Episodios
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While becoming a parent is the true beginning of the journey, the preschool years bring a certain amount of well, uncertaintyâŠfor those of us who embark on the adventure of homeschooling. When is âthe beginningâ of their education? What should education look like in the early years? The culture tells us more is better, and the sooner the better.
But Charlotte Mason referred to these formative, early pre-school years as âa quiet growing time.â Children learn through play and experience and these years are best spent growing up alongside the example of mom, dad, and older siblings in the most natural and nourishing enviornment â home.
SHOW NOTES
On Littles: The Early Years Issue
Pre-SchoolâŠNot Preschool: How to Homeschool in the Early Years
Nurturing Your Pre-Schoolerâs Mind: How to Homeschool in the Early Years
Nurturing Your Pre-Schoolerâs Body: How to Homeschool in the Early Years
Nurturing Your Pre-Schoolerâs Soul: How to Homeschool in the Early Years
Nurturing Your Pre-Schoolerâs Schedule: How to Homeschool in the Early Years
A Case for the Early Years with Leah Martin from My Little Robins
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What is education? What are your family values? What type of family culture are you working to create? What type of people do you hope to help your kids become?
Mark Twain once famously said, âI have never let my schooling interfere with my education.â Education means so much more than curriculum; it is the cultivation of a person and a philosophy of education needs to reflect the type of person you hope to help your child become (and the person you are working to become, for that matter).
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Winter has the propensity to bring burn-out for homeschoolers but it doesn't have to be that way. Today I'll talk about ways to avoid burn-out and how to enjoy the coziness of winter.
Show NotesSunlight before noon post
Until the Streetlights Come On by Ginny Yurich
Homeschool Rhythms: Rest Time
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli
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With the holidays around the corner, there are bound to be some busy days that will rock your normal homeschool routine. Those days are not lost, though. Thereâs a simple way to stay productive and relaxed when a hectic schedule demands it. Tune in to see how we do it.
SHOW NOTES Homeschool Rhythms: Get Ready Zone Work -
If you've ever struggled to fit reading into your life as a busy homeschool mom, this is the episode for you! Join me as I tell you how to fit a true feast into the nooks and crannies of your day.
Show Notes
Homeschool Rhythms: Morning Time Homeschool Rhythms: Rest Time Wild + Free Bundle Subscription Subscribe and get access to the booklists -
Bring on the sweaters and boots and pumpkin spice lattes! Autumn is in full swing by now with falling leaves, crisp mornings, and night creeping in earlier and earlier.
I like to take time to reflect as fall begins in earnest; what changes do we need to make in routines and atmosphere to get ready for a new season? Which traditions are we looking forward to the most and are there any we want to let go of? And how can I bottle everything that makes fall the loveliest time of the year?
The fragrance of spices, the glow of a candle, goldenrod swaying in a breeze that is still warm but warning of a coming chill.
Itâs the poem, âSomething Told the Wild Geeseâ and the actual geese flying overhead in the morning.
Itâs the copper and crimson and buttery yellow leaves as the trees beginning to change, the sound of folksy coffee shop music as the sun sets earlier and earlier.
Itâs stacks of familiar books mingling with new reads brought by the school year.
Itâs being ready to say good-bye to one season and welcome another with a full heart.
IN THIS EPISODE YOUâLL HEAR:
What autumn looks like for us Rhythms we keep Books weâre readingSHOW NOTES
Homeschool Rhythms Kid of the Week Julie Andrews' Poetry Collection Greenfield Village Morning Rhythms Subscribe to the newsletter Nature Journal -
If you've listened to Part I of this episode (How to Start a Homeschool Group and why you should), you'll be delighted to hear this continuation on what to do when the group starts to grow and take on a life of its own!
IN THIS EPISODE YOUâLL HEAR: How teens make a difference for the group How privacy plays into your group's growth Communicating with your growing group Membership fees and insurance All the legal mumbo-jumbo Icky issues like dress code and phone use Should you grow? Picking venues How to build sustainable leadership Working together as a group How events change as you grow Knowing when you're big enough -
Doesnât summertime bring out the child in us all? Swimming in the scorching heat, drinking lemonade, inhaling the wafting scent of the grill, listening for cicadas, watching for firefliesâŠthere is a sense of wonder that comes with summer.
Use this month to tap into your inner child:
Stop and smell the gardenias and jasmine.
Take time.
Slow down.
Play and explore the great outdoors.
Soak in summer and all of its splendor.
IN THIS EPISODE YOUâLL HEAR: What summer looks like for us Rhythms we keep Books weâre reading Why you donât have to do a summer camp Why being bored is a good thing SHOW NOTES Homeschool Rhythms Zone Work Swallows and Amazons Robinson Crusoe All the World The Raft Let them be Bored -
It's been a while...but I'm back and I'm so excited to be with you again! Catch up on what's new and what to look forward to. Or, if you're brand new, get to know a little more about Homeschooling Outside the Box. You are very welcome here!
You can also check out the new Nature Journal and sign up for my free monthly "Everything" guides.
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So far in this âHomeschool Rhythmsâ series weâve talked about morning time, narration, getting ready, group work, individual work, and read alouds. Weâve moved our way through morning activities and lunch so today weâre going to talk about rest time!
I know some of you might have the urge to check out right now thinking your children have aged out of this time of day but I assure you, it is for all agesâŠincluding you, mama. Rest time is a beautiful hour of the day when you can take a few deep breaths, make a fresh cup of coffee, and reset for your afternoon.
Our culture is obsessed with productivity; there seems to be an underlying pressure everywhere we turn to be active. What if rest is not something we do because we are finished with our work but rather something we do because God created us to need to do it?
Join me today as I show you how rest time can fit in your day.
IN THIS EPISODE YOUâLL HEAR: How to fit rest time in your busy day The benefits of having a family rest Why itâs for everyone â including you! How to do rest time SHOW NOTES Original Silent Reading Blog Post Bad Kitty Books Anneâs Kindred Spirits Mr. Putter and Tabby Books Water Wow Jim Weiss episode The Little House Book and CD How to Start a Homeschool Group episode -
For decades homeschoolers have been plagued by the question, âwhat about socializationâ from well-meaning (and letâs be honest, sometimes not so well-meaningâŠ) neighbors, family, and friends. The question chafes at us because it assumes that the minute we begin homeschooling, we hole up in our homes and avoid all contact with any other humans. Thatâs just not the case though; community is an essential part of the homeschool experience and a great homeschool group can be the place for you to find lasting relationships.
Six years ago, I was struggling to find a community to fit my outside-the-box family and in a moment of courage (or perhaps desperation), I reached out to another homeschool mama and asked her to âgo do stuff together.â The result has been a deep friendship between our families and an accidentally thriving homeschool group.
Join us today as Danielle and I explore the benefits of how to start a homeschool group and why you should.
IN THIS EPISODE YOUâLL HEAR: Why community and relationships are non-negotiables for homeschoolers How it only takes one other family to get started Which events are good to start with How to grow your group slowly and organically How to make your group âoutside-the-boxâ friendly How to structure your group How to grow your group into an outreach How to communicate with your group members How to handle challenges How to adapt when your group gets big How to structure leadership What to do about cost Our list of events SHOW NOTES Get Started Pack -
So far in this âHomeschool Rhythmsâ series weâve talked about morning time, narration, getting ready, group work, and individual work. Weâve moved our way through morning activities and today weâre going to talk about reading aloud!
I want to talk to you today about making read-aloud time a family activity for all time â no matter what your childâs age. This is a beautiful part of the day that can be a little more laid back and relaxing and there are a few different ways you can make it happen.
I donât think many people would argue about the value of reading great literature together but it can easily become something that slips from an overbusy schedule.
Reading aloud to your children helps them build vocabulary, creates a bridge for struggling readers, and most importantly creates a shared experience for your family making it a great tool for strengthening relationships. I encourage you to enjoy this nurturing time with your whole family and make it a priority in homeschool.
Join me today as I show you how read-aloud time can fit in your day.
IN THIS EPISODE YOUâLL HEAR: How to fit read-aloud time in your busy day The benefits of reading aloud as a family Why you should read aloud to kids of all ages How to choose great read alouds Why you shouldnât focus too much on the time -
When you ask a seasoned homeschooler about structuring the day, you will often hear the same refrain: âcombine as many subjects as you can.â But what about the subjects that require a certain set of skills for children to master?
You can generally look at academics in two categories: skill-based subjects and non-skill-based subjects. Skill-based subjects are really best taught 1-on-1 or in a very small group of kids at a similar level of skill. I like to chunk these into three categories: Language (learning to read, write, and speak other languages), STEM-L (science, tech, engineering, math, and logic), and Personal Development (spiritual growth, citizenship, arts, and therapy to name a few). In this episode, Iâm going to focus on the best way to teach these three categories.
IN THIS EPISODE YOUâLL HEAR: Which subjects are best taught as individual work Why 1-on-1 time is worthwhile How to do 1-on-1 time with multiple kids SHOW NOTES What is the Son-Rise ProgramÂź? Brain Training Talkbox Zone Work Our Preschool Life Spiral Notebooks -
What if I told you there was a skill that would help prepare your child for any job he might pursue in the future? And what if this skill was so attainable, that you wouldnât have to purchase a fancy curriculum or join an elite co-op to access it?
The pandemic that rocked 2020 has thrown us many curveballs but one positive consequence has been a rise in homeschooling. Parents all over the world are realizing that they can provide their children with opportunities and experiences that are not only extremely valuable but can also prepare them for the unique world they are launching into. Homeschool is the ideal environment for fostering creativity in children.
Chad Stewart has seen this change happening and is excited about the possibilities. Creativity is the top global skill and he sees homeschool as a fantastic way to equip our kids for the future. In addition to writing an award-winning and bestselling book, Britfield & the Lost Crown (the first in a series of seven), heâs created an online platform, The Britfield Institue, to help kids harness their natural creativity and teach parents how to inspire it.
Join us today as Chad and I explore the importance of creativity.
IN THIS EPISODE YOUâLL HEAR: How Britfield (the Institute) was born What makes Britfield (the books) such a great series Why is harnessing our kids' creativity is so important Why the homeschool revolution is happening How you can work more creativity into your homeschool SHOW NOTES Britfield Britfield Institute -
When you ask a seasoned homeschooler about structuring the day, you will often hear the same refrain: "combine as many subjects as you can."
Academics can generally be broken into two categories: skill-based subjects and non-skill-based subjects. Anything that is skill-based really is best taught 1-on-1 or in a very small group of kids at a similar level of skill. Some examples are math, reading, spelling, or writing.
A non-skill-based subject would be something everyone can learn together no matter how old or experienced they are. Some examples of these subjects would be bible, memory work, history, and geography. And those are the very subjects we're going to talk about teaching today.
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I have no doubt that when my children are grown people, making their way in the world, they will hear the faint refrain of my voice when they roll out of bed and get ready for their day:
âAttitude-dressed-bedâ
And again after they have breakfast:
âTeeth-face-hair-deodorant-zoneâ
These have been the anthems of our mornings for years and my goal has been to create habits for them to help them (and myself) get the day off to a right start.
If the phrase âget readyâ sounds reminiscent of âon your mark, get set, go!â thatâs not an accident. Starting the day with a proactive posture is important. The day before us is a gift and the duty and stewardship we are bound to as receivers of that gift demand that we face the day boldly. A vibe of adventure and purpose can carry us through even the most mundane tasks.
This applies to us as moms as well as our children. After all, if we are to train them in these ways, we should be modeling them ourselves. But if I sound overambitious and a touch unrealistic, just know that I donât usually wake up feeling this way and I know you probably donât either. Thatâs why it all begins with attitude.
Show Notes
Original blog post with all the links
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Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart. It requires endurance and initiative. It requires sacrifice and diligence. But it also requires something you might not realizeâŠa sense of humor. We homeschool moms can be so serious; the stakes are high! Weâre going against the grain! What if we mess upâŠthis is our kids weâre talking about, after all?! But, but, butâŠwe were never meant to completely reinvent the wheel, and one of the best things we can do for ourselves, our families, and our homeschool is to take ourselves just a tad less seriously.
If you are on Instagram, you have no doubt seen memes of classic artwork splashed with humorous text. Betsy Jenkins is the woman behind the memes and itâs her mission to make you laugh. She does an amazing job at this while simultaneously educating people on art and exposing them to a wide range of prints. Betsyâs homeschool memes began as a family thing and she started her Instagram account, âHomeschooling With the Classicsâ as a simple way to share them with a few friends. These few friends have multiplied into thousands of followers who are thirsty for a refreshing laugh in the midst of their busy homeschool day. She struck a chord in the community and for good reason; laughter is a soothing balm on a hard day and the mental refreshment that we need to persevere towards excellence.
Join us today as Betsy and I indulge the importance of laughter in our homeschools.
SHOW NOTES Betsyâs Instagram account, Homeschooling_with the Classics -
If there is a quintessential practice in Charlotte Masonâs approach to education, it is the act of narration. You can pick and choose which living books you want to read, you can use watercolors or not in your nature journaling, and you can dictate your own routine in a way that best fits your family, but you simply cannot reap the full benefits of Charlotte Masonâs approach without narration.
WHAT IS NARRATION?Narration is the art of knowing. Simply stated, itâs the act of telling back what you have heard in a way that is authentic to you. This isnât about parroting back the last sentence or idea of a paragraph; itâs about processing the information youâve received and delivering it back in a meaningful way. Charlotte Mason said, âif you cannot tell, you do not know.â
Narration is a challenging demonstration of true knowing and makes multiple-choice, comprehension questions, and the like, unnecessary.
There are two types of narration: oral and written.
Join me today as I talk about the benefits of narration.
Original post with all the links
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âMorning timeâ is a phrase coined by the great Cindy Rollins. She may not be the first person to ever put those two words next to each other, but the idea that it represents, the âcoming togetherâ-ness of it, can largely be attributed by the homeschool community to her.
Pam Barnhill calls it âMorning Basketâ and has an entire website dedicated to the practice. In episode 46 of this podcast, Melissa McMahan referred to it as their âtogether time.â Others call it âsymposiumâ or âdaily basketâ removing the time constraint of the morning. Whatever you call it, the idea is to gather together and learn together.
Join me today to find out how morning time can work in your homeschool and what subjects are a good fit for this chunk of your day.
Show Notes
Blog Post with all the links
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If given the option, would you choose for your child to have dyslexia? Dyslexia is widely thought of as a challenge that gets in the way of learning but what if weâve got it wrong? What if dyslexia is a gift? What if dyslexia helps your child to think in a way that many people cannot, therefore, providing an angle of creativity that this world really needs? What if dyslexia is actuallyâŠ.a strength?
Rich Sanchez grew up struggling with his dyslexia but as an adult, he has found a way to harness his unique talents. Heâs made it his mission to help others do the same thing.
Join us today as Rich and I explore dyslexia from a new perspective. In this episode youâll hear:
Richâs dyslexia story Why dyslexia is really a strengthâŠbut not many see it that way Careers that work well for dyslexics Why failure is just part of the process Tools that have helped Rich overcome his challenges What we can teach our children to help them be prepared for life A word of encouragement from Rich just for you SHOW NOTES Dyslexic Sperm Bank Video Rich Sanchez on Linkedin Richâs company: A Product Fit - Mostrar más