Homeschooling Outside the Box

Over the next few months I’m going to break down each subject and look at how we study it and what our favorite resources are. Our family adheres to Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of education. To truly understand how to teach each subject, check out my series on Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles. Hymn study is one of those easy to neglect subjects. We write it off as unnecessary because we feel it’s either archaic or something that belongs in church (that is if your church still sing hymns. I hope you’re blessed to be at a church that does). But I encourage you to do hymn study with your kids. Singing has been a part of humanity for all of time and it’s only recently that we’ve consigned it to the “experts” and you really only hear people singing on stage or in church. Let’s sing in our homes, too. To sing is to be human. And what better to sing than the hymns? Read more and find links on my Substack

I’m big on philosophy when it comes to education but at some point we need to stop thinking and discussing and actually do the thing. This is the nuts and bolts of it all. How do we actually homeschool? What is the super practical application of the beautiful Charlotte Mason Philosophy? If your child is under 6, get all thoughts of curriculum shopping out of your head and commit to these three things instead: Read great books, Go outside, Work on habits. (Trust me). That said, sometimes we are so excited about homeschooling, we just want to take it out on someone (i.e. your oldest child). If that’s you, consider this. ;) If your child is school aged or high school aged, decide if you want to rely on an all-in-one curriculum like Ambleside Online or Simply Charlotte Mason, or if you’d like to piece it together for yourself. Figure out what you want to teach each child (individual work) and what you can combine (group work, aka Morning Time). Or flip these if that makes more sense for you. Use a planner of some sort to help you stay organized. If you are putting together your own curriculum, plan your year/term/week (this podcast breaks this down). Decide where these things will fit in your day (routine). Cut the fat (we always want to do too much; make Margin now or regret it later). Make your list and collect the curriculum and supplies you’ll need (Borrow, bargain-hunt, or buy). Pick a start date. I suggest a Wednesday, not a Monday. You can also ease in and start Morning Time only on Monday, add individual readings on Tuesday, shoot for full day on Wednesday or whatever works best for your family. Make start day fun — cook a big delicious breakfast and take “back to school” pictures afterwards. Adjust the plan as needed. Remember, curriculum is a tool, not the master ;) Resources* All six of Charlotte Mason’s volumes, but especially this one Sarah Mackenzie’s Teaching from Rest Ambleside Online is a time-tested, all-in-one (FREE!) curriculum Morning Time by Cindy Rollins Simply Charlotte Mason, especially the podcast and the curriculum builder The Lifegiving Home by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Clarkson Modern Miss Mason, especially her book Wild + Free, especially their conference, content bundles, and this book Get Started Homeschooling: Begin Get Started Homeschooling: Methods, Teaching Space & Routine Get Started Homeschooling: Subjects to Teach & Curriculum to Choose Get Started Homeschooling: Organizing & Planning Essential Rhythms for Busy Days Homeschool Rhythms: Get Ready Homeschool Rhythms: Rest Time Homeschool Rhythms: Reading Aloud Homeschool Rhythms: Individual Work Homeschool Rhythms: Group Work Homeschool Rhythms: Narrations Homeschool Rhythms: Morning Time On Starting Well On Littles (for those with children age 6 and under) On Education On Principles 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15: The Curriculum Issue On Rhythms & Routines ***The (Very Updated) Get Started Homeschooling Guide *** If you get stuck, email/message me to find out more about my private or group consultations to help you plan your homeschool year. Thank you for reading. I offer forever-free articles on my Substack every month and a paid monthly resource, as well. You can become a paid subscriber to support my work. If that’s not for you right now, shared links are the best way for others to find my work. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and share :).  

I am not doing interviews right now, but I want to bring you some great talks from past seasons. Enjoy!   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. SHOW NOTES Betsy’s Instagram account, Homeschooling_with the Classics

If you’re just at the beginning of the high school years, it may feel like the end is still far off but I warn you, the ball sure does start rolling quickly once it starts. The end is nigh, my friend. You’ve been working yourself out of a job and when you make it to the high school years, and you should begin to feel that change. It sounds somber to call it “the end,” but remember it’s just the end of a chapter and not the whole book. You’re still your teen’s parent, after all ;). As I said in a past article, 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, driver’s license, 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. All of these things require the same thing: more time. A wise woman once told me when our kids were young that you really only have until they are fifteen. To do what, I was never quite sure, but now that we’re beyond that benchmark I know what she meant. Your role as a parent and educator changes. Your impact, though still felt, is felt in a different capacity. Your child’s world broadens and though you are likely still the most prominent voice — and should be — you are not the only one. There is a definite shift around this age as teens grapple for autonomy and understanding of who they are and how they fit in this world. They begin to look for purpose outside of your home. 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. The long, leisurely days of family read alouds and afternoons spent on nature walks may start to disappear from your schedule if you’re not intentional. And let’s be honest, even if you are intentional, there just won’t be as much time for them as there used to be. Read more on Substack Follow me on Instagram Check out my Website for archives and more

I am not doing interviews right now, but I want to bring you some great talks from past seasons. Enjoy! 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. 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. It’s hard to remember, but there was a time before Audible ;). 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. 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” (You know how I love poetry) why these timeless tales are so important to us today

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 Bryn Hogan. 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   Show Notes Autism Treatment Center of America® Finding Your New Normal What is the Son-Rise Program®? Autism Breakthrough: The Groundbreaking Method That Has Helped Families All Over the World  (affiliate link) Son-Rise Miracle of Love DVD The Son-Rise Program Social Curriculum (Developmental Model) How to Get Started  Autistic Logistics (affiliate link) The Son-Rise Program® Online

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

This is the crux of it all. 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. Read more on Substack Follow me on Instagram Check out my Website for archives and more

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   Show Notes Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) Suzuki Method Andrew’s “Nurturing Competent Communicators” Talk Sarah Mackenzie and the Read-Aloud Revival “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer The Arts of Language Podcast

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. So why bother? Follow me on Substack Follow me on Instagram

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 What we're reading right now How to balance it all...or not ;) How to be a Wild + Free mama Show Notes Wild + Free Website Wild + Free Holidays The Call of the Wild + Free Book

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. Read and subscribe on Substack. Connect with me on Instagram.

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. Click here to enjoy December Everything. Merry Christmas to you and yours, Cindy Rinna Read and subscribe on Substack

Principle 18 & 19: The Way of the Reason 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. Read it on Substack and see all the links

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.”

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. 

Principle 9 & 10: How We Make Use of Mind “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?

Cindy Rollins homeschooled her nine children for over thirty years. She is the host of The New Mason Jar podcast and a co-host with Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks of the popular Literary Life Podcast. She also curates the “Over the Back Fence Newsletter” at MorningTimeForMoms.com. She is the author of Mere Motherhood; Morning Time: A Liturgy of Love; Hallelujah: Cultivating Advent Traditions with Handel’s Messiah; The Literary Life Commonplace books, and Mere Motherhood Newsletters. 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 The importance of poetry Tips for the high school years with teen guys Ideas for a Charlotte Mason Sunday School How to connect with Cindy SHOW NOTES Find Cindy online Join Cindy’s Patreon Be sure to subscribe to my Substack to be notified of new articles. Follow me on Instagram. 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.

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.  Be sure to subscribe to my Substack to see all the links and be notified of new articles. You can also follow along right here on my podcast as well as on my Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review :).

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. You can also follow along on my podcast, Homeschooling Outside the Box, and my Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review :).