Home school & Parenting Help
The best homeschool planning tips are the ones we often forget. With this simple outline your year will begin with a great start! Often, what we do is we get laser focused on school and forget we have a life. We are so excited we have our books – our schedule laid out and then when the afternoon rolls around we are FREAKED OUT we don’t have anything planned for dinner. In this episode I cover three simple guidelines.
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Show Notes: The Best Homeschool Planning Tips
3. Think through things once and forget it!
Just like the crock pot recipe commercials would say the set it and forget it – the same thing with your planning.
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Can you save money during the holidays? There is no way, right? Holiday savings can happen no matter the season; Felice shares ten ways to make your holidays shine, from reusable decorations to gift-giving and regifting items that work.
Now Programs sponsors this episode. If you have a child who learns differently and needs help, check the website for more information.
One of my friends purchased an amazing home. It had turrets, a huge wood wrap-around porch, and many amazing extras like a library and room on the third floor she transformed into a school room. The fixtures were brass, there was an antique stove in the kitchen, and the lighting fixtures were priceless. This home went for way below market value, and all due to the downturn of the housing market and the overspending of the recipient of an inheritance given ahead of time.
The house was built using money that was a gift from the still-living parents. They wanted to see their children spend the money they left them while they were alive. So, the opportunity wasn’t because the family could not afford it but because it was a gift.
While you may not have a million dollars to gift your children for Christmas, this idea can spur you to think about what you have that you can give your kids.
What have you inherited from your grandparents, an aunt, or your parents that you can give (without hard feelings) to your children? Here is a list of some items I have:
So, some of my kids may not appreciate these gifts, but others would. There are many meaningful ways to give or regift.
Early on in our married life, none of us had much money, so when we gathered with my husband’s sisters, they were more frugal than I by a long shot. One sister took a wicker basket and placed an electrical clock on the front, and I used this in my kitchen for years until it broke. What gave her the idea? I had wicker baskets of all sizes hanging on the wall around my kitchen as decoration. What a great idea that cost so little; it probably cost under $5 if you considered getting the basket at a thrift store.
What do you know about the person you are buying for, and how can you use this knowledge to your advantage?
There are gift cards. Check your credit card dashboard to see if you can redeem points for gift cards. This is normally a fairly good way to redeem your points, but it changes depending on your cards. I use these for stocking stuffers.
Look for early Black Friday deals. Some restaurants offer ten-dollar gift cards with the purchase of one hundred dollars in advance. If you frequent this restaurant, it is worth the purchase. There are also deals on attractions. The zoo, aquarium, and all the attractions here in Florida. While $89 a person may be steep on sale, the usual price is $140. If you are planning to visit a unique location, check out the Black Friday sales, and you may save a ton of money.
Gift cards for services. I loved the gift cards for a neck rub, car wash, or even cleaning my glasses! I wore contact lenses so much of my life that when I switched to glasses at home, I could not stand even a speck of dirt. You can suggest gift cards for “services” you might enjoy from your little ones.
Thrift store shopping. My best friend from high school came to visit a few weeks ago, and I took her to thrift stores in a neighboring city near a high-end part of town. She knows her stuff and the cost. We ended up with amazing finds. She bought an entire place setting of china for less than four plates. There were some special sales, and we took advantage of them. I gained some wonderful candle sconces for the top of my fireplace for bargain prices and would have loved those as a gift!
While it may be hard to buy a gift from the Thrift store if your family is not so inclined, others may value these gifts.
You can definitely use thrift store items for decorations, and they are usually amazing. I purchased tablecloths in two colors and use them all year long: deep red and golden. I pair them with different-colored napkins depending on the season. I use cheap clear glass plates for my “expensive” tableware. If they break, I am not heartbroken.
What can you recycle, regift, or make for your family or friends? One of the treasured items these days is baked items. Many people I know do not bake sourdough, which is a new item on my gift-giving list. I’ve finally made the bread giftable. What item do you bake that is a good gift?
For those who do not like to bake, one of the best gifts I’ve received from friends who don’t cook is dipped chocolate items. One friend purchased large hard pretzels in a bag and used dipped chocolate on half with a drizzle of white chocolate and a light coating of sprinkles. She then bagged these and gifted them in a basket. (Again, something you can buy at bargain stores.)
Gift baskets are always well received, especially those created with love. That is the standing joke in our family: the food is made with love, and the gifts are given with love.
We recently started making homemade pasta with a pasta machine. Once we perfect the drying-out process, this will turn into another gift-giving idea. The pasta is made for pennies (yes, I know pasta is cheap), but it does not taste the same!
Brainstorm with your children (their ideas are often hilarious) and your spouse. See what you can come up with that are options and enjoy the Christmas season with less stress to break the bank!
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The countdown to Christmas can be a wonderful and blessed time, especially if we make a plan that this year will be different. The stress and harried approach is now in the past and we are going to do this with prayer and the grace that comes only from God! In this episode Felice shares some of her secrets to getting it down with plenty of time to spare.
Friends, it is time to take charge of our lives and get ready for the best Christmas ever with the focus on what really matters. I have about three steps to this plan so it is easy to implement and so simple!
One thing I would recommend is that you begin each day with prayer and end each day with prayers. We use an advent wreath. I have a special countdown to Christmas activity you can do with your children and I’ve podcasted about this as well – the link for that podcast is on this episode 310
First is make a list and cross off anything you do not want to do. I’m serious!
Here is what a typical Christmas countdown list looks like:
What is on this list that you can avoid? The two that stand out for me are the Christmas cards and the baking. Everything else you have to do… whether you buy presents or make them. You still have to wrap them.
Second is put your list in order of deadlines
Print out a month at a glance calendar – I have one on the show notes of VintageHomeschoolMoms.com if you don’t have one. You will need to add the dates to the calendar as it is blank. Use a pencil and list your deadline dates.
Try to get your shopping done one week ahead of time.
Third: Implement your list!
Helpful Christmas Countdown Hints:
Thank you to Heirloom Audios. Lasting value and spiritual benefits — Christian history – audio adventures Movies for the Minds CD Sets GiveTheAdventure.com and NOW Progams for sponsoring this podcast episode.
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It is the season to give thanks, but giving should be our mission, no matter the season. How can we encourage our children, spouse, and families to see the bright side? Felice shares simple tips and activities you can do with your family in this podcast.
Thanks to our sponsor, NowPrograms. Visit the website to learn about a unique way to help those who learn differently, regardless of age.
As I entered church this past Sunday, I noticed that the giving tree was up in the lobby. On this tree are name tags with a number and the item or product the family desires for their child. This year, I noticed our Parish selected a neighboring church that we ministered to many years before when my children were little. Several families banded together to create a party for the people at the church after a church service one Sunday. We were treated like royalty; all we did was put up festive decorations and bring trays and trays of cookies, cakes, and other foods that accompanied their vast trays of “real” food. We were trying to teach our children that giving thanks for what we had was more important than what we received.
It failed.
Why did this fail? It failed in the way we thought it would go, as we were hoping to bless this community. However, the lovely people who had nothing gave back so much in gratitude. We were blown away by how thankful the people were and how many kids came up and hugged us—even our kids! Truly, it wasn’t a total failure because our children did notice. They noticed how happy the families were who, by our standards, had nothing. We pointed out that the materially poor did not equal happiness and thankfulness.
We can talk about giving thanks or show our children in real and concrete ways. My co-author in the Creation Science Series, Jill Whitlock* would take her boys to the soup kitchen each Thanksgiving and help prepare and distribute meals to those struggling and less fortunate. She shared that often, there were families that joined the lines of those without. She began this after her divorce as a way to show her family that was struggling that others had it worse than they did. What a testimony to God’s love.
*Jill went to be with the Lord in 2007, and I miss her even today. She was such an inspiration for God’s love and faithfulness.
How can we teach our children to give? By giving ourselves. Some children have this innate love of giving. My youngest would find things around the house, wrap them up for me, and then gift them to me. I was often surprised at the trinkets he thought would be a good gift for his mom. It showed a loving heart; I could nurture this as a mom. It isn’t difficult for some children to give, but what about those who tend to be a bit more stingy?
One way is to enlist this child to help you brainstorm ideas or collect items to donate to others. My daughter would teach her children to select one stuffed animal or toy to give away yearly in a drive for gently used toys. Some children were on board, and others were not. She didn’t force the issue. However, she praised the children who did, marveling at their choices. This helped by providing an example for the reluctant child to participate. But, if the child did not, she didn’t make it a big deal and squelched any sibling peer pressure.
She explained that it was better to give from the heart or not at all — and she was right. You can’t force giving or someone to be thankful. I have a child who has struggled through his life to be grateful. One reason could be that hardships seem to follow him, but another is that he does not appreciate what God has given him.
Love and thankfulness are free. It is a gift, but it is totally free, and only when we recognize it can we appreciate it. Years ago, a downturn in the housing market hit us financially. Goen were the years of plenty, and we were in for the long haul of making do with what we had. I took an inventory of our lifestyle. It was easy for the children and me to gather together and look at what we could take away from our budget. The youngest three were the ones who learned the most from this trial.
We stopped buying paper plates, stopped bottled water delivery (it was way cheaper to bring empty bottles to the place and have them exchanged), and stopped the cleaning service we previously enjoyed. Everyone pitched it. When a dog came up for sale, the children band together, putting their hard-earned money toward the purchase of $100. They only had $95, and when we went to the private individual selling the dog, he accepted the $5 less. He saw they were a bunch of small bills, and I told him the children only had this much money.
This beloved dog passed away only a year ago; they had the dog for sixteen years. Life lessons can not be taught and don’t come out of a book.
Each Christmas, when the family gathers, all young adults now have an activity we share before they scatter to their own homes. Two are out of town, and the other three live in the same town. These activities keep us together and praying for each other all year long. First, when everyone gathers each night before bed, we pray, and then we go around the room saying what we are thankful for. It is an old routine from their youngest years and comes full circle into adult life.
I pray and ask the Lord for ideas for activities, and they change over the years. I hope to have a book for sale within the next year to share these activities. Currently, there are only twenty, but they have made an amazing impact on our lives. Last year, I placed words of encouragement in an envelope, and these were selected randomly. Each person kept their “word,” and we as a family wrote them down and prayed for each member for this word.
Two people received the word “hope.” Two people received the word “peace.” Two people received the word “love.” And, one received the word “joy.” My son, the one who struggles with thankfulness, received joy! I received the word peace along with my son in the military. I suggested we change out the activity this past Easter, and all said no! They wanted it to continue. I have no idea what the activity will be this year, but God does — so we will wait and see!
Look for life lessons in your family, whether it is making bread for the neighbor who lost their husband, helping to mow a neighbor’s lawn, or helping a poor church by purchasing gifts for each of the tags you select from a giving tree. When the children were younger, they would each select a gift and contribute to the purchase of an item with their “earned” money. I never paid for chores, but I did have a list of “extras” the kids could do to earn money. Any time the kids wanted to earn money, there were plenty of weeds to pull, trash to take out to the road (usually dad’s job), the garage to clean, cars to wash, etc. The job standards were high, so payment required a job well done with all items picked up in the end.
Out of five children, I have three who are extremely frugal and two who are not. Yet, all are thankful for the lives we’ve lived some years of struggling. This year, as we approach Thanksgiving, my husband needs a knee replacement. While the holidays are not a time I’d select, I’m thankful for the doctor who is a personal friend of the family, thankful for all of you who will pray and thankful for my family who is here to surround us and help.
May you have a blessed Thanksgiving, or whatever the upcoming holiday is, as you listen to this podcast–any season is the right season to be thankful and praise God for all that He has allowed to happen in our lives. Easy, no, but believe me, it will help you to be thankful for all those things that are free. The sunset, the sunrise, the food on the table, and the things we take for granted each day. Look around. What are you thankful for each and every day? Make it a habit, and it will bless you and your family!
The post Giving Thanks ~ No Matter What The Season appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
What is your favorite Thanksgiving memory? Another episode just for kids! Join Felice as she shares her encouragement to notice those little things that are important to appreciate.
Thanks to NowProgams for sponsoring this episode.
Be sure to go to VintageHomeschoolMoms.com – episode 416 and you will find a copy of the Thanksgiving Memory Book – Thanksgiving Memory Book
Thanksgiving is a time to make memories and share joy with others. A fun craft is to take branches and make a Thankful tree. You add leaves to the tree and on each, you can put a word that reminds you of something you are thankful for.
Think About This:
What are you thankful for? People may ask you that question and you may say, “I don’t know!” I get it, sometimes it seems that the questions you get asked don’t really have good answers. Here is a challenge for you. Do you think you can do this? Start looking around. What do you see?
Here are some possibilities. You see people in your family, you see the things that you own, you see the things that are part of your world. Maybe a pet, or something you think is important. It may not be valuable meaning it costs lots of money, but it is valuable to you.
So what are those things? Maybe you are thankful for:
These are just a few of the things you may be thankful for. We did this quickly, but you can take more time to do this on your own. So, the next time someone asks you what you are thankful for you will be able to answer it quickly.
Have you ever had a super fun time doing something and wish you had pictures or written down exactly what you did? How about keeping a memory book? Have you ever kept a journal? A memory book is something like that. I have a free one you can download here: – Thanksgiving Memory Book
You can add things like what you are grateful for but you can also list who was at your celebration, what you did, and what you ate. Maybe your family plays games. What is it that made the day special. What are some traditions that your family does every year? Think about this.
One time, friends of mine lived far away from their family and friends, in fact, they had just moved to a new town. So they decided they wanted to have a different type of Thanksgiving and had a picnic. They had turkey sandwiches, and fun sides, and they played games at the park. The kids all said it was one of their favorite Thanksgiving memories. Have you ever heard that what makes something special is what you put into it? You might not think the food at Thanksgiving is very good, maybe you don’t like turkey and gravy. But, either way what you are celebrating makes it special to you. (Remember – what are you putting into the celebration?)
I had another friend who used Thanksgiving as a day to help out at a soup kitchen, a place that cooks meals for the poor. She said she felt so thankful for all that God had given her that she wanted to give of her time for others. That is truly being unselfish, isn’t it? Each person can give from what they have and share it with someone else. You can do this in your family as well.
Whatever you do to celebrate this happy day, I pray that you make memories that you will always remember. I hope you have a very special thanksgiving with your family and your friends. Even if you have a turkey sandwich at the park this year, make it the best Thanksgiving memory ever!
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Have you considered education at home as an option for your family? Join Felice Gerwitz and Sam Sorbo, actress, author, conservative pundit, and home education advocate, for a lively discussion that will dispel many false concepts about home education.
Thanks to NowProgams for sponsoring this episode.
We are all called to homeschool, but few take up the challenge. There are many valid excuses for this, yet for those who believe, God will provide. Over the years, I’ve been a homeschool advocate. I homeschooled my five children for thirty-two years, yet I’ve never thought everyone should homeschool. I’ve changed my mind. The toxic culture in which we live begs for a new generation of Christian children who can stand up, articulate, and be heard. These are the kids whose faith only strengthens within the home and becomes the shining light of truth and justice. Educating this new generation of children is imperative for our culture to flourish. (End of soapbox rant
My special guest today is Sam Sorbo!
Mrs. Sam Sorbo is an actress, conservative pundit, radio show host, writer, and passionate child home education advocate. She released a PARENTS’ GUIDE TO HOMESCHOOL: MAKING EDUCATION EASY AND FUN – a soup-to-nuts, all-you-need-to-know-to-get-you-started workbook for parents who want to homeschool their children. Mrs. Sam Sorbo offers personal experience, insights, and encouragement to begin your and your children’s true educational journey. Visit her at Sorbo Studios. Sam’s perspective on homeschooling changed dramatically after placing her children in what was considered the best school at the time. In fact, they moved to be in the school district because of the school was highly recommended. She also became intune to her son’s outside influence within the structure of school and interactions with children of the same age. Sam’s passion is evident, and she is more than an advocate for homeschooling; she is the next champion of home education for new generations of parents. These are parents who care about their children’s academic education, yes, but more so about the future of their children’s minds and hearts. Having the ability and the passion for homeschooling, Sam has dedicated time to mentoring other parents at Sam Sorbo Locals – visit the link her for a sneak peak of the videos available.
Sam’s book helps parents figure out how they want to homeschool. It is a wonderful resource. One concept is to look at what you want in your life and how you want your relationship with your children to look, not only now but in the future. Check out the book on Sam’s website and get an autographed copy.
The post Education At Home ~ Sam Sorbo Homeschool Advocate appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
The homeschool movement is growing, and so is homeschooling the next generation of children. Join Felice Gerwitz and Cathy Duffy (Cathy Duffy Reviews), renowned curriculum reviewer and homeschool advocate. Cathy and Felice discuss the importance of homeschooling more so today than in past years and wonderful and free curriculum resources.
Thanks to our sponsor! NowPrograms.com – visit the website for more information. Cathy Duffy is well known today as an authority on all things homeschool curriculum. She has a popular website, CathyDuffyReviews.com, with thousands of reviews of books, curriculum, and online classes. It is exhaustive and comprehensive, with a section that parents can use to keep their own information. Yet, a book that helped give homeschoolers an insight into public education has been forgotten by some, but not me. Years ago, Cathy authored the book, “Government Nannies” as a warning for parents to be aware of the encroachment of government into our children’s lives. This book was groundbreaking because it was written in 1995 and dealt with the US government’s Goals 2000 and outcome-based education. While goals are great for education it is important to keep in mind that parental rights can and were infringed upon. I purchased many of these books and gave them away to friends. It was a classic at the time and actually a precursor to what has happened in education today. It was a reminder to home educators of the importance of homeschooling. In our conversation, Cathy shared why she homeschooled and the reason she wrote “Government Nannies.” This book is long out of print, yet the impact is the same and telling. Her warning that education would encroach upon the lives of parents and circumvent parental control has come to pass. It went unnoticed except for a segment of the homeschool, private, and perhaps charter school crowd. Yet, education online during the pandemic made more parents aware of the problems within traditional classrooms. Parents could see firsthand what their children were being taught. There was an exodus from traditional education at this time as parents began to pull their children out of school. This was alarming to school administrators, yet the curtain had been pulled back and the truth was that education was not only subpar, but parental concerns were not taken into consideration. Points we covered in the interview:Cathy has compiled a large list of free homeschool resources on her website here:
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Why homeschooling works is simple: do you realize that the worst day of homeschooling beats the best day of traditional school? In this podcast, Felice Gerwitz shares the advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling.
I began homeschooling in the early 90’s, and it was not as popular and well-known then. In fact, the children and I rarely went to do errands before 3:00, or we’d be asked many questions such as, “Oh, do the kids have the day off?” When I said I was homeschooling, some people asked, “What is that?”
Thanks to our sponsor! NowPrograms.com – visit the website for more information.
Vintage Homeschool Moms Episode One ~ Homeschool Lifestyle
Why does anyone care if a parent decides to homeschool? Consider this… I believe parents are the best teachers for their children based on the simple premise that parents love their children more than strangers in a classroom. As a single woman and teacher, I really liked my class. I cared about the kids, but if you asked me if I loved them, I’d answer, “Probably not!”
I wanted my students to excel because, selfishly, it reflected on my ability to teach. There are great teachers who care, but no one cares as much as a mom or dad cares for their kids.
Why was there such a block to homeschooling? I believe (this is my opinion) because it would be a loss of state and federal dollars and spending. Believe me, the teachers were not the recipients of these funds!
There were horror stories of neighbors calling social services or reporting children as truant when they went outdoors to play after they finished their school work. Not only that, but some states made it extremely difficult to homeschool. While I was blessed that the laws were already in place legislatively when I began, it was still disheartening that there were other battles to fight, such as the ability of homeschooled kids to play sports in public and private schools.
Homeschool leagues were started, and then the laws changed once again, which was in our favor.
I feel like an old soul recounting a better time in my life, but truthfully, the beginning of my homeschool journey was a bit stressful. I had a learning-challenged child, and it took a long time to teach some of my children to read well and independently. I had different types of learners, all very bright, but some took educating outside of the box. The upside is that I homeschooled for thirty-two years, and all five children benefited.
Praise God, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. Here is an interactive map detailing each state’s laws and regulations.
I have advocated for homeschooling, speaking for many years at state and local conferences and writing homeschool books, but I didn’t truly believe that all people had to homeschool. It was and should be a personal decsision made by the adults in the family. Lately, however, I think homeschooling is more important than ever.
Instead of fighting for the right to homeschool, we watch as some of the parents who have chosen public or private schools fight for the right to be parents with authority. Parental rights are in jeopardy, and it is just beginning. I believe a society that does not care about our faith, values, morality, or sovereignty is pushing for the hearts and minds of our children.
I’ve heard some horror stories within the space of a week. These horror stories included unruly kids in the classroom who went unchecked. Discipline in the classroom works to an extent, and if a student is sent out to the office and nothing is done, it is a detriment not only to the teacher but also to the other kids. It got so bad that my friend told me her husband wanted her to resign.
If you are wondering if it was a public or private school, she said it was a private Christian school. She took the job because the website said there was zero tolerance for bad behavior.
The other was tremendously worse. It was a mother in a hearing saying that her twelve-year-old was… (listen for details on air.)
I know that parental permission is not required in some states. That is horrible and dangerous to families and children, but that is the issue at hand. Some bad actors in some states want control of our children, and often, it is blamed as a failure on the part of the family. The true blame lies in all of us doing nothing and sitting back while our rights are destroyed.
Parental rights are at the forefront of the battle for homeschool families, with the idea of vouchers and schools that accept them. I’m happy there are options out there for parents who can’t afford to homeschool and must work, but we did without for many years so that we could continue to homeschool our children.
If I had to create a list of reasons why homeschooling works, it would look something like this, and you are welcome to add to it.
What would you add? Years ago, in fact, one of the first podcast topics was on the homeschool lifestyle. The topic revolved around the fact that homeschooling was more than what we did, it became a lifestyle that my five graduated and now adult children believe was well worth it.
It was okay that they didn’t know the latest movies, the latest songs, or what the “stars” were doing at any given moment. It was okay that they dressed comfortably but were not swayed by what was currently at the peak of fashion. It was okay if we were joining a prayer vigil or combatting a bill that was before our legislature that we disagreed with. It was okay if we celebrated the fall harvest vs. Halloween or celebrated All Saints Day or each child’s patron saint.
Our homeschool journey had ups and downs, and that was also okay. We worked out our differences as a family. No one went to bed angry, and “I’m sorry” and “Will you forgive me?” were often verbalized. Our home was a safe place, as my husband often reminded our children, where they could grow up with parents who loved and cared for them and surrounded by family.
I could go on for another hour about the merits of homeschooling. I’ve spent the last eleven years first creating this Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network and, in particular, this podcast teaching you the merits of homeschooling—all for free! So friends, if you have a minute, I hope you stop by and share why homeschooling works in your family on this post, and I pray you continue your journey successfully!
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When does fall learning start? It starts now. Before long, we will turn over the calendar (or swipe right or up) on a digital device and see that the holidays are approaching. We have a fall, Thanksgiving, and Christmas…three in a row! What is a busy homeschool mom to do? In this episode, Felice shares how she prepares for the active months with an action plan.
Thanks to our ongoing sponsor, CTCMath.com, and their excellent math curriculum for grades K-12
How many of you have planned out your entire year until Christmas? Raise your hand. Okay, so if not, no worries, I will help! First, I recommend you get on our email list and sign up for our latest planners. I have an ongoing series of monthly Organize It Planners for the year. These planners are chock-full of tips you can implement quickly. You will receive a new topic free each month. The upcoming Organize It is for October, with information on preparing your home for the forthcoming holidays.
During the cooler months, planning things that take the children outdoors is nice. If you have younger children, you may want to add seasonal activities, such as fall crafts. You can also jumpstart the fall decorations by making paper chains using fall colors. I have some links to podcasts on the topics.
One of my favorite topics to study was trees and their types of leaves; if you’re blessed to live in the north, you have the full array of fall leaves coming soon! For those of us in the South, it means taking a trip up north or learning about these things via a book or online. Then there are the fall activities such as parties, fairs, cooking contests, and many other things that we, as homeschoolers, want to take advantage of. Often, harvest parties begin in October … then there is Thanksgiving, and around the corner, Christmas. Christmas quickly takes over the entire month of December. Between baking, shopping, and activities, there doesn’t seem to be much time left at school.
So, what is a busy mom to do? Well, the best thing I can advise is to get as much done as possible before the holidays, including school. As homeschoolers, we sometimes fit our household into our homeschool or our homeschool into our family. I’ve received emails from many people who have said when they’ve done an excellent job homeschooling, they’ve done a lousy job managing their homes, and vice versa. Well, you can do both.
So, first things first, how much time do you have?
The age-old question. Well, let’s start with this:
Now that you have an overview and overview of how to plan, let’s get going! What do you want to get done this month? With fall on the horizon or whatever the next big thing is, it is essential to use these pockets of time and focus on learning. At the beginning of each school year, you should look at the books or curriculum you plan to use and decide how long it will take you to complete in one school year. It may take six weeks or more to complete if it is a detailed unit you are studying.
Another thing to consider is using the days the kids are doing well and doubling up on activities. We did this to keep our Fridays free. In this way, we could use Fridays as a catch-up day, or we could use it for field trips or other activities we had planned. Of course, as the children get older and schoolwork piles up, it may not be as easy to have a free day a week once you can look at your priorities, the things you have to accomplish each day and work around those items.
We completed most of our homeschooling before Thanksgiving in late August, September, October, and November. After Thanksgiving, we were lucky to meet for a full two weeks with all the extra activities planned for Christmas. Of course, after Christmas was the New Year, and this was a solid vacation time.
In the new year, most of our schoolwork was in January, February, and March. Do you see a pattern here? We focused on the times between holidays and other significant events for our family. For some of you, Easter may not be a big event, but it is in our home, and we typically take a week off, a week before Easter, and a few days afterward. After Easter, all the kids can see his summer on the horizon. Therefore, working hard on days too hot or cold to go outside is essential. My children naturally do better when there are fewer distractions. I’m sure yours do as well!
I have links in the other podcasts’ show notes with great ideas for fall activities.
Past Episodes on Fall and Activities Kids Can Do:
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For example, fall is an excellent time for baking. We did a lot of bulk baking that we could freeze, and when the holidays came around, we had ready-made sweet bread that we could give away as gifts, cinnamon rolls, and more. There is a baking link here: Celebrate Fall Baking.
If you don’t like to bake, perhaps you like crafts. Before Christmas, we focused on making presents for grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Gifts link here.
As the winter months get closer, use this time to spend reading together as a family. Our favorite times were reading the Little House on the Prairie and other books in front of the fireplace with cups of cocoa. These are memories you can create with your family and get some learning in there as well. We often read books that went along with the themes we were studying.
I would throw in some hands-on experiential activities to round up your fall learning. If you have read any of my books (LINK HERE), you understand my need to involve the children. As a child and even an adult, I love to learn by doing. Sure, reading it in a book and moving on is more accessible, but what about authentic learning, learning things the children will remember?
Encourage your children to set time limits to get things done, especially if you have a child who takes all day to get math done. That usually means there’s nothing else the child wants to do afterward. If we give our children those to get their schoolwork done, more than likely, they will work right along. I also encourage your children to find hobbies or things they want to pursue in our family. Children my three youngest children play sports each day, and they have to spend time practicing. If your child plays a musical instrument and has another hobby, I am sure they also need time to pursue this interest.
We want to instill values that allow our children to do what is right, not just when we’re watching them. Give them opportunities to learn independently, especially if they are old enough, then make sure you check their work each day or at least every couple of days. I remember leaving their schoolwork for a week to check, and then sometimes I would be overwhelmed by all I needed to grade and be frustrated when I saw the work was half done. If I keep up with this, it’s helpful. My husband was willing at times when I was overwhelmed. He would take over the grading, and the children disliked it because he was much stricter than I was
I hope these ideas help you to accomplish and have time for all the fun activities. Be sure to visit me at mediaangels.com. Come check out our podcast family at our Facebook group, which is a homeschooled podcast family; you can look for that or search for it. If you have any questions, contact me on our FB group.
The post Fall Learning Starts Now (Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
How do you inspire your kids to have a clue? In other words, self-awareness. This means seeing themselves as others see them, but more so as God has created them to be—the best versions of themselves. Asking kids to strive and reach for the stars is easier than you think. In this podcast, Felice Gerwitz delves into how we can help our children.
What is self-awareness as it pertains to your children? Have you noticed how some children do not know how to control themselves or act in certain situations? Then, you’ll notice other kids who are good at self-control and adapt easily to different situations. How do you inspire your children to be self-aware?
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Six Part Series
What are some of the keys to understanding basic interpersonal interaction?
As children get older, they learn from situations and expectations within their homes. They learn to develop good or bad behavior based on the level of correction within the home. Do your kids get away with meltdowns and whining? Do you give in when a child nags for their way? If you’ve said, “No,” do they listen? Do your children walk away and pretend not to hear you when you ask them to do something?
How do you encourage your child to be aware of their actions–or inactions? Typically, it begins with discipline along with a good dose of encouragement.
Years ago, as a young homeschool mom, I sat with a group of women who were upset with me as I shared that I felt my children’s behavior and lack of self-awareness reflected my parenting style. I tended toward the description of a “threatening repeating parent.” You know, “Do what I say, or I’ll count to 10. Did you hear me? Yes, you! Now. Okay, I’m counting…”
A lively discussion began, which included rebuttals such as excuses for personality traits and different children needing special handling in situations. I was also told that kids are kids and need some latitude to express their independence.
I didn’t leave that discussion with the moms victorious, but I planted seeds. Years later, one of the moms admitted she was upset with me and what I said because she realized her unruly children were not exhibiting any self-control but had a me-centered attitude that was catered to by the family. At the time, she refused to take any responsibility for her child’s bad behavior, but she realized that she needed to set some strong guidelines, and her children struggled to adhere to the new guidelines. Eventually, she was successful, and her bright child exceeded academically, socially, and spiritually within the homeschool environment.
What guidelines are we talking about? Things such as bedtime routines and completion of school work before fun activities or lessons. She found that after stricter guidelines and gentle corrections and encouragement, her children thrived.
My kids aren’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, and these ladies in my discussion group watched situations on field trips when I pulled my son or daughter aside and spoke quietly to them about expectations. Sometimes my kids listened, and sometimes they didn’t. One of my sons always “told information” instead of “asking a question” when on field trips. I’d remind him often that if he raised his hand to participate, he should ask a question. This child, my oldest son, could be labeled as “learning challenged,” and I could use that as an excuse, but I didn’t.
I would allow my son to see the big picture by asking him how he saw the situation. I led the discussion and asked him if he thought that he gave other children the opportunity to ask their questions. We’d discuss this; sometimes, he’d agree, and other times he didn’t.
Kids can and should develop their independence. They should be allowed to make good and bad decisions but must also be shown the consequences. How else do they exhibit self-control and stop before they act without thinking about the outcomes? (See the Story about boys and the sliding glass door shared on air.)
Look at the list above and think about how your child exhibits emotion. Is it over the top, or is it controlled? Our expectations for a two—or four-year-old are different from those for a ten-year-old, or an even older teen.
I listened to a mom discuss a variety of snacks with her preschooler. The child wanted a particular snack they ran out of, and the mother offered many different substitutes, even offering to make the child a grilled cheese sandwich. Once this sandwich was made, the child refused to eat it and demanded, once again, the snack they didn’t have. The mother offered to go to the store immediately and get the snack.
What is a four-year-old going to learn from this situation? We all parent differently, and having one child differs from having multiple. Having an only child definitely gives you the ability to cater to the child for the sake of peace, but what are you teaching?
What would I do differently? Probably be angry with the whining, if truth be told! But, one way to handle this is to identify with the child’s feelings. “I understand you are hungry and you really want your cheese puffs, but I do not have any left. Do you know why? (Let the child answer that they were eaten.) Let’s put it on our grocery list and get some next time we shop. Today, you can have crackers and cheese or popcorn. Pick one of those snacks. If you don’t want either, there will be no snacks today.”
I would offer snacks the child liked, and if they said no, then no to the snacks. The child understands they have a decision to make and there are consequences. No to the alternatives means no snacks. The child soon learns that they can not manipulate the situation by being upset or using emotional blackmail. They also learn self-awareness and, eventually, self-control. I know this isn’t easy. Having an unruly pre-schooler is not fun!
My mom and I had a discussion after I had two children, and I expressed my dismay over the fact that it hurt me more to discipline them than it hurt them. She said, “Welcome to parenthood!”
Good behavior is often ignored, and the same goes for bad behavior. We hope it will go away on its own without giving it any attention. Yet, if we ignore bad behavior, we are training our children to fall into sin. The key is to have your child identify the situation and their reactions. It takes way too much talking at times, and none of us have the time for it, but my question to you is, what is the alternative?
Kids today are growing up in a narcissistic society where things are me-centered. The selfy mentality and the idea that what I want is more important than what other family members want or need can be toxic to family life. In fact, it can cause disagreements between spouses.
There are selfless children. I see this all the time, but often, the attitude associated with this behavior is exhibited in anger or self-righteousness. Angrily pushing past another child to help this child with a chore or getting a drink if they can’t reach the water pitcher. The ability to recognize that doing the right thing while commendable is only rewarding if you do it with the right attitude.
Knowing an area of weakness is also important. We have kids who are perfectionists and want things a certain way or kids who are careless and sloppy. The goal is to recognize that good values are important and work toward this end.
Playacting, once again, is a good way to teach a lesson without using a highly charged and emotional time when the unacceptable behavior is happening. One bonus of self-awareness is that self-esteem improves. If a child is able to control emotions and behavior in different situations, they will be proud of themselves. Of course, we can let them know this as well.
We can practice self-awareness as well and look at ways to improve. In this way, we can give our children examples of our own behavior and reasons why it is important as an adult to act accordingly, even in the midst of confrontations. This includes having a difference of opinion. One way we can do this is to practice debating a topic. Can we debate rationally, calmly, and with self-control? Take a heated issue and try this with your family! It is eye-opening.
This is the tip of the iceberg in the discussion of self-awareness and self-control, but the outcome of good self-esteem is worth the effort.
More on the audio than in the show notes!
The post Inspire Kids – Self Awareness appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
How do we inspire our kids to empathize when, on the surface, they act like they don’t care? Is it a defense mechanism, an indicator, or something more? In this podcast, we explore ideas and tips that work.
This is the fifth episode in our Inspire Kids Series! Thanks for listening, and I pray they have been a blessing to you and your family. Sometimes, it is hard to discern what our kids think. In fact, we may be puzzled by their actions because we know they can do so much better. I recently came across a post on Facebook that caused me to pause, not only because of all of the responses but because of the answers given by well-meaning parents. The answer was glaring and evident, but I am a mother of five, now adults, and a grandmother of nine. I have a background in education and love to interact with children because they are amazing. I love kids. I knew the answer (or what I think is the answer), but I read through response after response, giving advice on fixing the problem.
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The question was couched in this way: A mother found a ketchup bottle on the ground, the top popped up, and the ketchup dripped out in a pool. One of the children had done this, but none admitted guilt. None of the other siblings had picked up the bottle. She asked what the “heart issue” was in a child who had done this in the first place. Think about your answer. Pause this recording if you want more time.
The answers were a variation of the following:
There are many issues here. Obviously, the kids ate and cleaned up (good job!), but it was without Mom around, or perhaps Mom was starting to put away food in the other room. We, as parents, can’t police our kids every second, and taking responsibility for cleaning up is great. So good job, Mom!
Secondly, maybe someone saw this incident and did nothing about it, but ultimately, the fault is on the child who dropped the ketchup trying to carry too many things at once.
I was thinking about this and how I would answer the question (I didn’t post a response, in case you are wondering). While punishments, cleaning up, and all of those things are possible options, they didn’t address what the mom asked. She asked about the heart and wisely knew that punishments solve part of the problem. Maybe.
I considered many different character flaws, but two that stuck out were gratitude and empathy. The lack of gratitude is stunning, and the lack of empathy is equally stunning.
Thanks to NOW Programs, this evidence-based program helps students learn differences.
So, how do you resolve the issue of a child’s lack of empathy? Can you make someone empathize? The issue can be resolved in as varied a way as the responses on that social media post! However, the crux of the issue is understanding family dynamics and how they work.
In our homes, we assume everyone is on the same page and has the same level of understanding. This simple example, the ketchup on the ground, illustrates that no, kids just don’t understand all it took to get that bottle on the table in the first place. It also illustrates the lack of understanding of the value of food. Recently, there was a dock workers strike, and everyone predicted sky-high prices, supply chain breakdown, and more. Viewers were told that Christmas presents might not arrive in time. Thankfully, with the media coverage, the strike was partially resolved until January. The date almost coincides with a new administration coming into office.
But truthfully, it might take a dock workers strike to allow all of us to see that we should be grateful for what we have, appreciate the little things, and buy American products whenever necessary. Yes, I know some things are only provided through overseas trade, yet you understand what I’m trying to illustrate here.
To appreciate necessities, you must not have them. How many people in large cities do not have transportation and rely on mass transit? Possibly, some of you are listening. How many people work at thankless jobs and are not appreciated? The majority.
Having the gift of empathy allows a person to see the other person’s point of view. Does it mean we totally agree? No, but it does give us some insight into how to best express our thoughts without the discussion devolving into insults.
Use the ketchup example with your children and ask them how they would handle it if they were parents. Typically, children have much harsher ideas of punishment than their parents. But use this as a springboard to explain the underlying cause.
The best way to teach empathy and gratitude is by example. Did this mother “flip out” when her kids did something wrong, spilled a drink at dinner, or caused another mess? Perhaps the kids didn’t say anything because they didn’t want to be harshly punished.
That does not preclude the child from taking responsibility for doing the wrong thing – the child did, and was careless in his disregard for leaving it there, but the question is why?
Explain the reason you are upset. As parents, it is important that our children understand justified anger or punishments. When I asked my children, “Do you know why I am angry?” or “Do you know why you are in trouble?” The answer was no!
Show your child how to empathize. One way is when another child in the family is hurt. Laughing was never tolerated at my home, and the punishment was harsh, even if it did not always deter the laughter. The child who laughed was often made to do something kind for the other; however, if the child hurt stuck out his tongue, it was rescinded.
Long lectures only go so far, most of the time the kids tune you out. That is why I use questioning as a teaching tool.
If your home is like mine, you teach by demonstrating those moments that come up constantly—even if you don’t have time to deal with them! One of the best ways I’ve taught my child empathy is through a series of gatherings that we have on occasion (depending on the need), where we do an activity.
I learned it is difficult to have animosity toward a person that I pray for daily, even if I don’t want to pray, and yet it softens our hearts.
I hope this has helped. Consider using stories like the “ketchup story” with your children to teach deeper lessons.
Five Part Series
The post Inspire Kids to Empathize appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
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