Shows
Homeschooling Outside the BoxOn Reflection & ExpectationThank you for joining me for my 100th episode! This is one of my favorite weeks of the year. It's the "already, not yet" week. We have already experienced most of the year — we've made it through Christmas morning, decking the halls, singing carols, and slowly, slowly, we are emerging from our cocoa coma to realize a new year is upon us. This new year is a gift full of anticipation and though there are no guarantees, we make our plans, say our prayers, set our goals, and hope for a tomorrow better than yesterday, as...
2026-01-0316 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxReplay: 10 Favorite Family Christmas TraditionsChristmas is no ordinary time of year. It intoxicates our senses; the air smells of pine and sugar. The days are filled with music and stories. The soft, warm sleeves on our arms and thick mittens on our hands and hat on our head triggers our mind to think cozy thoughts despite the biting cold. Our taste buds crave cocoa and peppermint. Our children's eyes glow with the sparkle of twinkle lights reflecting in them. And our hearts yearn for something…something more…something transcendent…something that seems just beyond our reach yet simultaneously living inside us. The "Christmas spirit...
2025-12-1641 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxReplay: Embracing Your Child's Differences with Nathan ClarksonI am not doing interviews right now, but I want to bring you some great talks from past seasons. Enjoy! Do you find it easy to embrace your child's differences? As new parents – or even "not yet" parents – we can have many dreams and ideas about what our children are going to be like. Sometimes we are accurate about personality traits or hair color or interests but often God blesses us with children who have differences we really didn't expect. We then have the choice – do we push against these differences or press into them?...
2025-11-2533 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Memory Work: Homeschooling by SubjectThe phrase "memory work" is one that can carry baggage for people. The act of memorizing something may bring to mind a collection of facts you memorized as a child that you now deem useless such as the planets or the names of the bones in the body. You may think of learning scripture verses in exchange for candy or cramming gobs of information into your head the night before an exam. You may think of your phone number or address and yes, memory work can include these things, but the heart of memory work is a very different...
2025-11-2022 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxReplay: Poetry & Teatime with Julie BogartI am not doing interviews right now, but I want to bring you some great talks from past seasons. Enjoy! Do you consider poetry to be a staple of your homeschool? Oftentimes when the subject of poetry comes up with other parents, even the most enthusiastic homeschoolers will admit that they shy away from this subject. When I press to understand why that is, the answer is usually that they themselves are not excited about poetry – they consider it either intimidating or boring or have had such a bad experience with poetry that they loathe it...
2025-10-2753 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Poetry: Homeschooling by SubjectDo you consider poetry to be a staple of your homeschool? Of your life? Oftentimes when the subject of poetry comes up with other parents, even the most enthusiastic homeschoolers will admit that they shy away from this subject. When I press to understand why that is, the answer is usually that they themselves are not excited about poetry. They consider it either intimidating or boring or they have had such a bad experience with poetry that they loathe it entirely. But poetry matters. READ MORE AND FIND LINKS ON MY SUBSTACK.
2025-10-1633 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Folk Songs: Homeschooling by SubjectThis is going to sound familiar; a lot of what I had to say about hymns applies to folk songs, as well. Of course, there is a sacredness that goes along with hymns that you don't find in folk songs but that doesn't mean we should skip them. Folk songs pass culture from one generation to the next and help us learn about certain time periods, people, and places. They're also a pretty trustworthy source of entertainment for your kids. Like I said last time, singing has been a part of humanity for all of time and it's only...
2025-10-1509 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Hymn Study: Homeschooling by SubjectOver the next few months I'm going to break down each subject and look at how we study it and what our favorite resources are. Our family adheres to Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education. To truly understand how to teach each subject, check out my series on Charlotte Mason's 20 Principles. Hymn study is one of those easy to neglect subjects. We write it off as unnecessary because we feel it's either archaic or something that belongs in church (that is if your church still sing hymns. I hope you're blessed to be at a church...
2025-08-2614 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Planning Your School Year: The (Almost) Back to School EpisodeI'm big on philosophy when it comes to education but at some point we need to stop thinking and discussing and actually do the thing. This is the nuts and bolts of it all. How do we actually homeschool? What is the super practical application of the beautiful Charlotte Mason Philosophy? If your child is under 6, get all thoughts of curriculum shopping out of your head and commit to these three things instead: Read great books, Go outside, Work on habits. (Trust me). That said, sometimes we are so excited about homeschooling, we just want...
2025-07-2237 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxReplay: The Importance of Humor with Betsy Jenkins from Homeschooling with the ClassicsI am not doing interviews right now, but I want to bring you some great talks from past seasons. Enjoy! Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart. It requires endurance and initiative. It requires sacrifice and diligence. But it also requires something you might not realize…a sense of humor. We homeschool moms can be so serious; the stakes are high! We're going against the grain! What if we mess up…this is our kids we're talking about, after all?! But, but, but…we were never meant to completely reinvent the wheel, and one of the...
2025-07-0831 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn the High School Years: The Beginning of the EndIf you're just at the beginning of the high school years, it may feel like the end is still far off but I warn you, the ball sure does start rolling quickly once it starts. The end is nigh, my friend. You've been working yourself out of a job and when you make it to the high school years, and you should begin to feel that change. It sounds somber to call it "the end," but remember it's just the end of a chapter and not the whole book. You're still your teen's parent, after all ;).
2025-06-2411 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxReplay: The Value of Teaching Through Stories with Jim WeissI am not doing interviews right now, but I want to bring you some great talks from past seasons. Enjoy! Stories have been a part of human history from the very beginning and have been used as a powerful teaching tool throughout the centuries. Teaching through stories is a wonderful way to approach lessons in your homeschool, as well. Jim Weiss is a household name among many homeschoolers. He made his mark by doing this very thing – teaching through stories. His seamless delivery and enchanting ability to tell a great tale allows him to weave im...
2025-06-171h 02Homeschooling Outside the BoxReplay: Seeing Autism in a New Light with Bryn Hogan, Executive Director of the Autism Treatment Center of America®While I am not able to do interviews right now, I want to bring you some great talks from past seasons. Join me for the replay of a fantastic interview with Bryn Hogan. Are you ready to see autism in a new light? So often the conversation about autism is surrounded by a list of limitations. And let's face it, living the daily grind as a parent of a child on the spectrum sometimes really highlights those limitations. Join us today as Bryn Hogan, Executive Director of the Autism Treatment Center...
2025-04-251h 00Homeschooling Outside the BoxReplay: Homeschooling High School with Melissa McMahanWhile I am not able to do interviews right now, I want to bring you some great talks from past seasons. Join me for the replay of a fantastic interview with Melissa McMahan. Homeschooling High School…what is it about this phrase that makes even the most confident homeschool mama shake in her boots a little? The expectations seem to go through the roof. The pressure from the elusive yet always present critics "out there" seems to double. And the group of moms who've gone ahead of you who have the credibility to cheer you on...
2025-03-0956 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn the School Years: The K-8 EpisodeThis is the crux of it all. When you are homeschooling kids in the K-8 range, you are in the sweet spot, my friend. The pre-school years are largely spent cleaning up messes and putting out fires (hopefully only theoretically ones, but you never know), and trying to get a handle on how to run a home with littles running underfoot. You're building your philosophy(whether you realize it or not) and coming up with routines to create a (mostly) well run home. While I would argue that Kindergarten is really part of the early years and...
2025-02-2310 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxReplay: Why Effective Communication Matters with Andrew Pudewa, Director of the Institute for Excellence in WritingWhile I am not able to do interviews right now, I want to bring you some great talks from past seasons. Join me for the replay of a fantastic interview with Andrew Pudewa. Are you raising effective communicators? Andrew Pudewa is a well-known name in the homeschool world and for good reason. His ideas on effective communication and the arts of language - listening, speaking, reading, and writing - have helped to shape our homeschool over the years. I'm excited to share with you today some practical and thought-provoking id...
2025-02-0753 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Rhythms & Routines: The "How to Run Your Day" EpisodeIsn't this the best month of the year to talk about this? It seems like January is the time we all want to finally get our lives together and give a valiant effort to do so. Despite our best efforts, though, somehow the new of the year wears off over the months and by the time the weather warms, life is in its lovely, unavoidable spiral once more. So why bother? Follow me on Substack Follow me on Instagram
2025-01-3010 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxReplay: Reclaiming a Wild + Free Childhood with Ainsley ArmentIn case you missed it... Join me for the replay of a fantastic interview with Ainsley Arment. Childhood is a unique growing time for our children; educators, parents, and experts have known this for years and yet childhood often gets swept under the rug at the expense of rigorous academics and a schedule full of structured activities. Children are, for the first time in history, busy. Schedules have largely replaced curiosity. Organized programs have taken priority over free play. And if we're really honest, I think us mamas can admit...it's just too much. What...
2025-01-0747 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Principles 11-15: The Curriculum EpisodeThis is it, guys. The final episode of the series. We made it. It's a big one, too — five principles jammed into one article but they all have to do with wonderful, wonderful curriculum. Read and subscribe on Substack. Connect with me on Instagram.
2024-12-2948 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Christmas Cheer: December EverythingAh, Christmas. The lights. The music. The traditions. The bustle. The gatherings. The Reason for the season. Starting this month, I'll be gifting my paid subscribers with a bundle of rhythms to help celebrate the season from month to month. They're called "Everything" guides. If you've been around for a while, these are the classic everything guides reimagined and much improved ;). In the spirit of Christmas, I'll be giving access to everyone this month only. I hope this resource blesses you and — if you're not already — that you'll consider coming along next...
2024-12-1038 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Principles 18 & 19: The Reason EpisodePrinciple 18 & 19: The Way of the Reason We should teach children, also, not to lean (too confidently) unto their own understanding because the function of reason is to give logical demonstration of (a) mathematical truth and (b) of initial ideas accepted by the will. In the former case reason is, perhaps, an infallible guide but in the latter is not always a safe one, for whether the initial idea be right or wrong reason will confirm it by irrefragable proofs. Therefore children should be taught as they become mature enough to understand such teaching that the...
2024-12-1017 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Principles 16 & 17: The Will EpisodePrinciple 16 & 17: The Way of the Will We may offer to children two guides to moral and intellectual self-management which we may call 'the Way of the Will' and 'the Way of Reason.' The Way of the Will: Children should be taught (a) to distinguish between 'I want' and 'I will.' (b) That the way to will effectively is to turn our thoughts away from that which we desire but do not will. (c) That the best way to turn our thoughts is to think of or do some quite different thing, entertaining or...
2024-10-2222 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Grief: The Interruption EpisodeI'm supposed to be working on my next episode of the "Summer with Charlotte" series that I've been slogging through this summer these past few months but after wrestling through fits and starts in my head I realize the answer is, as usual, simple and honest, if not immediately obvious. I can't. Not, I can't ever. I just can't yet because something has happened and writing anything before you, dear listener, know about it feels incredibly dishonest.
2024-10-2015 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Principles 9 & 10: The Mind EpisodePrinciple 9 & 10: How We Make Use of Mind "We hold that the child's mind is no mere sac to hold ideas but is rather, if the figure may be allowed, a 'spiritual organism' with an appetite for all knowledge. This is its proper diet with which it is prepared to deal and what it is able to digest and assimilate as the body does food-stuffs. "Such a doctrine as the Herbartian, that the mind is a receptacle, lays the stress of education, the preparation of food in enticing morsels, duly ordered, upon the teacher. Children taught...
2024-09-1814 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxBeyond Morning Time: A Conversation with Cindy RollinsCindy Rollins homeschooled her nine children for over thirty years. She is the host of The New Mason Jar podcast and a co-host with Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks of the popular Literary Life Podcast. She also curates the "Over the Back Fence Newsletter" at MorningTimeForMoms.com. She is the author of Mere Motherhood; Morning Time: A Liturgy of Love; Hallelujah: Cultivating Advent Traditions with Handel's Messiah; The Literary Life Commonplace books, and Mere Motherhood Newsletters. I had the privilege of meeting Cindy at a conference here in north Alabama this past spring and I'm thrilled to...
2024-09-0353 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Principles 5-8: The Instruments of Education EpisodePrinciple 5: Three Instruments of Education Therefore, we are limited to three educational instruments - the atmosphere of environment, the discipline of habit, and the presentation of living ideas. The P.N.E.U. Motto is: "Education is an atmosphere, a discipline and a life." Reference: Volume 6, Chapter 6 We saw last time that there are quite a few wrong paths to take when approaching education that may be not only be our knee-jerk reaction but also taken with the best of intentions. These paths may even "work" but today Charlotte will show us a...
2024-08-2921 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Principles 3 & 4: The Posture EpisodeThis is the third article in my "Summer with Charlotte" series. If you missed the first two, you can read On Education and On Principles 1, 2 & 20. Let's jump in. Principle 3: Authority and Docility The principles of Authority on the one hand and Docility on the other are natural, necessary, and fundamental. Principle 4: The Sacredness of Personality These principles (i.e. authority and docility) are limited by the respect due to the personality of children which may not be encroached upon whether by the direct use of fear or love, suggestion...
2024-08-0334 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Principles 1, 2 & 20: The Defining EpisodePrinciple 1: Children are Born Persons "No sooner doth the truth…. come into the soul's sight, but the soul knows her to be he, first and old acquaintance." "The consequence of truth is great, therefore the judgment of it must not be negligent." Reference: Volume 6, Chapter 2 Here Charlotte quotes Benjamin Whichcote, who was the founding father of Cambridge and a puritan divine (an archaic word for theologian). I won't attempt to unpack his words but I will say that with these quotes she is setting the stage to highlight the importance of truth and it...
2024-07-0924 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Education: The Charlotte Mason EpisodeWhere do I even begin? For the better part of twelve years I have been writing (and reading and podcasting and speaking) about Charlotte Mason. I'd like to think I've hit that 10,000 hours expert level of knowledge about her but truth be told there is still much to learn. I'm being totally serious when I say Charlotte is in my top five people who I want to meet in heaven. I intend to have many a tea time with her discussing great books. It seems the more you know about something the harder it is t...
2024-06-2826 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Nature: The Great Outdoors Episode"Never be within doors when you can rightly be without." It's one of the first Charlotte Mason adages I learned by heart. I use it all the time to this day. I bet it'll be one of those sayings my kids will remember when they're fifty and say with a smile - albeit a slight roll of the eyes - "my mom was always saying…" and I'm so happy to think that. When God made humans, He put them in a garden. Not a house, not a cubicle, but out of doors. We were not cr...
2024-06-1018 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxTo the Pre-School MomWhile becoming a parent is the true beginning of the journey, the preschool years bring a certain amount of well, uncertainty…for those of us who embark on the adventure of homeschooling. When is "the beginning" of their education? What should education look like in the early years? The culture tells us more is better, and the sooner the better. But Charlotte Mason referred to these formative, early pre-school years as "a quiet growing time." Children learn through play and experience and these years are best spent growing up alongside the example of mom, dad, and older si...
2024-03-1021 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxThe Philosophy EpisodeWhat is education? What are your family values? What type of family culture are you working to create? What type of people do you hope to help your kids become? Mark Twain once famously said, "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." Education means so much more than curriculum; it is the cultivation of a person and a philosophy of education needs to reflect the type of person you hope to help your child become (and the person you are working to become, for that matter). Read more on my Substack
2024-03-0215 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxThe Winter EpisodeWinter has the propensity to bring burn-out for homeschoolers but it doesn't have to be that way. Today I'll talk about ways to avoid burn-out and how to enjoy the coziness of winter. Show Notes Sunlight before noon post Until the Streetlights Come On by Ginny Yurich Homeschool Rhythms: Rest Time Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli Connect with Me On Instagram Join my Substack Don't forget to rate & review :)
2024-01-2928 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxEssential Rhythms for Busy DaysWith the holidays around the corner, there are bound to be some busy days that will rock your normal homeschool routine. Those days are not lost, though. There's a simple way to stay productive and relaxed when a hectic schedule demands it. Tune in to see how we do it. SHOW NOTES Homeschool Rhythms: Get Ready Zone Work
2023-11-1913 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxHow to Read A Lot Even As a Busy MomIf you've ever struggled to fit reading into your life as a busy homeschool mom, this is the episode for you! Join me as I tell you how to fit a true feast into the nooks and crannies of your day. Show Notes Homeschool Rhythms: Morning Time Homeschool Rhythms: Rest Time Wild + Free Bundle Subscription Subscribe and get access to the booklists
2023-11-0743 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxThe Autumn EpisodeBring on the sweaters and boots and pumpkin spice lattes! Autumn is in full swing by now with falling leaves, crisp mornings, and night creeping in earlier and earlier. I like to take time to reflect as fall begins in earnest; what changes do we need to make in routines and atmosphere to get ready for a new season? Which traditions are we looking forward to the most and are there any we want to let go of? And how can I bottle everything that makes fall the loveliest time of the year? The fragrance o...
2023-10-0227 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxHow to Grow a Homeschool Group (and if you should) with Danielle Easley, co-founder of ConnectIf you've listened to Part I of this episode (How to Start a Homeschool Group and why you should), you'll be delighted to hear this continuation on what to do when the group starts to grow and take on a life of its own! IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL HEAR: How teens make a difference for the group How privacy plays into your group's growth Communicating with your growing group Membership fees and insurance All the legal mumbo-jumbo Icky issues like dress code and phone use Should you grow? Picking venues How to build sustainable leadership Working...
2023-08-041h 22Homeschooling Outside the BoxThe Summer EpisodeDoesn't summertime bring out the child in us all? Swimming in the scorching heat, drinking lemonade, inhaling the wafting scent of the grill, listening for cicadas, watching for fireflies…there is a sense of wonder that comes with summer. Use this month to tap into your inner child: Stop and smell the gardenias and jasmine. Take time. Slow down. Play and explore the great outdoors. Soak in summer and all of its splendor. IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL HEAR: What summer looks like for us Rhy...
2023-06-1219 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxI'm Back!It's been a while...but I'm back and I'm so excited to be with you again! Catch up on what's new and what to look forward to. Or, if you're brand new, get to know a little more about Homeschooling Outside the Box. You are very welcome here! You can also check out the new Nature Journal and sign up for my free monthly "Everything" guides.
2023-04-1711 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxHomeschool Rhythms: Rest TimeSo far in this "Homeschool Rhythms" series we've talked about morning time, narration, getting ready, group work, individual work, and read alouds. We've moved our way through morning activities and lunch so today we're going to talk about rest time! I know some of you might have the urge to check out right now thinking your children have aged out of this time of day but I assure you, it is for all ages…including you, mama. Rest time is a beautiful hour of the day when you can take a few deep breaths, make a fresh cup of co...
2021-11-2423 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxHow to Start a Homeschool Group (and why you should) with Danielle Easley, co-founder of ConnectFor decades homeschoolers have been plagued by the question, "what about socialization" from well-meaning (and let's be honest, sometimes not so well-meaning…) neighbors, family, and friends. The question chafes at us because it assumes that the minute we begin homeschooling, we hole up in our homes and avoid all contact with any other humans. That's just not the case though; community is an essential part of the homeschool experience and a great homeschool group can be the place for you to find lasting relationships. Six years ago, I was struggling to find a community to fit my ou...
2021-11-101h 20Homeschooling Outside the BoxHomeschool Rhythms: Reading AloudSo far in this "Homeschool Rhythms" series we've talked about morning time, narration, getting ready, group work, and individual work. We've moved our way through morning activities and today we're going to talk about reading aloud! I want to talk to you today about making read-aloud time a family activity for all time – no matter what your child's age. This is a beautiful part of the day that can be a little more laid back and relaxing and there are a few different ways you can make it happen. I don't think many people would argue a...
2021-10-1921 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxHomeschool Rhythms: Individual WorkWhen you ask a seasoned homeschooler about structuring the day, you will often hear the same refrain: "combine as many subjects as you can." But what about the subjects that require a certain set of skills for children to master? You can generally look at academics in two categories: skill-based subjects and non-skill-based subjects. Skill-based subjects are really best taught 1-on-1 or in a very small group of kids at a similar level of skill. I like to chunk these into three categories: Language (learning to read, write, and speak other languages), STEM-L (science, tech, engineering, math, a...
2021-10-1231 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxThe Critical Skill of Creativity, with Chad Stewart, award-winning and bestselling author of Britfield & the Lost CrownWhat if I told you there was a skill that would help prepare your child for any job he might pursue in the future? And what if this skill was so attainable, that you wouldn't have to purchase a fancy curriculum or join an elite co-op to access it? The pandemic that rocked 2020 has thrown us many curveballs but one positive consequence has been a rise in homeschooling. Parents all over the world are realizing that they can provide their children with opportunities and experiences that are not only extremely valuable but can also prepare them for...
2021-09-2353 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxHomeschool Rhythms: Group WorkWhen you ask a seasoned homeschooler about structuring the day, you will often hear the same refrain: "combine as many subjects as you can." Academics can generally be broken into two categories: skill-based subjects and non-skill-based subjects. Anything that is skill-based really is best taught 1-on-1 or in a very small group of kids at a similar level of skill. Some examples are math, reading, spelling, or writing. A non-skill-based subject would be something everyone can learn together no matter how old or experienced they are. Some examples of these subjects would be bible, memory...
2021-08-2430 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxHomeschool Rhythms: Get ReadyI have no doubt that when my children are grown people, making their way in the world, they will hear the faint refrain of my voice when they roll out of bed and get ready for their day: "Attitude-dressed-bed" And again after they have breakfast: "Teeth-face-hair-deodorant-zone" These have been the anthems of our mornings for years and my goal has been to create habits for them to help them (and myself) get the day off to a right start. If the phrase "get ready" sounds reminiscent of "on your m...
2021-05-1124 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxThe Importance of Humor in our Homeschool with Betsy JenkinsHomeschooling is not for the faint of heart. It requires endurance and initiative. It requires sacrifice and diligence. But it also requires something you might not realize…a sense of humor. We homeschool moms can be so serious; the stakes are high! We're going against the grain! What if we mess up…this is our kids we're talking about, after all?! But, but, but…we were never meant to completely reinvent the wheel, and one of the best things we can do for ourselves, our families, and our homeschool is to take ourselves just a tad less seriously. If y...
2021-03-0931 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxHomeschool Rhythms: NarrationIf there is a quintessential practice in Charlotte Mason's approach to education, it is the act of narration. You can pick and choose which living books you want to read, you can use watercolors or not in your nature journaling, and you can dictate your own routine in a way that best fits your family, but you simply cannot reap the full benefits of Charlotte Mason's approach without narration. WHAT IS NARRATION? Narration is the art of knowing. Simply stated, it's the act of telling back what you have heard in a way that is authe...
2021-02-2319 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxHomeschool Rhythms: Morning Time"Morning time" is a phrase coined by the great Cindy Rollins. She may not be the first person to ever put those two words next to each other, but the idea that it represents, the "coming together"-ness of it, can largely be attributed by the homeschool community to her. Pam Barnhill calls it "Morning Basket" and has an entire website dedicated to the practice. In episode 46 of this podcast, Melissa McMahan referred to it as their "together time." Others call it "symposium" or "daily basket" removing the time constraint of the morning. Whatever you call it, the...
2021-01-1318 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxSeeing Dyslexia as a StrengthIf given the option, would you choose for your child to have dyslexia? Dyslexia is widely thought of as a challenge that gets in the way of learning but what if we've got it wrong? What if dyslexia is a gift? What if dyslexia helps your child to think in a way that many people cannot, therefore, providing an angle of creativity that this world really needs? What if dyslexia is actually….a strength? Rich Sanchez grew up struggling with his dyslexia but as an adult, he has found a way to harness his unique talents. He's ma...
2021-01-0643 minHomeschooling Outside the Box10 Favorite Family Christmas Traditions (with special guests!)Christmas is no ordinary time of year. It intoxicates our senses; the air smells of pine and sugar. The days are filled with music and stories. The soft, warm sleeves on our arms and thick mittens on our hands, and hat on our head triggers our mind to think cozy thoughts despite the biting cold. Our taste buds crave cocoa and peppermint. Our children's eyes glow with the sparkle of twinkle lights reflecting in them. And our hearts yearn for something…something more…something transcendent…something that seems just beyond our reach yet simultaneously living inside us. The "Christmas spirit...
2020-12-0939 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxAutism in the Teen Years with Raun K. KaufmanOver the years, "autism" has gone from being virtually unheard of to a buzz word to, nowadays, a word a part of the common vernacular. Most people have at least heard of autism or have a personal connection to the disorder. Many people tend to think of a younger child, perhaps preschool - elementary age when they think about a person with autism. But teenagers and adults experience the joys and challenges of autism, too, along with their families. How does autism change in the teen years? What stays the same? How can we help our young...
2020-11-251h 17Homeschooling Outside the BoxReclaiming a Wild + Free Childhood with Ainsley ArmentChildhood is a unique growing time for our children; educators, parents, and experts have known this for years and yet childhood often gets swept under the rug at the expense of rigorous academics and a schedule full of structured activities. Children are, for the first time in history, busy. Schedules have largely replaced curiosity. Organized programs have taken priority over free play. And if we're really honest, I think us mamas can admit...it's just too much. What would happen if we embraced a more "wild and free" approach to childhood in our homeschools? What type of atmosphere might...
2020-11-1147 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxThe Importance of Heritage with Amber O'Neal JohnstonTo understand the importance of heritage, we must first make sure we're all working with the same definition. In regards to heritage, the Bible says, "Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him" (Psalm 127:3, NIV). Dictonary.com defines it as "something that is handed down from the past, as a tradition;" "something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; an inherited lot or portion;" or "something reserved for one." The tone is one of joy and sacredness; a passing of something treasured and valuable. Amber O'Neal Johnston didn't always recognize...
2020-10-2642 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxHomeschooling High School with Melissa McMahanHomeschooling High School...what is it about this phrase that makes even the most confident homeschool mama shake in her boots a little? The expectations seem to go through the roof. The pressure from the elusive yet always present critics "out there" seems to double. And the group of moms who've gone ahead of you who have the credibility to cheer you on seems to thin out drastically the longer you homeschool. Melissa McMahan - YouTube host and mother of five lovely daughters - has homeschooled from the beginning and is still going strong with high schoolers...
2020-10-0656 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxThat Time I Met Sally Clarkson and My Nature Journal: One Year of ObservationKeeping a nature journal is a big part of a Charlotte Mason education. Miss Mason had plenty to say about nature study and spending time in the great outdoors. If you're looking for a way to encourage nature study, My Nature Journal: One Year of Observation is just the resource you need to gently guide your child in this delightful habit. Maybe you're like me and you love the planning process of homeschooling. I revel in laying out our routine, putting in those curriculum orders, and organizing the schoolroom. But if you are like me, t...
2020-09-2421 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxFun & Fresh Foreign Language Study for Homeschool Families With TalkBox.Mom Creator, Adelaide Olguin What thoughts and feelings come to mind when you think of foreign language study? Conjugations? Vocab charts? Drudgery? Awkwardly trying to piece together a sentence with the few words you've learned? For many of us, the topic of studying a language brings back unpleasant memories from high school or college in a class we took to meet a certain requirement for graduation and nothing more. Adelaide Olguin - homeschool mom and creator of TalkBox.Mom - had a similar experience but she wanted more for her family. Adelaide wanted her whole family to...
2020-08-2657 minHomeschooling Outside the Box10 Tips for Homeschooling a Child with Autism'Tis the season for back to school! With the ever-present COVID-19 pandemic and mask mandates, a large number of parents will be looking at homeschooling as an option for the first time this fall. If you have a child with special challenges, this can be a particularly daunting decision-making process…but it doesn't have to be. I'd like to share 10 tips for homeschooling a child with autism. Ditch the textbooks Education is best acquired through stories and those stories can be found in living books. Sure, for higher math and science, textbooks are most appropriate but when you wa...
2020-08-1043 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxThe Value of Teaching Through Stories with Jim Weiss Stories have been a part of human history from the very beginning and have been used as a powerful teaching tool throughout the centuries. Teaching through stories is a wonderful way to approach lessons in your homeschool, as well. Jim Weiss is a household name among many homeschoolers and he made his mark by doing this very thing - teaching through stories. His seamless delivery and enchanting ability to tell a great tale allows him to weave important character development and historical fact into wonderful stories that listeners are happy to enjoy. Jim...
2020-06-251h 02Homeschooling Outside the BoxRaising a Good Man with Nathan Clarkson How do you raise a good man? And come to think of it...what exactly does it mean to be a "good" man? Nathan Clarkson explored this very idea in his new book, Good Man, and he was kind enough to come back on the show and talk to us about what that looks like. There is a shortage of good men in our culture these days but not for lack of want from their mothers. I know if you have boys, you probably feel like me and want them to grow into...
2020-06-1044 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxRecord Keeping for Homeschoolers with Outside-the-Box Kids Is record keeping something you've been keeping up with? Or is it something that keeps slipping from your mind? Or, have you decided to roll up your sleeves and do it but when faced with the amount of paperwork you get too flustered to deal with the decisions - what to keep? What to toss? What do you need for transcripts one day? And what should you hang on to just in case you want a trip down memory lane? Record keeping can get especially complicated when you've got...
2020-05-2734 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxHow To Do Charlotte Mason Exams: Celebrating Growth with Sonya Shafer I may have already lost you with the title...Charlotte Mason did exams? She sure did. But to make peace with this, you're going to have to first let go of what you probably think of when you think of "exams" in the traditional sense. I'm not talking about a high-pressure, stress-filled situation postured to see what your kiddos don't know. I'm talking about celebrating the growth and discovering what is taking root in your child's heart. Exams are a great way to evaluate how your child is progressing...
2020-05-1949 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxHow to Teach Your Kids About Money...without Bribing Them to Do ChoresDo you have a plan to help you teach your kids about money? I'm not talking about coin and dollar amounts - your math curriculum has that covered. I mean how to use money in real life. Do you have a system in place to help you handle trips to the store that provoke the question, "Can I get this, mom?" Last time we talked about Zone Work and I mentioned that we do not pay our children to do that work. That doesn't mean our kids don't have a stream of income, though. Listen...
2020-05-0521 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxHow to Teach Your Child to Do Chores: Try Zone Work InsteadAre you looking for a better way to teach your child to do chores? I'm talking about throwing away the sticker charts, being done with the bribery, and ending the arguments when you ask them if they've done their chores. I'm talking about reframing the whole concept of how and why you are teaching them to do chores and thinking about it in a new way (you might even say this is an "outside-the-box" approach ;)). Zone Work is like the cooler, friendlier, more enjoyable cousin of chores. He's still responsible. He still gets the job...
2020-04-2953 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxNoteworthy Online Piano Lessons for Your Kids with Joseph Hoffman, Founder of Hoffman AcademyDo you consider music lessons a priority in your homeschool? There are so many possibilities when it comes to curriculum and we've got to make sure the basics are covered...is music really worth teaching, too? When you've got multiple kiddos in multiple stages of development the thought of dragging everybody to a lesson just isn't very practical. Then there's the cost, the time commitment, and oh yeah...the fact that we're all under quarantine right now and we couldn't leave the house for a music lesson if we wanted to. Join me today as...
2020-04-1846 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxOn Grief, Adjusting, and Steering Clear of Survival ModeDo you have a plan to help you steer clear of survival mode? I'm not talking about the temporary survival mode; the "new baby/new home/new job/death in the family" type of survival mode. That happens. That is circumstantial. We've all been there. I'm talking about when something happens (like...a pandemic breaking out worldwide...) and we just can't seem to get it together and survival becomes our new normal. Join me today as I talk about handling grief (we just had to say good-bye to our sweet 15-year-old furry family member) and a...
2020-04-0831 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxFor the Accidental HomeschoolerAre you an "accidental homeschooler?" Many schools have shut down in an effort to keep people safe during the pandemic leaving the parents of those children "accidental homeschoolers." Parents who had no intention of homeschooling have now been called to do that very thing...with very little time to prepare for the change. Join me today as I share some tips to help encourage and equip parents in this situation as well as give some practical ways to gauge "success" in your homeschool. You may be surprised that education isn't all about academics. ...
2020-03-2538 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxHow to Help Your Child Deal with AnxietyDoes your child struggle with anxiety? Whether it's an ongoing struggle or situational, helping your child with anxiety can be a difficult thing. During this time where the entire world seems to be a little more than anxious, it's important to equip yourself with some tools that can help you and your child navigate stressful topics. Join me today as I share from my heart some of the struggles we've been dealing with in our home. Over the last few years, my husband and I have learned various ways to help our son who struggles w...
2020-03-1624 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxGet Started Homeschooling: Organizing Your Space and Planning Your Year, Term, Week & DayAre you ready to homeschool? Whether you're a newbie starting from scratch or a veteran wanting to be sure you've built a firm foundation, I want to encourage you on your homeschool journey. I'm not sure what led you to this decision to educate your child at home but I am pretty sure of one thing – you want to do your best. You want to give this thing your all and provide your child with the best possible learning experience. Last time I helped you decide which subjects to choose and how to choose curriculum and...
2020-03-1624 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxGet Started Homeschooling: Subjects to Teach & Curriculum to ChooseAre you ready to homeschool? Whether you're a newbie starting from scratch or a veteran wanting to be sure you've built a firm foundation, I want to encourage you on your homeschool journey. I'm not sure what led you to this decision to educate your child at home but I am pretty sure of one thing – you want to do your best. You want to give this thing your all and provide your child with the best possible learning experience. Last time I helped you to choose your homeschool method, teaching space, and consider a rout...
2020-01-1626 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxWhen Things SpiralDo you ever feel like your homeschool - and life - are falling apart? Whether it's a big move, a long holiday, a new baby, or an accumulation of "off days," we all have seasons where our homeschool - and life - seem to be completely falling apart. Doubt, guilt, and pity can overtake us but there's a better way to handle these seasons. Join me today as I talk about a season in my life (when we made two out of state moves in ten months...) when things began to spiral. If you're in...
2020-01-1110 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxPoetry & Teatime with Julie Bogart of Brave WriterDo you consider poetry to be a staple of your homeschool? Oftentimes when the subject of poetry comes up with other parents, even the most enthusiastic homeschoolers will admit that they shy away from this subject. When I press to understand why that is, the answer is usually that they themselves are not excited about poetry - they consider it either intimidating or boring or have had such a bad experience with poetry that they loathe it entirely. Join me today as I talk with Julie Bogart of Brave Writer, who is known for her...
2019-12-0153 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxGet Started Homeschooling: Methods, Teaching Space & RoutineAre you ready to homeschool? Whether you're a newbie starting from scratch or a veteran wanting to be sure you've built a firm foundation, I want to encourage you on your homeschool journey. I'm not sure what led you to this decision to educate your child at home but I am pretty sure of one thing – you want to do your best. You want to give this thing your all and provide your child with the best possible learning experience. Last time I helped you to begin with some very foundational steps and today we get...
2019-11-0818 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxEmbracing Your Child's Differences with Actor, Author & Filmmaker, Nathan ClarksonDo you find it easy to embrace your child's differences? As new parents - or even "not yet" parents - we can have many dreams and ideas about what our children are going to be like. Sometimes we are accurate about personality traits or hair color or interests but often God blesses us with children who have differences we really didn't expect. We then have the choice - do we push against these differences or press into them? Join us today as actor, author & filmmaker, Nathan Clarkson talks about all the difference embracing your child's...
2019-10-2733 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxGet Started Homeschooling: BeginAre you ready to homeschool? Whether you're a newbie starting from scratch or a veteran wanting to be sure you've built a firm foundation, I want to encourage you on your homeschool journey. I'm not sure what led you to this decision to educate your child at home but I am pretty sure of one thing – you want to do your best. You want to give this thing your all and provide your child with the best possible learning experience. Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart – there will be challenges that arise and you wi...
2019-10-0426 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxLoving Our Preschool Life with Sonya ShaferAre you loving the preschool years? According to Charlotte Mason, the preschool years were intended to be "a quiet growing time" but for many families, those years have turned into a time of pressure and unrealistic expectations. It's hard to drown out all the voices in today's culture telling you to "do more" and find a way to provide that simple time for your little ones. Today I chat with Sonya Shafer from "Simply Charlotte Mason" on how to make Charlotte Mason's ideas a reality. Our Preschool Life curriculum provides the gentle guidance that many...
2019-09-1844 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxInspiring Speech with Kate Wilde, Director of The Son-Rise Program®Do you want to inspire language in your child with autism? So often there seems to be an unspoken time limit placed on our autistic children when it comes to language. A sort of "now or never" attitude that implies if our child doesn't talk by a certain time, that window closes forever. Join us today as Kate Wilde, Director of The Son-Rise Program® talks about how you can inspire your child to speak and why it's so important not to give up on the possibility that they can...whether your child is two or fo...
2019-08-2955 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxA Case for the Early Years with Leah Martin from My Little RobinsAre you in the Early Years Stage? If you have a 0-6-year-old, you are living in what Charlotte Mason referred to as "the early years." In her first volume, Home Education, Miss Mason urged mothers to "secure for them a quiet growing time, a full six years of passive receptive life, the waking part of it spent for the most part out in the fresh air." If you think that's a challenge in our hectic postmodern world, you're right. But it's not impossible. Today I chat with Leah Martin from "My Little Robins" on...
2019-06-2847 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxThe Perks of Year-Round HomeschoolingDoes the idea of homeschooling year round overwhelm you? School's out for summer…unless you live in the Rinna home. Don't get me wrong – we're not plugging away at the table working all day instead of playing outside in the sprinkler. We still soak up all the benefits of summer and we even take a few weeks off. I debated over this for a while – I mean, who wouldn't want a three-month vacation? (Especially the teacher!?) But for our family, where structure is king and consistency is its queen, going without our school routine all summer...
2019-06-1319 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxAre You Starving? The Why and How of Nurturing the Mother's Mind with Brandy VencelAre you starving yourself? Brandy Vencel wrote an article a few years ago that challenged parents to consider if they were starving their children's minds which made me consider, also, if I was starving my own mind. Mothers are commonly attributed with being self-sacrificing, but in terms of the mind, we must remember that we cannot pour out from an empty well. I'm so excited to share Brandy's encouragement and challenge to mothers today to find a way to nurture your own mind for the sake of yourself and others. Think that's unrealistic? Don't have time? Don't...
2019-05-2948 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxWhy Effective Communication Matters with Andrew Pudewa, Director of the Institute for Excellence in WritingAre you raising effective communicators? Andrew Pudewa is a well-known name in the homeschool world and for good reason. His ideas on effective communication and the arts of language - listening, speaking, reading, and writing - have helped to shape our homeschool over the years. I'm excited to share with you today some practical and thought-provoking ideas on how to help your child - no matter what his challenges - to become a more effective communicator and to understand why it's so important. In This Episode You'll Hear: how you can help y...
2019-05-1553 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxSeeing Autism in a New Light with Bryn Hogan, Executive Director of the Autism Treatment Center of America®Are you ready to see autism in a new light? So often the conversation about autism is surrounded by a list of limitations. And let's face it, living the daily grind as a parent of a child on the spectrum sometimes really highlights those limitations. Join us today as Bryn Hogan, Executive Director of the Autism Treatment Center of America® talks about how the program came to be and what makes it is so radically different (in a fantastic way) and why that makes this therapy program so effective. Bryn is a breath o...
2019-05-011h 00Homeschooling Outside the BoxThankful for AutismThe idea of being thankful in all things can be a strange sounding one when you're faced with challenges but in today's episode, I hope to show you how I arrived at the statement "I'm thankful for autism."
2019-04-3009 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxYou're Not Behind: Math-U-See with Steve DemmeJoin us today as Steve Demme of Math-U-See talks about how the program came to be and why it seems to click with so many Outside-the-Box kids. So often I hear moms say, "We're so behind in math." Math-U-See will free you of that mindset and help your child to be successful in math. How to Love Math: A Look at Math-U-See Math-U-See Stewardship Building Faith Families Podcast Dyscalculia Free Homeschool Math Worksheet Generator Homeschool Math Placement Find Steve at Building Faith Families
2019-03-2636 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxFinding Your New NormalThe tests have been done. The evaluation complete. Diagnosis announced. Prognosis assumed. Your child has _________…fill in the blank. All of a sudden, you are forced to flip your life upside down to better understand it. Somebody took your rose-colored glasses and exchanged them for a pair of lenses that expose you to blinding light. The life you thought your child would have suddenly begins to melt away like a sand castle battered by waves and it hurts. There's an expert telling you what will or will not be true for your child. It...
2019-03-1412 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxCindy West - Veteran Homeschooler, Charlotte Mason-Inspired, Brain Training BelieverCindy West is a blogger, speaker, veteran homeschooler, and curriculum writer. On this episode, she talks about her homeschool journey as well as how she found out about a great program called "Brain Training." Brain Training can help many of our Outside-the-Box kiddos overcome their challenges as well as encourage their typical siblings to thrive academically. Be encouraged and equipped as you listen to Cindy from Our Journey Westward.com. Show Notes Visit Cindy at Our Journey Westward Five in a Row For the Children's Sake (affiliate link) Cindy West on Pam Barnhill's Homeschool Sn...
2019-02-2752 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxDetox for Autism & ADHDI could feel it coming. We had visitors in town, the twins had two birthday parties, and then Valentine's day came. All of this celebration led to a gross overindulgence of sugar and screens. By Valentine's Day, we were cranky, wired, over-tired, undernourished, overstimulated and sliding frantically down a slippery slope. Screens and sugar – and especially their toxic combination – bring out the worst in us. They are the Achilles heel of the Rinna family. So when their effects reared their ugly head during that week I knew without a doubt… It was...
2019-02-1622 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxCM Teacher Turned Homeschool Mama, with Kristin RosinEver wonder how Charlotte Mason's principles translate from the classroom to your homeschool? Many of Charlotte Mason's principles were written with a classroom in mind so how does that work when you factor in the laundry, lunchtime, and toddlers? Join me as I welcome my first guest, Kristin Rosin, former CM teacher turned homeschool mama. In this episode, you'll hear: how CM's principles play out in a classroom vs. a homeschool why CM works for Outside-the-Box kiddos one mom's journey from teacher to parent-teacher
2019-01-3137 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxGoal Setting for the Homeschool MomI've always been a pretty nostalgic person - always made it a point to reflect and look at life as one big story - so it makes sense that New Year's is my favorite. Every year I like to reflect back and dream forward but this year I had so much more material to work with. Looking back, thinking of where we were a year ago at this time - in Michigan quite literally at the end of our rope - it blows my mind to see what God has done in 365 days. Through a series of...
2019-01-1727 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxMeeting Charlotte Mason: Nature Study"Come share this with me! Delight with me! Teach me! Tell me more!" That's what children are really saying. Children are generally better at nature study that adults; their fresh perspective is a gift they have that we get numb to as we get older. Nature study reminds us that we don't have to be seeing something for the first time to be excited about it. "Look, mom, look!" And that's essentially what nature study is… Look. Delight. Share. Repeat. Resources Re...
2018-11-2721 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxMeeting Charlotte Mason: The Great OutdoorsExplore another cornerstone in a Charlotte Mason education - the Great Outdoors. I'll discuss the benefits of being outdoors as well as practical tips to getting over obstacles like the weather.
2018-11-1514 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxMeeting Charlotte Mason: Living BooksReading great books is a cornerstone to a Charlotte Mason education, but just what is a "great book?" How do you choose one? And what should you avoid? This episode we'll discuss living books and their nemesis, twaddle. Be sure to grab a copy of the Booklist for the Well-Read Child in the notes.
2018-11-0810 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxNurturing Your Pre-Schooler's ScheduleThe other day I recalled a conversation I had with a friend when the boys were really little. A question had been burning in my mind for a while and I needed to ask it… "What do you do all day? I mean with the kids? What do you do?" At the time I was a mom of twin toddlers and an infant so believe me there was plenty I could do. Yet every day, I found myself wandering around the house haphazardly from task to task. I would cook meals, clean up messes, and try to...
2018-10-2418 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxNurturing Your Pre-Schooler's SoulNurturing your pre-schooler's mind and body are important parts of raising your child but nurturing your pre-schooler's soul is the most crucial piece of the triad. Without a well-fed soul, the mind would become arrogant and the body would become reckless. The soul is the link that makes a strong mind and body worth having. Without a well-fed soul, your child cannot truly thrive.
2018-10-1516 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxNurturing Your Pre-Schooler's BodyIt was Charlotte Mason's belief that the child is a person so we must educate the whole person, not just his mind. This led to her famous statement that "education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life." As a living being, your child has a body and during the pre-school years especially, it is important that you nurture it. So how do you nurture your pre-schooler's body? By helping them learn to regulate it and strengthen it.
2018-10-0211 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxNurturing Your Pre-Schooler's MindWhen it comes to the early years, it's tempting to get a jump on academics but there is a time for everything.
2018-09-0512 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxPre-School Not PreschoolListen as I split hairs and explain why "pre-school" and "preschool" are different things. This is the first episode of a series on nurturing your pre-schooler or in other words, how to homeschool during the early years.
2018-08-2110 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxWhat is the Son-Rise Program®?Many parents of autistic children have never even heard of this phenomenal therapy program. This week on the podcast, I give an overview of the therapy sharing some of the core philosophies of the program as well as telling what it is...and what it isn't. Listen in if you are ready for a breath of fresh air in your therapy program for your Outside-the-Box child!
2018-08-0818 minHomeschooling Outside the BoxWhy Homeschool and Why Charlotte MasonBack to school is just around the corner and if you are even considering homeschooling your Outside-the-Box child (or even if you already do!), you need to listen in. This episode, Cindy talks about why parents of OTB children need to take a serious look at homeschooling and why Charlotte Mason's philosophies on education are a breath of fresh air and a way to simplify your OTB life.
2018-07-2517 min
Homeschooling Outside the BoxThe Welcome EpisodeGet a quick peek at the plan for the new Homeschooling Outside-the-Box podcast with Cindy Rinna!
2018-06-2804 min