podcast Archives - Simple Homeschool

7 Characteristics of a Charlotte Mason Education (UPDATED!)

Jamie C. Martin — Tue, 07 May 2024 14:32:00 +0000

7 Characteristics of a Charlotte Mason Education (UPDATED!) ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool

Welcome back to my newest Simple Homeschool series, in which I’m going back in time to share my thoughts as a retired homeschool mom after 15 years of active duty.

This month I decided to revisit this popular post from the very first year of Simple Homeschool; I wrote it in 2010!

Obviously I have a lot more experience and thoughts of my own to share now, so I’ve updated the post below with them. Look for the red headings to easily spot those.

Let’s learn a bit more about Charlotte Mason education together:

Prefer to listen instead?

*****

If you’ve been homeschooling for long, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Charlotte Mason.

Her educational principles, which she developed in 19th century England, offer much to home educating children and families alike.

But what exactly is a Charlotte Mason education? How can you know if it will work well for your family?

Use this overview to help you decide.

7 Characteristics of a Charlotte Mason Education

1. Habits

Charlotte believed that the development of good habits within a child provides the foundation for early education. She wrote, “The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days.”

For this reason Charlotte advised delaying formal academics until age six, instead advocating play and work within the gentle boundaries of the family unit.

Charlotte saw good habits as so crucial that she recommended putting all else aside if a bad habit appeared, and working with the child (in a friendly way) to reconcile the issue before it could develop further.

Jamie’s thoughts on habits today:

Keep in mind that Charlotte Mason worked with children in schools, and was not a mother herself. Please have no guilt if you find that instilling good habits in your children is a lifelong endeavor – it is!

I agree with the delay of formal academics (in most cases), and that is what worked well in our family. However, I can remember feeling guilt over the fact that my kids did have bad habits, and this can feel even heavier to those of us who have children with a variety of diagnoses and special needs.

Habits are a big priority, but they are not our ONLY priority. Success in this area can take a decade or more to observe!

2. Style of Lessons

Charlotte Mason style lessons are short, especially for young children. The goal is to train the child to focus fully on their work, but only for the amount of time they are developmentally capable of.

For early elementary-aged children this often means only 5-15 minutes per subject. In older grades the duration extends to 45 minutes or more.

Photo by D. Sharon Pruitt

When a child becomes restless, Charlotte advised changing the lesson to a different type of subject–maybe moving from handwriting to music study, or from math to handicrafts.

Short lessons means that more subjects can be incorporated into a school day. This fits with the Charlotte Mason philosophy of introducing many topics to children and allowing them to delve deeper into the ones that spark their interest.

Jamie’s thoughts on style of lessons today:

Yes! I 100% agree that short lessons are the best lessons, especially for littles, but boy did my Inner Taskmaster find it hard to stop without reaching the “official” end.

I felt like I didn’t get my closure and gold star! Looking back though, I would try to work with a timer/clock and mark where we leave off so we could return and begin the next time.

3. Living Books

Living books are the opposite of textbooks–quality literature (either fiction or non-fiction) written by an author with a passion for the topic. The writer’s passion and expertise breathes life into the book, as opposed to a textbook that gives impersonal overviews of many topics.

Living books present inspiring stories that engage the minds of children and adults alike, providing characters our children can look up to and emulate.

Jamie’s thoughts on living books today:

Yes, especially for younger ages, living books are the way to go! However, for those of us with a proclivity toward insecurity, please remember that this does NOT mean that you must only choose books that are 100 years old or were on Charlotte’s official reading list.

You’re looking for books, new and old, that have that spark of life to them that captures your own imagination and that of your child. You get to create your own list as you go!

4. Narration

A Charlotte Mason-style education uses narration as one of the central methods to evaluate a student. The goal is to teach a child to think and express themselves clearly.

Up until the age of 10 or 11, Charlotte advises teachers to use mainly oral narration with a child. After listening to a short passage of a book, the child will tell back, in his or her own words, important aspects of the story.

Letting a young child do this orally helps them develop analytical thinking skills without getting stuck by the physical mechanics of handwriting.

At around age 11 Charlotte Mason teachers begin having children do written narrations, which lengthen and become more in depth as children get older.

Jamie’s thoughts on narration today:

I experienced a ton of pressure in this area that we weren’t “doing it right.” It’s essential to remember that life with a classroom of students must be organized differently to life at home with a handful.

When I asked my kids to repeat back what they had heard…it often resulted in that deer in headlights look, left me feeling disappointed, and took away from the enjoyment in what we were reading. But there were other times when the kids were so excited about something they had read that they couldn’t wait to come and tell me every. single. detail.

This is narration at home, in the context of real life. The same way that we might summarize a book for our adult friends! So experiment with narration to see how or if it works for you, but feel free to allow it to naturally happen as opposed to forcing it.

5. Dictation

Dictation exercises introduce and reinforce spelling and grammar concepts.

Charlotte recommends using inspiring quotations or Scripture for dictation. The child studies the passage until they are certain of the spelling and punctuation. Then the teacher dictates the passage slowly while the child writes it down.

Formal grammar study is usually delayed until age 10 or 11 in a Charlotte Mason education.

Photo by Wonderlane

Jamie’s thoughts on dictation today:

I definitely agree with the concept of delaying formal grammar study as a general idea. Aside from Mad Libs and chatting casually about grammar mistakes in real life (as an English major and author, grammar is very important to me!), we delayed this formally even longer than Charlotte.

We used Fix It Grammar for a while; I loved those workbooks! Dictation is a bit like copywork, which I listed as one of the things I’d do differently of if I could go back in time.

But dictation was not a top priority for us until the teen years, and it doesn’t have to be for you to homeschool well. Try it and then decide for yourself!

6. Art & Music Study

Charlotte Mason believed in exposing a child to greatness in many forms, which is why she introduced music and art appreciation at her schools.

In Charlotte’s schools, one composer or artist was studied each term–both through experiencing the music and art, reading living books about the artist, and perhaps reproducing the style through art or music lessons.

Jamie’s thoughts on art and music study today:

Of course it is beautiful to introduce art and music to a child, yes! If this an area of personal passion for you as a homeschooling parent, then please focus on it and share your own inspiration. That always makes for beautiful memories and learning moments!

However, if it feels rote, remember that it doesn’t have to be as formal as it was in Charlotte’s schools to make an impact over your entire homeschooling years. You are spreading a feast for your kids, as Charlotte used to say, but you are NOT force-feeding them. There is a difference!

7. Nature Study

Photo by James Wheare

Charlotte thought children should spend as much time as possible outdoors, especially as young students.

Students kept their own detailed nature journals as part of their nature study and also used nature guides to discover and identify the natural world in their neighborhood.

Jamie’s thoughts on nature study today:

You do not have to spend several hours outside daily to have your kids appreciate and benefit from nature. Some of CM’s quotes suggest otherwise, and if that fills you with guilt, remember to look at the heart behind it.

Nature inspires us and is and worth getting into whenever possible, but your kids aren’t doomed to failure if they miss a day or don’t spend six hours outside in the rain LOL! We never did nature journals, but I know other families who have and have loved them.

Good and terrifying news: You get to be your own expert, on this and every other decision!

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Charlotte Mason’s ideas created an educational revolution when she developed them. She hoped education would open the doors of equality and opportunity to all.

She believed that, regardless of what social class they belonged to, children deserved dignity and respect. <— THIS is my biggest Charlotte Mason takeaway. Use her ideas out of dignity and respect for your individual children; don’t use them out of fear of failing your kids or getting it wrong.

Never put any homeschool philosophy or method above a precious child of God!

Charlotte expressed the hope in many a homeschooling parent’s heart when she wrote the following:

“The question is not,—how much does the youth know? when he has finished his education—but how much does he care?

And about how many orders of things does he care? In fact, how large is the room in which he finds his feet set? And, therefore, how full is the life he has before him?”

Further Links to Learn More (UPDATED):

Originally written March 2010; updated May 2024

Has your family incorporated any of Charlotte Mason’s ideas? Please share what has worked for you.

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

Jamie’s Homeschool Day (w/ a 6, 7, & 8-year-old) UPDATED!

Jamie C. Martin — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 16:15:26 +0000

Jamie’s Homeschool Day, Then & Now (with a 6-, 7-, & 8-year-old – UPDATED!) ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

NOW:

How have you enjoyed this year’s 14th Annual Homeschool Day in the Life series?! In case you’ve missed any of the posts, just head here to catch up!

Since I officially retired from homeschooling last summer, I’m approaching my homeschool day in the life differently – looking back on my 15 year homeschooling career and sharing what I’ve learned in monthly Then and Now Reflections!

In Episode 125 of the SH podcast, you’ll hear me and my son Jonathan (19-yrs-old, homeschool graduate) discuss:

The details of our homeschool routine back with a 6, 7, and 8-year-old, having just moved to a house in the countryside
Our experiment having “Yes” Day on Mondays
How having greater access to nature influenced the flow of our days
When homeschool moms manage to find time to eat (& why our kids never think about this! LOL)
How bloggers with three young kids have to make sure the photos in a post are “fair”
What made this one of my favorite years of homeschooling

To subscribe and listen in, head to your platform of choice: Spotify, Apple, Google, Audible, Amazon, or stream it right here on Simple Homeschool. And keep scrolling to read about this homeschool year in our life below!

Jamie’s Homeschool Day in the Life – THEN, 2012:

When I wrote about my homeschool day last year, I had no idea that by January 2012 we would have moved to our dream house in the country.

My–how one year can change everything. I now find my children, inching ever so slowly, through the phases of learning–moving gradually from Core Phase into Love of Learning.

We have plenty of days when everything seems to fall apart. You know the ones.

But we also have golden moments, when magic happens, connections are made, and my heart swells as I think, “It’s working! It’s really working!”

This is the joy and wonder of the homeschooling lifestyle.

What follows are the nuts and bolts of how that joy and wonder play out in our home.

An Overview of Our Day

These times are all approximate–the day generally flows from one activity to another and things happen when they happen, usually around the following times:

6:15 – I’m up to do blogging work and prepare for the day
8:20 – Kids come out of their rooms, get dressed, & have breakfast while I read to them
9:00 – Learning time–I spend some one-on-one time with each child
10:30 – Snack and stories
11:00 – Kids watch video while I write
12:00 – Prepare lunch, eat, I read from our current chapter book
1:00 – Free play, outside time, more learning time as needed
2:30 – Snack and prepare for rest time; Rest time in rooms for kids/I read, study, and write (& rest!)
4:00 – Rest time finished; all head downstairs for a snack
4:30 – Free play time and begin to prepare dinner
5:20 – Kids listen to Sparkle Stories while I continue dinner prep and chat with Steve (They used to watch another video here, and I’m thrilled to have found such a wonderful alternative!)
6:00 – Dinner as a family
6:30 – Dinner clean-up, begin baths, family time, kids go completely crazy time, and so on
7:30 – Bedtime story
8:00 – Kids to bed, Steve and I congratulate ourselves for making it through another day

Weekly Rhythms

Mondays – Yes Day
Tuesdays – Baking Day
Wednesdays – Class Day (The kids take a class at a local Waldorf school.)
Thursdays – Cleaning Day (more on this soon)
Fridays – Nature Day (We try to take a hike or go to a park after lunch.)

Each item on our list is there for a reason, and fits within a few guiding principles upon which we build our educational philosophy.

Here is a snapshot of those principles:

1. Learning can happen anywhere and anytime…if we don’t stifle it.

I am always on the lookout for an opportunity to inspire, and though you don’t see it on my schedule, inspiration is the glue that holds our homeschool day together.

School time doesn’t only happen at one time in the day–school time is the day. Whenever the desire to learn appears, we roll with it, following where it leads.

2. Nature inspires learning and curiosity.

A year ago my kids spent time outside every day, but not as much as they do now. A year ago, we lived in the suburbs.

Today our backyard looks like this:

Time spent outside is not time wasted. Every moment spent there inspires, encourages, and builds a foundation for learning.

Some life lessons, perhaps the most important ones, can best be discovered under open sky.

3. Read, read, read.

Chewing mouths provide a captive audience. I take advantage of that fact by reading aloud to the children at breakfast, morning snack, and lunch times.

We get through a lot of books this way, which builds attention span, increases vocabulary, and contributes toward a love of learning.

4. Me, not them.

This is one of the seven keys of great teaching in leadership education, and I take it to heart. My kids often see me with book in hand, and as they get older, I try to share more and more of what I’m personally learning. I want to serve as a model, a mentor.

Within every aspect of our day, I keep in mind that relationships matter most. They open the door to the mind…or slam doors shut.

I am the key to nurturing these bonds in ways that strengthen instead of tear apart. As I make that my focus, I find that all the pieces of our day line up…with a little dose of magic sprinkled in to add joy and wonder.

Check out ALL of Jamie’s Homeschool Days:

Any questions about Jamie’s homeschool day or why we do what we do? Ask away!

Originally published January 9, 2012 ~ Updated March 5, 2024

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

Then & Now: Jamie’s Homeschool Day (with a 5-, 6-, & 7-year-old – UPDATED!)

Jamie C. Martin — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 14:50:25 +0000

Jamie’s Homeschool Day, Then & Now (with a 5-, 6-, & 7-year-old – UPDATED!) ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

NOW:

How often do you wish you could have a homeschool do-over? Well, now you can, and in the easiest way possible – without having to make mistakes of your own! Learn from mine, instead.

As I promised in January I plan to do monthly “Then and Now” reflections this year, looking back over my 15 years of homeschooling. I’ll be revisiting posts I’ve written in this space since 2010 and letting you in on what I’d do differently if I could.

When I originally wrote the post below I was nearly 35; now I’m nearly 48. To say life has changed around here would be a massive understatement!

Join me and my son Jonathan (currently 19, but six-years-old when I wrote the below!) on Episode 124 of the Simple Homeschool podcast as we go back in time together.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

I welcome Jonathan back to the podcast after he’s been away touring with the Jonas Brothers
my initial homeschooling philosophy of focusing on relationships rather than academics as top priority, and what I think about that now looking back
our daily homeschool rhythm from 2011 including morning routines, books, a few structured activities, “sections” time, and what Jonathan remembers fondly (or not!)
we reminisce about highlights of their 2011 days: walks, circle time, and the library
how we used screens, quiet time, and outings to make it through the days
what Jonathan thinks now about how our homeschool style has influenced him as a young adult

To subscribe and listen in, head to your platform of choice: Spotify, Apple, Google, etc, or stream it right here on Simple Homeschool! And keep scrolling to read the initial article I wrote in 2011.

Jamie’s Homeschool Day in the Life – THEN, 2011:

Are you enjoying this series on homeschool days as much as I am? There’s something quite vulnerable about getting to peek behind the curtain of another mom’s living room and see how she keeps all her plates spinning.

One word of caution, however: Don’t you dare leave any of these posts in a comparison mode, thinking, “She does so much more than me–now I know I’m screwing my kids up!” Do what you know is right for your own children–that is all they need.

You won’t feel the need to worry about “more” when it comes to my family’s rhythm–I don’t do it all, I purposefully take it slow, and I focus my days on enjoying my children.

My family is unique in that there are only 22 months separating all three of my kids in age, and even less separating them developmentally. I also work 15 hours a week blogging both here and at Steady Mom, so our rhythm takes into account Mommy’s writing time.

I believe my main goal should be to nurture the relationships in our home. When relationships flourish, I find that the academic side of learning naturally springs forth in an unforced way.

Here’s what that looks like practically.

I typically wake up at 6:45 am on a weekday. I’ve written extensively on Steady Mom about my morning routine and what we do before our day officially begins, so head over to read that if you’re interested.

At 8:20, my kids come out of their rooms to get dressed. Does 8:20 sound specific enough for you? No, I’m not a scheduling nazi–but my six-year-old has a clock in his room and takes it upon himself to announce dramatically at 8:20 – “It’s TIME!!!!” That’s how I know it happens at 8:20, you see.

Early Morning

The kids play while I tidy upstairs, then I help everyone get dressed. We head downstairs, where we have our circle time, then it’s on to the breakfast table. After a quick meal the kids clean up with me.

It’s been too cold lately to do our usual morning walk, so we typically meet again in the living room for a few minutes of music and movement.

Learning Time

By now it’s 9am, and we begin what I consider our “learning time.”

The kids pick out a few books they want me to read, or sometimes I’ll have a selection chosen beforehand. We sit on the couch and read together, then move to the dining table where we do one or two of our Oak Meadow Kindergarten activities. (I intentionally start academics later and follow a better late than early philosophy, which has enabled me to more or less keep all the kids at the same level.)

After this it’s time for what my kids call sections–I can’t really remember how it got this name, but don’t try to call it anything else in our house or the kids will come after you! This time is loosely based on the idea of “centers” in a preschool–my kids rotate spending 15-20 minutes playing in different areas of our house.

The idea, from my point of view, is to follow the leadership education philosophy of structuring time, not content. It gives me the chance to make the most of one-on-one learning opportunities.

Often my older two will work on a story or project and need help spelling words. Sometimes my six-year-old son gives me a math lesson. (Yes, you read that right.) There’s also plenty of Legos, artwork, playing, and drumming that happens as well. During this time I work on laundry, meal prep, or other house organization/cleaning I can do while still being available to the kids.

Early Afternoon

After sections, it’s usually close to noon–time for lunch, then the frigid outdoors for a quick walk and playing in the backyard.

When we come inside, I put on a DVD for the kids while I work and write upstairs (for about 45 minutes). When the video is over, it’s rest time–where the kids play quietly (at least it’s supposed to be quietly!), read, draw, and rest for an hour and a half.

During this time in our day I’ll do more computer work and also try to rest or read for 30 minutes myself (Mama recharge time).

Late Afternoon

When rest time ends, it’s already 4 or 4:30 pm. Trishna, Jonathan, and Elijah play while I put away the laundry I folded in the morning. We head back downstairs where I give the kids a quick snack and we read a chapter of our current read-aloud. (Right now, it’s The Burgess Bird Book for Children–highly recommended!)

Then it’s around 5pm–time to start dinner. One of Trishna’s current household duties is dinner helper, so she comes to the kitchen with me while the boys play for a while (until they start arguing–yes, this is a real home I’m talking about!).

At that point I put on another short DVD for them while I finish dinner.

Evening

After dinner comes the usual: clean up, family time, baths, and bedtime for the kids (around 8 pm).

I usually tidy the downstairs quickly, work a bit more online, and try to unplug around 8:30 (emphasis on the try). Then I spend time with my husband, take a shower, and happily head to bed (I aim for 10 pm, but it’s been more like 10:30 lately).

Variations on the Day

This routine varies on certain days. At least once a week we go on some type of outing–to the library, a museum, or maybe for a walk in the woods.

One day a week I have a sitter in the mornings, so she follows our general rhythm with the kids at home while I head out to write. And of course we also enjoy the flexibility to change things up, so we can meet with friends or ditch the plan for the unexpected.

The Secret of a Good Day

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that the secret of a good day is … me. I try to keep in mind this quote by German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:

“I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous.

I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized.

If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.”

Check out ALL of Jamie’s Homeschool Days:

Have any questions about our day? Ask away in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer.

Originally published January 10, 2011 ~ Updated Feb 6, 2024

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

Bittersweet: My First Fall NOT Homeschooling

Jamie C. Martin — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 14:41:20 +0000

Oh my heart – I miss these faces! My life 12 years ago, wow!

Bittersweet: My First Fall NOT Homeschooling ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

My friends, it has a been a bittersweet autumn for my mother’s heart.

Time is a weird, weird thing. You try to grit your teeth and get through one day at a time, then somehow blink to find 15 years has past. Weird, weird, weird.

My first fall not homeschooling has been both glorious and causing me to occasionally burst into tears. In this life, it seems like we don’t just get one or the other. Not just the “sweet” and thankfully, not just the “bitter” – but a mix of both.

I’m sure in your own way, you know just what I mean!

So I recorded a full episode (Ep 118) on my Simple Homeschool podcast to chat through the mixed emotions that have been coming up for me, and what I’m learning through them:

Click here to listen in!

Bittersweet: My First Fall NOT Homeschooling

Let me give you just a few examples of how this is playing out:

Sweet: Seeing my 19-year-old Jonathan spread his wings as Lighting Director for the Jonas Brothers

Bitter: The way it twists my heart that he has a whole new (and radically different!) life that I’m not a daily part of

*****

Sweet: My Elijah (18) starting our public school’s program for Special Needs Youth ages 18-22

Bitter: Getting public school e-blasts and being part of “the system” after 15 years outside of it (though I’m so, so grateful, too!)

*****

Sweet: My Trishna (20) growing and using her gifts as she works at her first adult job

Bitter: Watching her have the stress of difficult co-workers and being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world

*****

Sweet: Not having to get up early for the homeschool day!

Bitter: Those sparkly, magical moments that came now and then during breakfast read-alouds around the dining table

*****

Sweet: The excitement and possibility of imagining what might be next for me

Bitter: The scariness of the unknown and grieving the loss of a 15 year season

What feels bitter and sweet for you, fellow Simple Homeschoolers?

However this homeschool year has been going thus far, whether it’s been heavy on the bitter or heavy on the sweet – please honor your reality of how it feels right now!

We can look for balance on the other side of the scale when highs or lows threaten our stability, but the first step is just being real about what’s there.

Thanks for letting me do that with you today, friends. xo, Jamie

If you’d like to hear me share more about the above, look for Episode 118 of the Simple Homeschool podcast here!

SH #111: Don’t Make Math a Misery

Jamie C. Martin — Tue, 09 May 2023 13:03:38 +0000

SH #111: Don’t Make Math a Misery ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

Welcome back to a new episode of the Simple Homeschool podcast, continuing this year’s series with my 18-year-old son Jonathan!

Jonathan was homeschooled from K-12th grade/graduation and today we are answering a question that came in from Danielle: What you did for math with your kids at various ages?

Don’t Make Math a Misery

In Episode 111, you’ll hear us discuss:

How much we love Family Ties (doesn’t have to do with math, but still fun
How long we waited to require formal math and what we did instead in the early years
The disconnect a lot of young kids feel when it comes to math that isn’t relevant in their daily lives
The practical tools & curricula we used for math in various phases of homeschooling

Click here to stream/download Episode 111! Find it wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe so you’ll be notified when we release another in a couple of weeks.

Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors: FORM Fitness and Night Zookeeper!
Are our voices an encouragement? Buy us a tea!
A Different Way to Look at Math
Out of the Box Math Inspiration
Read Your Way to a Love of Math: 50 Titles for Ages 4-12
Create Your Own Math Playground
Homeschooling 101: What to Teach and When to Teach It
Teaching Textbooks
My Fun Science and CTCMath
Follow Jamie on Instagram and Facebook
QUIZ: What’s Your Homeschooling Mom Personality?

Do you have a homeschooling question for Jonathan or me to answer in an upcoming episode? If so, leave it in a comment on this post or email it to me at jamie@simplehomeschool.net with the subject line “Podcast Question” and we’ll see what we can do!

* Listen to more episodes of the Simple Homeschool podcast here.

* Click here for the auto-generated transcript of this episode.

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your type needs most!

SH #110: When Your Kid Refuses to Do Something

Jamie C. Martin — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 14:29:46 +0000

SH #110: When Your Kid Refuses to Do Something ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

Welcome to a new episode of the Simple Homeschool podcast, continuing this year’s series with my 18-year-old son Jonathan!

Jonathan was homeschooled from K-12th grade/graduation and today we are answering a question we get a LOT: What do you do when your homeschooled child doesn’t want to do an assignment, chore, etc?

When Your Kid Refuses to Do Something

In Episode 110, you’ll hear us discuss:

How to handle pushback depending on the age of your child (littles, tweens, teens)
Thoughts on separating academics from household duties
Why you should go to Thailand and not Bogota (listen in for more context, LOL, it’s a helpful analogy!)
How Jamie forced Jonathan to take the SAT twice (and what he thinks about that now looking back #meanmom)

Click here to stream/download Episode 110! Find it wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe so you’ll be notified when we release another in a couple of weeks.

Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors: Outschool and Ivy Kids!
Are our voices an encouragement? Buy us a tea!
Leadership Education
Children are not adults
Core Phase: Creating a Solid Foundation for Ages 0-8
SH Episode 103: In which we chat “bribery”
SH Episode 107: Jonathan’s Chemistry/Biology experience
Great Homeschool Conventions
College Prep Genius
Khan Academy SAT prep
Follow Jonathan on Instagram
Follow Jamie on Instagram and Facebook
Take our new homeschooling quiz here!

* Listen to more episodes of the Simple Homeschool podcast here.

* Click here for the auto-generated transcript of this episode.

Are you a GOOD or BAD homeschool mom? Take Jamie’s NEW LOL QUIZ now to find out!

SH #109: Reasons to Homeschool (There are a lot of them!)

Jamie C. Martin — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 15:19:19 +0000

SH #109: Reasons to Homeschool ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

PLEASE NOTE: In this episode Jonathan and I chat about some sensitive topics, including our experience with school safety, that I don’t recommend for little ears.

Welcome to a new episode of the Simple Homeschool podcast as we continue a special series with my 18-year-old son Jonathan!

Jonathan was homeschooled from K-12th grade, and in this episode we talk about some of the most popular reasons families choose to homeschool, including our own family’s story and experience.

Reasons to Homeschool (There are a lot of them!)

In Episode 109, you’ll hear us discuss:

Our personal story of what got our family into homeschooling
Homeschooling for freedom and flexibility
Homeschooling for emotional or physical safety
Our experience living in Newtown, CT in Dec 2012 and its aftermath
The worst reason to homeschool…or is it?

Click here to stream/download Episode 109! Find it wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe so you’ll be notified when we release another in a couple of weeks.

Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors: Modify Homeschool App and Dyslexia Connect!
Jamie’s Online Community/Book Club, Introverted Moms
Episode 108, Thanks Homeschooling for All the Opportunities!
6 Homeschooling Misconceptions Erased by Laura Grace Weldon
School Violence Led Us to Homeschooling
Free-Range Learning by Laura Grace Weldon
Newtown As I Know It
Episode 100, The Worst Reason to Homeschool
Sarah Mackenzie Is Awesome
Follow Jonathan on Instagram to see who he’s working for next!
Follow Jamie on Instagram and Facebook
Take our new homeschooling quiz here!

* Listen to more episodes of the Simple Homeschool podcast here.

* Click here for the auto-generated transcript of this episode.

Are you a GOOD or BAD homeschool mom? Take Jamie’s NEW LOL QUIZ now to find out!

SH #108: Thanks, Homeschooling, for All the Opportunities!

Jamie C. Martin — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 14:16:09 +0000

SH #108: Thanks, Homeschooling, for all the Opportunities! ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

I know you’ll love this episode of the Simple Homeschool podcast as we continue a special series with my 18-year-old son Jonathan: “Reflections from a Homeschool Graduate.”

Jonathan was homeschooled from K-12th grade, and in this episode we answer a question sent in from Gillian: “Do you feel like homeschooling gave you extra opportunities that you wouldn’t have had in traditional school?”

Thanks, Homeschooling, for All the Opportunities!

In Episode 108, you’ll hear us discuss:

Trips we took during the school year
Conferences we attended in a variety of fields
Volunteering that led to paid employment during the school week
Amazing opportunities that have come his way since graduation

Click here to stream/download Episode 108! Find it wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe so you’ll be notified when we release another in a couple of weeks.

Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Thanks to the sponsors for this episode: Story Masters and My books!
Episode 104, Simple Homeschool: “Do you feel like you missed out because of homeschooling?”
Dr. Peter Gray, Free to Learn
Watch Pink roller skate by Jonathan during the American Music Awards (look for my boy standing with a headset in the top left hand corner at 01:38!)
Jonathan posting from Super Bowl 2023
Jonathan’s Lighting Design YouTube Channel
Follow Jamie on Instagram and Facebook

* Listen to more episodes of the Simple Homeschool podcast here.

* Click here for the auto-generated transcript of this episode.

Are you a GOOD or BAD homeschool mom? Take Jamie’s NEW QUIZ now to find out!

SH #107: What Makes a GOOD or BAD Homeschool Mom?

Jamie C. Martin — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 11:25:22 +0000

SH #107: What Makes a Good or Bad Homeschool Mom? ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

Warning: Be prepared for lots of #truthbombs in this episode! LOL I hope you’ve been enjoying the special podcast series with my 18-year-old son Jonathan: “Reflections from a Homeschool Graduate.”

Jonathan was homeschooled from K-12th grade so he has a unique perspective, and today we are articulating some of the qualities that we believe make a good homeschool mom/parent!

We created this episode to coincide with the release of our new quiz: “Are you a good or bad homeschool mom?” Have you taken it and gotten your special gift yet?! Find it here: simplehomeschool.net/quiz

What Makes a Good or Bad Homeschool Mom?

In Episode 107, you’ll hear us answer these questions:

What qualities make a good homeschool mom?
Should homeschool moms invest in themselves and their own interests?
Are you more like a guide or a drill sergeant?
Are you teaching the child you have or the child you wished you had?

Click here to stream/download Episode 107! Find it wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe so you’ll be notified when we release another episode in a couple of weeks.

Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Thanks to the sponsors for this episode: Oak Meadow and All About Reading/Spelling
Ep 105, Relationship-Centered Homeschooling
All in One High School
New Quiz: Are You a Good or a Bad Homeschool Mom?
Our 2023 Homeschool Day in the Life Series
Follow Jamie on Instagram and Facebook

* Listen to more episodes of the Simple Homeschool podcast here.

* Click here for the auto-generated transcript of this episode. (Note that it will have some inaccuracies.)

Are you a GOOD or BAD homeschool mom? Take Jamie’s NEW QUIZ now to find out!

SH #106: The “S” Word: Socialization

Jamie C. Martin — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 14:28:27 +0000

SH #106: The “S” Word: Socialization ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

Welcome back to a new episode of the Simple Homeschool podcast! This year I’m doing a special podcast series with my 18-year-old son Jonathan: “Reflections from a Homeschool Graduate.”

Jonathan was homeschooled from K-12th grade so he has a unique perspective, and guess what one of the most-submitted questions for him to answer has been?

That’s right – in this episode we’re talking THE “S” word: Socialization!

The “S” Word: Socialization

In Episode 106, you’ll hear us answer these questions:

Where do you make friends?
Did you ever feel like it was difficult to find common ground to connect with peers about?
Do you feel like you get along well with other homeschoolers?
Do you feel you get along with your peers in general?

Click here to stream/download Episode 106! Find it wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe so you’ll be notified when we release another episode in a couple of weeks.

Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

This episode is NOT sponsored by Stew Leonards (listen in for more context LOL), but IS sponsored by My Fun Science and Sonlight!
Carl Azuz on Sonlight’s YouTube channel
Why Everyone Wants to Quit Homeschooling in November and February
Our 2023 Homeschool Day in the Life Series
Follow Jamie on Instagram and Facebook
Take my quiz, What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality?

* Listen to more episodes of the Simple Homeschool podcast here.

* Click here for the auto-generated transcript of this episode.

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!