Homeschool family on tour with Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe

Four of the seven Hearn family children are on tour this summer with the David Payne production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The show features a full cast, wonderful costumes and a magical set. They're touring the West Coast in June, the East Cost in July and the areas surrounding Tennessee in August. After the excellent performance, I had the pleasure of meeting and feeding the cast of the show. Four of the cast are part of a homeschooling family from Tennessee:

• Allison Hearn, age 17, plays Susan
• Jonathan Hearn, age 14, plays Peter
• Elizabeth Hearn, age 12, plays the Bird
• Christopher Hearn, age 11, plays Edmund

Their mother, Susan Hearn, is traveling with them and in charge of sound for the performances.

The Hearn kids are quite talented. This is their first big "gig." They've had little parts in the local homeschool coop productions and performed in a few church productions. Allison says "I've always wanted to be Susan in a play of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, ever since I can remember. I have dreamed about it for so many years. My siblings and I played so many games of Narnia when we were little. It was almost all we played." Allison's dream has come true in a bigger way than she ever imagined. What a wonderful opportunity.

The Hearn family has been homeschooling "forever." They're oldest son has graduated and attending college. They are still schooling the remaining six children, with Allison next in line to graduate. I talked to Susan briefly about her homeschooling style, curriculum and whatnot. She's not fond of using curriculum and sticks mainly with books and hands-on learning. She's tried a few different math programs and chooses which ever one is the best fit for the child. She uses some Abeka math, some Saxon, some Math-U-See and Miquon Math. She really likes Key to Algebra and Key to Geometry series. She says most of her kids will work through those little books. They take piano lessons from a friend, paying a little, but mostly bartering for the lessons by preparing meals and other tasks.

I spoke to Susan about the recently passed Tennessee Homeschool Diploma Law. She says it is a good thing. Some homeschooled students had lost their jobs because the homeschool diploma was not being accepted for government jobs, like police officers and day care workers. This law should prevent that from happening.

If you live near one of the towns they'll be touring, do try and are make a performance. If you do, when you meet the cast afterward, tell the Hearns that Beverly from Anaheim says hello. You can follow their summer tour by reading Allison's blog and DwarFaith. Notice the June 8th post.