Homeschooling Outside the Box

• On Planning Your School Year: The (Almost) Back to School Episode

  I’m big on philosophy when it comes to education but at some point we need to stop thinking and discussing and actually do the thing. This is the nuts and bolts of it all. How do we actually homeschool? What is the super practical application of the beautiful Charlotte Mason Philosophy? If your child is under 6, get all thoughts of curriculum shopping out of your head and commit to these three things instead: Read great books, Go outside, Work on habits. (Trust me). That said, sometimes we are so excited about homeschooling, we just want to take it out on someone (i.e. your oldest child). If that’s you, consider this. ;) If your child is school aged or high school aged, decide if you want to rely on an all-in-one curriculum like Ambleside Online or Simply Charlotte Mason, or if you’d like to piece it together for yourself. Figure out what you want to teach each child (individual work) and what you can combine (group work, aka Morning Time). Or flip these if that makes more sense for you. Use a planner of some sort to help you stay organized. If you are putting together your own curriculum, plan your year/term/week (this podcast breaks this down). Decide where these things will fit in your day (routine). Cut the fat (we always want to do too much; make Margin now or regret it later). Make your list and collect the curriculum and supplies you’ll need (Borrow, bargain-hunt, or buy). Pick a start date. I suggest a Wednesday, not a Monday. You can also ease in and start Morning Time only on Monday, add individual readings on Tuesday, shoot for full day on Wednesday or whatever works best for your family. Make start day fun — cook a big delicious breakfast and take “back to school” pictures afterwards. Adjust the plan as needed. Remember, curriculum is a tool, not the master ;) Resources* All six of Charlotte Mason’s volumes, but especially this one Sarah Mackenzie’s Teaching from Rest Ambleside Online is a time-tested, all-in-one (FREE!) curriculum Morning Time by Cindy Rollins Simply Charlotte Mason, especially the podcast and the curriculum builder The Lifegiving Home by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Clarkson Modern Miss Mason, especially her book Wild + Free, especially their conference, content bundles, and this book Get Started Homeschooling: Begin Get Started Homeschooling: Methods, Teaching Space & Routine Get Started Homeschooling: Subjects to Teach & Curriculum to Choose Get Started Homeschooling: Organizing & Planning Essential Rhythms for Busy Days Homeschool Rhythms: Get Ready Homeschool Rhythms: Rest Time Homeschool Rhythms: Reading Aloud Homeschool Rhythms: Individual Work Homeschool Rhythms: Group Work Homeschool Rhythms: Narrations Homeschool Rhythms: Morning Time On Starting Well On Littles (for those with children age 6 and under) On Education On Principles 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15: The Curriculum Issue On Rhythms & Routines ***The (Very Updated) Get Started Homeschooling Guide *** If you get stuck, email/message me to find out more about my private or group consultations to help you plan your homeschool year. Thank you for reading. I offer forever-free articles on my Substack every month and a paid monthly resource, as well. You can become a paid subscriber to support my work. If that’s not for you right now, shared links are the best way for others to find my work. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and share :).  

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• Replay: The Importance of Humor with Betsy Jenkins from Homeschooling with the Classics

  I am not doing interviews right now, but I want to bring you some great talks from past seasons. Enjoy!   Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart. It requires endurance and initiative. It requires sacrifice and diligence. But it also requires something you might not realize…a sense of humor. We homeschool moms can be so serious; the stakes are high! We’re going against the grain! What if we mess up…this is our kids we’re talking about, after all?! But, but, but…we were never meant to completely reinvent the wheel, and one of the best things we can do for ourselves, our families, and our homeschool is to take ourselves just a tad less seriously. If you are on Instagram, you have no doubt seen memes of classic artwork splashed with humorous text. Betsy Jenkins is the woman behind the memes and it’s her mission to make you laugh. She does an amazing job at this while simultaneously educating people on art and exposing them to a wide range of prints. Betsy’s homeschool memes began as a family thing and she started her Instagram account, “Homeschooling With the Classics” as a simple way to share them with a few friends. These few friends have multiplied into thousands of followers who are thirsty for a refreshing laugh in the midst of their busy homeschool day. She struck a chord in the community and for good reason; laughter is a soothing balm on a hard day and the mental refreshment that we need to persevere towards excellence.  Join us today as Betsy and I indulge the importance of laughter in our homeschools. SHOW NOTES Betsy’s Instagram account, Homeschooling_with the Classics

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• On the High School Years: The Beginning of the End

  If you’re just at the beginning of the high school years, it may feel like the end is still far off but I warn you, the ball sure does start rolling quickly once it starts. The end is nigh, my friend. You’ve been working yourself out of a job and when you make it to the high school years, and you should begin to feel that change. It sounds somber to call it “the end,” but remember it’s just the end of a chapter and not the whole book. You’re still your teen’s parent, after all ;). As I said in a past article, the high school years are a different animal in many ways, the lens often focused on the future. More complex subject matter, heavier work loads, afternoon jobs, driver’s license, friends, formals, sports, hobbies, dual enrollment classes, prep for the ACT, and post-high school plans disrupt what was previously a lovely and semi-predictable homeschool routine. All of these things require the same thing: more time. A wise woman once told me when our kids were young that you really only have until they are fifteen. To do what, I was never quite sure, but now that we’re beyond that benchmark I know what she meant. Your role as a parent and educator changes. Your impact, though still felt, is felt in a different capacity. Your child’s world broadens and though you are likely still the most prominent voice — and should be — you are not the only one. There is a definite shift around this age as teens grapple for autonomy and understanding of who they are and how they fit in this world. They begin to look for purpose outside of your home. While it’s a good, healthy, and necessary thing to grow, the bittersweet truth is your homeschool will begin to feel different as you have less control over everyone’s schedule. The long, leisurely days of family read alouds and afternoons spent on nature walks may start to disappear from your schedule if you’re not intentional. And let’s be honest, even if you are intentional, there just won’t be as much time for them as there used to be. Read more on Substack Follow me on Instagram Check out my Website for archives and more

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• Replay: The Value of Teaching Through Stories

  I am not doing interviews right now, but I want to bring you some great talks from past seasons. Enjoy! Stories have been a part of human history from the very beginning and have been used as a powerful teaching tool throughout the centuries. Teaching through stories is a wonderful way to approach lessons in your homeschool, as well. Jim Weiss is a household name among many homeschoolers. He made his mark by doing this very thing – teaching through stories. His seamless delivery and enchanting ability to tell a great tale allows him to weave important character development and historical fact into wonderful stories that listeners are happy to enjoy. Jim and his wife, Randy, were pioneers in the field when they began the journey of bringing stories to children via audio. It’s hard to remember, but there was a time before Audible ;). Join us today as Jim talks about why oral stories matter so much and are worth including in our homeschool. Listening to stories is such a beautiful benefit for our outside-the-box kiddos. his storytelling, Jim makes these timeless tales accessible to kids who might not otherwise be able to enjoy them independently. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR: why stories matter so much how you can include Jim’s audios into your homeschool teaching why teaching through stories is so powerful how storytelling makes these great lessons and tales accessible to our outside-the-box kiddos an example of Jim’s storytelling ability as he performs one of my family’s favorite poems, “Jabberwocky” (You know how I love poetry) why these timeless tales are so important to us today

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• Replay: Seeing Autism in a New Light with Bryn Hogan, Executive Director of the Autism Treatment Center of America®

  While I am not able to do interviews right now, I want to bring you some great talks from past seasons. Join me for the replay of a fantastic interview with Bryn Hogan. Are you ready to see autism in a new light? So often the conversation about autism is surrounded by a list of limitations. And let's face it, living the daily grind as a parent of a child on the spectrum sometimes really highlights those limitations. Join us today as Bryn Hogan, Executive Director of the Autism Treatment Center of America® talks about how the program came to be and what makes it is so radically different (in a fantastic way) and why that makes this therapy program so effective. Bryn is a breath of fresh air in what can be a very overwhelming environment when you have a child with autism. She will free you of the pressure and guilt that often come hand-in-hand with being an autism mom and set you on a path to move forward in a positive and uplifting way to help your child. In this episode, you’ll hear: what autism really is and why it's not the enemy why your attitude is so critical to your child's growth why you can't train a child not to be autistic and what you can do instead how to have a beautiful relationship with your child no matter where they are on the spectrum what you can do immediately (as soon as you finish listening!) to help your child   Show Notes Autism Treatment Center of America® Finding Your New Normal What is the Son-Rise Program®? Autism Breakthrough: The Groundbreaking Method That Has Helped Families All Over the World  (affiliate link) Son-Rise Miracle of Love DVD The Son-Rise Program Social Curriculum (Developmental Model) How to Get Started  Autistic Logistics (affiliate link) The Son-Rise Program® Online

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