Homeschool Your Way

Latest Episodes:

SOURCES OF STRENGTH FOR YOUR CHILD'S MENTAL HEALTH Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

As parents, we set the tone for the mental health dialogue in our homes. Sources of Strength is a framework that gives families the vocabulary and resources to dialogue about anxiety, depression, compulsive thinking, anger, and much more. This wellness model gives kids and parents tools for emotional wholeness, with a focus on hope, help, and strength. Youth advocate Katheryn Willie, the special guest in this episode, outlines components of the support wheel and explains how parents can guide their children into resilience and confidence. Visit sourcesofstrength.org for additional family resources.

Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com. ★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at bookshark.com.
TIMESTAMPS
04:07 Although Sources of Strength was originally created as a suicide prevention program, it doesn't talk about suicide all that much. These tools work for daily ups and downs and are powerful tools for parents to teach children.

06:58 There are eight protective factors or strengths that people can tap into when they're having a tough time, struggling, or feeling stressed out.

07:14 ONE: Family support

08:29 TWO: Positive friends

09:04 THREE: Mentors

09:38 FOUR: Healthy activities

11:17 FIVE: Generosity

12:15 SIX: Spirituality

14:45 SEVEN: Physical health

16:15 EIGHT: Mental health

24:41 How Sources of Strength can help a parent-child relationship.

26:00 Kids want you to ask them how they are doing.

27:44 Our three big emotions: anger, anxiety, and sadness.

28:14 Use the Sources of Strength to make those emotions manageable.

32:37 In a crisis, please call the National Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You can also text HOME to 741741. It's not just a suicide prevention hotline, but is also helpful for anyone who is struggling with addiction, or anxiety, bullying, depression, eating disorders, abuse, family issues, self-harm, or financial challenges.

33:58 Homeschoolers face the same struggles as all other families. It's okay to admit when you need help.
SPECIAL SEGMENTS
01:44 Hack of the Week: Get your kids' input!
23:59 Reflection: Reminisce with your kids.
If you'd like to share an aha moment, an inspirational quote, a homeschool hack, a book you're loving, or a suggested podcast topic/guest, leave a comment at bookshark.com/podcast. We'd love to feature your reflection on a future episode.

SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING FOR HOMESCHOOLERS Feb 01, 2022

Show notes

Whether you aim for second language mastery at the bilingual or biliterate level or whether you simply want to expose your kids to another language, introducing foreign languages into your homeschool is a worthy venture! Learning another language can be a way to foster appreciation for and connection to your own culture (like Ximena's own story), or it can be a way to boost academics overall.
Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com. ★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at bookshark.com.
TIMESTAMPS
05:27 Second language learning boosts vocabulary in your mother tongue (in some cases) and can help kids understand grammar in general.

07:06 Second language learning opens new neural pathways. It actually develops your brain!

08:33 You'll naturally learn about other cultures and countries when you start studying a new language.

11:35 Studies have found that students who speak more than one language score higher on standardized college admission exams.

13:20 Being bilingual can open career opportunities.

20:00 Apps and resources for second language learning.

24:15 How Ximena's parents are helping her children practice Spanish over Zoom.

25:17 And how DeeDee's Nana discouraged her second language learning by being too critical of her accent.

26:12 The value of songs for learning another language.

27:16 Find ways to immerse yourself in the second language and practice it in real-life situations.
SPECIAL SEGMENTS
1:07 Hack of the Week: Reverse planning for folks who love to check things off
17:47 A Memorable Quote

John Holt says, "Children learn from anything and everything they see. They learn wherever they are. Not just in a special learning place."

If you'd like to share an aha moment, an inspirational quote, a homeschool hack, a book you're loving, or a suggested podcast topic/guest, leave a comment at bookshark.com/podcast. We'd love to feature your reflection on a future episode.

HOMESCHOOLING THROUGH HORMONES Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

Hang on for the twists and turns, dips and dives of the roller coaster ride we call homeschooling with hormones! Whose hormones? The kids' or ours? Both! In this episode, DeeDee and Ximena talk about the intersection of puberty for our kids and the typical hormonal fluctuations of moms. When it all gets ramped up, there can be emotional explosions and angry meltdowns. But there's hope for the hassles. Tune in to find out!

Note: if talking about hormone changes, menstrual cycles, and puberty makes you uncomfortable, then this might not be the episode for you.

Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com. ★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at bookshark.com.

TIMESTAMPS
03:47 Hormones are always part of our life!

05:51 At ages 6-8, kids go through a change called adrenarche which sets the stage for puberty.

07:37 DeeDee taught her kids to remind her that their brains are not fully developed.

09:14 Laziness? Or distracted?

10:25 How menstrual periods affect homeschool moms. Be prepared!

12:51 The changes of perimenopause: brain fog, inability to get organized, weight gain, etc.

14:40 Coming to grips with the maturation of our kids.

21:04 How to be proactive about hormones in your homeschool.

25:44 Pay attention to diet. Consider protein needs, especially.

28:08 Question your use of caffeine, especially that second cup.

29:17 Rest and sleep are essential.

30:44 Incorporate movement and exercise for the entire family!

33:15 Plug into a community that will support you.

33:50 Make sure teens going through puberty have community, too. Related podcasts:

HOMESCHOOLING WITH A PRESCHOOLER WITH DOWN SYNDROME Jan 18, 2022

Show notes

Leilani Garcia is a former classroom teacher and a current special needs mom to four. In this episode, she chats with hosts DeeDee and Ximena about her life of parenting and homeschooling a preschooler with Down Syndrome. They'll cover juggling multiple kids when one child has a ton of therapy appointments, how to teach critical thinking, dealing with insecurities, and finding supportive community.

Connect with Leilani on Instagram or YouTube.

TIMESTAMPS

02:01 Help kids learn to use a planner or daily checklist.

03:51 Leilani shares her background and how she came to be a homeschooler.

07:10 How the older siblings are impacted by having a little sister with special needs.

09:56 Trust your curriculum. Don't try to reinvent the wheel.
12:06 Challenges: insecurity, being shunned, being misunderstood, lacking self-confidence.

13:57 Who is an expert?

16:30 How is homeschooling a preschooler with Down Syndrome unique?

23:59 "Do right, not be right." You want to do what's right, not always trying to prove that you're right in the situation.

25:33 The critical thinking gap. Thinking Like a Lawyer: A Framework for Teaching Critical Thinking

27:52 So much therapy! How to handle all the appointments.

31:11 Frontloading the details of the day with your kids.

33:16 How community has been critical in Leilani's homeschool journey.

35:30 Leilani's advice to her younger self: stop!

HOMESCHOOLING TEENS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES Jan 11, 2022

Show notes

Natalie Vecchione is the special guest on this episode about homeschooling teens with developmental disabilities and how to successfully launch them into adulthood. Natalie's podcast is FASD Hope. Her new book is Blazing New Homeschool Trails: Educating and Launching Teens with Developmental Disabilities.
★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at bookshark.com. Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com.
TIMESTAMPS
02:25 Natalie talks about how valuable unit studies are for neuro-divergent students and that they can be just a single day!

06:15 Natalie's personal story about adopting her son and discovering he had fetal alcohol syndrome.

09:21 Natalie's choice to homeschool her children including her daughter who has dyslexia.

12:50 Why it's key to focus on strengths not weaknesses.

15:09 Don't be married to a curriculum. Be willing to adjust it.

16:51 The isolation and loneliness of homeschooling a teen with developmental delays.

21:38 What keeps Natalie going when days are difficult: her 3 whys.

23:54 The analogy of the dirt road.

31:27 Natalie talks about her new book.

33:51 The woodworking apprenticeship her son is doing.

38:45 Be your child's guidance counselor.

40:38 Use your teen's interests to craft a unique homeschooling experience.

48:29 Teaching kids interdependence.

51:06 Natalie's advice to her younger self.
If you'd like to share an aha moment, an inspirational quote, a homeschool hack, a book you're loving, or a suggested podcast topic/guest, leave a comment at bookshark.com/podcast. We'd love to feature your reflection on a future episode.

CHORE SYSTEMS FOR HOMESCHOOLERS Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

As homeschoolers, your home is in constant use, and it shows! Enlisting your children to take on household chores is a win-win for everyone. Kids gain self-sufficiency in key life skills, the home stays comfortable and presentable, and you aren't bearing the entire brunt of the work! Get inspired to set up chore systems for your home with this episode hosted by DeeDee and Ximena.

★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at bookshark.com. Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com.

TIMESTAMPS
01:03 Take advantage of playlists to energize your kids and signal chore time (or other times of day). Use the Chips & Salsa playlists on Spotify.

04:00 Children need to be able to complete tasks independently to develop a sense of self-motivation, purpose and competency.

05:23 Teaching independence can be messy. But it's key!

07:40 Laziness and not wanting to work.

10:37 Chores as an antidote to entitlement.

13:02 Chores are an opportunity to practice delayed gratification.

14:26 Chores foster gratitude.

18:20 Chores are life skills!

19:36 When kids help with chores, it makes your job easier. Plus it provides a sense of family unity.

25:10 Choosing chores that are developmentally appropriate for toddlers to teens.

32:38 Be clear with instructions and modeling of chores.

35:34 Keep your requirements simple and doable.

36:23 Build chores into your routines.

37:07 Using chore carts, Alexa, etc.

39:56 Using reward systems to motivate.

SEX EDUCATION FOR HOMESCHOOLERS Dec 28, 2021

Show notes

This episode is about the dreaded talk that we need to have with our children. Yes, homeschool moms and dads, it's our responsibility to provide sex education. You may be nervous to dialogue about the birds and the bees, but DeeDee and Ximena have some great tips (and some hilarious anecdotes) to equip you.

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★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at bookshark.com. Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com.
• • • • • •
TIMESTAMPS
03:05 Just because you homeschool doesn't mean your kids aren't exposed to sexual content. Thanks to the internet, it's more important than ever that we talk to our kids about sex before they consume harmful imagery or misinformation.

03:58 Two very helpful and age appropriate books for tweens are:

Using a book to start the conversation relieves some of the awkwardness.

05:58 The importance of giving kids a SAFE place to talk about sex, puberty, periods, and body changes. Keeping the discussions nonchalant.

09:57 Try to remember what it was like to be a teenager.

10:22 The funny stories! (You will laugh!!)

19:59 The nitty gritty of sex ed.

23:12 You want to be the parent your child can approach when they see or experience something disturbing.

23:41 Lean on community.

25:33 Be aware of the prevalence of sexual content that children ages 8-12 are encountering.

27:32 Ad blockers and other filters are great, but if you're not having the conversations, they are inadequate.

27:55 Don't volunteer too much information. Answer their questions with age-appropriate responses, but don't push beyond what they're asking.
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If you'd like to share an aha moment, an inspirational quote, a homeschool hack, a book you're loving, or a suggested podcast topic/guest, leave a comment at bookshark.com/podcast. We'd love to feature your reflection on a future episode.

WHY EVERY HOMESCHOOLER NEEDS COMMUNITY Dec 21, 2021

Show notes

Torrie Oglesby is the special guest in this episode about the importance of community and how to find it or create it. Parenting is hard, and homeschooling only adds to the challenge. Having a network of support is essential to well-being!

Connect with Torrie on: Youtube The Oglesby Ohana | Instagram @torrie_oglesby | Podcast: The Fruitful Vine

QUOTABLES

Ximena: "So if parenting is like growth and refinement for us as people, which it is, then homeschooling is growth and refinement on steroids."

Torrie: "...that's another thing that no one really talks about with parenting is, it's like a letting go process. Every day we're letting go a little bit more and a little bit more."

TIMESTAMPS
02:00 Meet Torrie. [Note, her IG handle has changed since this podcast was recorded. She is @torrie_oglesby.]

04:08 Power hour to plow through homeschool quickly.
05:55 The value of being goofy and setting the tone in the home.

08:14 More background on Torrie, how she started homeschooling.

11:37 The difference between choosing to homeschool and actually following through.

13:56 How to handle complaints from your kids about school.

15:15 How Torrie created community for herself when there was none.

17:45 Why do some people resist community?

21:20 The difference between virtual community and in-person community.

22:24 Challenges in community: parenting styles.

30:02 Torrie's community called The Womanhood.

36:40 Letting go as a parent and raising your kids to be adults.

41:17 How to be community for others.

44:32 Torrie's advice for her younger self.
If you'd like to share an aha moment, an inspirational quote, a homeschool hack, a book you're loving, or a suggested podcast topic/guest, leave a comment at bookshark.com/podcast. We'd love to feature your reflection on a future episode.

INTENTIONAL HOLIDAYS FOR HOMESCHOOLERS Dec 14, 2021

Show notes

Celebrating winter holidays can get in the way of homeschooling. But that's okay! Learn how to merge your holiday memory-making into your homeschool to keep the learning stress-free. For example, wrapping presents and budgeting for gift giving are both life skills that come into play in December. Embrace the mess, lower your ridiculous standards of perfection, and enjoy the holidays with your kids this year!
★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at bookshark.com. Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com.
If you'd like to share an aha moment, an inspirational quote, a homeschool hack, a book you're loving, or a suggested podcast topic/guest, leave a comment at bookshark.com/podcast. We'd love to feature your reflection on a future episode.

A GUIDE TO USING UNIT STUDIES FOR HOMESCHOOL Dec 07, 2021

Show notes

Want to light your children's enthusiasm for science, history, and language arts? Structure a UNIT STUDY around the topics they are already crazy about, and you'll naturally draw them into the learning. In this episode, DeeDee and Ximena interview Sara Jordan, a homeschool mom who loves creating and using literature-based unit studies. Learn how to create your own unit studies and how to use them alongside or as a break from your regular curriculum. Find out if your kids would love this approach, and if yes, adapt Sara's brilliant (yet so simple) interest inventory notebook to get started.

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★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at bookshark.com. Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com.
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TIMESTAMPS
03:47 How Sara became a homeschooler.

06:25 Sara defines unit studies.

07:43 How unit studies motivate kids to enjoy learning.

11:50 Ximena gives an example of an American Girl unit study.

12:57 More benefits of unit studies.

14:28 How to get out of the way and trust the process when it comes to homeschooling with unit studies.

15:29 How to handle math with a unit study approach.

22:11 Unit studies are great for inquisitive kids who like to direct their own learning.

23:39 Tips for crafting unit studies. Get FREE literature-based unit studies at BookShark (for subscribers).

27:34 How to use unit studies alongside or as a break from your regular curriculum.

28:09 The value of a well-stocked home library.

29:43 A typical day of homeschooling with unit studies.

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If you'd like to share an aha moment, an inspirational quote, a homeschool hack, a book you're loving, or a suggested podcast topic/guest, leave a comment at bookshark.com/podcast. We'd love to feature your reflection on a future episode.

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