Homeschool Your Way BookShark

Higher education, like college, can also come with a higher price tag. It’s a daunting expense for the majority of families.  An expense that can rapidly creep up on you if you aren’t thinking ahead and even then the price of a two, four, or more-year degree can have you blanching at the thought of writing those checks.  Join Janna as she is joined by Brad Baldridge, a financial advisor and creator of Taming the High Cost of College as they discuss getting a handle on the cost of college and ways to make the process a little easier.

ABOUT OUR GUEST | Brad Baldridge is a College Funding Specialist who has helped thousands of families plan and save for college with smart and proven strategies to save time, money, and stress. As a financial expert, blogger, and host of the Taming the High Cost of College podcast, Brad has been sharing his college planning insights with clients, subscribers, and listeners for nearly 20 years. He teaches parents the best ways to save and pay for college, including how to find the right school, maximize financial aid and scholarships, avoid student loan debt, and make your children’s college dreams come true without wiping out your finances or retirement. Since 1998, Brad has become one of the nation’s leading college planning and college finance experts. He offers life-changing advice through his private practice, his online platforms, and numerous workshops, seminars, and events each year.

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Janna (00:37): Brad. I am nervous. I am nervous because I feel like... Let's just jump right in. I have probably missed some deadlines and missed the boat.

Brad (01:42): Yeah, so I'm a financial advisor, so I work with families about retirement and saving and investing and that type of stuff. I realized that college was one of the big challenges that a lot of families were up against and a confluence of events.

Brad (03:41): Right. So I would recommend sophomore year of high school as a good time to really buckle down and start trying to figure out specific plans. Now, certainly if you've got a two-year old at home or something like that, you can plan for college in the... Let's set up a savings or let's do some budgeting and that kind of thing. I would call that early stage planning where you don't know the college, you don't know a lot of details.

Janna (07:33): I think that as a parent, it's super important to understand for our children that decisions can be made and decisions can be made with as much information as we have without putting pressure on our children to have this decision made that it feels like they're boxed in.

Brad (13:54): Now, the other thing you mentioned, just to go back, is you said something along the lines of, "Well, this college is expensive and this college is not." Now, most families don't realize that colleges have a list price, but they also have what I would call a net price.

Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com.

If you'd like to share an aha moment, an inspirational quote, a homeschool hack, a book you're loving, or a suggested podcast topic/guest, leave a comment at bookshark.com/podcast. We'd love to feature your reflection on a future episode.

It’s a whole new year of homeschool conventions! Whether it is your first year of homeschooling and attending conventions are a brave new world for you or you are an experienced convention-goer get some behind-the-scenes tips from the people who get to go to them all! From core curriculum to educational games there are so many options it can make your head spin, get ideas on how to break up the days, navigate the booths and find just what you want to get the most out of your convention.

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Janna (00:59): Conventions, so maybe one of these years we're going to get out there together. But as a homeschool mom, I really had never gone to a convention before I started working for BookShark. So I had been to other types of conventions, even as a homeschooler, as a kid. Probably more like trade conventions with my parents, but never a homeschool convention.

Janna (02:11): It's so nice that in this digital day and age, you can go online prior to the actual dates and see who's going to be there. You can actually typically see a map of where they're going to be. And not to be overly nerdy, but you're only there for a certain amount of time and if you want to maximize your time when you're there, you really do have to prepare.

Maddie (04:59): I think, I mean we've seen a variety of different parents who bring their kids and parents who leave their children at home. This year in our booth we're going to actually have a little reading corner, so you can actually park your kiddo if you have some questions.

Maddie (09:53): Yeah, I think again, and it kind of all goes back to that convention hall is huge, there are a million different vendors in there. And so I think having a fun fund, having a little kind of something in your back pocket that... Because some of those things you can't get anywhere other than the convention.

Maddie (15:27): Yes. So we are offering a payment plan option this year, which is fantastic because you kind of get the best of both worlds. You can spread your payments out so you don't have that one giant, what feels like a massive change all at once. You can spread it out over three, six, or nine months.

Maddie (23:24): Yeah. So this year, it's a first for us, so we are offering a giveaway. So if you're planning to come to a convention, make sure you stop by our booth, we'll have some banners and you can sign up via a QR code. It's a science package. So you can enter to win a science package and you get to pick which level you want.

Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com.

If you'd like to share an aha moment, an inspirational quote, a homeschool hack, a book you're loving, or a suggested podcast topic/guest, leave a comment at bookshark.com/podcast. We'd love to feature your reflection on a future episode.

Homeschooling in Michigan? Or wanting to homeschool in Michigan? Find out how you can get a FREE literature-based curriculum with support and online assessments! Join Janna Koch, BookShark’s Community Manager, as she is joined by Jen Myers and Gwyn Domke, from Michigan BookShark Virtual with Alpena Schools in Michigan. Find out the benefits of using Michigan BookShark Virtual with Alpena and get it for no cost to you!

OUR GUESTS | Jen Myers

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Janna (00:10): My guests, Jen Myers, and Gwen Domke are from Michigan BookShark Virtual. Jen and Gwen are immersed in homeschooling both personally and professionally. Not only have they homeschooled their own children now facilitate homeschooling for numerous families across the state of Michigan. Their program has equipped parents to homeschool confidently and successfully.

Gwyn (02:16): So my side of things is coming alongside Jen when we started the program and looking at Michigan BookShark Virtual, the opportunity is I homeschooled my kids for 16 years using the curriculum. So for me, it was just a natural fit to help families use this amazing curriculum because I know it works.

Jen (05:29): And the third thing I'd like to mention that's unique about the virtual component of this curriculum is the online graders. So with a traditional online program, your online grader might be somewhere in a different state and not have a pulse on your expectations or your autonomy as a parent with this online curriculum. Whereas our online graders work personally with our program so they understand the nuances of this curriculum and they understand our families.

Gwyn (11:20): Another benefit of BookShark is it is a four-day curriculum. So families absolutely love the fact that it's four days of focus and then they have one day left in the week for enrichment or other purposes for their families. That offers so much more flexibility.

(21:08): All right, ladies, you have me sold on this program. If I were to live in Michigan and I was contemplating that I wanted to homeschool and know that this is the right choice for me, what would be my next practical steps as a parent interested in Michigan BookShark Virtual?

Gwyn (21:27): So you would reach out to me through my email, which I think you will have included at the end of this podcast. Tell me you're interested. I will contact you and discuss how you will enroll with our district for the year using this free virtual online component. We will ship a box of curriculum to you directly and come alongside you and help you set up your year.

Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com.

If you'd like to share an aha moment, an inspirational quote, a homeschool hack, a book you're loving, or a suggested podcast topic/guest, leave a comment at bookshark.com/podcast. We'd love to feature your reflection on a future episode.

We all know life happens. Good or bad life seems to relish throwing out the best-laid plans. So what to do when life does get off track? Join Janna Koch, BookShark's Community Manager with her guest, Tanya Warpula, an advisor for BookShark, a military wife and mother of 5 who homeschools as they discuss getting back on track.

TIMESTAMPS:

Janna (02:29):

I bet. Now, in the years that I've known you, you have done two moves and one of them was just up the coast, but this last one was cross country.

Tanya (05:07):

Yes. This is my situation exactly. Right now, I feel like we've been in weeks 16 for 16 weeks. I'm in that exact situation. I really, I'm like, "Why is this one week taking us so long?" Yeah, you have to start... This week alone I started a reset. We're starting over pretending like we're fresh and we've started week 16 again for the last time this week on Monday.

Janna (07:46):

The last six years in February, we have already been to almost week 20 knowing that we have four more months of school left. This year it's gotten away from me. Sometimes I feel like that pressure almost paralyzes me. Then I don't end up doing anything or very little and then I'm in a vicious cycle.

Janna (13:13):

To give parents permission to get comfortable with switching some things out. If you feel like they already know what you're talking about then speed it up, and skip over it. It's okay.

Tanya (15:34):

Yes. I have been guilty of being a box checker because I am a type A person. This is my first year really feeling more derailed than others probably, because of our move, three kids moving out, and a lot of family stuff going on. It's been hard, but I've also had to let go of type A and embrace where we're at. If we're on week 16 in February who cares?

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Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com.

If you'd like to share an aha moment, an inspirational quote, a homeschool hack, a book you're loving, or a suggested podcast topic/guest, leave a comment at bookshark.com/podcast. We'd love to feature your reflection on a future episode.

What is it about Art that feels so intimidating to teach? People teach all types of subjects with less hesitation than the idea of teaching your student how to sketch, paint and more.  Join Janna with her guest Cody Wheelock, founder and creative arts coach of Fount Atelier as they discuss how to incorporate art into your homeschooling and the challenges that can come with teaching the subject.  Learn about the top 3 hang-ups that can prevent you and your student from reaching your creative art goals or maybe how to set goals and pass up the hang-ups altogether!

Janna (00:47): I'm excited to talk about art because, to be honest, it's not something that I have ever really ventured into or instructed my children in when we were homeschooling.

Cody (04:35): And what's interesting is that studies have shown that most adults actually draw at about a 12-year-old level.

Cody (07:23): I think the second hang-up that a lot of people face after just thinking they can't do it, is they don't know how to do it. They lack a plan.

Cody (14:14): Yeah, absolutely. I always think back to those artists from the past, and a lot of times we like to see their drawings and all of the pieces they did, and I wonder how many of them think, oh, I hate it that you're looking at that stuff because I never intended anyone to see that.

Janna (21:42): So as a parent, aside from art, but art as an example, how do you keep your child from hearing personal criticism versus an instructional correction?

Cody (24:50):

Yeah, you're absolutely right. And that's great advice on asking questions to get a feel for where things are at before you just start making comments.

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QUOTABLES

TIMESTAMPS

Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com.

If you'd like to share an aha moment, an inspirational quote, a homeschool hack, a book you're loving, or a suggested podcast topic/guest, leave a comment at bookshark.com/podcast. We'd love to feature your reflection on a future episode.

Feeling unmotivated to homeschool? Things are just harder, whether getting up with the alarm or getting through the assignments for each day? Join BookShark's Community Manager, Janna Koch and Aimee Eucce, owner of Play 'n Talk, in a lively discussion on how to banish the doldrums of winter. From metal detecting along a streambed to using army figures for math, store up the great ideas for you and your student and get tips on how to give yourself grace and to learn to adapt as life moves along.

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TIMESTAMPS

[00:01:00] It is a 60-plus-year-old company. I am not 60-plus years old, but I am the current owner and I am bringing it back to today's generation and I am loving it. I learned to read with it when I was just five years old.

[00:02:00]I shared with our listeners earlier in the year that I had gotten a sunrise alarm clock that will slowly brighten up and light up your room to help wake up.

[00:05:15]That's just the beauty of being a homeschooler you can do that if you decide, you know what, we just need to take a break on this and we're going to do this instead today.

[00:06:30] Then when the spring comes and you have more energy and the kids have more energy, you can rebound your efforts and there will be days that you can double up on things if you feel the need to get through it all.

[00:09:30] Well, gaming, so gamifying things is, I think, the key to everything because there are actually been studies done that show that kids learn best from play-based learning.

[00:14:30]Making sure that they're vested in it.

[00:16:00]I think that is something that a lot of parents, myself included, get caught up in the curriculum and forget to include our children.

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Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com.

If you'd like to share an aha moment, an inspirational quote, a homeschool hack, a book you're loving, or a suggested podcast topic/guest, leave a comment at bookshark.com/podcast. We'd love to feature your reflection on a future episode.