Nelson Notes LLC

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to share some helpful information about the NC Homeschool Convention happening this weekend in Raleigh.

We'll be there with our small business, Nelson Notes LLC, on Saturday, May 2, at the NC State Fairgrounds. If you're planning to attend, you can use code NN20 for 20% off tickets.

📘 FREE Bookmarks
We created practical bookmarks for reading comprehension and listening skills, and they’ll be included in grab bags for visitors.

🎓 Early Bird Classes
We’re offering early-bird discounts on summer classes in time management, classical studies, Spanish, classical composition, and practical math.

🧠 Socratic Repair™ Communication Tools
We created a practical, research-informed communication tool designed to help families navigate tense or stuck conversations using memory science, behavioral research, and the classical Socratic Method—so families can keep support “in house” during everyday moments.

If you’re attending, I would truly enjoy meeting you—please stop by and say hello!







Learn. Improve. Grow.

We are a small company, so our posts are infrequent, but today - I wanted to flip the script.

One of the things I love about my job is that I get to work with parents who are both thoughtful and deliberate about how they support their children.

Recently, one of our tutors did an amazing job just reaching out and trying to troubleshoot some problems for two students. She spent time and energy reading through choices and communicating thoughtfully - so I was very grateful for her.

But then, the parent came back, recognized her time and wanted to give her something extra.

Now, those are two sides of a rare coin. And I got to be in the middle. I feel both fortunate to have folks who math (which is something that I do not do) and parents who care.

I hope this little example serves as a reminder to you, too. In small ways and big ways - we can light up our corners

Send a message to learn more

Snow days have a way of opening the doors to fun!❄️

When I was quite small, I remember a snowstorm unlike any I had seen in my short years. I was living in the D.C. area, and my sister and I watched the snow falling… and waited. And waited. And waited.

After a still, quiet night of steadily falling snow, we ventured out into the snow-blinding brightness of the next day. My father built us an igloo with a path. It was magical to crawl through a cold little tunnel into a domed igloo outside, with an arched door. My dad took pictures of two very happy little faces.

Today, I can’t help but think of days like that. And even though my own kids are grown, it still delights me to realize that some of the children around me here in Raleigh may be seeing a big snowfall for the very first time — especially with tomorrow’s predicted accumulation.

As an educator and coach, I stayed up last night creating a super fun Snow Day Learning Guide, filled with quotes, discussion starters, book suggestions, and gentle ideas for leaning into snow-day curiosity. It’s included in a new blog post called “Snow Days Open Doors,” along with lots of cozy, wintry inspiration.
Have fun, everyone. Stay safe and warm. And if you have a snow story you love — I’d truly enjoy hearing it. 😊

❄️ Snow Days Open Doors A Snow Day Learning Guide (Free Sample Inside) Snowstorms don’t just close schools. They open doors.When schedules pause and the usual pace slows, doors appear that are often hidden by busyness: • Doors to curiosity • Doors to conversation • Doors to exploration • Doors to imaginationSnow ...

So, this past weekend I celebrated something special with family, friends, and schoolmates - I finally graduated with my MA In Christian Education and Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

I did it -

- after my kids were grown...
- after re-inventing my career
- while working full time

At Nelson Notes, we believe that everyone can learn, improve, and grow. One of the things we love doing is walking beside others to help them change "I cant's" into "I can's"!

We don't just teach it, and coach it, and counsel it - we live it:

- You are never too old, too young, or “starting too late” to begin again.

- You are never too anxious, too depressed, too overwhelmed, or too embarrassed by past mistakes to believe you can make a positive choice today.

- You are never too distracted or too disrupted to take one small step toward something new.

- AND, you are never beyond redemption because Jesus Christ is still making all things new, this Christmas season and beyond.

If you or your family need a fresh start, please check out our offerings, or give us a call so we can talk through what is going on with you and your family. You don't have to begin alone.

I'm older, and it took me years to reach this dream.

What's your dream? I'd truly love to hear it!

If you are looking to build community, and find out more about how to support small businesses in your own back yard, check this out!

We will be there, and there's a raffle - sign up to get a free Academic Coaching Session on time management!

🌟 Calling All Vendors! 🌟

The Small Business Expo presented by Workspace Provision Co. is coming up on Saturday, October 18th from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, and we’re looking for vendors to join us!

This free, family-friendly event will feature:
🍔 Food & refreshments from Grub Café
🎶 Live music by Grant Paxton
🎲 Games & activities for kids and families
💡 Entrepreneur resources & networking opportunities
🏋️ Free workout classes with CrossFit Youngsville
🏢 Guided tours of Workspace Provision

We’d love to showcase local talent, small businesses, and family-friendly vendors (think face painting, balloon artists, crafts, activities, and more).

👉 If you’re a vendor—or know someone who would be a great fit—send us a message to get involved!

Let’s make this an unforgettable day of fun, connection, and community spirit. 🎉

📍 Workspace Provision
📅 Saturday, October 18th | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
✅ FREE Admission | Family-Friendly

I love watching kids light up when they discover a love for reading and writing — and mysteries are one of the best ways to spark that joy!

Mysteries do more than entertain. They build problem-solving skills, spark curiosity, and point us toward deeper truths like honesty, justice, love, and redemption. 💡

This year I’ve been exploring mysteries with students of all ages, and it’s been such a joy!

I pulled together some of my favorite classic mystery picks (by age) plus a free printable guide, Anatomy of a Mystery, to help families and teachers follow clues and uncover meaningful themes together.

👉 https://www.nelson-notes.com/post/chasing-justice-through-literature-anatomy-of-a-mystery

What mystery stories have your kids loved most? 💛

Today I am meeting with a student for a summer reading assignment on the book, "Night," by Elie Weisel. It's a haunting book about Weisel's survival through the Holocaust and his unimaginable suffering. It's a tragic book worth reading. It's a book one of my professors in counseling recommended for all who suffer.

We often think of Weisel as "survivor," but I ran across a story [https://www.jta.org/2017/06/07/ny/lessons-from-my-father] from his son that illuminates an amazing and beautiful picture of Weisel in later life. He was a man who loved with an extraordinary love. He learned to love without demands (even during cancer) and cultivate a love that was tested by his rebellious son. Though we remember his as "holocaust survivor," those closest to him remember him for his love.

Weisel's son wrote: "There is a chasidic story of the Baal Shem Tov, who was once approached by a chasid, bemoaning how far his son had strayed. The rebbe’s surprising answer: Love your son more. | How could my father love me the way he did, when my disrespect was so severe? | My father must have heard this story because he lived it."

Weisel's life isn't just a story about suffering, it's a story about a man who experienced suffering and overcame. With so many happy, shining posts on social media (do we really trust those?) - today I wanted to connect with some of you who may be struggling. Struggling to come to terms with suffering, with a rebellious child, with broken dreams, with dark thoughts, with [fill in the blank].

Our own family continues to learn how to walk with those who suffer - we have one son in the military whose been changed by the suicides of friends, another son with debilitating migraines, and a daughter who has had some significant auto-immune limitations but continues to persevere (and thrive). My own experiences have equipped me to care about others with more understanding, more compassion, and more engagement.

More and more I am dedicating my life to walk with those around me with compassion. I'm now both an Academic Coach/Educator and a Christian Coach. I have a growing number of people I meet with regularly who are struggling. I chose this, I still choose this - and I want you to know that if you are suffering, you are not alone.

Feel free to get in touch, to reach out to the folks who know what it's like to choose love in hardship. You don't have to choose us - choose a family member, a friend, a counselor, someone safe. Choose love. Choose faith. Choose not to walk alone.

🌿 Feeling Stuck? Let’s Start a New Chapter Together. 🌿

Meet Mei—a devoted parent looking for new ways to communicate with her middle schooler, who had grown quiet and withdrawn. Together, we explored strategies to build trust, connection, and conversation again.

Or Jason—a creative, hardworking young man introduced to us by his caring parents. He didn’t feel like college was the right fit, but he did want to explore alternatives, set goals that matched his strengths, and write a resume that told his story.

Or Tiffany—a college freshman who felt overwhelmed and unprepared for her first college English classes. Together, we created a study schedule that worked, tackled how to write strong thesis statements, and gently worked through the anxiety she felt about going back to school.

Or maybe… you’re in a season of transition yourself.

At Nelson Notes LLC, we walk alongside real people like you every day. Whether it’s helping you write a resume that reflects who you are, build better routines, manage time with less stress, or restore connection in relationships—we’re here for the journey.

One of our favorite tools? Socratic questioning.
It’s not about giving quick answers—it’s about asking the kind of thoughtful, honest questions that help you think clearly, feel seen, and move forward with purpose. In fact, our Pinterest post on Socratic questions for anxiety is one of our most shared resources—because it works.

💬 We’re not a big company with cookie-cutter services.
We’re a small, compassionate team with 25+ years of experience in education, coaching, and real-life problem solving. And we’re committed to keeping our pricing affordable—no contracts, no pressure, just real help.

✨ Try your first remote coaching session at 20% off.
Let’s talk about what matters most to you.

🌐 www.nelson-notes.com
Your next step starts here.

🌞✏️ At Nelson Notes LLC, summer isn’t just for SAT prep and college essays (though we love those too!) — it’s also the perfect time for BIG imagination and LITTLE learners! 💡📚

Yes, we personalize every lesson, every time — whether it’s coaching high school students through their personal statements or helping K-2 kiddos adventure through picture books like Blueberries for Sal and Harold and the Purple Crayon.

Check out one of our latest summer learning adventures below ⬇️ — featuring 3 books, 3 creative activities, and 3 literacy-boosting skills aligned with K-2 Common Core standards!

✨ Want to keep your child engaged and growing this summer? Let’s connect!

📩 Visit www.nelson-notes.com or message us to schedule your personalized summer session today!

💙

Having trouble getting your student to read?

Your kids can develop the reading comprehension and writing skills they need for highschool, SATs, and beyond!

Check out this interactive worksheet we used with some of our gifted students to accompany the nonfiction book: "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science."

Join Us at the Advancing the Next Generation Conference!
https://crossassembly.org/nextgen

I’m excited to be leading a session at this upcoming conference about Managing Time Effectively! I will be providing worksheets on time management, strategies for kids with ADHD and Executive Functioning challenges, and tools for gifted learners.

Send a message to learn more