Finish Well

Books Girls Love

In “Books Girls Love,” Episode, #154, Meredith Curtis, mother of four girls, shares their family’s favorite authors, including beloved authors enjoyed for four generations. She talks about the books they wrote and why girls love them. We’ve all heard of Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott, and Lucy Maud Montgomery. However, have you heard of Milly Howard, Lois Lenski, Elizabeth Yates, Patricia St. John, Kate Seredy, and Martha Finley? Find out why these books have delighted girls of all ages for decades.

 

 

 

 

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

 

 

 

Show Notes

As much as times change, the things that beat in the hearts of little girls and young women stays the same. Let me introduce you to some timeless classics that still captivate the hearts of girls of all ages.

What Kind of Books Should You Give Your Children?

Living Books

Classic Books (doesn’t matter age—classics are timeless)

Wholesome Books

Books with Good Role Models

Meet the Authors and Find Out Why They Captivate Girls’ Hearts

Milly Howard

Lois Lenski

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Pamela L. Traveres

Maud Hart Lovelace

Eleanor Porter

Kate Seredy

Kate Douglas Wiggins

Noel Streatfeild

Arleta Richardson

Edith Nesbit

Hilda Van Stockum

Elizabeth Yates

Margaret Sidney

Martha Finley

Louisa May Alcott

Patricia St. John

Frances Hodgson Burnett

Gene Stratton Porter

Lucy Maud Montgomery

Jane Austen

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Resources

All our curriculum is built around living books

 

Growing Lifetime Learners Who Become Leaders with Special Guest Kerry Beck

In “Growing Lifetime Learners Who Become Leaders with Special Guest Kerry Beck,” Episode, #153, host Meredith Curtis interviews Kerry Beck to discover her secrets of raising leaders intentionally starting in the the early years before formal schooling begins. Leadership starts with godly charcter and a genuine thirst for growing and learning. Kerry shows creative ways to use Scripture and tips to make learning enjoyable. From there, teach your children the soft skills needed to influence people around you including time management, money management, genuine love, decision-making, and people skills. Kerry also talks about her upcoming conference, Life Skills Leadership Summit and why her heart beats for parents to take raising leaders seriously.

 

 

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Show Notes

We are excited to have special guest Kerry Beck with us today. Kerry Beck is a homeschool mom, grandmom, speaker, publisher, curriculum creator. She manages How to Homeschool Your Child, Life Skills Leadership Summit, and Homeschool Super-Heros conference.

Lifetime Learning

Modeling a love of learning

Cultivating a Love of Learning

Explore the role of lifetime learning in leadership.

Overcoming Challenges to Raising Lifetime Learning

Little Ones

Middle School

High School

Preparation for Adulthood in High School

God’s Rules vs. House Rules

Managing Schedule

Choosing Classwork

Life Skills Leadership Summit

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

Join Kerry and Meredith for Life Skills Leadership Summit during February 21-25, 2022. Besides getting your questions answered, you’ll be encouraged, with tools to confidently finish your school year strong. Get your free Basic Pass HERE.

You’ll get access to 50+ sessions, swag bag valued over $400 and daily, live kick off sessions.

The Assault on Men & Masculinity

In “The Assault on Men & Masculinity,” Episode, #152, Meredith Curtis reveals the challenges that Christian men face in this day and age. Enemy #1 in the secular world today is the Christian man. He is ridiculed, villainized, canceled. The world tries to change him into a feminized version that is impotent and ineffective. Meredith shares the ways biblical manhood has been attacked and calls Christians to embrace God’s design for men and to appreciate the men in our lives.

 

 

 

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Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

 

 

 

Show Notes

Enemy #1 in the secular world today is the Christian man. He is ridiculed, villainized, canceled. The world tries to change him into a feminized version that is impotent and ineffective.

The World’s Assault on Manhood

* Be more sensitive, express your feelings

* Don’t be so aggressive.

* Don’t be competitive.

* Be quiet like the girls.

* Men are missing from families—boys grow up without a dad.

* Schools/churches are filled with women teachers—again no role model.

* Society is filled with harmful things to tempt men away from being honorable and holy—porn, anger, divorce, adultery, sexual immorality, drugs, drunkedness, smoking, criminal activity.

Destroy men and you have destroyed our culture.

What is Going On?

* God loves families. He designed them.

* Satan hates families. He is out to destroy them.

* Men lead families so they are the target.

* God loves local churches. He designed them.

* Satan hates local churches. He is out to destroy them.

* Men lead local churches so they are the target.

What Does Godly Manhood Look Like?

* Leadership.

* Protective.

* Noble, honorable.

* Courageous.

* Provider

* Integrity, Honesty.

* Hard worker.

Exhorting, challenging, urging others to live sold out for God.

What Can Men Do?

* Dig into the Word.

* Pray.

* Get together with other men to grow in the Lord.

* Overcome strongholds in Christ.

* Ignore the world.

* Invest in your sons.

* Mentor fatherless boys.

* Be the man God’s called you to be.

What Can Women Do?

* Stop trying to make boys act like girls and men act like women.

* Affirm men as leaders. Follow their leadership.

* Respect and appreciate men.

* Pray for them to rise up and live like Jesus.

* Don’t expect your husband to be your girlfriend.

What Can Parents Do?

* Let boys hunt, fish, and play sports.

* Give them opportunities to lead and protect.

* Intentially raise them to be godly men according to God’s Word.

* Require them to respect you.

* Be alert for pornography—protect your household.

 

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Do We Really Need It?

In “Do We Really Need It?,” Episode, #151, Meredith Curtis reveals the challenges that Christians face as wise consumers trying spend money for the glory of God. "Just do it!" Nike shouts! Do what? you wonder, confused. Advertising slogans dazzle and repel us from billboards to glossy magazine pages, from sides of buses to television commercials to internet ad pop-ups. How do parents, teens, and children combat advertising that leads us in the wrong direction? How can we separate our desires and wants? And our good desires from evil desires? Meredith helps us sort through these murky waters with biblical principles and practical wisdom.

 

 

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Show Notes

The Power of Advertising

* Culture heavily influenced by Advertising

* Advertising dictates how we decorate & celebrate holidays

* New product promotional ads

How Advertising Works

* Advertising appeals to both good and evil desires

* Products will often be linked to a universally desired thing (happy marriage, mate, fast car, admiration, athletic skill)

* Target certain segments of society

* Most companies targeting homeschooling families are not homeschoolers themselves

* Many homeschooling companies targeting Christian homeschooling families are not Christians.

* Advertising isn’t always honest

How Jesus Responded to Advertising

* Satan advertised the Kingdom of Darkness to Jesus (see Matthew 4)

* Satan advertised food while Jesus was fasting and challenged him to test God

* Finally, Satan offered Jesus wealth and power.

* Jesus resisted using the Word of God as a weapon of Truth.

Our New Way of Life

* Imitate Jesus in responding to advertising. Respond to lies with truth. Respond to insinuations with reality.

* Don’t fall into the trap of having advertising dictate what and when you purchase.

* Seek God about your needs and desires.

* Work/talk together as a family to apply truth to advertising and felt needs.

 

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Resources

 

A Special Thank You to Our Network Sponsor:  Courageous Movie

 

From the Kendrick Brothers, creators of the No. 1 box-office movie WAR ROOM and OVERCOMER,

Celebrate Jesus on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

In “Celebrate Jesus on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day,” Episode, #150, Meredith Curtis challenges you to make Jesus preeminent on what can be the busiest day of the year. With honesty and embarrassment, she shares lessons she has learned about exhausting herself creating the perfect day instead of celebrating a birthday. Glean some simple lessons about focus and intentional living to make your Christmas all about Jesus.

 

 

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Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

 

 

 

 

 

Show Notes

The pressure

The abundance of gifts, parties, fun things you don’t want to miss

To-do List

I tried to plan ahead, but…

Christmas is Here

There are things you can’t change

It’s not about a perfect day

It’s about a perfect Gift to Mankind

Ingredients of Christ-Centered Days

Surrender

Trust

Scripture

Music

Worship/Prayer

Christmas is a Birthday

Sing Happy Birthday

Blow up balloons and hang them from the ceiling

Focus on giving more than receiving

Work together

Give Thanks

Our Christmas Morning Devotions & Singing

Family Time

Peaceful, joyful topics of conversation

Play Games

Make something together (food, craft)

Watch an Inspirational Movie

Our Christmas Eve Traveling Dinner

Pray for each other and the lost world He came to save

Attend a church service

Personal Time

Walks

Read the Bible Devotionally

Alone with the Christmas Lights

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Resources

Be proactive this holiday season!

Christmas Unit Studies

When All Hope is Gone: The Story of Elizabeth & Zechariah

In “When All Hope is Gone: The Story of Elizabeth & Zechariah,” Episode, #149, Meredith Curtis takes you on a journey back in time to a godly priest and his wife who have faced a lifetime of disappointment. She explains how their story fits in with the Christmas story and why Luke includes it in his Gospel. Their strategic role in the Kingdom of God changed history—all because they served the Lord faithfully even with broken dreams. Be inspired this Christmas season and see John the Baptist’s parents in a whole new light.

 

 

 

 

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Show Notes

Do you have dreams that have crashed and burned? Or maybe just put on the shelf?

Elizabeth and Zechariah did.

The Faithful Priest & Godly Wife

Zechariah’s role in the nation of Israel

Elizabeth’s disappointment

Their relationship to Mary

The Encounter

God Remembers

God speaks to Zechariah

He is afraid to believe

The sign

The hiding—is this really true?

Mary Comes to Visit

Why does she come?

Who recognizes Jesus first?

How this miraculous birth helped Mary

How Elizabeth poured into Mary

John is Born

Name him John

Testimony of obedience

The reality of old parents

No mention of Mrs. John-the-Bapist & other not-ordinary things

When All Hope is Gone

God never forgets you

God’s plan is bigger

God’s plan is better

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Resources

Be proactive this holiday season!

Christmas Unit Studies

More Podcasts You Might Find Helpful

Proactive Parenting During the Holidays

In “Proactive Parenting During the Holidays,” Episode, #148, Meredith Curtis addresses parenting challenges over the holidays and how to overcome them with confidence. She also explains the opportunities holiday celebrations provide to parent proactively: instilling values and creating a sense of family identity. Take ground this holiday season to impart wisdom and joy into your precious sons and daughters. You won’t regret it.

 

 

 

 

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

Show Notes

But Cousin Fred says that word?

I don’t like when Aunt Freda squeezes my cheeks?

Why do I have to give up my bed to grandma and grandpa?

Can I have a third piece of pie?

Holiday Challenges for Parents

Time with family members who have different values

Sugar Rush

Busy Schedule

Financial Concerns

A lot of chaos and activity—can disengage

How are you training your children—the holidays will reveal it!

Extended Family

Older folks

The American culture in the 21st Century

Replacing disrespect with honor and communicating value

Greeting, Rising, Giving up Seat, Giving folks with walkers plenty of room, being quieter

Family stories

Create a memory for your children of folks that won’t be there in their adult years—photos, special tablecloth, traditional foods

Using the Holidays to Instill Values & Virtue

Value elderly—virtue

Value extended family—virtue loyalty

Value giving—virtue generosity

Value serving—virtue servant-heart

Value what others have to say—value humility

Using the Holidays to Instill a Sense of Family Identity

Traditions

* Thanksgiving: Kernels of Corn, Traditional Dishes, Games/Sports

* Advent devotions, Christmas Unit Study, Decorating Tree Night, Christmas caroling, serving, church plays, making Christmas presents, birthday party for Jesus

* Traveling Dinner, Christmas devotions, sing “Happy Birthday”, family dinner

Strategic Scheduling

* Rest alternate with busy

* Choose from many options

* Bake/cook ahead and freeze

* Get shopping/wrapping done early

* Christmas school

 

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Resources

Be proactive this holiday season!

Christmas Unit Studies

What Supreme Court Case?

In “What Supreme Court Case?,” Episode, #147, Meredith Curtis brings on special guest Linda Salmon, a former prosecuting attorney, to discuss the upcoming Supreme Court case, Cobb v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, scheduled for hearing on December 1, 2021. Mississippi, a sovereign state, has made a law to keep babies in the womb alive after 15 weeks gestation. The issue before the Court is whether this prohibition on abortion and whether all pre-viability prohibitions on elective abortion are unconstitutional.

 

 

 

 

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Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

Show Notes

What Supreme Court Case?

Cobb v Jackson Women’s Health Organization

Mississippi, a sovereign state, has made a law to keep babies in the womb alive after 15 weeks gestation. The issue before the Court is whether this prohibition on abortion and whether all pre-viability prohibitions on elective abortion are unconstitutional.

Focus of Case

Background including Mississippi law

How this got to the Supreme Court?

What will the Court decide?

Law

Existing law on abortion in the US

Changes

How could this case impact or change abortion law?

State law and potential of changes to Roe v Wade.

Schedule

Scheduled for hearing on December 1, 2021

Expected Decision

Christian Response

Why should I as a Christian care?

What Can I do?

How can I pray?

Intercessors for America  - they have an action resource and a prayer guide folks can have emailed to them if they give their email address.  The prayer guide includes daily calls with each state and the justices they are praying for specifically.  They also give a guide to praying for the clerks and the attorneys.

https://ifapray.org/about/

The ACLJ also has numerous  videos, and articles about this case including the European stand on abortion (protecting life for the most part and NOT recognizing a right to abortion; and also discussing the Biden administration’s continued support of the abortion industry and support of Planned Parenthood.  A great resource on the legal side of things

https://aclj.org/pro-life/

I read this and it’s done by a Christian ministry but I’d never heard of it before. Their page on the development of the fetus is really good.  Can only recommend lightly but it’s useful as a resource to understand where a baby is in development.

https://www.abort73.com/abortion/prenatal_development/

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The Dark Side in the World of Academia

In “The Dark Side in the World of Academia,” Episode, #146, Meredith Curtis reveals the challenges that await our child when they go away to college, especially if that university is secular. She talks about worldview, rejection of Christinaity, cancel culture, temptation, lowering of academic standards, and the money factor. If God has called you or your teens to go to college, there are ways to prepare so that you do not fall prey to the darkness, but instead shine your light brightly.

 

 

 

 

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Show Notes

There are several challenges of college life that we don't hear much about.

Academia’s Worldview

Combination of Marxism and Post-Modernism.

Neither philosophy can co-exist with biblical Christianity so there is a strong attempt to stomp out religious faith.

Worldview Resources

Understanding the Times by David Noebel

I had my teens read it before college and even created a study guide to go with it: Worldview 101: Understand the Times.

Apologetics to Face the Darkness

Study apologetics if you are sending your kids to college.

Have them study apologetics, too.

Apologetic Resources

Here are my favorite apologetics resources

* More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell

* Cold Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace

* Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell

* Demolishing Strongholds Dvd series from Answers in Genesis

Cancel Culture

While the world of academia, Hollywood, and technology define “justice” and “progress,” anyone who disagrees can be “cancelled.” That could mean fired, unfriended, beaten up, cyber bullying, or suspended. Healthy debate is out; adhering to status quo is in.

Christians can stand firm within a counter-culture if they keep their eyes on Jesus through prayer and Bible study while standing with others who are firm in the faith. If you are going away to college, find a nearby local church and plug in. Find fellow Christians on campus and pray for one another. Stay in the Word of God.

Temptation

Students Face:

* Sexual Immorality

* Drunkedness

* Drugs

* Smoking

* Filty Language

* Depression

Stand firm in your identity in Christ.

Scripture Memorization

Identity in Christ Resources

It is so important to understand who you are in Christ and the basics of Christianity to be confidence in an ever-increasing hostile world. Here are some resources for high school teens that cause them to go deeper in their faith.

The Search for Significance by Robert S. McGee

God’s Girls 101: Grow in Christ by Meredith Curtis (1-credit high school course)

Real Men 101: Godly Manhood by Meredith Curtis (1-credit high school course)

Lowering of Academic Standards

As college focuses on imparting a philosophy rather than educating, the level of education suffers.

Critical Race Theory

Handling of Literature

Rejecting Constitution

Rewriting History

The Money Factor

Debt.

61 Ways to Teach It

In “61 Ways to Teach It,” Episode, #145, Meredith Curtis gives homeschooling parents 61 teaching methods that work! Get out of a teaching rut and try out some new methods. From tried-and-true to out-of-the box, these 61 ways to teach your children will bring life to your homeschool adventure. Try a new teaching method this week.

 

 

 

 

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Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

Show Notes

There is not just one way to teach a subject

There are so many out-the-box and tried-and-true ways to teach

Not Just One Way to Teach

Teaching Method Fit What You are Trying to Teach

Teaching Method Fit Child’s Learning Style

Teaching Method Fit Parent’s Learning Style

Combine Several Methods for Multi-Sensory Exposure

Ways To Teach

* Reading Aloud

* Living Books

* Literature

* Great Books & Historical Documents

* Historical Fiction

* Biographies

* Picture Books

* Textbooks

* Magazines

* Cookbooks

* Memorizing

* Workbooks

* Lectures

* Discussions

* Group Discussions

* Asking Questions

* Answering Questions

* Narration

* Taking Notes

* Outline

* Write a Letter or Email

* Write a Summary

* Writing Report

* Retelling Stories

* Telling Stories

* Writing Stories

* Reciting Poems

* Writing Poems

* Writing Paragraphs

* Writing Essays

* Essay into Blog Post

* Write Like a Reporter

* Research

* Research Project

* Audios

* Movies

* Documentaries

* Live Classes Online

* Classes on Dvd

* Educational Songs

* Visual Aids

* Role-Playing

* Create a Radio Show

* Make a Movie

* Interview

* Host a News Show

* Mapping

* Timelines

* Drawing

* Illustrating

* Cartooning

* Experimenting

* Nature Walks

* Collections

* Experiment

* Projects

* Read a Book Aloud

* Give a Speech

* Creating a Website

* Start a Blog

* Teach Younger Children

 

Don’t limit yourself anymore—step out of the same-old-same-old today!

 

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Resources

How-to-Homeschool Books if you want to learn more about homeschooling or plan to homeschool