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29 May 2019
Are You Starving? The Why and How of Nurturing the Mother's Mind with Brandy Vencel
00:48:54
Are 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 worry, we cover all the why's and how's on the show.
In this episode you'll hear:
what the term "mother culture" means and why it's floating around the Charlotte Mason community
how reading different levels of books can make reading happen for you this summer
the difference between hard books and easy books and how to read light while avoiding twaddle
how keeping your world "big" can keep your head above water when you're in the weeds of motherhood
you'll also hear a bit lower quality on my end (because I forgot to have my husband set up my mic before he left for work and I muddled through set up on my own), my dog barking and my neighbor cutting his lawn...my apologies in advance for the distractions. Consider this proof that I am a real, flawed person ;)
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 chief responsibility; which rests upon them as persons is the acceptance or rejection of ideas presented to them. To help them in this choice we should afford them principles of conduct and a wide range of fitting knowledge.
Reference: Volume 6, Chapter 9
If there is one principle that could have a ripple impact on our current culture, I think it’s this one. Understanding the importance as well as the place of reason is crucial and I think it’s a gift we can give our kids, especially in their teen years.
The 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 make sleep happen for everyone. There didn’t seem to be any purpose in my days and I wanted to live intentionally with my littles.
What I was really asking her was, “what should my days look like as a mom of little ones?” What I really wanted was a pre-school schedule.
01 Dec 2019
Poetry & Teatime with Julie Bogart of Brave Writer
00:53:35
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 entirely.
Join me today as I talk with Julie Bogart of Brave Writer, who is known for her love of poetry as well as her writing and language arts resources and her coaching and mentoring program for home educators, The Homeschool Alliance. Julie shares with us the enriching role poetry played as she homeschooled her five children over the course of 17 years and shares with us the secret to making the connection with your children (hint...it has something to do with teatime!).
Julie gives persuasive encouragement to moms and who would much rather pass on reading poetry in their homeschool as well as inspires moms who already love poetry by giving some practical ideas for integrating it more successfully into the homeschool routine.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
why poetry matters today
the benefits of reading poetry aloud
why poetry is accessible to everyone
how to love poetry if you don't right now
how to entice your children to love poetry
how poetry is especially nurturing to Outside-the-Box children
a lot of great poetry excerpts and recommendations
The Critical Skill of Creativity, with Chad Stewart, award-winning and bestselling author of Britfield & the Lost Crown
00:53:56
What 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 the unique world they are launching into. Homeschool is the ideal environment for fostering creativity in children.
Chad Stewart has seen this change happening and is excited about the possibilities. Creativity is the top global skill and he sees homeschool as a fantastic way to equip our kids for the future. In addition to writing an award-winning and bestselling book, Britfield & the Lost Crown (the first in a series of seven), he’s created an online platform, The Britfield Institue, to help kids harness their natural creativity and teach parents how to inspire it.
Join us today as Chad and I explore the importance of creativity.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR:
How Britfield (the Institute) was born
What makes Britfield (the books) such a great series
Why is harnessing our kids' creativity is so important
Why the homeschool revolution is happening
How you can work more creativity into your homeschool
The 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 may feel as though someone has flipped to the last chapter of your child’s story and rewrote the ending.
How do you cope with this?
24 Sep 2020
That Time I Met Sally Clarkson and My Nature Journal: One Year of Observation
00:21:50
Keeping 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, then you can probably relate that when reality kicks in, all of a sudden what looked really good on paper seems to have a few holes. It feels like for all of your thorough planning something is...missing.
For years in our family that "something" was nature study. As a Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschooler, I knew nature study was a big deal - a core philosophy if you will. I knew it was important for us - mind, body, and soul - to be outdoors and explore. I also knew nature study was the springboard for developing awesome habits like attention and observation, and that it led to awe and wonder at our Creator.
But I just couldn't seem to make it happen...until I did.
I 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 mark, get set, go!” that’s not an accident. Starting the day with a proactive posture is important. The day before us is a gift and the duty and stewardship we are bound to as receivers of that gift demand that we face the day boldly. A vibe of adventure and purpose can carry us through even the most mundane tasks.
This applies to us as moms as well as our children. After all, if we are to train them in these ways, we should be modeling them ourselves. But if I sound overambitious and a touch unrealistic, just know that I don’t usually wake up feeling this way and I know you probably don’t either. That’s why it all begins with attitude.
On Rhythms & Routines: The "How to Run Your Day" Episode
00:10:03
Isn’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.
Get Started Homeschooling: Subjects to Teach & Curriculum to Choose
00:26:12
Are 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 routine and today we get into some deeper fun. Most homeschoolers around curriculum are like kids in a candy shop but it's important not to become overwhelmed. With so many options today, it's easy for this to happen if you are not grounded in your philosophy and focused on what subjects you want to teach.
In this episode you’ll hear:
how to find out what you must teach
how to decide what else you want to teach
the difference between group work and individual work
how to guard yourself against getting overwhelmed when buying curriculum
Get Started Homeschooling: Methods, Teaching Space & Routine
00:18:48
Are 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 into some deeper fun. It's important to remember that in the words of Charlotte Mason, "education is a life." That means, educating your children in your home is an extension of your home life and parenting and you've already got many of the tools needed to get started.
In this episode you’ll hear:
how to choose your homeschool method and some popular options
how to choose your teaching space and the furniture that goes in it
how to create a routine based on what's already working for your family
With 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.
'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 want to inspire your child with nearly any other topic, it is best done through a great story.
If your child has very specific interests (and most people on the spectrum do) start there and work your way out. Charlotte Mason talks about “spreading a feast” for our children and having autism doesn’t make them exempt from that. They deserve the feast, too. But the journey might look different. Start where your child is at. If his special interest is hats, start there. Let me give you an example…
“Did you know one of our presidents was known for his hat? His name was Abraham Lincoln. He even carried important letters around in the hat – isn’t that cool? There’s actually a book that tells all about it – I can read it to you!” (This is history happening).
Then maybe you mention that there was this speech Lincoln gave in a place called Gettysburg and you pull out a map to show him where Gettysburg is (Geography). You could say, “it’s pretty far away from where we live – let’s figure out how far (Math). He gave that important speech while he was there because everyone in the country was fighting with each other but he loved our country so much he thought it was worth fighting for (more history).”
We’ve now moved from a hat to the Civil War.
And if he’s interested in the war, well we’ve fought a few of them so maybe next we’ll talk about the American Revolution and our founding fathers and how the government is run and oh where did they get all those ideas for how to run it? I hear Alexander Hamilton (as well as the other founders) read a lot of Greek and Roman stories…and didn’t those stories talk a lot about how to be a good citizen?
And now we’ve moved from hats to Plutarch.
You are, essentially, becoming Amazon for your child. “If you liked this, you’ll love…” You are helping them make the move outside of their comfort zone one baby step at a time. You can do this with any topic – just find the beginning of the thread (your child’s interest) and follow it as far as he’ll let you.
Ditch the mold You’re going to have to step outside the box to do well homeschooling a child with autism…that’s just truth. Picking up a boxed curriculum may work for you if you are willing to severely modify (or completely throw out) the schedule but in most cases, you will find yourself wrestling between the schedule and your child. Since those moments of passion generally prevent us from thinking clearly, let me say it like this: Your child should always win over the schedule.
This is not to say your child cannot learn to adapt over time or that he wouldn’t benefit from a consistent routine (he would) but when we are looking at the HOW’s of homeschooling, you need to look at your child first and a not a pre-determined schedule.
An example of this might be if a science curriculum is laid out to be taught five days a week but on Wednesday your child spends most of his time falling apart or would rather be in his own world, then you don’t force your child out of his world to learn the difference between vertebrates and invertebrates. What you can do is join him in his world and accept the fact that science is not gonna happen Wednesday. This brings us to our next point...
Listen to hear the rest or head to www.cindyrinna.com to read the full post!
Doesn’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.
Seeing Autism in a New Light with Bryn Hogan, Executive Director of the Autism Treatment Center of America®
01:00:57
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 of fresh air in what can be a very overwhelming environment when you have a child with autism. She will free you of the pressure and guilt that often come hand-in-hand with being an autism mom and set you on a path to move forward in a positive and uplifting way to help your child.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
what autism really is and why it's not the enemy
why your attitude is so critical to your child's growth
why you can't train a child not to be autistic and what you can do instead
how to have a beautiful relationship with your child no matter where they are on the spectrum
what you can do immediately (as soon as you finish listening!) to help your child
Fun & Fresh Foreign Language Study for Homeschool Families With TalkBox.Mom Creator, Adelaide Olguin
00:57:41
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 be able to learn a new language in a way that was organic, purposeful, and fun. She wants her family - and yours - to experience the world, including some of its languages (11 options to date!), and will even have you talking a foreign language the same day you start.
Join us today as Adelaide shares about her curriculum, TalkBox.Mom. Whether you've been homeschooling for years or you're just getting started, she will open your mind to a better way to teach foreign language - one that is natural and mimics the way we all learned our first language with the help of the very best teachers of language...moms.
In this episode you’ll hear:
Why learning a foreign language by hearing from a native speaker and speaking without inhibition is the best way to start
Why any mom can teach her children a foreign language
How to decide which language to start with
How to layer your study to learn multiple languages
Adelaide show you how the program works by saying "I'm hungry" in seven different languages
how you can get this fantastic curriculum at a discount with a special coupon code just for my listeners
How to Grow a Homeschool Group (and if you should) with Danielle Easley, co-founder of Connect
01:22:24
If 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 together as a group
How events change as you grow
Knowing when you're big enough
24 Aug 2021
Homeschool Rhythms: Group Work
00:30:34
When 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 work, history, and geography. And those are the very subjects we're going to talk about teaching today.
07 Nov 2023
How to Read A Lot Even As a Busy Mom
00:43:50
If 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.
The Importance of Heritage with Amber O'Neal Johnston
00:42:26
To 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 the importance of heritage. In fact, it took a troubling experience with her daughter for Amber to open her eyes to the special heritage she could be passing down; it was an experience that made her pivot in her homeschool. This pivot has become a gift to all of us, merging the beloved Charlotte Mason philosophy with ideas, books, and resources that breathe life into our particular families by embracing each of our unique heritage while making room for and honoring the heritages of others.
Join us today as Amber and I explore the benefits of weaving heritage into our homeschool studies.
In this episode you'll hear:
Amber's experience with her daughter concerning skin color
How the Charlotte Mason philosophy allows you freedom for adaptation
Why heritage matters in our homeschool
How to help your child know where they fit in the tapestry of people
The benefits of being intentional in our curriculum choices
How to begin making small changes in your homeschool
Why picture books are a great low-hanging fruit
What embracing different heritages has to do with Outside-the-Box children
Why life-giving books don't always have to be "living books"
Why our kids need both mirrors and windows in their life
How you can find Amber and her fantastic resources online
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 about the value of reading great literature together but it can easily become something that slips from an overbusy schedule.
Reading aloud to your children helps them build vocabulary, creates a bridge for struggling readers, and most importantly creates a shared experience for your family making it a great tool for strengthening relationships. I encourage you to enjoy this nurturing time with your whole family and make it a priority in homeschool.
Join me today as I show you how read-aloud time can fit in your day.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR:
How to fit read-aloud time in your busy day
The benefits of reading aloud as a family
Why you should read aloud to kids of all ages
How to choose great read alouds
Why you shouldn’t focus too much on the time
10 Dec 2024
On Christmas Cheer: December Everything
00:38:33
Ah, 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 month as a paid subscriber.
I hope you find some great ideas to help you savor December and celebrate this time of year in a way that is simple and special at the same time.
I’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.
22 Oct 2024
On Principles 16 & 17: The Will Episode
00:22:38
Principle 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 interesting. (d) That after a little rest in this way, the will returns to its work with new vigour. (This adjust of the will is familiar to us as diversion, whose office it is to ease us for a time from will effort that we may ‘will’ again with added power. The use of suggestion as an aid to the will is to be deprecated, as tending to stultify and stereotype character. It would seem that spontaneity is a condition of development., and that human nature needs the discipline of failure as well as of success.)
Reference: Volume 6, Chapter 8
“The great things of life, life itself, are not easy of definition,” Charlotte begins and true, we must ponder, ‘what is the will?’ As it concerns us here, her definition of its function is sufficient: “Its function is to choose, to decide, and there seems to be no doubt that the greater becomes the effort of decision the weaker grows the general will.”
09 Mar 2021
The Importance of Humor in our Homeschools with Betsy Jenkins
00:31:14
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 best things we can do for ourselves, our families, and our homeschool is to take ourselves just a tad less seriously.
If you are on Instagram, you have no doubt seen memes of classic artwork splashed with humorous text. Betsy Jenkins is the woman behind the memes and it’s her mission to make you laugh. She does an amazing job at this while simultaneously educating people on art and exposing them to a wide range of prints. Betsy’s homeschool memes began as a family thing and she started her Instagram account, “Homeschooling With the Classics” as a simple way to share them with a few friends. These few friends have multiplied into thousands of followers who are thirsty for a refreshing laugh in the midst of their busy homeschool day. She struck a chord in the community and for good reason; laughter is a soothing balm on a hard day and the mental refreshment that we need to persevere towards excellence.
Join us today as Betsy and I indulge the importance of laughter in our homeschools.
Reading 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.
25 Jun 2020
The Value of Teaching Through Stories with Jim Weiss
01:02:06
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 and his wife, Randy, were pioneers in the field when they began the journey of bringing stories to children via audio way before audiobooks were a thing.
Join us today as Jim talks about why oral stories matter so much and are worth including in our homeschool. Listening to stories is such a beautiful benefit for our outside-the-box kiddos who may struggle to read them on their own. In his storytelling, Jim makes these timeless tales accessible to kids who might not otherwise be able to enjoy them independently.
In this episode you’ll hear:
why stories matter so much
how you can include Jim's audios into your homeschool teaching
why teaching through stories is so powerful
how storytelling makes these great lessons and tales accessible to our outside-the-box kiddos
an example of Jim's storytelling ability as he performs one of my family's favorite poems, "Jabberwocky"
why these timeless tales are so important to us today
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 coffee, and reset for your afternoon.
Our culture is obsessed with productivity; there seems to be an underlying pressure everywhere we turn to be active. What if rest is not something we do because we are finished with our work but rather something we do because God created us to need to do it?
Join me today as I show you how rest time can fit in your day.
If 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 authentic to you. This isn’t about parroting back the last sentence or idea of a paragraph; it’s about processing the information you’ve received and delivering it back in a meaningful way. Charlotte Mason said, “if you cannot tell, you do not know.”
Narration is a challenging demonstration of true knowing and makes multiple-choice, comprehension questions, and the like, unnecessary.
There are two types of narration: oral and written.
Join me today as I talk about the benefits of narration.
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 will need some guidance along the way. You will hear lots of advice on this journey and it is easy to get distracted. To guard against that, it's important that you settle on some sort of core principles, namely, Why are you homeschooling? and What is the purpose of education? When you have these questions answered, you will find much joy in your homeschool.
In this episode you’ll hear:
a reminder to pray before you begin
why it's crucial to make sure you and your spouse are on the same page
how to check state laws
why you need a support group
how to write a mission statement for your homeschool and why it's worth doing
On Principles 5-8: The Instruments of Education Episode
00:21:33
Principle 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 better approach. She says, “there are but three left for our use and to each of these we must give careful study or we shall not realize how great a scope is left to us.”
These are not the three measly options left over but three perspectives that open a wide lens for us to see education through and gift our child with. These three ideas together are the legs of a stool that will stand strong when used together.
Listen in to hear the three instruments of education.
Join me next time as we cover principles 9 & 10.
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If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review :).
25 Jul 2018
Why Homeschool and Why Charlotte Mason
00:17:07
Back 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.
21 Aug 2018
Pre-School Not Preschool
00:10:02
Listen 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.
07 Feb 2025
Replay: Why Effective Communication Matters with Andrew Pudewa, Director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing
00:53:11
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 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 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 your children to grow in their thinking and communication skills
how the Four Arts of Language will make you think differently about Language Arts
why age and ability have little to do with each other
why IEW's products work so well with all children, no matter what their challenges
Join 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.
Why Effective Communication Matters with Andrew Pudewa, Director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing
00:53:11
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 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 your children to grow in their thinking and communication skills
how the Four Arts of Language will make you think differently about Language Arts
why age and ability have little to do with each other
why IEW's products work so well with all children, no matter what their challenges
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 detox time.
25 Mar 2020
For the Accidental Homeschooler
00:38:57
Are 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.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
why your school day gets significantly shorter at home
what to do with your day outside of academics
three simple questions to help you gauge success
why homeschool is really just an extension of your existing home
“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.
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 with chronic anxiety and I'd like to share them with you. I hope some of these ideas encourage you and bring calm to your home during such a restless time.
Replay: Reclaiming a Wild + Free Childhood with Ainsley Arment
00:47:53
In 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 would happen if we embraced a more "wild and free" approach to childhood in our homeschools? What type of atmosphere might we be able to create for our families?
The Wild + Free movement had its humble beginnings about six years ago when Ainsley Arment started an Instagram account to gather and inspire other moms in quest of this "wild and free" type of childhood for their children. What began as a few moms sharing experiences and tips on the internet has grown into an online and in-person community of over 177,000 mamas strong. Wild & Free is not a method; it transcends - and therefore welcomes - many homeschool philosophies and makes room for all mamas to educate their children in a way that works best for their family.
Join us today as Ainsley and I explore the benefits of living Wild + Free in your homeschool.
In this episode you’ll hear:
Ainsley's journey to becoming a Wild + Free homeschooler
What a Wild + Free education looks like
Why childhood matters & how we can preserve it
Ainsley's favorite parts of homeschooling, as well as the most challenging
A Case for the Early Years with Leah Martin from My Little Robins
00:47:43
Are 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 how to make Charlotte Mason's ideas a reality. We also discuss why the early years should be preserved as a "quiet growing time" instead of relinquishing them to academics as the culture continually calls us to do and some consequences we're seeing as a society because of this unnatural shift.
In this episode you'll hear:
the story of a former public school teacher turned Ambleside teacher turned CM homeschool mama
why academics in the early years is usually not developmentally appropriate
why the Great Outdoors is the best classroom for the early years
mental, emotional and physical benefits to holding off on academics
how the segregation mindset of home and school is disrupting the early years
When 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, and logic), and Personal Development (spiritual growth, citizenship, arts, and therapy to name a few). In this episode, I’m going to focus on the best way to teach these three categories.
The 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."
06 Jan 2021
Seeing Dyslexia as a Strength
00:43:17
If 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 made it his mission to help others do the same thing.
Join us today as Rich and I explore dyslexia from a new perspective. In this episode you’ll hear:
Rich’s dyslexia story
Why dyslexia is really a strength…but not many see it that way
Careers that work well for dyslexics
Why failure is just part of the process
Tools that have helped Rich overcome his challenges
What we can teach our children to help them be prepared for life
Record Keeping for Homeschoolers with Outside-the-Box Kids
00:34:39
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 an outside-the-box child with evaluations, therapist notes, and doctor's recommendations. How do you sort through the everlasting paper trail and weed through what really matters?
Join me today as I talk about record keeping and give you four simple categories to divide your paperwork into. I'll tell you what to toss in the fire pit this summer, what to hang on to, and how to store it all. Listen as I give you some easy ways to deal with papers in your homeschool once and for all and help you start a once a year habit that will simplify and declutter your paper trail while preparing you for your future homeschool needs.
In this episode you’ll hear:
Why record keeping doesn't need to be big and complicated
Why the end of the school year is the perfect time to start this new habit
How to sort the paperwork that comes with homeschooling
How to create a memory box for your child to enjoy "one day" without taking up too much space in the meantime
Why you should keep grades and attendance...even if your state doesn't require it
What kind of work examples are useful to keep on hand and why
How to organize all the paper that comes with having an outside-the-box child
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 men who are kind and wise and honorable...into a good man.
Join us today as Nathan talks about his new book, tells us how we can cheer our boys on, and shares what this all might look like for those of us who have an outside-the-box boy who we love. Nathan will give you a better understanding of the struggles young men have today and leave you feeling encouraged and motivated to rise to the challenge that comes with.
In this episode you’ll hear:
how stories shape good men
what makes a “good man?"
why men have a responsibility to others to become a good man
how we can believe forward for our outside-the-box kiddos
how moms can nurture our boys to become good men
how dads can use this book to make an impact in their son's life
Bring 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 of spices, the glow of a candle, goldenrod swaying in a breeze that is still warm but warning of a coming chill.
It’s the poem, “Something Told the Wild Geese” and the actual geese flying overhead in the morning.
It’s the copper and crimson and buttery yellow leaves as the trees beginning to change, the sound of folksy coffee shop music as the sun sets earlier and earlier.
It’s stacks of familiar books mingling with new reads brought by the school year.
It’s being ready to say good-bye to one season and welcome another with a full heart.
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 parents are looking for to help their children flourish in the early years.
In this episode you'll hear:
a simple, refreshing, and freeing approach to the preschool years
how and why Our Preschool Life came about
why you need nurturing and encouragement during the preschool years as much as your child does
How To Do Charlotte Mason Exams: Celebrating Growth with Sonya Shafer
00:49:13
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 in his education and a way to honor the hard work and effort he's put forth over the term. Today I talk with Sonya about some very simple ways to weave exams into your homeschool in a way that celebrates the person he is becoming.
In this episode you’ll hear:
What Charlotte Mason was looking to evaluate during exams
Why high-pressure exams are unnecessary
Why celebrating growth is a perfect end to a term
How holding your child accountable will help him to grow
How making exams personalized will help you measure his growth
How to easily write your own exam questions
What an exam week could look like in your homeschool
Get a quick peek at the plan for the new Homeschooling Outside-the-Box podcast with Cindy Rinna!
15 Nov 2018
Meeting Charlotte Mason: The Great Outdoors
00:14:51
Explore 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.
15 Oct 2018
Nurturing Your Pre-Schooler's Soul
00:16:29
Nurturing 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.
09 Dec 2020
10 Favorite Family Christmas Traditions (with special guests!)
00:39:39
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”…or rather, The Spirit of Christmas. Christ incarnate. Immanuel. God with us.
What is it about the season that ignites this joy in you? Is it the first time you hear a Christmas song on the radio? A special cookie recipe that’s been passed down through the generations of your family? Is it a particular movie or book that just has to be read every year? A trip you take? Or a favorite party you host?
Traditions are the stitches that hold a family culture together. They are woven throughout our year, throughout generations, creating a masterpiece over time. They can be simple and they can change. New ones can be added and old ones fall away. Traditions of the Christmas season are unique to each of our families.
Today I’d like to share some of our favorite family Christmas traditions. This is not a checklist to accomplish in December or a formula to ensure a happy holiday; these are just a few ideas that may inspire you and yours to create your own memories.
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 to condense that information into something tangible and simple. Something about not seeing the forest for the trees comes to mind and her philosophies have become so beautifully interwoven with our life that it’s hard to separate it out when someone asks about how we homeschool.
What is the Charlotte Mason method? Is it narration? Picture study? Music? Going outside? Good books? Yes, but….
Who was Charlotte Mason? A British educator who revolutionized the system in her time but has been all but lost to history and looked over by modern “progressive” educators? Yes, but….
Her legacy, or rather, the legacy of her educational philosophy, is so much more.
Her philosophy of education was so influential that it transcended the realms of the Victorian classroom and has been entrusted to homeschoolers and small private schools today. It traveled across the pond from lovely Ambleside in the Lake District to my beloved United States and all the way into my home in north Alabama.
Replay: Homeschooling High School with Melissa McMahan
00:56:14
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 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 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 in the mix and she’s here to tell you…don’t give up. High school can be a really wonderful and rewarding time with your children despite the extra weight that it brings.
Join us today as Melissa encourages us to find the joy in homeschooling our children during high school and use it as a time of connection and preparation for their launch into the world.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR:
Why you should take the high school years seriously…but not in a fearful way
How humility is the secret trick to homeschooling high school
How mom’s role shifts in the high school years
How to have a “together time” in the high school years
How the high school years look when you have younger ones
The value of car time
Why homeschooling high school is ideal for OTB kids
Why you shouldn’t quit before the harvest
All about the coolest field trip Melissa ever took her girls on
How to get prepared to launch your kids into the world
08 Aug 2018
What is the Son-Rise Program® ?
00:18:46
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!
11 Jan 2020
When Things Spiral
00:10:13
Do 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 a season like this, I hope you find some sincere empathy and practical tools to dealing with this season gracefully. If you are not in a season like this right now, you may want to tune in any way...it never hurts to be prepared.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
how the right perspective is key
how to begin getting back on track
what subjects are best to start with when easing back in
how to avoid comparison and thrive in the season you're in
Embracing Your Child's Differences with Actor, Author & Filmmaker, Nathan Clarkson
00:33:23
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?
Join us today as actor, author & filmmaker, Nathan Clarkson talks about all the difference embracing your child's differences can make. As a man who struggles with his own unique challenges and a former child whose parents played a crucial role in his education, he should know.
Nathan is an encouragement to moms and kids alike, inspiring both to press on and embrace the unique challenges that can come with an outside-the-box child. His new picture book (co-authored with his mother, the wonderful, Sally Clarkson), "Only You Can Be You" will give parents a practical and joyful way to discuss what a blessing being different can be.
In this episode you'll hear:
how you can inspire your child to step into the story God has planned for him
why differences are purposeful
why it's helpful for parents to identify their child's challenges and differences
why working with your child's differences instead of against them is so important for your relationship
a special message from Nathan to your tween/teen...and one for you, as well
How to Teach Your Child to Do Chores: Try Zone Work Instead
00:53:43
Are 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 done. In fact, he's even better trained in most areas. Zone work gives your child a sense of dignity over an area of the home they are in charge of. Zones unite the family pointing towards an end goal of having a happier home. Training your children in zone work will prepare them for the future so well that at the end of it, they could run a household on their own.
Join me today as I talk about making this shift in your home from chores to zone work and equip you with a system that will help your home run a little more smoothly all the while training your child in valuable life skills they will need in their adult years.
In this episode you'll hear:
When you should NOT start to implement zone work
How to help your child get to a point he is ready for zone work
How to train and teach your children valuable life skills that become habits
Why it's so important to focus in this area
How to put buffers in your day to help motivate your children
Winter 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.
This 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 or influence, or by undue play upon any one natural desire.
Join me next time as we cover principles 5 - 8.
Be sure to subscribe to my Substack to read the article, see all the links, and be notified of new articles.
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review :).
10 Mar 2024
To the Pre-School Mom
00:21:24
While 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 siblings in the most natural and nourishing enviornment – home.
How to Teach Your Kids About Money...without Bribing Them to Do Chores
00:21:42
Do 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 today to find out why it's so important to prepare your kiddos in this area and how you can teach your kids about money...without bribing them to do chores ;).
In this episode you’ll hear:
Why money doesn't have to be tied to chores
How to teach your children about money in a practical way
How to use organic experiences to teach lessons about money
About a simple system to help your children organize their money
How money relates to zone work
What to do if your child wants to earn extra money
“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 its inseparable affiliation with the soul.
To understand Charlotte’s first principle you have to know who she was talking to. The Victorian era may have been coming to a close by the time she published A Philosophy of Education, but she originally said this in her first Home Education volume and was very much talking to Victorian educators and parents.
To say a child was “born a person” carries a distinction that we take for granted today. Of course a child is born a person, we think. What else would he be born as? “But truths get flat and wonders stale upon us,” Charlotte said and isn’t that right? We read our bibles every day and skim the details, “yes, yes…the garden, the flood, the gospel, and so on…” but take the gravity of that truth lightly and while small children wonder at the world around them we stroll carelessly past a robin’s nest. How quickly we breeze past what is too familiar.
Get Started Homeschooling: Organizing Your Space and Planning Your Year, Term, Week & Day
00:24:39
Are 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 today we wrap things up. We'll go over how to organize your space and how to plan your year, your term, your week and your day. Being organized can make a day run so much more smoothly and planning (a task loved by some and loathed by others) will allow you to really custom fit things to your family.
In this episode you’ll hear:
how to make your life easier by being organized
why a physical walk-through helps so much
how to decide what to teach as a group and what to teach as a 1-on-1 subject
how to divide your school year up so it's more manageable
how to keep your homeschool thriving and prevent burnout by refreshing subjects
Inspiring Speech with Kate Wilde, Director of The Son-Rise Program®
00:55:29
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 forty-two.
Kate's passion for our children is contagious and she is a wealth of knowledge, especially on the topic of language. She will free you from the pressure that often comes hand-in-hand with being an autism mom and set you on a path to move forward in a positive and uplifting way to help your child.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
all about Kate's new book, The Autism Language Launcher
why connecting with your child is the ticket to getting language
why your attitude and beliefs are so critical to your child’s growth
why you should stop saying my child is "non-verbal" and start saying he is "not YET verbal"
what you can do immediately (as soon as you finish listening!) to help your child
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 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 in the mix and she's here to tell you...don't give up. High school can be a really wonderful and rewarding time with your children despite the extra weight that it brings.
Join us today as Melissa encourages us to find the joy in homeschooling our children during high school and use it as a time of connection and preparation for their launch into the world.
In this episode you’ll hear:
Why you should take the high school years seriously...but not in a fearful way
How humility is the secret trick to homeschooling high school
How mom's role shifts
How to have a "together time"
How the high school years look when you have younger ones
The value of car time
Why homeschooling high school is ideal for OTB kids
How to get prepared to launch your kids into the world
09 Jun 2024
On Nature: The Great Outdoors Episode
00:18:53
“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 created to be inside as much as we are. You hear about “new” ways to be healthy like green therapy or beach yoga and it’s important to remember that getting outside is not something we are adding to civilization; it’s something we need to return to.
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!
It 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.
08 Apr 2020
On Grief, Adjusting, and Steering Clear of Survival Mode
00:31:01
Do 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 adjusting to this new COVID-normal without getting completely drown by survival mode.
In this episode you'll hear:
how our family dealt with saying good-bye to our sweet dog
how to help your child adjust to some of the changes in life right now
how to keep your head (if only slightly) above water instead of sinking into survival mode as the new norm
11 Nov 2020
Reclaiming a Wild + Free Childhood for Our Kids with Ainsley Arment
00:47:53
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 would happen if we embraced a more "wild and free" approach to childhood in our homeschools? What type of atmosphere might we be able to create for our families?
The Wild + Free movement had its humble beginnings about six years ago when Ainsley Arment started an Instagram account to gather and inspire other moms in quest of this "wild and free" type of childhood for their children. What began as a few moms sharing experiences and tips on the internet has grown into an online and in-person community of over 177,000 mamas strong. Wild & Free is not a method; it transcends - and therefore welcomes - many homeschool philosophies and makes room for all mamas to educate their children in a way that works best for their family.
Join us today as Ainsley and I explore the benefits of living Wild + Free in your homeschool.
In this episode you’ll hear:
Ainsley's journey to becoming a Wild + Free homeschooler
What a Wild + Free education looks like
Why childhood matters & how we can preserve it
Ainsley's favorite parts of homeschooling, as well as the most challenging
“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 on this principle are in danger of receiving much teaching but little knowledge; the teacher’s axiom being ‘what a child learns matters less than how he learns it.’”
Reference: Volume 6, Chapter 7
Charlotte combines these two principles in one chapter and it’s pretty impressive that she felt so strongly against his approach that she calls out one particular educational guru of her day in her actual principles. So who was this guy?
13 Jan 2021
Homeschool Rhythms: Morning Time
00:18:13
“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 idea is to gather together and learn together.
Join me today to find out how morning time can work in your homeschool and what subjects are a good fit for this chunk of your day.
How to Start a Homeschool Group (and why you should) with Danielle Easley, co-founder of Connect
01:20:38
For 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 outside-the-box family and in a moment of courage (or perhaps desperation), I reached out to another homeschool mama and asked her to “go do stuff together.” The result has been a deep friendship between our families and an accidentally thriving homeschool group.
Join us today as Danielle and I explore the benefits of how to start a homeschool group and why you should.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR:
Why community and relationships are non-negotiables for homeschoolers
I had the privilege of meeting Cindy at a conference here in north Alabama this past spring and I’m thrilled to share our conversation with you today. She has so much insight to offer to the homeschool community and loves to encourage moms so I know you’re going to love this episode.
Join us today as Cindy and I discuss a variety of ideas near and dear to homeschoolers’ hearts.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR:
Cindy’s journey from her blog to Morning Time for Moms
Why it’s important to encourage the next generation of homeschoolers even when it’s hard
About the joy of learning alongside your child instead of giving in to insecurity
Why you should give the humanities a chance even if they’re not your preference
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, subscribe, or share :) When you do, it helps to spread the word and encourage other moms just like you.
05 Sep 2018
Nurturing Your Pre-Schooler's Mind
00:12:57
When it comes to the early years, it's tempting to get a jump on academics but there is a time for everything.
17 Jan 2019
New Year's Goal Setting for the Homeschool Mom
00:27:55
I'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 circumstances, He gave us a " George Bailey" experience as well as precious time with family and friends, grew us spiritually, stretched us beyond what we thought was possible and brought us back home to Alabama. To honor the cliche, hindsight really is 20/20. I can see how God moved in many ways; I can understand the reason behind certain struggles, I can find the silver lining.
But I can't for the life of me predict the future.
25 Nov 2020
Autism in the Teen Years with Raun K. Kaufman
01:17:59
Over 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 adults thrive in the high school years without hitting the panic button and stressing over academics? Raun K. Kaufman is an author, international lecturer, and former CEO of the Autism Treatment Center of America who has worked with hundreds of families just like yours and mine. He's here to help us navigate these years with our wonderful children and encourage us to live beautifully in the tension between unconditional acceptance of our teen and helping him to grow.
Join us today as Raun and I explore autism in the teen years.
In this episode you’ll hear:
Raun’s autism story
Why people don’t talk much about autism in the teen years…and why we should
How we as homeschoolers are uniquely positioned to help our kids
How parents can handle the pressures of academics in the teen years
Why your attitude has way more to do with your teen’s behavior than you think
A message for the mom who thinks it’s too late to help her teen
Raun’s email for 1-on-1 sessions: raunraunraun@yahoo.com
13 Jun 2019
The Perks of Year-Round Homeschooling
00:19:40
Does 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 just wasn’t a good option. I wonder if that might be true for some of you, as well.
In this episode you’ll hear:
the five reasons we decided to homeschool year round (psst...one of them has to do with education being "a life")
how schooling year round gives us freedom all year long
why it's important to celebrate the end of the year and kick off a new one, even when you go year round
what our summer term looks like...a "day in the life," if you will
CM Teacher Turned Homeschool Mama, with Kristin Rosin
00:37:31
Ever 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
18 Apr 2020
Noteworthy Online Piano Lessons for Your Kids with Joseph Hoffman, Founder of Hoffman Academy
00:46:47
Do 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 I talk with Joseph Hoffman, founder, and CEO of Hoffman Academy. Joseph teaches students around the world how to play the piano right from their very own home with his online program and his unique Hoffman Method. He also teaches students at his local academy in Portland, Oregon (or at least he did before COVID put a pause on meeting together).
If you've checked out online lessons in the past but realized they didn't give your child the full music education you were hoping for and you've been wondering if there's a solid piano curriculum out there that would work for your family, you will not want to miss this episode.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
why music matters and is worth prioritizing
the benefits of taking music lessons online
why music is so therapeutic for our outside-the-box kiddos (and everyone else, for that matter)
how to help your child learn to play even if you're clueless
why the Hoffman Method is a worthwhile way to learn
a magical moment when I ask Mr. Hoffman to play for us and he says yes...then unknowingly chooses one of my favorite pieces
how you can get started (did I mention he's giving a special coupon to all of you beautiful people who listen to my podcast?)
29 Dec 2024
On Principles 11-15: The Curriculum Episode
00:48:14
This 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.
What 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).
Cindy West - Veteran Homeschooler, Charlotte Mason-Inspired, Brain Training Believer
00:52:44
Cindy 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.
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 doesn’t need to be lumped with the school years, I understand that’s a pretty counter cultural opinion. For the sake of this article let’s agree that we’re talking about kids who have started formal schooling, around age 6 or 7, or Year 1 in Ambleside-speak.
The high school years are a different animal in many ways, the lens often focused on the future. More complex subject matter, heavier work loads, afternoon jobs, friends, formals, sports, hobbies, dual enrollment classes, prep for the ACT, and post-high school plans disrupt what was previously a lovely and semi-predictable homeschool routine. While it’s a good, healthy, and necessary thing to grow, the bittersweet truth is your homeschool will begin to feel different as you have less control over everyone’s schedule.
Don’t get me wrong; I love both the precious moments of the pre-school years and the independent nature of the high school years but when most people think of homeschooling — at least the homeschool of Instagram reels — I’m sure images from the K-8 years are what come to mind. And not without good reason.
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