Giving up the golden years to parent grandkids is tough, but it is quickly becoming more commonplace. Join me, as I interview Kathy Modeen, a mother of three and grandmother of five. Kathy left the quiet life of retirement to raise her granddaughter. Kathy tenderly shares her experience fighting the public school system and ultimately bringing her granddaughter home to homeschool. Join us on Kathy's wild and beautiful ride from school to homeschool in her golden years!

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How do I plan for the upcoming year now that we have been at this for a while? In this episode, I explain my process as I plan for the upcoming year.

Water Colors

Mixed Media Art Paper--pack of 3

"The Presidential" Board Game

"Constitution Quest" Board Game

Big Rocks Video by Stephen Covey

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Welcome back to Season Two of the School to Homeschool podcast! We kick off with an incredibly insightful conversation with Dr. Corey DeAngelis, a leading advocate for school choice and a familiar face from Fox News. Corey shares his extensive background in education policy and research, revealing the long-term benefits of school choice, including crime reduction. He also discusses his personal educational journey, including his experience at a magnet school in San Antonio, Texas, and critiques the flawed system of assigning schools based on residential addresses. As Corey anticipates the birth of his first child, his passion for educational freedom becomes even more urgent and personal.

This episode also explores the shifting education landscape due to the pandemic, highlighting the rise of homeschooling, private schools, and charter schools as families push back against indoctrination and curriculum misalignments. We examine the increasing tension between parents and school boards, the controversial actions of the National School Boards Association, and the FBI's response to parental protests. Corey passionately argues for the importance of treating parents as partners in their children's education and the benefits of reallocating education funding to better suit individual student needs.

We then address the future of school choice, focusing on the rise of homeschooling and alternative education models during COVID-19, and the significant impact of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). Corey discusses the opposition from teachers' unions and the potential implications of widespread school choice adoption, including increased government regulation on homeschooling. We conclude by emphasizing the power of parental pushback, the importance of parental control in education, and the transformative potential of school choice to foster educational freedom and quality. Listen in to hear about the Parent Revolution and how it continues to inspire and empower families in their educational journeys.

The Parent Revolution by Dr. Corey DeAngelis

Mediocrity by Connor Boyack & Dr. Corey DeAngelis

Corey A. DeAngelis is a senior fellow at the American Federation for Children and a visiting fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. He has been labeled the “school choice evangelist” and called “the most effective school choice advocate since Milton Friedman.” He is a regular on Fox News and frequently appears in The Wall Street Journal. DeAngelis is also the executive director at Educational Freedom Institute, a senior fellow at Reason Foundation, an adjunct scholar at Cato Institute, and a board member at Liberty Justice Center. He holds a Ph.D. in education policy from the University of Arkansas. He is the author of The Parent Revolution: Rescuing Your Kids from the Radicals Ruining Our Schools

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Let's talk technology and kids! Join me as I welcome back, Tamara Strijack, Author, Clinical Counselor, Academic Dean of the Neufeld Institute, and daughter of world renowned attachment psychologist, Dr. Gordon Neufeld (author of Hold Onto Your Kids). In this, Tamara discusses technology and kids...what do we do??!!

Hold Onto Your Kids on Audible

Hold Onto Your Kids Paperback

Reclaiming Our Students by Tamara Strijack

Learn More about the Work of Tamara Strijack

Learn More about The Neufeld Institute

Resources for Parents from The Neufeld Institute: Home Education Resources

The Neufeld Institute Events Information

The Neufeld Institute Newsletter

**Tamara Strijack is a Registered Clinical Counselor. Tamara has worked with children and adolescents in various roles over the last twenty-five years. She is currently the Academic Dean of the Neufeld Institute, where she develops and delivers courses on child development for parents, teachers and helping professionals. She is a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and educator of counselors and educators in training. Tamara works primarily as a parent, and educational consultant, helping put adults back in the driver's seat in a way that facilitates growth and learning for the child. Connection, relationship and play continue to be central themes in all her roles, both personally and professionally. Tamara has two daughters and lives on the West Coast of Canada.

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So, you have spent the last several months deschooling, taking their hearts back, and all the things...now what? How do I add in more without getting overwhelmed? This episode is for you!

Myron Golden Clip

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Unlock the secrets of literary education with Adam Andrews from the Center for Lit and transform your homeschool experience. In this enlightening episode, Adam takes us on a journey through his and his wife Missy's creation of comprehensive literary resources designed to empower homeschool teachers. Learn how understanding the structure of literature, much like the layout of a menu or newspaper, can develop essential reading skills in children from an early age.

Discover the transformative power of the Socratic method in literature teaching, shifting the focus from expert-led lectures to structured, thought-provoking questions that foster independent analysis. Adam shares how this approach alleviates pressure on teachers and cultivates critical thinking in students, making it applicable to a wide range of texts, from children's books to classics like "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." This method not only helps students dive deeper into the text but also encourages them to uncover the underlying themes and meanings on their own.

Explore the profound impact literature has on education and personal growth, as Adam discusses how stories shape our minds, hearts, and souls. Through personal anecdotes and recommended readings for various age groups, we see how literature can help children navigate real-world challenges and develop empathy. Additionally, Adam shares effective strategies for fostering a love of reading in children, emphasizing the importance of integrating diverse, high-quality literature into daily life. Join us for this inspiring conversation that reaffirms the transformative power of a robust literary education and the invaluable role of parents in homeschooling.

Center For Lit Website

Teaching the Classics Seminar

An Experiment in Criticism by C. S. Lewis

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens

Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

Straw Into Gold by Gary D. Scmidt

All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLachlan (Author), Mike Wimmer (Illustrator)

A Bargain for Frances by Russell Hoban (Author), Lillian Hoban (Illustrator)

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Join me, as we explore the empowering journey from traditional schooling to homeschooling. Discover the vital role of play and imagination in early childhood education. We address common parental anxieties about early academics and highlight the benefits of imaginative play and outdoor activities for young children. Emphasizing a balanced approach, we discuss how play fosters bonding, creativity, and developmental growth, advocating for a more holistic view of early education.

In our conversation about the impact of technology on imagination, we uncover how boredom can be a powerful catalyst for creativity in children. We also provide practical tips for encouraging imaginative play, drawing on research and expert opinions, and share personal experiences to support children in unlocking their creative potential. Join us as we embrace boredom and spark creativity for both children and adults.

Free to Learn by Dr. Peter Gray

Scholastic: The Importance of Pretend Play

Ignite Your Child's Inspiration by Dr. Nicole Beurkens

The Need for Pretend Play in Child Development by Dr. Dorothy Singer & Dr. Jerome

Miracle Recreation: The Importance of Imagination in Child Development

Tips For Building a Child's Imagination: Dr. Susan Irvine

Mayo Clinic Health System: Boost Your Brain with Boredom by Dr. Ashok Seshardri:

10 Simple Activities to Boost Your Imagination

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Join me in this enlightening episode as I sit down with Andrew Pudewa, the founder and director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing, to explore the cultivation of language arts from preschool through high school. We begin by breaking down the broad and often overwhelming concept of "language arts" into its core components: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Andrew shares an insightful conversation with a school superintendent, highlighting the overlooked importance of teaching listening and speaking skills--emphasizing how a child's vocabulary and language skills are shaped by the quality of language they are exposed to.

Listen in as we discuss the critical role of listening skills in early childhood development, using tools like classical music and reading aloud. We explore the benefits of exposing children to short, instrumental pieces and picture books to enhance their language skills and musical literacy. Moving on to the topic of reading readiness, we address the pitfalls of early reading education in the United States and advocate for a phonics-based approach, drawing inspiration from successful educational practices in Scandinavian countries.

Finally, we shift our focus to the developmental stage of elementary-aged children and teenagers, highlighting the importance of reading aloud, poetry memorization, and teaching English composition and writing skills. We discuss the value of engaging children in activities like drama, speech, and debate to develop their grammar and logic skills. The episode concludes with a conversation on providing teenagers with meaningful responsibilities and encouraging mixed-age interactions to enhance their learning. For homeschooling parents, Andrew offers wisdom and encouragement, reassuring them of their positive impact on their children's education.

Institute for Excellence in Writing

Free Lesson Sample from Institute for Excellence in Writing

Free Poetry Unit Sample from Institute for Excellence in Writing

National History Day

STOA Christian Homeschool Speech and Debate

NCFCA Christian Speech & Debate League

Online Latin: Pictadicta

Memoria Press: Classical Christian Curriculum

Classical Academic Press: Latin for Children

Poetry Alive

Abridged Classics for Kids

The Fallacy Detective: Thirty-Eight Lessons on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning Paperback by Nathaniel Bluedorn, Hans Bluedorn

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