Toolbox for Learning Podcast

Parenting teens….. A phrase that has strikes fear in many souls.

And who hasn’t heard the phrase - if you can’t control your child at two, you sure won’t be able to control him at thirteen. But, it doesn’t have to be that way and that is what we are going to discuss on this podcast - Teaching Teens.

This will be a two part series discussing the challenges of raising teens. Part 1 will emphasize the need for expectations for your teens and helping them set up their own expectations. We will also be discussing teen emotions and how best to support them, while also training them in mature responses to their feelings.

In Part 2 we will be exploring the academic side of raising teens.

As a former homeschooler, and the mom who taught him. Chaz and Christie are in an unique position to share with you their personal experiences of transitioning from pre-adolescents, into the teenage years, college years, and eventual adulthood. 

Whether you are awaiting the birth of your first child or trying to decide if you should begin homeschooling your teenager, the question of "when do I begin?" is an important starting point for every homeschool parent. 

In this podcast, Chaz and Christie will discuss the right time to begin homeschooling your child. This podcast will define what homeschool is and give specific advice for people who are preparing for the  birth of their child by encouraging them to see all of life as a homeschool experience. 

They explain the importance of understanding baby development and making intentional lesson plans for helping your child reach the necessary milestones. In addition, they give practical ideas for encouraging learning without breaking the pocketbook. 

They also discuss the older child and when you should begin homeschooling your teenager. This podcast even includes ideas for how to homeschool your child if they are a traditional student.

We look forward to sharing this podcast with you and ask that if you enjoyed the episode that you would like and follow us.

There is nothing like working alongside mom and dad to help your child develop the skills they will need as adults. When our children join us in our day to day work they learn more than just how to wash dishes or change the oil in their cars. And that is what Chaz and Christie will be discussing in this podcast. 

They have a unique perspective on this subject due to their personal experiences as a homeschooled adult and the mom who taught him. By having been there before you, they will encourage you in your own homeschool adventure as you have your child work alongside you.

I know, life is busy. There are babies to feed, houses to clean, kids that need homeschooled,  and bills to pay.  Now, to add to that - making sure my husband isn't getting neglected! You just can't win, can you.

But, what if you could? What if there is a way to keep up your responsibilities and have a spouse that doesn't feel like the last thing on your list? That is the purpose for today's podcast. 

Christie will share her own experience trying to juggle home, work and homeschooling, while trying to keep her marriage healthy. It doesn't have to be hard - it just has to do with willingness to be creative and intentional effort. 

She will be discussing:

• The natural ebbs and flows of marriage
• Questions to ask yourself periodically
• Evaluating your time
• Working small times for each other naturally into your day

We hope you enjoy this podcast and find new and creative opportunities for enjoying your spouse.

Homeschooling boys. Somedays there's nothing  better - other days it's like pulling your teeth out. A million times a day do you find yourself asking:

• Why can't he just sit still and pay attention?
• Why does he zone out and act like he's not even there?
• Why are there rocks, sticks and unrecognizable things in his pockets all the time?
• How do I get my son excited about his school day?
• Why does it seem so much harder to teach him than my daughter?
• What do I do with all that energy?
• How is he ever going to be able to manage a desk job/college when he gets older?

If you find yourself asking these questions, then you are in the right place. As a adult who was once a homeschooled boy himself, Chaz has insight into what it means to be a boy in the educational environment. Despite all his energy growing up, which hasn't really gone away, Chaz has learned to manage college and a desk job career by embracing his need to move, with his responsibilities in the workplace. Your son can do the same.

In this podcast Chaz, and his mom, Christie, will use research to describe to you what is going on inside your son's brain, and share some of their methods for waking up boys minds. Using their personal experience homeschooling three boys, Chaz and Christie will teach you the best method of homeschooling boys: Time and Training. 

They will be discussing:

• Causes of misbehavior in boys
• How to add movements and physical activity into your day
• How to train your son to find ways to add small movements into his day, even when he must sit quietly 
• How to teach your boy how to read a situation and know how to respond in a way that keeps his mind engage 

We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions for educating boys. 

In this episode, Chaz and Christie discuss the many benefits and family memories gained through reading aloud as a family.  Christie and her husband, Jamie, began reading together early in their marriage. When their three boys came along, it was only natural that couples reading would turn into reading as a family.

Chaz and Christie will share many of their experiences as a reading family and give you tips for your own family reading time. Their suggestions include:

• Being intentional in finding time to read as a family.
• Stopping a reading section at the right point. 
• Recapping at the beginning of each reading session.
• Suggestions for making reading easier on the reader.
• Taking the time for children to read aloud.
• Understanding the importance of homeschool parents reading to themselves and their spouse.

We look forward to sharing this podcast with you, and look forward to reading your comments.

On December 25th, people will be celebrating Christmas around the world. Today Chaz and Christie will be looking at two countries, Sweden and Argentina and how they will be celebrating Christmas this year. 

First, they will be discussing Sweden and their celebrations centering on Disney and St. Lucia. They will also discuss how straw plays a big role in their Christmas decorating and activities. They will also talk about how the Swedish people protect their trees and homes around Christmas.

Second, they will tell you about Argentina and their Christmas Eve of food, family and lights. They will also tell you the part cotton balls play in the Argentine Christmas.

If you enjoy this episode, please click like below, and leave a comment telling us what family traditions you practice at Christmas.

In our special edition of Toolbox for Learning Podcast, Chaz and Christie discuss the many blessings that homeschooling allows families. They share personal experiences as a homeschooler and the mom who taught him.

We hope you enjoy this change of pace from our normal show, and that it will encourage you and your family to slow down this Thanksgiving and reflect on what the homeschool experience has meant to your family.

There are so many things to consider, learn, and explore before choosing to homeschool. But, we also need to be aware that there are some things that should not be considered when evaluating how homeschooling fits into your family's needs.

In this podcast, Chaz and Christie will be discussing six things not to consider as you contemplate homeschooling. As a veteran homeschool mom, Christie has been in a position of helping others as they discover whether homeschooling fit's their own family's needs. Also, Chaz, a former homeschooler, shares his observations, especially in the area of children's attitudes when parents are considering homeschooling.

In this podcast, they will be discussing topics, such as:

• heated confrontations with school teachers or administrators
• your child's attitudes
• opinions of family, friends or social circles
• your education level
• fear and insecurity

We look forward to hearing from you. Please like and comment with your own suggestions of things that you should or shouldn't consider before deciding to homeschool.

Thanks for listening.

Who wouldn't want to be known for being the ideal family? We all want to be admired. But many of us unintentionally strive for the attention of others at the expense of our families. In todays podcast, Chaz and Christie will be discussing the difference between the ideal family and the ideal family environment and why the difference is so important. 

Chaz and Christie are in an unique position to discuss this topic. Chaz was homeschooled and Christie was the mom who taught him. They understand where you are and the struggle to keep up the family image, while homeschooling. 

Chaz and Christie will be discussing research that shows people are becoming more critical of themselves and others. This podcast will go into how to deal with knowing others may judge you for how you choose to run your home. They also discuss what happens when that judgmental, perfectionist attitude becomes a part of your home.

In this podcast, they will also be discussing specific ways to change you thinking about why you do the things you do. Using examples such as chores and manners, Chaz and Christie explain the importance of working towards a healthy family environment, rather than trying to be the perfect family.

We look forward to sharing this podcast with you and reading your comments and suggestions.