Podcast
Homeschooling Outside the Box
Hosted by Cindy Rinna · EN
Homeschooling Outside the Box is the podcast that encourages and equips moms who homeschool an outside-the-box child. Join the host, Cindy Rinna, as she talks about Charlotte Mason education, the joys and challenges of homeschooling Outside-the-Box kids, and creating a homeschool that fits your unique family.
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
On Memory Work: Homeschooling by Subject
Nov 2000:22:37Tap to summarizeThe phrase "memory work" is one that can carry baggage for people. The act of memorizing something may bring to mind a collection of facts you memorized as a child that you now deem useless such as the planets or the names of the bones in the body. You may think of learning scripture verses in exchange for candy or cramming gobs of information into your head the night before an exam. You may think of your phone number or address and yes, memory work can include these things, but the heart of memory work is a very different thing than mind-numbing memorization. Read more and find links on my Substack
Transcribe →Replay: Poetry & Teatime with Julie Bogart
Oct 2700:53:35Tap to summarizeI am not doing interviews right now, but I want to bring you some great talks from past seasons. Enjoy! Do you consider poetry to be a staple of your homeschool? Oftentimes when the subject of poetry comes up with other parents, even the most enthusiastic homeschoolers will admit that they shy away from this subject. When I press to understand why that is, the answer is usually that they themselves are not excited about poetry – they consider it either intimidating or boring or have had such a bad experience with poetry that they loathe it entirely. Join me today as I talk with Julie Bogart of Brave Writer, who is known for her love of poetry as well as her writing and language arts resources and her coaching and mentoring program for home educators, The Homeschool Alliance. Julie shares with us the enriching role poetry played as she homeschooled her five children over the course of 17 years and shares with us the secret to making the connection with your children (hint…it has something to do with teatime!). Julie gives persuasive encouragement to moms and who would much rather pass on reading poetry in their homeschool as well as inspires moms who already love poetry by giving some practical ideas for integrating it more successfully into the homeschool routine. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL HEAR: why poetry matters today the benefits of reading poetry aloud why poetry is accessible to everyone how to love poetry if you don't right now how to entice your children to love poetry how poetry is especially nurturing to Outside-the-Box children
Transcribe →On Poetry: Homeschooling by Subject
Oct 1600:33:52Tap to summarizeDo you consider poetry to be a staple of your homeschool? Of your life? Oftentimes when the subject of poetry comes up with other parents, even the most enthusiastic homeschoolers will admit that they shy away from this subject. When I press to understand why that is, the answer is usually that they themselves are not excited about poetry. They consider it either intimidating or boring or they have had such a bad experience with poetry that they loathe it entirely. But poetry matters. READ MORE AND FIND LINKS ON MY SUBSTACK.
Transcribe →On Folk Songs: Homeschooling by Subject
Oct 1500:09:08Tap to summarizeThis is going to sound familiar; a lot of what I had to say about hymns applies to folk songs, as well. Of course, there is a sacredness that goes along with hymns that you don't find in folk songs but that doesn't mean we should skip them. Folk songs pass culture from one generation to the next and help us learn about certain time periods, people, and places. They're also a pretty trustworthy source of entertainment for your kids. Like I said last time, singing has been a part of humanity for all of time and it's only recently that we've consigned it to the "experts" and you really only hear people singing on stage or in church. Let's sing in our homes, too. To sing is to be human. READ MORE AND FIND LINKS ON MY SUBSTACK
Transcribe →On Hymn Study: Homeschooling by Subject
Aug 2600:14:11Tap to summarizeOver the next few months I'm going to break down each subject and look at how we study it and what our favorite resources are. Our family adheres to Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education. To truly understand how to teach each subject, check out my series on Charlotte Mason's 20 Principles. Hymn study is one of those easy to neglect subjects. We write it off as unnecessary because we feel it's either archaic or something that belongs in church (that is if your church still sing hymns. I hope you're blessed to be at a church that does). But I encourage you to do hymn study with your kids. Singing has been a part of humanity for all of time and it's only recently that we've consigned it to the "experts" and you really only hear people singing on stage or in church. Let's sing in our homes, too. To sing is to be human. And what better to sing than the hymns? Read more and find links on my Substack
Transcribe →On Planning Your School Year: The (Almost) Back to School Episode
Jul 22, 202500:37:45Tap to summarizeI'm big on philosophy when it comes to education but at some point we need to stop thinking and discussing and actually do the thing. This is the nuts and bolts of it all. How do we actually homeschool? What is the super practical application of the beautiful Charlotte Mason Philosophy? If your child is under 6, get all thoughts of curriculum shopping out of your head and commit to these three things instead: Read great books, Go outside, Work on habits. (Trust me). That said, sometimes we are so excited about homeschooling, we just want to take it out on someone (i.e. your oldest child). If that's you, consider this. ;) If your child is school aged or high school aged, decide if you want to rely on an all-in-one curriculum like Ambleside Online or Simply Charlotte Mason, or if you'd like to piece it together for yourself. Figure out what you want to teach each child (individual work) and what you can combine (group work, aka Morning Time). Or flip these if that makes more sense for you. Use a planner of some sort to help you stay organized. If you are putting together your own curriculum, plan your year/term/week (this podcast breaks this down). Decide where these things will fit in your day (routine). Cut the fat (we always want to do too much; make Margin now or regret it later). Make your list and collect the curriculum and supplies you'll need (Borrow, bargain-hunt, or buy). Pick a start date. I suggest a Wednesday, not a Monday. You can also ease in and start Morning Time only on Monday, add individual readings on Tuesday, shoot for full day on Wednesday or whatever works best for your family. Make start day fun — cook a big delicious breakfast and take "back to school" pictures afterwards. Adjust the plan as needed. Remember, curriculum is a tool, not the master ;) Resources* All six of Charlotte Mason's volumes, but especially this one Sarah Mackenzie's Teaching from Rest Ambleside Online is a time-tested, all-in-one (FREE!) curriculum Morning Time by Cindy Rollins Simply Charlotte Mason, especially the podcast and the curriculum builder The Lifegiving Home by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Clarkson Modern Miss Mason, especially her book Wild + Free, especially their conference, content bundles, and this book Get Started Homeschooling: Begin Get Started Homeschooling: Methods, Teaching Space & Routine Get Started Homeschooling: Subjects to Teach & Curriculum to Choose Get Started Homeschooling: Organizing & Planning Essential Rhythms for Busy Days Homeschool Rhythms: Get Ready Homeschool Rhythms: Rest Time Homeschool Rhythms: Reading Aloud Homeschool Rhythms: Individual Work Homeschool Rhythms: Group Work Homeschool Rhythms: Narrations Homeschool Rhythms: Morning Time On Starting Well On Littles (for those with children age 6 and under) On Education On Principles 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15: The Curriculum Issue On Rhythms & Routines ***The (Very Updated) Get Started Homeschooling Guide *** If you get stuck, email/message me to find out more about my private or group consultations to help you plan your homeschool year. Thank you for reading. I offer forever-free articles on my Substack every month and a paid monthly resource, as well. You can become a paid subscriber to support my work. If that's not for you right now, shared links are the best way for others to find my work. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and share :).
Transcribe →Replay: The Importance of Humor with Betsy Jenkins from Homeschooling with the Classics
Jul 8, 202500:31:14Tap to summarizeI am not doing interviews right now, but I want to bring you some great talks from past seasons. Enjoy! Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart. It requires endurance and initiative. It requires sacrifice and diligence. But it also requires something you might not realize…a sense of humor. We homeschool moms can be so serious; the stakes are high! We're going against the grain! What if we mess up…this is our kids we're talking about, after all?! But, but, but…we were never meant to completely reinvent the wheel, and one of the best things we can do for ourselves, our families, and our homeschool is to take ourselves just a tad less seriously. If you are on Instagram, you have no doubt seen memes of classic artwork splashed with humorous text. Betsy Jenkins is the woman behind the memes and it's her mission to make you laugh. She does an amazing job at this while simultaneously educating people on art and exposing them to a wide range of prints. Betsy's homeschool memes began as a family thing and she started her Instagram account, "Homeschooling With the Classics" as a simple way to share them with a few friends. These few friends have multiplied into thousands of followers who are thirsty for a refreshing laugh in the midst of their busy homeschool day. She struck a chord in the community and for good reason; laughter is a soothing balm on a hard day and the mental refreshment that we need to persevere towards excellence. Join us today as Betsy and I indulge the importance of laughter in our homeschools. SHOW NOTES Betsy's Instagram account, Homeschooling_with the Classics
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