Realizing Genius Podcast

It's the beginning of December, and if you're like me, you're trying to figure out last-minute gifts. When my kids were growing up, I would always have a pile of books next to their stockings. The entire time I've been raising my kids, I've been trying to instill a love of books in them. One way I did that was to get them lots of books each Christmas.  It was just easier to put a big pile of books next to their stocking rather than wrap them all up.

So, I thought today that I would share some of the books that I have read this year because if I left it open to all of the books that I've read in the youth or young adult section, it would just take too long. I added a couple of classics in, too.  I've been reading some young adult books with my students this year that have really stood out for me.  I want to share those with you to give you some ideas for books that you wouldn't think of reading because most of these are books I didn't read with my own kids.  Enjoy!

LINKS

Little Men by Louisa May Alcott

Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac

Fountain of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais

Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga

The Final Empire: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews

7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey

Grit by Angela Duckworth

Angela Duckworth's TED talk on Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

Whatever Happened to Penny Candy by Richard Maybury

Archimedes and the Door of Science by Jeanne Bendick

Isn't it exciting? December's here. We have all kinds of exciting activities that we're doing. We are going sledding and having snow days and, you know, going to see Santa, if that's your thing. We have church activities and all kinds of family that are going to be visiting. And additional fancy meals that you're supposed to put together. And oh, by the way, on top of that, educate our kids.

Right.

I don't know about you, but I have always loved December, but... Being really vulnerable here... It's also when I kind of had a couple of breakdowns over the years.

It can be a crazy, crazy month, especially when we have already taken on so much more just by taking the responsibility of educating our kids at home. So, this is my little "Yeah, have fun for December, but take care of yourself"  episode.

When my kids were little, I would often take the entire month off of school for December. So we would not do regular school. Now, that didn't mean that learning wasn't happening. It was happening all over the place. We were doing so many different things. But it just looked a lot different, and it lowered my stress a little bit by doing that. If something came up, it was like, okay, well, we aren't doing school.

In this episode, I share some fun activities you can do during the month that are simple, but there is some learning going on.

Be sure to join my Facebook Homeschool Support group for ideas and reminders about making December fun but less stressful.

WARNING:  I talk about Santa in this episode.  If you have your kids believe in Santa, be sure and put the headphones on. 

LINK

Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend by Julie Stiegemeyer

Meet Julia Booker, the heart and soul of Booker's Book Nook. She has a passion for sharing the love of reading! She's a representative with PaperPie (formerly Usborne). Their motto? "We gather for good around literacy and learning." For five years now, Julia's been hosting an annual book drive bash, raising money to hook up foster care kids in CCC (Community Care County) with shiny new books.

In just the last two years, she's scored enough donations to dish out a whopping 1,200 top-notch books, one for each kid in the county's care. Julia's no newbie to the kid scene; she's spent over 20 years waltzing through roles like dance teacher, sub, helper, and Sunday school teacher. When she's not dishing out the best children's stories, she's got her hands full, homeschooling her two sons. Julia's on a mission to bring families closer, one book at a time.

Find out more about Julia and PaperPie by listening to this week's podcast!

LINKS

IG - @BookersBookNook

FB - @BookersBookNook

Private FB Reading Lounge - https://www.facebook.com/groups/bookersbooknook

Landing Page - linktr.ee/bookersbooknook

Sometimes, the thing that holds us back from realizing our genius is having the courage and skill to share it.  This week's guest on the Realizing Genius Podcast helps kids find their voice.

After the trauma of childhood abuse,  today Jackie Bailey is the founder and executive director of The Speak Feed Lead Project, which has empowered hundreds of children, teens, and adults with confident, courageous voices shared on global stages, competitions, podcasts, and books. As an award-winning team-builder, educator, leader, and coach, Jackie has been a featured speaker at corporate events at Microsoft, Smith-Barney, Puget Sound Energy, Fred Hutch Cancer Care Alliance, and at mega events like The Voices of Women Summit, Family Matters Summit, Health Wealth Wisdom, and The Best You Expo where she shared stages with Marissa Peer, Mas Sajadi, Bernardo Moya, Bill Walsh, and Kim Serafini.

Jackie shares resources and opportunities for your kids and you to gain the confidence to share your voice.

Be sure to check out Speaksgiving!

Speaksgiving is a live-streaming event featuring youth and adults who want to share their gratitude for having a VOICE! You can speak! You can share your message with the world! Let's help kids, teens, and young adults know they have VOICES to share, too!

The SpeaksGiving event will be live on Facebook from 1:00 - 4:00 pm Pacific time on November 28th, 2023.

When you give a gift of any amount, you'll receive the Zoom link to join the SpeaksGiving event. Show up any time during the event and SHARE YOUR VOICE!

This is a fantastic opportunity for kids and parents!  Find out more on the podcast.

LINKS

Website: https://www.speakfeedlead.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeakFeedLead

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakfeedlead/?hl=en

Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/SELFishBowl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-bailey-4532287/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-UK77I3lt7K2X64e6UXX0g

Life Mastery Radio with Todd & Jackie: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr2yBJME1dAiGTT4wNddomg

Georgics is a term that isn't used much anymore.  William DeMille is doing his best to change that!  Georgics is all about working with the land and is William's passion!  As an author and teacher, he shares the benefits of growing your own food; it isn't just having the food to eat! He educates people in ecological literacy, focusing on Permaculture, Biodynamics, Holistic Management, Georgics, and Ecological Agriculture. He helps people grow enough food to feed their families and communities in the healthiest way possible.  Be sure to check out this episode and the many other ways he shares his message!

LINKS

Patreon

YouTube Channel

Instagram

Facebook

Worry-Free Eating by William DeMille

Families are facing an onslaught of challenges, but fear not! We've got an incredible guardian in our midst, none other than Emmalou Penrod. She's not just your average superhero; she's a devoted wife, loving mother, doting grandmother, and a former schoolteacher with a wealth of wisdom. But that's not all—Emmalou also happens to be a Family Relationship Coach with Healing Your Families, on a mission to defend and fortify the very bedrock of our society: families!

With a lifetime of experiences and a heart full of values, Emmalou knows that families are the glue that holds our world together. Her burning passion? To roll up her sleeves and make this world a better place by empowering and strengthening families. So, as the battle rages on, remember that Emmalou Penrod is here to stand by your side and ensure that families remain resilient and unbreakable!

Be sure to catch this episode to learn more about Emmalou and her advice for your family!

LINKS

https://www.facebook.com/familyrelationships1

https://www.youtube.com/channel/emmaloupenrod

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmalou-penrod/

https://www.instagram.com/emmaloupenrod/

https://winwinwomen.tv/show/healing-your-families

In an age where Artificial Intelligence becomes increasingly interwoven into our daily existence, there's a growing urgency to impart the essence of humanity to our children.  This week's episode is a conversation Tatiana Fallon and I had after we finished recording her presentation for the 2024 Realizing Genius Homeschool Conference (February 22-27, 2024).  Her presentation is on AI and is fascinating!  I can't wait for you to watch it! Our conversation is a great preview.  Tatiana talks about how a classical Liberal Arts education for ourselves and our kids is a great antidote to the artificiality around us.

Enjoy!

LINKS

Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

The Great Books of the Western World

LEMI - Leadership Education Mentoring Institute

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Old Yeller by Fred Gipson

Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

LEMIWorks! Podcast

Are you a homeschooling parent looking to empower your child in today's tech-driven world? This episode delves into the exciting realm of teaching algorithms and algorithmic thinking! Discover how teaching algorithms nurtures critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Our practical tips will help you make algorithmic learning engaging and enjoyable right from your homeschool. We'll show you how algorithmic thinking goes beyond screens, enhancing everyday problem-solving skills and fostering teamwork and resilience. Plus, we'll guide you on actively shaping your child's digital experiences through algorithmic interactions online.

LINKS

What's an algorithm? - TED-Ed - an introduction

Intro to Algorithms: Crash Course Computer Science  - more detailed (sorting)

Code.org - A platform offering a variety of coding games and activities for kids.

Scratch - An interactive platform for creating stories, games, and animations using code blocks.

Tynker - A coding platform designed for kids to learn programming through fun projects.

Blockly - A visual programming language designed for beginners.

Khan Academy - Offers free computer science courses for older kids.

Codecademy - Provides interactive coding lessons suitable for various ages.

The Fallacy Detective by Nathaniel & Hans Bluedorn

Bark - internet security & monitoring (affiliate)

Navigating the uncharted waters of the future can be a daunting task, especially for homeschooling parents. The world is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and it often feels like we're preparing our children for a destination that remains hidden in the fog of uncertainty. In these turbulent times, how can we equip our kids with the skills and knowledge they need when the very landscape of tomorrow remains elusive?

It's true; the subjects we diligently teach and the experiences we curate for our children might not align perfectly with the demands of future employers. But perhaps therein lies the beauty of homeschooling – the ability to foster a holistic, adaptable, and forward-thinking education.

In this age of rapid change, memorizing facts and figures alone won't suffice. Instead, we must cultivate in our children a love for learning, a hunger for exploration, and a resilience that enables them to tackle the unknown with confidence. By nurturing these essential qualities, we empower our children to not only adapt to the shifting tides of the job market but to become architects of their own destinies.

Consider this: the skills needed in the future job market may not be limited to traditional subjects. Tomorrow's employers may prize creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, and emotional intelligence above all else. As homeschooling parents, we have the freedom to instill these attributes through a diverse range of educational experiences.

Interesting in learning more?  Check out this week's episode, where I share my research on the top 10 skills we should be teaching our kids to prepare them for the careers of the future!

Today's episode is another "Genius Connection!"

 

BOOKS & LINKS

Thou Shall Prosper by Rabbi Daniel Lapin

Udemy.com

LinkedIn Learning

Acton Children's Business Fair- I meant to mention this when I was talking about entrepreneurship.

Eisenhower Matrix

I've been researching technology and its pros and cons and thought I'd share some of the "aha's" I've had about Artificial Intelligence.  People have calmed down a little about AI, but when ChatGPT first came out, there were so many fearful posts and articles.   I know there is still a lot of misunderstanding and confusion about it.

If we look back at history, there have been many times when new innovations are vilified because people don't know how to use them effectively. Once we get over that hump, they just become normal.  Just in my lifetime, I've seen computers, the internet, and cell phones change the way we live.

When it comes to education, AI is something homeschoolers can embrace.  Hopefully other education systems will eventually, because whoever does, will give their kids a distinct advantage!  Learn a bit more about AI in this week's episode!

LINK

Here is the TIK TOK VIDEO I mentioned.