Hey, homeschoolers! Last week my guest and I talked about finding a homeschool community. Often our biggest concern is helping our kids make friends. But what about us? We need friends too. I might not have made it without the homeschool mom friendships I had.

If you’re interested in developing new friendships, you’ll love my chat with Kristen Strong. Kristen, whose authored books include Girl Meets Change and When Change Finds You, also compiled the 90-day devotional, Praying Through Loneliness. Her new book is titled Desperate Woman Seeks Friends. Kristen writes as a friend walking alongside you in your lonely season to a more helpful, hopeful destination. She loves sharing laughs, long talks, and meaningful stories with family and friends while holding a cup of strong black tea. She and her US Air Force veteran husband, David, have three beloved adult children.

I found her delightful. Here’s our conversation.

In this conversation, Melanie Wilson and Kristen discuss the unique challenges that homeschooling moms face in building and maintaining friendships. They explore themes of isolation, the importance of deep versus casual friendships, and practical strategies for overcoming obstacles such as busyness and fear of rejection. Kristen shares insights from her book ‘Desperate Woman Seeks Friends,’ emphasizing the need for vulnerability and the value of creating rituals to prioritize friendships. The discussion highlights the emotional benefits of connection and the importance of understanding different personality types in friendship dynamics.

Kristen Strong’s website

Kristen on Instagram

Have a happy homeschool week!

The post Mom Friendships appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Thank you to NOW programs for sponsoring this episode of the Homeschool Sanity Show.

Hey homeschoolers, you can homeschool apart from a community, but why would you want to? Although online communities have helped connect homeschoolers around the world, most of us desire a local community.

Local communities can answer our questions about activities and services, and they provide a source of friendships for us and our kids. My guest today is Morgan Bergstrom, founder of BaseCampEd, a new app that is helping homeschool parents make connections in their area. We have an interesting discussion of how community building has changed in homeschooling and how families like yours can connect today, even if you aren’t an extrovert. Here’s our chat.

Morgan on Facebook

Morgan on Instagram

Have a happy homeschool week!

The post New Homeschool Community appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Thank you to NOW Programs for sponsoring this episode of the Homeschool Sanity Show.

Hey, homeschoolers! One of my most popular talks at Great Homeschool Conventions was “The Anger Antidote for Homeschool Parents.” I understand why. My anger was a stronghold in my life that I just couldn’t seem to overcome. Although I believe this talk is chock full of inspiration, it’s light on tools.

That’s why I was excited to connect with Amber Lia. Amber is a certified independent health coach, a homeschool mom, and the author of multiple bestselling books including Food Triggers and Parenting Scripts. Her newest release is Untrigged: 60 Days of Transformation for Moms Who Struggle with Anger. I won’t blame you if you push pause to grab your copy of this devotional right now. But I hope you’ll return to hear the wisdom and grace Amber has to share. Be sure to listen to the end because I have a free gift just for podcast listeners.

If you struggle with anger, I want to gift you The Anger Antidote class for free. Use code PODCAST to make it free.

Amber’s Books

Amber’s Blog

Amber’s Instagram Amber’s Facebook

Have a happy homeschool week!

The post Moms And Anger appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Hey, homeschoolers! It should be easy to teach life skills in our homeschools. The kids are cooking with us, cleaning with us, and even doing home repairs with us. But sometimes academics, activities, and daily life get in the way. We have good intentions, but before we know it, Junior is on his own driving the car with no oil in it. Don’t ask why I’m using that as an example.

My guest today, Katie Kimball of Kids Cook Real Food, has joined me before to talk about teaching cooking skills. But today she is sharing:

You’ll want to listen to the end to hear about an exciting free resource your kids will love. Here’s Katie.

I would have loved this resource for my kids! To register for camp now (before you forget), go to kidscookrealfood.com/lifeskillssanity. Then get a head start on teaching one life skill this week.

Have a happy homeschool week!

The post The Easy Way To Teach Life Skills appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Hey, homeschoolers! Does your child struggle with self-control? Judging by the response to my session on self-control at the Great Homeschool Conventions, I’m going to guess that the answer for many is yes. Self-control is an overarching concept that includes emotion management and control of what we say and do. It means that our child can say no to their desires that can have immediate or long-term negative consequences–especially when in challenging situations.

Parents who want to talk to me about their child’s self-control are often concerned with how their child’s words or actions create sibling conflict, or they’re concerned about their child spending a lot of time spent in rewarding activities like gaming in lieu of doing chores or studying. These same parents admit that they too are struggling with some aspects of self-control. I have been there with both children’s struggles and my own.

In this episode, I want to spend time discussing why your child might be struggling and some solutions based on those root causes. In particular, I want to challenge the association we often make that can prevent us from choosing an effective solution.

Before we dive in though, I am happy to announce the release of the second level of Training Aliens, the story-based curriculum I created to help parents like you teach self-control and other vital social and emotional skills. For a limited time, you’ll save 20% on either level of the curriculum designed for K-8th graders. Level 2 has the alien siblings returning to space camp, learning how to turn acquaintances into friends, how to deal with worry, how to respond to someone who’s teasing them, how to help someone who’s grieving, and 12 more intermediate skills. As with Level 1, the curriculum includes a 5-minute story about the aliens struggling with a skill and two choices for dealing with it that are common but ineffective. The training manual includes discussion questions, dramatizations, games, and STEM activities in addition to the course where I am teaching the skill in a short, engaging video. As before, you need just one copy for your family or co-op group. Sara had this to say about Level 1:

I cannot recommend Training Aliens enough! Managing emotions is tough but Melanie makes it super fun and engaging for the kids. We are using this curriculum with a group of friends, doing one lesson a week. We chose to do the faith-based book. The kids have loved acting out the Bible passages, movement activities, and the show and tell. I’ve seen super shy kids coming out of their shell, some being more mindful of others, and overall have seen so much growth this year. It is great for families but even more fun with friends. We have been so blessed by Melanie and Training Aliens. We cannot wait to dive into Training Aliens 2 next school year. Thank you for creating a curriculum that has been so helpful in training up our children. 

Back to our topic. You’ve been practicing self-control, waiting for me to share the causes of self-control struggles. Thank you for that!

The first cause we’ll discuss is spiritual because that’s what we as Christian homeschoolers often default to. Galatians lists self-control as one fruit of the spirit. So if our child isn’t demonstrating self-control, we may wonder if they have the Holy Spirit. Even more commonly though, we wonder if our child just lacks character. Perhaps they just aren’t trying hard enough!

My first response to this way of thinking, which I have also had, is that God also gives musical and artistic talents to His people. Yet those talents take time and practice to develop into usable skills. Self-control is like that. Younger children will exercise less self-control and this immaturity is not related to their character. They will develop more self-control as they grow and practice.

If, however, you see other areas in which your child is lacking character like not being kind, you have more reason to believe that poor self-control is a spiritual issue. Spiritual training is a lifelong endeavor, so it doesn’t hurt to continue to provide it for self-control struggles.

Spiritual training includes discipline, which the Bible says produces a harvest of righteousness. Firm and loving discipline teaches children struggling with self-control the consequences of poor choices. Ignoring lack of respect or disobedience can prolong the struggle. Along with giving consequences, expressing our belief in our children’s ability to develop their self-control is most likely to help our child.

Let’s say you told your child to turn off the screen and put his laundry away. When you come back, he is still on the screen and the laundry is where you left it. You can calmly remind him of the assignment and ask for the device that you’ll be keeping for a while. You can then say, “I know you’ll make a better choice next time.” You might even recognize the difficulty in saying no to yourself when you’d prefer not to do a chore. You could then discuss some strategies for getting work done quickly and more enjoyably. Listening to music or using a timer come to mind.

Sometimes self-control does have a spiritual cause. But many times it is physical. Children that have neurodevelopmental issues that affect the prefrontal cortex will have more difficulty with self-control. My autistic adult nephew was texting me late at night. When I asked him not to, it was like I had pushed the “more” button. He began texting me late at night even more often, while apologizing for doing so. I just muted notifications for his texts and learned that ignoring the behavior worked better with him.

Children with ADHD can also have difficulty with impulse control–likely because they think and move so quickly that they haven’t considered the consequences before acting.

Self-control is more challenging for all our kids when they’re tired or overstimulated. Self-control requires energy and kids are easily tempted when they don’t have a good night’s sleep. Stress from illness, change, or conflict also drains kids’ energy.

When our kids have a physical basis for poor self-control, it makes sense to tailor our response to the individual child. We have to experiment to see what works best. While some children thrive on an early bed time, for example, others have more self-control when allowed to sleep late. Allowing a child who’s been ill or stressed more down time also makes sense.

Movement and some form of physical exercise are excellent strategies for promoting self-control for most children. Children with ADHD do well with movement interspersed throughout the day. Adequate xercise can also help children sleep more soundly at night.

When a child has a physical basis for self-control struggles, we want to remove temptations as much as possible. A tired child who has a screen in their room at night is probably going to choose it over sleep, for example. Having a child work in a quiet space alone for a short period can help as can using headphones or a screen to limit visual distractions.

A child can have both spiritual and physical sources of self-control struggles, but most children have mental sources.

Some research suggests that self-control works like a muscle in that it can be fatigued. In other words, if our children have to exercise self-control on tasks earlier in the day, there will be less strength available for later tasks. I don’t go to the gym on the days I play tennis. I don’t want to wear my body out so I’m not tired that evening. That just makes sense.

But many of us as parents are wearing our kids out mentally or not noticing that they’re being worn out by a variety of tasks and situations throughout the day. Some of the most common mental situations that wear out children’s self-control are sitting still, being quiet, and obeying. A huge benefit of homeschooling is our children generally aren’t asked to sit still and be quiet in a classroom for six hours a day. Even so, we may be insisting that our children do this while we’re teaching, when it isn’t required. We can allow kids to move around, discuss what they’re learning, and be hands-on, even more than we are now. When we are more interactive with them during the day, they’ll have more self-control when dealing with brother or sister’s annoying behaviors.

The second way we can encourage a child who’s self-control struggles are mental is to limit the number of rules we give them. Rules that our kids don’t like require them to be respectful and obedient–things that require a tremendous amount of self-control, especially for strong-willed children who loathe rules. We want to make sure that the rules we insist upon are worth the loss of self-control power later. Does it really matter which order your child does her tasks? Does your child have to hand write, or could they dictate or use the keyboard?

The good news about self-control behaving like a muscle is that it means our kids can develop more strength and tenacity. As we keep training them and they mature, you’ll see it happening. For now, when your child has a self-control issue, talk with them about what was draining their self-control before the problem, so they can be prepared next time. By the way, this way of thinking of self-control helps us too. I found myself wanting to inhale chocolate after a difficult conversation. I realized that I was using a lot of self-control not to say when I really thought! Next time I have a challenging talk, I’ll know that I need some time to rest and recharge. Kids need these breaks too–time to rest, move, be loud, and enjoy playing. After a break, they’ll be better prepared for the next challenge.

If you want to begin training your children to grow in self-control now, I have a treat for you–almost as good as chocolate. I am giving you the self-control lesson from Level 2 of Training Aliens for free. Self-Control Sample

Whether your children have spiritual, physical, or mental roots for their self-control struggles, I know they’ll get stronger as they complete the lesson and benefit from your example. And if you don’t feel that you’ve been the best example lately, the good news is that God gives us strength for our weakness. He certainly has for me.

Have a happy homeschool week!

The post Help For Self-Control Struggles appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

We know that Hollywood is not our friend when it comes to raising the next generation, but Craig DeHut is. He is the co-founder and COO of Appian Media. What sets Appian Media apart is their three-pronged approach, accuracy, professional production, and free accessibility. This commitment reflects their mission to remove barriers to the gospel. Appian Media’s success is evident not just through awards and views, but in its profound impact on individuals. With nine million YouTube views and global support for funded projects. Their recent endeavor in Egypt showcases the widespread international reach and community backing they have gained. Craig is fervently dedicated to making the Bible more accessible and meaningful, particularly for homeschool families, faith-based individuals, and those intrigued by the historical and geographical aspects of biblical stories. Their content strikes a chord with Bible believers seeking a renewed perspective. I know you’ll enjoy my chat about equipping the next generation to counter the culture of Hollywood. And if you’re attending the Great Home School Convention in Columbus this week, please stop by our booths to say hello.

Craig Dehut shares his family’s homeschooling journey. The influence of Hollywood on family values is pervasive. Parents must be aware of the messages in media. Appian Media aims to provide high-quality biblical content. Quality content can counter Hollywood’s storytelling power. Homeschooling allows for a tailored educational experience. Media literacy is crucial for children in today’s world. Appian Media is a non-profit funded by community support. Future plans include creating a comprehensive biblical curriculum. Finding family-friendly content is essential for positive media consumption.

The post Countering The Culture Of Hollywood With Craig Dehut appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Before I introduce her and our chat, I want to thank CTC Math for sponsoring the podcast. Learn more at CTCMath.com.

Felice is an author and the founder of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network and the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network. Felice is a life-long Catholic Christian who loves and serves the Lord, Jesus Christ.

She is a graduate of Florida Southern College and a former teacher with a degree in Elementary Education, Learning Disabilities and Early Childhood Education.

Felice hosts the Vintage Homeschool Moms Podcast, A Few Minutes with God Podcast, Writing and Podcasting Advice and the One More Child Podcast.

What I can tell you about Felice that isn’t part of her formal bio is that she is an incredibly supportive and generous person. She cares about homeschoolers and is passionate about serving them. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. I hope our discussion helps you find a discipline approach that is just right for your family.

In this engaging conversation, Felice Gerwitz shares her journey into homeschooling, the challenges she faced, especially with special needs children, and her unique approach to discipline. She introduces the One Minute Discipline Method, emphasizing the importance of self-control and prayer in parenting. Felice offers valuable insights and advice for parents navigating the complexities of homeschooling and discipline, highlighting the need for authenticity and connection in family life.

Hey, homeschoolers! I was intrigued when I saw the title of Felice Gerwitz’s podcast episode about one-minute discipline. After checking it out, I knew I had to invite her on The Homeschool Sanity Show to talk about it.

Before I introduce her and our chat, I want to thank CTC Math for sponsoring the podcast. Learn more at CTCMath.com.

Felice is an author and the founder of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network and the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network. Felice is a life-long Catholic Christian who loves and serves the Lord, Jesus Christ.

She is a graduate of Florida Southern College and a former teacher with a degree in Elementary Education, Learning Disabilities and Early Childhood Education.

Felice hosts the Vintage Homeschool Moms Podcast, A Few Minutes with God Podcast, Writing and Podcasting Advice and the One More Child Podcast.

What I can tell you about Felice that isn’t part of her formal bio is that she is an incredibly supportive and generous person. She cares about homeschoolers and is passionate about serving them. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. I hope our discussion helps you find a discipline approach that is just right for your family.

In this engaging conversation, Felice Gerwitz shares her journey into homeschooling, the challenges she faced, especially with special needs children, and her unique approach to discipline. She introduces the One Minute Discipline Method, emphasizing the importance of self-control and prayer in parenting. Felice offers valuable insights and advice for parents navigating the complexities of homeschooling and discipline, highlighting the need for authenticity and connection in family life.

The post Discipline In One Minute With Felice Gerwitz appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Hey, homeschoolers! Are you wondering how AI can make homeschooling easier or are you concerned about using it? In either case, I have you covered. I have been using AI more and more in my business and personal life. I talk to people who are confused or curious about it, so I thought it would be fun to create a podcast on the topic using AI as much as possible to create the episode. AI generated the title, the script, and the b-roll or background video for the YouTube version you can check out at YouTube.com/melaniewilson. Just an aside that melanie is spelled m-e-l-a-n-i-e and not melon with a y–which is Chick-fil-a’s favorite spelling.

In this episode, I’ll be sharing the top three misconceptions about AI, the top 3 advantages of using AI in your homeschool, and the top 10 ways homeschoolers are incorporating AI. Finally, I’ll share a day in the life of a homeschooled student before and after AI. The script has been generated by AI, but I’ll be adding my commentary.

Before we get started, I’d like to thank CTC Math for sponsoring the podcast. Learn more at CTCMath.com.

Top 3 Misconceptions About AI

1. AI Thinks Like a Human

Misconception: AI has independent thoughts, emotions, and consciousness like a human brain. Reality: AI processes data and follows patterns but does not “think” or “understand” in a human way. It analyzes information and generates responses based on patterns, not personal experiences or emotions.

2. AI is 100% Accurate and Objective

Misconception: AI always provides correct, unbiased information. Reality: AI models are trained on human-created data, which can include biases and inaccuracies. AI can also generate errors or misleading information, so users should fact-check its responses.

3. AI Will Replace Humans Completely

Misconception: AI will take over all jobs, leaving humans with nothing to do. Reality: AI automates repetitive tasks but still requires human oversight, creativity, and ethical decision-making. Instead of replacing people, AI is more likely to enhance productivity and create new job opportunities.

AI is a powerful tool, but it’s important to use it wisely and understand its limitations!

3 Advantages of Using AI in Your Homeschool

1. Personalized Learning for Every Child

AI adapts to your child’s unique learning style, pace, and strengths.

It can provide extra practice in weak areas or accelerate lessons for advanced learners.

AI-powered tutors and lesson generators make customized education easier for parents.

2. Saves Time for Parents

AI can generate lesson plans, quizzes, and worksheets in minutes.

It helps with grading, scheduling, and organizing learning materials.

Parents can focus more on teaching and engaging with their kids instead of spending hours on prep work.

3. Makes Learning More Engaging

AI-powered interactive lessons, virtual field trips, and educational games make learning fun.

Kids can use AI tools for creative projects like storytelling, coding, and science simulations.

It introduces students to real-world tech skills they’ll use in the future.

AI isn’t a replacement for hands-on homeschooling, but it’s a powerful tool that makes learning more efficient, personalized, and engaging!

AI is becoming a valuable tool for homeschoolers, helping parents and students with learning, organization, and creativity. Here are 10 top ways homeschoolers are using AI:

1. Personalized Learning Plans

2. AI Tutors & Homework Help

3. Writing Assistance & Grammar Checkers

4. Generating Lesson Plans & Activities

5. Enhancing Creativity in Projects

6. Foreign Language Learning

7. STEM Learning & Coding

8. Time Management & Scheduling

9. Virtual Field Trips & Research Assistance

10. Educational Game Creation

AI is making homeschooling more efficient, interactive, and tailored to each child’s unique learning style!

A Day in the Life of a Homeschooled Student: Before & After AI

Before AI: A Typical Day Without AI

8:00 AM – Morning Routine & Planning

9:00 AM – Math Lesson

10:00 AM – Writing Assignment

11:00 AM – Science Experiment

12:00 PM – Lunch & Break

1:00 PM – History & Research

2:00 PM – Reading & Comprehension

3:00 PM – Wrap-Up & Chores

After AI: A More Efficient & Engaging Homeschool Day

8:00 AM – Morning Routine & AI-Assisted Planning

9:00 AM – Math Lesson with AI Tutor

10:00 AM – Writing Assignment with AI Help

11:00 AM – Science Exploration

12:00 PM – Lunch & Break

1:00 PM – History & Research with AI

2:00 PM – Reading & Comprehension

3:00 PM – Wrap-Up & Independent Study

The Big Difference?

Faster Learning: AI speeds up research, explanations, and assignments.

More Engagement: Interactive AI tools make subjects more interesting.

Less Stress: Mom spends less time prepping, and the student works more independently.

AI doesn’t replace homeschooling—it enhances it, giving parents more time for meaningful teaching and connection!

That’s the end of AI’s podcast notes. I have to say that I’m impressed and excited about the benefits of using AI in homeschooling. What do you think?

Thanks again to CTC Math for their sponsorship. Again, you can find the links on the show-notes page at homeschoolsanity.com/ai.

Have a happy homeschool week!

The post AI For Homeschooling Parents: What You Need To Know appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Introduction: In this episode, I address the common concern of homeschooling parents trying to juggle too many tasks, curriculum, and activities in their homeschooling journey. I outline six telltale signs that indicate you might be taking on more than you can handle and provides valuable insights for finding a healthier balance.

SPONSOR: NOW Programs

Visit Now Programs to learn about their resources for specials-needs students.

Visit funtolearnbooks.com/samples to try a free lesson and discover the joy of learning with Grammar Galaxy.

Signs You’re Trying to Do Too Much:

1. Worried Overload: If you find yourself constantly worried about how everything will fit into your homeschooling plans, it’s a clear indication that you might be trying to do too much. Trusting in your ability to manage your schedule is important.

2. Friends’ Reactions: When you share your homeschooling plans with friends and their reactions involve raised eyebrows, laughter, or exclamations of disbelief, it’s time to reconsider if you’ve taken on more than you can handle.

3. Lack of Margin: Having every moment of your schedule accounted for without any unscheduled time can lead to stress and burnout. Allowing room for unexpected events is crucial for maintaining a healthy balance.

4. Neglecting Self-Care: If your plan doesn’t include time for essential self-care activities, such as adequate sleep, hobbies, exercise, and quality time with your spouse, you’re likely trying to do too much. Prioritizing self-care ensures your well-being and effectiveness as a homeschooling parent.

5. Falling Behind: Not being able to complete your planned tasks, lessons, or activities consistently is a sign that you’ve overcommitted. Struggling to keep up can lead to frustration and dissatisfaction.

6. Resistance from You and Your Kids: Feeling resistance or reluctance to start your homeschooling routine indicates that your expectations are too high. If both you and your kids are resisting, it’s time to reevaluate your approach.

Finding Balance and Solutions: To regain balance, reflect on your motivations and goals for each activity in your homeschooling plan. Seek guidance from trusted friends or family members who can provide honest feedback. Embrace the idea of trusting in God’s plan for your homeschooling journey and prioritize the essential aspects that align with your purpose.

Conclusion: Remember that homeschooling is a unique journey, and finding the right balance between curriculum, activities, and self-care is essential for a successful and fulfilling experience. By recognizing and addressing the signs of overcommitment, you can create a homeschooling routine that brings joy, growth, and meaningful learning to your family.

Have a happy homeschool week!

The post Special Replay: 6 Signs You’re Trying To Do Too Much appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Do you love Charlotte Mason’s approach to education? This is the Homeschool Sanity Show, the episode where I explain why I think Charlotte Mason would approve of my unique approach to teaching language arts and why you might want to consider adding it to your studies this year.

Learn more about how NOW Programs can help you homeschool a special-needs student.

If you love a Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling, I’m not surprised. Charlotte thought education should be a lifestyle that should engage the whole person. She wanted children to appreciate nature and fine arts. And she wanted them to have a love of learning.

I wasn’t acquainted with Charlotte Mason’s approach when I created Grammar Galaxy, but I believe she would approve. I was motivated to create a new approach to teaching language arts, and grammar in particular, because my kids hated it. They begged me not to teach it. I didn’t understand this because I’ve always loved English. I started paying closer attention to the curriculum I’d used over the years and discovered the main reason my kids were so bored with it: it was taken out of the context of story.

The first reason I believe Charlotte Mason would approve of Grammar Galaxy is because it uses story to teach. Rather than a dry, textbook approach of stating that a noun is a person, place, or thing, the nouns in Grammar Galaxy begin disappearing. The king is able to get the nouns returned to planet Sentence, but they need help getting back to their homes. Students are guardians of the galaxy who help return the nouns to Person, Place or Thing Street where they live.

The stories in Grammar Galaxy hold students’ attention and are far more memorable than textbook material. It is what Charlotte called a living book written by someone who is passionate about the topic. That’s me!

The second reason I think Charlotte Mason would approve of Grammar Galaxy is related. Charlotte wanted students to read fiction. Grammar Galaxy encourages daily reading in multiple genres and does not dictate which books are read. The emphasis is on developing a love of reading through print and audiobooks that appeal to students. We now know that reading fiction for enjoyment is the key to expanding students’ vocabulary—the best predictor of school and life success.

The third reason I believe Charlotte Mason would approve of Grammar Galaxy is how well it lends itself to narration. At the end of each story are some questions to check for comprehension. A great follow-up for Charlotte Mason homeschoolers is for students to retell the story orally. This rehearsal will allow you to check for thorough understanding and will allow your student to better retain the information.

The fourth reason I think Charlotte Mason would approve of Grammar Galaxy is its inclusion of  copywork, dictation, and journaling lessons. These practices are known to improve students’ handwriting, grammar, spelling, and even enjoyment of writing. Free, monthly language arts calendars sent to subscribers frequently include additional copywork and writing exercises.

The fifth reason I believe Charlotte Mason would approve of Grammar Galaxy is its short lessons. Charlotte wanted children to have time to play and learn outside. She didn’t want them spending the day at a desk. Each step in a mission of Grammar Galaxy takes just 10-15 minutes to complete on average, allowing students time to read a book in a hammock, sketch what they think the Gremlin looks like, or write their own funny stories. I’ve also included active mission steps whenever possible like going on an adjective hunt.

The sixth reason I think Charlotte would approve of Grammar Galaxy is her desire for children to love learning. That was my top goal for the curriculum because I know if students enjoy reading, writing, and even grammar, they’ll do more of it. As they do more of it, they’ll improve their skills and grow in confidence. My favorite comment to get from Grammar Galaxy families is that their child’s new favorite subject is language arts and they beg to do it!

Of course, Charlotte can’t weigh in on Grammar Galaxy, but you as a Charlotte Mason homeschooler can. You can download a complete lesson of any volume to try with your student for free at FunToLearnBooks.com/samples.

If you’re attending Great Homeschool Conventions this summer, stop by the Grammar Galaxy books booth to see the books in person. I’d love to chat with you.

Have a happy homeschool week!

The post Special Replay: Why Charlotte Mason Would Love Grammar Galaxy appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.