Lora Graziosi

My name is Lora Graziosi and I have been married to David for 32 years where most of our lives have been consumed with homeschool. I started homeschooling 26 years ago when my oldest child was four years old. My husband and I believed it was an excellent choice to try since private school was out of our budget because we had two other younger children at home as well as another on the way. Even with my part-time job on the weekends, the price to place four children into private school seemed impossible. We wanted our children to have a Christian Education that intertwined the truths of Christ into every subject and played the center role of education. I learned about homeschooling through women that attended our church’s Mother’s of Preschoolers where numerous homeschool teenagers cared for all of our young children while we fellowshipped and prayed for one another. My mentors that gave guidance and encouragement were two mothers: one with thirteen children and another with seven children. Jesus has always blessed our family with wonderful people who have shared curriculum and co-op experiences with us so that we could better navigate our choices for the up-coming school year. While in Delaware we participated with the Family Learning Academy for 9 ½ years and after transferring to Houston, Texas, we have had 16 years of a mixture of participation with FAITH Co-op, Selah Arts, Bay Area Performing Arts Co-op, Homeschool Education Partnership and Classical Conversation. Our high school graduates have attended college at Alvin Community College, San Jacinto Community College, College of the Mainland, University of Houston – Clear Lake, Houston Christian University, and University of Texas Medical Branch.

David and I have never taken an easy path. Once we arrived in Texas 16 years ago, we decided to adopt three children – they are currently completing homeschool high school. Because of our seven children, my husband and I have and continue to learn how to handle life and education with challenges such as epilepsy, autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. Additionally, I always offer to teach anything that a co-op might need. I do not feel that I am an expert at any one thing, but a willing soul to dig in and present a subject to the best of my ability. My degrees do not necessarily match to traditional education; I have an Associates of Science Degree in Aerospace Propulsion (Jet Mechanic) and a Bachelor’s of Science in Industrial Technology. I spent six years on active duty and 17 years in the Air Force Reserves, retiring in 2008. I also completed 15 education hours with the University of Texas graduate school, completing my testing for EC to 6 Grade General Studies. I still desire to complete 7th and 8th Grades General Studies and several subjects for High School. For the various co-ops I have taught preschool, elementary science, elementary English, elementary history, high school English, high school history, high school readers theater, stop-motion film and guitar. For the local YMCA I have coached soccer, basketball and volleyball. Participation and fellowship within homeschool co-ops continues to bless our lives, and we look forward to giving back to our homeschool community.