PLATTSBURGH -- Home is more than where the heart is for Glenna Whittemore.

She and her husband, Joe, homeschool their children, DJ and Meghan. She also sews her daughter's clothing.

Glenna taught herself how to crochet and likes to make afghans. She also baby-sits for extra money, and she enjoys baking cookies, cakes and cupcakes with her children.

"It's a great learning experience," the Plattsburgh mom said. "We incorporate meals into schooltime. When we go to the grocery store, we make it a field trip. They plan a whole meal and shop for groceries. We give them a budget. They cook the meal, and we grade them on it. They like doing it. It's fun.

"They get to pick what they like. DJ likes shrimp. Meghan likes anything barbecue."

SCHOOLED AT HOME

Home schooling and home care takes time, and one has to make the time from Glenna's perspective.

"We have a schedule and try to stick as close to it as we can."

At one time she worked outside the home.

"(But) I love this so much. A lot of people think home is where the woman should be, and I agree with them. I enjoy that immensely."

A Baptist, she believes there is no one better to raise her children.

"I didn't have a great home life. I worked toward that, so my kids have a great home life. Education, according to the Lord, is up to the parents. That's where this philosophy comes from."

SEWN AT HOME

Glenna grew up in Saranac Lake and majored in special education at Plattsburgh State. She was a monitor at Lake Shore Christian School before her family relocated to Pennsylvania. It was there she and her husband started homeschooling.

"I can oversee the education they get and make sure they are understanding and grasping the material. The most important thing is their education."