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Homeschooling Today Spring 2021 cover logo in white and brown
Spring 2021
Feed your child’s desire to learn with these fun & interactive digital studies!
Over 100 titles to choose from on topics like:
Seasons
Holidays
Animals
Geography
Anatomy
Heroes from History
Weather
and More!
No teacher prep.
New to unit studies? Visit: www.UnitStudy.com/Learn
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The Boldness of Honesty
We try to be the best versions of ourselves, for the sakes of the Lord, ourselves, our children, and the people with whom we come into contact. We work at being kind, grateful, courageous, and more. We try to tackle our weaknesses so they don’t sabotage our efforts.

Here’s where we can get off track. We attempt to do all of this without the Lord. We do our best to fix ourselves and then come to the Father showing Him our progress. It can be so hard to be honest with the Lord about our struggles. We want to make Him proud, so we often end up performing for Him instead of living life with Him. The Holy Spirit is supposed to be our helper. Wouldn’t it make sense then, that we should be regularly asking for help? Here’s my challenge to you and me—let’s be honest with the Lord. Let’s invite Him into the weak areas. Let’s present ourselves to Him knowing there’s nothing we can do to separate ourselves from His love:

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love…No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

– Romans 8:38-39
Did you know that unfailing love is mentioned thirty-two times in the Bible? None of those mentions include another person; they are all only attributed to God. He loves us because He is love (1 John 4:7-8). Why is it important to believe in His unfailing love as the foundation for being honest with Him in our challenges? Because if we don’t, we will strive, perform, and put on a “show” for God. We will assess His love for us based on how well or poorly we’re doing at any given time. This only creates a sense of hopelessness.

Performance happens as a result of connection and communion with God. It doesn’t happen apart from Him, or it’s just behavioral management and not actual transformation. So our Catch 22 is this—we want to make our Father proud, but we can’t actually do this without His intimate connection. So we might as well let go of any false pretenses and be fully open with Him. Honesty takes boldness. It requires security to be honest about our weak areas. Otherwise we find ourselves not facing the truth because we don’t want it to be true. But if we never face the reality of what’s going on, we cannot allow true change to take place. Not to focus on our faults, but so we can see our weaknesses in the light of His affection and strength and allow Him to provide needed help.

Living boldly has many facets, which is why we are taking 2021 to unpack what homeschooling with boldness looks like. First, we are thinking through how we can develop boldness as homeschooling parents. In the next issue we’ll be talking about what it means to pass on boldness to our kids.

You know, operating from a place of confident courage isn’t about what you know or how much experience you have. As mother and daughter team Jane and Carrie point out in the column, Mom to Mom, “He calls us to be bold like a lion (Proverbs 28:1). It doesn’t matter who we think we are—when we know who God says we are.”

Ashley Wiggers
Publisher & Co-Executive Editor
ashley wiggers headshot
Exciting Updates:
Bold Artwork:
For the first time, we have commissioned artwork to go along with this year’s theme from our dear friend and talented artist, Pam Wally. This beautiful lion is meant to be a visual reminder to aid us in this journey of becoming bold. Based on the scripture from Proverbs 28:1 and available in many designs and mediums. All proceeds will go to help support the Christian artist who painted it and the Homeschool Boldly movement. Please consider purchasing something for yourself or choosing one of the options as an inspiring gift for a friend. To see all the available products, please visit:
Proverbs 28:1 painting by Pam Wally
2021 Activity Guide cover brought to you by Homeschooling Today
Seasonal Activity Guide:

We’ve also added a Seasonal Activity Guide that is a FREE download for our subscribers and will accompany each issue of the magazine. The guide includes printable pages, activities to highlight the season, art lessons, and more! You will no longer have to scour the internet for inspiration to make the season come alive. Simply download your activity guide and receive plenty of fresh ideas that are also easy to use.

For this issue only we are offering this subscriber exclusive as a freebie for all. Take advantage of this one-time special offer to see what’s included in our brand new Seasonal Guides.

Click here to download the Spring 2021 Activity Guide

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…Thank you!
Spring 2021 Table of Contents header with dotted border
Boldness: A Biblical Approach magazine article mockup
Features with dotted border
The strong foundation you need to be bold.
The power that homeschooling can bring.
The importance of allowing your kids to struggle.
Columns header with dotted border
A Teacher is Bold When…
Embarking on the Adventure with Boldness
How to Develop Boldness as Homeschool Parents
Being Bold Enough to Teach Math Naturally
Book suggestions and activites.
Soar High, Dragonfly!
The Very Quiet Cricket
The Cricket in Times Square
Singer of Six Thousand Songs: A Life of Charles Wesley
Brave Enough to Stop Clicking
Taking the Road Less Traveled
How to Homeschool Boldly by Making Homeschool Fun
Considering Post-Graduation Possibilities
Helpful reviews & product information.
To Boldly Go Where Few Homeschool Moms Have Gone Before
Growing Relationships magazine article mockup
the manifesto typography
O

ver twenty-five years ago Homeschooling Today magazine was founded by homeschooling parents with a vision to encourage and assist homeschooling families. Today, that vision continues with homeschool graduates, Alex and Ashley Wiggers, at the helm.

We are staunch supporters of homeschooling because we’ve seen the value of what this choice has to offer. In our homes, it was enjoyable, filled with learning that lasted, and built on the foundation of relationship. We are now continuing this legacy of freedom in learning with our own children. Parents, we believe in the power of influence you have as you walk with God, to provide everything your children need to fulfill their destinies. We believe that homeschoolers are uniquely fitted to become world changers. Because they’re used to doing things differently. Having been shown the true value of learning and what they’re capable of, these children will look at the world with eyes to help, lead, problem solve, and display a depth of character that reflects the convictions of their faith.

This is what our children are called to do. But it won’t happen if we walk in fear. Our mission is to come alongside you with encouragement and practical help, to remind you that we’re in this together and to help you see past the present trials into the reality of your true calling, equipping your children to be the remarkable people God created. Whether you are homeschooling for a season of life or the years to come, this movement can be a catalyst for courage. It will be through our ability to shed fear and embrace courage that will enable our children to do the same!

Join us as we cast aside mediocrity and say we will enjoy this time with our families, we will let go of fear and take hold of courage.
We choose to homeschool boldly!
on the cover typography
Will you choose to do nothing?
Choosing a different path for your teen.
Ideas that make your kids ask, “Can we do school now?”
Homeschooling today cover Spring 2021
This year at-a-glance typography
spring 2021:
developing boldness

Why does boldness matter? Without it, we can lose our conviction and even our direction. But don’t worry, it isn’t something we have to work up. Boldness will grow naturally as we embrace the truth of our calling and God’s faithfulness to lead us.
summer 2021:
passing on boldness

We want to inspire boldness in our children. Once we have embraced it ourselves, we can show our children the way. They need to be bold in this day and age. Let us walk you through practical steps to intentionally raising bold kids.
fall 2021:
teaching with boldness

What does it mean to teach with boldness? It means we choose to do what’s best for both us and our families without fear or comparison. Our children have educational needs specific to them. Let’s be bold enough to meet them!
from the editors typography
In

this issue, you’ll meet some new contributors and find articles that help you as a homeschool mom or dad to develop boldness. Rachael Carmen, co-owner of Apologia Educational Ministries, shares what it means to be bold and includes a Scripture study you can download to help you understand your identity in Christ. In our newest column, Cultivating Little Learners, Kathy Eggers and Lesli Richards, authors of The Homegrown Preschooler and A Year of Playing Skillfully, talk about how to answer the question, “How do we handle this parenting gig with confidence and boldness, when we are constantly being confronted with how much we really do not know?” And Gina Burmeier joins Deanne Crawford to share hands-on resources in their column Bookshelf & Beyond. Our regular columnists have returned as well and will give you encouragement and practical help to homeschool boldly—to take control of your children’s education while nurturing family relationships, to choose courage over fear, and do what’s best for you and your kids.

Ashley & Kay
Co-Executive Editors
Ashley & Kay headshots
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~ Amber Doering
~ Como, North Carolina
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Thank you SO much for all that you have done and are doing in providing such quality math lessons for my children… it means SO much!

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Mom to Mom typography
with

Jane Lambert & Carrie Bozeman

How to Develop Boldness in your Homeschooling
L

ast week a teacher shared with me about her experience with a student who was being rude. She had spoken to the child but had not been stern. As she was telling me about the incident she said, “Well, I think sometimes I’m just too easy on them.”

I’d been watching this teacher through the year and witnessed her spiritual growth, her faith, and her obedience. This is what I told her:

Bird on a ribbon graphic
Cultivating Little Learners typography
with
Kathy Eggers & Lesli Richards
Trees graphic
We are excited to introduce to you a new column with Kathy Eggers and Lesli Richards of The Homegrown Preschooler. We think you will be inspired by their wisdom and encouraged by their passion.
HST logo
Growing Relationships
Through Parenting & Education
How do we develop boldnress as homeschool parents?
by Connie Albers
I remember the first conversation I had with Tom about homeschooling. I was standing in the doorway of his office when he asked me if I would homeschool our son. My reply was a resounding, “No.” Without any hesitation he said, “Will you pray about it?” I agreed. After a week or so of prayer and consideration, I told Tom yes, but only for a year.
Connie Albers
Connie Albers
Parenting Beyond the Rules by Connie Albers cover
“Hopeful, practical ideas you can use this week to have the relationship with your child you’ve always wanted.”
KARA POWELL, PhD, Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute and coauthor of Growing Young
Available wherever books are sold
Boldness
A Biblical Approach
by Rachael Carman
“Boldness stands when others bow, it speaks when others choose silence, it acts when others allow circumstances to paralyze them.”
Family laughing
We

know it when we see it. We applaud it when we witness it. We need more of it, but alas, it is in short supply and getting shorter. What is it? Boldness.

In books and on screen, we admire it. We see it when Samwise Gamgee confronts the Shelob in The Lord of the Rings or when POW Louis Zamperini defies his Japanese captors or when Corrie Ten Boom and her sister Betsy hide Jews in their home or when Sophie Scholl and her friends, all members of the White Rose, print and distribute pamphlets regarding the truth about the Nazi party. And we applaud. Their choices to protect, to rise, to act, to protest—they inspire us. In big and small ways, with quiet whispers or loud cries, in major cities or quiet villages, against a common bully or a cruel government, in seclusion or on a platform, boldness stands up and speaks out.

succulent plants decoration in a frame
Learning
Naturally
by Kay Chance
green succulent plants in a frame
succulent plants decoration in a frame
Learning
Naturally
by Kay Chance
Being Bold Enough to Teach Math Naturally
I was bold when it came to teaching language arts. I chose a natural approach, and we thrived with it. The same was true for other subjects, such as science and history. But then there was…math.

Every generation of homeschoolers sees a particular curriculum recommended by all of their peers. When it came to choosing something for math, I listened. I bought. We did it.

Complete integrated curriculum. Just add MAth!
Take Your Children typography
On an Adventure with the:
• Follows National Standards
• Inspires a Love of Learning
• Produces Independent Thinkers
• Nurtures Curiosity
• Easy to Teach
Trail Guide to Learning Series logo
Try it out for FREE today! Go to:
Complete integrated curriculum. Just add MAth!
Take Your Children typography
On an Adventure with the:
Trail Guide to Learning Series logo
• Follows National Standards
• Inspires a Love of Learning
• Produces Independent Thinkers
• Nurtures Curiosity
• Easy to Teach
Try it out for FREE today! Go to:
Article of Title
Preschool:
Magnificent Wonder
Based on Soar High, Dragonfly! by Sheri Mabry Bestor
Book cover
W

hile visiting the library, I discovered a treasure, Soar High Dragonfly! by Sheri Mabry Bestor (Sleeping Bear Press, 2019). This stunningly beautiful, age-appropriate scientific presentation of the dragonfly life cycle provides a captivating glimpse into the life of one of creation’s most fascinating insects. Readers are gently carried through the life cycle, migratory and feeding habits, and habitat of the green darner dragonfly. Not only is the content presented at a level intriguing to elementary learners, but the variation in font size and color invites the youngest emerging readers to “give it a try.” In addition, children interested in digging deeper into the science of dragonflies are provided with a smaller informational font—which can easily be omitted if a parent is reading to littles—along the top and bottom. This picture book is brilliantly presented for multiple levels and interests.

Elementary:
Determined Chirpers
Based on The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle
Book cover
A

cricket is born on a warm day. He is welcomed by the chirping of a big cricket. The quiet cricket wants to greet new friends. Determined, the tiny cricket rubs his wings together. Nothing happens. The cricket continues to journey on through his days despite his inability to answer back. His wings are silent, but he does not give up. The quiet cricket keeps trying. Then one day, the cricket meets another quiet cricket. This time, when he rubs his wings together, the most beautiful chirping sound can be heard.

Young children are drawn to The Very Quiet Cricket (The World of Eric Carle, 1990). It is a story of friendship and eventually the relationship between the two crickets. It is also a lesson in perseverance, and listeners are invited to be a part of the story with the anticipation of the repetitive words, “the little cricket wanted to answer so he rubbed his wings together, but nothing happened. Not a sound.” These two sentences are repeated after every meeting. A few friends into the story, children begin to repeat the phrase, helping them feel a part of the telling. The plot, structure, and brilliant illustrations have made The Very Quiet Cricket a favorite of all eight of our children.

Middle School:
Gifted Musician, Bold Friend
Based on The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
Book cover
C

hester Cricket follows his nose to liverwurst in a picnic basket and finds himself far from the familiar fields of Connecticut. Frightened, he huddles in a newsstand in the Times Square subway station of New York City. Thankfully, Mario Bellini, son of a newsstand owner, rescues Chester and begs his parents’ permission to keep the cricket. During his stay with the Bellini family, Chester makes friends with Harry Cat and Tucker Mouse. As the story unfolds, Chester’s profound musical talent, a gift that will eventually save the newsstand, is discovered.

The Cricket in Times Square, penned by George Selden (1960; reprinted Square Fish, 2008), was a 1961 Newbery Honor book. Written in the third-person point of view, the piece is a fascinating work of imagination where readers come face-to-face with the life truths of friendship, loyalty, honesty, and the meaning of home. Illustrator Garth Williams—known for the art that accompanies the plots of Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web, and Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books—helps George Selden tell the story with whimsical, detailed illustrations. This classic work of children’s literature could be an independent read for a middle school learner or a read aloud for the entire family.

High School:
Bold Influencer: Charles Wesley
Based on Singer of Six Thousand Songs by Elisabeth P. Meyers
Book cover
Charles Wesley, an eighteenth century poet, hymn writer, and bold leader in the Methodist movement in England, was born in 1707 to an Anglican pastor. He was one of nineteen children. Charles was home educated by his mother Susanna in his early years prior to attending Westminster School. Charles went on to earn a master’s degree from Oxford University. While at the university, Charles participated in The Holy Club with fellow students, promoting what would become the Methodist faith. In 1735, Charles and his brother, John, served a one-year mission to the British colony that is now Georgia. Though the Wesley brothers are known for their preaching, Charles is best known for his poetry and hymns. Elisabeth P. Meyers wrote her biography, Singer of Six Thousand Songs: A Life of Charles Wesley (Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1965), to introduce readers to the life of a bold gentleman who greatly influenced people’s lives and church history.
Northwest University logo
Since 1934. Kirkland, Washington.
an education built for eternity.
While most universities overlook your spiritual life, Christ is foundational at NU.
At Northwest University, we offer a Christ-centered University experience that will build upon the values you’ve instilled as a parent. We combine academic rigor and spiritual vitality. Our student-to-faculty ratio is 12:1, which means students are taught by professors who know their names and their needs. At NU, our unique educational experience prepares your students for this life. And the next.
70 Majors and Programs Highest Accreditation Possible
Neighbor to World-Class Companies
Internships and Career Preparation Generous Financial Aid
To find out more, go to northwestu.edu or call our Admissions office at 425-889-5231.
Northwest University logo
Since 1934. Kirkland, Washington.
an education built for eternity.
While most universities overlook your spiritual life, Christ is foundational at NU.
At Northwest University, we offer a Christ-centered University experience that will build upon the values you’ve instilled as a parent. We combine academic rigor and spiritual vitality. Our student-to-faculty ratio is 12:1, which means students are taught by professors who know their names and their needs. At NU, our unique educational experience prepares your students for this life. And the next.
70 Majors and Programs Highest Accreditation Possible
Neighbor to World-Class Companies
Internships and Career Preparation Generous Financial Aid
To find out more, go to northwestu.edu or call our Admissions office at 425-889-5231.
Article title
The Power of Homeschooling
by Ashley Wiggers
Illustration of a Plant

I

think being homeschooled is one of the greatest gifts my parents gave me. I’m an introvert and was very shy as a young girl. I was the type of child who didn’t need a lot of disciplining because just a look would pierce through this tender heart, reminding me to obey. I also have a learning disability, a visual perceptual processing disorder that means my eyes and brain don’t work together like most people’s.

Homeschooling enabled this shy heart to be nurtured and loved into a place of confidence. It took time and a safe place to grow. It took the loving care of a mother who helped me see the best about myself.

My disability put me behind educationally. It kept me from feeling comfortable in a class setting until about the time I reached high school. And yet, I loved to learn. Thanks to my parents, I felt smart and successful in my schooling journey. I adored great stories, hands-on projects, and learning as a family! Our time together was precious to me. My mom took great delight in transforming our homeschool into an adventure, not a set of tasks to be completed as quickly as possible. She discovered over the course of the years that home education was much more about the meaningful moments that cannot be tested than it was the results. She led us into a love of learning because she loved to learn. But I think more than anything, we knew how much she loved us and wanted to be with us and that’s what fueled the joy of our time together.

Family laughing
woman sitting in a chair with lets kicked out and arms behind her head
The Boldness to Do Nothing typography
by Amy Fischer
“We ought to do so much for our children, and are able to do so much for them, that we begin to think everything rests with us and that we should never intermit for a moment our conscious action on the young minds and hearts about us. Our endeavours become fussy and restless.”
— Charlotte Mason, School Education
I

like to think I am a confident, calm sort of person who weighs decisions thoughtfully, then carries them out with assurance. For example, when my eldest son was a baby, my husband and I started to think about homeschooling. By the time he was one, I knew what curriculum I wanted to use. A few years later, the deadline to register for school came and went. I watched my friends make their way to school with their young children, but I never wavered in our choice.

Parent typing on laptop computer
The Tech Savvy Parent title
Brian Housman author
Brave enough to stop clicking text
As

an overachieving super dad, I have had to acknowledge a reality—I care what others think. You do too. As much as I loathe that part of myself, it is an admission that keeps me grounded and keeps me from falling into a comparison trap. There is a deft daily balancing act that takes place in me between wanting to be the best version of myself and needing to be the best because other parents have obviously got their act together way more than I do.

Unhurried
Homeschooling
Taking the RoadLess Traveled text
by Durenda Wilson
“Who are you racing?”
It

was a question that my friend’s husband used to ask her whenever it seemed like she was approaching life at a frantic pace.

I’ve asked myself the same question countless times: when the days begin to run together, when my heart is anxious more often than not, and when I’m not really enjoying anything, including my children.

If I were to honestly answer the question, “Who are you racing?” most of the time my answer would be, “My own expectations.”

Unhurried
Homeschooling
Taking the RoadLess Traveled text
by Durenda Wilson
“Who are you racing?”
It

was a question that my friend’s husband used to ask her whenever it seemed like she was approaching life at a frantic pace.

I’ve asked myself the same question countless times: when the days begin to run together, when my heart is anxious more often than not, and when I’m not really enjoying anything, including my children.

If I were to honestly answer the question, “Who are you racing?” most of the time my answer would be, “My own expectations.”

How to Homeschool Boldly by Making Homeschool Fun! title
by Wendy Hilton
Make It Fun! title
W

hat does it mean to homeschool boldly? To me, homeschooling boldly means I have confidence in myself and my ability to homeschool. It does not mean I’m perfect or that my homeschool is without flaws. If that were the case, nobody would ever be successful at anything! It just means hanging in there, doing my best each day, and loving, guiding, and teaching my children the best I can.

How I Became a Bold Homeschool Mom
Over time, my homeschool has changed tremendously. I was a classroom teacher before I started homeschooling, so my first few years looked much more like public-school-at-home.

As the years went on, I started to understand the freedom that homeschooling offers and decided to take advantage of it. That definitely made my homeschool more fun and more beneficial to each of my children, and it helped me feel a sense of boldness and confidence.

How to Homeschool Boldly by Making Homeschool Fun! title
by Wendy Hilton
Make It Fun! title
W

hat does it mean to homeschool boldly? To me, homeschooling boldly means I have confidence in myself and my ability to homeschool. It does not mean I’m perfect or that my homeschool is without flaws. If that were the case, nobody would ever be successful at anything! It just means hanging in there, doing my best each day, and loving, guiding, and teaching my children the best I can.

How I Became a Bold Homeschool Mom
Over time, my homeschool has changed tremendously. I was a classroom teacher before I started homeschooling, so my first few years looked much more like public-school-at-home.

As the years went on, I started to understand the freedom that homeschooling offers and decided to take advantage of it. That definitely made my homeschool more fun and more beneficial to each of my children, and it helped me feel a sense of boldness and confidence.

Celebrate High School typography
Considering Post-Graduation Possibilities:
Thinking Outside the Traditional College Box
by Cheryl A. Bastian
College is valuable, but it may not be the best path for every graduate. Mike and I have personally walked alongside our young adults as they processed their post-high school choices. The decisions were not easy. With each learner, Mike and I had to make the bold choice not to assume our ways were best. In addition, we have come alongside hundreds of homeschooling families, helping them process possibilities, that indeed are vast. Some graduates chose Ivy Leagues and military academies and excelled. Others flourished in community colleges. However, we have also:
Bookshelf & Beyond Title
with Curriculum Consultants:
Deanne Crawford & Gina Burmeier
Welcome to Bookshelf & Beyond!
This issue is bittersweet to us at Rainbow Resource Center. Deanne and Donna began writing this column in 2013 at the request of Debbie Strayer, one of the original founders of Homeschooling Today. It has been an extreme privilege to serve the homeschool community by sharing “outside-the-box” resources. In December, Donna retired to spend more time with her family. Deanne is excited to welcome Gina Burmeier as co-columnist for Bookshelf & Beyond. As retired homeschool moms with nearly forty years combined experience in education, it is our passion to support homeschool families in their journey.

We spend our days doing product comparisons, recording instructional videos, and talking with homeschool parents. You will frequently find us online and at homeschool conventions, presenting encouraging and informational workshops, and answering curriculum questions. We thought it would be a fun introduction to each share a personal passion that has built confidence in us and our children!

Bookshelf & Beyond Title
with Curriculum Consultants:
Deanne Crawford & Gina Burmeier
Welcome to Bookshelf & Beyond!
This issue is bittersweet to us at Rainbow Resource Center. Deanne and Donna began writing this column in 2013 at the request of Debbie Strayer, one of the original founders of Homeschooling Today. It has been an extreme privilege to serve the homeschool community by sharing “outside-the-box” resources. In December, Donna retired to spend more time with her family. Deanne is excited to welcome Gina Burmeier as co-columnist for Bookshelf & Beyond. As retired homeschool moms with nearly forty years combined experience in education, it is our passion to support homeschool families in their journey.

We spend our days doing product comparisons, recording instructional videos, and talking with homeschool parents. You will frequently find us online and at homeschool conventions, presenting encouraging and informational workshops, and answering curriculum questions. We thought it would be a fun introduction to each share a personal passion that has built confidence in us and our children!

The Family Man title
with Todd Wilson
To Boldly Go Where Few Homeschool Moms Have Gone Before subheading
I

can’t tell you how many times a homeschooling mom has come up to me after I’ve spoken at an event and said something like, “I could boldly homeschool the way I believe to be best…if…I lived in the middle of the desert, alone, and away from everyone.”

I’m sure they voice what many moms feel…that they know what’s best for their kids, but there are so many competing voices, posts, and experts telling them the opposite.

spring 2021 masthead typography
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