Spring Fever: Taking It Outside!

Spring is finally here! Things are greening up. Energy and excitement are creeping back into your school days. It's likely that you've just finished your version of Spring Break and now it’s time to do that last push before summer. Yay!

So my big question for you is, how can you make spring fever work for you instead of against you?

If your kids are anything like mine, they want to go outside. The sunnier and warmer it is, the crazier it can get inside! 

The science behind this phenomenon is fascinating. The longer days, warmer temps, and increased levels of sunshine naturally stimulate the body to become more active. We are being drawn out of our version of hibernation and naturally getting ready for the longer, busier, and more active days of summer. Some studies even suggest a shift in hormone levels, though it seems medical sources don’t totally agree on this. One thing that is agreed upon is that the added sunshine provides more vitamin D, and this vitamin elevates mood and energy levels. During the winter in many parts of our country, we definitely don’t get enough sunshine and vitamin D. It's time to catch up!

So how can you make it work for you???

First, go outside and work. I know that's a super simple answer, but maybe some of you haven’t really considered it yet this year. If you can’t beat them, join them, as the saying goes. Send them out for one subject if you can’t move the whole day outside. How about science on the back porch or silent reading in the tree? Even just having lunch on the patio or some other sort of picnic could help. 

While the kids are catching some rays (and some of that delightful vitamin D), use this burst of energy to involve them in planning the last quarter of your school year. Have that pep talk that gets everyone excited about his or her work and about getting to summer. Add in some fun field trips and outside excursions. Use the pull of sunshine and changing seasons to encourage the kids to zip through the end of the year and maybe even finish early. Use the added energy to all of your advantages!

At the very least, plan something different and exciting dealing with spring that involves going outside each week. It's adding that surprise and variation that will help to keep the kids more engaged and on their toes. If coming up with ideas is not your strength, ask your kids what would be a great way to get outside and get more work done. They may have some great ideas. What else would they love to do this spring? Fly kites? Get the bikes tuned and ready to ride? Have a scavenger hunt? Or even write spelling words or math problems with chalk outside instead of being stuck indoors?

Remember, not only is the sunshine and fresh air great for your health, but a change in scenery can be very motivating for both you and your kids! Change up your homeschooling today. It will be worth it!

For more great ideas, check out our Taking School Outside Pinterest board.

17 Spring Science Experiments for Homeschool Kids

Spring is in the air, and I always feel like it’s a great time to introduce some more fun science experiments into the mix of your regular homeschool science lessons. These hands-on activities are a great way to get your kids more excited about science and exploring some new and even old ideas. Their brains are like sponges, and what a fun way to help them absorb important concepts while having a blast!

These are some awesome science experiments I came across to give you some inspiration for your kids this spring!

Mother Nature’s World
Dissect a Bean Seed
Create a Complete Ecosystem in a Terrarium
Create an Awesome Weather Unit
What Melts in the Sun?
Walking Water

The Phenomenal Physical World All Around Us
How Many Paperclips Can Fit into a Full Glass of Water?
How to Make an Egg Bounce
How to Make a Tesla Coil
Rainbow Bubble Snakes
Rocks and Minerals Scratch Test
How Strong are Gumdrop Structures
Simple Pneumatic Machine

Our Awesome Bodies
What’s in our Blood?
Our Lungs: Asthma vs Healthy
Digestive System in a Bag
Taste Test: Fool Your Tongue
How Our Muscles Work

If you had fun getting inspired by these great experiments, check out more on my Spring Science Experiments Pinterest Board. It’s filled with a wide range of experiments for most every unit and grade level.

Happy Spring!

How to Teach your Kids to Save Money

Teaching your kids how to think about money is super important.  You can check out my blog post on that subject HERE.

Making the lessons practical and teaching them how to handle money is equally as important. There are tons of budgeting outlines all over the Internet, but the money system I’m going to recommend in this post sets your kids up to have a millionaire money management mindset. Creating these habits early will be another way you are proactively setting them up for a happy and prosperous life.  

This system is referred to as the Jar System and it is adapted from T. Harv Ekers system from his book Secrets of the Millionaire Mind.  

Begin by gathering 6 jars, one for each of the 6 categories.  The jars are great for kids so they can get the full visual reinforcement of the system.  As your kids deposit their money into the different jars, they will begin, at least subconsciously, to think about how to spend it.  Later as they become adults, they can shift it into bank accounts, but for now having these jars visible on their dresser or desk is important.  

Jar Categories
There are 6 jars/money categories to be distributed into each month. These include:
•    Financial Freedom Account (FFAFuture)
•    Education Account (Learning)
•    Long Term Saving for Spending Account (LTSavings)
•    Play Account (PLAY)
•    Give Account (GIVE)
•    Necessity Account (Basics)

1.    Financial Freedom Account (FFA Future – 10%) 
Each month start by placing 10% into your future.  This jar is the “golden goose.”   The money saved in this jar is only to be used for investments and for building passive income streams. Having this jar be a priority early in life is crucial to financial freedom later in life. Remember, we are trying to foster a mindset that will create financial freedom that starts now.  The key here is that you never spend this money.  The only time this money would be used is once your child is financially free and ready to invest on a larger scale.  Even then, this money should not be spent--only invested.  The returns from it can be spent, but never the principal.  It is the equivalent of a retirement fund but invested with a higher return.

2.    Education Account (Learning -10%)  
Life-long learning is key to an outstanding life.  The money in this jar encourages this habit. These funds can only be used for learning and growing.  This is ultimately investing in yourself. You are your most valuable investment and it is important your kids know this.  Encourage them to be excited about what they use this money for and be sure to keep letting them know that learning never ends.  They can use this for extra science kits, art supplies, books or audios, classes, camps, or anything else that encourages them to learn and grow.

3.    Long Term Saving for Spending Account (LTSavings – 10%)
This jar is specifically for saving for the larger ticket, “nice to have” things.  A great example would be a trip or a new bike.  As an adult, this area allows you to have money to do big ticket things that are not needs.  A small amount per month adds up quickly.

4.    Play Account (PLAY – 10%)
This is often everyone’s favorite account.  This money allows you to PLAY and enjoy life.  The purpose of this account is to nurture yourself. For kids, this is all that little stuff they want but really don’t need.  They can take 10% of their money and experiment, like buying clothes or candy. It is also a great category for funding new sports equipment they may want but, again, don’t need.  When they are adults, this would be for going out, getting a massage, tickets to a play, or other forms of relaxation or entertainment.  Play is what gives juice to life and it is important to enjoy and nurture yourself and your relationships without worry. 

5.    Give Account (GIVE – 10%)
Giving is a huge part of having an amazing life.  It is so important to give regularly with love. You can give more than just time as well, for example house sitting for an elderly neighbor or volunteering.   With this jar, the kids think about giving every time money is divided out.  This money can go to a charity your child loves, for example adopting a child or animal, tithing at your church, as well as gifts for family and friends.  

6.    Necessity Account (Basics -50%)
50% of all incoming money goes into this jar.  This is your living expenses account.  This is for everything you need to live (mortgage/rent, utilities, food, clothes, taxes, bills, insurance, etc.) Yes, half goes towards living expenses and your kids should begin internalizing this concept early.   Start teaching them to think about more than working to just pay bills.  It is important to have them set this habit from the beginning. The money put aside in this jar can be saved for a down payment on a house, a car, or college.  Do not let them skip this jar.  It is important to build the idea that 50% goes to necessities.  When they are ready to leave home, they will have a firm understanding of how much they have and what they will need to live on their own.

Starting to use this system now is very important.  This becomes a habit that will develop into how they think about living their lives.  Start them as low as $1 or $10 a month. Give them 10 dimes or dollars to split into jars.  It is the habit and action over time that will create the wealthy and healthy mindset.  Notice there is nothing to pay off loans.  If they see that every month their subconscious will understand that going into debt is a natural thing to do.  I think we all agree a life lived without debt is healthier and happier.  Let them learn about debt later, pros and cons, when they are ready to make those decisions.

I often say success leaves clues.  This is one of those clues.  Successful people think and plan for investing, learning, saving, fun, and education every time they handle their money.  What amazing habits to pass to our kids!  As I mentioned before, for more information about this system, read Secrets of a Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker.  Don’t forget, kids totally learn by example.  You could make this a family project.  We did! 

Teach a Great Money Mindset to Your Kids

One of our major jobs as parents is to teach our kids about money.  We teach them how to think about it, where it should come from, if it is good or bad or neutral, how to save it, and how to spend it.  Often most of these are taught without us even thinking about it!  More than that, much of what they learn comes from outside influences without forethought or our consent.  I know I have several stray beliefs about money from my grandmother whose family struggled during the Great Depression, for example.  How about you?

Here is the great news!!!  Now that we’ve mentioned it, we can actively decide what we are going to teach our kids about how to handle money.  

Here are 5 wonderful places to start.  

Results leave clues.  I am always looking for common habits that create the results I want in my life.  Here are common attitudes of people who have a healthy and wealthy relationship with money.  Some are great for all ages and a few are better suited for your teens, but it is never too late to start leading by example!

1. First, many people have a rule to not talk about money.  It is a taboo subject.  Even with their kids!  Wealthy people and healthy money people talk about money without a ton of emotion to 3 to 5 close people often and openly.  They share what works and what isn’t working and tap into the power of group knowledge and referrals.   

Start talking to your kids about how much things cost.  Give them an idea of what it costs to live.  Teens really need to know the costs of driving a car (insurance, gas, repairs, payments, etc.) as well as things like utilities and groceries.  Remember, your attitude is everything. Show them what you love about money.

2. People with a healthy and wealthy mindset don’t often focus on saving and cutting back.  They don’t think in terms of limits.  Instead, when there is something they want or need, they think about how they can earn more money.  This is actually one of the biggest mindset differences between people with a good relationship with money and those who are stressed by it.  Being open to creating more money is the key.  

Here is a great activity to do with your kids to get their minds (and maybe yours too) thinking in this direction.  Take some time to brainstorm 50 different ways to earn some money.  It may take a little bit to get it rolling, but as soon as you do, tons of ideas will come pouring out!  To start things off, suggest the classics: babysitting, yard work, lawn mowing, and lemonade stands.

3. Here is another great activity to get a healthy money mindset flowing.  Every time one of you parts with money, send out a little blessing and/or a bit of gratitude and say, ”There is always more where that came from.”  That frees up your kids, and you too, from the worry of the money going away and instead opens the mind to ideas and ways for more money to come back into your lives, as well as being grateful for what you do have to spend.

4. I bet that as you’re reading this, some of your family quotes have popped into your head.  “Money doesn’t grow on trees.”  “A penny saved is a penny earned.”  “Money causes a lot of problems.”  “Money is the root of all evil.”  

Guess what.  You didn’t put those sayings into your head and they are not likely doing you any good.  So why say them in front of your kids? You get to choose what you want your kids to hear.  Choose wisely!  Here are a few suggestions, but feel free to Google positive money mindset phrases and choose ones you really want them to carry with them for the rest of their lives!  

Try these:  “I love money. Money loves me.”  “I have more than enough money.”  “I am sensible with money and manage it wisely.”  “I allow my income to constantly expand and I always live in comfort and joy.”   

You get to instill in them a way of thinking about money that allows them to be open to opportunity.  Think about it.  Don’t you always get more money even when things are tight?  Focus on what will be coming in and not what is going out.  It takes the same amount of energy but one fills life with a negative money mindset and the other opens the mind to potential and the future.

5. Have your kids track their money.  People with a healthy money mindset are always aware and grateful for the money they are bringing in.  It is a great habit to start early and will create a healthy relationship with money at an early age.

If you have teens in your home that are just starting their life-long money relationship, here are two classic money books that will start their journey off on the right foot:  Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.  

When I first came across some of these ideas, I was surprised.  How is changing my phrasing about money and stopping the search for coupons going to do anything but make things worse?  Things did start to change for the better.  My relationship with money changed and so did my children’s.  I don’t often worry about money anymore.  I also don’t just throw it around and waste it either.  That isn’t what this is about. It is about opening up to the idea that money is a paper symbol of energy exchanged between people.  No emotions.  If you need more, create it.  There are options and be open to the options.  Kids start open to this idea so it should be easy to encourage. Experiment and see where it takes you. Your kids will thank you!

How “Theme”ing in your Homeschool Can Raise the Way Your Children Learn to a New Level

So what is “theme”ing anyway?  This is a process I have used off and on for years, both in my adult life as well as with my kids.   It is a great way to get your kids to start seeing things with a bigger picture in mind.   

“Theme”ing is a process where there is an overarching uniting concept to your day, week, month, school work, or, well, anything actually.  For younger kids or unit study homeschool families, you often do this already.  A unit study is a great example. For the month of February, the whole group studies presidents, for example.  The books read deal with presidents, as well as handwriting projects, history, even science and math potentially are tied into the study of presidents.

Theme for a Day
The easiest and most fun way to apply “theme”ing is to throw in theme days every so often.  It is a great way to break up monotony or to add a little spark to your week or month.  I also use it a ton in the summers when we want a little uniting structure but not so much that it interferes with the feeling of a break.  One of my favorites was a surprise pirate day!  I pulled out a pirate map table cloth, had bandanas and eye patches in the center of the table (left over from a birthday party), made “pirate” food, had a scavenger hunt to find this week’s spelling words (nicely stashed under a big “x”), books scattered around about pirates, and an evening starting with a pirate board game and ending curled up in our pirate gear to watch a pirate themed movie.  It was a totally fun day and the kids weren’t distracted by the fun.  It actually helped them to be more productive!  

The theme can be anything and can easily include things the kids are already working on.  For example, have a plant day, a foreign country day, or a day focused on a time period.  Don’t forget, Pinterest is a great place to come up with creative ideas for your themes.

Theme for a Month
Another way to use “theme”ing is to choose a theme for a month.  Each month you can choose one or even several themes.  For example, March could be long division month yet also gratitude month.  In this example, you can have both an educational theme as well as a character theme.  I actually love the character themes the most!  We experienced the most growth as a family exploring these themes!  This method creates a beginning and end to the idea, allowing for exploration and experimentation.  The kids know that at the end of the month it will be time to move on, yet we as parents know some of it will stick.  

During the month though, go all out.  Anything is possible and everyone is more open to trying different things in relationship to the theme.  For example, during a long division month you could have speed trials and tests, a song to learn and sing, division “war” cards games or bingo, and/or extra worksheets to go along with your regularly scheduled curriculum.  For gratitude, you could have a gratitude journal for the kids to write in everyday and/or a day each week where one family member is the person of the day and everyone tells him why they are grateful for him.  Konos is a great curriculum that focuses on character unit studies that could provide some great ideas as well. 

Theme for a Year
I also like to have yearly themes as a way to supplement our curriculum.  We usually pick a yearly theme such as classical musicians, artists, scientists, athletes, or classic books.  Each one or two weeks, we would have a new focus.  For example, one week would be Mozart and the next Bach.  I would play a little of their music each day for them while they were working and we’d read a biography or watch a movie. Reading the bio on Wikipedia was all we could get to some weeks, but my goal was exposure and not anything particularly deeper unless they showed a deeper interest. 

Not Only for the Kids
Personally, I like to take this a step further though.  Let me tell you about my “theme” right now.   Currently, I have chosen themes both for my year as well as for my months.   My theme for the year is “Implementation and Abundance”.  This year I am setting my goals, choosing educational conferences, subjects to read about, etc.  around this uniting theme.  I make my major decisions with this theme in mind.  It clarifies where I am heading this year and keeps me focused and enhances momentum.  Each of my monthly themes compliment my yearly theme.  I have found this to be a great way to keep me focused and make my decision making significantly easier.  It totally helps to eliminate some of the “bright shiny object syndrome!”  I know I am drawn to with every new course or curriculum I find out about.  I now have a way to easily choose things that follow my theme and then stash the other great ideas for later.

The thing I love the most about “theme”ing  is that it is an excellent way to get all of your kids involved in studying the same thing together regardless of where they are in their set programs.  Besides adding fun and interest to your homeschool days, “theme”ing is a great skill to give your kids.  It is yet another high productivity, happy life skill that is just another super tool for their life toolbox.  

We would love to hear about your “theme”ing adventures!  Are you already using this concept?  Are you going to try it soon?  Share in the comments below or in the Facebook group!

Socialization Power Tool

As homeschoolers, the concept of socialization comes up often.  I know I have been asked countless times about how my kids could ever possibly make friends and even interact out in the “normal world” if we kept them home.  For most of us this is, well, just a bunch of hooey! The most social and emotionally balanced kids I know are the homeschoolers we have in our community.  

This blog post isn’t supposed to be going into all that.  There are tons of other posts on this subject and, while it is a valid topic that should be discussed, I really want to give you all a tip on how to help your kids, and even yourself, handle social situations with ease―even the introverts!

My middle daughter was born with the travel bug.  She wanted to see the world from a very young age.  At 7, Pompeii was her travel dream of choice and it was at the top of a very long list.  At 11, she received her first invitation to participate in the People to People program.  She was sure it was destiny and needless to say, 9 months and some serious fundraising later, she embarked on a plane to Australia for a two-and-a-half-week trip.  Yep, she was 11 years old boarding that plane with her teddy bear sticking out of her backpack without even a glance back.  Over those 2+ weeks we received one, yes just one, brief phone message from her.  She was born to travel it seems!

This group she traveled with consisted of 40 kids and 4 teachers/guides, as well as the guides added at the other end.  Before the trip, we had monthly meetings so she had multiple opportunities to meet the other kids before they left.  It was interesting though.  Of all of the kids on the trip, she was the most engaging and friendly.  Yes, the one homeschooler.  Not really a surprise…  

Here is the mindset tip that made all of this relatively easy for her.  Someone before the trip had a short conversation with her about how the feelings she was having of shyness, fear, nervousness, etc. were also the feelings of most of the other kids in her group.  When she walked into those meetings, or the airport, or any of those potentially uneasy situations, she should look at it as an opportunity to be the hostess.  If she spent her time walking around the room meeting and greeting and making sure everyone was OK, she wouldn’t have time to be nervous.  And that is exactly what she did.  More than that, because she applied that one tip, she quickly became friends with everyone!  By the time they boarded the airplane, she was the one kid everyone felt comfortable talking to.  

Not only did this tip make that trip great, it has developed into a skill that has been incredibly useful in many areas of her life.  Anytime she was being introduced into a new group of kids, other travel experiences, her first job, etc. applying this simple skill became a standard go-to tool for her and it has changed her life. 

Next time your kids are going out into a new group of people, remind them that the others there are equally as nervous and they have the opportunity to become an unofficial assistant host or hostess.  It might just be the perfect way to help everyone relax and become friends!

How to be the best Homeschool Mom you can be

What is the real reason you started to or are deciding to homeschool? Social reasons? Religious reasons? Academic reasons? A little of all of these?

While all of these are true for me, none of them are the number one reason we started to homeschool. Let me share our story… and be prepared because you may see a little of yourself in it, too.

When my oldest kids were just starting the schooling journey, we decided that in order to be good parents we needed to send them to excellently rated grade schools. Right?  Isn’t that what we are supposed to do to be good parents? These schools had some of the highest ratings in the country. We signed them up for extracurricular activities like soccer, ballet, and foreign language. We helped with homework and volunteered at the school. But you know what? Even though we were doing what our peers had repeatedly told us to do to be great parents, we both knew something was seriously missing. And so did our kids!  

BOTH of our kids who attended public school asked to be homeschooled before 2nd grade. Even they knew it wasn’t working! Our whole family wanted more. We wanted an extraordinary life. We wanted a life with each other, loving each other, loving life, and learning, We wanted something real. Going through the motions wasn’t it.

After we started on our homeschooling journey, we really started to figure things out. Not only did our whole family experience coming together in an amazing way we never dreamed possible, I also set a goal for myself to truly become a sensitive, tuned-in educator for my kids. I read everything I could get my hands on and became an expert on the various learning and teaching styles. This enabled me to adapt my approach to each of my unique children so that I could give each one exactly what they needed to reach the pinnacle of their learning potential.

Let me share with you what I’ve learned. 

Happy, healthy, successful families/people/homeschoolers tend to have a series of things in common. 

WHAT DOES MY STORY MEAN FOR YOU?

Whatever your reason for homeschooling, I know that if you are searching for more, sharing with you what I’ve learned during my 15 years of homeschooling may help you get clear on what you desire from your own homeschool journey.  If you are still struggling to find the right curriculum or you find that much of the time your kids are not excited to learn, this will give you the answers, direction, and peace of mind you are looking for.  I’m sure it will cut months, if not years, off your journey to finding your family’s sweet spot.

Let me share with you what I’ve learned. 

Now is the time to start having that homeschool experience you always hoped for!

Interviews with Homeschoolers

It's time for another exciting installment of the Interviews with Homeschoolers series! In this series, we share stories of awesome homeschoolers and homeschooled kids out there who have so much to share about their journeys in homeschooling. I was excited to get the opportunity to learn more about Teresa Bondora and her journey as an unschooling parent. Read what Teresa has to say about her children’s adventures in unschooling and how they are applying their childhood passions to their future careers!

My daughter will be 23 this week. She spent her teen years on the computer all the time watching Disney Movies, going to the mall to the Disney Store and concerts, and mostly showing no interest in anything. The time she spent on the computer was spent looking up random useless facts about Disney until she became an encyclopedia of “useless” information. This went on for years and I secretly worried that while she was a good reader and knew a lot of stuff about a lot of stuff, she wasn’t really doing anything that resembled anything like working toward any career or skill. I saw visions of her with kids, being left a single mom and not one skill to support herself. Or maybe she was going to live with me until she was 30. Or maybe she’d move out and back in repeatedly. Then she told me, she wanted to work at Disney World. “Great”, I thought. “A part-time, minimum wage job pushing a button on a ride.”

At 16 she got a job at a pizza joint but spent her off time talking about going to Disney. Meanwhile, her brother started playing Minecraft. All. The. Time.

Okay so, she’s working at a pizza place, he’s watching YouTube videos, and she’s saving her money for an annual pass to Disney World when others her age are saving for college. My unschooling experiment was failing right in front of my eyes, but this was their entire life that I was failing. 

I had traditional schooling, taught high school science, wrote books. I had a life because there’s a reason for “school” and I was going to go down as not loving them enough to “care”. I can’t tell you how much I worried and cried and had anxiety.

I didn’t want to discourage her but seriously, an annual pass to Disney World when we didn’t live close to Disney World? She didn’t even have a car. But she was determined. At this point my son wanted to attend Minecon and it was held in Orlando so of course my daughter was coming. She got off work and we left for Orlando. Each day I dropped her off at Disney and my son and I went to Minecon. She was in heaven. While we were there she told me one day she was going to be a concierge at the Grand Floridian.

So one night we took the monorail to the Grand Floridian and I asked her to stand in front of the concierge desk. I took her picture there in that place in case, one day, she really meant it and needed some encouragement. She said I was silly.

When we got back home she hit the computer again, and this time more useless information. The history of Walt himself, his brother Roy, what the numbers on the doors on Main Street meant, the Google earth view, the roads there, Youtube videos on abandoned things, what happened to the parts of the 10,000 Leagues ride. I mean, seriously, deep into details of everything. She learned about the passes you can get, what they cost, how people are hired and paid, what jobs are there, details of the dates places opened, who designed what and how. She watched Disney movies from birth over and over and continued to do so until her brother finally just said no. I think it was after the 10th time Rapunzel played in the den he just said, “Enough!”

But then he couldn’t stop about Minecraft.

For me, though, I did love Disney. I took her there while pregnant with her. At age one, she picked out a Mickey Mouse shirt. She loved Pocahontas and we sang Colors of The Wind hundreds of times.  Now I found myself looking back at that little girl and I started singing that song again. I was starting to think that if she lived with me until she was 30, that would be okay. And I got happy again about the way I chose to raise my kids.
 
So one day, she bought a bus ticket to visit her best friend in Florida for a few weeks. I drove her to the bus. She was more clingy than normal when we said goodbye. I got a sick feeling as the bus drove away. And then I got the phone call. She decided, if she was going to ever work there, she had to live closer. She told me she was moving in as a roommate with her friend in Pensacola and getting a job. Before the week was out, she had a job in the mall and she wasn’t coming home.

I sank. She was just gone. I cried, I worried, I had to listen to her not have enough money, to hear her complain about work or worry about transportation. And I couldn’t hug her or see her. This was my worst fear coming back to haunt me. Then she bought that annual pass.

No, not a car, an annual pass. And still with the Minecraft, my son, just obsessing over every modpack, every crafting thing you can do, just nothing but Minecraft. And here I am, a shining example of real work, people. I am an author. I have real books. Why did they not DO something? I accepted her new life and struggles, listened, helped where I could and over and over more Disney facts.

So one day she decided living in north Florida wasn’t fun and she didn’t like her job. She and a friend decided to go to Disney World, use her pass and sort of scout out the idea of living there. So she quit her job and went on a road trip. Yes. She QUIT her job. What in the world could she possibly be thinking? Normal people ask for time off, they don’t just quit!  But since I had committed to this way of schooling and life and supporting her completely, all I could do was tell her how happy I was she was going to be in her favorite place and to please send me pictures.

I hung up and cried. I cried so much. I worried so much because now, NOW when the reality of not having any money, no job and can’t pay rent sinks in, she will come home broken and I will have to sit down and apologize for failing her in the most profound way a mother could ever fail her child.

Each day I got these amazing pictures of her, she was just so happy, smiling and happy. And unbeknownst to me, while there, she applied online to work there. And she decided, yes, she was moving there. Within a few hours of her application she got an interview online. Within a few days of that, she was asked to please come to Disney property and interview in person. It was her last day there. When her interview was over they said they were so impressed with her knowledge that they sent her to interview for a position that was harder to get and paid more. When that interview was over, they told her how impressed they were with her vast knowledge and hired her.
 
When the phone rang, I was thinking I would have to hear about how sad she was that her time there was over. And instead she told me she had 2 weeks to report to training in ticketing at Magic Kingdom at Disney World. And in that moment, I burst into tears for all the years of fear and terror and sadness and worry and all the joy any mother could feel. And in that moment I knew that she knew she was always okay.

That was 2 years ago.

Today she has moved into operations training and development, parades, and calls with more happy news about how much she loves her job.

About a month ago she called to tell me that a new position for a concierge opened up and she applied for it. As time went on and we didn’t hear anything we figured, “oh well.” Then last week she got a call. She got an interview. She didn’t know which resort. She was so nervous, she finished the interview and at the end of it they told her how impressed they were with her performance in those 2 years, her knowledge, the kudos from guests that went in her file, the things her superiors had to say about her and that she had the job. She doesn’t know which resort but in 6 months she can apply to any resort concierge desk she wants. And when that day comes and she’s standing behind the desk at the Grand Floridian, I will go there and I will take her picture. I will put the one from years ago beside it and I will cry more than I’m crying now. I worried for most of her childhood about her obsession with "meaningless" trivia and useless information. But it wasn’t meaningless for her. It was life training! To hear her voice on the phone and how happy she is, there are no words...I leave in a few days to celebrate her birthday with her in her magical world! She loves her house, she pays her rent, she has her car, and she loves what she does every day.

And today, my son has learned about chemistry from Minecraft and wants to go into physics. He and I are co-writing a book on the chemistry of Minecraft that I have wanted to write but didn’t have the Minecraft knowledge he had. Together we will forge a future into the unknown, one day at a time. And as one lucky mom, I get to play in the playgrounds of my children’s creation. What more could a mother ask for?
 
Teresa Bondora is the author of the Periodic Table of Elements Coloring Book and lives in Atlanta, Ga. She speaks on education and the sciences. You can find her with a cup of coffee, mostly in her car.
 
The opinions and thoughts expressed here are purely those of the individual, and do not reflect those of The Walt Disney Company.

Making Valentine's Day Special

We love Valentine’s Day!  Always have and always will!  It is a fabulous excuse to show all those people you are grateful for how much you care.  Here are 10 fun ideas you can use to make your Valentine's Day a little extra special this year.

1.    Gather all the crafting supplies, add some magazines, lace, ribbon, glitter, stickers, etc. Dump it all on the table for an afternoon of Valentine card-making fun.  
2.    Add a list of sayings and ideas from the Internet or Pinterest to spark creativity.
3.    Give the kids a budget and take them to a crafting store or a dollar store for fun new supplies.
4.    Add a bowl of candy (candy hearts, mini chocolate bars, etc.) to include in those “sweet” themed cards.
5.    Have each kid make their own mailbox out of a shoebox or cereal box and wrapping paper.  These are perfect to set up for a great way to receive some love.
6.    Create a little delivery pouch out of a larger envelope for each kiddo to store their creations. Use ribbon or string for a strap.
7.    If having just a couple kids in the family is not generating enough buzz, be sure to include grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, and even favorite neighbors.
8.    Make Valentine’s Day a multi-day occasion.  Build up to the day by delivering little pre-cards.  This is a perfect opportunity for the kids to tell each other what they are grateful for about each other!
9.    Have a special Valentine’s baking time.  Cupcakes, cookies, or homemade chocolates are always a fun way to celebrate. And don’t forget to stock up on red food coloring!
10.    Before they wake up, create a “Heart Attack” on their door!  Make a bunch of cute colorful hearts full of loving words and things you love about them to cover their doors!  Add some balloons for some extra fun.

Here are just 10 easy-to-do ideas to get your Valentine’s Day juices flowing!  I find Pinterest a great resource for inspiration, so don’t stop with just these.

Let’s keep the ideas coming in the comments below.  I can’t wait to hear (and see your photos!) of the fun things you do with your kids for Valentine’s Day!

So Your Child Isn't Reading Yet

So, my child isn’t reading yet...

Wow.  This is such a big topic for some parents right now.  One of my children was a late reader, like an almost-12 late kind of reader.  Anyone related to any school system either told me or diagnosed him as dyslexic.  Ok.  Let’s give it a name and we all feel better.  Nope.  

After a ton of research, here is what I found out. First, I was not a failure and totally letting my kid down.  We as homeschooling parents can go there pretty quickly, can’t we?  The thing is, all kids are different.  They learn at different times and in different ways.  That is part of why we decided to do this, right?  We didn’t want our kids doing exactly what the school wanted them to do when they needed them to do it.  It was about our kids and what they needed most to thrive.  

This is where we need to shift how we are thinking.  We are homeschooling specifically so we can do what is best for our child.  That includes encouraging them to read in their own time.  We get to be grateful we don’t have to push them to go through the frustrating tasks of learning to read at such a young age.  I’m not bashing that at all.   One of my kids read at 3 and that was cool, too.  It is all about how your kid is made.  

Think about this for a moment.  Why do kids need to be reading by first grade, or kindergarten, or second grade, or whatever your school district decides?  So it is easier to teach them later.  How are they going to be able to do their worksheets?  Read their textbooks?  Take their tests?  How is a teacher supposed to function if all of her students aren’t reading what she is giving them to do?  It is not the teacher’s fault.  It is how the system is set up.  The school then sets standards based on their system and if the kids aren’t reading to level it messes with the testing and then everyone is failing.  Now we have a society that believes a child must be reading by a certain age and we all lose sight of what the child needs or is capable of doing at a particular age.  

The science behind this, according to Dr. Raymond Moore, shows that children can learn to read as early as 3 and many as late as 8 or 9, especially boys.  It is not uncommon for some boys to wait until 11-12 when there is a key developmental change in their brain.  Check out the book Better Late Than Early: A New Approach to Your Child's Education.  He discusses all of this there as well as in some of his other books.  The key is that there is a huge difference between teaching your child to read and being a lifelong reader.  We can usually force a 5 or 6 year old to functionally read, but is there enjoyment or even comprehension? Our goal is to raise a lifelong learner, not a rushed reader.

What should you do with a child who may be, according to some, a late reader?  That is easy!  DO NOT make them feel bad about it.  It is normal and stress will make it harder and convince them that they will never enjoy being a reader.  
Here are several other tips:

1.    Read to them often and/or turn on audio books.  Hearing and experiencing the process will help them to enjoy it later as well as get there more easily.  

2.    If you are worried about them getting behind, teach them to “write” a paper verbally.  There are so many apps that can turn words into writing these days.  Use them to create a rough draft all while teaching the basics of an Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.  This is a great skill to have anyway.  Your child will end up being a great speaker as well as a reader/writer.  

3.    My son was very adept at memorizing as well.  Build on their strengths!  Maybe you have noticed that kids often develop quickly in one area and while that is happening the other areas can take a back seat.  Think of a baby learning to walk.  Usually their speech stalls for a while until they get all of that gross motor stuff figured out.  This way of development doesn’t stop after they are done being babies.

4.    You can totally find other kids in the same situation.  Let your child know he is not alone.  Check your local homeschool groups or check for other families on Facebook, for example.  Having friends or even knowing about them can be a huge help.

5.    If your child is feeling down about the whole reading thing, start focusing on what they are awesome at.  Usually they are really good with at least one other thing, if not several.  My son could describe a black hole in way I didn’t even understand two years before he was a regular reader.  Find out what they really know.

6.    The real key to all of this is that the whole reading thing is really not the huge issue we’re all afraid it is.  It really isn’t.  Search for your gratitude and show your child and yourself that you’ve got this and know that this is just part of the reason you chose to homeschool in the first place!

I would love to hear your experiences with teaching your own children to read. Leave a comment below!

Interviews with Homeschoolers

A few weeks back, I launched the Homeschool Questionnaire Project, aimed at learning more about the awesome homeschoolers and homeschooled kids out there! I was excited to get the opportunity to learn more about Ashley Turner and her journey growing up as a homeschooled child. Let’s see what Ashley has to say about her childhood in homeschooling!

Tell us a little about yourself Ashley! Where are you from?

I’m from West Chicago, Illinois.

How big is your family and how long have you been homeschooled?

There are 7 members in my family including my parents. I’ve been homeschooled my entire life!

What homeschooling style did your parents use?

They used an eclectic style - unit studies when we were younger, literature based, and classical/Charlotte Mason style homeschooling.

What is your story? Tell us what is so cool about your journey? What do you want to share?

I’m Ashley Grace Turner and I'm 16 years old. I have a burning passion for the arts! I'm graduating a year early, and I love to learn new things! I always loved to draw, but when I was 9 years old, I really started getting into it. I found myself a mentor, Mr. Tod Carter, who is a great artist and works in the animation industry. He is the one who really inspired me and opened my eyes to the world of art! I then started to watch hundreds of hours worth of art videos on YouTube to improve on it! I fell in love with art then, and I'm still in love with it today!

What are/were your top 3 favorite things about homeschooling?

My three favorite things about growing up homeschooled are being surrounded by my family, having the opportunity to spend more time where it is needed, and doing school outside of the house.

1. I love being surrounded by my family every day. They are fun people to be around!

2. I really enjoy having the flexibility to work at my own pace and spend more of my time on subjects that are not my strongest.

3. I have the freedom to do school wherever I want! So if it is a nice day we can all do our work outside, or we can go out to Starbucks and do it there!

How do you think homeschooling has prepared you for what is next?

I love to draw, and being homeschooled has really given me the time and space to explore my creativity! I can finish school early each day and spend the rest of the day perfecting my artwork. Once I graduate I plan on getting into the movie industry. Homeschooling has given me the time and space to explore my creativity!

What are you most grateful for on this journey?

I'm very grateful for my mom. She helped me in all of my school subjects and pushed me to become a better student as well as a better person. She also encouraged me to grow in my art. I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for my mom's motivation.

If you had three suggestions for other homeschooling families, what would they be?  

1. Stay self motivated! Once you do that, you can accomplish anything.

2. Get inspired and find a mentor.

3. Do what you love, and try to incorporate that into your learning. For example, I like art, so I integrate that into almost all of my subjects and it makes them fun and interesting!

If you could do something differently, what would it be?

I wish I would have managed my time better when I was younger so that I could have gotten more done and maybe even graduated earlier! When I was younger there were times when I didn't give it my all and now I see how foolish that was. Using a day planner is a great life investment!

What is next for you?

I am still in the process of figuring out my long term plans. Right now I plan on graduating early and taking a year off, devoting all of my spare time to my art and seeing what God has in store for my life!

Do you have a website, blog, or Facebook group etc. that you would like to share?

You can check out my Facebook Page, Portfolio Website, and Instagram!

Are you open to other homeschooling families reaching out to you to chat through emails?

Yes! My email is ashleyturner1000@gmail.com

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us this week, Ashley. We always love to hear from other homeschooling families to learn more about their unique journeys! If you’d like to share your homeschooling story and have the chance to be featured on a future blog post check out the details HERE. We look forward to hearing from you!

Win a Scholarship to Homeschool with Confidence

As we were planning 2016 here at Gauthier Group headquarters, giving was one of our predominate themes.  How can we give more this year?  How can we give more to the people who matter most to us, to the people we want to serve, and to the things that matter most in the areas of change in the world we are dedicated to serving?  You probably already know this because you do it every day when you homeschool, but giving is the main aspect of an outstanding life.  If gratitude is the special sauce, giving is definitely the main deal!

We came up with some amazing plans for 2016 and I cannot wait to share!  Our first idea is this right here and we hope you will love it!  We are giving away not just one but TWO scholarships to Homeschool with Confidence – The Ultimate Homeschool Teachers Training!  

The Scholarship Prize

A full benefit registration to Homeschool with Confidence, The Ultimate Homeschool Teacher's Training.

Here's how to win

Create a video following the directions below:

1. Make a short video. In it, answer these questions:

• Who are you, where are you from, and why do you love homeschooling? You can also share anything you'd like about your kiddos (or not as you see fit!)
• Why do you think Homeschool with Confidence, The Ultimate Homeschool Teacher's Training is a must for your homeschool?
• Why can't you wait to start?
• Feel free to be creative!

2. Post your video on the Juli Gauthier Facebook Page

3. Share it! Share it in at least one place - Facebook (on your wall or in a group), Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. Be sure to include #homeschoolwithconfidence. Bonus points for each share (See below for more information.)

4. What else do you want us to know? You can interpret this in any way that you want. You can post this with your video on our wall. No emails will be considered. Sorry!

SOCIAL MEDIA BONUS POINTS

Wanna boost your chances of winning? Spread the word about The Homeschool with Confidence scholarship contest on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram!

Some sample copy blurbs to get your creative juices flowing:

I can't wait to transform my homeschool when I win a spot in @Juli_Gauthier Homeschool with Confidence http://bit.ly/1mTuTGx #homeschoolwithconfidence

I am so ready to win! @Juli_Gauthier Homeschool with Confidence http://bit.ly/1mTuTGx #homeschoolwithconfidence

This scholarship contest has my name on it @Juli_Gauthier Homeschool with Confidence http://bit.ly/1mTuTGx #homeschoolwithconfidence

You can share your Homeschool with Confidence yearnings on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram up to three times per day, and use any wording you like. But all Tweets and FB posts must include the #homeschoolwithconfidence hashtag and the official shortlink to this post: http://bit.ly/1mTuTGx (Instagram is kind of a pain like that, so do whatever you feel is best.)

Here's everything you need to know about this contest:

1. You can enter to win with your video post. And YES, it's got to be public - no email entries will count. 

2. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram shares get you bonus points. And they must contain #homeschoolwithconfidence and a shortlink to this post: http://bit.ly/1mTuTGx

3. The entry deadline is 5pm EST on Friday February 5, 2016 and the winners will be announced on Monday.

4. No purchase is necessary to win.

5. We are the judges and our decision on the two winners is subjective and final (but we really do love and appreciate every single one of you, and there's nothing but love coming your way).

Remember: We’re looking for heart, creativity, kindness and the ability to follow directions. Show us your commitment and how this program can help you reach and exceed your dreams for your kids and homeschool. We can’t wait to see all of your entries and social media shout-outs!