Episode #11- Rachel Hirt: Homeschool Art in the Early Years

 On this episode, meet Rachel Hirt, co-owner of Colorfull, an online art community for kids. She believes that every kiddo is an artist filled with tons of creativity! Rachel wants to help kids develop their artistic talents and discover all the fun possibilities that art offers.

Rachel, who was also homeschooled, shares the benefits of including art during the early years of homeschooling. “We want to make sure [our kids] know that 2 + 2 = 4, but we forget that creativity is a part of who we are,” explains Rachel. She then gives practical tips, adding, “We all have creativity in some form or fashion. As a parent, find what sparks creativity in your child.” Rachel then explains that creativity comes in many forms that may spark creativity in your child, suggesting that “maybe it’s cooking. Then create something in the kitchen together with your child.”

Listen in to learn more from Rachel Hirt, a wife, small business owner, and mother to three little ones living in central Kansas. She’s also a homeschool graduate who studied art at Butler Community College before meeting and marrying her husband, Aaron. Aaron and Rachel have been married for nearly eight years and have been serving as children’s pastors for nearly that entire time.

Resources:

Join Crystal and her guests each week as they bring relevant information to equip you, stories to encourage you, and content to inspire you. You don’t have to go it alone, tune in to the Military Homeschool Podcast, and be energized in your military homeschooling journey!

How to listen:

Got questions, comments, or have show topic ideas? Contact Crystal via email at [email protected] or connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Please subscribe, follow, and share with all of your military homeschooling friends!

The post Rachel Hirt: Homeschool Art in the Early Years appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode #10 – Homeschooling Through Tough Times

There is no doubt that homeschooling can be difficult, especially when you are dealing with other stressors that are out of the ‘norm.’ So what can you do when homeschooling becomes even more challenging due to a deployment, illness, or other family crisis?

When things get complicated, it’s important to remember that homeschooling, AND military life, is a journey- there will be ups and downs. That’s just a given. On this episode, Crystal Niehoff shares some ways she’s learned through personal experience as a military spouse and homeschool mom to deal with tough times as military homeschool families.

 “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” -Michael Jordan, basketball legend.

Episode Sponsor:

A quality education is affordable and flexible at Upper Iowa University. Serving the military community with online Associate, Bachelors, and Masters degrees for more than two decades, Upper Iowa University offers tuition grants for service members, spouses, and dependents of all branches of the military. UIU students work one-on-one with an advisor, and classes are taught by expert faculty. Learn more by visiting uiu.edu/militaryfamily

Join Crystal and her guests each week as they bring relevant information to equip you, stories to encourage you, and content to inspire you. You don’t have to go it alone; tune in to the Military Homeschool Podcast and be energized in your military homeschooling journey!

How to listen:

Got questions, comments, or have show topic ideas? Contact Crystal via email at [email protected] or connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Please subscribe, follow, and share with all of your military homeschooling friends!

The post Homeschooling Through Tough Times appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode #9- How to Start Homeschooling Checklist for Military Families

If you’re a military parent considering homeschooling your child, you’re not alone. But, sometimes, the hardest part of the homeschooling journey is taking the first step. Crystal Niehoff goes over six easy steps to help you get started in the right direction.

If you’re a parent thinking about homeschooling your military child, you’re not alone. According to the National Home Education Research Institute, there are an estimated 3.7 million homeschooled students in the United States. This represents 6-7% of the general population of school-age children.

This number then rises dramatically among military families. The Blue Star Families 2021 Military Family Lifestyle Survey reports, “Continuing a trend . . . there are elevated numbers of active-duty family respondents (13%) who choose to homeschool their children; nearly 2-4 times the proportion of children ages 5-17 homeschooled in the general U.S. population.”

So, you’ve decided that homeschooling is right for your family, but taking the plunge feels overwhelming and even a bit scary. When tackling a task that feels overwhelming, I ask myself this- “How do you eat an elephant?” One bite at a time, right?! So let’s break it down into manageable chunks. Here’s your . . .

How to Start Homeschooling Checklist:

Step #1) Talk with your spouse to make they are on board with homeschooling first. Homeschooling is a big decision, so you’ll want to be sure you and your spouse are on the same page.

Step #2) Find out the legal requirements for homeschooling in your area. Laws vary from state to state and even from school district to school district, so it’s important that you do your research. The Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is an excellent resource

Step #3) Research your options.

So, how do you decide?

Step #4) Devise a flexible homeschool schedule. The key word here is flexible.

Step #5) Find a support system.

Step #6) Check out homeschool curriculum fairs and attend a homeschool conference.

This How to Start Homeschooling Checklist will help you get off to a great start!

“We learn to do something by doing it. There is no other way.” -John Holt, educational theorist and supporter of school reform

Remember- the hardest part is getting started, and the ONLY way to start your homeschooling journey is to take the first step!

Resources:

Join Crystal and her guests each week as they bring relevant information to equip you, stories to encourage you, and content to inspire you. You don’t have to go it alone, tune in to the Military Homeschool Podcast, and be energized in your military homeschooling journey!

How to listen:

Got questions, comments, or have show topic ideas? Contact Crystal via email at [email protected] or connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

 Please subscribe, follow, and share with all of your military homeschooling friends!

The post How to Start Homeschooling Checklist for Military Families appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode #8- Military Family Chooses Homeschool and Public School

Today’s guest, Army chaplain’s wife and mom of seven, Jennie Mucher, talks about their family’s homeschooling journey and the decision to send their oldest son to public school.

Jennie’s first experience with homeschooling occurred when she was a teenager and was “adopted” into a community of homeschoolers who attended her church youth group. She felt she, too, would want to homeschool her own children one day.

When she did start homeschooling in 2009, she chose a curriculum based on what her neighbor used and because everything she needed was included in one package. However, their homeschooling style would change over the years to a more Classical Conversations/ Charlotte Mason/ eclectic approach that better suits her family’s preferences and learning styles. As a military family, the biggest benefit of homeschooling has been that the children have continuity. Jennie shares, “We don’t just do school together; we do life together.”

When their oldest son expressed his desire to attend public school, her husband was supportive and confident their son would do just fine. Jennie admits she was initially reluctant but recognized her son’s need for more peer interaction. Additionally, public school has allowed her athletic son to play the competitive team sports he enjoys. Gratefully, there were no issues with the school system accepting their homeschool records, and he was able to enroll on grade level.

In the meantime, Jennie’s younger children are happy to continue in their home education, and she sees the blessing of both public and home education for their family. When asked what advice she would like to pass on to parents considering homeschooling, she says, “Choose your hard.” She explains that it’s hard to homeschool and it’s hard to send your child to public school. “So I think you just have to ask God for wisdom and discernment for each child.”

Jennie Mucher is the wife of Kevin Mucher, an Army chaplain, who entered military service in 1991 and has served as a chaplain since 2007. They have 7 children. They will graduate their oldest  on June 12, 2022 and their youngest is 8 months old. They have been stationed at Fort Drum (‘07-‘10), JBLM (‘10-‘12), Eglin AFB (‘12-‘15), Fort Hood (‘16-‘19), and Fort Bliss (‘19-present). Jennie has been homeschooling since 2009.

Resources:

Join Crystal and her guests each week as they bring relevant information to equip you, stories to encourage you, and content to inspire you. You don’t have to go it alone, tune in to the Military Homeschool Podcast, and be energized in your military homeschooling journey!

How to listen:

Got questions, comments, or have show topic ideas? Contact Crystal via email at [email protected] or connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

 Please subscribe, follow, and share with all of your military homeschooling friends!

The post Military Family Chooses Homeschool and Public School appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode #7- Jen McDonald: Veteran Military Spouse Shares Her Homeschooling Story

 On this episode, meet Jen McDonald, host of Milspouse Matters Podcast, who shares about her homeschooling journey as a military spouse and mom of four. Jen talks about what led them to start homeschooling, how it changed over the years through the transitions of military life and as their children grew older, and what influenced their educational choices. “As my husband always said,” Jen explains, “‘We’re not homeschooling to close doors for them. We’re homeschooling to open doors for them.'”

When asked if she would do it all over again, Jen answers, “We would.” Jen adds, “It’s just a part of who we are as a family. I can’t even really differentiate homeschooling from our family life because it’s kind of all intertwined.”

Jen is the author of You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse and the host of the Milspouse Matters podcast. She is passionate about strengthening and encouraging military spouses in the unique challenges they face. She was a military spouse for 30 years and is the mom of four young adults, including one son in the military. She and her now-retired Air Force husband were stationed all around the world from Europe to the Pacific and homeschooled their children for over two decades. One of her happiest roles these days is being a grandmother!

See more from Jen at her site, jen-mcdonald.com, and find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram as @jenmcdonald88 and @milspousematters.

Resources:

Join Crystal and her guests each week as they bring relevant information to equip you, stories to encourage you, and content to inspire you. You don’t have to go it alone, tune in to the Military Homeschool Podcast, and be energized in your military homeschooling journey!

How to listen:

Got questions, comments, or have show topic ideas? Contact Crystal via email at [email protected] or connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

 Please subscribe, follow, and share with all of your military homeschooling friends!

The post Jen McDonald: Veteran Military Spouse Shares Her Homeschooling Story appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode #6- Special Interview with Felice Gerwitz: New Army Mom and Founder of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

On this episode, meet Felice Gerwitz, who, along with her husband, Jeff, own Media Angels, Inc., and two podcast networks. Felice has a passion for encouraging moms in their homeschooling journey. Today, she shares advice for homeschooling children with different learning styles and needs while writing, podcasting, publishing, and running multiple home businesses. A long-time homeschooler and entrepreneur, Felice is an inspiration!

Felice and her husband have homeschooled their five children since 1986 and are at the end of our journey. They also have seven grandchildren, which keep them busy and focused on family first! Felice and Jeff are also the proud parents of a son who graduated Spring of ‘22 from the Army ROTC at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Division of Military Science. He is starting his active-duty Army career as an officer in the Infantry.

Additionally, Felice is an author, publisher, and host of the Ultimate Homeschool Expo and podcast for writers. She currently hosts VintageHomeschoolMoms.com weekly and the Ultimate Radio Show – as time permits.

Felice is the creator of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network and the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network, from which this podcast is broadcast. To serve the Christian homeschool community, Felice shares that she began her podcast venture by asking a few friends to join her, and they said, “Yes!” The networks have added many more talented podcasters since then, so there is sure to be something for everyone!

Resources:

Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

Ultimate Christian Podcast Network

Media Angels, INC

Vintage Homeschool Moms Podcast

Join Crystal and her guests each week as they bring relevant information to equip you, stories to encourage you, and content to inspire you. You don’t have to go it alone, tune in to the Military Homeschool Podcast, and be energized in your military homeschooling journey!

How to listen:

Got questions, comments, or have show topic ideas? Contact Crystal via email at [email protected] or connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

 Please subscribe, follow, and share with all of your military homeschooling friends!

The post Special Interview with Felice Gerwitz: New Army Mom and Founder of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode #5- Self-Care for the Homeschooling Military Spouse

 Self-care has become a fashionable buzzword in our culture. Still, as guest Dr. Sharita Knobloch points out, self-care deserves a key place in the life of every homeschooling military spouse.

Seasoned Army wife and former homeschool mom, Dr. Sharita Knobloch, joins Crystal Niehoff this week to discuss the importance of self-care for homeschooling military spouses. Self-care is a commonly used phrase nowadays, but what does it really mean in practice? Sharita shares her definition of the term and gives tips for creating a doable self-care routine for whatever phase of homeschooling and military life you’re in. Whether you are the mom of preschoolers or high schoolers, you’ll learn why self-care isn’t selfish; it’s essential!

Dr. Sharita Knobloch has been married to her beloved infantryman husband Brandon for over 10 years.  The joys and challenges of this milspouse life ignited her faith on a deep level, so she answered the call to ministry in July 2011.  Sharita holds a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University in Animal Science & Industry (Communications Option, Leadership Minor), master’s degree in Christian Leadership from Liberty University, and Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling: Pastoral Counseling, also from Liberty University.

Sharita is a Tiny Human mama of two kiddos, an 8-year-old girl and a 4-year old boy. She is also a smallish-dog-owner, aspiring-runner, writer, speaker, and spiritual leadership coach. Sharita has been volunteering with Army Wife Network for more than seven years and transitioned into the role of Owner and Commander in October 2019. She is overjoyed to serve milspouses and their families in this capacity. In 2020, she was named Armed Forces Insurance Fort Bliss Military Spouse of the Year.

Resources:

Army Wife Network

7 Days Time

Crystal’s homeschooling blogs on AWN

Join Crystal and her guests each week as they bring relevant information to equip you, stories to encourage you, and content to inspire you. You don’t have to go it alone, tune in to the Military Homeschool Podcast, and be energized in your military homeschooling journey!

How to listen:

Got questions, comments, or have show topic ideas? Contact Crystal via email at [email protected] or connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

 Please subscribe, follow, and share with all of your military homeschooling friends!

The post Self-Care for the Homeschooling Military Spouse appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode #4- Military spouse, Conli McVey, joins Crystal Niehoff to discuss how she juggles military life and working from home while homeschooling.

Conli is an Army Chaplain’s wife, serving the Lord alongside her husband, Greg, in his role since 2006. She’s graduated two of her three homeschoolers. Her passions include leading Bible Study and equipping and encouraging women, and her blog “Whatever State I’m In” (whateverstateimin.com). She’s proud to be the MOC (Maintainer of the Calendar) of the McVey household for her often-traveling husband, two young adult daughters, and sixteen-year-old son. After earning a B.S. in Marketing and an MBA, Conli has worked in non-profit ministry development for 25+ years, currently as an at-home copywriter. Conli has been married to Greg for 23 years and considers being his wife and life partner the greatest gig ever!

Back in 2006, when her husband joined the military, Conli was looking for a way to tailor her children’s education and give them consistency through frequent moves. So when a friend mentioned homeschooling, she knew that’s what she was going to do. All the while, Conli has also worked from home. Over the years, she has adapted their homeschooling to meet the needs of her family and accommodate her work schedule. Sharing her insight from years of experience, Conli shares her secrets to getting it all done as a busy work-at-home homeschooling mom of three.

Resources:

Conli’s Blog, Whatever State I’m In

Join Crystal and her guests each week as they bring relevant information to equip you, stories to encourage you, and content to inspire you. You don’t have to go it alone, tune in to the Military Homeschool Podcast, and be energized in your military homeschooling journey!

How to listen:

Got questions, comments, or have show topic ideas? Contact Crystal via email at [email protected] or connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Please subscribe, follow, and share with all of your military homeschooling friends!

The post Balancing Military Life, Working from Home, and Homeschooling appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode #3- Homeschool High School Transcripts

On this episode, Lisa Nehring, Director of True North Homeschool Academy, joins Crystal Niehoff to discuss homeschool high school transcripts.

Lisa and her husband, Dr. David Nehring who served in the Air Force, started homeschooling 30 years ago. They started in 1991 and graduated their youngest a year ago this spring. They have five kids ages 19 to 35, and a couple of grandkids who are also homeschooled. Lisa holds an M.A. in Human Development and M.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy. In addition to homeschooling and her work as Director of True North Homeschool Academy, Lisa has worked as an Admissions Counselor, Administrator, Copywriter, Blogger, Academic Adviser, Teacher, Event Planner, and Program Developer.

Homeschool parents often dread the thought of preparing high school transcripts for their high schooler and feel confused about what should be included. In this episode, Lisa shares her years of experience in creating transcripts for her own children and others, details the different types of transcripts and what should be included, and assures us that homeschool high school transcripts don’t need to be complicated or stressful. We can do it!

So, whether your homeschooled high schooler is on a college track, career track, military track, or trade school track, this episode will help you navigate the ins and outs of preparing a high school transcript.

Closing Thought: Crystal then shares this thought in closing which comes from educator, John Holt, “Any child who can spend an hour or two a day, or more if he wants, with adults that he likes, who are interested in the world and like to talk about it, will on most days learn far more from their talk than he would learn in a week of school.”

Resources:

True North Homeschool Academy

Survive Homeschooling Through High School

Considering Military Service

Special Needs Credits and Transcripts

Join Crystal and her guests each week as they bring relevant information to equip you, stories to encourage you, and content to inspire you. You don’t have to go it alone, tune in to the Military Homeschool Podcast, and be energized in your military homeschooling journey!

How to listen:

Got questions, comments, or have show topic ideas? Contact Crystal via email at [email protected] or connect with her on Facebook.

 Please subscribe, follow, and share with all of your military homeschooling friends!

The post Homeschool High School Transcripts appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode # 2: Homeschooling, the Rising Star of Educational Choice for Military Families

 Homeschooling is the rising star of educational choice for military families for many reasons. But is it right for YOUR family?

Today, we highlight and discuss the benefits of home educating your military child. And, so by understanding the benefits, you can make an informed decision about what is best for your family!

As Crystal’s husband says in the military there are two things you can count on when planning- the Hurry Up and Wait factor and there is no such thing as 100%, the best you can hope for is 99%. Homeschooling provides the flexibility that is vital for military families with our ever-changing, on-the-go lifestyle.

Academic standards are wildly inconsistent from school district to school district, which may cause children to struggle and fall behind their peers academically when moving to a new school every two to three years. Homeschooling gives military children stability and consistency in their education.

You as your child’s parent and teacher can tailor your child’s education to their unique needs, abilities, and interests. You can also design a curriculum that fits your family’s lifestyle and values. You also control the environment in which your child learns, ensuring that it is safe and supportive. Homeschooling gives you the opportunity to work closely with your child and really get to know his or her strengths and weaknesses. Nobody knows what’s best for your child better than you, Mom!

This is a benefit for many reasons but Crystal shares her top three, explaining that childhood lasts such a short amount of time and is gone in the blink of an eye. Homeschool gives both parents, siblings, and extended family more time to form those important family bonds.

Resources mentioned:

Blue Star Families MFLS 2021

Homeschool Legal Defense Association

Closing Thought: Our closing thought comes from Dawn Shelton who said, “A teaching degree is to homeschooling as a culinary degree is to grandma’s cooking…it just can’t touch the love, care, and personal standard that only she can stir in.”

Friends, with so many incredible benefits, it’s no wonder homeschooling is the rising star of educational choice for military families!

What other homeschool advantages can YOU think of?

Share with Crystal via email at [email protected] or connect with her on Facebook.

Join Crystal and her guests each week as they bring relevant information to equip you, stories to encourage you, and content to inspire you. You don’t have to go it alone, tune in to the Military Homeschool Podcast, and be energized in your military homeschooling journey!

How to listen:

Please subscribe, follow, and share with all of your military homeschooling friends!

The post Homeschooling, the Rising Star of Educational Choice for Military Families appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.