Spotlight On Home's podcast

A very special episode with our friends Matt & Colleen from The Tired Christian Parents Podcast   Listen in to this episode and get to take a peek inside another families homeschool life, it's so much fun to see all the variety & different flavors that are available in each homeschool. If you want to hear more from Colleen & Matt, you can reach them @TiredChristianParents on gab and all other platforms the podcast is Tired Christian Parents and they can be reached at tiredchristianparents@protonmail.com and you can check out their home church that they mentioned wrightfarmhousechurch.com   For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered.   

Today we share with you the four C's of homeschooling.  They are a great guide to helping not only your student's, but also you, by coming along side to and give them the fullest ands safest education experience possible. These practices will aid in fostering the life long learner spirit in your child.  Curiosity Compassion Calm Confidence  For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered.

What is the best curriculum? What curriculum do you use? These are common questions among homeschoolers. We put a lot of pressure on the curriculum to be perfect and when it's not- we blame ourselves or think homeschooling is just not for us.   We want to offer you this thought- There is no perfect curriculum, only the curriculum you make perfect. Want to learn how? Listen in to this week's podcast as we take a deep dive into this concept.  For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered. 

Listen in as we share with you what we  do as busy parents  of 8 kids. Take what works for you- leave the rest! You'll want to listen to this, especially if you are overwhelmed and feeling like you can't homeschool & manage your home. I'll teach you the systems we use in our home to make sure everything gets done without drama. If you want more help and take the work deeper, grab The Homeschool Moms' Survival Kit that Katie put together in her business, Health Wellness & Chocolate. You can grab that Here: https://www.healthwellnessandchocolate.com/pl/209785

As parents, one of our jobs is to train a habit of teaching our children how to “see” in their world details which lead to wonder. It's so important in this day and age to put aside the hurry and learn how to notice details. This is a skill that will serve them in every aspect of their lives. Listen in and learn how to create a home atmosphere that's leads to seeing and wonder in everyday life.  For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered. 

My friend and mentor Lisa, told me about a tradition called “Christmas School”  that she did every year with her children. Listen in for some fun ideas of “doing school” and incorporating all the fun activities of the season into school for your children. History, science, fine arts, language arts, world cultures, composers, Bible History, and more are all incorporated into “Christmas School”.   Join us for some fun ideas and recipes to get you in the holiday spirit and away from the textbooks! Some of the homeschool resources we mention are:   Color The Classics Exploring Nature With Children: Advent Handels Messiah   For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered. 

The season has started, ready or not! Homeschool offers you the unique opportunity to stop and smell the poinsettias. Take your kids this season and look at your traditions.  Talk about why you do them, what they like about them, or maybe what they don't like about them. Maybe you don't really have any and need to start some, or maybe you have too many and need to drop some to keep the sanity or make room for something more beneficial. We discuss our journey down the christmas tradition road to get to know us. Please feel free to share some of your wins or even holiday losses.  You never know who may need to hear it, maybe it just might be you! For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered.  Get on the waitlist for the Spotlight On Home Membership site and become a founding member once the doors open: https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534132

It's the busiest time of year and your family still needs to eat nourishing food, regardless of what comes up each day. Listen in to this week's podcast for some quick weeknight meal ideas as well as our favorite apps & websites for meal ideas too.  www.raddishkids.com www.emeals.com www.therealfooddietitians.com For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered.  Get on the waitlist for the Spotlight On Home Membership site and become a founding member once the doors open: https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534132

"Defending Your Decision To Homeschool" Cheat Sheet https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147550383 It's that time of year again! Holiday dinners can be a time of warm embrace or a point of contention.  From politics to religion and now, throw in something totally untraditional like homeschooling, there is no end to the possible crazy responses that can come from loved ones.  We have compiled a list of stats on the podcast and some links here in the notes to help you defend your decision to choose to be a homeschooled family.   Stats for this podcast came from https://www.calverteducation.com/should-i-homeschool/top-5-reasons-parents-homeschool-kids#make-a-change-from-a-negative-school-environment And also the HSLDA Negative environment reasons: https://responsiblehomeschooling.org/research/summaries/reasons-parents-homeschool/ https://www.stopbullying.gov/bullying/effects#bullied https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/06/10/incidents-of-school-crime-and-violence-on-the-rise-for-students-and-teachers Higher quality education https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2187198-college-career-readiness-survey.html https://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/07/27/survey-most-profs-find-hs-grads-unready-for-college-or-work.aspx https://www.nheri.org/research-facts-on-homeschooling/ https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2009/stress-exec-summary.pdf We hope this podcast finds you all well this Thanksgiving.  God Bless! For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered.  Get on the waitlist for the Spotlight On Home Membership site and become a founding member once the doors open: https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534132

  Starting to go through your to do list as Thanksgiving approaches and wondering how you can get school done and prep for Thanksgiving? Join Chris & Katie this week as they share with you some fun ideas to incorporate Thanksgiving preparations into school. Science, literature, math, history, handwriting, spelling, home economics, interior decorating and handcrafts can all be covered with these tips & you'll get all your Thanksgiving prep work accomplished as well. For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered. 

What happens when life goes sideways and you still have kids that need to learn, housework that still needs to be done and hungry people looking to eat? Believe it or not- there are some very strategic things that you can put in place to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Life will get crazy sometimes, plan on it & lets go over some tools to help you get ahead of the curve so that you aren't taken by surprise.  In this episode, we'll introduce the concept of Floors & Ceilings (minimum baselines) and walk you through a quick process to begin eliminating your overwhelm. For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered.  Get on the waitlist for the Spotlight On Home Membership site and become a founding member once the doors open: https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534132

Deciding to homeschool can be met with so many unknowns and insecurities. You may ask yourself questions like: What if my homeschooled kid can't get into college? Or What if there are gaps in their education? Does my homeschool need to be accredited? Or I'm not qualified to homeschool advanced math or latin. Or What about socialization? Will my child have any friends if I decide to homeschool them and  have access to extracurricular activities? So many misconceptions crop up when you consider homeschooling. Listen in and let's deconstruct some of these myths and set the record straight. This episode will leave you feeling confident in your decision to homeschool.  For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered. 

Fathers- it is your responsibility actually!  As fathers we can slip into relinquishing all the responsibility of homeschooling to your wife. That would be a poor approach speaking as a man, to other men. Moms need to know they can ask for the support they deserve without worrying they are asking too much. After all, “happy wife happy life”, am I right? Chris does a special episode talking to dads to encourage them to step up to the plate and deliver. Chris will go over specific tactics for working or remote fathers to directly encourage and foster a connection with his homeschooled kids and empower his wife.  For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered. 

Many homeschools fail to thrive because as parents, we often feel like we have to spoon feed educational opportunities to our children. That creates such a huge burden! We'll give you some tips on how to create an environment that is naturally rich in educational opportunities to allow learning naturally without so much effort from you. Plus-  There are easy ways to check in as you aim for success in your homeschool. Listen in to todays' episode as we give you some questions to ask yourself to help you evaluate how your year is going so far.  For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered. 

Being with our children and pouring into them is a privilege. At the end of the day, make sure you've invested into the relationships that God has given to you. Schedule a quiet time to seek God and learn His wisdom & will for your life. Make sure that you communicate to your children that being with them is not drudgery but enjoyable and a blessing. Remember, raising children who grew up knowing that they were loved unconditionally makes the best adult, regardless of vocation! For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered.

Homeschooling is a marathon, not a sprint. In This Podcast Episode we discuss how to  Give yourself grace to do your best but don't strive for perfection. Build margin into your school schedule for down time and days off Can you hire support such as a cleaning person 1/month? Write Down Your NUTS and learn what to do with them! For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered. 

Our daughters would volunteer at a local historical farm and give tours to public school kids during the school year.They learned so much and they also benefited by this experience. What opportunities are available to you because the kids are home during the day? Often beaches, museums, tourist sites are reduced in price once school starts and it's the "off season"- take advantage of that! If you have a high school aged child, look for service. opportunities in their area of interest with local businesses. My friend's daughter volunteered with a local vet, another with a midwife For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered. 

Make sure you have a plan to organize your homeschool books, curriculum and school materials because it can take over your house! In this podcast episode we share tips on where to put all this homeschool stuff! Bookshelves, plastic bins, a cleaned out cabinet are all places where our homeschool stuff sits during the week. Acquire a library card if you don't have one yet. Not only will you save money on books but often libraries have passes to local attractions. For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered. 

Homeschooling can be very lonely- make sure you build a tribe In this podcast episode we discuss what quality connections look like and how to avoid loneliness and make sure everyone gets enough socialization. Join the Spotlight On Home Membership https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534132  for community & support as well as fun monthly classes so you can grow & learn too! Co-ops are a great way to meet other moms as well as offer opportunities for field trips and other group experiences. For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered. 

So much learning can happen within the walls of your home naturally. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, board games, free play time, quiet reading time matters just as much as structured school lessons. What time do you want to start school? This will vary based on the ages of your children. Length of school days will vary based on age as well. Make sure you plan for nature studies and outside time. For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered.

Now is the perfect time to look at your goals and curriculum choice and begin to look at your year as an overview I plan my field trips around the history time period we chose- for example, if we study early American History we'll plan a trip to Philadelphia. Look around to see what is interesting near you and can tie into the time period you are learning about. Consider major life events, moving, new baby, construction Consider your energy level & personality- avoid burnout For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered. 

The Ultimate Guide To Homeschooling by Deborah Bell is my favorite book to recommend for new homeschoolers. She'll guide you with the different curriculum philosophies and help you understand which style you are drawn to. Consider your budget, time, energy level and your own abilities along with your child's interest and learning styles. Don't try to recreate school. It's unnatural and unnecessary. For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered. 

Write a Vision/ Purpose Statement For Your Homeschool Consider the Vision/ Purpose Statement bumpers for your time, activities, goals and focus. Ask yourself, what do I want my children to remember about me & their home life? What skills, character traits do you want to impart to them before they graduate? How do you wish you were taught? How do you envision the day to day activities of your life? All these answers should shape your vision statement. For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered. 

Learn The Homeschool Laws For Your State Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states in the USA. But the homeschool Laws do vary by state. Check HSLDA for specific laws by state Learn how to legally remove your children from public school- HSLDA will provide guidance for you http://www.askpauline.com is a great site to visit for samples of Pennsylvania requirements For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered. 

In this podcast, Chris & Katie Corbett, 11 year homeschool veterans to their 8 children,  introduce themselves along with their new adventure, The Spotlight On Home Podcast- Together they answer  questions such as “Is homeschooling even legal?” “How do You Homeschool Multiple Grades at Once?” “What Is The Best Curriculum To Use?” “How do I keep from feeling overwhelmed?” “What about socialization?” and so much more. For more helpful tips, download the free pdf “10 Tips To Begin Homeschooling Now” https://www.spotlightonhome.com/pl/2147534042  which will save you hours of time researching the answers to these questions and more. This is the place to get your homeschool parenting questions answered.