The Homeschool Solutions Show

Reading in community can take you more deeply into a book, and more deeply into the heart of friendship, too. If you've ever wanted to start a book group or wondered how to lead a class discussion on a classic work of literature, Jennifer Dow's wise counsel can help you do both. You don't have to know everything about a book in order to do this. Jennifer suggests that "If the goal is community and the hospitality that leads to healing, we must provide free space with clear, helpful boundaries. We must meet people where they are, at the same time offer or invite others to a vision of what can be, together, shoulder to shoulder. This expresses itself in the environment we curate, the content we behold, and the way we teach or read." Join us to learn more about how to cultivate a reading atmosphere that leads to learning, growth, and relationship.

We're talking about another HOMESCHOOL TRIGGER. Today's episode is for the working moms in our community — those of you who are not only doing the work of homeschool, but also working a job! Whether 9-5 or part time work, getting paid or volunteering, it's hard to balance the heavy load. That's why we are talking about carefully and intentionally scheduling our homeschool days. We don't want to be so stretched out that we are stressed out and freaking out at our kids.

2020 inspiration from the front lines of homeschooling for worn out moms wondering why they should carry on and a nudge for those that know deep down they could homeschool, maybe they should, they kind of want to, but... what about me time?

Getting your teens to engage with the news can be a challenge but we believe it's crucial for young students to understand what's happening in the world in order to develop critical thinking skills and discernment.

Today we are going to discuss the most useful resource you can give to your bright, hard working learners. Many people think that some are just born with a "photographic memory". But we now know that this amazing ability can be easily taught. The ability to use the photographic memory is one of the best gifts you can give your child. Your child can store his spelling words in his photographic memory for quick retrieval. Poor test takers will learn how to store facts using their photographic memory. Everyone looks smart when these strategies are used.

Today's two-part podcast features an animated conversation between Stephanie, Judy, and Sarita about literature-based homeschooling. Filled with anecdotes and practical advice for those considering homeschooling, and those already on the journey. In addition, listen to Sarita share what makes great literature and delightful narratives so effective for teaching. Find out what kinds of books to avoid and how to get your kids begging for just one more chapter - even if they aren't in love with reading yet.

Help your children discover what motivates them to concentrate--and how to prove it works.

Today we are talking about raising children to be ready to take on the many demands of life! This is so much more than reading, writing and arithmetic. If you've ever wanted a "manual" or a "guide" — or wanted to pass a manual / guide onto your children as they hit middle school and high school… this is the conversation for you!

This episode includes a discussion about building a summer daily routine, helping kids to work, creative ways to make memories as a family, goal-setting over the summer, and how to help parents truly rest without letting the household structure disintegrate!

Homeschooling expert, Janice Campbell shares her vast knowledge of all things homeschooling. This workshop is a wealth of information geared toward helping those new-to-homeschooling families begin their journey. Janice discusses how to get started, what you need to know in order to choose a homeschooling method, and the curriculum that fits. She also spends a few minutes talking about how to plan your time and find that all-important support. Even if you have been homeschooling for a while, you can also find helpful information in this workshop.

Children are born with a love for music and stories, but sometimes it can seem as if those things are just for fun and must be set aside when "real school" begins. That's really not true! Join us in this episode as we talk about how stories show up in books, history, science, and music, and why stories and the arts aren't extras in your homeschool — they're essential all the way through as you teach your whole child — head, heart, and hand.

Today we are announcing something thrilling. Here on the Homeschool Solutions Show, we are growing in exciting ways — and we hope that you will grow with us. Not only will you be encouraged, during this episode, to reach out and live out Acts 2:42 in your own community of friends, but Wendy will be sharing how our podcast will be inviting new friends to join us each week as well!

You can't quit mom. You're simply too important. To others your work doesn't look like much and I know it often doesn't feel like much but if you left off sweeping your kitchen and nursing bruises and staging impromptu tea parties and the thousand other things you do to enrich the lives of your children, the world would fall apart.

Susan Seay's main message to moms is that we have the privilege and the responsibility of being present and purposeful with our children, every day with every topic we race. Today we're talking about what intentionality looks like in the conversation about race relations and local social justice for our brothers and sisters of color.

Lauren Stengele is a non-native Spanish speaker, language teacher, and bilingual homeschooling mom. She creates homeschooling resources for bilingual families at www.bilingualtogether.com. Today, Lauren addresses one difficulty all homeschooling families face: where do we find the time to do the things that are most important to us as a family? Listen in as she talks about Morning Time, and how it allowed her to focus on one very important aspect of her family's homeschool: raising bilingual children.

Summer is upon us! Thank you, Jesus! And now is the time to begin exploring and creating timeless memories with your family. In today's episode, Brandy Gleason and her husband Matt will share from their experiences as a homeschooling family of 10. You'll find many hints and tips to make a day trip or lengthy travel doable and how to create a paper trail for homeschool record-keeping.

Making the choice to homeschool your child or children is always the best choice. Not only does it give you the freedom to tailor their specific academic program to their strengths and style of learning, but it gives you so much freedom as well.

Maybe our time of "family worship" is less about a devotional and more about our first love devotion to God overflowing in devoted love to the people in our home. Today's podcast takes us out of a traditional box of "family devotions" and inspires us to live lives of devotion to God!

Modern culture tells us to pursue pleasure and avoid pain at all costs. But what does the Bible have to say about struggle, suffering and even pain? Are we hindering our kids' spiritual growth and character development by overprotecting them? This post will help you to help your kids see struggle and suffering from God's point of view, as well as offer practical tips on how to allow your kids to struggle in healthy ways.

Today is part 2 of our 2-part conversation with Rhonda Stoppe. We're covering the remaining 4 points from her list of 8 very specific things we can do to make sure we don't look back on these homeschooling years with regrets. If you missed part-1, please listen to that one first! It's a gem… and so is Rhonda!

When I tell people that I homeschool my 10 children, they nearly always say, "You must be very organized!" I smile and pinch my husband so he doesn't reveal the truth that I'm not a terribly organized person. Even though I have never used a fancy planner to plot out my life out on paper, I have discovered three key secrets to managing my large family homeschool. Maybe they will help you, too!

Today is part 1 of our 2-part conversation with Rhonda Stoppe. We're covering eight very specific things we can do to make sure we don't look back on these homeschooling years with regrets. Today we're talking about our calling, our motivation, and so much more!

Homeschooling on Any Budget Level Many families are hesitant to take up homeschooling simply because they view the option as very expensive. It's true that some people spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on homeschooling, but that doesn't need to be the case for everyone. Just because you are unable to purchase the latest and greatest packaged curriculum along with all the supplements and add-ons doesn't mean you can't homeschool.

We've heard it said, "These are unprecedented times", but stress is nothing new. How are you doing with your stress these days? How is it affecting your home and your homeschool? Today's short episode challenges listeners to take inventory. Are you taking your stress to social media as the form of escapism? Is your pantry where you hide? Do you turn for comfort in comfort food these days, rather than turning to the great comforter? Or maybe you are self-medicating with a nightly glass of wine. Today's we're turning to God's Word for our help in times of trouble.

While schools are trying to establish distance learning and redesign their curriculum, many families are beginning to look outside the public school system and turn toward homeschooling.

This conversation may be my favorite one to date! We are diving in and talking about unit studies — but not as something more to add to our already too-full plates. We're talking about slowing down and taking our time to learn more about the things that we already enjoy as a family. I hope you'll be as blessed by this conversation as I was!

It's my hope that you'll find some tips here that help you to understand deschooling and all that it can do for you and your child. Yes, I included "you" here, because sometimes, parents need to deschool as much as their children do.

Life is an incredible journey with ups and downs. We soar, struggle, scale and stumble, and often stand at the edge of cliffs, afraid to step into the unknown, unsure of where we will land. But instead of running away, we are called by God to stand firm, muster up what faith we can, and take a step. Because we were made to move mountains. In today's podcast interview, Kristen Welch calls us to step out in faith and climb the mountain right in front of us — not because we are good enough or adequate or able, but because God makes a way where there is no way. Of course this applies to our homeschooling dreams, to our families, marriage and raising children. But what else can God called you (and your family) to be part of out in the world today? This episode is about all that, and so much more. It's a joy to have author Kristen Welch with us on the Homeschool Solutions Show.

Steve Demme and his wife Sandra have been married since 1979. They have been blessed with four sons, three lovely daughters-in-law, and two special grandchildren. Their fourth son has Down Syndrome and lives with them in Lititz, PA. He is the creator of Math-U-See and the founder of Building Faith Families.

We're talking today about making memories as a homeschool family. Jessica Smartt is sharing plenty of "easy-button" memory making ideas your family may love. We're talking about how (and why) to make memories when you feel totally overwhelmed and exhausted as a mom.

Homeschooling Advantages and Disadvantages As families embark on a new homeschooling journey, it's important to know that there are both advantages and disadvantages. Of course, for many families, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, given the result of the process. But we'll go into a little more detail as we proceed through this article.

We're talking today about the beautiful yet (oh so) hard topic of surrender. Homeschooling, parenting, following Christ all requires great-gobs of surrender, and there's no one I'd rather talk it through with than Kris Camealy.

If we're being entirely honest, a bad homeschool day is still better than a good public-school day. And yet, just knowing that really does nothing to help us through the bad day while it's going on

Let's talk about experiencing rest as a Homeschool Mama! We want to exchange our striving for settledness, our sense of panic to a sweet sense of peace. But how do we parent our children from a place of rest? We're talking about it all today with Katie M. Reid.

There is much to be said for simply getting organized in your homeschooling routine, yet it can be a challenge for even the most detail-oriented mom. If you have multiple children, it can be quite a juggling act, making sure to find the perfect balance between curriculum, outdoor time, appointments, and field trips. And that's not to mention groceries, household chores, cooking dinner, and making sure everyone has something clean to wear.

Today we are talking about how parents can create a rich relationship with their children throughout their parenting/homeschool journey. Children are a masterpiece and parents hold the brushes. God is the architect who knows the plans he has for each of his children. Too often parents give up or give in… not realizing that we are the primary influence in our children's lives.

We've all learned a new word in the past few weeks, social distancing. Social distancing is where you stay at least 6 feet away from someone else whom you have not had contact with. This has left us with a new way of day to day life and how we interact and live. I wanted to share some fun things we do outdoors that would allow you to practice social distancing and still get outside. Here are my outdoor activities you can do while practicing social distancing.

I cannot sum up today's podcast conversation with a simple description. I loved it all and it was sweeping! S.D. Smith talks in quotes. He quotes the master story-tellers who went before Him, but masterfully crafts wonderful words of his own, many of which can stand alone as quotable phrases. The main theme of our conversation was valuing good stories if we want to be good story-tellers — or even good people. That said, my very favorite part of this interview was when Sam shared that he often looks out at all of the homeschool moms who come to The Great Homeschool Conventions and thinks, "These are warriors of light!" I may have teared up when he went on to encourage us, "This matters. You are a hero!"

Hi, My name is Shawna Wingert and I support homeschooling families online at Different By Design Learning. As a former special education teacher and homeschooling mom of two boys with special needs, I find that most of us are just looking for real-life, practical ways to make our homeschool days a little smoother and our relationships a little stronger.

Today's unique episode is for the moms and dads who didn't choose to homeschool, but don't have a choice right now. Given current events, kids are home from school with various levels of support from their local school districts. Here is some advice!

Angie Mosteller is passionate about many things, but teaching and hospitality are always near the top of the list. She specifically loves the holidays because she gets to put both of her passions to work – the teacher in her is intrigued by the amazing history of our celebrations (which she passes down to her kids through meaningful traditions); and the hospitality enthusiast in her fills their home with creative holiday food, decor, and music. Over the years, Angie has built a website — Celebratingholidays.com — as a resource for other families who want to learn about the rich Christian history of their favorite holidays. Today, Angie shares with us the story of St. Patrick, so that we can invite our children to know the man who wasn't even Irish! Find out why Patrick is a wonderful character for us to study with our kids.

September McCarthy has been homeschooling for 24 years! She is the mom of 10, grandma to 7, and her youngest is only 8. Which means that she's still in the trenches with us, but has great-gobs of wisdom to share. September is the author of [Why] Motherhood Matters and is talking with us today about [Why] Homeschooling Matters. Her top reasons for choosing to homeschool her children are to help them: Know their identity Grow in character Develop strong relationships Discover their mission for life In today's conversation we talk a lot about all four of these things, but my main takeaway had to do with teaching my children about good and Godly character traits. I don't want to simply discipline my children for the times they lack character. I want to train my children to grow in character. September's "Character Matters" cards and posters are valuable resources to help us do just that!

Today we're talking about seeing our children's education as discipleship. Not merely giving them the head knowledge they need, but laying the foundation they need (with them, as a family) for a life of knowing and loving Christ and His Word. In their book Foundations, Ruth and Troy Simons encourage parents to take the time to invest in a relationship with God as the starting point for leading their families to become long-lasting, fruitful followers of Christ. The couple outlines the importance of heeding God's instructions and being transformed in their own lives as the magnetic force that draws their children's interest to cultivate their own relationship with the Lord.

DESCRIPTION: Lead your children through Lent with creative activities and Bible readings! Today's episode is the most gracious conversation about inviting our children to spend time with us in the word during the lenten season. Asheritah Ciuciu, author of Uncovering the Love of Jesus: a lent devotional, tells us both the history and the purpose of Lent, and gives us resources to make this more than just another "unit study."

On today's show, we talk with Kate Batistelli about raising our children to do amazing things for the glory of God. During the conversation, however, we turn our attention back to the moms… and challenge ourselves to live life with a "Here I am, send me" availability to whatever God calls us to as well.