Have we been arguing about public school vs. homeschool for thousands of years?

In this video, we travel back to 480 BC to compare the educational philosophies of Athens and Sparta. Although separated by only 132 miles, these two Greek city-states had radically different ideas about what children should learn—and why.

Athens sought to cultivate thoughtful citizens through philosophy, rhetoric, the arts, and civic participation. Sparta trained disciplined, loyal warriors through state-directed education and physical endurance. Their debate may sound ancient, but it echoes many of the same questions parents are asking today.

• Should education prepare children for citizenship or for life?
• Is standardized education better than individualized instruction?
• What role should parents play in shaping their children's education?
• Why is homeschooling growing in popularity today?

As a public school teacher and father, I'm not interested in declaring one side the winner. Instead, I want to explore what history can teach us about the choices we face today. The stories of the past don't stay in the past—they shape the future we build.

If you enjoy thoughtful discussions about education, history, Christian faith, storytelling, and the ideas that shape civilization, you're in the right place.

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— Zach Larson

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Want to take your writing to the next level? The secret might surprise you: poetry.In this video, I share why practicing poetry is one of the most powerful (and often overlooked) ways to become a better writer. From learning to be more concise and emotionally impactful to mastering figurative language and meaning modification, poetry trains skills that will dramatically improve your prose.I also tell the personal story of how a sixth-grade poetry unit changed my life—from a kid who only read stories to someone whose poems ended up in anthologies and whose techniques still shape my novels today.Watch until the end to see the opening of my book *God Save the Children* and spot the poetic influences in the writing.If you want to write better, this might be the advice you didn’t know you needed.👉 Grab a pen and try writing your first poem today!For more writing help, book recommendations, and to find out about my books, follow the link to my website: https://livingwordspress.weebly.com/ And while you're there, don’t forget to sign up for the Living Words Press Newsletter!#WritingTips #ImproveYourWriting #PoetryForWriters #WritingAdvice #BecomeABetterWriter

Rubrics don't make grading easier and they don't help students revise.I spent the first five years of my teaching career writing, revising, and adapting rubrics for all types of assignments and projects. What all that experience taught me was that rubrics actually make grading harder. Rubrics have their place in the classroom but leave them out of the grading process. In the video, I talk about what homeschool parents and teachers should do instead when grading essays and projects. Need more help or resources for teaching writing? Sign up for the Living Words Press Newsletter here: https://living-words-press-newsletter.kit.comYou can also find out more at www.livingwordspress.com.#homeschool #teacherlife #indieauthor

Does writing time with your teen turn into eye rolls, heavy sighs, shutdowns, or full-on frustration? You’re not alone. Even strong writers are getting harder to motivate these days.In this video, I’m sharing 7 practical, battle-tested strategies to turn that resistance into real confidence and make writing time something your teen can actually enjoy. I’m Zach Larson, writing teacher and author, helping parents supplement writing and reading instruction at home. My mission is to build something better — combining the best of traditional education with what works for today’s world.Here are the 7 tips you’ll learn:Start with Their Interests (instead of boring academic topics)Micro-writing — short, consistent sessions beat long essaysVoice-to-Text — remove the physical barrier when neededModel It Together — write side-by-side with your teenSeparate Mechanics from Creativity — save editing for laterGive Their Writing a Real Audience — letters, reviews, scripts & moreFocus on Progress, Not Perfection — celebrate growth with a “wins journal”These simple shifts help teens overcome the blank-page fear, perfectionism, and overwhelm that usually kill motivation.If you’re a homeschool parent or just want to support your teen’s writing at home, these strategies can create steady progress instead of daily battles. Join my FREE newsletter for more tips, resources, and encouragement for teaching writing and reading at home:https://living-words-press-newsletter.kit.com Like if this gave you hope! Subscribe and hit the bell for more practical writing help Share this video with another parent who needs it.Drop a comment: Which of these 7 tips are you going to try first?#HomeschoolWriting #ReluctantWriters #TeenWriting #TeachingWriting #HomeschoolTips #WritingStrategies #ParentingTeens #Homeschooling #MotivateWriters #WritingConfidence

Does your teen stare blankly at a writing assignment or turn in one-sentence “paragraphs” that go nowhere? You’re not alone — and it’s not your fault.Many bright homeschool teens (and public school students) reach high school without the ability to write a strong, well-organized paragraph. The frustration, resistance, and daily battles are exhausting for everyone.In this video, seasoned writing teacher and author Zach Larson reveals the exact skill gap that most writing curricula — including popular homeschool programs — completely skip.We jump too quickly from basic sentences straight to five-paragraph essays, missing the critical “middle step” of paragraph building. Without it, teens freeze, ramble, or produce vague, disjointed writing.Zach breaks down:The hidden components of a strong paragraph (topic sentence, focused details, logical flow, and conclusion) Common signs your teen has this gap Why this step gets skipped so often A simple, low-pressure “Paragraph Building Blocks” method that actually works — including modeling on high-interest topics, color-coding, scaffolds, and separating mechanics from contentWatch as he walks through a real before-and-after example based on the movie Project Hail Mary, plus a quick diagnostic you can try with your teen this week.Once paragraph writing clicks, essays become dramatically easier, confidence grows, and writing battles decrease.Timestamps:00:00 – Why So Many Teens Struggle with Paragraphs01:30 – The Hidden Skill Gap Most Curricula Ignore03:30 – Common Signs Your Teen Has This Gap05:00 – The Fix: Paragraph Building Blocks Method07:30 – Before & After Example (Project Hail Mary Prompt)09:30 – Quick Diagnostic + Checklist You Can Use Today If you’re tired of the writing struggles and want practical, step-by-step help teaching your teen to write well, this video is for you.Ready for more support?Join my free newsletter for homeschool and concerned parents. You’ll receive: A recap of my first year teaching and what I learnedMonthly tips, resources, and high-interest prompts Guidance to supplement writing instruction at homehttps://living-words-press-newsletter.kit.comDrop a comment below: What’s the biggest struggle when your teen tries to write a paragraph? If this video gave you hope and practical next steps, hit LIKE, subscribe for more writing help for reluctant teens, and share it with another homeschool parent who needs it.Thanks for watching — I’ll see you in the next video!#HomeschoolWriting #TeenWriting #ReluctantWriters #ParagraphWriting #HomeschoolHighSchool #TeachingWriting

Are 1:1 devices (laptops and tablets for every student) actually hurting learning in public schools? After more than a decade of widespread adoption, many parents and teachers are seeing the downsides: constant distractions, shallower thinking, weaker focus, and even stalled academic progress. In this video, I break down the real effects of one-to-one technology in classrooms: How devices fuel multitasking and task-switching that kills retentionWhy typing notes leads to less processing and memory than handwritingThe surprising lack of consistent academic gains (and sometimes declines) despite huge investmentsHidden costs: reduced face-to-face interaction, teacher burnout, and impacts on writing skillsAs a seasoned writing teacher working with homeschool families, I see the downstream effects clearly. Teens coming from heavy device environments often struggle more with organizing thoughts, building strong paragraphs, and sustaining deep focus—skills that matter for college, careers, and life.If you're a concerned public school parent or homeschooling to avoid these issues, this video gives you the evidence-based perspective and practical takeaways you need.Research and real classroom reports show that constant screen time trains brains for quick dopamine hits instead of sustained attention. Handwriting, by contrast, engages more brain regions for better memory and comprehension. Ready for stronger writing skills without the device overload?Join my free newsletter for homeschool and concerned parents.https://living-words-press-newsletter.kit.comIf this post gave you clarity, hit LIKE, subscribe for more practical help with reluctant writers and homeschool teaching, and share it with a parent who needs to hear this. Thanks for watching!#1to1Technology #PublicSchoolTech #HomeschoolWriting #ScreenTimeInSchools #TeenWriting

In this video, Zach Larson from Living Words Press breaks down one of the most persistent and controversial narratives surrounding the Book of Mormon: the claim that Joseph Smith translated the record using a seer stone in a hat. Drawing from scripture, eyewitness testimony, and official church statements, Zach presents four compelling proofs that challenge this popular theory—and offers a powerful testimony of what he believes actually happened during the translation process.🔎 Topics Covered:What did the Church really teach for over 100 years about the translation?Do the testimonies of scribes like Emma Smith, Martin Harris, and Oliver Cowdery actually agree?What does God Himself say about the translation method?Why the physical gold plates matter—and what their purpose says about God’s character.The difference between translation and revelation in Latter-day Saint doctrine.🔗 Explore More:📖 Read the full article: https://livingwordspress.substack.com/p/the-biggest-myth-about-the-translation📘 Zach’s latest novel: God Save the Children – a clean, Christian-friendly fantasy💌 Subscribe to the newsletter for more deep dives on faith, writing, and clean storytelling.👍 Like, comment, and subscribe if this helped you think deeper about the Book of Mormon or challenged what you thought you knew.#BookOfMormon #JosephSmith #UrimAndThummim #LDS #MormonMyths #Restoration #ChristianApologetics #LivingWordsPress #FaithAndReason

Looking for books that are gripping, well-written, and free of excessive profanity or graphic content? In this video, I share a handpicked list of clean reads for adult readers—stories that entertain without relying on shock value. From timeless classics to modern fantasy, these books are safe, engaging, and perfect for your TBR pile.📚 Books Mentioned:The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre DumasTress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon SandersonTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThe Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienKillers of the Flower Moon by David Grann (Young Reader Edition)Whether you're a fellow Christian, a fantasy lover, or just tired of sorting through books with unnecessary content, this list is for you.👉 Looking for more clean reads and Christian-friendly fiction?Subscribe to my newsletter: https://livingwordspress.substack.com/#CleanReads #BookRecommendations #ChristianBooks #SafeBooks #WholesomeReads #LivingWordsPress

For nearly 15 years, I have been captivated by the fantasy worlds of Brandon Sanderson. His books shaped my love for storytelling, magic systems, and the art of writing. As a fellow member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I admired him—not just as a writer but as a figure who represented faith-driven creativity on a grand scale. But now, everything has changed.With the release of Wind and Truth, Sanderson has taken a public stance in full support of LGBTQ+ activism, not only in his personal statements but also in his storytelling. This shift has led me to reevaluate everything I once admired about him. What does this mean for his legacy, for faithful readers, and for the future of clean storytelling?In this video, I break down Sanderson’s public statements, the agenda creeping into his books, and why his fall as an icon has reignited my own passion for writing. If you’ve been a fan of Sanderson—or even if you’ve never heard of him before—you won’t want to miss this discussion.🔔 Subscribe to Living Words Press for more deep dives into faith, fiction, and storytelling.📖 Read the full post on Substack: https://livingwordspress.substack.com/p/brandon-sanderson-let-me-down?r=6c2be #BrandonSanderson #WindAndTruth #FaithAndFiction #ChristianFantasy #LDS #WritingCommunity #BookDiscussion

In this deep philosophical and scientific discussion, we explore the nature of chaos, order, and the origins of the universe. Can mindless disorder spontaneously generate the laws of physics? Or does the presence of structure and mathematical precision in the cosmos point to an intelligent Creator? We dive into self-organization, the fine-tuning argument, and the principle of sufficient reason to challenge the idea that the universe "just is." Join us as we question whether chaos alone can give rise to order—or if a greater intelligence is behind it all.#Philosophy #Science #God #OrderFromChaos #Physics #Faith #CosmologyFind the full text on the Living Words Press Substack: https://livingwordspress.substack.com...Find more about Zach Larson or Living Words Press at www.livingwordspress.com