Welcome to Footprints, the monthly newsletter published by Titus 2 Academy. Here you will find important updates and information about our school and homeschooling in Tennessee, insightful guidance in the Counselor’s Corner, entertaining student stories and activities in the “Wee Folks”, “Kool Kids”, and “Teen Tales” sections of Kid’s Corner, and sage advice in Words of Wisdom.
Our fine feathered friend, Einstein, will also guide you through Q&As and help you with G.A.P.—our Grades, Attendance, and Portfolio website.
Important information, parents! After you have registered, you must enroll all of your students as per instructions in your initial welcome letter. Please email register@titus2academy.com if you didn’t see your welcome letter or if you have questions.
You can check out previous Footprints newsletters on our website. The June issue is on our Home page as well as on the Articles page. The newsletter is also available on the G.A.P. app. Articles – Titus 2 Academy
LET FREEDOM RING!!
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! ON JULY 4TH 2026, WE CELEBRATED THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR COUNTRY, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!
We want to celebrate our FREEDOM by offering our families some FREE curriculum.
Free Homeschool Curriculum – Freedom Homeschooling
FREE History Resources History Resources | Education.com
- Also, Dr. Del of Triad Math, has offered our families his math program FREE for one student for one year!! This is a $99 value. Additionally, Triad Math is offering their Uncle Jack’s math videos for moms of elementary aged students, a $27 value, for FREE!! If you are interested in the FREE math program, please email info@titus2academy.com for more information on how to receive this one-of-a-kind math curriculum.
A BRIEF HISTORY – WHY WE CELEBRATE
In 2026, the United States hits a major milestone—250 years of independence. Most of us can rattle off the basics: 1776, the Founding Fathers, fireworks, and freedom. But the full story? It’s far more complex, and a lot more surprising – it’s the lesser-known facts that give us a deeper appreciation for how unique and evolving America’s story truly is.
Independence Was Declared… But It Wasn’t Exactly a Party
We celebrate the 4th of July with pride and tradition, but back in 1776, things were a bit… slower.
Once the Declaration of Independence was signed, the news didn’t exactly go viral. It took weeks to reach many parts of the colonies. In fact, in some places, it wasn’t even read aloud until August. And in areas loyal to Britain, it was ignored or flat-out resisted. For most people, independence wasn’t a moment. It was a gradual, confusing process—filled with uncertainty.
While Americans celebrate the 4th of July, the Real Vote Happened July 2: John Adams considered July 2 the real Independence Day. That was when Congress actually voted in favor of Richard Henry Lee’s resolution to declare freedom from Britain. Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, that July 2 would be celebrated by future generations with “pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations.”
A Nation Still at War: The adoption of the Declaration did not end the conflict; in fact, the Revolutionary War was in full swing. British forces had already been pushed out of Boston the previous year, but George Washington was actively preparing his troops for brutal battles in New York.
The Declaration of Independence was primarily drafted by Thomas Jefferson with input from a committee that included Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. By voting to adopt and sign the document, the 56 delegates were committing an act of treason against the British Crown, which could have meant execution if the revolution failed. The famous signed parchment copy wasn’t actually completed until August 2, 1776, nearly a month later.
Origins of Celebrations
Early traditions immediately followed John Adams’s vision for “Pomp and Parade.” The first organized anniversary celebration took place in Philadelphia on July 4, 1777, featuring ship salutes, troop reviews, and spontaneous fireworks. In 1778, General George Washingtonmarked the day by giving his soldiers double rations of rum and a booming artillery salute. Today, Bristol, Rhode Island hosts one of the oldest continuous Independence Day celebrations in the United States, having first celebrated the occasion in 1785.
A Coincidental Legacy
Perhaps the strangest twist in the history of the 4th of July occurred 50 years to the day after the nation’s birth. On July 4, 1826, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson passed away. Adams’s last words before dying were famously, “Thomas Jefferson still lives,” unaware that Jefferson had actually passed away just a few hours earlier.
Whether you’re young or old, the student or the teacher, the parents or the grandparents, an entrepreneur or a pastor, the opportunity isn’t just to grow, it’s to create something that lasts – YOUR LEGACY! Because if there’s one thing history has taught us, it’s this: the future belongs to the builders of tomorrow.
KID’S CORNER
FUN INFORMATION – for all ages!
Einstein is excited to find a verse about owls in the Bible!
”There the owl will make her nest and lay her eggs. She will hatch her young and cover them with her wings.” Isaiah 34:15
JULY CHALLENGE
Einstein also likes to ask questions! Whoo doesn’t, right? (Sorry, a little “owl humor!”) The questions Einstein keeps asking have to do with MATH, so let’s see if we can help him. He is wondering:
- WHOO made time, days, months, years?
- If the seasons are all one-quarter or one-fourth of a year, WHY does summer seem the shortest? (Is it really shorter?)
- WHY, in the summer, are the days so long and the nights (which owls love) so short?”
If anyone can help Einstein answer any of his questions, please let us know. You can email your answers to info@titus2academy.com for a chance to win a PRIZE! There are 3 prizes available – one for each category:
Wee Folks–ages 1-7, Kool Kids– ages 8-12, Teen Tales – ages 13-18
BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH
Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” July marks a midpoint in the year, encouraging reflection on God’s timing and purpose in every season of life.
COUNSELOR’S CORNER
LISTEN-UP PARENTS!
Homeschooling has never been so easy! At Titus 2 Academy, you have access to four of the most knowledgeable counselors in the world! Each one brings her own unique wisdom, talents, and personality to help YOU in YOUR homeschooling journey.
This month we are sharing some ideas about things you can do this summer with your kids to keep the fun and the learning “hotter than noon on the 4th of July!”
A Summer Well Spent – by Pat Wesolowski
Click here to see what Pat W. has put together for us:
Meet our counselors! #homeschooling #homeschoolmom #homeschoolhelp #umbrellaschool #titus2academy
Please visit our website to learn more about each of our four counselors – titus2academy.com.
WORDS OF WISDOM CORNER
Our Vision
The vision of the Words of Wisdom Family Ministry is to inspire and equip future generations by passing on words of wisdom from past generations of wise, Godly women.
Scripture Foundation
Proverbs 8:11 “Wisdom is better than pearls; nothing is more delightful than she.”
Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
About Words of Wisdom Family Ministry
Titus 2 Academy, as a Church-Related Umbrella School, is associated with the nonprofit charity Words of Wisdom Family Ministry. For more information about this ministry, please visit wowfamilyministry.org.
The heart of Words of Wisdom Family Ministry is to establish scholarship funds for one or more homeschool graduates each year in memory of deceased veteran homeschool moms. These scholarships may be used for further education, mission work, or entrepreneurial endeavors.
Honoring Veteran Homeschool Moms
In this corner, we will share valuable information, inspiring stories, and memorable quotes from the first two veteran homeschool moms we have lost in recent years: Mary Hood and Joani Rhodes.
We are also working on publishing Legacy Series books about each of these well-loved and influential pioneers of the homeschooling movement. They were on the front lines in the late 1970s and early 1980s, helping pave the way for homeschool families today. Their stories are not only inspiring, but also crucial for today’s homeschoolers as we seek to build a strong foundation and never lose sight of “the heart of homeschooling.”
Featured Homeschool Pioneer: Mary Hood
Quote to Remember
“All you REALLY need is a good public library and a Bible!”
A Reflection from Lani Carey
This statement, made by Mary at the first homeschool curriculum fair I ever attended in the mid-1990s, changed my life. I had begun to feel discouraged about the whole homeschooling adventure, but when I heard Mary say this in a workshop, I knew I could successfully homeschool. After all, I had a library card and a Bible!
I have shared this encouragement with so many homeschool parents over the years in my own workshops, and my prayer is that it continues to encourage parents for many years to come.
Words of Wisdom from Mary
For those homeschooling or considering it: As someone who has been involved in the movement since the early 1980s, I am seeing a disturbing trend. With the large increase of homeschoolers, many of whom came in without much knowledge of how things work, there is a corresponding increase of people trying to make money off homeschoolers. You must be discerning when selecting materials.
Remember, there is no need to have all your ducks in a row at the start of the school year. There is no need to purchase a complete set of curriculum materials from one source, and there is no need to be “accredited.”
Start by taking time to relax, going to the library, getting to know each other in the learning environment, following some of your children’s interests, and letting the rest come a little at a time. There is also no need to spend one penny right at the start.
A TRIBUTE TO Mary Hood
by Pat Wesolowski
When I began homeschooling in the 1980s, I was fortunate to have a mentor who told me not to bring the school to the home, but to enjoy life with my kiddos by playing games, being outside, reading books, and more, so that I could stimulate their desire to learn and teach them how to find the information they needed. I did that and, as a result, I became a very relaxed homeschooler. In the back of mind I was always questioning whether I made the right decision. The process seemed too easy and fun to be academically successful. And then I heard Dr. Mary Hood speak, and I read her book, The Relaxed Homeschooler, and my methodology was validated. Mary has been an encouragement to thousands of homeschooling families over the years and I am sad to say she recently passed. We spoke at a few events during the last few years and I enjoyed reconnecting with her. Here’s a picture of her doing what she loved to do, relaxing in nature. She loved hiking the Appalachian Trail and she continued to hike up until her recent illness. Rest in peace.
Featured Resource
Don’t forget to check out Mary Hood’s books, which have encouraged and influenced homeschool moms and dads for decades. A wonderful place to begin is her first and most popular book, The Relaxed Home School: A Family Production.
How to Support Words of Wisdom Family Ministry
You can now donate to Words of Wisdom Family Ministry/Titus 2 Academy. All donations, unless you tell us otherwise, will be put in the scholarship fund.
If you shop at Kroger, please consider supporting Words of Wisdom Family Ministry through the Kroger Community Rewards Program.
Organization: Words of Wisdom Family Ministry
Organization Number: LJ004
Complete instructions are available at Kroger.pdf.