Meeting Tiffany Michaels: Why Sparrow Homeschool Curriculum Belongs in Your Walla Walla Home
This Thursday morning, I'm doing something I think you'll want to know about.
I'm hosting a coffee meetup at 10 AM (2139 Fern Ave) where local homeschool families can get their hands on Sparrow Homeschool's Treasures of Christmas Advent Study. We'll have coffee, conversation, and a chance to browse these beautiful materials in person. Tiffany Michaels, the creator behind Sparrow Homeschool, has even offered everyone who comes a 20% discount on materials.
Preview Treasure of Christmas Advent Study
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Calvary Chapel Walla Walla
2139 Fern Ave, Walla Walla, WA
10am
But this meetup is about more than just one curriculum. It's about what happens when we stop homeschooling in isolation and start connecting with the resources and people who can make this journey easier.
That's exactly why I started Homeschool Insiders—and why I wanted to introduce you to Tiffany and her work.
The Curriculum Born From "There Has to Be a Better Way"
Tiffany didn't set out to become a curriculum creator. She was just a homeschool mom staring at a black-and-white Washington state history textbook, knowing there was no way her younger son would make it through those pages.
"My older son, he always loved learning," Tiffany told me when we sat down this fall. "But my younger son? He picked up those flashcards I loved and threw them in the air. That's when I realized—my children are completely different learners."
Sound familiar?
Instead of forcing her son through that boring textbook, Tiffany spent two years creating what she wished existed: a beautiful, full-color Pacific Northwest history curriculum that works for multiple ages and learning styles at once.
The result is Sparrow Homeschool—a curriculum that starts with the Worldwide Flood and moves chronologically through present day, covering Washington, Oregon, and Idaho with over 500 pages of engaging content. But here's what makes it special: a kindergartner can color and listen while a middle schooler digs into the same material at a deeper level.
When Your Curriculum Actually Works for Your Family
What stood out to me most in our conversation was how Tiffany built this curriculum around real family life—not some idealized version of homeschooling where every child sits quietly and absorbs information the same way.
She includes elements from Charlotte Mason (art, nature, beauty), unit study approaches (multiple subjects woven together), and literature-based learning. She even created a specialized font for her K-1 workbook that shows kids exactly where to place their pencil to start each letter correctly.
"My youngest son learned to write every single letter wrong in preschool," Tiffany laughed. "He still writes his P's weird sometimes. Once they learn it wrong, it's almost impossible to change."
The curriculum is designed for co-op or home use, with hands-on activities each week. And for families worried about Washington state requirements? Tiffany researched the WAC codes thoroughly—multiple families have had their schools accept it without question.
The Local Connection That Matters
Here's what I love about Sparrow Homeschool: Tiffany and her family traveled all over Washington, Oregon, and Idaho taking pictures and gathering information. When you use this curriculum, you're not learning about abstract places—you're learning about places you can visit.
"My son kept saying, 'I don't want to go on any more trips. I don't want to see any more canyons or waterfalls or historical sites,'" Tiffany admitted. "But that's what makes this curriculum different. We've lived it."
For those of us in Walla Walla, that means the history we're teaching isn't just textbook knowledge. It's our backyard. It's places we can actually go.
And because Tiffany prints everything locally in Dayton using her commercial printer (yes, she and her husband bought a printer specifically for this), the cost stays reasonable. Full-color, spiral-bound books that rival those fancy coffee table books you'd pick up just because they're beautiful—but designed specifically for homeschooling families.
What This Has to Do With Homeschool Insiders
You might be wondering why I'm telling you all this.
Thursday's meetup is one example of what I'm trying to build through Homeschool Insiders: a community where Walla Walla homeschool families don't have to figure everything out alone.
When you join Homeschool Insiders, you get:
Bimonthly meetups where we connect face-to-face (like Thursday's Sparrow preview)
Resource recommendations from someone who's actually vetted them for our local context
Planning tools like the Energy Budget Calculator that help you manage the real challenges of homeschooling
A community of families who understand that one curriculum doesn't work for everyone—and that's okay
I spend hours researching curricula, tools, and approaches so you don't have to. I test them, I talk to creators like Tiffany, and I figure out what actually works for busy homeschool families in our area.
Why I Think You Should Come Thursday (And What Comes Next)
Whether you're curious about Sparrow Homeschool specifically or you just want to connect with other local homeschool families over coffee, I'd love to see you Thursday morning.
Event Details:
When: Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 10 AM
Where: 2139 Fern Ave, Walla Walla, WA 99362
What: Coffee, curriculum browsing, questions with materials on hand, 20% off for attendees
Who: Any homeschool family—whether you're new to homeschooling or you've been at this for years
But here's the thing: Thursday is just one morning. One curriculum. One conversation.
Homeschool Insiders gives you access to this kind of support and connection all year long. The next time you're wondering if a curriculum is worth it, or you need ideas for a particular challenge, or you just want to know what other local families are doing—you'll have a community ready to help.
Your Next Step
If you're tired of homeschooling in isolation, if you want recommendations you can trust, and if you'd like to join a community that gets it—join Homeschool Insiders today.
You'll get immediate access to our private community, planning resources, and you'll be the first to know about meetups like Thursday's event.
And if you just want to come on Thursday to check out Sparrow Homeschool and meet some friendly faces? That works too. No membership required—just show up ready for coffee and good conversation.
P.S. Want to hear my full conversation with Tiffany about how she created Sparrow Homeschool, her journey from theater major to curriculum creator, and all the details about the different age-level workbooks? I've included the complete interview video below as a resource for Homeschool Insiders members. Not a member yet? This is exactly the kind of in-depth content you get access to when you join.
Watch the Full Tiffany Michaels Interview