Explore every episode of the podcast Homeschooling Outside the Box
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| Beyond Morning Time: A Conversation with Cindy Rollins | 03 Sep 2024 | 00:53:08 | |
Cindy Rollins homeschooled her nine children for over thirty years. She is the host of The New Mason Jar podcast and a co-host with Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks of the popular Literary Life Podcast. She also curates the “Over the Back Fence Newsletter” at MorningTimeForMoms.com. She is the author of Mere Motherhood; Morning Time: A Liturgy of Love; Hallelujah: Cultivating Advent Traditions with Handel’s Messiah; The Literary Life Commonplace books, and Mere Motherhood Newsletters. I had the privilege of meeting Cindy at a conference here in north Alabama this past spring and I’m thrilled to share our conversation with you today. She has so much insight to offer to the homeschool community and loves to encourage moms so I know you’re going to love this episode. Join us today as Cindy and I discuss a variety of ideas near and dear to homeschoolers’ hearts. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR:
Be sure to subscribe to my Substack to be notified of new articles. Follow me on Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, subscribe, or share :) When you do, it helps to spread the word and encourage other moms just like you. | |||
| On Principles 5-8: The Instruments of Education Episode | 29 Aug 2024 | 00:21:33 | |
Principle 5: Three Instruments of Education Therefore, we are limited to three educational instruments - the atmosphere of environment, the discipline of habit, and the presentation of living ideas. The P.N.E.U. Motto is: “Education is an atmosphere, a discipline and a life.” Reference: Volume 6, Chapter 6We saw last time that there are quite a few wrong paths to take when approaching education that may be not only be our knee-jerk reaction but also taken with the best of intentions. These paths may even “work” but today Charlotte will show us a better approach. She says, “there are but three left for our use and to each of these we must give careful study or we shall not realize how great a scope is left to us.” These are not the three measly options left over but three perspectives that open a wide lens for us to see education through and gift our child with. These three ideas together are the legs of a stool that will stand strong when used together. Listen in to hear the three instruments of education. Join me next time as we cover principles 9 & 10. Be sure to subscribe to my Substack to see all the links and be notified of new articles. You can also follow along right here on my podcast as well as on my Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review :). | |||
| How to Read A Lot Even As a Busy Mom | 07 Nov 2023 | 00:43:50 | |
If you've ever struggled to fit reading into your life as a busy homeschool mom, this is the episode for you! Join me as I tell you how to fit a true feast into the nooks and crannies of your day. Show Notes | |||
| The Autumn Episode | 01 Oct 2023 | 00:27:23 | |
Bring on the sweaters and boots and pumpkin spice lattes! Autumn is in full swing by now with falling leaves, crisp mornings, and night creeping in earlier and earlier. I like to take time to reflect as fall begins in earnest; what changes do we need to make in routines and atmosphere to get ready for a new season? Which traditions are we looking forward to the most and are there any we want to let go of? And how can I bottle everything that makes fall the loveliest time of the year? The fragrance of spices, the glow of a candle, goldenrod swaying in a breeze that is still warm but warning of a coming chill. It’s the poem, “Something Told the Wild Geese” and the actual geese flying overhead in the morning. It’s the copper and crimson and buttery yellow leaves as the trees beginning to change, the sound of folksy coffee shop music as the sun sets earlier and earlier. It’s stacks of familiar books mingling with new reads brought by the school year. It’s being ready to say good-bye to one season and welcome another with a full heart. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR:
SHOW NOTES | |||
| How to Grow a Homeschool Group (and if you should) with Danielle Easley, co-founder of Connect | 04 Aug 2023 | 01:22:24 | |
If you've listened to Part I of this episode (How to Start a Homeschool Group and why you should), you'll be delighted to hear this continuation on what to do when the group starts to grow and take on a life of its own! IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR:
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| The Summer Episode | 12 Jun 2023 | 00:19:27 | |
Doesn’t summertime bring out the child in us all? Swimming in the scorching heat, drinking lemonade, inhaling the wafting scent of the grill, listening for cicadas, watching for fireflies…there is a sense of wonder that comes with summer. Use this month to tap into your inner child: Stop and smell the gardenias and jasmine. Take time. Slow down. Play and explore the great outdoors. Soak in summer and all of its splendor. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR:
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| I'm Back! | 17 Apr 2023 | 00:11:30 | |
It's been a while...but I'm back and I'm so excited to be with you again! Catch up on what's new and what to look forward to. Or, if you're brand new, get to know a little more about Homeschooling Outside the Box. You are very welcome here! You can also check out the new Nature Journal and sign up for my free monthly "Everything" guides. | |||
| Homeschool Rhythms: Rest Time | 24 Nov 2021 | 00:23:44 | |
So far in this “Homeschool Rhythms” series we’ve talked about morning time, narration, getting ready, group work, individual work, and read alouds. We’ve moved our way through morning activities and lunch so today we’re going to talk about rest time! I know some of you might have the urge to check out right now thinking your children have aged out of this time of day but I assure you, it is for all ages…including you, mama. Rest time is a beautiful hour of the day when you can take a few deep breaths, make a fresh cup of coffee, and reset for your afternoon. Our culture is obsessed with productivity; there seems to be an underlying pressure everywhere we turn to be active. What if rest is not something we do because we are finished with our work but rather something we do because God created us to need to do it? Join me today as I show you how rest time can fit in your day. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR:
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| How to Start a Homeschool Group (and why you should) with Danielle Easley, co-founder of Connect | 10 Nov 2021 | 01:20:38 | |
For decades homeschoolers have been plagued by the question, “what about socialization” from well-meaning (and let’s be honest, sometimes not so well-meaning…) neighbors, family, and friends. The question chafes at us because it assumes that the minute we begin homeschooling, we hole up in our homes and avoid all contact with any other humans. That’s just not the case though; community is an essential part of the homeschool experience and a great homeschool group can be the place for you to find lasting relationships. Six years ago, I was struggling to find a community to fit my outside-the-box family and in a moment of courage (or perhaps desperation), I reached out to another homeschool mama and asked her to “go do stuff together.” The result has been a deep friendship between our families and an accidentally thriving homeschool group. Join us today as Danielle and I explore the benefits of how to start a homeschool group and why you should. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR:
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| Homeschool Rhythms: Reading Aloud | 19 Oct 2021 | 00:21:35 | |
So far in this “Homeschool Rhythms” series we’ve talked about morning time, narration, getting ready, group work, and individual work. We’ve moved our way through morning activities and today we’re going to talk about reading aloud! I want to talk to you today about making read-aloud time a family activity for all time – no matter what your child’s age. This is a beautiful part of the day that can be a little more laid back and relaxing and there are a few different ways you can make it happen. I don’t think many people would argue about the value of reading great literature together but it can easily become something that slips from an overbusy schedule. Reading aloud to your children helps them build vocabulary, creates a bridge for struggling readers, and most importantly creates a shared experience for your family making it a great tool for strengthening relationships. I encourage you to enjoy this nurturing time with your whole family and make it a priority in homeschool. Join me today as I show you how read-aloud time can fit in your day. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR:
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| Homeschool Rhythms: Individual Work | 12 Oct 2021 | 00:31:08 | |
When you ask a seasoned homeschooler about structuring the day, you will often hear the same refrain: “combine as many subjects as you can.” But what about the subjects that require a certain set of skills for children to master? You can generally look at academics in two categories: skill-based subjects and non-skill-based subjects. Skill-based subjects are really best taught 1-on-1 or in a very small group of kids at a similar level of skill. I like to chunk these into three categories: Language (learning to read, write, and speak other languages), STEM-L (science, tech, engineering, math, and logic), and Personal Development (spiritual growth, citizenship, arts, and therapy to name a few). In this episode, I’m going to focus on the best way to teach these three categories. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR:
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| The Critical Skill of Creativity, with Chad Stewart, award-winning and bestselling author of Britfield & the Lost Crown | 23 Sep 2021 | 00:53:56 | |
What if I told you there was a skill that would help prepare your child for any job he might pursue in the future? And what if this skill was so attainable, that you wouldn’t have to purchase a fancy curriculum or join an elite co-op to access it? The pandemic that rocked 2020 has thrown us many curveballs but one positive consequence has been a rise in homeschooling. Parents all over the world are realizing that they can provide their children with opportunities and experiences that are not only extremely valuable but can also prepare them for the unique world they are launching into. Homeschool is the ideal environment for fostering creativity in children. Chad Stewart has seen this change happening and is excited about the possibilities. Creativity is the top global skill and he sees homeschool as a fantastic way to equip our kids for the future. In addition to writing an award-winning and bestselling book, Britfield & the Lost Crown (the first in a series of seven), he’s created an online platform, The Britfield Institue, to help kids harness their natural creativity and teach parents how to inspire it. Join us today as Chad and I explore the importance of creativity. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR:
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| On Principles 3 & 4: The Posture Episode | 03 Aug 2024 | 00:34:14 | |
This is the third article in my “Summer with Charlotte” series. If you missed the first two, you can read On Education and On Principles 1, 2 & 20. Let’s jump in. Principle 3: Authority and DocilityThe principles of Authority on the one hand and Docility on the other are natural, necessary, and fundamental. Principle 4: The Sacredness of PersonalityThese principles (i.e. authority and docility) are limited by the respect due to the personality of children which may not be encroached upon whether by the direct use of fear or love, suggestion or influence, or by undue play upon any one natural desire. Join me next time as we cover principles 5 - 8. Be sure to subscribe to my Substack to read the article, see all the links, and be notified of new articles. You can also follow along on my podcast, Homeschooling Outside the Box, and my Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review :). | |||
| Homeschool Rhythms: Group Work | 24 Aug 2021 | 00:30:34 | |
When you ask a seasoned homeschooler about structuring the day, you will often hear the same refrain: "combine as many subjects as you can." Academics can generally be broken into two categories: skill-based subjects and non-skill-based subjects. Anything that is skill-based really is best taught 1-on-1 or in a very small group of kids at a similar level of skill. Some examples are math, reading, spelling, or writing. A non-skill-based subject would be something everyone can learn together no matter how old or experienced they are. Some examples of these subjects would be bible, memory work, history, and geography. And those are the very subjects we're going to talk about teaching today. | |||
| Homeschool Rhythms: Get Ready | 11 May 2021 | 00:24:37 | |
I have no doubt that when my children are grown people, making their way in the world, they will hear the faint refrain of my voice when they roll out of bed and get ready for their day: “Attitude-dressed-bed” And again after they have breakfast: “Teeth-face-hair-deodorant-zone” These have been the anthems of our mornings for years and my goal has been to create habits for them to help them (and myself) get the day off to a right start. If the phrase “get ready” sounds reminiscent of “on your mark, get set, go!” that’s not an accident. Starting the day with a proactive posture is important. The day before us is a gift and the duty and stewardship we are bound to as receivers of that gift demand that we face the day boldly. A vibe of adventure and purpose can carry us through even the most mundane tasks. This applies to us as moms as well as our children. After all, if we are to train them in these ways, we should be modeling them ourselves. But if I sound overambitious and a touch unrealistic, just know that I don’t usually wake up feeling this way and I know you probably don’t either. That’s why it all begins with attitude. Show Notes | |||
| The Importance of Humor in our Homeschools with Betsy Jenkins | 09 Mar 2021 | 00:31:14 | |
Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart. It requires endurance and initiative. It requires sacrifice and diligence. But it also requires something you might not realize…a sense of humor. We homeschool moms can be so serious; the stakes are high! We’re going against the grain! What if we mess up…this is our kids we’re talking about, after all?! But, but, but…we were never meant to completely reinvent the wheel, and one of the best things we can do for ourselves, our families, and our homeschool is to take ourselves just a tad less seriously. If you are on Instagram, you have no doubt seen memes of classic artwork splashed with humorous text. Betsy Jenkins is the woman behind the memes and it’s her mission to make you laugh. She does an amazing job at this while simultaneously educating people on art and exposing them to a wide range of prints. Betsy’s homeschool memes began as a family thing and she started her Instagram account, “Homeschooling With the Classics” as a simple way to share them with a few friends. These few friends have multiplied into thousands of followers who are thirsty for a refreshing laugh in the midst of their busy homeschool day. She struck a chord in the community and for good reason; laughter is a soothing balm on a hard day and the mental refreshment that we need to persevere towards excellence. Join us today as Betsy and I indulge the importance of laughter in our homeschools. SHOW NOTES
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| Homeschool Rhythms: Narration | 23 Feb 2021 | 00:19:19 | |
If there is a quintessential practice in Charlotte Mason’s approach to education, it is the act of narration. You can pick and choose which living books you want to read, you can use watercolors or not in your nature journaling, and you can dictate your own routine in a way that best fits your family, but you simply cannot reap the full benefits of Charlotte Mason’s approach without narration. WHAT IS NARRATION?Narration is the art of knowing. Simply stated, it’s the act of telling back what you have heard in a way that is authentic to you. This isn’t about parroting back the last sentence or idea of a paragraph; it’s about processing the information you’ve received and delivering it back in a meaningful way. Charlotte Mason said, “if you cannot tell, you do not know.” Narration is a challenging demonstration of true knowing and makes multiple-choice, comprehension questions, and the like, unnecessary. There are two types of narration: oral and written. Join me today as I talk about the benefits of narration. | |||
| Homeschool Rhythms: Morning Time | 13 Jan 2021 | 00:18:13 | |
“Morning time” is a phrase coined by the great Cindy Rollins. She may not be the first person to ever put those two words next to each other, but the idea that it represents, the “coming together”-ness of it, can largely be attributed by the homeschool community to her. Pam Barnhill calls it “Morning Basket” and has an entire website dedicated to the practice. In episode 46 of this podcast, Melissa McMahan referred to it as their “together time.” Others call it “symposium” or “daily basket” removing the time constraint of the morning. Whatever you call it, the idea is to gather together and learn together. Join me today to find out how morning time can work in your homeschool and what subjects are a good fit for this chunk of your day. Show Notes | |||
| Seeing Dyslexia as a Strength | 06 Jan 2021 | 00:43:17 | |
If given the option, would you choose for your child to have dyslexia? Dyslexia is widely thought of as a challenge that gets in the way of learning but what if we’ve got it wrong? What if dyslexia is a gift? What if dyslexia helps your child to think in a way that many people cannot, therefore, providing an angle of creativity that this world really needs? What if dyslexia is actually….a strength? Rich Sanchez grew up struggling with his dyslexia but as an adult, he has found a way to harness his unique talents. He’s made it his mission to help others do the same thing. Join us today as Rich and I explore dyslexia from a new perspective. In this episode you’ll hear:
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| 10 Favorite Family Christmas Traditions (with special guests!) | 09 Dec 2020 | 00:39:39 | |
Christmas is no ordinary time of year. It intoxicates our senses; the air smells of pine and sugar. The days are filled with music and stories. The soft, warm sleeves on our arms and thick mittens on our hands, and hat on our head triggers our mind to think cozy thoughts despite the biting cold. Our taste buds crave cocoa and peppermint. Our children’s eyes glow with the sparkle of twinkle lights reflecting in them. And our hearts yearn for something…something more…something transcendent…something that seems just beyond our reach yet simultaneously living inside us. The “Christmas spirit”…or rather, The Spirit of Christmas. Christ incarnate. Immanuel. God with us. What is it about the season that ignites this joy in you? Is it the first time you hear a Christmas song on the radio? A special cookie recipe that’s been passed down through the generations of your family? Is it a particular movie or book that just has to be read every year? A trip you take? Or a favorite party you host? Traditions are the stitches that hold a family culture together. They are woven throughout our year, throughout generations, creating a masterpiece over time. They can be simple and they can change. New ones can be added and old ones fall away. Traditions of the Christmas season are unique to each of our families. Today I’d like to share some of our favorite family Christmas traditions. This is not a checklist to accomplish in December or a formula to ensure a happy holiday; these are just a few ideas that may inspire you and yours to create your own memories. Show Notes | |||
| Autism in the Teen Years with Raun K. Kaufman | 25 Nov 2020 | 01:17:59 | |
Over the years, "autism" has gone from being virtually unheard of to a buzz word to, nowadays, a word a part of the common vernacular. Most people have at least heard of autism or have a personal connection to the disorder. Many people tend to think of a younger child, perhaps preschool - elementary age when they think about a person with autism. But teenagers and adults experience the joys and challenges of autism, too, along with their families. How does autism change in the teen years? What stays the same? How can we help our young adults thrive in the high school years without hitting the panic button and stressing over academics? Raun K. Kaufman is an author, international lecturer, and former CEO of the Autism Treatment Center of America who has worked with hundreds of families just like yours and mine. He's here to help us navigate these years with our wonderful children and encourage us to live beautifully in the tension between unconditional acceptance of our teen and helping him to grow. Join us today as Raun and I explore autism in the teen years. In this episode you’ll hear:
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| Reclaiming a Wild + Free Childhood for Our Kids with Ainsley Arment | 11 Nov 2020 | 00:47:53 | |
Childhood is a unique growing time for our children; educators, parents, and experts have known this for years and yet childhood often gets swept under the rug at the expense of rigorous academics and a schedule full of structured activities. Children are, for the first time in history, busy. Schedules have largely replaced curiosity. Organized programs have taken priority over free play. And if we're really honest, I think us mamas can admit...it's just too much. What would happen if we embraced a more "wild and free" approach to childhood in our homeschools? What type of atmosphere might we be able to create for our families? The Wild + Free movement had its humble beginnings about six years ago when Ainsley Arment started an Instagram account to gather and inspire other moms in quest of this "wild and free" type of childhood for their children. What began as a few moms sharing experiences and tips on the internet has grown into an online and in-person community of over 177,000 mamas strong. Wild & Free is not a method; it transcends - and therefore welcomes - many homeschool philosophies and makes room for all mamas to educate their children in a way that works best for their family. Join us today as Ainsley and I explore the benefits of living Wild + Free in your homeschool. In this episode you’ll hear:
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| The Importance of Heritage with Amber O'Neal Johnston | 26 Oct 2020 | 00:42:26 | |
To understand the importance of heritage, we must first make sure we're all working with the same definition. In regards to heritage, the Bible says, "Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him" (Psalm 127:3, NIV). Dictonary.com defines it as "something that is handed down from the past, as a tradition;" "something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; an inherited lot or portion;" or "something reserved for one." The tone is one of joy and sacredness; a passing of something treasured and valuable. Amber O'Neal Johnston didn't always recognize the importance of heritage. In fact, it took a troubling experience with her daughter for Amber to open her eyes to the special heritage she could be passing down; it was an experience that made her pivot in her homeschool. This pivot has become a gift to all of us, merging the beloved Charlotte Mason philosophy with ideas, books, and resources that breathe life into our particular families by embracing each of our unique heritage while making room for and honoring the heritages of others. Join us today as Amber and I explore the benefits of weaving heritage into our homeschool studies. In this episode you'll hear:
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| On Principles 1, 2 & 20: The Defining Episode | 09 Jul 2024 | 00:24:28 | |
Principle 1: Children are Born Persons “No sooner doth the truth…. come into the soul’s sight, but the soul knows her to be he, first and old acquaintance.” “The consequence of truth is great, therefore the judgment of it must not be negligent.” Reference: Volume 6, Chapter 2Here Charlotte quotes Benjamin Whichcote, who was the founding father of Cambridge and a puritan divine (an archaic word for theologian). I won’t attempt to unpack his words but I will say that with these quotes she is setting the stage to highlight the importance of truth and its inseparable affiliation with the soul. To understand Charlotte’s first principle you have to know who she was talking to. The Victorian era may have been coming to a close by the time she published A Philosophy of Education, but she originally said this in her first Home Education volume and was very much talking to Victorian educators and parents. To say a child was “born a person” carries a distinction that we take for granted today. Of course a child is born a person, we think. What else would he be born as? “But truths get flat and wonders stale upon us,” Charlotte said and isn’t that right? We read our bibles every day and skim the details, “yes, yes…the garden, the flood, the gospel, and so on…” but take the gravity of that truth lightly and while small children wonder at the world around them we stroll carelessly past a robin’s nest. How quickly we breeze past what is too familiar. | |||
| Homeschooling High School with Melissa McMahan | 05 Oct 2020 | 00:56:14 | |
Homeschooling High School...what is it about this phrase that makes even the most confident homeschool mama shake in her boots a little? The expectations seem to go through the roof. The pressure from the elusive yet always present critics "out there" seems to double. And the group of moms who've gone ahead of you who have the credibility to cheer you on seems to thin out drastically the longer you homeschool. Melissa McMahan - YouTube host and mother of five lovely daughters - has homeschooled from the beginning and is still going strong with high schoolers in the mix and she's here to tell you...don't give up. High school can be a really wonderful and rewarding time with your children despite the extra weight that it brings. Join us today as Melissa encourages us to find the joy in homeschooling our children during high school and use it as a time of connection and preparation for their launch into the world. In this episode you’ll hear:
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| That Time I Met Sally Clarkson and My Nature Journal: One Year of Observation | 24 Sep 2020 | 00:21:50 | |
Keeping a nature journal is a big part of a Charlotte Mason education. Miss Mason had plenty to say about nature study and spending time in the great outdoors. If you’re looking for a way to encourage nature study, My Nature Journal: One Year of Observation is just the resource you need to gently guide your child in this delightful habit. Maybe you're like me and you love the planning process of homeschooling. I revel in laying out our routine, putting in those curriculum orders, and organizing the schoolroom. But if you are like me, then you can probably relate that when reality kicks in, all of a sudden what looked really good on paper seems to have a few holes. It feels like for all of your thorough planning something is...missing. For years in our family that "something" was nature study. As a Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschooler, I knew nature study was a big deal - a core philosophy if you will. I knew it was important for us - mind, body, and soul - to be outdoors and explore. I also knew nature study was the springboard for developing awesome habits like attention and observation, and that it led to awe and wonder at our Creator. But I just couldn't seem to make it happen...until I did. Show Notes | |||
| Fun & Fresh Foreign Language Study for Homeschool Families With TalkBox.Mom Creator, Adelaide Olguin | 26 Aug 2020 | 00:57:41 | |
What thoughts and feelings come to mind when you think of foreign language study? Conjugations? Vocab charts? Drudgery? Awkwardly trying to piece together a sentence with the few words you've learned? For many of us, the topic of studying a language brings back unpleasant memories from high school or college in a class we took to meet a certain requirement for graduation and nothing more.
Adelaide Olguin - homeschool mom and creator of TalkBox.Mom - had a similar experience but she wanted more for her family. Adelaide wanted her whole family to be able to learn a new language in a way that was organic, purposeful, and fun. She wants her family - and yours - to experience the world, including some of its languages (11 options to date!), and will even have you talking a foreign language the same day you start.
Join us today as Adelaide shares about her curriculum, TalkBox.Mom. Whether you've been homeschooling for years or you're just getting started, she will open your mind to a better way to teach foreign language - one that is natural and mimics the way we all learned our first language with the help of the very best teachers of language...moms. In this episode you’ll hear:
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| 10 Tips for Homeschooling a Child with Autism | 10 Aug 2020 | 00:43:44 | |
'Tis the season for back to school! With the ever-present COVID-19 pandemic and mask mandates, a large number of parents will be looking at homeschooling as an option for the first time this fall. If you have a child with special challenges, this can be a particularly daunting decision-making process…but it doesn’t have to be. I’d like to share 10 tips for homeschooling a child with autism.
Listen to hear the rest or head to www.cindyrinna.com to read the full post! Show Notes | |||
| The Value of Teaching Through Stories with Jim Weiss | 25 Jun 2020 | 01:02:06 | |
Stories have been a part of human history from the very beginning and have been used as a powerful teaching tool throughout the centuries. Teaching through stories is a wonderful way to approach lessons in your homeschool, as well.
Jim Weiss is a household name among many homeschoolers and he made his mark by doing this very thing - teaching through stories. His seamless delivery and enchanting ability to tell a great tale allows him to weave important character development and historical fact into wonderful stories that listeners are happy to enjoy. Jim and his wife, Randy, were pioneers in the field when they began the journey of bringing stories to children via audio way before audiobooks were a thing.
Join us today as Jim talks about why oral stories matter so much and are worth including in our homeschool. Listening to stories is such a beautiful benefit for our outside-the-box kiddos who may struggle to read them on their own. In his storytelling, Jim makes these timeless tales accessible to kids who might not otherwise be able to enjoy them independently. In this episode you’ll hear:
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| Raising a Good Man with Nathan Clarkson | 10 Jun 2020 | 00:44:53 | |
How do you raise a good man? And come to think of it...what exactly does it mean to be a "good" man?
Nathan Clarkson explored this very idea in his new book, Good Man, and he was kind enough to come back on the show and talk to us about what that looks like. There is a shortage of good men in our culture these days but not for lack of want from their mothers. I know if you have boys, you probably feel like me and want them to grow into men who are kind and wise and honorable...into a good man.
Join us today as Nathan talks about his new book, tells us how we can cheer our boys on, and shares what this all might look like for those of us who have an outside-the-box boy who we love. Nathan will give you a better understanding of the struggles young men have today and leave you feeling encouraged and motivated to rise to the challenge that comes with. In this episode you’ll hear:
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| Record Keeping for Homeschoolers with Outside-the-Box Kids | 27 May 2020 | 00:34:39 | |
Is record keeping something you've been keeping up with?
Or is it something that keeps slipping from your mind? Or, have you decided to roll up your sleeves and do it but when faced with the amount of paperwork you get too flustered to deal with the decisions - what to keep? What to toss? What do you need for transcripts one day? And what should you hang on to just in case you want a trip down memory lane?
Record keeping can get especially complicated when you've got an outside-the-box child with evaluations, therapist notes, and doctor's recommendations. How do you sort through the everlasting paper trail and weed through what really matters?
Join me today as I talk about record keeping and give you four simple categories to divide your paperwork into. I'll tell you what to toss in the fire pit this summer, what to hang on to, and how to store it all. Listen as I give you some easy ways to deal with papers in your homeschool once and for all and help you start a once a year habit that will simplify and declutter your paper trail while preparing you for your future homeschool needs. In this episode you’ll hear:
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| How To Do Charlotte Mason Exams: Celebrating Growth with Sonya Shafer | 19 May 2020 | 00:49:13 | |
I may have already lost you with the title...Charlotte Mason did exams?
She sure did. But to make peace with this, you're going to have to first let go of what you probably think of when you think of "exams" in the traditional sense. I'm not talking about a high-pressure, stress-filled situation postured to see what your kiddos don't know. I'm talking about celebrating the growth and discovering what is taking root in your child's heart.
Exams are a great way to evaluate how your child is progressing in his education and a way to honor the hard work and effort he's put forth over the term. Today I talk with Sonya about some very simple ways to weave exams into your homeschool in a way that celebrates the person he is becoming. In this episode you’ll hear:
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| How to Teach Your Kids About Money...without Bribing Them to Do Chores | 05 May 2020 | 00:21:42 | |
Do you have a plan to help you teach your kids about money? I’m not talking about coin and dollar amounts - your math curriculum has that covered. I mean how to use money in real life. Do you have a system in place to help you handle trips to the store that provoke the question, "Can I get this, mom?" Last time we talked about Zone Work and I mentioned that we do not pay our children to do that work. That doesn't mean our kids don't have a stream of income, though. Listen today to find out why it's so important to prepare your kiddos in this area and how you can teach your kids about money...without bribing them to do chores ;). In this episode you’ll hear:
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| How to Teach Your Child to Do Chores: Try Zone Work Instead | 29 Apr 2020 | 00:53:43 | |
Are you looking for a better way to teach your child to do chores? I'm talking about throwing away the sticker charts, being done with the bribery, and ending the arguments when you ask them if they've done their chores. I'm talking about reframing the whole concept of how and why you are teaching them to do chores and thinking about it in a new way (you might even say this is an "outside-the-box" approach ;)). Zone Work is like the cooler, friendlier, more enjoyable cousin of chores. He's still responsible. He still gets the job done. In fact, he's even better trained in most areas. Zone work gives your child a sense of dignity over an area of the home they are in charge of. Zones unite the family pointing towards an end goal of having a happier home. Training your children in zone work will prepare them for the future so well that at the end of it, they could run a household on their own. Join me today as I talk about making this shift in your home from chores to zone work and equip you with a system that will help your home run a little more smoothly all the while training your child in valuable life skills they will need in their adult years. In this episode you'll hear:
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| On Education: The Charlotte Mason Episode | 28 Jun 2024 | 00:26:05 | |
Where do I even begin? For the better part of twelve years I have been writing (and reading and podcasting and speaking) about Charlotte Mason. I’d like to think I’ve hit that 10,000 hours expert level of knowledge about her but truth be told there is still much to learn. I’m being totally serious when I say Charlotte is in my top five people who I want to meet in heaven. I intend to have many a tea time with her discussing great books. It seems the more you know about something the harder it is to condense that information into something tangible and simple. Something about not seeing the forest for the trees comes to mind and her philosophies have become so beautifully interwoven with our life that it’s hard to separate it out when someone asks about how we homeschool. What is the Charlotte Mason method? Is it narration? Picture study? Music? Going outside? Good books? Yes, but…. Who was Charlotte Mason? A British educator who revolutionized the system in her time but has been all but lost to history and looked over by modern “progressive” educators? Yes, but…. Her legacy, or rather, the legacy of her educational philosophy, is so much more. Her philosophy of education was so influential that it transcended the realms of the Victorian classroom and has been entrusted to homeschoolers and small private schools today. It traveled across the pond from lovely Ambleside in the Lake District to my beloved United States and all the way into my home in north Alabama. How? Listen in to find out | |||
| Noteworthy Online Piano Lessons for Your Kids with Joseph Hoffman, Founder of Hoffman Academy | 18 Apr 2020 | 00:46:47 | |
Do you consider music lessons a priority in your homeschool? There are so many possibilities when it comes to curriculum and we've got to make sure the basics are covered...is music really worth teaching, too? When you've got multiple kiddos in multiple stages of development the thought of dragging everybody to a lesson just isn't very practical. Then there's the cost, the time commitment, and oh yeah...the fact that we're all under quarantine right now and we couldn't leave the house for a music lesson if we wanted to. Join me today as I talk with Joseph Hoffman, founder, and CEO of Hoffman Academy. Joseph teaches students around the world how to play the piano right from their very own home with his online program and his unique Hoffman Method. He also teaches students at his local academy in Portland, Oregon (or at least he did before COVID put a pause on meeting together). If you've checked out online lessons in the past but realized they didn't give your child the full music education you were hoping for and you've been wondering if there's a solid piano curriculum out there that would work for your family, you will not want to miss this episode. In this episode, you’ll hear:
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| On Grief, Adjusting, and Steering Clear of Survival Mode | 08 Apr 2020 | 00:31:01 | |
Do you have a plan to help you steer clear of survival mode? I'm not talking about the temporary survival mode; the "new baby/new home/new job/death in the family" type of survival mode. That happens. That is circumstantial. We've all been there. I'm talking about when something happens (like...a pandemic breaking out worldwide...) and we just can't seem to get it together and survival becomes our new normal. Join me today as I talk about handling grief (we just had to say good-bye to our sweet 15-year-old furry family member) and adjusting to this new COVID-normal without getting completely drown by survival mode. In this episode you'll hear:
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| For the Accidental Homeschooler | 25 Mar 2020 | 00:38:57 | |
Are you an "accidental homeschooler?" Many schools have shut down in an effort to keep people safe during the pandemic leaving the parents of those children "accidental homeschoolers." Parents who had no intention of homeschooling have now been called to do that very thing...with very little time to prepare for the change. Join me today as I share some tips to help encourage and equip parents in this situation as well as give some practical ways to gauge "success" in your homeschool. You may be surprised that education isn't all about academics. In this episode, you’ll hear:
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| How to Help Your Child Deal with Anxiety | 16 Mar 2020 | 00:24:43 | |
Does your child struggle with anxiety? Whether it’s an ongoing struggle or situational, helping your child with anxiety can be a difficult thing. During this time where the entire world seems to be a little more than anxious, it's important to equip yourself with some tools that can help you and your child navigate stressful topics.
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| Get Started Homeschooling: Organizing Your Space and Planning Your Year, Term, Week & Day | 16 Mar 2020 | 00:24:39 | |
Are you ready to homeschool? Whether you’re a newbie starting from scratch or a veteran wanting to be sure you’ve built a firm foundation, I want to encourage you on your homeschool journey. I’m not sure what led you to this decision to educate your child at home but I am pretty sure of one thing – you want to do your best. You want to give this thing your all and provide your child with the best possible learning experience. Last time I helped you decide which subjects to choose and how to choose curriculum and today we wrap things up. We'll go over how to organize your space and how to plan your year, your term, your week and your day. Being organized can make a day run so much more smoothly and planning (a task loved by some and loathed by others) will allow you to really custom fit things to your family. In this episode you’ll hear:
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| Get Started Homeschooling: Subjects to Teach & Curriculum to Choose | 16 Jan 2020 | 00:26:12 | |
Are you ready to homeschool? Whether you’re a newbie starting from scratch or a veteran wanting to be sure you’ve built a firm foundation, I want to encourage you on your homeschool journey. I’m not sure what led you to this decision to educate your child at home but I am pretty sure of one thing – you want to do your best. You want to give this thing your all and provide your child with the best possible learning experience. Last time I helped you to choose your homeschool method, teaching space, and consider a routine and today we get into some deeper fun. Most homeschoolers around curriculum are like kids in a candy shop but it's important not to become overwhelmed. With so many options today, it's easy for this to happen if you are not grounded in your philosophy and focused on what subjects you want to teach. In this episode you’ll hear:
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| When Things Spiral | 11 Jan 2020 | 00:10:13 | |
Do you ever feel like your homeschool - and life - are falling apart? Whether it's a big move, a long holiday, a new baby, or an accumulation of "off days," we all have seasons where our homeschool - and life - seem to be completely falling apart. Doubt, guilt, and pity can overtake us but there's a better way to handle these seasons. Join me today as I talk about a season in my life (when we made two out of state moves in ten months...) when things began to spiral. If you're in a season like this, I hope you find some sincere empathy and practical tools to dealing with this season gracefully. If you are not in a season like this right now, you may want to tune in any way...it never hurts to be prepared. In this episode, you’ll hear:
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| Poetry & Teatime with Julie Bogart of Brave Writer | 01 Dec 2019 | 00:53:35 | |
Do you consider poetry to be a staple of your homeschool? Oftentimes when the subject of poetry comes up with other parents, even the most enthusiastic homeschoolers will admit that they shy away from this subject. When I press to understand why that is, the answer is usually that they themselves are not excited about poetry - they consider it either intimidating or boring or have had such a bad experience with poetry that they loathe it entirely. Join me today as I talk with Julie Bogart of Brave Writer, who is known for her love of poetry as well as her writing and language arts resources and her coaching and mentoring program for home educators, The Homeschool Alliance. Julie shares with us the enriching role poetry played as she homeschooled her five children over the course of 17 years and shares with us the secret to making the connection with your children (hint...it has something to do with teatime!).
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| Get Started Homeschooling: Methods, Teaching Space & Routine | 08 Nov 2019 | 00:18:48 | |
Are you ready to homeschool? Whether you’re a newbie starting from scratch or a veteran wanting to be sure you’ve built a firm foundation, I want to encourage you on your homeschool journey. I’m not sure what led you to this decision to educate your child at home but I am pretty sure of one thing – you want to do your best. You want to give this thing your all and provide your child with the best possible learning experience. Last time I helped you to begin with some very foundational steps and today we get into some deeper fun. It's important to remember that in the words of Charlotte Mason, "education is a life." That means, educating your children in your home is an extension of your home life and parenting and you've already got many of the tools needed to get started. In this episode you’ll hear:
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| Embracing Your Child's Differences with Actor, Author & Filmmaker, Nathan Clarkson | 27 Oct 2019 | 00:33:23 | |
Do you find it easy to embrace your child's differences? As new parents - or even "not yet" parents - we can have many dreams and ideas about what our children are going to be like. Sometimes we are accurate about personality traits or hair color or interests but often God blesses us with children who have differences we really didn't expect. We then have the choice - do we push against these differences or press into them? In this episode you'll hear:
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| On Nature: The Great Outdoors Episode | 09 Jun 2024 | 00:18:53 | |
“Never be within doors when you can rightly be without.” It’s one of the first Charlotte Mason adages I learned by heart. I use it all the time to this day. I bet it’ll be one of those sayings my kids will remember when they’re fifty and say with a smile - albeit a slight roll of the eyes - “my mom was always saying…” and I’m so happy to think that. When God made humans, He put them in a garden. Not a house, not a cubicle, but out of doors. We were not created to be inside as much as we are. You hear about “new” ways to be healthy like green therapy or beach yoga and it’s important to remember that getting outside is not something we are adding to civilization; it’s something we need to return to. SHOW NOTES: | |||
| Get Started Homeschooling: Begin | 04 Oct 2019 | 00:26:37 | |
Are you ready to homeschool? Whether you're a newbie starting from scratch or a veteran wanting to be sure you've built a firm foundation, I want to encourage you on your homeschool journey. I'm not sure what led you to this decision to educate your child at home but I am pretty sure of one thing – you want to do your best. You want to give this thing your all and provide your child with the best possible learning experience. Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart – there will be challenges that arise and you will need some guidance along the way. You will hear lots of advice on this journey and it is easy to get distracted. To guard against that, it's important that you settle on some sort of core principles, namely, Why are you homeschooling? and What is the purpose of education? When you have these questions answered, you will find much joy in your homeschool. In this episode you’ll hear:
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| Loving Our Preschool Life with Sonya Shafer | 18 Sep 2019 | 00:44:52 | |
Are you loving the preschool years? According to Charlotte Mason, the preschool years were intended to be "a quiet growing time" but for many families, those years have turned into a time of pressure and unrealistic expectations. It's hard to drown out all the voices in today's culture telling you to "do more" and find a way to provide that simple time for your little ones. Today I chat with Sonya Shafer from "Simply Charlotte Mason” on how to make Charlotte Mason’s ideas a reality. Our Preschool Life curriculum provides the gentle guidance that many parents are looking for to help their children flourish in the early years. In this episode you'll hear:
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| Inspiring Speech with Kate Wilde, Director of The Son-Rise Program® | 29 Aug 2019 | 00:55:29 | |
Do you want to inspire language in your child with autism? So often there seems to be an unspoken time limit placed on our autistic children when it comes to language. A sort of "now or never" attitude that implies if our child doesn't talk by a certain time, that window closes forever.
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| A Case for the Early Years with Leah Martin from My Little Robins | 28 Jun 2019 | 00:47:43 | |
Are you in the Early Years Stage? If you have a 0-6-year-old, you are living in what Charlotte Mason referred to as "the early years." In her first volume, Home Education, Miss Mason urged mothers to "secure for them a quiet growing time, a full six years of passive receptive life, the waking part of it spent for the most part out in the fresh air." If you think that's a challenge in our hectic postmodern world, you're right. But it's not impossible. Today I chat with Leah Martin from "My Little Robins" on how to make Charlotte Mason's ideas a reality. We also discuss why the early years should be preserved as a "quiet growing time" instead of relinquishing them to academics as the culture continually calls us to do and some consequences we're seeing as a society because of this unnatural shift. In this episode you'll hear:
Show Notes
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