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The Sociable Homeschooler — Kids & Family
The Sociable Homeschooler

Have you ever wondered how people just like you manage to homeschool their children and apparently love every moment of it? Are you ready to give up the formative years of your children’s lives to a stranger? Do you think homeschoolers are weird? Does the word, homeschool, bring to mind Birkenstocks, jumpers, and hairy legs? Honestly half my family fit the hairy leg stereotype…so who cares? I’m here to help you let go of any pre-conceived notions you may have about home educators. Forget all the excuses ever made under the sun for not homeschooling and listen to my show which is a generous mix of my life as the oxymoron, Sociable Homeschooler, international guests from all walks of life and light hearted views and comments about education and basements. I will also bend your ear with excerpts from my soon to be published book, also entitled, The Sociable Homeschooler, which chronicles many good causes for why my blue eyed cowboy and I chose to go off the deep end hand in hand with God and have everyone talking about us behind our backs and in the end winning them over. Come and be won over on Toginet Radio Live on Fridays, if only to get a weekly taste of Britain.

Latest Episodes:

Being the Change You Want to See in the World: Peter Kowalke Jul 27, 2012

Show notes

My guest this week is returning after more than a year, I am thrilled to welcome back Peter Kowalke, a self described, lifelong unschooler whose highly praised documentary “Grown Without Schooling” followed ten unschooled graduates into the world and recorded how they fared in their individual life choices. Peter lives in New York City and has consulted as a homeschool expert for media outlets such as the BBC, the New York Times and The Times of India. He has recently returned from a six month spiritual sojourn in Asia and he will be talking about the development and growth of his philosophies and spirituality while living in a monastery in India. As you will hear when you join us on Friday with your cuppa, Peter has a very solid sense of self, derived from his experiences as an unschooler. Come and have your thoughts provoked.

Overcoming Brain Fatigue: Julie Anderson Jul 20, 2012

Show notes

My returning guest this week is Julie Anderson, veteran homeschooler of 16 years with three boys who were the inspiration for her book, “Quickest Way to Insanity: Homeschool Your Kids.” She is a strong supporter of helping anyone she meets to reach their highest potential both in their business and their personal lives. How? By making the brain to personality connection. As homeschoolers we are fortunate to be able to modify our instruction to suit our children by finding out how they perform best. By nurturing their unique learning styles and gifted areas we can reduce brain fatigue and increase productivity. Julie has an extensive educational background covering natural health, psychology, brain function and much more and enjoys sharing her knowledge with homeschoolers and parents through workshops and keynote addresses. Check out her website www.yourbestmindonline and join us on Friday where we will talk about all things brain over a strong cup of tea.

From Etudes to Attitudes: Marcia Washburn Jul 13, 2012

Show notes

This week I am thrilled to welcome back Marcia Washburn who holds a Master’s in Music Education and taught public school music for eight years prior to the birth of the oldest of her five sons, whom she and her husband homeschooled in rural Colorado for nineteen years. During her last visit with me Marcia told us all about running a homeschooling workshop for the Shuar Indians in Ecuador. Today she is going to be telling us how we can include music in our homeschool curriculum without being particularly musical. Marcia is also writing a Management for Moms Series of e-books in which she covers hot topics such as obedience and discipline as well as housework and car mechanics not to mention the day-to-day parenting, educational, financial, and spiritual challenges we face as we keep our focus on God and his plan for our family’s legacy. Building tomorrow's generation is not for the faint hearted and Marcia, with her warmth and humour, will help us with the tools we need to build a firm foundation for our children that won’t crumble under pressure. Bring your tea on Friday and discover Beethoven Who? Family Fun with Music, Marcia Washburn's user friendly answer to teaching etudes and much, much more!

Exercise Your Parental Rights: Jennifer Foster Jul 06, 2012

Show notes

My guest this week is with me to talk about a very sensitive question, “When does protecting our children become snooping?” Jennifer Foster has a Doctorate in Education from the University of Pittsburgh and is the founder of Secret Drug Test. She provides information, advice and comforting support to families of drug addicted children through her blog, website, and a series of videos focusing on various aspects of dealing with drug addiction and ways to take action through testing. Jennifer lost her brother to drugs which has made her determined to help others who find they are dealing with the crisis within their home. Her mission is to provide the tools necessary for families to regain control of their lives and be empowered to take action. I know you will find Jennifer’s handling of this topic compassionate as we discuss how parents can prepare themselves to face their own children or minister to others in our community who are suffering from this unwelcome demon. Join us on Friday for a cup of tea and a discussion that will help us understand what our children may be facing in the future and how to combat the threats that may arise.

What is God Doing? Tricia Goyer Jun 29, 2012

Show notes

My guest this week homeschooled three of her children through high school and has one left to go! She writes books, lots of them and won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Her book, Life Interrupted, was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. She shares Jesus' love through volunteering as a mentor for teenage moms in her community, and ministering in the Czech Republic on regular missions trips where her daughter is currently serving. She lives in Little Rock, Arkansas with her family and the dog and once a week hosts a show called Living Inspired here on Toginet radio, Thursdays at 3pm CT. Tricia Goyer invites women everywhere to cast aside discouragement and fear to live real life, inspired! Join us this week for a cup of Earl Grey and a rich tea as we talk about finding out what God’s doing and linking arms with Him!

Sonlight: A Solid Homeschool Curriculum: Sarita Holzmann Jun 22, 2012

Show notes

Do you have a big picture of what education really is? How do you encourage your children to grow in their knowledge and compassion for the world? Have you discovered the ingredients for a solid homeschool curriculum? How do you unleash a passion for the written word? This week I am delighted to welcome back Sarita Holzmann as my guest. Sarita will answer these questions and many more while we explore the benefits of using a literature based curriculum in our homeschools to give our children the gift of lifelong learning. As the co-founder and president of Sonlight Curriculum she reads all the books that land on her desk before selecting the ones that eventually end up on your kitchen table! Come and join us this Friday as we compare notes over a nice cup of tea and a biscuit.

The Parent's Plate: Brenda Nixon Jun 15, 2012

Show notes

My guest this week is Brenda Nixon a fellow host here on Toginet radio. Her show airs on Tuesdays at 10am ET and is called The Parent's Plate. Brenda blends practical parenting tips with child development and is an unusual and popular keynote speaker at events and workshops in more than 10 states. She says she is a media fave on the NBC TV affiliate in Columbus, OH, the FOX TV affiliate in Kansas City, and Atlanta's Kevin & Taylor in the Morning on WFSH-FM. Speaking aside Brenda is also an author and penned the award winning book, THE BIRTH TO FIVE BOOK, as well as co-authoring A SCRAPBOOK OF CHRISTMAS FIRSTS. She is a contributor to 30 titles, including several in the New York Times best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Today she is going to empower your child rearing skills by offering insights and encouragement to everyone listening, so get yourself a cuppa and sit down!

A 2 Z Home's Cool: Ann Zeise Jun 08, 2012

Show notes

I’m talking to Ann Zeise this week who is returning, after a couple of years, with lots of news about her business, A 2 Z Home’s Cool. Ann homeschooled her son and when he graduated she took the journey from teacher of one to teacher of the world using her creativity to produce a comprehensive education site. Her son now works in her company and together they manage the 1,000 plus pages from her green home in California. Ann and I are going to be talking about new trends in homeschooling, her site and some of the ways she and her family have come up with to make the dollars stretch. Join me this week with a cuppa and together we’ll hit the high spots of Ann’s comprehensive website.

Don't Take the Brain Out of Homeschool: Julie Anderson Jun 01, 2012

Show notes

Do you ever wonder why when things get tough you inevitably get sick? How many times have you heard someone chide you by saying, “it’s the body’s way of slowing you down?” My guest this week will tell you that there’s enough evidence now to prove that when our brains are exhausted our immune system takes a dive. Julie Anderson is a survivor of marriage and 16 years of homeschooling whose experiences led her to write, “Quickest Way to Insanity: Homeschool Your Kids.” In her book she takes a refreshing, helpful and often irreverent look at the ins and outs of home education without sacrificing the brain in the process. Julie will answer some very critical questions like “why are some people so difficult to get on with?’ and “how can I be less stressed while giving my all to my children?” As a pubic speaker, business and homeschool consultant Julie has been lecturing on the brain personality connection for 11 years. Do yourself a favour and join me with a cup of tea on Friday for some encouraging words as you continue on, or are just beginning, your homeschooling journey and discover how to take the brain into consideration when choosing curriculum or the perfect ball and chain!

Brighton Park & Mr. Darcy: Katie Sullivan May 25, 2012

Show notes

My guest this week is Katie Sullivan M.S., SLP-CCC, a speech language pathologist with 17 years experience teaching both typical and atypical learners and 5 years experience homeschooling. Katie is the mother of 5 children, including twin boys with special needs. She is an avid homesteader and experienced crafter, who, thanks to her Mother, has more than 25 years experience in handicrafts, candlemaking and soapmaking, which she now teaches. Katie is currently pursuing a second Masters in History and French, and her library card always has the maximum amount of books checked out. She lives on a one acre homestead, with her husband, her own Mr. Darcy who grew up in England, and their 5 children, 3 dogs, 10 chickens, 8 ducks and 7 turkeys in the gorgeous Southwest. We are going to be talking about...a lot...travelling, sharing chores, gathering eggs, feeding chickens and her blog called BrightonParkBlog. Katie hopes, through her writings and our chat today, to encourage other parents of special needs children to realize that homeschooling can be an option for them and be successful when things are kept positive and encouraging. Come along and join us, with your tea and a little bit of apple tart to keep you going, this Friday.

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