Let's Talk Homeschool

In March and April, millions of parents faced a mandatory trial run of homeschooling. Literally every family in America was forced to figure out school-at-home, parent-directed education, and homeschooling in one way or another. I’m sure parents learned quite a bit during this time. Some realized just how hard their kid’s teachers worked. Others discovered how inefficient the brick and mortar education model really is. And still others got to know their kids in a whole new way – maybe even liked having the whole family together all day. We found ourselves listening to many of these families and answering their questions about how to make this an adventure that is positive, good, productive, and exciting. Today, let’s take a close look at homeschooling and dive into some details. In other words, Let’s Really Talk Homeschool.

Parenting is not for the faint of heart. It’s hard work. It’s so hard that some parents essentially throw in the towel and let it happen to them rather than taking the bull by the horns and being proactive and intentional. We’ve all seen the results of this kind of random, que sera, whatever parenting. In this episode, we talk about church, devotions, and family worship. Why is it important to be intentional about this aspect of family life?

When you homeschool, your kids may be in 3rd grade math, 4th grade science, and 5th grade writing. The point is, assigning a grade level isn’t that helpful. But what about high school? Should your student automatically graduate when they are 17 or 18 years old? What about taking a Gap Year? And what is this thing called a Super Senior Year? Hear the stories of how each of our kids had a very different high school experience, and you just might start thinking out of the box too.

Here's a timely devotional in light of the coronavirus pandemic and based on Philippians 4:4-13

Parenting is not for the faint of heart. It’s hard work. It’s so hard that some parents essentially throw in the towel and let it happen to them rather than taking the bull by the horns and being proactive and intentional. We’ve all seen the results of this kind of random parenting. But starting a discussion about intentional parenting can be like pressing some hot buttons. So another title for today’s show could be Hot Button Parenting. That’s your heads up. But remember that everything we discuss is meant to help you as parents. We want you to be affirmed, encouraged, challenged, and inspired. So hang on folks. This could be interesting. 

Chris Davis passed away in October 2019. He was very instrumental in our own homeschooling journey in so many ways. In this episode, we share some of the ways that Chris and his ministry (The Elijah Company) shaped the start and continuation of our homeschooling adventure. 

Most kids start school around age 5 or 6 years old. And the first big accomplishment that parents and teachers are tracking is when the student can read. The pressure is on big time from day one. Will their kindergartener or first grader succeed or fail in this area? How will parents react if their little one struggles? What about the child? How much pressure do they end up feeling? We have seven children. We’ve been there. We look forward to setting you free with wisdom, data, experience, and perspective.

In this episode, I interview my longtime friend Randy McCoy. He is the author of a novel titled Thief of Slaves. If you or any of your kids are aspiring authors, then be sure to listen to this show.

January is often a time when people decide to get in shape, finish those projects, read those books, take that class, you know…get ‘er done. IOW, it’s a good time to set goals. Do you sit down with your kids and help them set goals too? It really isn’t that hard, and it can make a big difference in their life…now and down the road. What does this look like? We invite you to listen and learn.

Happy New Year. It’s 2020. January is a month when people commonly make resolutions and goals for the year. We love engaging in this annual practice. Today, we’d like to share some of the details in our own goal making with hopes that you will take away some new and practical ideas. 

This episode is a devotional based on Psalm 37.

Today is December 23rd. Christmas is practically here folks. And we’ve got a special gift for you today. Today’s show includes a dramatization of the Christmas story called Mary Remembers. After the presentation, you can listen to an original song from the perspective of one of Jesus’s siblings called “This Brother of Mine” — written and composed by Anne MacCallum. The show will close with a gospel message.

Christmas is often called the most wonderful time of the year. And for good reason. I hope you and your family have been able to slow down some and take in the true and full meaning of the Advent season. In order to help, today’s podcast is a Christmas devotional. Enjoy.

It’s here. We are officially starting the Advent season. We hope you have plans to enjoy this holiday season, remember and ponder the incarnation of Jesus Christ, and make some good memories with loved ones. Christmas is also a time of gift giving…and receiving. So how can you help your little ones focus more on the real reason for the season and not get caught up in all the commercialization that is brightly displayed in front of them at stores?

It’s Thanksgiving. As a matter of fact, this episode is being published a week early in order to make sure you have plenty of time to hear it before Thanksgiving Day. We love Thanksgiving, and today we want to share some of our other Thanksgiving family traditions and why this holiday is one of our absolute favorites.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Some people think of it as a mere speed bump on the way to Christmas. We love Christmas, but we also love Thanksgiving. Today, we want to share one of our favorite Thanksgiving family traditions. We actually start this one November 1st and keep it going every day up to Thanksgiving Day.

Homeschooling is hard and scary. You certainly don’t want to mess up your kids worse than they already are and prove to all your critics that you can’t do this. It really is easy to mess up in the frenzy of it all. We want to help you succeed and avoid making these common mistakes, so listen and take note of six top mistakes that homeschooling families often make.

Once upon a time, we envisioned our kids getting on a little yellow school bus and going away for 6-7 luxurious hours each week day.  Yet these buses pick up kids at early morning hours when the sun hasn’t even come up yet. Our society is already sleep deprived, so would you really put your innocent 4, 5, or 6 year old on one of these vehicles at six-something in the morning? What better opportunity does homeschooling provide?