OnlySchoolers

Helping You Homeschool

Season 1

Money Can’t Buy Happiness… But School Supplies are Pretty Close

Money Can’t Buy Happiness… But School Supplies are Pretty Close

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Can’t buy me love…but I’ll take a black Ticonderoga pencil! Join Gina and Christyn as they talk school supply shopping with a twist…homeschool-style. From traditional supplies to teacher supplies to those “Are you sure THIS is a school supply?” supplies, they offer their best ideas for this summertime rite of passage that, yes, homeschoolers can have, too.

1:25 — Gina and Christyn invite you to submit your burning homeschool questions for the October 15 episode

2:07 — One of Christyn’s first questions as a homeschooler was “Do I still get to shop for school supplies?”

3:00    Homeschool supplies look different from traditional school supplies

3:44 — Three categories of supplies
1) Traditional supplies
2) Teacher supplies
3) Untraditional, magic-making supplies

4:37 — TRADITIONAL SUPPLIES. 
Public school supply lists make a good jumping-off point

5:22 — Add some fun to your homeschool by creating your own supply list, or download the one from the OnlySchoolers Patreon page

8:53 — Get stuff you and your kids enjoy using, the brands you like, and involve your child as much as possible in getting the homeschool space ready

10:05 — TEACHER SUPPLIES
Make your job as educational facilitator easy with unique-to-you supplies

11:50 — Christyn’s favorite teacher supplies are staplers, 3-hole punch, printer, and laminator

13:01 — Gina likes writing utensils: black Ticonderoga pencils, fine-point pens, and a good pencil sharpener

14:05 — MAGIC-MAKING SUPPLIES
These are untraditional supplies and include anything you want to use to bring delight to your homeschool — think way outside the box to add these unique supplies

15:25 — Can include annual zoo memberships, magazine subscriptions, board games, craft or cooking subscription boxes, etc. Just decide what fits and will be good for your homeschool this particular academic year

15:45 — Christyn thinks this is the most vital category for anyone homeschooling an only because it can be a good way to break up the routine

16:20 — Gina likes conservation magazines, Highlights, video subscriptions

18:12 — Christyn’s picks (after trying out pretty much everything!) are zoo membership,  Highlights Top Secret Adventure packets, Universal Yums snack boxes, KidStir cooking box, and board games

21:00 — Board games are a fun way to take a break and continue to build skills. Download Christyn’s top picks and a fill-in-the-blank PDF for your own school year fun.

21:49 — Gina includes Snap Circuits and Lego kits as school supplies

22:15 — The door is wide open when it comes to homeschool supplies because everything can be a school supply. Each homeschool is an educational experience unique to your child so use anything you can get your hands on!

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Come to the Fair: Finding Your Homeschool Groups

Come to the Fair: Finding Your Homeschool Groups

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There’s nothing like a fair to bring a lot of fun together in a single package. Grab a cotton candy or corndog and join Gina and Christyn as they talk about how homeschool groups and activities can be just like going to the fair — and be just as much fun!

2:04 — A fair always has food and drinks for nourishment, games and rides for fun and thrills, and exhibit halls for learning.

2:28 — Homeschool groups bring those same elements together to create a rich learning environment for homeschool kids

3:47 — Organized groups are the “nourishment” for the homeschool fair. Gina talks about how groups work for homeschoolers, and the particular role they serve for onlyschoolers — those of us homeschooling only children

5:03 — There are lots of options for homeschool groups: national, local, online. Gina and Christyn talk about the different groups and the benefits and expectations

9:17 — Homeschool can be overwhelming and it’s reassuring to have a group of people to turn to as an easy resource

10:25 — Find a group that supports you and your beliefs, where you and your children will be comfortable.

11:00 — Homeschool Activities are the best part of the group — like the fun and thrill of fair rides

12:00 — Kids involved in homeschool activities don’t miss out on the “traditional” activities afforded to public/private school kids — we’ve got all the same stuff!

12:25 — Gina talks about the local group’s Teen Club

13:20 — Christyn talks about other homeschool activities, outside of a homeschool organization, such as scouting troops and youth choirs

14:45 — Gina discusses the role community organizations, such as YMCA or Parks & Rec can contribute to homeschool activities, such as ice skating and swim lessons

15:27 — Homeschool activities are great for providing team opportunities, especially for only children. Gina talks about Wyatt’s pairs skating and Christyn discusses September’s synchronized skating teams

18:15 — There are many ways to make the team thing happen for homeschoolers: volleyball, softball, basketball, local theater groups — or start your own special interest group!

19:26 — Homeschoolers are in a unique position to see opportunities for groups or teams outside the traditional school setup

19:52 — After the nourishment of groups, and the fun and thrills of homeschool activities, it’s time to take a turn around the Exhibit Hall: which means finding the opportunity for your homeschool child to learn something…and not always from you

21:00 — Christyn talks about using tutors from local universities for September’s French lessons, as well as utilizing online classes for learning

23:35 — Gina talks about homeschool co-ops, which are a good way to outsource some learning

25:35 — There’s a wide variety in the classes a co-op can offer; you can never predict what a parent might want to teach in a group setting. Co-op classes could include creative writing, dissections, cake decorating, craft upcycling, and first aid certification

27:00 — Homeschooling is probably the most fun you’ll ever have, especially if you do it with a group of friends

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Five Minutes on the Fifth Thursday: Book Lists

Five Minutes on the Fifth Thursday: Book Lists

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So…we lied…it’s really about 7 minutes, but hey — we were talking about books and book lists! And really, five — or even seven minutes — is not nearly long enough to talk books!

Take a listen to hear about how we use book lists and which authors/books are not our favorites.

1:06 — Christyn likes to use book lists to find new reads, especially when she can’t get to the library to browse shelves

1:41 — Anne Vogel at  “Modern Mrs. Darcy” (blog/podcast) curates awesome lists that Christyn always browses through. Currently, Christyn is reading food memoirs and accompanying food-fiction novels.

2:25 — Favorite recent memoir read was A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter by William Deresiewicz

2:33 — Gina likes to look at booklists for new or never-heard-of-before books

3:10 — Right now, Gina’s reading mostly classics that she missed before and some non-fiction

3:43 — Gina’s 10% rule: Read that much of a book and if the story or writing doesn’t grab you, stop reading and find something else!

4:00 — We discuss our least-favorite authors and/or book titles

6:22 — Links to some of our favorite booklists
Books in translation
Food memoirs
Jane Austen-inspired

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Permission Granted: Make Your Homeschool Make Sense for You

Permission Granted: Make Your Homeschool Make Sense for You

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Join Gina and Christyn for part two of their July series about declaring homeschool independence. In this episode, they invite you to take the next step and embrace the freedom of homeschooling. Make the choices that make sense for YOUR family — permission granted!

1:48 — Christyn and Gina talk about the moments they each embraced their freedom as a parent to make the decisions that made sense to them and their children

6:25 — Three areas of homeschool freedom. You have permission to:
1) Decide what classes are best for your children
2) Prioritize activities over classes when planning your schedule
3) Make homeschool rules that fit your family

7:07 — Permission Slip 1: Gina reminds us we want our kids to grow into independent adults and letting them choose their classes is a great way to practice that skill

8:44 — There is no magic cocktail of classes that guarantees educational success

9:14 — Gina keeps the learning concrete, tied to the real world, and fosters the desire to engage with that world

10:08 — Christyn helps her daughter take ownership of her education and feel connected to her studies

11:10 — Two experienced homeschool moms gave Christyn the spark of homeschool freedom and gave her permission to drop an unnecessary subject

14:05 — Permission Slip 2: Gina explains why sometimes you might need to prioritize outside activities over schoowork and how it works for her son

16:00 — Christyn gives examples for how it looks for her daughter’s schedule

17:20 — Be mindful of ALL the things that create a unique education for your child

17:51 — Permission Slip 3: Create the rules that make sense for your homeschool

18:25 — Some homeschool philosophies come with “rules” but there’s not a lot of freedom for individuals there and it can make you feel out of sorts

19:39 — Christyn talks about her “no rules for screentime” rule

21:42 — Gina discusses her philosophy about daily reading limits

23:00 — Gina offers a bonus permission slip: you don’t need approval from family or friends for how you manage your homeschool

24:15 — Embrace the freedom of homeschool but always remember your responsibility to honor the heart and soul of the kids entrusted to your care

24:49 — You have permission to create an educational environment that nourishes your family and allows them to grow

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Homeschool Independence: Make It Your Own

Homeschool Independence: Make It Your Own

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It’s July and that means backyard BBQs, watermelon, and fireworks! Join Gina and Christyn as they explore the idea of homeschool independence and offer a few ideas on how you can take the step to declaring it for your own homeschool. No dumping tea into the harbor necessary!

TECHNICAL NOTE: We always work to provide you with a clear listening experience, but because of a weird technical issue, there is a bit of wonky audio from about the 2:41 mark through 3:14 — we promise it clears up!

3:56 — Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states; there are just different requirements and levels of state supervision

4:23 — This is a two-part series with the theme of how declaring homeschool independence and embracing the resulting freedom can transform your homeschool. It’s our best advice on how to make your homeschool your own!

4:57 — We all come to educational independence in different ways and our homeschools reflect that

6:17 — Consider the following as you declare independence:
1) What are your homeschool goals?
2) What is your homeschool style?
3) What is your homeschool’s focus?

6:49 — Step 1: Gina talks setting homeschool goals and talks about her personal goal of fostering family relationships

8:52 — Christyn’s goal is similar: to prioritize family time and build a family culture, and also includes developing a personalized education that accommodates asynchronous development

11:45 — In Marvel’s Endgame there are is only way to win out of over 14 million possibilities. Fortunately, that’s not the case in homeschool! Make your own choices from the over 14 million available to you!

13:05 — Step 2: Think about your homeschool style by setting aside what others are doing and seeing what actually works for you with this Homeschool Style Quiz from Homeschoolon.com

14:40 — Christyn discusses how she arrived at her eclectic homeschool style

16:27 — Gina discusses the road to her unschool-y style

18:22 — The process of allowing kids to take control of their education is a daunting part of declaring homeschool independence but it’s so exciting to watch it unfold

18:50 — Step 3: What is the focus of your homeschool? 

19:28 — Christyn’s focus: foster the understanding that learning is lifelong

21:37 — Gina’s focus is the same: focus on continuous learning and rise to the challenges that come along. Ignite and nurture that little spark of learning!

22:31 — How to light an educational sparkler

23:25 — To declare your homeschool independence, know what you want and what’s best for your family, then work toward creating that homeschool

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How Does Your Garden Grow?: Nurturing a Learning Environment

How Does Your Garden Grow?: Nurturing a Learning Environment

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It’s summertime in our area and gardens are growing! Join Gina and Christyn as they discuss a different kind of garden: the homeschool garden.

See how the same things that nurture a plant garden apply to educating your kids, allowing them to flourish. Go on…get your hands dirty!

1:10 — Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? Gardening as a metaphor for homeschool

2:06 — Homeschool garden basics
           1) Determine your garden type
           2) Figure out what you’re going to plant
            3) Think about what helps it grow
            4) Don’t forget about weeds and pests

2:46 — Just as there are different gardens, there are different kids. Each is unique and the differences are desirable. In homeschool, the “garden” is your child

4:00 — One home might have several different types of gardens.  

4:13 — There is no one right, perfect garden. Be honest with yourself and accept your child for who s/he is and work with that

4:53 — Christyn’s Canterbury Bells experience reminds her of her daughter’s strengths

7:00 — Gina embraces her son as a native wildflower garden and watches him flourish

8:00 — Love and nurture the “garden” you’ve got. Honor the heart and soul of the garden you’re entrusted with

8:40 — In homeschool, the “seeds” are the curriculum and educational activities you choose to plant. There’s a huge variety and you can’t include everything

9:19 — Christyn’s homeschool “seeds” that were planted, but didn’t take off

11:22 — The homeschool “seeds” that Gina rejected

13:38 — The beauty of homeschool is that it lets things bloom in their own time

13:50 — Christyn and Gina share examples of right gardens, right seeds, and flourishing kids

15:42 — The seeds need water, sunshine, and fertilizer to grow. It’s important to find the balance

16:49 — Water as the “work” of learning, necessary to germinate the curriculum seeds

18:10 — Sunshine and heat are essential; just balance the intensity so students don’t suffer. Include some downtime for the work of rest

19:20 — Add the “fertilizer” – the challenges and hardships that promote long-term growth

22:12 — Gina and Christyn talk about the various weeds and pests they’ve encountered in their homeschool gardens

24:39 — All the work of gardening leads to that moment after a good round of digging in the dirt where you step back and think, “Oh, yeah. That was worth the wait.”

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I Love It When a Plan Comes Together: Putting the Final Touches on a New School Year

I Love It When a Plan Comes Together: Putting the Final Touches on a New School Year

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One school year is winding down…and it’s just about time to start thinking about the next one! In Episode 5, Gina and Christyn help you think about ways to plan your school year. From Big Picture planning to the focus on details to fun tools and supplies, take a listen to see how you, too, can ”love it when a plan comes together.”

1:30 — Homeschool planning like The A-Team: “I love it when a plan comes together.”

2:50 — Three easy steps: Big Picture Planning, Nuts-and-Bolts focused planning, fun tools and supplies

3:02 — Christyn talks about using the “What’s next?” method of Big Picture Planning in elementary and junior high; high school is “What’s next?” times four!

4:21 — Gina’s planning technique is an organic process

6:41 — Two types of planning: 1) Big Picture Planning and 2) Focused Plans

9:00 — Plan high school accordingly. There are different needs for college-bound, trade school, or job-hunting

10:45 — Reconciling unschooling with structured planning

12:00 — When a plan goes differently, but ends up being better than you could have imagined

14:10 — When the nuts and bolts come together Christyn’s spiral notebook brain dump gets translated to a weekly planner Gina starts with calendar page print-offs, known dates, and scheduled events

18:00 — Plan for the integral parts of what your kid does (ice skating, choir, etc.)

18:30 — Planning for breaks gives you something to look forward to

21:35 — Tools of the trade: the fun stuff! Christyn: spiral notebook, PDF paper planner, PaperMate click-y pen, Bic Wite-Out Easy Correct tape

Gina: calendars, Me & My Big Ideas calendar planner and sticker, ultra-fine mechanical pencils

Don’t forget the black Ticonderoga pencils!

28:33 — Planning the Big Picture is good, but only schedule the details for one to two weeks at a time so there’s room for modification and flexibility

30:55 — Like all things homeschool, planning is personal and individual

31:31 — Planning a year of educating your child can feel incredibly overwhelming. Just take some easy steps to ensure you love the plan that comes together

31:44 — Our best advice:
1) Start with the Big Picture Planning
2) Move to smaller, focused bits – fill in the details as you go
3) Find fun tools you’ll actually use – it makes a difference!

32:38 — The plan you start with might not be the plan you finish with…but you can love it, anyway

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