Vintage Homeschool Moms

Will Homeschooling Ruin My Children? At a homeschool conference long ago one mom shared with me that she was concerned that she could ruin her children. What did she mean? Was it due to academics, socialization, or was she just an insecure person? I have my thoughts, which I will share with you in this podcast! Homeschooling is a mixed bag of trials! What are some of those things? First the logistics of getting everything done from academics to household chores as well as keeping our relationships in tact such as saying more than, "I'm exhausted" to your spouse. So, what to do? In this session I share the three - "P's" in detail... they are as follows: 1. Prayer 2. Planning 3. Patience What is your overall goal and focus of homeschooling? This is not something you jump into right away -- it is something you think about, mull over, and pray about! Ask your spouse, your friends, your podcast leaders on this broadcast! You focus on one thing at a time. Be sure your focus is what is the most important thing for you to accomplish. Is it spiritual? Be sure you use good books, read aloud, pour into your kids with family Bible studies or discussions that are open ended and you can talk and share about together ... Questions? Be sure to post them here - or ask over on our Facebook page. Be sure you tag me @FeliceGerwitz - if you want me to see it! Additional Suggestions: Homeschooling with Proverbs - Family Bible Study Carol Topp's Podcast - topic - 5-Warnings Against Frugal Homeschooling HomeschooingIRL - with Fletch and Kendra -- Will Homeschooling Save My Kids? - Part ONE HomeschooingIRL - with Fletch and Kendra -- Will Homeschooling Save My Kids? - Part TWO

  Let’s Talk about Great Ideas to Organize Your HomeSchool with your host Felice Gerwitz and Christina (Gerwitz) Moss So, true confessions time – I am not organized. There. I said it! My excuse? I’m an idea person – I’m in the midst of one project after another.  What to do? Pull in the troops – my daughter, that is…Christina, my daughter is one of the most organized people I know. It was natural that I would ask her to share her ideas with you. I can’t wait. You are in for a fun session. Christina discusses scheduling your homeschool year, your curriculum, books as well as how to make changes when curriculum choices don't work. Christina (Gerwitz) Moss was homeschooled K-12 and graduated from FGCU with a degree in Communication, and minor in Anthropology. She is married and homeschools her children. She has six children grades 3 and down. She is the co-author of the Truth Seekers Mystery Series. Show Notes: 1. Obstacles to homeschool organization 2. Organizing books - and curriculum 3. Selecting curriculum that works - changes as you/family change 4. Scheduling - older and younger Kids 4. Using a schedule to plan your year 5. Daily schedule examples Christina and I spoke about many things - and I'm so excited to have her share ways to Organize Your Homeschool! Here is the schedule Christina uses: ChristinaMoss-DailySchedule  Pinterest Boards Homeschool Organization

Let’s Talk about Encouraging Your Child with Felice Gerwitz Encouraging Your Child - it begins with positive words and a surprise element ... Let me ask, does your child become excited when talking about an invention or figuring out how to repair a tool for the first time? What about the child who wants to take everything apart? How do you encourage creative, imaginative and entrepreneurs in the making without losing your mind? Join Felice as she explains how she encouraged her then, homeschooled daughter to begin writing (translated into a series of successful books – Truth Seeker’s Mystery Series - as well as her discovery about an "unstable element" that became a leading laundry booster years later. No she did not invent it! Study - Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. More on ideas here - Developing Great Ideas  Show Notes - Encouraging Your Child: 1. How are great ideas similar to science fair projects? 2. How do you encourage your child when you think the idea may not work? 3. Using the scientific method, ways it can help your child organize their ideas. 4. Brainstorming, a.k.a. Brain Dumping. Remember: The key to developing great ideas is to have the time to think about it - schedule your homeschool day to allow time for your child to explore their ideas or hobbies.  

Let’s Talk about Five Great Homeschooling Ideas! with your host Felice Gerwitz After homeschooling for many years there are some things that work great – and others, well…not so great. I know that many of you have great ideas as well! Hope you will share it with all of us as well! These are five great homeschool ideas that will transform your homeschool from mediocre to fabulous! Believe me, if you clone traditional school and try to make it homeschool you will find it difficult to stay on course. Contact Felice at any time! Reach her at Felice (at) Media Angels.com Share with a friend! Show Notes  The main points below explain what I consider five great homeschool ideas - in fact, these are the backbone of my homeschool foundation. I am a proponent of making homeschooling unique and not a replica of traditional school - and that is exactly what I try to do each day. Do we use textbooks and workbook? Yes, at times, however it is important to create a home environment where learning takes center stage. Do your kids ask you to play with their science equipment? Among other antidotal stories, Felice shares this with you. Main Points: 1. Get rid of busy work 2. Make school unique 3. Find non-academic areas of interest - gifts/talents 4. Alone Time 5. Academics Recommended Products I've Used: Sequential Spelling Program Writing without Tears Media Angels Books Janice Van Cleaves Science Books

Let’s Talk about GREAT Homeschooling Ideas with your host Felice Gerwitz and Meredith Curtis! Secrets – Secrets – Secrets – How do these homeschool moms who have homeschooled for YEARS do it? Let Felice and Meredith share some of their GREAT homeschooling ideas with all of you – you’ll be happy to hear we’ve all made mistakes, but our favorite ideas are what makes homeschooling so worth it! Show Notes: For some great Homeschooling ideas - visit Meredith Curtis - Blog Here - Website Here  Felice Gerwitz's Publishing Website - for some great homeschooling ideas, classes and books - MediaAngels.com Meredith's Great Homeschooling Ideas: 1. Teaching History with another family - co-ops 2. Building a Home Library - here is the link to get Meredith's book list! For FREE!  - remember this is a copyrighted list - please do not place this on your website - for personal use only. 3. Quiet Time Felice's Great Homeschooling Ideas: 1. Timelines and Unit Studies 2. Check Off Lists - Book Lists and Movie Lists  - Here is a copy of the list Felice uses in her homeschool for her children - here Free handouts and printables on Felice's website - here 3. Games! Learn how Felice uses games in her homeschool to test for knowledge - no matter what your child's age Books By Felice and Meredith More Books Felice recommends Mapping the World By Heart [easyazon_image add_to_cart="default" align="left" asin="1891405659" cloaking="default" height="160" localization="default" locale="US" nofollow="default" new_window="default" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51qRFdAc8mL._SL160_.jpg" tag="ultihomeradin-20" width="104"] Timeline Book - by Amy Pak - Direct Website HERE [easyazon_image add_to_cart="default" align="left" asin="097202655X" cloaking="default" height="160" localization="default" locale="US" nofollow="default" new_window="default" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4145NxJSVML._SL160_.jpg" tag="ultihomeradin-20" width="142"]

Let’s Talk about – Developing Great Ideas! with your host Felice Gerwitz  So, you have an idea and you wonder how to go about taking it from inception to creation … join Felice Gerwitz (serial entrepreneur) as she shares some successes as well as failures – in addition she shares her insights, tips and the nine steps she uses to developing great ideas into a usable product or service!   Show Notes:   Here are the quick steps outlined in this podcast on developing great ideas! 1. Initial Idea - What is it? 2. Research 3. Evaluate 4. Market 5. Feedback 6. Business Plan 7. Prototype 8. Test and Feedback 9. Improve The audio covers real examples, some legal cautions dealing with sharing your ideas, and more! Some of these products are free - for some there is a cost. I've personally used MindMapper Software - they do have a free collaboration offer - Here [easyazon_image add_to_cart="default" align="left" asin="B00OSDY8PI" cloaking="default" height="160" localization="default" locale="US" nofollow="default" new_window="default" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51m1ycQGnAL._SL160_.jpg" tag="ultihomeradin-20" width="115"] [easyazon_image add_to_cart="default" align="left" asin="B00IIYRRFQ" cloaking="default" height="160" localization="default" locale="US" nofollow="default" new_window="default" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51wlUUKZYuL._SL160_.jpg" tag="ultihomeradin-20" width="107"] [easyazon_image add_to_cart="default" align="left" asin="B00345XP7I" cloaking="default" height="160" localization="default" locale="US" nofollow="default" new_window="default" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41fnb7%2B7zUL._SL160_.jpg" tag="ultihomeradin-20" width="113"]

A Baptism, A Wedding and a Funeral Let’s Talk about Life: The UPs and The Downs with your host Felice Gerwitz  In the past months I’ve run the gamut of life by attending a baptisma, a wedding and a funeral. While I’m sure the Lord has a plan for each of us, and no one knows the time of our last breath, it is still difficult to deal with tragedy when it strikes. I realized life had come full circle! Today I discuss how I’m able to cope – and ways you can as well. Contact Felice at any time! Reach her at Felice (at) Media Angels.com Share with a friend!    Show Notes:  A Baptism - A Wedding - and - A Funeral  Scriptures that help in time of need: Phillipians 4:4 - 4:6-8 Romans 15:11 Isaiah 41:10 1 Corithians 10:13 Proverbs 3:5-6 Proverbs 12:25 Romans 8:26 Joshua 1:9 Matthew 11:28-30 John 10:10 Proverbs 17:22 Matthew 11:28 2 Timothy 1:7-18 John 3:16 Luke 23:34 Psalm 46:10   Handout Just For You! Encouragement for those who suffer This word art is for you to hang on your wall - it is created from the verse Proverbs 3:5-6  - to copy this image or download it - "Save As" then print it out and hang it on a wall to encourage you!  

What are the Pros and Cons of College for Homeschoolers? As a homeschool parent with a college degree, I worried about being unbiased about the pros and cons of college for homeschoolers - as my children excelled in the home environment. Did they really need to go to college? I thought they did. Out of five children, I will very possibly have the majority not opt for college. To me, a college snob that was untenable. However, homeschooling often matures the parents as they study alongside their children and for me, I now know it is ultimately a decision each child must make. But, how to let go? In this episode of Vintage Homeschool Moms, Felice Gerwitz shares how she went through the process, step-by-step. Show Notes: 1. Begin with prayer 2. Look at career aptitude tests. Here are some recommendations. Pros and Cons of College - Begin with Career Apptitude Career Direct  Career Direct Online  Christian Career Center Christian Net College Degrees Riley Guide Assessment 3. Look at the jobs that interest you 4. Pros & Cons - listen to the audio for a list

Let’s Talk about Work at Home - Homeschool Moms with your host Felice Gerwitz  Are you considering the idea of become a work at home mom? Or are you currently a work at home mom? (WAHM)? In this broadcast you will learn ways to make the transition easier and Felice shares the things she wishes she had known before she wrote her first book! With a few key things in place you can have a wonderful experience with the added benefit of teaching your children, and having them learn business principles as well. Contact Felice at any time! Reach her at Felice (at) Media Angels.com Another Show to check out on our network - Balancing Home & Family from HomeschoolingIRL Show Notes:   Here is the test I shared on this episode - for the answers listen to the broadcast: Being a work at home mom can be equally rewarding and frustrating. Let’s take a test answer true or false to the following questions: * Very organized – you have a list for everything and everything (or mostly everything) in it’s place. * You are a procrastinator; you wait until the very last minute to get jobs done. * You are not overly organized but not a train-wreck either. You get things done on time and for the most part you have it together. * You care if you are late to an appointment in fact it stresses you. * You don’t care if you are late – after all everyone will have to wait for you to arrive anyway. * You are on time, you are not too early or too late. * You like to do one thing at a time and finish it completely before beginning the next task * You start many things and sometimes finish, but most of the time have many projects started * You can multi-task and for the most part get things done. * You plan things well in advance and have a back up plan. * You never plan, you like to wing things and often do things on the spur of the moment. * You do plan, but do like being spontaneous. You think about having a back up plan, but don’t necessarily have it all worked out. * You are an idea person – you are brimming with lots of great ideas you can’t wait to implement. * You have many ideas but like to test them out first and be sure they will work before you attempt any of them. * You have ideas that you would like to implement, keep an idea book and will try them, maybe testing them first and maybe not. Answers given in the podcast! Can you guess whether Felice is personality A, B, or C? More Notes: Work at Home Moms or a Family Business: * Begin at the Beginning: * What is your plan? * Are you an entrepreneur? What does that word mean to you? * Research * Trusting * Finding a mentor or hiring a consultant Research: * What is our plan * Are you expecting a big break (or did you have one)? * What are your priorities? * How will you fit your plan into your priorities? Weigh Your Options: (Key - do this every three months if possible) * Discern * Everything looks "good" ... is it right for you? * What is your family life-style? * How will you fit work into your life style? * How rigid is your schedule? * Are you a paycheck person? * Are you a 9-5 person? * Get help if needed - mentor/consultant Family Life Trusting and Stepping Out Homeschool and Business Regroup: * Analyze past performance

  What is true love? Is it racey like in the movie "Fifty Shades of Grey"? The prince on the stead or is it more like the love of two elderly grey-haired people walking hand-in-hand? Whatever you think true love is, I invite you to tune in to today's episode of Vintage Homeschool Mom's, Lunch with Meredith and Felice to hear their top three true-love, must-haves! Handout here: Lunch with Meredith and Felice - True Love Show Notes: True Love Today's sponsors are Media Angels Publishing and Powerline Productions Today we discuss true love with Felice and Meredith each giving three of their top recommendations. There is a handout if you want to take notes: Lunch with Meredith and Felice - True Love Felice's Top Three: 1. Being unselfish 2. True love is found in the little things 3. Praying for and over your spouse and children Meredith's Top Three: 1. Doing things the other person loves 2. Singing the other person's praises - being uplifting 3. Speaking words of life Meredith and I use a very unscientific method toward coming up with our top three - and we bathe each episode in prayer! As you can see our top three points dovetail so beautifully and all the credit goes to our Lord, Jesus Christ! Please share this episode that debunks what people "think" is true love - such as that portrayed in the media with racy movies such as "Fifty Shades of Grey" or the book that many women read in private. This is not what true love is. True love is a call to give our yourself for another such as that depicted by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Read John 3:10-15 (read the entire book of John!) and you will see true love.

Let's Talk About Your Yearly Homeschool Evaluation with A Middle of the Year Check-Up We go to the doctor's office for yearly evaluation, but never consider looking at your yearly homeschool evaluations at the middle of the year. The place to being any formal check-up process is now! One year I was so upset that my year had fallen apart and my lofty goals were just not being met that I devised a series of check lists to help me get back on track. I was so worried that at our yearly homeschool evaluations I would be told that I had done a poor job. I was so happy the thought occured to me in the middle-of-the-year, while I still had time to remedy the situation. I devised a series of checklists (something totally against this spontaneous person's grain!) and I loved it! Today I share the second in the three-part series with you! In this session you will take a hard look at your year and if you are off track - look at ways to get back on track...especially before the dreaded yearly homeschool evaluations!     This three part series of the Yearly Homeschool Evaluation consists of: * A Beginning of the Year Check-Up * A Middle of the Year Check-Up * An End of the Year Check-Up Available at Media Angels, Inc. For more information on the three part series - visit Media Angels.com and the eBook and Audio Downloads.

Let’s Talk about Getting Published - Publishing 101 - What You Need To Know with your host Felice Gerwitz Today we discuss the next step after you write a manuscript. Publishing 101 - what you need to get started. How do you get a book in print? When is it ready? How do you sell it? These and other questions are answered in this session. Felice is an author and publisher with over sixty products in print and digital format. This show isn’t just for moms – it is for anyone who has wanted to see their own manuscript in print!  Show Notes - Publishing 101- What You Need to Know: Writer's tools Adobe Creative Cloud Apps - includes InDesign, Photoshop, Adobe PDF and more for a low monthly fee. Create Space - Amazon Self Publishing Service - no cost to set up a title. You must understand the requirements - learning curve for non-techie * Software Products * Microsoft Office * Features editing software * Documents are returned corrected * Interior of Book * InDesign * Word * Publisher * Photoshop * Professional Cover * graphics * Open Source Software * PDF – Kindle – Nook – iPad – iPhone, etc., etc. * Amazon is the King – KDP program * Kindle Digital Program * Quick turn around * Free – up to 3 times in 9 months   Recommended Books to Jump Start the Learning Process               Felice's book - Information in a Nutshell Writing and Publishing Books by Media Angels, INC. Business Tips & Taxes For Writers by Carol Topp, CPA   Reach for the Stars: A Young Writer's  by Susan Marlow   More resources - many of these are affiliate links. I make money from affiliates - but as always the information is free! This helps those interested in finding a publisher or an agent.  

Ready? Meet The Sociable Homeschooler - Vivienne McNeny Have you ever wondered how people just like you manage to homeschool their children and apparently love every moment of it?  Are you ready to give up the formative years of your children’s lives to a stranger?  Do you think homeschoolers are weird?  Does the word, homeschool, bring to mind Birkenstocks, jumpers, and hairy legs?  Honestly half of my family fit the hairy leg stereotype…so who cares?  I’m here to help you let go of any pre-conceived notions you may have about home educators.  Forget all the excuses ever made under the sun for not homeschooling and listen to my show which is a generous mix of my life as the oxymoron, Sociable Homeschooler, international guests from all walks of life and light hearted views and comments about education and basements.  I will also bend your ear with excerpts from my soon to be published book, also entitled, The Sociable Homeschooler, which chronicles many good causes for why my blue eyed cowboy and I chose to go off the deep end hand in hand with God and have everyone talking about us behind our backs and in the end winning them over.  Come and be won over on Toginet Radio Live on Fridays, if only to get a weekly taste of Britain.   Bio: Vivienne McNeny attended London University and earned a teaching degree in Child Psychology and Drama.  Both majors were put to good use later in her life when she entered the unknown waters of homeschooling but more immediately she ran her own sea-side restaurant and bar in the Channel Islands, raced powerboats, moved to Spain to teach water ski-ing and wind sailing, was whisked to Texas, where she finally settled down and married her blue-eyed cowboy.  She worked for Ticketmaster, had her family and eventually joined the homeschool movement while her children were still too young to object.  Here she dispelled the myth that homeschoolers were odd, surrendered her razor and embraced a lifestyle that celebrated jeux sans frontiers.  Her children graduated from college despite the fact that they were never chained to the kitchen table and today Vivienne hosts her own show on Toginet radio called The Sociable Homeschooler where she encourages like-minded parents, from all walks of life, to consider homeschooling as an heroic and viable move away from traditional school.  

Let's Talk -- Help! I Want To Change My Homeschool Teaching Method Podcast 116 with Felice Gerwitz Changing how you homeschool is never easy. The question to ask is, "Are you happy with status quo or do you like to change, improve and grow in your skills as a homeschool mom?" In this episode, Felice tackles the issue of changing the way you teach. Let's look at the different and most popular homeschool methods and see if any (or all) sound good to you. Let's get some change in bite-sized and manageable ways and bring joy to your school day and the hearts of your children! It's time to create memories. Please visit our sponsor - Second Harvest:       Show Notes: Discussion of various teaching methods popular among homeschooling: * Textbooks and workbooks * Classical Homeschooling * Unit Studies * Charlotte Mason * Eclectic * Unschooling Thanks to Second Harvest Curriculum our podcast sponsor. Visit them here * Second Harvest Curriculum website * Second Harvest Blog * Second Harvest Curriculum Facebook * Second Harvest Curriculum Twitter * Second Harvest Curriculum Pinterest Graphics - DepositPhoto.com copyright 2016, @syda_productions

Let’s Talk about Getting a Head Start on the New Year  – Small Changes that Impact Your Family in an Everlasting and positive way! with your host Felice Gerwitz and co-host, Meredith Curits Did you know that New Year’s resolutions typically last three whole days! Why is that? What can you do to make those changes you want to make, good changes and help your family as well? Listen in to this session with Felice and Meredith as they share great ways to make small changes that can impact have an everlasting impact on your family. Here is the list from both Meredith and Felice: Small Changes to Create an Everlasting Impact on Your Family! Remember, small changes do not happen all at one time, you can try to implement these slowly. Listen to the audio for more from these two ladies and enjoy a glass of ice-tea, water or coffee... and please share this page with a friend. [podpress] Meredith's List: 1. Pray together as a family. 2. Ask more questions and listen. 3. Applaud hard work Felice's List: 1. Prayer time as a family. 2. Family activities weekly. 3. Healthy eating habits [4. Time with spouse, weekly.] Listen to this episode for more insights as well as an answer to a remark from one of our listener who is overwhelmed by family life and has a difficult time, right now getting anything accomplished.