The Homeschool Sanity Show

Getting children to do chores consistently was one of the most common challenges with kids my Homeschool Sanity Facebook friends mentioned. I have the same issue, so I shared some solutions in this episode of The Homeschool Sanity Show. Teaching Tip of the Week Amy Milcic of Busy Boys Brigade shares 54 brain break activities and an inexpensive, easy way to store them. Organized Homeschool Challenge of the Week The Christmas Plan Challenge Links MelanieWilson.TV The Power of Homeschool Routines with FLYLady A Kids Chore Checklist That Works Managers of Their Chores by Teri Maxwell Scriptures on Diligence   Periscope Viewers Nikki of @nikbrewer thebrewersblog.blogspot.com suggests using a reward chart. @LaToyaEdwards of LatoyaEdwards.net recommends starting your training when the kids are young when they think it's fun. Jana of allaboutmommas.wordpress.com suggests blasting music while you clean. Amy of BusyBoysBrigade suggests pairing up older kids with younger ones. Gena  @thethompsontribe recommends using a timer. Action Steps for the Week 1) Create routines. 2) Teach your kids. 3) Inspect your kids' work. Next Week I'll share homeschool motivation you can access on demand. Have a happy homeschool week!  

If you or a child suffers from anxiety, you'll appreciate the tips for coping physically, mentally, and spiritually in this episode. I invite you to subscribe to Psychowith6.   Teaching Tip of the Week This week's tip is Trello. The Organized Homeschool Challenge of the Week This week's organized homeschool challenge is the Thanksgiving Challenge. Links Progressive Muscle Relaxation Progressive Muscle Relaxation Script Youth With a Mission Christian Heroes biographies How to Stop Worrying and Start Living Anxiety-Free Kids by Bonnie Zucker Helping Your Anxious Child by Ronald Rapee, et. al. Anxious for Nothing by John Macarthur Freeing Your Child from Anxiety by Tamar Chansky Action Steps Today's actions steps are to seek to deal with anxiety in you or a child physically, mentally, and spiritually. If you need more help, seek a therapist experienced in treating anxiety and try one of the resources I recommended. Next week How to teach children to complete chores consistently. Have a happy homeschool week!

You may be concerned if your student resists reading, writing, and all things English. Reading in particular is the best predictor of a child’s future success—not just in school, but in life. If that’s your situation, I have help. You can get your child interested in language arts. Join me on Periscope or become a member of the HomeschoolScopes community on Facebook. Teaching Tip of the Week Answers for Kids from  Answers in Genesis Bookstore Organized Homeschool Challenge of the Week The Charity Challenge Links 5 Days to Your Child Becoming a Better Reader Grammar Galaxy Language Arts Free Funny Fall Writing Prompts Caught Ya, Grammar with a Giggle The Ultimate List of Free Grammar Games This Week's Action Steps * Determine why your child doesn't like language arts * Address your child's specific problem * Model reading and writing for your child If you found this podcast helpful, I would be thrilled if you would rate it on iTunes and share the sanity. Next week We'll discuss help for the anxious homeschooler. Have a happy homeschool week!

If you both work and homeschool, you would probably appreciate some sanity-saving tips for balancing them both. That's what you'll find in this episode of the show. Sneak Peek You can get a sneak peek of my new language arts curriculum and this great Reading-for-Treasure Map at Grammar Galaxy Books. Teaching Tip of the Week Caught Being Good The Organized Homeschool Challenge of the Week The Hobby Challenge Periscope Viewer Tips @RosieW   Tatiana  says setting clear boundaries with the rest of the family is key, both kids and hubby know not to disturb me when I am at work. I also have my work computer separate from the main living area of the house. What helps me also is that I am most productive in the early morning , so I start working at 5 am and the rest of the people in my house usually sleep until 8 Karen Veronica Karen @Jansta suggests staying hydrated throughout the day and journaling about any guilt you're experiencing. Lenny @Hi5Hschool  Chelsea Today's Action Steps * Protect Your Time * Get Help * Make Decisions Without Guilt, especially whether you should work AND homeschool Next Week We'll discuss reasons your child doesn't love language arts and what to do about it.

We have heard the statistics, but our kids need to hear them too--as well as the consequences. Obesity, as we know, contributes to shorter lifespans and a decreased quality of life. Let's teach our children how to avoid obesity now and as adults. You Might Like Do you use Instagram?  Follow me on Instagram and we can get to know each other better. Teaching Tip of the Week YWAM Biographies Organized Homeschool Challenge of the Week The Blog or Business Challenge Links Scriptures about gluttony How to Have Your Cake and Your Skinny Jeans Too by Josie Spinardi Raising Fit Kids in a Fat World Periscope Viewers Ashley of MomsLilLearners Joanna Anders Mandy Kelly Of Worshipful Living Lara of LaraMarriott.com Action Steps for the Week 1.Teach Scriptures having to do with gluttony 2. Explain that hunger is the only reason to eat 3. Teach how to avoid eating past satisfied Next week How to Balance Work and Homeschooling

  Are you worried you won't be able to homeschool high school even though you'd really like to? This episode will give you the courage you need. Teaching Tip of the Week How to Discover & Develop Your Child's 1st 100 Hours of Talent E-Course The Organized Homeschool Challenge of the Week The Hospitality Challenge Links Homeschool Sanity on Pinterest Pennsylvania Homeschoolers Lee Binz on College & Scholarships HSLDA guide to high school coursework The HomeScholar help with transcripts Hal & Melanie Young on Homeschooling High School? Why Not? Periscope Viewers Lori at Misokie.com @RosieW Next Week What to Teach Your Children About Obesity

When I received the book Hands-Free Life, I had begun noticing signs that I was living distracted. In this episode, I share tips for changing that.     Get your free funny fall writing prompts here. Teaching Tip of the Week 21 Lessons in 20th Century Music Appreciation Organized Homeschool Challenge of the Week The Freezer Cooking Challenge - includes links to everything mentioned in the podcast Links Hands-Free Life: 9 Habits for Overcoming Distraction, Living Better, and Loving More What to Do When Your Child Wants to Go to School Periscope Viewers @JanaMomof3 Jenni of Conversaving.com @LL_AtHeart @candace11 @stashawagon Mandy at Worshipful Living Action Steps * Look up * Listen * Let go Next Week How You Can Homeschool High School

When I asked my Facebook page fans if they received flack when they started homeschooling, I was surprised by the response. Join the conversation at Homeschool Sanity on Facebook. Teaching Tip of the Week Your Morning Basket by Pam Barnhill                 Organized Homeschool Challenge of the Week The Organized Kitchen Challenge. The link includes the Menu printable you can use to create your own snack shack. Links HSLDA How to Deal With the Social Worker at Your Door Naysayers & Negative Nellies Periscope Viewers @Krystineg Jess @jess42508 of The Dailys with Jess @Janamomof3 Brandy @ourthriftyhome of Our ThriftyHome Action Steps * See haters as future advocates * Know why you're homeschooling * Protect yourself Next Week How to Be a Hands-Free Homeschooler

If your homeschooled child wants to go to school or you want to be prepared if it happens, you'll want to listen to this episode. I wrote about my own experience with a child wanting to attend school and the lessons I learned from sending him to a public high school. Advice for Tween Girls I invited my listeners to have their tween daughters read my daughter's blog, AskElaina.com. She is learning not only how to write a blog, but about the issues she writes about. Have your daughter ask her a question or use the blog to inspire her own blog. Teaching Tip of the Week Use the Move app to keep your wiggly kids focused on school and to keep mom's blood from pooling too. Organized Homeschool Challenge of the Week This week we are organizing our meal planning. This is easily the biggest difference maker in your time management. Get your free copy of the Once and for All Meal Plan with all the forms and advice you need to get started. Links Listen to my interview with Reb Bradley on Parenting Blind Spots. Periscope Viewers' Tips This week's tips came from: Brandy of OurThriftyHome Jamie @IrishTwinsMomma Lori of Misokie.com Alana of FutureHope.com Bella of A Mom Over the Moon Action Tips of the Week * Pray * Talk with your spouse * Don't decide out of fear Has your child asked to go to school? How did you handle it? Let's chat at Homeschool Sanity on Facebook. Next Week We'll discuss how to handle homeschool overwhelm.

Kids who are reluctant to learn try a mother's patience, don't they? Listen in this week to this episode in which my Periscope viewers and I share tips for motivating reluctant learners. Teaching Tip of the Week @DawnKeeton_ on Periscope recommended the monthly cooking kit, Rad Dish. The Organized Homeschool Challenge of the Week This week we are cleaning out the pantry by making meals with orphaned items. You can find the free printable and the Plan to Eat affiliate link at this link. You can find the free meal planning ebook mentioned here. Subscribers to Psychowith6 already have the meal plan in the Subscriber Freebies folder at the bottom of your email. Show Notes Gifted Hands by Ben Carson Homeschool Sanity on Facebook Action Steps * Investigate the reason for the reluctance. * Inspire your child. * Control the intensity of the work. Periscoper Tips Brandy (@OurThriftyHome) of Our Thrifty Home Lara Marriott (@LaraMarriott) of LaraMarriott.com Next Week On The Show What to do if your child wants to go to school.

On this first episode of a new season of The Homeschool Sanity Show, I discussed how to be a patient homeschool mom. I have a new format, broadcasting live on Periscope (@Psychowith6) every Tuesday at 1:00 PM Central time. I will be sharing answers to questions and suggestions from other homeschool moms who are the REAL experts! Learn more about Periscope at Psychowith6 and join our Facebook group/ Teaching Tip of the Week This week's tip is from Amy Milcic of Busy Boy's Brigade. She shared a great reading app called Epic. Organized Homeschool Challenge of the Week This week we are organizing our kids' bedrooms. You can find all the steps in the challenge here. Action Steps of the Week * Renew your mind with Scripture. Check out SolveFamilyProblems.com & Titus2.com. Click over to Homeschool Sanity to get your free patience Scripture printable. * Use routines and plan so you aren't rushing your children. Check out my interview with FLYLady. * Use good self-care. Periscope Suggestions This Week Were From: @Lady Dusk - Dawn of LadyDusk.blogspot.com @OurThriftyHome - Brandy of OurThriftyHome @ChaoticBlissHS - Jenn @ElizabethWilliams

Ever since we started using the Life of Fred math curriculum nine years ago, I've wished I could talk to the author of this creative and fun material. So when I started the Homeschool Sanity Show podcast last fall, I knew I would ask Stanley Schmidt to be a guest. I was thrilled when he agreed.   Even though I thought I knew a lot about Life of Fred, I learned a number of  things from Dr. Schmidt, especially what my role as the teacher should be. You'll want to listen for tips on getting the most out of this fun curriculum and news about Dr. Schmidt's future plans.   You can find Life of Fred curriculum, complete with sample pages, at Life of Fred.com. To learn more about Dr. Schmidt, visit her personal blog at StanleySchmidt.com. You'll find my complete curriculum review at Psychowith6.com Follow me on Pinterest for more great curriculum reviews like these. Play Podcast

One of the huge perks of homeschooling is we can get outside to do our learning. In my interview with Cindy West of Shining Dawn Books, I was not only motivated to take more nature walks with the kids, but I was also inspired to learn that nature walks can easily comprise an entire science curriculum! To find out how and all the other subjects you can teach with nature walks, you'll want to listen to this episode. I really can't say enough about Cindy's ebook 100+ Easy & Fun Creative Nature Walks. As a very busy, spur-of-the-moment, homeschooling mom, I love that I can have access to the ideas on my phone or tablet so we can learn on the fly. They take very little preparation and go beyond learning to making memories. Other excellent books authored by Cindy which were discussed on the podcast include: Homeschooling Gifted & Advanced Learners (superb!) Charlotte Mason Homeschooling NaturExplorers Find Cindy at Shining Dawn Books, Our Journey Westward, on Google+ (also +CindyWest10), and Facebook (also Cindy K West).         Play Podcast  

My interview with Jonathan Harris of 10k to Talent completely changed the way I view talent education. I had the stereotypical view that I needed to start training my child by age 3 and then make sure that they devoted hours a day to practicing to develop a talent. Fortunately, that isn't what talent education is, because I haven't done that! In this podcast, you'll learn: * A whole new way of thinking about talent * Why you shouldn't worry that your child's talent is video games * What to consider if your child has a musical talent * How to keep your child's talent from dying in high school * How to structure your homeschooling around your child's talent (hint: maybe he's done enough history and literature!) I highly recommend Jonathan's ebook, How to Discover and Develop Your Child's First 100 Hours of Talent. I'd love for you to read about how I've been using it to discover my 14-year-old's talent. I also share my enthusiasm for his Blog to Your Talent ecourse. Jonathan discussed Lindsey Sterling on YouTube. Play Podcast    

Online educational resources can be such a blessing to homeschoolers, but come with challenges when it comes to safety. Leah Nieman of LeahNieman.com and CurrClick.com tells us: * how to protect younger learners online and how to react when inappropriate content is accessed * the difference between filters and accountability programs * things to remind teens before sharing on social media Resources mentioned include: * NetNanny * Covenant Eyes * Digital Media Agreement * Parents' Guide to SnapChat * 12 of the Top Social Media Sites for Teens A resource not mentioned that you may find useful is Cleanr for YouTube. My kids gave me this tip!   Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for more great tips and shows like these. Play Podcast