parenting coach.

Her book Strong Happy Family sits on the stand beside my bed because I reference it so often. It is full of highlighting and exclamation points. I have always been inspired by the love she has for the path she’s taken, her joy and her passion for motherhood and home-educating. She has so much wisdom to share, and this little conversation is just skimming the surface.

In this conversation we discuss:

• How Donna planned out her lessons for her children the summer before beginning their academic year.

• How long “school” lasted for each age.

• The material covered in the early years.

• The parent coaching she offers!