Toolbox for Learning Podcast
43 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago -Sharing resources, reviews and experiences of homeschooling from the perspectives of an adult who was homeschooled and the mom who taught him.
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Episodes
TB42: Interview Part 2 Growing Up Homeschooled
April 14, 2023 18:00 - 1 hour - 41.3 MBIn Part Two of this two part series Levi and Chaz discuss what life is like as an adult after being homeschooled. They give insights into what it was like: Starting college Getting their first jobs Transitions into adulthood Things they will change when homeschooling their own children Things they appreciate from their own homeschool experience They end by giving advice to both parents and homeschoolers, from the perspective of adults who were homeschooled. In Part One, Levi and Chaz...
TB 41: Interview Part 1 - Growing Up Homeschooled
March 16, 2023 22:00 - 44 minutes - 30.7 MBMost podcast focus on assisting homeschool parents as they navigate the homeschool adventure. Instead, our next two podcast will be focusing on what homeschooling looks like to our kids. In this podcast, Chaz and Levi will be discussing what it was like growing up in the homeschool environment. What they like, what they didn't like and what they wish they had done differently. They give advice to parents and their homeschooled children, encouraging children to carefully evaluate the gift...
TB 40: The Funny Boy - Part 5 The Disruptive Homeschooler
March 03, 2023 20:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBDisruptions in the homeschool are inevitable. But when your homeschooler is doing the disrupting things can get out of control fast. In this series we are discussing what to do when our homeschooler insists on disrupting the day, and why they do it. In today's podcast, part 5 of the series, Chaz and Christie are discussing the funny child. This child brings so much joy, and light hearted good times to the classroom. But a funny child out of control can also bring frustration and choas. C...
TB 39: The Disruptive Homeschooler - Part 4 The Talker
February 15, 2023 22:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MBIn this series, we have been discussing what to do when your homeschooler disrupts the school day. This podcast discusses the talker. This is the child who just can't seem to stop disrupting, because they just have to tell you one more thing. Chaz and Christie give tips and insights into the talker and how to help them use their natural inclination to learn and develop, while still maintaining stability in the classroom. Chaz describes what it was like being a homeschool talker and the fr...
TB 38: Part 3: The Watch Me/Look at This Homeschooler - The Disruptive Homeschooler Series
February 02, 2023 01:00 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBDisruptions in the school day. They come in many different forms, from the phone ringing, to errands that have to be run, the list is endless and constant. But the hardest is when your homeschooler is the disruptor. In this series, The Disruptive Homeschooler, Chaz and Christie discuss five of the most common disruptive behaviors seen in most homeschools. Although no child has only one means of disrupting, you will see a natural inclination towards a specific means of drawing unproductive ...
TB 37: Part 2 - The Deflector, The Disruptive Homeschooler Series
January 17, 2023 20:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBDisruptions in the school day, everyone has them. But what do you do when your biggest disruption is your homeschooler. In this series Chaz and Christie discuss some of the most common disruptive behaviors and share tips for getting back control of your homeschool. Todays podcast focuses on the Deflector. These homeschoolers have a wide range of tools they can use to disassemble even the best planned school day. They ask questions that are off topic and are hard to answer, give tidbits of k...
TB 36: The Disruptive Homeschooler Part 1- The Meltdown Child
January 06, 2023 19:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBDisruptions, they come from everywhere - the dog, the phone, the doorbell, but the worst is when your homeschooler is the disruption. They come in many forms - the meltdown child, the distractor, the talker, just to name three. But, they all have basically the same purpose - to be noticed and to delay school. For the next few podcasts, we are going to discuss different types of disruptive students, and give you some practical tips for dealing with their unique style of disrupting a school ...
TB 35: Part 2- Why Does Santa Wear Red? ...and Other Christmas Traditions
December 21, 2022 23:00 - 17 minutes - 12.4 MBMerry Christmas! In this podcast we will be continuing our discussion on Christmas traditions. Last week, Chaz and Christie discussed the origins and history of Santa Claus and the Christmas tree. This week we will be sharing the background behind: Christmas cards Poinsettias Salvation Army Bell Ringers Store Santas The Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookie Swaps Laying out letters and cookies for Santa, and carrots for his reindeer We hope you enjoy the podcast and will come check us out a...
TB 34: Part 1: Why Does Santa Wear Red?...and Other Christmas Traditions
December 13, 2022 22:00 - 18 minutes - 12.5 MBMerry Christmas! In this podcast, Chaz and Christie begin a two part series on some of our more popular Christmas traditions. This podcast focuses mainly on Santa Claus and the Christmas tree. History of Santa Claus: Three main views of where Santa Claus originated How Santa went from an elf with a miniature sleigh to a full-sized Santa dressed all in red. Was Santa always jolly? Thomas Nast Coca Cola's Rudolph, elves and Mrs. Claus History of the Christmas Tree: Paradise tree (C...
TB 33: Teaching Your Child Gratitude
November 17, 2022 18:00 - 22 minutes - 15.5 MBGratitude can be learned. Whether giving a show of gratitude or being on the receiving end, how we respond is important. In this podcast, Chaz and Christie discuss the importance of gratefulness and ideas for incorporating it into the life of your child. Included in their discussion is: What gratitude is and is not Research on the importance of gratefulness in the life of your child Teaching children how to accept others show of gratitude Showing your child how to respond when others a...
TB 32: Chores: Beyond the Chores List
October 26, 2022 17:00 - 29 minutes - 20.4 MBChores, just the word makes both kids and adults cringe. Why does it have to be such a challenge? And is it even worth the effort? In this podcast Chaz and Christie bring you beyond the chore list to discuss the root causes of chore challenges: Failure to understand the main purpose of chores Improper training for chores Lack of ownership for the chores As a veteran homeschool mom and a former homeschooler, Chaz and Christie have a unique perspective as ones who have been where you ar...
TB:31: Homeschooler's Guide to the College Freshman Year
October 10, 2022 18:00 - 28 minutes - 19.9 MBStarting college can be frightening for anyone, but for homeschooler's and their parents, there are extra apprehensions that come up as they prepare for the college experience. In this podcast, Chaz and Christie discuss college from the perspective of a homeschooler, who is now a college graduate, and the mom who taught him. They give tips in how to adjust and get the most out of the college experience. They will discuss: Getting involved in campus life The important classes to take your ...
TB 30: Chickens in the Coop and Dogs in the Yard
September 23, 2022 22:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBDogs, cats, hamsters, just the names make many of us cringe. The mess, the chaos, the fighting over feeding, cleaning, and caring for them, for many of us it just doesn't seem worth it. But there are so many opportunities and lessons to be learned through our pets. The lasting memories of the joy and trials of pet ownership help cement the teaching moments as they come along. In this podcast, Chaz talks about the lifetime lessons he learned as a homeschooler with a menagerie of pets from...
TB 29: The Weariness of Summer
August 11, 2022 17:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MBYou couldn't wait for summer to begin, and now you can't wait for it to end. You are weary of the heat, and the kids constant fighting and whining. In this podcast, Chaz and Christie give homeschool parents ideas for combating the end of summer blues, and end the summer on a high note. As a veteran homeschool mom and a former homeschooler, Chaz and Christie have a unique perspective as ones who have been where you are, both as a teacher and as a homeschooled student. So join them while the...
TB 28: A Homeschooled Vacation
July 13, 2022 21:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBCan you homeschool and still enjoy a relaxing vacation at the same time? Definitely. In fact, homeschooling while on vacation can add to the fun and joy of vacationing. In this podcast, Chaz and Christie will be sharing personal experiences adding educational opportunities in their vacations. Included in the discussion is how they managed to stay sane, entertained, and excited about their 3,542 mile drive during their move from Oklahoma to Alaska. They will also discuss: Planning with you...
TB 27: Have an Unschooling Summer
June 28, 2022 22:00 - 22 minutes - 15.4 MBSummer is the perfect time to try out unschooling. What better time of year to spark your child's interest than when flowers are blooming, tadpoles are growing, and rain and thunder fall from the sky. There are beaches and mountains to be explored and vacations to make learning one giant field trip. In this podcast, Chaz and Christie share their summer experiences unschooling while Chaz was growing up in Oklahoma and Alaska. They hope to encourage you in taking the opportunities to help yo...
TB 26: Interview: Life After Homeschooling
June 14, 2022 17:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MBDo you wish you knew what it was like to be a child who is homeschooled? What about college, do you question what it will be like for your homeschooler? Joining the workforce, getting married, having children, contemplating homeschooling their own kids, all these are concerns we have as homeschool parents looking at our children's futures. In this podcast, we will be addressing each of those concerns from the perspective of an adult who was homeschooled from birth. Our host, Chaz, who was ...
TB 25: Sibling Tension
May 18, 2022 20:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBSiblings, sometimes it feels like all they do is fight. You walk in the room and they are playing so sweetly together, and seconds later they are screaming and throwing things at one another. What is a parent to do? In this podcast, Chaz and Christie share their advice on working through sibling tensions to become best friends for life. Chaz was the youngest of three with only 3 years and 3 weeks between him and his oldest brother. Christie grew up with a sister 10 years younger than hersel...
TB 24: Homeschooling on the Run
May 04, 2022 20:00 - 30 minutes - 21.3 MBYou wake up in the morning already stressed about the day. Your homeschooling has had a bad week due to errands that had to be run. But it's not over yet, today is another day of appointments, shopping and of course a homeschool group get together. Sometimes it feels like you can never get to reading, writing, and arithmetic for all the other challenges in life. From personal experience, we can tell you there is a way to educate your homeschoolers on the run, and that is what today's podca...
TB 23: Raising Teens Part 2 - Homeschool Academics
April 15, 2022 19:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBHomeschooling teens is hard work, but it also comes with a lot of joy. In this podcast Chaz and Christie will be discussing techniques to add interest and accountability into your homeschooler's school day. Using the ideas of expectations, freedom and control, they will describe a classroom environment that allows for: Decision making Large project management Learning how to find and use resources Working towards adult goals Respect Chaz, as an adult who was homeschooled, and Christie,...
TB 22: Raising Teens - Part 1 - Expectations and Emotions
March 23, 2022 18:00 - 31 minutes - 21.3 MBParenting teens….. A phrase that has strikes fear in many souls. And who hasn’t heard the phrase - if you can’t control your child at two, you sure won’t be able to control him at thirteen. But, it doesn’t have to be that way and that is what we are going to discuss on this podcast - Teaching Teens. This will be a two part series discussing the challenges of raising teens. Part 1 will emphasize the need for expectations for your teens and helping them set up their own expectations. We will...
TB 21: When Should I Begin Homeschooling?
March 10, 2022 19:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBWhether you are awaiting the birth of your first child or trying to decide if you should begin homeschooling your teenager, the question of "when do I begin?" is an important starting point for every homeschool parent. In this podcast, Chaz and Christie will discuss the right time to begin homeschooling your child. This podcast will define what homeschool is and give specific advice for people who are preparing for the birth of their child by encouraging them to see all of life as a homes...
TB 20: Working Alongside Mom and Dad
February 24, 2022 21:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MBThere is nothing like working alongside mom and dad to help your child develop the skills they will need as adults. When our children join us in our day to day work they learn more than just how to wash dishes or change the oil in their cars. And that is what Chaz and Christie will be discussing in this podcast. They have a unique perspective on this subject due to their personal experiences as a homeschooled adult and the mom who taught him. By having been there before you, they will enco...
TB 19: Are You Neglecting Your Spouse?
February 10, 2022 21:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MBI know, life is busy. There are babies to feed, houses to clean, kids that need homeschooled, and bills to pay. Now, to add to that - making sure my husband isn't getting neglected! You just can't win, can you. But, what if you could? What if there is a way to keep up your responsibilities and have a spouse that doesn't feel like the last thing on your list? That is the purpose for today's podcast. Christie will share her own experience trying to juggle home, work and homeschooling, whi...
TB 18: Homeschooling Boys
January 28, 2022 18:00 - 34 minutes - 23.4 MBHomeschooling boys. Somedays there's nothing better - other days it's like pulling your teeth out. A million times a day do you find yourself asking: Why can't he just sit still and pay attention? Why does he zone out and act like he's not even there? Why are there rocks, sticks and unrecognizable things in his pockets all the time? How do I get my son excited about his school day? Why does it seem so much harder to teach him than my daughter? What do I do with all that energy? How i...
TB 17: The Joy of Reading Aloud as a Family
January 14, 2022 19:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBIn this episode, Chaz and Christie discuss the many benefits and family memories gained through reading aloud as a family. Christie and her husband, Jamie, began reading together early in their marriage. When their three boys came along, it was only natural that couples reading would turn into reading as a family. Chaz and Christie will share many of their experiences as a reading family and give you tips for your own family reading time. Their suggestions include: Being intentional in fi...
TB 16: Christmas Around the World
December 08, 2021 20:00 - 22 minutes - 15.8 MBOn December 25th, people will be celebrating Christmas around the world. Today Chaz and Christie will be looking at two countries, Sweden and Argentina and how they will be celebrating Christmas this year. First, they will be discussing Sweden and their celebrations centering on Disney and St. Lucia. They will also discuss how straw plays a big role in their Christmas decorating and activities. They will also talk about how the Swedish people protect their trees and homes around Christmas....
TB 15: Thanksgiving Special - The Blessings of Homeschooling
November 25, 2021 09:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MBIn our special edition of Toolbox for Learning Podcast, Chaz and Christie discuss the many blessings that homeschooling allows families. They share personal experiences as a homeschooler and the mom who taught him. We hope you enjoy this change of pace from our normal show, and that it will encourage you and your family to slow down this Thanksgiving and reflect on what the homeschool experience has meant to your family.
TB 14: Six Things Not to Consider Before Homeschooling
November 18, 2021 21:00 - 26 minutes - 18 MBThere are so many things to consider, learn, and explore before choosing to homeschool. But, we also need to be aware that there are some things that should not be considered when evaluating how homeschooling fits into your family's needs. In this podcast, Chaz and Christie will be discussing six things not to consider as you contemplate homeschooling. As a veteran homeschool mom, Christie has been in a position of helping others as they discover whether homeschooling fit's their own family...
TB 13: The Ideal Family vs. The Ideal Family Environment
October 28, 2021 08:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBWho wouldn't want to be known for being the ideal family? We all want to be admired. But many of us unintentionally strive for the attention of others at the expense of our families. In todays podcast, Chaz and Christie will be discussing the difference between the ideal family and the ideal family environment and why the difference is so important. Chaz and Christie are in an unique position to discuss this topic. Chaz was homeschooled and Christie was the mom who taught him. They underst...
TB 12: A Homeschooler's Guide to Disaster Preparedness
September 16, 2021 08:00 - 25 minutes - 17.2 MBFire and tornado drills are a normal part of the traditional school environment. But they are commonly ignored by homeschool families. In this podcast, Chaz and Christie will be discussing why disaster preparedness is important, and how to prepare your child for a disaster using their own experiences during the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit Southcentral Alaska in 2018. They will be giving specific ideas for helping your child prepare for the next emergency, whether it being something a...
TB 11: Teaching Personal Finance From a CPA
August 26, 2021 08:00 - 28 minutes - 19.3 MBYou know you want your child to grow into a financially wise adult. But, for that to happen they must be trained. As homeschool parents, it falls on us to make sure they have the financially literacy they need. So, when do you begin teaching them these important skills and what is it they need to know. Today Chaz, a certified public accountant (CPA), will be discussing with you, what it takes to be financially literate. He will also be discussing how his parents taught him how to be financ...
TB 10: The Importance of Play
August 12, 2021 08:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBYou know that play is important and that children need plenty of it, but do you know what play really is? In this episode, Chaz and Christie will define play and share with you research that has been done on this very important subject, along with how you can incorporate play into your homeschool. Using many personal experiences they will: Discuss how to recognize true play The value of both structured activity and unstructured play The loss of playtime in the U.S. The gift of boredom ...
TB 9: I want to Homeschool, But Where do I Begin
July 22, 2021 21:00 - 16 minutes - 11.1 MBYou know you want to homeschool, but don't know where to begin? In this podcast Chaz and Christie discuss a step by step approach to starting your homeschool adventure and sharing with you how to access their free Getting Started in Homeschooling Guide. They will be discussing: How to discover your states regulations and educational standards. Home School Legal Defense Association Budgeting and scholarship opportunities Picking your homeschool resources Free and low cost homeschool ma...
TB 8: Winning Grandparents Over to Homeschooling
June 04, 2021 08:00 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MBAre your parents excited that you will be homeschooling their grandkids? I know mine weren't thrilled. So, what did I learn about from the experience of winning the grandparents over to homeschooling? That is what we are discussing in this podcast. We will be covering topics such as: Why grandparents may not be positive about the homeschooling experience Things you can do to help them see homeschooling in a more positive light Specific ways of involving grandparents in the homeschool exp...
TB: 7 You Don't Have to Have a Textbook to Learn
May 18, 2021 08:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MBDo you have dreams of adding excitement into your classroom by making your own curriculum. You know you and your kids would love it, but don't know where to begin? In this episode, Chaz and Christie will be sharing their own curriculum building experiences. They will lead you step-by-step through the process of curriculum building by bringing you through the process Christie went through while planning an election series for Chaz and his brothers. Some of what will be discussed include: ...
TB 6:Teaching Adulting to Your Homeschooler
April 29, 2021 08:00 - 16 minutes - 11.7 MBIs your homeschooler ready for "the real world"? Many times we assume our child is prepared, just to discover they aren't. In this podcast, Chaz and Christie will share with you some of the skills that your child needs to function in the adult world and give guidance for how to go about achieving this goal starting in their preschool years. They also include a resource called "Preparing Your Child for the Adult Life Now" to help you develop a curriculum for teaching adulting to your homes...
TB 5: The Community as a Homeschool Resource
April 13, 2021 08:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBThe community should be on the top of every homeschooler's resource list. No matter the size of the community, the opportunities to learn and grow are endless. In this podcast, Chaz and Christie will be discussing specific ways of bringing your community into your homeschool learning experience. The podcast begins with their personal experiences homeschooling in rural Oklahoma and later in Alaska. Chaz and Christie share these stories to show you the richness of opportunities that are righ...
TB 4: Using Your Child's Passions
March 30, 2021 08:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MBDoes your homeschooler seemed bored and unmotivated by his school day? Today Chaz and Christie are going to discuss how using your child's passions can take the school day from a drudgery to exciting and fulfilling. Chaz and Christie have a unique perspective as an adult who was homeschooled and the mom who taught him. They will use this uniqueness to show you what homeschool can look like when a child's passions are ignited and allowed to grow both inside and outside the classroom. Many t...
TB 3: Computers and Home Education
March 16, 2021 08:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBHow much should I use computers in my homeschool? What computer skills should my child have before going into college or a profession? How do I keep my child safe while on the Internet? These are all questions that will be covered in this podcast. Chaz, as a former college student and now a CPA (certified public accountant), will give detailed insights into what colleges and the workplaces will be expecting out of your child in regards to previously developed computer skills. He will also b...
TB 2: The Socialization Myth
February 23, 2021 21:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MBAre you concerned that if you homeschool your kids won't fit in? Maybe you are concerned that homeschooling will leave them ill-equipped to handle life in the real world. If so, you are not alone. Today we are going to look at research that has been done on this subject, along with Chaz and Christie's own experiences. Chaz and Christie are in a unique position to share this podcast with you. Chaz was homeschooled from pre-K to 12th grade. He graduated with honors with his bachelors in accou...
TB 1: I Can't Homeschool! I Don't Know Calculus!
February 19, 2021 09:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBHow do I teach my child a subject I don't even know? All homeschool parents will ask this question at some point during their homeschool careers. In this podcast Chaz and Christie will be sharing not only their experiences (good and bad), but make specific suggestions for helping you teach your child in the areas you are not comfortable. As a veteran homeschool mom and a former homeschooler, Chaz and Christie have a unique perspective as ones who have been where you are, both as a teacher ...
000-Introduction: Welcome to Toolbox for Learning
February 16, 2021 19:00 - 15 minutes - 10.8 MBWelcome to Toolbox for Learning Podcast first episode. In this podcast Chaz and Christie will be introducing themselves and explaining why they decided to produce this show and what they hope you will get from listening to the podcast. Christie discovered homeschooling when she was 14 years old and immediately knew it was what she wanted. In college she met her husband, who wholeheartedly supported her homeschooling dream. It was not until after her first son was born that she realized he d...