Holiday Hospitality Homeschool Unit Study

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

December 4, 2023 by Laura Leave a Comment

Holiday Hospitality Homeschool Unit Study

In “Holiday Hospitality Homeschool Unit Study,” episode #199, Meredith Curtis helps you combine holiday hospitality and homeschooling in a fun way! Here is a FREE easy unit study right in the podcast with Scriptures, read aloud ideas, and practical activities each day to get ready for company and learn life skills at the same time! Turn welcoming people into your home into a family project and festive way to pass on values, character, and life skills.

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

Show Notes

It’s that time of year where relatives gather. Are they heading to your house this year? Don’t panic – use school time to get ready while you build memories with your kids.

Working Together as a Family:

Tips for peaceful and efficient working together.

Day 1 – Prepare the House

Scripture: I Peter 4:8-9. Discuss show love and hospitality are related.

Talk about Cleaning Basics & Clean the House

Straighten/Tidy
Dust & Vacuum
Clean Bathrooms
Mop Floors
Change Sheets
Prepare Guest Room

Lunch & Read Aloud.

Decorate the House for Holiday.

Day 2 – Shop/Make Gifts & Stocking Stuffers

Scripture: Romans 12:12-20. Discuss how to live these principles out with your guests.

Talk about Gifts & Budgets, Make a List and Shop for Gifts in store or online.

Lunch and Read Aloud.

Wrap Gifts.

Day 3 – Plan Menu/Shop

Scripture: Matthew 25:34-46. How is showing hospitality to your guests serving Jesus?

Make menus for days guests’ visit including snacks to have on hand. Then create a shopping list together.

Lunch and read aloud.

Shop. Tips to Shop as a team.

Day 4 – Prepare/Freeze the Food

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-15. How do Abraham and Sarah show hospitality to their visitors? How can you imitate their example?

Many things can be made and frozen. Spend the day cooking with a break for lunch and read aloud.

Day 5 – Plan the Fun

Scripture: Luke 14:12-17. How can you include the lonely and needy in this holiday’s activities?

Brainstorm ideas for holiday fun in your hometown and fun things to do at home. Make a tentative/flexible plan (important for certain family members to know that it’s flexible).

Lunch and read aloud.

Finishing touches.

Sign up for our Newsletter

Resources

Celebrate holidays with these festive, fun books and unit studies:

Thank You to our Network Sponsor – CTC Math!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Filed Under: Finish Well Tagged With: Celebrate Christmas, celebration, Christian, Christianity, family, Finish Well, holiday, homeschool, homeschooling, hospitality, Laura Nolette, Meredith Curtis, Parent, unit study

Will the Real Nicholas, Valentine, & Patrick Please Stand Up

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

February 6, 2023 by Laura Leave a Comment

Will the Real Nicholas, Valentine, & Patrick Please Stand Up

In “Will the Real Nicholas, Valentine, & Patrick Please Stand Up,” Episode, #179, Meredith Curtis uncovers the real St. Nick, St. Valentine, and St. Patrick, debunking popular stereotypes of these men and the holidays celebrated in their honor. Meet 3 Christian superheroes who stood tall in their generation loving God, standing for truth, making disciples, and pastoring churches. You will be inspired by these men and I hope you will introduce them to your children.

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

Show Notes

Is St. Nick a roly-poly sleigh rider? Does Valentine love pink hearts and chocolate candies? Is St. Patrick really a lepruchan? It’s time to meet the real men behind these holidays celebrated in their honor.

Bishop Nicholas of Myrna

Wealthy, generous, stockings
Destroy temple
Save from famine, lower taxes
Council of Nicaea

Pastor Valentine

Pastor
Gifts of healing
Disobeyed Rome to obey God
Letters from Jail urging his flock to stay true to Jesus

St. Patrick, Apostle to the Irish

Rejected parent’s faith, captured by raiders, sold as a slave
Gave his heart to Christ, escaped
Called to ministry, called to Ireland
Ministry in Ireland

Life Skills Leadership Summit

Are you overwhelmed as a homeschool mom? Trying to give your kids real life skills and the ability to make wise decisions, but it’s not that easy? Here’s help from over 30 expert homeschoolers who want to answer your questions.

Join Me for Life Skills Leadership Summit during February 20-24, 2023. Give your kids real life skills and the ability to make wise decisions. You’ll be encouraged, with tools to confidently finish your school year strong. Learn more here:

Apples of Gold in Settings of Silver

Council of Nicaea, lowing taxes, getting grain
Letters of encouragement, sharing the Gospel in Jail
Speaking to druid priests, sharing Gospel, his testimony

Celebrate Our Christian Superheroes

These 3 men plus many more
Heroes for Jesus Party
Perfect for Reformation Day, but also Valentines Day or St. Patrick’s Day

Sign up for our Newsletter

Real Men Resources

Raise men who stand tall in their generation! Our curriculum works great at home; or in homeschool co-ops and online classes, too! 😊

The Making of Real Men by Mike Curtis with Powerline Productions, Inc.

Real Men 102: Freedom, Courtship, Marriage, & Family

Thank You to our Network Sponsor – CTC Math!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Filed Under: Finish Well Tagged With: celebration, celebrations, Christian, Christianity, christmas, Education, family, Finish Well, holiday, holidays, homeschool, homeschooling, Laura Nolette, Meredith Curtis, Parent, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Saint Patrick, Saint Valentine, St. Nicholas, St. Nick, St. Patrick, St. Patrick's Dat, St. Valentine, St. Valentine's Day

Our Christmas Morning Traditions

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

December 19, 2022 by Laura Leave a Comment

Our Christmas Morning Traditions

In “Our Christmas Morning Traditions,” Episode, #176, Meredith Curtis shares her Christmas morning traditions, established in 1986 and continued to this day. Starting with special Christmas devotions and a homemade cinnamon roll “birthday cake” and ending with presents, these morning traditions have helped us to celebrate joyfully while keeping our focus on Jesus, the One we celebrate. The Curtis Christmas morning traditions have impacted relatives and friends who have occasionally visited our family for the holidays. Precious to this day, Meredith encourages listeners to create their own Christmas morning traditions that meet the needs and desires of your own family. Merry Christmas!

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

Show Notes

His & Hers & Ours

Writing the Devotions

Preparation

House Decorated & Tidy

Cinnamon Rolls Made & Rising

Breakfast Casserole, Orange Juice Ready, Kitchen Island Ready

Good Morning

Christmas T-shirts

Coffee, Juice, Hot Chocolate

“Fireplace” on TV, Christmas Lights On

Devotions

Devotion Books

Luke 2
Christmas Carols & Songs

Homemade Cinnamon Roll & “Happy Birthday to Jesus”

Impact on Visitors

Presents

Eat Breakfast while Opening

Open Gifts – one at a time (we open stockings on Christmas Eve after the Traveling Dinner)

Making a List for later Thank-You Cards

Calls to Family

Grandparents, Aunts/Uncles

Sign up for our Newsletter

Resources

Be proactive this holiday season! 😊

Thank You to our Network Sponsor – CTC Math!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Filed Under: Finish Well Tagged With: celebration, Christian, Christianity, christmas, Education, family, Finish Well, homeschool, homeschooling, Laura Nolette, Meredith Curtis, Parent, tradition

Christmas Around the World

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

December 5, 2022 by Laura Leave a Comment

Christmas Around the World

In “Christmas Around the World,” Episode, #175, Meredith Curtis introduces you to Christmas celebrations & traditions from Germany, Mexico, England, Bethlehem, South Korea, and the Philippines. Learn about each nation, make a flag ornament or banner, and try out one Christmas tradition from each country.

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

Show Notes

Christmas is celebrated with joy around the world!

Learn about different Christmas traditions & incorporate them into your Christmas this year.

Germany

Advent Calendars, Christmas Trees, Christmas Cookies, Christmas Markets, Christmas Villages, Church & Presents Christmas Eve, Christmas Family Day, Second Christmas Give to Poor

Bake German Gingerbread Cookies

Mexico

Nacimiento (nativity scenes), Poinsettias, Pastorelas (Christmas plays), Pinatas, Farolitos (light in bags), Las Posadas, Christmas Eve Mass

Enjoy a Pinata!

England

Advent Wreath, 12 Days Christmas, Decorate with Holly, ivy, & Mistletoe, Christmas Lights, Candlelight Carol Services, Caroling, Cards, Christmas Eve Services, Christmas Crackers, Boxing Day

Make a Christmas Cracker

Bethlehem

Prophecies about little Bethlehem, Decorations, Each Denomination has its own procession past special sites, Christmas Eve parade & fireworks, Chuch Services

Watch Bethlehem parade on TV

South Korea

Church, Light Displays, Visit Loved Ones carrying Candles house to house, Christmas feast (barbequed meat with rice, sweet potato noodles, kimchi, bean paste, and vegetables), Christmas cake (made w rice flour)

Make a Korean Christmas Dinner

Philippines

Parol (Christmas lanterns), Christmas trees (made of metal, plastic, or wood), Simbang Gabi (from 12/16 to 12/23 before sunrise services), Christmas Eve Midnight Mass, Christmas cakes (made from rice flour), Ginger Tea

Make a Filipino Christmas Cake & Drink Ginger Tea

Sign up for our Newsletter

Resources

Be proactive this holiday season! 😊

Thank You to our Network Sponsor – CTC Math!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Filed Under: Finish Well Tagged With: celebration, Christian, Christianity, christmas, Education, family, Finish Well, homeschool, homeschooling, Laura Nolette, Meredith Curtis, Parent, tradition

Family Traditions to Celebrate, Teach, & Identify

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

November 7, 2022 by Laura Leave a Comment

Family Traditions to Celebrate, Teach, & Identify

In “Family Traditions to Celebrate, Teach, & Identify,” Episode, #173, Meredith Curtis believes family traditions are a perfect way to celebrate holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and special days. They also help us to pass on values and give our children a sense of security as a family member. Many celebrations also lend themselves to teaching children family and national history. Where do you start to build family traditions your family will enjoy and keep everything simple and easy? Meredith hears you and she has some simple steps to take to plan your own family traditions.

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

Show Notes

Start with his and hers. Then move to ours.

The Basics of Traditions

Festive with purpose!

Celebration Fun
Teaching & Passing on Virtues
Identification in the Family

Let Me Give Your Some Examples

New Years Day

Scriptures

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (II Corinthians 5:17)

Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14 NASB)

New Life, New Opportunities, Moving Forward

Celebrate: Game night & Festive midnight “toast with hugs”

Teach/Pass Values: Family Communion (new life in Christ) & Prayer for the New Year (new beginning)

Family Identity: “This is how we celebrate New Years”

St. Valentines’ Day

Scripture

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you” (John 15:12 NASB)

Love for God, Romantic Love

Celebrate: “Pink & Red & White Dinner,” decorate, make Valentines for each other

Teach/Pass Values: Parents share love story or looking at wedding album, Read (or watch) something about St. Valentine

Family Identity: “This is how we celebrate St. Valentine’s Day”

Mother’s Day / Father’s Day

Scripture

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth(Ephesians 6:1-3 NASB)

Blessing of Parents, Honoring Parents

Celebrate: Special meal, Encouragement Game, Family Outing, or Presents (combo or all)

Teach/Pass Values: Call grandparents, Send cards earlier, Help children make cards & gifts for parent

Family Identity: “This is how we celebrate Mother’s Day & Father’s Day”

How to Get Started

Brainstorm your dreams for your family

Talk to your husband – his favorite holiday traditions

Talk to your kids – what are there favorite holiday traditions

Can tweak traditions (e.g. opening presents one at a time)

Think in terms of Celebrate & Teach/Pass Values. All traditions help establish a family identity.

Sign up for our Newsletter

Resources

Be proactive this holiday season! 😊

Thank You to our Network Sponsor – CTC Math!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Filed Under: Finish Well Tagged With: birthday, celebration, Christian, Christianity, christmas, Education, family, Finish Well, homeschool, homeschooling, Laura Nolette, Meredith Curtis, Parent, thanksgiving, tradition

Could Online Learning Benefit Your Home School?

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

June 6, 2022 by Laura Leave a Comment

Could Online learning Benefit Your Home School?

In “Could Online Learning Benefit Your Home School?,” Episode, #161, Meredith Curtis talks about online course. She explains how they work, as well as the pro’s and con’s of online learning for parent, teacher, and student. She shows parents how to stay involved with their children’s learning adventure if it includes online learning. Meredith also shares her experience with online learning as a result of COVID.

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

Show Notes

Our wonderful homeschool co-op was forced to go online in 2020. My adventure with online learning and where I am today.

Online Courses

Whole year or semester.

Live courses v. Go at Your Own Pace.

Like a co-op with class time and work at home.

Pro’s of Online Courses

Teachers often Teach what they love (great if there are subjects you hate teaching)

Great for working homeschool moms

A unique perspective

Gives Mom a break

Build friendships all over the world

Con’s of Online Courses

Can get disconnected from children and what they are learning

Can forget to make sure they are doing their homework

Can hamper spontaneity

Possible clash of worldviews/morals/ values

Easy to get behind in courses for some students

Everybody learning something different (20^th Century)

How Parents Can Stay Involved

Listen in to classes occasionally

Meet weekly to discuss what they are learning and what homework is due the next week

Connect with teacher regularly

Encourage children/teens to work hard and do their best

Teaching at True North

Laura Nolette and I (Meredith Curtis) both teach at True North Homeschool Academy. They have been offering live online classes for over a decade and have collectively been involved in alternative education in the form of private schools, classical academies, yeshivas, co-ops, class days, classical charters, online academies, and more.

True North Homeschool Academy teachers are a group of passionate, qualified, creative educators providing carefully curated Core Courses and Clubs, delivered by utilizing cutting-edge technology, gamification, and solid academic pedagogy. We understand the unique challenges and opportunities of homeschooling.

Here are the classes Laura and I are teaching next year:

Grades K-3 Science Exploration

Grades 4-6 Science Exploration

Elementary Middle Ages Exploration

Jr. High Writing Like a Reporter/Exploring Journalism

Jr. High US Geography

Jr. High 20^th Century World History

High School 20^th Century World History

High School Photo Shop

High School Computer Illustration

Intro to Computer Science II (1 semester)

Intro to Computer Science (full year)

High School Health

High School English Who Dun It

Sign up for our Newsletter

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Filed Under: Finish Well Tagged With: birthday, Birthday Celebration, celebration, Christian, Christianity, Education, experience, family, Finish Well, homeschool, homeschooling, Laura Nolette, lessons, Meredith Curtis, Parent, wisdom

A Lifetime of Homeschooling

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

May 16, 2022 by Laura Leave a Comment

A Lifetime Of Homeschooling

In “A Lifetime of Homeschooling,” Episode, #160, as Meredith Curtis celebrates her 60^th birthday, she realizes what a huge role homeschooling has played in her life. She takes a look back at six decades of Preparation, Homeschooling Adventuring, and Coaching and counts it all joy! It’s been a lifetime of learning! How about you? What stage are you in? How can you get the most out of it and prepare for the next one.

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

Show Notes

Turning 60 and looking back at a lifetime of homeschooling.

Preparation

2 decades of schooling, lifestyle learning, and reading.

Books lovely books.

Traveling to learn.

Discussion.

Acquiring a love of home, family, and learning.

Homeschool Adventure

The book that came by mistake

Gregg Harris Conference

Learning with my Kids

7 Rs: Relationships, Reading, Arithmetic, Writing, Rhetoric, Research, and Right Living.

Passing the baton of faith, home, family, lifestyle of learning, and sacrifice.

Coaching

Cheering Others On.

Coming Alongside

Teaching in Homeschool Co-ops and Online

What Stage Are You In?

Preparation? Homeschooling? Coaching?

The overlap

Getting the most and giving the most in each stage.

60 Birthday Sale

I am celebrating my 60^th birthday this week and I want to bless you with HUGE SAVINGS!

Every digital product at PowerlineProd.com is 60% off when you purchase the product on our site.

Use coupon code HappyBD60!

Sale lasts Sunday May 15, 2022 until Sunday May 22, 2022.

HURRY! Grab the code and start saving!

Shop at PowerlineProd.com.

Sign up for our Newsletter

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Celebration of 300 Episodes! We Answer Your Questions

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

February 8, 2022 by Vicki Tillman Leave a Comment

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Celebration of 300 Episodes! We Answer Your Questions.

Celebration of 300 Episodes! We Answer Your Questions

Can you believe it? The Homeschool Highschool Podcast is 300 episodes old today!! To celebrate Sabrina, Vicki and Kym got together and took questions from our 7th Sisters in the 7SistersHomeschool Facebook Group (have you joined us there?). So, here’s a celebration episode full of questions and answers!

First off, though, we had to celebrate some of our special traditions. One HSHSP tradition is to come up with meme-like t-shirt ideas. How about these?

A syllabus is a tool, not a rule!

Pray, first, last and always

Online is the same as real life

We are in a period of extended overextension (from our friend and 2:1 Conference founder, Cheryl Pitt)

Your curriculum…How’s that workin’ out for ya?

It’s a sprint, not a marathon…well, a gazillion sprints

If speaking my mind is too loud, they make earplugs

I’m the ear candy hear (dedicated to Kym)

Motherhood is the necessity of invention

You can do it!

You’re embarrassing yourself with your non-verbals

All of life is education

A mom’s mind plans her way, but God directs her path

Okay, now, here are the questions we received from our 7th Sisters!

We love questions, btw. If you ever have a question for us, throw it out in the FB group! Or ask it here in the comments.

So, you know there are six of us 7Sisters, right? Sabrina, Vicki, Kym, Marilyn, Allison and Sara. So who’s the 7th Sister? YOU are!

We Answer Your Questions #1: How did the 7Sisters meet?

7Sisters Allison is Sabrina’s older sister.

Allison thinks that Sabrina is a perfect sister! And vice versa.

When Vicki’s family first moved from Florida to Pennsylvania…

They started homeschooling and joined the local homeschool support group: Tri-State Homeschool Network. Vicki loves getting involved so she jumped in on the first Mom’s Meeting that she could. The topic was: The Theology of Toothpaste (for real…there was a chemist and that is what he talked about).

Vicki’s family loved Tri-State’s field trips and meetings. So when they needed to find new officers, she volunteered for the nominating committee. However, NO ONE would accept the nomination! There was no one to be president, so Vicki volunteered to run for president. And since there was no competition, she was quickly in charge of this large organization.

On the other hand, she was able to convince another newbie to take on the vice-president role. That person turned out to be 7Sister Marilyn! They worked together from then on and synched so well that soon they created a homeschool co-op. They have been working together for decades and their children grew up almost like siblings.

Kym met Sabrina when her kids joined Sabrina’s homeschool choir

As we all know, Sabrina is the mom-cool one. She was so cool that Kym’s kids thought she was the BEST! Sabrina soon asked for volunteers to help out with the choir so Kym volunteered. (Funny story, Allison also helped out with the choir so Kym would often see Sabrina and Allison together. However, it was two years before she found out they were sisters!)

Kym actually met Vicki and Marilyn at a How to Get Started Homeschooling conference BEFORE she even thought about homeschooling

A friend had asked her to attend the workshop with her. So Kym, always being up for adventure, went along- although she had no intention of homeschooling at that time. Soon afterwards, her third grader asked her to start homeschooling and that was that!

Vicki and Marilyn met Sara when they started a youth group for homeschool teens

This was back in the earlier days of homeschooling when it was hard to find other homeschooling teens to hang out with. Even at church, homeschooling families were often the only families of that educational kind. So they started the youth group so homeschool high schoolers had someone to hang out with. Sara’s sons attended and made friends with Vicki and Marilyn’s kids.

Sara quickly joined in and was always the quiet volunteer at the youth group. She was especially marvelous at handling money well- down to the penny. That is why she handles the finances for 7Sisters today.

Vicki and Sabrina started a cinematography club for their teens who asked for it

Sara’s sons joined along with their kids to learn to make films!

Soon we were all co-oping together, then a homeschool umbrella school!

As you can see- innovation is our thing. That’s how our official company name is 7Sisters Innovative Homeschool Helps! And we are sisters in Jesus…and in our desire to build things together.

A word of encouragement about starting things:

We 7Sisters have always innovated, not because we were good at things, but because we learned not to be afraid of mistakes. We wanted to model for our kids the process of trying and learning together, a growth mindset. That is why Vicki’s favorite quote is a guide for us:

Anything worth doing is worth doing badly. -G.K. Chesterton

We have no pride left because we have been embarrassed so often, but our kids have learned the power of failing forward. They had so many adventures and learned lots!

We Answer Your Questions #2: What did homeschooling do for our families? What did we get right? What did we get wrong?

That is a big question!

Sabrina: Homeschooling laid an unshakeable foundation that we should learn to learn.

All of her kids learned how to learn. They each learned in different ways. Thus they learned to learn in the ways they liked best. Not only that, but they learned to learn even in situations that were not optimal for them. They also learned to ask for help when they needed it and to find and use resources available to them.

Vicki: Homeschooling developed the ability and right of her kids to know what they are good at and enjoy it.

Also, they learned to develop to ability to do the things they are not good at and do not like.

Not only that, they learned to join, to get involved in community and contribute to it!

Kym: Homeschooling gave her kids the time to explore and develop their passions

Homeschooling gave them time to find out whether their passions would be good choices for careers or simply avocations.

Also, Kym loved the depth of spiritual growth she experienced with her Sisters. They are all different flavors of Christians but they prayed and grew together over the years.

Things we got right:

Sara’s Financial Literacy from a Christian Perspective! Life changing for our teens!
Time for the Arts: Drama, Choirs, dance classes. all kinds of music. Not only classes but integrated into curriculum, field trips and projects.
Allowing teens to not do extracurriculars that they do not like.
Respecting and giving time for interests and questions… which led to respecting their requests for a philosophy curriculum: Philosophy in Four Questions
Field trips!!! (even if it was a dump of a field trip like a visit to the local sewage treatment plant)
The relationships our kids created
Vicki’s Human Development text in co-op…and ALL the conversations
Leveling up credits in meaningful ways for the college-bound teens

Things we got wrong:

So many things…good thing we have Jesus! Here are a few:
Organization (some of us) and time management
Sometimes not allowing the introvert kids enough time for introvert recharging
For several of us, math instruction was not our strength (and many of our teens graduated before there were online classes)
Feeling guilty about all the things we could not do (such as Vicki needing to be a working mom so not being with her kids as much as she wanted)
Sometimes allowing some church or homeschool cultural norms to guide, when we did not agree with certain norms. That taught fear of man to the kids. It took a while for us to begin to stand up to the culture we did not agree with.

We Answer Your Questions #3: What has parenting looked like for that time right after graduation

Vicki shared that she had had the illusion that once her teens graduated from high school, that she would never feel stressed about them again. BOY, was that wrong. She found that one never outgrows caring about the kids- even when they are independent, successful adults.

Kym shared that it was quite a challenge allowing her graduates to be adults- to see them as adults. She grew to appreciate watching them develop new roles and communicate in different ways. It is important to allow them to tell you what you got right and wrong.

Sabrina shared that graduation is rewarding. On the other hand it is humbling because, no matter how well you did there will be holes in the education.

We Answer Your Questions #4: What advice would you give your 7th Sisters?

Sabrina: Homeschooling does not prevent physical or mental health issues. Sometimes around the late teen years, mental health issues will show up. Watch them and make sure resources were available. Be more concerned about health than their success.

Kym: Transition advice for moms: Have an Omega mom event when your youngest graduates. In fact, cherish all the transitions through the homeschooling years.

Vicki: You can do this! You are not going to do GOOD enough…you’re just going to do good enough and that’s good enough. Set goals but understand you cannot make it perfect. So keep rolling your works on God, who is a God of redemption. Thus: trust God and reach out to your homeschool sisters!

Thanks for being our 7th Sisters all these 300 episodes! Join us for more episodes to come! We are glad to have this homeschooling adventure together, Sisters!

Also, thanks to our podcast editor, Seth Tillman! And by the way, did you catch our 100th episode when we celebrated by asking homeschool grads to send us voice memos about what they are doing now.

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO HSHSP VIA COMPUTER

Follow this link to our iTunes page.
IMPORTANT STEP: Under our Homeschool Highschool Podcast logo, click on View in iTunes
This will take you to iTunes and our own podcast page.
Click SUBSCRIBE.
Click RATINGS AND REVIEW. (Please take a minute and do this. It helps others find us. Thanks!)
Thanks!

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE VIA iPHONE

Tap the purple Podcast icon on your phone
Tap the search icon on the bottom-right of your screen
In the search bar type: Homeschool Highschool Podcast
Tap the Homeschool Highschool Podcast icon
Tap *Subscribe*
Please tap *Ratings and Review* and give us some stars and a comment to help others find us more easily.
Thanks

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS | More

Filed Under: Homeschool Highschool Tagged With: Answer Questions, celebration, The Homeschool Highschool Podcast

Christ in Easter: 10 Days of Family Fun

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

March 15, 2021 by Laura Leave a Comment

Christ in Easter: 10 Days of Family Fun

In “Celebrate Easter: 10 Days of Family Fun,” Episode, #132, Meredith Curtis gives you a 10-day plan for Family Devotions/Fun that will engage all ages and make your Holy Week/Easter celebration meaningful for the whole family. Each day, she has Scripture suggestions, prayer focus, discussion ideas, song/hymn ideas, and fun activities. Easter is more than brand new frilly dresses and baskets packed with goodies. Easter celebrations remind us of the historical day when Jesus died for our sins, paying our penalty, and 3 days later rose from the dead, conquering death forever and setting us free! Use Easter to teach your children about the most important event in history and how it matters to each of them personally.

Show Notes

Holy Week is a traditional celebration of the final week in Jesus’ Life ending with the cross (Good Friday) and the resurrection (Easter Sunday). This is a little different though it Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter fall in sync with tradition Holy Week days, it does not line up with Maundy Thursday so please feel free to adapt this any way you would like to.

For everything I share in this podcast, PLUS 6 more days, all the Scripture written out, Prophecies given in Old Testament fulfilled during Holy Week, and MORE! Get Celebrate Easter Devotions FREE until April 30, 2021 by clicking on the photo below. 😊 Happy Easter! 😊 😊

Day 1 Saturday Before Palm Sunday

Jesus is anointed at Bethany (Matthew 26:6-13 or John 12:1-9)

Discuss the place of extravagance in worship. Drive it home with foot rubs.

Prayer focus: thanking God

Worship song suggestion: How Great Thou Art

Family Fun: Decorate for Easter

Day 2 Palm Sunday

Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21:1-13 or John 12:12-19)

Discuss “Hosanna”—a cry of praise that means “Help!” or “Please save me!”. Drive it home with a parade around the yard or neighborhood singing.

Prayer focus: things you need God to help with

Worship song suggestion: All Glory, Laud, & Honor

Family Fun: Watch a movie about the life of Jesus

The Chosen (TV series)
The Gospel of John
Jesus
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Jesus of Nazareth
The Miracle Maker

Day 3 Monday

Jesus cleanses the temple (Matthew 21:12-17 or Mark 11:15-19)

Discuss what Jesus was cleaning out—the greed/idoltry. Drive it home by pulling out the refrigerator and cleaning behind it.

Prayer focus: purity

Worship song suggestion: A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Family Fun: Color Easter Eggs together

Day 4 Tuesday

The Plot to Kill Jesus (Matthew 26:3-5 or John 11:45-57)

Discuss the the plot the Jewish leaders were hatching. Drive it home with creating your own plot together. Maybe you can “trick” another family into joining you for dinner.

Prayer focus: pray for freedom from the plots of satan in our world today: sexual immorality, abortion, liberal theology, atheism

Worship song suggestion: Fairest Lord Jesus

Family Fun: have a Treasure Hunt or invite a family over for dinner

Day 5 Wednesday

Passover Feast/Last Supper (Exodus 12:1-36, Matthew 26:17-19 or John 13, I Corinthians 11:23-25)

Discuss how the Passover Feast was fulfilled in Christ. Drive it home with a Christian Seder Meal or family communion.

Prayer focus: greater desire to serve others

Worship song suggestion: Let Us Break Bread Together

Family Fun: Holy Week symbolic eggs

Day 6 Thursday

Garden/Betrayal/Arrest (Matthew 26:36-56 or John 15:1-18:14)

Discuss the focus of Jesus prayer in the Garden (John 17). Drive it home with trying to stay up and pray as late as you can. Who stayed awake the longest?

Prayer focus: bless people who have hurt you in the past

Worship song suggestion: In the Garden

Family Fun: Fill Out a Map of Jerusalem. Label where Jesus spent the last week of His life.

Day 7 Good Friday

Jesus’ Trial, Torture, & Death, Peter’s Denial, Judas’ Suicide (Matthew 26:57-27:50 or John 18:12-19:30)

Discuss what Jesus’ betray, arrest, beating, mocking, agony, and death show us about the holiness of God / His punishment of sin. Drive it home by having devotion time at 3 p.m., the hour He died. Also write past sins on pieces of paper and nail them to a wooden cross.

Prayer focus: forgiveness

Worship song suggestion: The Old Rugged Cross

Family Fun: make & eat Hot Cross Buns (the cross on the top symbolizes the cross of Jesus)

Day 8 Saturday before Easter

Supernatural Events as Jesus Died & Christ’s Burial (Matthew 27:45, 51-66 or John 19:25-42)

Discuss the last 7 phrases of Jesus. Drive it home by talking about what you would want to communicate before you die.

Prayer focus: freedom from sin

Worship song suggestion: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Family Fun: prepare for tomorrow’s celebration

Day 9 Easter Sunday

Resurrection! (Matthew 28:1-15 or John 20:1-18)

Discuss how each person responded on that first Resurrection Sunday. Drive it home with each person taking an empty egg, going outside, and filling it with something to resprent new life.

Prayer focus: thanking God for His Resurrection!

Worship song suggestion: Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Family Fun: Act out the Resurrection

Day 10: Monday after Easter

The Power of the Resurrection (I Corinthians 15:12-28 and 35-58 or Ephesians 1:15-22 and Philippians 3)

Discuss the power that raised Jesus from the dead. Drive it home by reading with a 25 watt bulb and a 100 watt bulb. Power makes a difference.

Prayer focus: more Resurrection power in our lives!

Worship song suggestion: Heaven Came Down

Family Fun: make Candles

Sign up for our Newsletter

Resources: 1-Credit High School Courses

The high school course, devotional, and Bible studies all talk about family/holiday traditions. 😊

Jesus Fill My Heart and Home by Meredith Curtis

Welcome Inn: The Art of Hospitality in Jesus' Name

God's Girls 105: Homemaking by Meredith Curtis

The following books give detailed instructions so you can have your own History Parties.

Let's Have Our Own Archaeological Dig by Meredith Curtis

Let's Have Our Own Luau by Meredith Curtis

Let's Have Our Own Medieval Banquet by Meredith Curtis

These are just a few of our many resources that work well for all ages together!

Travel God's World Geography by Meredith Curtis

Travel God's World Cookbook by Meredith Curtis

HIS Story of the 20th Century by Meredith Curtis

More Podcasts You Might Find Helpful

Finish Well Radio, Podcast #061, The Cross Has the Final Word

Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #110, Celebrate Easter Week at Home, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #091, Peaceful Family Vacations, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Filed Under: Finish Well Tagged With: Bible, celebrate, celebration, Christian, Christianity, Education, Families, family, Finish Well, graduate, graduation, homeschooling, Laura Nolette, Meredith Curtis, no stress, Parent, stress-free, teen

Stress-Free Homeschool Graduation Celebration

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

March 1, 2021 by Laura 1 Comment

Stress-Free Homeschool Graduation Celebration

In “Stress-Free Homeschool Graduation Celebration,” Episode #131, Meredith Curtis believes you can plan and celebrate a homeschool graduation stress-free if you plan and budget ahead. With simple explanations and examples, Meredith lays out how to plan a graduation celebration for just your family or a small group of teens. She has graduated 5 with stress-free celebrations so she shares her tips and wisdom with you! She also shares money-saving tips for every step in the process of graduation planning.

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

Show Notes

First homeschool grad—2 graduations.

You can plan a stress-free graduation.

Choose the How

Talk with your teen. What does he want?

Quiet family celebration vs small group vs state homeschool graduation.

Formal vs. Informal

When to start planning? September/October senior year

Choose the Venue for the Graduation Ceremony

Where will graduation take place?

Rent?

Money saving tip: Jose’s graduation at a park

Choose the Venue for the Graduation Party

How we do it: Group graduation with reception. Later private party.

What does your teen/family want?

Our graduation this year.

Money saving tip: Rose’s party at Janet’s

Special Senior Year Events

Growing up we had homecoming, Grad Nite, prom, senior skip day

Special events planned by each family graduating

Ideas:

BBQ
Bonfire at Beach
Game Night
Junior/Senior Banquet
Christian Concert
Class T-Shirts
Pool Party
Movie Night
Boat Outing

Money saving tip: Game night at our house

Senior Photos

Love the senior photos of my kids!

Bring change of clothing for nice, casual, and cap-n-gown. If group—do a group photo shoot at least a month before graduation

Shine’s photo shoots for homeschool seniors

Money saving tip: Family member take photo or bartering or coupons for professionals

Make Your Guest List

Who does teen want to be there?

Make guest list together

Notify out-of-towners as early as possible

Graduation Announcement

Nice way to invite guests (2/1)

Mail 2-4 weeks ahead and up to 8 weeks afterward

Use templates at Walgreens®, Sams®, and other photo developing place

Money saving tip: get it ready early and watch for sales

Plan Menu

Food is very important to teenagers and their guests!

Some teens will leave the planning to you, others will want their favorite foods

When we have a group graduation, each family brings hearty appetizers/sandwiches—enough to feed themselves and all their guests. Then we chip in for drinks and cake.

For creative menu planning ideas, read my blog post 8 Unique Graduation Party Menus.

Money saving tip: plan ahead and watch for sales. Have guests chip in.

Diplomas, Gowns & More

Diplomas
Covers
Gown
Tassel
Hat

Money saving tip: order early, create a larger order with other homeschooling families

Making it Special

Graduation colors
Special verse
Motto
Graduation Program

Money-saving tip: Let a tech-saavy mom make the program—cuts printing costs!

Itinerary for Ceremony

No Rules. Be creative. Make it special for your teen/teens.

Here is our graduation itinerary:

Play slideshow of graduates while guests are arriving
Processional of graduates
Open in prayer
Worship (1-2 songs)
Short charge to graduates
Graduate talent or speech (song, skit, monologue, etc.)
Each graduate goes on stage with parents where dad gives charge and presents diploma, and mom moves tassel. Parents pray over teen.
Presentation of graduations/throw their caps
Recessional

Right Before Graduation

Keep in touch with guests: who is coming?

Facebook event?

Make the food/prepare anything ahead and freeze

Decorate the day before if possible

Fun Decorating Ideas:

Graduation theme on cake
Graduation stuffed animal
Homemade poster
Photos of graduate progressing through life
Tablecloth and matching tableware in graduation colors
Graduation banners/streamers/balloons

Money saving tip: see what you have around the house, borrow from friends, purchase on sale, start a graduation tote with decorations

Graduation Budget

I put money aside each month during my children’s junior year so that I have money for the graduation expenses. There always seem to be more than I plan for!

Here are things you will want to budget for if you include them in your graduation celebration: