Why Study Shakespeare | Discover the Benefits

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Discover the Benefits of teaching shakespeare in your homeschoolWhy Study Shakespeare

Why Study Shakespeare? Anna Knaub shares her love of Shakespeare on this podcast for LifeSkills101

Why Study Shakespeare in Your Homeschool

Homeschooling can be a fulfilling and unique educational experience for both parents and students. But for many parents, the idea of teaching their child about William Shakespeare can be intimidating and mysterious. In this podcast, Lisa Nehring & Ana Willis discuss the benefits of studying Shakespeare in the homeschool environment and provide easy tips and ideas for parents to incorporate into their homeschool lessons.

Podcast Chat Overview

1. The Benefits of Studying Shakespeare in the Homeschool
2. A Guide to Finding the Right Materials and Resources
3. Fun and Engaging Ideas for Studying Shakespeare in Homeschool
4. How to Make Shakespeare Fun and Accessible for All Ages
5. The Benefits of Reading the Works of Shakespeare Out Loud

 

Conclusion

Studying Shakespeare in the homeschool environment can be a unique and enjoyable experience for both parents and students. Not only can it help build essential literary, critical thinking, and communication skills, but it can also be a fun and engaging way to learn. By utilizing the vast array of resources, materials, and lesson plans available, as well as incorporating engaging and fun activities into learning, parents can make Shakespeare accessible, interesting, and enjoyable for all homeschoolers.

If you’re looking for an engaging way to include William Shakespeare in your homeschool curriculum, be sure to check out the resources, tips, and lesson plans referenced in this blog post!

Shakespeare is part of the Great Conversation and should be learned and enjoyed by everyone!

Shakespeare, The Invention of Human

St. Crispin Day’s Speech

Why Study Shakespeare? Blog article

Check out our live online classes, Advising and testing at TrueNorthHomeschool.Academy

True North Homeschool Academy is your trusted academic partner.

Discover True North Homeschool Academy today!

#homeschooltech #homeschool #homeschoollife #christianeducation #education #shakespeare #mystery #literature #greatliterature #greatconversation #thebard #homeschoolmoms #lifeschool #parenting #onlineeducation #onlinelearning #onlinelearningplatform #onlineed #learningathome #learning #learningisfun #worldschooling #executivefunctioning #art #figuredrawing #dystopianliteratture #1984  #homeschoolhighschool #history #writing #intentionalparenting #homeschoolingkids

 

Steal Like an Artist ~Critical Thinking

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Steal Like an Artist |True North Homeschool Academy Director, Lisa Nehring is joined by Art Instructor and Scientist BJ Pramann| #homeschoolpodcast #podcast #homeschool #education #homeschooling #homeschool #artist #strallikeanartisSteal Like an Artist

What does it mean to steal like an artist? Art Instructor and Scientist BJ Pramann join true North Homeschool Academy Director Lisa Nehring.  BJ earned a B.S. but has gone on to be a self-taught speed painter who travels with an International Ministry (hear more about that in this interview with BJ: Encouraging Creativity in Your Home  teaches art locally and at True North Homeschool Academy. She is also busy homeschooling her own kids.

It might be hard to fit art into your schedules, but let’s look at the amazing benefits of Art and how art supports and increases your students’ academic and intellectual abilities.

  1. Reinforcement of classes like Science and Philosophy, etc.
  2. Sketching is a mnemonic device that builds muscle memory.
  3. Artistic pursuits are a great way to “empty the mind,” like journaling.
  4. Helps people develop Critical Thinking and Executive Functioning Skills
  5. It can be a way for kids to express and regulate emotions
  6. Can be a way to manage ADD/ADHD

“The Universe is a scavenger hunt that reveals God’s love letter to us!” BJ Pramann

“Steal like an artist, but give credit where credit is due!” BJ Pramann

BJ Teaches Art 1 (emphasis on Animals), Art 2 (emphasis on Botanics), Form and Color (emphasis on Human Anatomy and Color Theory), Graphic Design, Video Editing, Earth and Space and Executive Functioning Skills.

Check out our live online classes, Advising, and testing at truenorthhomeschool.academy

True North Homeschool Academy is your trusted academic partner. Discover True North Homeschool Academy today! truenorthhomeschool. academy

Strengthening Marital Bonds

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Marital Bonds | No one ever said marriage was easy, but strengthening your marital bonds is so worth it! #homeschoolpodcast #podcast #marriage #marriagerepair #fixmarriage #marriagefixStrengthening Marital Bonds ~ Episode 488

No one ever said marriage was easy, but strengthening your marital bonds is so worth it! In this episode, Felice shares tips for those who are struggling as well as those who want to make their marriage stronger.

Visit MediaAngels.com and check out the book, “One More Child” available in print or digital.

Listen to this past episode Loving Your Spouse, here.

There is a war out there, and the enemy is rampant, trying to destroy marriages. Even if you are not a Christian, you know there is a way against the sanctity of marriage and life in general. Good marriages are the very fabric of a moral society. It makes a people, a nation strong, which is why there is such an attack on marriage. I believe God ordains that marriage, and we should include Him in our marriage. I heard a talk recently that said, …Marrying someone is an incredibly important thing…Who you choose to be your spouse in so many ways impacts the trajectory of your life. And it determines the trajectory of your family’s life. For good and for ill – it is hard to look back and recognize that hindsight is 20/20. This is true, but we don’t have to give into the culture or our times; we can walk in the assurance that (if you are a Christian) God is there for us, and He can walk with us every step of the way. While I could say so much more about this, I want to give you practical tips on working around every day interruptions and ways to make an action plan to get your marriage back on track or stronger each day.

My husband and I are opposite in many ways, but we are the same in the ways that count, faith and family. We know without a shadow of a doubt that we will never get divorced and will work through our issues as they arise. These are things you don’t read in the checklists online or the ideas on rekindling the romance, great date night ideas, or ways to make your marriage work when you fall on hard times. The idea is the same in all of these lists; the resounding theme is to be present for your spouse and show them that you care about their thoughts. No one’s opinion should matter to you as much as your spouse’s. While this may seem simplistic, it is as important as good communication.

(Personal message on the podcast, not in the show notes.)

My husband and I have been a mentor couple for engaged couples seeking marriage at our church. It has been an eye-opener. Our job is to point them toward a Christian marriage and relationship that centers on God, and the program we use depends on each person’s character. Truthfully, the biggest part of our mentorship is talking to the couples and discussing what we wish we had known before getting married. Truthfully, we were probably told some of these things before we were married, but no one sat us down and said, “Let’s get real about marriage.”

The movies are full of happily ever after, and our eyes and hearts want to believe that will be our story until reality hits in the form of a child. For some of you, the reality may have hit before you had your first child, but most of us are not prepared. I know I wasn’t, even though my husband and I had parents who were examples of faithfulness and Christian love for each other. Still, we had to learn our own way and the best method.

And that is the theme of this podcast, learning your own way through your relationship with your spouse and strengthening those marital bonds. Start with a plan. I know it sounds unromantic, but we have plans for everything. Why not an analysis of your marriage and ways to improve it? The best way to begin is by analyzing what has worked and does not work in your current relationship.

Questions For Strengthening Your Marital Bonds

  1. What do I like the best about my marriage? Make a list.
  2. How can you keep nurturing the things that work in your marriage?
  3. What is not working and why? (Volunteering too much? Running kids to too many activities? Etc.)
  4. How can you work on the areas that are not working?

Talk – the only way to strengthen your marital bonds is to have a date, even if it is time when the kids are in bed, and you are behind closed doors in your bedroom with your beverage of choice. Use the list above, or please, create your own and ask each other these questions. Maybe your spouse will be like mine and cross out the questions and write in their own!

Tips For Good Marriages:

  1. Say, “I love you,” often, especially when signing off on the phone.
  2. Be present for each other.
  3. Look into your spouse’s eyes when you are talking to each other.
  4. When your spouse tries to kiss you, quit trying to get away!
  5. Don’t expect a balanced marriage; it is 100% all of the time.
  6. Be kind to each other.
  7. Listen when the other spouse talks, and don’t interrupt.
  8. Expect the best from each other.
  9. Make the most of your time together.
  10. Forgive.

If we love each other, we want what is best for each other—doing the little things each day helps. Putting up sticky notes with hearts or texting is wonderful. My husband texts me and asks if his girlfriend wants to go to dinner. I have to remind myself to say yes!  (Talk about filling my husband’s plate and kids being annoyed; caring for each other with those little things works!

Let me end with two things. One is that if you are in a physically or emotionally harmful marriage, get help. Now. There are things we put up with as spouses, but abuse needs help. The second is that be assured I will pray for you and your spouse and that your marriage is strengthened today and always!

Special Replay | Loving Your Spouse

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Loving Your spouse

Loving Your Spouse

Before we jump in to talk about Loving Your Spouse, be sure to grab our February Organize It! Planner!

Let’s Talk About: Loving Your Spouse – Podcast #121

How do you love your spouse when you don’t feel like it or don’t want to?

For some, it does not come easily. My husband once told me, very early on in our marriage, that he could never make me happy and that true happiness only comes from God.

It was very true because I kept trying to find happiness in him – and as a human, he kept disappointing me. In this episode, we examine love, discuss relationships, self-giving vs. self-serving, and we’ll explore what love looks like to you and how you can be happy in a relationship with some of the right tools.

Show Notes: Loving Your Spouse

Scripture Verses:

  1. 1 Peter 3:1
  2. Colossians 3:18-19

Loving your spouse involves not comparing this person and realizing the following…

  1. We are all human – “news flash” – just in case you didn’t know
  2. We are not married to the hallmark version of what a real man or real woman looks like
  3. If you think there is someone better out there for you – think again
  4. You made a commitment to marriage and a promise to each other – so make it work
  5. There is no such thing as too late.

Keys to Loving your spouse and having a happy marriage:

  1. Grow together spiritually
  2. Know that while walks in the park, romantic dinners, and quiet get-a-ways  are all very nice but not the key to growing.
  3. Be thankful for each other as a gift from God.
  4. Thank God and delve closer into your relationship with Him.
  5. Tell each other, “I love you,” often!
  6. The key to fixing any problem is to fix yourself
  7. Seek forgiveness – if you have offended your spouse, apologize and ask forgiveness – sometimes people don’t even know why their spouse is angry – so find out why

Resources for Loving Your Spouse

25+ Marriage Resources

Additional Podcasts

What To Do When You And Your Spouse Disagree About Discipline

 

 

 

February Printable Organizer

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Are you feeling overwhelmed and disorganized? Do you have trouble staying on top of your to-do lists and tackling your goals?

The February Printable Organizer can make your life easier by helping you create an organized plan to get what you need to do.

Take control of your schedule this month, make the most of your time, and reach your goals with this helpful and convenient monthly planner.

Download today and get organized!

February Checklist Freebie | Let’s Organize It!

I can’t believe that February is almost here. The new year is in full swing, and this is the time when we continue to work on our goals and resolutions and see what is working for our families. Some fun things are coming up in February, so a February Printable Organizer will help you keep everything organized. Let’s Organize It!

Organization helps keep our lives orderly; this month, we focus on the family.

I’ll lead you through taking inventory of your time, talents, family, homes, and activities. We begin by tackling one part of our lives at a time in small chunks, and over the remainder of the year, you will be amazed at the progress you’ve made without getting overwhelmed.

This handy February Printable Organizer lets you easily organize different aspects of your life using print-out sheets.

Don’t wait; print and begin immediately! With the aid of organizational sheets, it is easier to implement a plan.

Organization is more than arranging or throwing out unused items. It can become a way of life. While a tidy house and purging the extras are necessary, they are only the tip of the overall plan to run a home with grace and joy.

This month our focus is on the family, getting rid of classroom clutter, and making lists of items to take when you leave your home, with the added benefit of family activities such as field trips.

The February Printable Organizer also includes an overall list for organizing your day.

Look at your day and decide what needs organization. This organizational planner includes tips and a system to accomplish the non-negotiables on your list, like eating and sleeping, while still leaving time to enjoy life!

Try not to put off things that you have the time to accomplish.

Keeping realistic goals and expectations is essential in planning out the day. Remember, there is a season for everything. A mom with little ones will accomplish more tasks that involve caring for the family’s immediate needs, while a mom with teens will perform other tasks that might have to do more with broader needs, such as dealing with teenage emotions, lessons, and preparing for high school and beyond.

While planning your day, look for ways to set up routines that work for you, keep a specific schedule, and know what events are coming soon.

This will go a long way in lowering your stress.

Using a large central wall calendar allows everyone to see events at a glance, plus a smaller planner or the calendar on your phone, can all be valuable tools. Having more than one is what most organized people do. Find what works for you! Be sure to share digital calendars with your spouse and older children. That way, when one event is updated, everyone gets a notification.
Focus on your priorities. When new projects or events come up, add them to the calendar or the to-do list. That helps you keep organized. Communication is key. Let your family know when you are trying something new or struggling. Don’t assume they will figure out your struggles or needs. Instead, enlist the help of your spouse and children when needed. You are in this together.

So many resources are available the February Printable Organizer and the podcasts on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network; Felice Gerwitz’s podcast (my mom!) and her entire podcast network are free.

Check out the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network, which has many shows that deal with the topic of organization. Just search for the topic on the website. I pray that you are brought peace and joy as you organize your life!

~ Blessings, Christina Moss

The directions on downloading the monthly printable will be sent in each weekly ezine. The planner access information is always located at the bottom of each email.

If you are not signed up, you can sign up HERE as a subscriber.

Why Choose to Homeschool

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Choose to Homeschool | Veteran homeschool mom Lisa Nehring is joined by her child, who was entirely homeschooled, Kendra Nehring, and her husband, who was public schooled, to talk about their decision to homeschool their kids| #homeschoolpodcast, #whyhomeschool #truenorthacademy #homeschool #onlineschool #choosetohomeschool #homeschoolrocksChoose to Homeschool

Today, Lisa Nehring, True North Homeschool Academy Director, sits down with one of her adult kids who was entirely homeschooled, Kendra Nehring, and her husband, who was public schooled, to talk about their decision to homeschool their kids.

Tony went entirely through the public school system and won a national award, including a full-ride vo-tech scholarship through the “SkillsUSA” program. While it might look like this is a win for public schools, Tony describes this as more of his will to overcome. As a high-energy person, he was put on Ritalin at age 4. He was bullied due to a speech impediment. He also went to some very rough schools that he felt got in the way of actual learning.

Why Choose to Homeschool?

Homeschooling allows the parent to

  1. Customize the students’ education.
  2. Control the influence of bullying.
  3. Allow kids’ attention spans to develop naturally and to focus on areas of interest. High-energy kids get the breaks that they need.
  4. Parents get to learn right alongside the kids.
  5. Homeschooling allows you to work harder for your kids because you are taking the intentional route.
  6. Develops an awesome connection to and with your kids as you live and work alongside each other!
  7. You get to see kids grow up in real time. Public school kids can be gone from home for up to 10-12 hours a day, with the school day, travel time, and extracurricular activities.
  8. You get to develop amazing communication habits and skills in your kids. People don’t know how to talk anymore, and homeschooling allows you to interact face-to-face without distractions.
  9. There is a growing stigma against kids in society. Homeschooling allows you to nurture and protect your kids as they grow and develop and witness to others as you include your kids in your activities and outings.
  10. You get to learn and grow together! Taking field trips and visiting historic sites and science museums together develops everyone’s love of learning- you develop a lifestyle of learning together!

Tony & Kendra’s advice to others who choose to homeschool are:

  1. Give yourself Grace- don’t be hard on yourself as you figure out homeschooling for your family.
  2. Don’t overcomplicate things. You can go at the pace that suits you and your kids.
  3. Follow the Bunny Trails – they can take you on lifelong adventures!

Cat’s in the Cradle

Beautiful Feet History of the Horse Study

Beautiful Feet Holling C Holling Study

True North Homeschool Academy offers live online and self-paced classes, testing, Advising, and ongoing support!

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Building Relationships With Kids

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Building Relationships with Kids | As our children grow older, building relationships with kids may be the last thing on your list. Is this a good thing for your family or for your child's future family? In this podcast, Felice Gerwitz delves into building blocks important for any good relationship. #homeschoolpodcast #podcast #homeschool #relationships #parentchild #buildingfamilybonds #bondingwithchildren Building Relationships With Kids – Episode 487

As our children grow older, building relationships with kids may be the last thing on your list. Is this a good thing for your family or for your child’s future family? In this podcast, Felice Gerwitz delves into building blocks important for any good relationship.

Visit MediaAngels.com for books geared toward building relationships with kids. You will find the ebook Secret Code Time to learn how to create an unbreakable bond between parent and child. Other books include One More Child and A Few Minutes with God and curricula designed for homeschooled families.

As parents, we have an idea of how we want our family to look and act, yet reaching this goal can be challenging. First, we factor in the parenting styles of a mom and a dad. We add our children’s different personalities and multiply this number by the number of children we have, which can equal broken relationships and strained marriages. This does not need to happen, and the simple first line of defense is a united front between mom and dad.

Long ago, I read a parenting book. One of the points in this book taught that when a child is at ease and reassured that his parents love each other and get along, they are easier to put to bed. The rationalization was that if a child is upset by constant bickering, a child is unsure, and getting up often reassured the child that all was okay. This might not work in every case, but the kids listened better when my husband and I spent time (just the two of us) on the couch for about five minutes after he arrived home from work. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Kids want to be reassured, and having parents that get along is part of that equation. In the next podcast, I address relationships with our spouses.

Relationships take two people, and they take people who care about each other. In a family, we take each other for granted in a way that we would not act with strangers. It may be because we see each other daily, and if you homeschool, that means 24/7 am I right? The saying familiarity breeds contempt should not be taken literally!

We have a chance each and every day to have a “do-over,” a chance to build a lasting relationship with our children, and an unbreakable bond, and it begins with caring. How do we do this?

Well, it begins with mom. I attended a parenting course and was told I had to get my act together before working on my children’s attitudes. This did not sit well with me. I paid money to be told to fix myself first. Well, the good news is this podcast is free, and while I will not be harsh, I will say that I found when I lost my temper or was upset, the entire family was upset as well.

A mom is a special force in a home, and we often put ourselves last, rightly so, as many of our children are little and need us. But we must remember to fill up, and there are quick ways to do this. Take time to pray first thing in the morning, even if it is something like, “Jesus, help me and be with me today.” Make sure you have some downtime after lunch, the kids can do a quiet activity, and you can use that time to do something fun, whatever that is! Stay off social media unless it picks you up instead of bringing you down! It is often a downer for me, so I stay off of it unless I have the time to refocus after I get off! Be sure you have a friend or a confidant (your spouse) to share your ups and downs with; that helps!

Building Relationships with Kids:

But building relationships with kids begins with taking the time at some point to listen without judgment or recrimination and allowing the children to understand that mom or dad is a safe place to come and a listening ear. We can’t always do this, especially in the midst of our daily lives, so it is important to spend time with each of our children at least once a week. This is doable. You can go someplace (park, fast food for a milkshake or something to drink, or even the backyard if the other children know their turn will come and can not interrupt). Use this time to do the following:

  1. Establish this is a time for mom and child – that is it. It is a special time. Explain that you are always there for them and want them to understand this is a safe time to talk without getting into trouble or a lecture. *There is time later to discuss the issue. I’ll explain that in a minute.
  2. This is a time to discuss something on the child’s mind, a concern, or just to chat. (What is the favorite thing you did this week?)
  3. Mom listens and encourages but tries to allow the child to talk. You can sit silently and enjoy the quiet if the child is not forthcoming.
  4. You can set up a special word that indicates that the child wants to talk to you about something important.
  5. Make this a routine, and keep this time as a child-parent date.

This is loosely based on the book I published by Sky McNeill and Paula Stevenson called Secret Code Time. I was taken by the author and her daughter and their relationship. I was having difficulty with one of my children, and he didn’t seem to want to tell me anything. I was concerned that as he grew older, he would not turn to me first with a problem or need but to others. This method allowed all my children to understand I was always there for them! I know that seems incredible because our children should understand we are there for them, but they see us as a disciplinary force at times over anything else.

Let me ask you when the last time your child came to you to snuggle or give you a hug was. If you have a large family, it becomes overwhelming if everyone does this at once, but at least sometimes, right? Maybe when they went off to bed, our routine was prayers and a blessing from mom and dad with a hug. Our children need to feel cared for and special. This is our time to pour our love into their lives, and sometimes we feel overwhelmed.

The idea is that we create a relationship with our children that they know is safe. Does this mean there is never any discipline involved? Let’s say our special time is filled with situations we want to correct or discipline immediately. What should you do? Explain to the child that this time is just for you to listen but that you will pray about what to do with the situation. If it is serious, you may need to correct this behavior. For example, you are visiting websites that are off-limits. One thing to get to is the root cause, how did this happen (unsupervised time online?), and place some safeguards in place.

You can also pray with your child and explain that you care about them and their well-being. A friend of mine shared her son had fallen into a bad habit online and told her he wished he had never seen the first picture because the lure was almost impossible to avoid. She prayed with her son and explained she was happy he came to her, and she immediately set about safeguards on her computer and wifi so that this situation could be avoided. My children took dual enrollment classes, and I had their phone’s password protected for internet access. My son had to call me to get my code so he could access a website for research in class, and when he got home, I put another code on his phone with a few fewer class restrictions. Keeping a computer in a common area also helps. The point here is that the mother did not get upset outwardly anyway, assuring her child she was proud that he came to her with this issue.

Truly that is the best we can ask for as parents that our kids come to us with problems or concerns. We don’t always need to be rash when we discipline. We can stop thinking and praying!

Depending on your child’s age, you begin small. Telling your child you are there for them, but also what you expect, goes a long way toward building a lasting relationship. Being available for them as well. When I was in the midst of homeschooling my children, I was with them from the moment they woke up until bedtime. At night I was drained. That was my time to relax in a hot tub, and my husband took over hanging out in their rooms and talking to the kids. This was their time to build relationships. It doesn’t need to be a long, drawn-out process.

Our children need to know we love them, care about them, and will always be there for them.

 

 

Homeschool Pitfalls

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Homeschool Pitfalls | Homeschooling is the right choice, but how do you avoid the homeschool pitfalls that will sabotage your success? In this podcast, veteran homeschool mom Felice Gerwitz shares her thirty-two years of experience with you! | #homeschoolpodcast #podcast #homeschoolpitfalls #homeschoolhelp #helpforhomeschoolHomeschool Pitfalls and Help ~ Episode 486

Homeschooling is the right choice, but how do you avoid the homeschool pitfalls that will sabotage your success? In this podcast, veteran homeschool mom Felice Gerwitz shares her thirty-two years of experience with you!

Visit the Media Angels website for books, and bundles, especially the self-paced set, “How-to-Homeschool Blueprint.”

Did you know that I was hesitant to try homeschooling? When I heard a friend mention her hopes of homeschooling, I talked her out of it! This friend was overwhelmed with her four children, didn’t have a set bedtime, and walked around sleep deprived. I explained that homeschooling took some discipline and that having a parent who was awake and attentive was important! When I began homeschooling some time after, this friend was upset with me! And, rightly so.

Your decision to homeschool should be your own, and being persuaded by someone, even someone well-meaning, is not a good thing!

Today homeschooling is the best option for your children. You know the state of the school system. It was bad in the past; today, it is worse. Parental rights are called into question. What the heck is going on in our world?

When I began homeschooling my son while my daughter was in preschool, I looked at it as a way to help my struggling learner. It was a short-term goal. In other words, I was “trying” homeschooling without thinking of making it past six months. This was in 1986-87, and I never looked back. It became a lifestyle for us, and I built relationships with my children that are strong to this day, even as they are adults.

One of the fallacies is making your homeschool ideal or identical to the public or private school. Having said this, there is always an exception to the rule. My sister-in-law homeschooled her two grandkids for a year using the same books as the school because they planned on reintegrating the children into the school system. In this case, it was a good idea, and she was not only highly successful, but she was also able to raise their test scores with the one-on-one attention she gave the girls.

It is not fun; all fun and games. A good friend of mine used to say homeschooling is not fun, yet she homeschooled her boys K-12, and they not only learned several foreign languages but were proficient in fencing. How is that not fun?

I am going to go through a list of pitfalls in two parts. The first deals with hearsay about homeschooling, and the second is in regard to the act of homeschooling. Please join our Facebook group if you have questions about homeschooling or want to connect. Homeschool Podcast Network Family

Homeschool Pitfalls – Combatting the Lies:

  1. You do not have enough time.
  2. You don’t have an education degree.
  3. You work full-time.
  4. It is too restrictive.
  5. You have to recreate the school at home (use all the same books)
  6. Your kids won’t get into a good college.
  7. You won’t have time for yourself, and you won’t have a break from your kids.
  8. People who homeschool are strange.
  9. Your home is too small, and there is no room.
  10. You don’t have money to homeschool.

Homeschool Pitfalls — Challenges

  1. Lack of vision or goal
  2. Lack of organization
  3. Unruly children
  4. No routine
  5. Failure to check the schoolwork
  6. Uncompleted assignments
  7. Unsocialized kids
  8. Unable to play sports
  9. Lack of knowledge (parent)
  10. Unable to teach

Homeschooling is what you make it. If your children are unruly, the focus needs to be getting the kids under control. Teaching cause and effect is amazingly successful. I have several podcasts in a collection I call “Just For Kids” (search for that term, and you will find them). These are geared toward children, and they are highly effective.

Kids want to be heard and appreciated, just like us! Listen to their needs and focus on the entire child, not just academics. I know you can do it, and don’t forget to join our Facebook group – Homeschool Podcast Network Family on Facebook or share your concerns in this post on the website.

January Organize It Freebie

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

It’s January, and for many of us that means new resolutions. What if this year, instead of a resolution, you join us for the themed printables we offer for our subscribers?

The printables offer you tangible support and accountability to prioritize the things that matter and get done the things that must be done.

Imagine your 2023 as one of organized action. How much could you accomplish in your home and homeschool if you had a partner (the printable!) pointing the way to success.

 

 

What is in the January Organize It! Freebie?

This month’s checklist has everything you need to plan for success.

A peek at what’s inside:

Organizational Overview
January Organizational Topics
Organizational Guide
Organization Objectives
Household Organization
Finance Organization
Homeschool Organization
Personal Organization
Overall Monthly Plan
Blank Monthly Calendar
Four Square Planner
Meal Planning
Organize Your Meals
Organize Your Month-Suggested Topics
January Organization List and Blank Forms
January To-Do List (Suggestions) and Blank Forms
Organize Your Cleaning (Suggestions) and Blank Forms
Weekly and Daily Chores (Suggestions) and Blank Forms
Organize Your Homeschool
Chore Schedule and Blank Forms
Chore Chart
Weekly Check-Off Sheets and Reading List Form


Download the monthly checklist sent out in each weekly ezine; these are available to subscribers only.

The planner access information is always located at the bottom of each email. Sign up for the freebie so you don’t miss it.

You can sign up HERE as a subscriber if you are not signed up.

 


Why become organized?

Organization will free up time to do what you’d like. It also allows you more time and energy to accomplish your goals. This also allows more time with our children and
spouse. When we are running around picking up at the last minute or cooking dinner, there is less time to spend with the family.

Organization begins with checklists and a plan for your finances, household, homeschool, personal needs, events, and appointments. How do you deal with all of these in an organized manner? That is what we will discuss in this planner. Organization is more than arranging things in a closet or going through your unused items. While neat closets, drawers, and purging unused items are essential, they are only the tip of the overall planning necessary to run a home.

Running a business for many years has encouraged me to run my home similarly. While moms and dads hold many titles, one that escapes us is chief of staff! We have children, some are too young, but others are underutilized. I know that my children became helpful when given specific tasks and the encouragement to help. It is easier to do things independently, but if we want responsible children, we must train them early and well.

I like to know what I am doing each day. This can only happen with a list of daily goals. Successful business people do not put things off; they look over their lists before starting the next day. My husband knows what his construction crew is working on, usually a week or more ahead of schedule. Otherwise, he’d have employees sitting around, getting paid for doing nothing, which would affect the bottom line. In our homes, the bottom line is time and a happy family, which is sacrificed in chaos.

As with anything we do, balance is important, as well as keeping realistic goals and expectations. If you are a mom with little ones, you can accomplish less than a mom with teens. I am happiest
when I can see my accomplishments, yet I had many years of sacrificing my goals to have kids fed and a house that didn’t look like a train wreck when dad got home. (Not that he ever complained!)
Setting up routines, keeping to specific schedules, and knowing what events are upcoming will go a long way to running your household in a way that is not stressful.

This is why I’ve created this planner, to help you feel supported as you support your family in whatever endeavors you choose to take on.

Subscribe today.

Begin Homeschooling

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Begin Homeschooling | Begin homeschooling for the first time or consider it for the future, but there is no time like the present to discuss the joys of homeschooling. In this podcast, Felice Gerwitz, veteran homeschool mom of over thirty years, shares her insider tips. #podcast #homeschoolpodcast #howtohomeschool #homeschoolingBegin Homeschooling ~ Episode 485

Begin homeschooling for the first time or consider it for the future, but there is no time like the present to discuss the joys of homeschooling. In this podcast, Felice Gerwitz, veteran homeschool mom of over thirty years, shares her insider tips.

Check out the great books and classes on the Media Angels website and especially the self-paced set, “How-to-Homeschool Blueprint.”

My thoughts about homeschooling have changed over the years. I began homeschooling as an alternative to a pricey private school that was not filling my son’s needs. Homeschooling was a challenge my husband gave me as well as a six-month trial period; if we failed, I would place my son in another private school. In the meantime, my daughter attended a morning program at a preschool.

Not only did my son flourish and accomplish so much more than he had in school, but we also decided to homeschool my daughter. We spent many happy years homeschooling and attending field trips, and our focus was academic but faith-based. I found myself writing a curriculum to fit my children’s needs and, years later (in 1994), started a publishing company, Media Angels, focusing on curriculum with families in mind.

I homeschooled my five children and graduated with my last child in 2017 after thirty-one years of homeschooling. Three of the five children went on to college, and all graduated with high honors. The other two are highly successful in their chosen professions.

Why did my focus on homeschooling change from pure academics to faith focus? I figured anyone could learn reading and math, history, and science, but what would be the foundation I wanted for my children as they grew older? What was the legacy I wanted to leave? What was my hope for the next generation?

My thoughts about who should begin homeschooling have taken on a more serious direction in light of the craziness plaguing our educational system. When I was in college, my major was Elementary Education, with certifications in Early Childhood Education and Specific Learning Disabilities. I taught for two years and quickly learned I would not return due to many things that have just escalated in today’s world. For one thing, the administrators make unilateral decisions without any care for the parents or their input. For another, the treatment of the children in the schools as a commodity, a number to service rather than the people behind the name.

I’m not putting down all teachers; I was a teacher that was my major in college, my daughter is a teacher, and my sisters-in-law, in fact, two of them, one retired, were teachers. It is not the teachers it is the system in public education.

Now I believe that it is every parent’s duty to consider homeschooling their children today. If you can not physically teach them everything, your focus needs to be on what you can provide for them when you have them at home. Secondly, if your child is in school, you must know what the school is teaching your children.

Years ago, a friend of ours, who is a successful attorney, obtained copies of the novels the children were required to read for literature class. It turned out that this Christian school was requiring that the children be open to ideas that most parents would not approve of – and my friend was, of course, mortified. It turns out that that same novel required reading in my daughter’s secular university, and it was so offensive to her that she decided to drop out of the class. She was a communication major and needed the literature credit but opted to take another professor. My homeschooled graduated daughter knew when to draw the line.

Our children in the educational system today are like the frog in a pot of lukewarm water over the stove, slowly being boiled to death. They do not realize the issues because it is very slow information filtering. If you disagree, you are canceled or told you are intolerant by the people who preach tolerance.

So, why should you homeschool? This is a question that only you and your husband can ask, but the focus is again on what you want your children to take with them into their future? Do you want them to believe everything that some outside entity tells them? In college (in the late ’70s), we were told to forget everything our parents taught us. This is supposed to make the students feel like they are adults and have the ability to make up their own minds. And our kids should, especially if they have a grounding in faith and morals.

Make a list:

Why begin homeschooling?

  1. Faith focused
  2. Become a close-knit family.
  3. Be in charge of your curriculum.
  4. Know what your children learn.
  5. Teach your personal worldview

Your list may have many more items, which is as it should be, focusing on what you want your children to learn. We are a faith-filled, close-knit family. While the kids are grown, and some live out of town or even state, we hear from them often and catch up on what is happening in their lives. They come home for the holidays, and we rejoice when we are all together. My kids also talk to each other regularly, which makes me happy.

Our kids’ education was enhanced by incorporating field trips and hands-on learning. Our children visited various states, added to their collections, and learned about the world around them in more than just books. Their education was well-rounded. Three of my children were gifted in sports and played with teams throughout the state. One of my children wrote a series of books with me. They are still in print. Check out the Truth Seekers Mystery Series, a well-loved action-adventure set with a wholesome theme.

I believe that homeschooling should focus on academics, yes but also on your children’s interests. I’ve talked to children at homeschool conferences who act bored with life, and when I ask them if they have interests or a hobby, they look at me blankly. One of the gifts of homeschooling is allowing your child time to think. I believe in our overstimulated world; our kids are distracted by the latest and greatest shiny object without thinking about what they want to do with their lives. Having a focus on learning and allowing your child to explore interests of their own is a significant first step to lifelong learning. bout

What is lifelong learning? It is the drive and the desire to look things up, search for answers, and challenge yourself to be the best you can be. It is looking at defeat as an opportunity to learn and move forward. When do kids in the typical school system have the ability or opportunity to do this? They don’t.

I put together a set for you to download – it is the Homeschool Blueprint and available on the Media Angels website under self-paced learning. Give it a try and see what you think. It includes many of the forms I’ve used throughout my homeschool journey.

The most wonderful tool that is my legacy to all of you is this Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network and all of the broadcasts from homeschool parents. These podcasts come to you for free, and I hope you can subscribe to these shows on your favorite podcast app – Vintage Homeschool Moms is heading toward year ten, and it has been a delight to serve all of you.