Vintage Homeschool Moms

Have you considered education at home as an option for your family? Join Felice Gerwitz and Sam Sorbo, actress, author, conservative pundit, and home education advocate, for a lively discussion that will dispel many false concepts about home education.

Thanks to NowProgams for sponsoring this episode.

We are all called to homeschool, but few take up the challenge. There are many valid excuses for this, yet for those who believe, God will provide. Over the years, I’ve been a homeschool advocate. I homeschooled my five children for thirty-two years, yet I’ve never thought everyone should homeschool. I’ve changed my mind. The toxic culture in which we live begs for a new generation of Christian children who can stand up, articulate, and be heard. These are the kids whose faith only strengthens within the home and becomes the shining light of truth and justice. Educating this new generation of children is imperative for our culture to flourish. (End of soapbox rant

My special guest today is Sam Sorbo!

Sam’s book helps parents figure out how they want to homeschool. It is a wonderful resource. One concept is to look at what you want in your life and how you want your relationship with your children to look, not only now but in the future. Check out the book on Sam’s website and get an autographed copy.

The post Education At Home ~ Sam Sorbo Homeschool Advocate appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

The homeschool movement is growing, and so is homeschooling the next generation of children. Join Felice Gerwitz and Cathy Duffy (Cathy Duffy Reviews), renowned curriculum reviewer and homeschool advocate. Cathy and Felice discuss the importance of homeschooling more so today than in past years and wonderful and free curriculum resources.

Cathy has compiled a large list of free homeschool resources on her website here:

The post Homeschooling The Next Generation appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Why homeschooling works is simple: do you realize that the worst day of homeschooling beats the best day of traditional school? In this podcast, Felice Gerwitz shares the advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling.

I began homeschooling in the early 90’s, and it was not as popular and well-known then. In fact, the children and I rarely went to do errands before 3:00, or we’d be asked many questions such as, “Oh, do the kids have the day off?” When I said I was homeschooling, some people asked, “What is that?”

Thanks to our sponsor! NowPrograms.com – visit the website for more information.

Vintage Homeschool Moms Episode One ~ Homeschool Lifestyle

How to Begin Homeschooling

Perfect Homeschool

Greatest Homeschool Tips

Creation Study Guides

Science Fair Review

Teaching Science Review

Why does anyone care if a parent decides to homeschool? Consider this… I believe parents are the best teachers for their children based on the simple premise that parents love their children more than strangers in a classroom. As a single woman and teacher, I really liked my class. I cared about the kids, but if you asked me if I loved them, I’d answer, “Probably not!”

I wanted my students to excel because, selfishly, it reflected on my ability to teach. There are great teachers who care, but no one cares as much as a mom or dad cares for their kids.

Why was there such a block to homeschooling? I believe (this is my opinion) because it would be a loss of state and federal dollars and spending. Believe me, the teachers were not the recipients of these funds!

There were horror stories of neighbors calling social services or reporting children as truant when they went outdoors to play after they finished their school work. Not only that, but some states made it extremely difficult to homeschool. While I was blessed that the laws were already in place legislatively when I began, it was still disheartening that there were other battles to fight, such as the ability of homeschooled kids to play sports in public and private schools.

Homeschool leagues were started, and then the laws changed once again, which was in our favor.

I feel like an old soul recounting a better time in my life, but truthfully, the beginning of my homeschool journey was a bit stressful. I had a learning-challenged child, and it took a long time to teach some of my children to read well and independently. I had different types of learners, all very bright, but some took educating outside of the box. The upside is that I homeschooled for thirty-two years, and all five children benefited.

Praise God, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. Here is an interactive map detailing each state’s laws and regulations.

I have advocated for homeschooling, speaking for many years at state and local conferences and writing homeschool books, but I didn’t truly believe that all people had to homeschool. It was and should be a personal decsision made by the adults in the family. Lately, however, I think homeschooling is more important than ever.

Instead of fighting for the right to homeschool, we watch as some of the parents who have chosen public or private schools fight for the right to be parents with authority. Parental rights are in jeopardy, and it is just beginning. I believe a society that does not care about our faith, values, morality, or sovereignty is pushing for the hearts and minds of our children.

I’ve heard some horror stories within the space of a week. These horror stories included unruly kids in the classroom who went unchecked. Discipline in the classroom works to an extent, and if a student is sent out to the office and nothing is done, it is a detriment not only to the teacher but also to the other kids. It got so bad that my friend told me her husband wanted her to resign.

If you are wondering if it was a public or private school, she said it was a private Christian school. She took the job because the website said there was zero tolerance for bad behavior.

The other was tremendously worse. It was a mother in a hearing saying that her twelve-year-old was… (listen for details on air.)

I know that parental permission is not required in some states. That is horrible and dangerous to families and children, but that is the issue at hand. Some bad actors in some states want control of our children, and often, it is blamed as a failure on the part of the family. The true blame lies in all of us doing nothing and sitting back while our rights are destroyed.

Parental rights are at the forefront of the battle for homeschool families, with the idea of vouchers and schools that accept them. I’m happy there are options out there for parents who can’t afford to homeschool and must work, but we did without for many years so that we could continue to homeschool our children.

If I had to create a list of reasons why homeschooling works, it would look something like this, and you are welcome to add to it.

What would you add? Years ago, in fact, one of the first podcast topics was on the homeschool lifestyle. The topic revolved around the fact that homeschooling was more than what we did, it became a lifestyle that my five graduated and now adult children believe was well worth it.

It was okay that they didn’t know the latest movies, the latest songs, or what the “stars” were doing at any given moment. It was okay that they dressed comfortably but were not swayed by what was currently at the peak of fashion. It was okay if we were joining a prayer vigil or combatting a bill that was before our legislature that we disagreed with. It was okay if we celebrated the fall harvest vs. Halloween or celebrated All Saints Day or each child’s patron saint.

Our homeschool journey had ups and downs, and that was also okay. We worked out our differences as a family. No one went to bed angry, and “I’m sorry” and “Will you forgive me?” were often verbalized. Our home was a safe place, as my husband often reminded our children, where they could grow up with parents who loved and cared for them and surrounded by family.

I could go on for another hour about the merits of homeschooling. I’ve spent the last eleven years first creating this Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network and, in particular, this podcast teaching you the merits of homeschooling—all for free! So friends, if you have a minute, I hope you stop by and share why homeschooling works in your family on this post, and I pray you continue your journey successfully!

The post Why Homeschooling Works appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

When does fall learning start? It starts now. Before long, we will turn over the calendar (or swipe right or up) on a digital device and see that the holidays are approaching. We have a fall, Thanksgiving, and Christmas…three in a row! What is a busy homeschool mom to do? In this episode, Felice shares how she prepares for the active months with an action plan.

Thanks to our ongoing sponsor, CTCMath.com, and their excellent math curriculum for grades K-12

How many of you have planned out your entire year until Christmas? Raise your hand. Okay, so if not, no worries, I will help! First, I recommend you get on our email list and sign up for our latest planners. I have an ongoing series of monthly Organize It Planners for the year. These planners are chock-full of tips you can implement quickly. You will receive a new topic free each month. The upcoming Organize It is for October, with information on preparing your home for the forthcoming holidays.

During the cooler months, planning things that take the children outdoors is nice. If you have younger children, you may want to add seasonal activities, such as fall crafts. You can also jumpstart the fall decorations by making paper chains using fall colors. I have some links to podcasts on the topics.

One of my favorite topics to study was trees and their types of leaves; if you’re blessed to live in the north, you have the full array of fall leaves coming soon! For those of us in the South, it means taking a trip up north or learning about these things via a book or online. Then there are the fall activities such as parties, fairs, cooking contests, and many other things that we, as homeschoolers, want to take advantage of. Often, harvest parties begin in October … then there is Thanksgiving, and around the corner, Christmas. Christmas quickly takes over the entire month of December. Between baking, shopping, and activities, there doesn’t seem to be much time left at school.

So, what is a busy mom to do? Well, the best thing I can advise is to get as much done as possible before the holidays, including school. As homeschoolers, we sometimes fit our household into our homeschool or our homeschool into our family. I’ve received emails from many people who have said when they’ve done an excellent job homeschooling, they’ve done a lousy job managing their homes, and vice versa. Well, you can do both.

So, first things first, how much time do you have?

The age-old question. Well, let’s start with this:

Now that you have an overview and overview of how to plan, let’s get going! What do you want to get done this month? With fall on the horizon or whatever the next big thing is, it is essential to use these pockets of time and focus on learning. At the beginning of each school year, you should look at the books or curriculum you plan to use and decide how long it will take you to complete in one school year. It may take six weeks or more to complete if it is a detailed unit you are studying.

Another thing to consider is using the days the kids are doing well and doubling up on activities. We did this to keep our Fridays free. In this way, we could use Fridays as a catch-up day, or we could use it for field trips or other activities we had planned. Of course, as the children get older and schoolwork piles up, it may not be as easy to have a free day a week once you can look at your priorities, the things you have to accomplish each day and work around those items.

We completed most of our homeschooling before Thanksgiving in late August, September, October, and November. After Thanksgiving, we were lucky to meet for a full two weeks with all the extra activities planned for Christmas. Of course, after Christmas was the New Year, and this was a solid vacation time.

In the new year, most of our schoolwork was in January, February, and March. Do you see a pattern here? We focused on the times between holidays and other significant events for our family. For some of you, Easter may not be a big event, but it is in our home, and we typically take a week off, a week before Easter, and a few days afterward. After Easter, all the kids can see his summer on the horizon. Therefore, working hard on days too hot or cold to go outside is essential. My children naturally do better when there are fewer distractions. I’m sure yours do as well!

I have links in the other podcasts’ show notes with great ideas for fall activities.

Past Episodes on Fall and Activities Kids Can Do:

Celebrate Fall Baking

October Checklist- 

To purchase Checklist Planners, go here.

Thanksgiving Gifts and Crafts

DIY Crafts for Kids

Great Gifts Kids Can Make

For example, fall is an excellent time for baking. We did a lot of bulk baking that we could freeze, and when the holidays came around, we had ready-made sweet bread that we could give away as gifts, cinnamon rolls, and more. There is a baking link here: Celebrate Fall Baking.

If you don’t like to bake, perhaps you like crafts. Before Christmas, we focused on making presents for grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Gifts link here.

As the winter months get closer, use this time to spend reading together as a family. Our favorite times were reading the Little House on the Prairie and other books in front of the fireplace with cups of cocoa. These are memories you can create with your family and get some learning in there as well. We often read books that went along with the themes we were studying.

I would throw in some hands-on experiential activities to round up your fall learning. If you have read any of my books (LINK HERE), you understand my need to involve the children. As a child and even an adult, I love to learn by doing. Sure, reading it in a book and moving on is more accessible, but what about authentic learning, learning things the children will remember?

Encourage your children to set time limits to get things done, especially if you have a child who takes all day to get math done. That usually means there’s nothing else the child wants to do afterward. If we give our children those to get their schoolwork done, more than likely, they will work right along. I also encourage your children to find hobbies or things they want to pursue in our family. Children my three youngest children play sports each day, and they have to spend time practicing. If your child plays a musical instrument and has another hobby, I am sure they also need time to pursue this interest.

We want to instill values that allow our children to do what is right, not just when we’re watching them. Give them opportunities to learn independently, especially if they are old enough, then make sure you check their work each day or at least every couple of days. I remember leaving their schoolwork for a week to check, and then sometimes I would be overwhelmed by all I needed to grade and be frustrated when I saw the work was half done. If I keep up with this, it’s helpful. My husband was willing at times when I was overwhelmed. He would take over the grading, and the children disliked it because he was much stricter than I was

I hope these ideas help you to accomplish and have time for all the fun activities. Be sure to visit me at mediaangels.com. Come check out our podcast family at our Facebook group, which is a homeschooled podcast family; you can look for that or search for it. If you have any questions, contact me on our FB group.

The post Fall Learning Starts Now (Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

How do you inspire your kids to have a clue? In other words, self-awareness. This means seeing themselves as others see them, but more so as God has created them to be—the best versions of themselves. Asking kids to strive and reach for the stars is easier than you think. In this podcast, Felice Gerwitz delves into how we can help our children.

What is self-awareness as it pertains to your children? Have you noticed how some children do not know how to control themselves or act in certain situations? Then, you’ll notice other kids who are good at self-control and adapt easily to different situations. How do you inspire your children to be self-aware?

Thanks to CTCMath.com as our sponsor! 

Six Part Series 

What are some of the keys to understanding basic interpersonal interaction?

As children get older, they learn from situations and expectations within their homes. They learn to develop good or bad behavior based on the level of correction within the home. Do your kids get away with meltdowns and whining? Do you give in when a child nags for their way? If you’ve said, “No,” do they listen? Do your children walk away and pretend not to hear you when you ask them to do something?

How do you encourage your child to be aware of their actions–or inactions? Typically, it begins with discipline along with a good dose of encouragement.

Years ago, as a young homeschool mom, I sat with a group of women who were upset with me as I shared that I felt my children’s behavior and lack of self-awareness reflected my parenting style. I tended toward the description of a “threatening repeating parent.” You know, “Do what I say, or I’ll count to 10. Did you hear me? Yes, you! Now. Okay, I’m counting…”

A lively discussion began, which included rebuttals such as excuses for personality traits and different children needing special handling in situations. I was also told that kids are kids and need some latitude to express their independence.

I didn’t leave that discussion with the moms victorious, but I planted seeds. Years later, one of the moms admitted she was upset with me and what I said because she realized her unruly children were not exhibiting any self-control but had a me-centered attitude that was catered to by the family. At the time, she refused to take any responsibility for her child’s bad behavior, but she realized that she needed to set some strong guidelines, and her children struggled to adhere to the new guidelines. Eventually, she was successful, and her bright child exceeded academically, socially, and spiritually within the homeschool environment.

What guidelines are we talking about? Things such as bedtime routines and completion of school work before fun activities or lessons. She found that after stricter guidelines and gentle corrections and encouragement, her children thrived.

My kids aren’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, and these ladies in my discussion group watched situations on field trips when I pulled my son or daughter aside and spoke quietly to them about expectations. Sometimes my kids listened, and sometimes they didn’t. One of my sons always “told information” instead of “asking a question” when on field trips. I’d remind him often that if he raised his hand to participate, he should ask a question. This child, my oldest son, could be labeled as “learning challenged,” and I could use that as an excuse, but I didn’t.

I would allow my son to see the big picture by asking him how he saw the situation. I led the discussion and asked him if he thought that he gave other children the opportunity to ask their questions. We’d discuss this; sometimes, he’d agree, and other times he didn’t.

Kids can and should develop their independence. They should be allowed to make good and bad decisions but must also be shown the consequences. How else do they exhibit self-control and stop before they act without thinking about the outcomes? (See the Story about boys and the sliding glass door shared on air.)

Look at the list above and think about how your child exhibits emotion. Is it over the top, or is it controlled? Our expectations for a two—or four-year-old are different from those for a ten-year-old, or an even older teen.

I listened to a mom discuss a variety of snacks with her preschooler. The child wanted a particular snack they ran out of, and the mother offered many different substitutes, even offering to make the child a grilled cheese sandwich. Once this sandwich was made, the child refused to eat it and demanded, once again, the snack they didn’t have. The mother offered to go to the store immediately and get the snack.

What is a four-year-old going to learn from this situation? We all parent differently, and having one child differs from having multiple. Having an only child definitely gives you the ability to cater to the child for the sake of peace, but what are you teaching?

What would I do differently? Probably be angry with the whining, if truth be told! But, one way to handle this is to identify with the child’s feelings. “I understand you are hungry and you really want your cheese puffs, but I do not have any left. Do you know why? (Let the child answer that they were eaten.) Let’s put it on our grocery list and get some next time we shop. Today, you can have crackers and cheese or popcorn. Pick one of those snacks. If you don’t want either, there will be no snacks today.”

I would offer snacks the child liked, and if they said no, then no to the snacks. The child understands they have a decision to make and there are consequences. No to the alternatives means no snacks. The child soon learns that they can not manipulate the situation by being upset or using emotional blackmail. They also learn self-awareness and, eventually, self-control. I know this isn’t easy. Having an unruly pre-schooler is not fun!

My mom and I had a discussion after I had two children, and I expressed my dismay over the fact that it hurt me more to discipline them than it hurt them. She said, “Welcome to parenthood!”

Good behavior is often ignored, and the same goes for bad behavior. We hope it will go away on its own without giving it any attention. Yet, if we ignore bad behavior, we are training our children to fall into sin. The key is to have your child identify the situation and their reactions. It takes way too much talking at times, and none of us have the time for it, but my question to you is, what is the alternative?

Kids today are growing up in a narcissistic society where things are me-centered. The selfy mentality and the idea that what I want is more important than what other family members want or need can be toxic to family life. In fact, it can cause disagreements between spouses.

There are selfless children. I see this all the time, but often, the attitude associated with this behavior is exhibited in anger or self-righteousness. Angrily pushing past another child to help this child with a chore or getting a drink if they can’t reach the water pitcher. The ability to recognize that doing the right thing while commendable is only rewarding if you do it with the right attitude.

Knowing an area of weakness is also important. We have kids who are perfectionists and want things a certain way or kids who are careless and sloppy. The goal is to recognize that good values are important and work toward this end.

Playacting, once again, is a good way to teach a lesson without using a highly charged and emotional time when the unacceptable behavior is happening. One bonus of self-awareness is that self-esteem improves. If a child is able to control emotions and behavior in different situations, they will be proud of themselves. Of course, we can let them know this as well.

We can practice self-awareness as well and look at ways to improve. In this way, we can give our children examples of our own behavior and reasons why it is important as an adult to act accordingly, even in the midst of confrontations. This includes having a difference of opinion. One way we can do this is to practice debating a topic. Can we debate rationally, calmly, and with self-control? Take a heated issue and try this with your family! It is eye-opening.

This is the tip of the iceberg in the discussion of self-awareness and self-control, but the outcome of good self-esteem is worth the effort.

More on the audio than in the show notes!

The post Inspire Kids – Self Awareness appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

How do we inspire our kids to empathize when, on the surface, they act like they don’t care? Is it a defense mechanism, an indicator, or something more? In this podcast, we explore ideas and tips that work.

This is the fifth episode in our Inspire Kids Series! Thanks for listening, and I pray they have been a blessing to you and your family. Sometimes, it is hard to discern what our kids think. In fact, we may be puzzled by their actions because we know they can do so much better. I recently came across a post on Facebook that caused me to pause, not only because of all of the responses but because of the answers given by well-meaning parents. The answer was glaring and evident, but I am a mother of five, now adults, and a grandmother of nine. I have a background in education and love to interact with children because they are amazing. I love kids. I knew the answer (or what I think is the answer), but I read through response after response, giving advice on fixing the problem.

CTCMath.com is our sponsor; thank them by visiting their website!

The question was couched in this way: A mother found a ketchup bottle on the ground, the top popped up, and the ketchup dripped out in a pool. One of the children had done this, but none admitted guilt. None of the other siblings had picked up the bottle. She asked what the “heart issue” was in a child who had done this in the first place. Think about your answer. Pause this recording if you want more time.

The answers were a variation of the following:

There are many issues here. Obviously, the kids ate and cleaned up (good job!), but it was without Mom around, or perhaps Mom was starting to put away food in the other room. We, as parents, can’t police our kids every second, and taking responsibility for cleaning up is great. So good job, Mom!

Secondly, maybe someone saw this incident and did nothing about it, but ultimately, the fault is on the child who dropped the ketchup trying to carry too many things at once.

I was thinking about this and how I would answer the question (I didn’t post a response, in case you are wondering). While punishments, cleaning up, and all of those things are possible options, they didn’t address what the mom asked. She asked about the heart and wisely knew that punishments solve part of the problem. Maybe.

I considered many different character flaws, but two that stuck out were gratitude and empathy. The lack of gratitude is stunning, and the lack of empathy is equally stunning.

Thanks to NOW Programs, this evidence-based program helps students learn differences.

So, how do you resolve the issue of a child’s lack of empathy? Can you make someone empathize? The issue can be resolved in as varied a way as the responses on that social media post! However, the crux of the issue is understanding family dynamics and how they work.

In our homes, we assume everyone is on the same page and has the same level of understanding. This simple example, the ketchup on the ground, illustrates that no, kids just don’t understand all it took to get that bottle on the table in the first place. It also illustrates the lack of understanding of the value of food. Recently, there was a dock workers strike, and everyone predicted sky-high prices, supply chain breakdown, and more. Viewers were told that Christmas presents might not arrive in time. Thankfully, with the media coverage, the strike was partially resolved until January. The date almost coincides with a new administration coming into office.

But truthfully, it might take a dock workers strike to allow all of us to see that we should be grateful for what we have, appreciate the little things, and buy American products whenever necessary. Yes, I know some things are only provided through overseas trade, yet you understand what I’m trying to illustrate here.

To appreciate necessities, you must not have them. How many people in large cities do not have transportation and rely on mass transit? Possibly, some of you are listening. How many people work at thankless jobs and are not appreciated? The majority.

Having the gift of empathy allows a person to see the other person’s point of view. Does it mean we totally agree? No, but it does give us some insight into how to best express our thoughts without the discussion devolving into insults.

Use the ketchup example with your children and ask them how they would handle it if they were parents. Typically, children have much harsher ideas of punishment than their parents. But use this as a springboard to explain the underlying cause.

The best way to teach empathy and gratitude is by example. Did this mother “flip out” when her kids did something wrong, spilled a drink at dinner, or caused another mess? Perhaps the kids didn’t say anything because they didn’t want to be harshly punished.

That does not preclude the child from taking responsibility for doing the wrong thing – the child did, and was careless in his disregard for leaving it there, but the question is why?

Explain the reason you are upset. As parents, it is important that our children understand justified anger or punishments. When I asked my children, “Do you know why I am angry?” or “Do you know why you are in trouble?” The answer was no!

Show your child how to empathize. One way is when another child in the family is hurt. Laughing was never tolerated at my home, and the punishment was harsh, even if it did not always deter the laughter. The child who laughed was often made to do something kind for the other; however, if the child hurt stuck out his tongue, it was rescinded.

Long lectures only go so far, most of the time the kids tune you out. That is why I use questioning as a teaching tool.

If your home is like mine, you teach by demonstrating those moments that come up constantly—even if you don’t have time to deal with them! One of the best ways I’ve taught my child empathy is through a series of gatherings that we have on occasion (depending on the need), where we do an activity.

I learned it is difficult to have animosity toward a person that I pray for daily, even if I don’t want to pray, and yet it softens our hearts.

I hope this has helped. Consider using stories like the “ketchup story” with your children to teach deeper lessons.

Five Part Series 

The post Inspire Kids to Empathize appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Success comes in different ways, yet you can inspire kids to succeed by setting the stage in your home for achievement. In this podcast, the fourth in the series, we delve into practical ways to strive for greatness all within your own home.

Thanks to NOW Programs, this evidence-based program helps students learn differences.

Today’s focus is inspiring kids to succeed.

Have you read articles about kids writing novels, setting records, or doing extraordinary things such as collecting blankets for the disadvantaged? How do the children excel without a parent nagging them to do better? I looked at these situations and recently read an article about successful teens. What stood out was one story about a teen whose laptop fell out of his backpack and broke. He talked about how he decided to start a lemonade stand to earn money to repurchase his laptop.

This is stunning. He didn’t run home and ask his parents to buy him a new computer—or maybe he did, and his parents gave him an alternative, earning money for the purchase. The story related that not only was he able to earn the money to replace the laptop, but he also donated extra money to a charity his mother ran. This makes me think of the saying, “Lead by example.”

We are often proud of our family, no matter what they accomplish, yet we want our kids to be the best they can be based on their ability. I see many highly talented children who are complacent, uncaring, and bored with life. Why is this? What is the difference between the child who solves problems, or starts cottage industries and the child who would rather do the least they can, even if they are more talented?

Over the course of my career, I’ve written or co-authored a total of nineteen books. This does not include the forty-eight-plus planners offered on the Media Angels website. Yet, I have friends who are so much more talented than I am. One wrote one book, and the other suddenly died several years ago without ever writing the book she had planned.

I think success stems from deciding to do it and just doing it. In a few minutes, I will list ten points to review with your children, but if you are an adult who has always wanted to write a book or host a podcast, do it! (If it is a homeschool or Christian-based topic, reach out to me, as I am always looking for new podcasters to join our network.)

I’d like to challenge you, and you, in turn, challenge your children.

Of course, we all want the best for our children, and while we can argue that success is relative—what you consider successful may not be the same as what I consider a success—we can agree that when we read stories of amazing teens, we wonder what motivated them. What influenced these teens to tackle these projects, and what influence did they have from their parents or other role models?

So, how do you cultivate successful traits in your teens? Can you help your children set themselves up for long-term success? How can you help your children thrive in an ever-changing world?

The basics to this is giving your kids the opportunity to succeed. If you have scheduled your child’s life to the max, it is difficult to give your child time to think. Giving kids time to think is important. Giving your children opportunities is also important. Often, we jump in to fill in the gaps or to make things right. Just as in the case of the laptop that broke, a parent may say, “We have a warranty on itthat computer,” or we will pay to replace it since it was an accident. Yet, overcoming adversity is a key to success. The ability to be flexible and creative all contribute.

Building good habits is another way to teach your child responsibility. Having routines, having chores they are expected to complete, and having items your child is responsible for–whether that is laundry or keeping to a schedule. Good habits come out of routines and allow your child to have more time, as well as teach time management.

Which brings me to time management. My husband came up with the brilliant idea to put a time allowance next to each subject on my children’s weekly check-off homeschool lists. This came after I complained about how long it took them to complete independent work such as math, writing, or other assignments. Having a time frame gave the children a start and finish. Even if it was not perfectly adhered to, my husband reinforced it each evening by asking when they completed their schoolwork. This helped with time management, and often, my daughter would get up early to complete her math assignment before she came down for breakfast because she wanted to get the hardest subject over with first. This also opened her time for writing in the afternoon, and she was my co-author of the Truth Seekers Mystery Series. Here is a link to the interview I did with my daughter! She completed the last book when she was a freshman in college.

Opportunity is another factor in encouraging your child to succeed. My daughter had the opportunity to write and mentorship because her mom (me) was an author. While it ensured a publishing contract, it did not ensure success. Having the opportunity does open doors, but having the drive and the vision is what brings a person to the finish line.

Field trips are another way to open up a child’s horizons. In homeschooling, in particular, parents are unapologetically cautious about who or what they expose their impressionable children to, and rightly so! Field trips are an opportunity to give children experiences they might not otherwise have. And it opens the door for mentorship in high school.

Understanding the basics of success is helpful. Successful kids, teens, young adults, or adults all share some common traits: ambition, self-awareness, motivation, overcoming setbacks, determination, time management, strength of character, flexibility, responsibility, maturity, and self-fulfillment.

You can copy this list, give it to your children, and see how they answer.

The bottom line is giving your child an opportunity, encouraging them in their success and failures, and allowing them to make mistakes and correct them on their own.

The next podcast in the series is inspiring your child to empathize with the importance of this in the hurting world in which we live. Empathy has a two fold purpose that I will reveal in the next episode.

Six Part Series 

The post Inspire Kids To Succeed appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

What is a “buy-in mentality? How do you inspire your kids to cooperate with your family values, do their school work, and strive for excellence? In this podcast, we’ll discuss the idea of “buy-in” and how important it is to work together as a family.

What is a “buy-in,” and how do you incorporate this idea into your family? It’s really simple. It’s the idea of the importance of being part of a family and basically cooperating with the family ideals. How do you “inspire” your kids to cooperate? Ah, that is a bit more tough. Inspiration is a great idea if you are inspired as well. I think we need to examine our motivation and how we view our family. This would mean setting aside some time to discuss this with your spouse.  Even if you are a single parent, take some time to prayerfully jot down why family is important and how you can convey the idea of unity without sounding preachy.

Thanks to NOW Programs, this evidence-based program helps students learn differences.

I’m going to focus on two aspects. One is the idea of family and cooperation because you want to be part of a family and work together. The second is consequences: what will happen when there is a failure to follow through on the basic family requirements? What is a “buy-in mentality? How do you inspire your kids to cooperate with your family values, do their school work, and strive for excellence? In this podcast, we’ll discuss the idea of “buy-in” and how important it is to work together as a family.

Inspire Your Kids To Cooperate ~ Episode 535

What is a “buy-in,” and how do you incorporate this idea into your family? It’s really simple. It’s the idea of the importance of being part of a family and basically cooperating with the family ideals. How do you “inspire” your kids to cooperate? Ah, that is a bit more tough. Inspiration is a great idea if you are inspired as well. But I believe we can all get on board with the idea of having a family that works well together. We need to examine our motivation and how we view our family. This would mean setting aside some time to discuss this with your spouse.  Even if you are a single parent, take some time to prayerfully jot down why family is important and how you can convey the idea of unity without sounding preachy. The biggest thing to convey to your children is your love for them, and it is difficult to show love when we are constantly correcting our children.

Thanks to NOW Programs, this evidence-based program helps students learn differences.

I’m going to focus on two aspects. One is the idea of family and cooperation because we want our children to understand they are not in this alone. They are part of a family. They enjoy all the benefits of being in a family, love community, support, and care. Being in a family also means working together toward a common goal. For Christians, it is heaven. The second point I want to focus on is the idea of consequences: what will happen when there is a failure to follow through on the basic family requirements? What does cause and effect mean, and how does that factor affect your decisions?

These two parts, cooperation and consequences, work together to create a family dynamic that works.

Inspire Your Kids To Cooperate ~ Cooperation

Cooperation in a family goes along with succeeding and accomplishing. It makes me very happy to accomplish something daily, even if I do not have written goals or a list. It is a feeling of success and self-fulfillment.

This is an adult thing. Adults have many responsibilities that deal with their family, perhaps work, and managing a busy life as a homeschooling mom or dad. How do you encourage your children to feel the same way?

Kids sit back and wait for an adult to tell them what to do; interestingly, my son said something humous that brought this idea home to me. He is twenty-four, a First Lieutenant in the Army, and in charge of about 50 men. Under his command are about eight sergeants and privates under them. He recounted a situation where a private approached him with a serious request. My son answers, “Well, we need an adult for that.”  The private said, “You are an adult, sir.” He was joking of course, but what he meant was – I don’t want to handle this and I wish there was someone else to do it for me.

Often, our kids try to get out of doing what they need to do and just want someone else to handle it. In fact, some children go out of their way to be scarce, to act innocent (I didn’t know you meant that), or even worse, feel no guilt for their inaction. Some will take on a passive-aggressive strategy. They can say yes and then fail to follow through, which frustrates parents. How do we explain the importance of taking responsibility for yourself and what you must do as part of your family?

That is the goal, the “buy-in,” the cooperation.

Begin with a plan and an idea about what makes your family special. How often do you sit and have serious conversations with your family? We had family meetings in our family at least four times a year. After the first few times, the children knew that this was a place to list grievances or issues within the family dynamics in general and work on solutions. These convened when things were getting out of hand regarding discipline. Family meetings were called when we felt the children were excessively bickering and when things felt out of control.

In retrospect, this should have been done before this point! I’ve heard of families that have monthly mandatory meetings to check in and see how things are going, share progress and praise reports, and deal with issues that crop up from time to time.

Begin the meeting by calling it a Family Meeting (or whatever you want to call it.) Let your children know that you love them, are there for them, and have their backs. Explain that as a family, each of us is responsible for ourselves and being helpful to each other. That does not mean we take advantage of each other or become frustrated when someone younger needs our help. It does mean that as a family, we work together.

You can explain it like this:

Why do we work together? Because we are a family. In the same way, we go to the park, enjoy ice cream or treats at home, or do something fun. So why can’t we cooperate each day in the same way? No one has to be forced to participate in a party or the fun we have, right?

There are rules for each meeting. No one other than the parents are allowed to talk out of turn; everyone must listen politely, and each person will have a chance to respond if they wish. In addition, no finger-pointing! If we discuss an issue, that means you are involved in some way.

The discussion at these meetings centered on general topics; it was not a time to point out individual shortcomings or problems. For example, if one of your children doesn’t follow through with a chore, address that separately.

Think big picture. These are chronic issues that happen repeatedly. For example, kids leave out toys after playing, or everyone leaves the table without helping, or no one helps to bring in the groceries without being asked. Maybe the children are instigating each other to sin. I explained that fighting, arguing, and acting disrespectfully are sinful. Sin is the absence of doing good. And we don’t want to sin.

My husband and I previously discussed the issues at hand, and then he presented them. We were a united front, and the kids knew we meant business. Disrespect was also discussed at this time. Excessive complaining was not allowed. Some of you listening have the patience of a saint; this was not a trait the Lord blessed me with, and I have worked hard to overcome my hasty decisions. I have a very low tolerance for complaining, saying I’m sorry without meaning it, and saying things are an accident. (Which I address below in the section on consequences.)

Explain that when a family cooperates and gets along, it opens the door for so many opportunities. Ask them to give you examples.

Some of these can be:

Inspire Your Kids To Cooperate ~ Consequences

As adults, we are naturally required if not motivated to do chores such as grocery shopping or laundry to keep our children fed and clothed. But our kids don’t have the same level of responsibilities, and they often rely on us to orchestrate their every move. This can cause us to become weary, to say the least! In addition, it is frustrating to hound our kids to complete simple chores.

The following solutions are simplistic ideas at best—yet they work!

Consequences.

 Many times, the consequences or examples are “in kind.” Rather than a punishment, it is helpful that the consequence be effective. Explain work equity. My husband began this when our oldest two were young, and it is brilliant because it works! He would say his garage needed to be cleaned up. The children were all puzzled by the remark, but he further explained that moving forward, if the children disobeyed or did not complete what they were tasked to do, he would require help in the garage. It was hot and humid out there, and living on acreage, it is often dusty and dirty! Organizing the garage was not a fun job. Or, he would say the weeds needed to be pulled.

Some of these jobs were Saturday morning activities handled by the entire family. Yet, as a consequence, or “work equity,” it would mean the bulk of the work was done by one person. This was a major ordeal, and everyone was warned, yet it happened on rare occasions, and I’m happy to report that it was effective because the offender never had the chore twice. I remember one son saying, “That was horrible, and I’m never going to do that (offense) again because it is so not worth it!”  Work equity worked as a deterrent.

One of my very helpful children went to help the person in trouble; we allowed that to happen. It was an act of kindness, and it bonded them as brothers. It came out naturally.

In addition, understanding cause and effect shapes character. What happens if a fragile glass falls on the tile? It will shatter into many pieces. This not only breaks the glass but it creates a mess with consequences; if someone steps on the glass barefoot, it will cause injury.

Explain the idea of consequences to your children. Here are some examples that might be helpful.

Problem 1:

Let’s take laundry, for example. You don’t want a bedroom filled with dirty clothing on the floor, so typically, as a family, you have solutions, such as a laundry basket or somewhere to put soiled clothing. If a child leaves the clothing on the floor, you are most likely making your child go back into the room and pick up their clothing. But let’s say it is chronic. What can you do?

Explain there will be consequences that will require

Solution 1: Consequences that make sense.

Problem 2 Children Bickering.

This is probably one of the most irritating things a parent must deal with within the family and one thing that can tear families apart. It is my pet peeve, and I handle it differently depending on the child’s age.

Explain that it is sinful to bicker, especially when most situations are petty. At least to adults!

Solution 2:

I have an entire set of Character planners LINK HERE that can be helpful with scenarios children work out with different character emphasis.

Learning to cooperate is the groundwork needed for success in your child’s future life the topic “succeed” is next.

The post Inspire Your Kids To Cooperate appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

A boring lecture or math lesson that is not interesting will not inspire kids to learn and work hard. However, in this podcast, you will discover five key elements to encourage your children to hone their listening skills while learning.

Why would anyone listen to a boring lecture or something that does not interest them? Because it is required and because it is called “school.” What subject did you detest in grade school, middle school (called junior high in my day), and high school? The subject I didn’t like was history. All of these facts and disjointed (in my mind) events had nothing to do with my life. Or, so I thought. As an adult, I realize that not understanding history causes us to make the same mistakes as a nation over and over again. But at the time, I had no idea how important the subject was. I learned more history as a homeschool parent than I did in my time in school.

Thanks to our sponsor, CTCMath.com, this curriculum is available online for grades K-12. Your children receive the lessons and must pass to move on, and you, as the parents, receive the results. It is a win-win for busy homeschool parents.

I am inspired (pun intended) to do a series on inspiring your children. The series will include inspiring kids to listen, learn, succeed, empathize, and encourage self-esteem. This is the second of five episodes.

Five Part Series 

So, that leaves us with the million-dollar question: How do you inspire your children to learn? How do we overcome obstacles? True learning occurs when a child has a question to answer. And the second part of that question is where the child goes to find the answer. Please, please don’t say “Google.”

The saying “Knowledge is Power” is attributed to an unknown author. That statement is true. Without knowledge, we are left to the ideas, beliefs, and thoughts of other people who don’t necessarily have our best interests in mind. Explaining to your children the importance of obtaining knowledge is key! When my children struggled with a difficult subject, I would remind them, “If it’s easy, you know it, and if it is hard, you don’t know it yet.” (Example of handwriting)

Learning never stops this side of death. (Comforting thought?) We are constantly learning as we should.

Learning occurs when your child is curious and inquisitive, sees the world around them as a puzzle to solve or at least find some of the pieces, and when there is an exchange of ideas and thoughts. When my children were younger, I taught them unit studies. I felt this was the best way to incorporate that awe of learning and a dose of mystery. We didn’t have all the answers, but we were going to learn some of them at any rate!

A mystery eventually comes to a conclusion, and the previously unsolved puzzle is answered. If you can approach education with this in mind and encourage your children as well, it puts a touch of excitement into your schooling. You can set the stage at the beginning of the year. Ask the children if they know every answer in their math, history, science, or ________fill-in-the-blank book. The answer is no for now, but yes (or a lot more than I know now) by the end of the year.

Figuring out an answer is like solving a riddle or a problem (that is why they call math problems problems!). There is an answer that you figure out. The same goes for science or history. We learn why there are three forms of water (solid, liquid, and gas). We learn about the explorers who crossed the ocean into what we know now as America or the United States of America.

My homeschooling included fun. You may consider this an unnecessary element, but fun goes a long way toward getting kids to learn and remember what they have learned. I finished lessons with flashcard facts or split the children into groups and asked questions, each side getting the point. Sometimes, I’d pit them against themselves and the previous day’s score if they were in different books or different levels. I tried to teach history and science together in the younger years until upper middle school. This was a fun activity that made me feel better that they were actually learning, and it made them happy to see that they remembered. If not, they tried to do better the next day.

For teens, the struggle to learn may result from the relevance of the learning to their current lives. The question is, “But why do we learn these things, and what does it have to do with my future?”

Ask your teens what they want to learn about and if they could study anything. Discuss. One of my children studied photography, another oceanography, and another built catapults and fixed machinery. Giving your child the tools they need to help them learn something of interest encourages them to learn what is on the “requirements” for graduation.

Out of my five children, three went to college, and two went into blue-collar jobs. I now wish I had listened to my non-college-track kids about what they wanted to do instead of preparing them for the “if they decide to go to college track.” One of my college-bound children decided too late to go into engineering, and he couldn’t handle the difficult math requirements.  My son still went into an intense engineer-focused college track and graduated with honors. Exploring careers when in middle and early high school is important and will aid in their interest in learning with a possible career in mind.

You can inspire kids to learn with real-life applications. Especially for your teens, and they may actually observe you learning each day as well. We learn whether we listen to or read the news, try to look up a new tax rule, or look for the best insurance rate on our homes and cars. It requires comparison, evaluation, and, ultimately, finding the best deal for our budget. Give your children real-life examples and include them in your search whenever you can. If they have a car or are saving up for one, they can begin to research different insurance policies and coverage and the meaning of each of the terms used in insurance. Practical skills are important for anyone.

The one thing you can’t take away from someone is their knowledge. In today’s world, knowledge is important to make good decisions, face challenges figure out the best outcome, and to keep ourselves moving forward and thinking.

The post Inspire Kids To Learn appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Teaching kids to listen is a challenge, but it’s not impossible. In this episode, you will discover practical and effective ways to inspire kids to listen each and every time, empowering you to make a difference in their learning journey.

I’ve been inspired (pun intended) to do a series on inspiring your children. The series will include inspiring kids to listen, learn, succeed, empathize, and encourage self-esteem. This is the first of five episodes.

Good listening skills are the basis for order, disciplined children, eager learners, and all-around peace within your home. If your child knows what you expect and has a routine for accomplishing the goals for the day, your work gets easier. One effective tool to be sure your child understands expectations is to ask the child:

Effective listening is a tool for ensuring that your child understands and has the information they need. It is effective because when children express their thoughts in their own works, you know they’ve processed the information enough to tell you back. As educators, we were taught this procedure in class management. We also used it in class discipline. (More on this later)

In middle school, a teacher did a simple exercise with our class that encouraged us to listen to her every word from then on. I still remember it to this day. Try this with your children and see if it works. She said, “Today, I have a pop quiz that is going to represent 70% of your grade. I know that you did not prepare, and I know that you may or may not know the information on this quiz. But this is very important. I need you to listen to what I am telling you. This is a multiple-choice test, and you can mark answers A, B, C, or D. But, before you begin, put your name on the paper and read the instructions carefully. There will be no talking. After you complete your test, turn your paper over and wait quietly for further instruction.

She then passed out the papers, and we began taking the test. I wish I could say I was one of the kids that followed her instructions. But it took me two or three questions (I did not know as she purposely made the quiz difficult) to return to the top and read the instructions.

The instructions said, “Write your name at the top of the page. DO NOT ANSWER any of the questions. Turn your paper over, put your head down on the desk, and wait for further instructions.” I erased my answers, filled in my name, turned the paper over, and put my head down on the desk. Slowly, the rest of the class caught wind that half of us had our heads down and could not possibly have finished the test! They did what the rest of us did, went back and read the instructions, and groaned as they erased their answers and wrote names at the top of the page.

The teacher called “times up,” then asked us to pass our papers up front, where she collected them, and then spent the remainder of class explaining the importance of listening and following instructions and comparing that to the basis of learning.

What does failure to listen bring us? Basically, it’s heartache, right? Unruly kids, unfinished school work, chores left undone or haphazardly finished, and a lack of control within our homes.  If your kids are looking for a textbook or workbook that they didn’t put away after the class the previous day or can’t find their pencil or one of the other things they’ve lost, it goes to reason that they did not listen and follow through when it comes to putting away the previous day’s classwork.

Failure to follow instructions costs us time.

How much time is wasted looking for something that is lost? What about the time it takes you to explain once again a lesson you explained earlier? Learning challenges aside, many kids just don’t listen when we talk.

Failure to listen causes us frustration.

We have to explain things again and again or remind the children to do their chores or schoolwork again and again.

When I talk about listening, I don’t mean that the children are parking their brains at the door. We must encourage our children to think for themselves when it comes to faith, morals, or behavior. We don’t want regimented Zoomies who follow in a row and don’t think for themselves. What I am talking about is making sure the children understand the importance of following instructions when it pertains to their school work and what you, as a mom, dad, or homeschool parent, expect.

What do you expect out of your children? Do they know? Do you know? If you are unsure, take a few minutes (or more) and think about it. Don’t become overwhelmed by just one day or even one subject. Sometimes, kids don’t know what to do because they are sure of the instructions. Other times, kids know what is expected but choose not to do the work or the chores that are expected for the day.

Encourage your children with praise when they do what is asked. I do this with my now adult children and when my grandchildren come to visit. Everyone wants to be praised and affirmed, and we should catch them being helpful, or listening to what we say, etc., whenever we can.

One way to encourage listening is to ask your child to recap at the end of a lesson or read a book. There are many other ways to encourage listening that also encourage learning. Drills, games, or even a pop-quiz will hone your child’s listening skills.

Let’s discuss the idea of “later.”

I have one son in particular who would do what I said but on his own time. For a season, (explain on air) this was fine until it was not. I felt it was a form of passive aggression, and it was easy for him to feel in charge, disobedient, and disruptive when doing his work later. His response was always, “I’ll do it, Mom.” But he never did. His response was correct, but the actions didn’t follow. This was more than a listening issue it was a behavior issue.

I explained how this idea of later was not going to work and why the chore, activity, or school work needed to be completed on time. We had daily class schedules that included a space for specific chores, so he was aware of his obligations.

My daughter has marker boards posted in her school area that have the days of the week and each child’s responsibility, chore zone, and other important information, such as a calendar with appointments, activities, and more.

Allowing the children a written reminder when necessary is important, but so are the consequences for failure to do what is expected. Sometimes, it is missing out on a family activity or a treat. It does not take too many times for a child to realize it is easier to listen than to rebel. I know you have one of those, a strong-willed child. Let me share a secret with you.

There have been books and books on the topic of children with strong wills who will wait for a parent until the parent relents or changes their mind. Here is the secret: They don’t want to be told; they want to be persuaded. Yet, they have to know YOU are in charge. So explain this to them as clearly as you can.

Strong-willed children perceive their way as being right. However, they want to see if they can stand up to the challenge. Pick your battles, but do set lines not to cross. Prepare to be tested.

Listening Basis for Good Communication

The last point I want to make is how important listening is to communication. Being a good listener means hearing the other person out, even when you can think of ten points of rebuttal. You will get your chance (jot notes if you think you will forget), yet truly listen. Put away the cell phone or anything else that is distracting, and focus on the person speaking to you. Explain to your children, do you see how I am listening to you right now? That is a respectful way to listen, and that is what I expect when I talk to you. If a child tries to interrupt, gently remind them to wait until you are finished.

Or ask, “Can I finish?” Then proceed. Explain that without listening; you can’t answer a person’s question fully or give an opinion without knowing what the other person is trying to say.  Practice good listening and communication with your child. (Give example, “You know. You know. The thing.)

The key to listening is to encourage your children when they are doing well, follow up assignments with oral activities such as asking for a recap or summation of what the child learned, and explore ways to actively teach listening skills through good communication.

Thanks to our sponsor, CTCMath.com, this curriculum is available online for grades K-12. Your children receive the lessons and must pass to move on, and you, as the parents, receive the results. It is a win-win for busy homeschool parents.

The post Inspire Kids To Listen appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.