August 1, 2025 • 47 mins
As more and more parents are homeschooling their children, it is important that we understand the unique learning styles of our kids. Kathy Koch is a Christian education consultant who has been helping parents and their children succeed for decades! If you struggle with homeschooling, or have one child that baffles your best efforts at education, don't miss Equipped when Dr. Kathy offers her professional insight and encouragement.
Featured resource:
8 Great Smarts for Homeschoolers by Tina Hollenbeck
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:15):
Chris Brooks here, reminding you that today's program is pre-recorded
and we won't be taking your calls. Hey there friends,
welcome to another exciting edition of Equipped with Chris Brooks.
I am so glad you tuned in today. Do me
a favor, strap on your seat belt. We're going to
navigate through the contours of culture, as always with the
(00:38):
lens of the biblical worldview on. But before we do that,
let me remind you this is the day that the
Lord has made. He has given it as a gift
so that you and I can rejoice and be glad
in it. So let's do just that. Let's follow the
words of the Apostle Paul. Let's rejoice in the Lord always.
And again I say rejoice. And with that, I welcome
you into what will be a very interactive edition of equip.
(01:01):
If you, like me, are almost nervously anticipating the return
of another school year, today is your day. It's hard
to believe summer is almost over. We're just weeks away
from back to school time. You can see it in
the commercials, the advertisements, everything from uniforms to school supplies.
(01:23):
Most churches are doing backpack drives, all of those things.
But as you explore your educational options, increasingly so many
families are choosing homeschooling as their option. I love homeschoolers,
have carried a passion for homeschooling, and I'm super grateful
for resources that help homeschoolers. And if you are a
(01:45):
homeschool mom or dead grandparents today, we want to encourage
and equip you. Let's be honest, designing an educational plan
for your kid can feel overwhelming. In particular, when you
have multiple children who may be very different and distinct
in the way that they're smart and in their learning styles.
(02:09):
And so we want to help you. We want to
really come alongside of you. Maybe you have Questions as
a homeschool parent about how you can help your child
to maximize their educational experience. Maybe as you disciple your
child loving them so intimately, you want to know how
you can just care for them well and navigate them
(02:30):
through the homeschool season of their life. It's such a
awesome window of discipleship. But we want to make sure
that we are navigating it well. And so that's why
I'm so excited to have Cathy Cook on with me today.
Cathy needs barely any introduction, but for those of you
who may not be familiar with Cathy. Cathy is a
(02:50):
rock star. She is so awesome. She is the founder
of Celebrate Kids, Inc., based in Fort Worth, Texas. Uh,
and and ignite the family, uh, their conference ministry. She
influenced thousands of parents, teachers and children around the world,
literally through her keynote messages, her seminars, her chapels, banquet talks,
(03:12):
and her resources. Uh, she is the author of many books,
including eight Great Smarts. And today we're going to talk
about a book that was written by one of the
women that she has had the privilege of helping to
mentor and pour into, uh, Tina, uh, Hollenbeck. Uh, the
book is entitled eight Great Smarts for homeschoolers, and I
(03:36):
Love It a Guide to Teaching Based on Your Child's
unique Strengths. Uh, Cathy is here with us. Hey, Cathy,
how are you?
S2 (03:45):
I'm fabulous because I'm on the radio with Chris Brooks.
Thanks for having me back.
S1 (03:49):
Hey, it is so great to be with you. I
always come in, uh, with my ears perked up because,
you know, I'm. I'm the dad of five kids, right?
And so, as I think about how unique and how
different they are. Man, what a resource you have been
to us. I want to just start because this book
(04:11):
was written by Tina, I want to start by asking,
how did you meet Tina?
S2 (04:17):
Yeah, it's a fun story. Thanks for asking. Tina was
a university student of mine, so I was a professor
for seven years up at UW green Bay. And Tina
was a class, you know, class student. She just showed
up in one of my classes, and then a second,
third and fourth, and we were involved in InterVarsity Christian
Fellowship together. I was the faculty advisor, and she actually
(04:39):
came to faith in Christ under the ministry of InterVarsity
and the church that I attended that she began to attend.
And so we have a really cool bond of that
Christ like sisterhood from the very beginning. I stood up
in her wedding to Jeff Hollenbeck and am considered an
aunt to their children. So we have a really cool background,
(05:01):
and I chose her to write this book, partly because
she'd been writing for us at Celebrate Kids for about
20 years. She was the best writer I had as
an undergraduate student. She even back then she was just
a gifted writer, and I watched her implement the eight
smarts with her children. And when she was a public
school educator, so I knew that she was the one
because she has homeschooled her children. She is the one
(05:23):
who could take this to that next level. And I'm
really excited that we're here talking about the book.
S1 (05:27):
Yeah, you say some really lofty and awesome things about her.
You say that Tina was one of the best thinkers
and writers you taught, and you expressed your excitement of
publishing this particular work. Eight Great Smarts for homeschoolers. All right,
education is intimidating enough. Let's get into the world of homeschoolers.
(05:49):
More and more parents are opting into this, uh, this particular, uh,
educational method and option. I think there's multiple motivations. As
you know, Kathy, for some it's all about discipleship. It
is all about home based discipleship, which I love. For others,
it is in response to how quickly public education has
(06:12):
changed and, uh, and maybe concerns about the rapid changes
in public education. Uh, there are a lot of different reasons.
For others, it's because of the unique needs that they
feel their kids might have. Talk about the pains and
joys of homeschooling, what's great about it, and what is
challenging about it.
S2 (06:33):
Hey, I love your intro because you're exactly right. You know,
I think what's challenging, certainly, you know, if you're new
at this man, welcome to the family of homeschoolers and,
you know, believe that you can do it if you're
still on the fence. You know, I hope that this
conversation motivates you to really very much consider it. It
is exhausting. Let's go there. Um, but it's exhausting in
a different way. You know, if you have kids in
(06:53):
a different school model, you might have free time, if
you will, from 8 to 3, depending upon the age
of your kids. But then they come home and there's
homework hassles and there's all kinds of other stresses, and
there's tests and there's quizzes and there's assignments to monitor.
So it's a very different type of busyness. What's cool
about homeschooling is that you're busy with your children. You
get to know them. You get to like them. I
(07:14):
think one of the greatest advantages is the sibling relationships
that can occur. Um, homeschool kids have the best relationships
with people from all generations, because homeschool families tend to
get out of the house and do service field trips,
potentially cooperative experiences where you were with other families. So
that's a really cool advantage. And I think, you know,
(07:35):
being able to meet the individual needs of the children,
like you were saying, you might have a kid with
special needs. All kids are special, right? And all kids
have needs. And if they have special needs, the system
across the road might not work for them. And you
will always be your child's best teacher. I'd love to say, Chris,
that even on your worst day, you. You are your
child's best teacher because you will love them more and
(07:58):
know them more than anybody else will, and you'll advocate
for them. And that's part of the power when kids
know that you are on their side and you want
them to succeed and you answer their questions. Oh my goodness,
that changes everything.
S1 (08:13):
You say this, that the beauty of homeschooling is that
you know and you love your children with all their
unique gifts. And I believe that to the core of
my being, and I am 100% in agreement with you
that you are your child's best teacher. And if you're
feeling overwhelmed today, I do pray that today would be
a day of encouragement. But I do have a burden
(08:34):
for how hard the job is teaching in general, in particular, uh,
home based education. And so if you just need prayer,
just encouragement today, we would love the honor of praying
with you for you and being your prayer partner. Today,
I want to lay more of a foundation though, before
we go to the phone lines. Cathy, this book that
(08:55):
Tina has written, uh, builds upon your research in eight
great smarts. For those who aren't familiar, give us a
quick overview. Eight great smarts and the discovery you made
in your PhD program about the unique learning styles of
our kids.
S2 (09:13):
Yeah, I'd love to do that. The work is actually
based on I'm Doctor Howard Gardner, and he was the
one who originally found these eight intelligences residing in everyone's brain.
And then I enjoyed taking it to a very practical
level and adding, if you will, the Christian piece to it.
What does faith have to do with it? All kids
have all eight. If we teach to the whole brain,
they're more motivated. They'll comprehend it and apply it better.
(09:36):
Word smart. When we're being word smart, we think with
our words. So if you have a Chatty Cathy like me,
that's probably a word. Smart kid. Uh, logic. Smart children.
When you are being logic smart, you think with questions.
These are the kids who tend to like math and
science because they love it when things make sense. They
love to discover truth on their own. When we're being
picture smart, we think with our eyes in visuals, we
(09:58):
draw quickly. We remember things that we see. We enjoy
fiction and history. We might have a better memory for
Bible than even a mom and a dad. Because the
action of the verse or the story, if you will,
comes alive in our mind. A fourth intelligence is music smart.
These are kids who think with rhythms and melodies. They
might sing in tune and play musical instruments. And if
(10:20):
you excite them, they make noise. Not necessarily music, but
they make noise. And then the body. Smart kids, Chris,
are the ones who think with movement and touch. These
are kids who often cry with me at the end
of programs that I'm privileged to do, because they have
never felt smart. They just know that they move a lot.
But they move well. They touch well. That's how they
absorb information. They might be actors, actresses, dancers, clay sculptor,
(10:44):
surgeons and teachers and pastors who talk with their hands.
So body smart thinking with movement and touch. And then
nature smart kids think with patterns. And all of us
are all eight. So when your children are in the
nature smart part of their brain, they're thinking with patterns.
That's how they know it's not a bluebird and a
blue bluejay. And it's actually going to be helpful for
words like was and saw and the number six and nine.
(11:08):
When you activate that part of the brain, it helps
them think strategically and intentionally with their eyes looking for patterns.
And then the last two really interesting people, smart people
think with other people. When your children are being people smart,
they think with other people. They will want to brainstorm, collaborate, network.
They're the ones who come up to you and say, hey, dad,
look at this answer. It's really cool. And you're like,
(11:30):
are you finished? No. But, dad, my answer is really cool.
You know, sometimes that's a lack of confidence, but often
those are those are people, smart people who know what
they know when they hear themselves say it to someone.
And the freedom they have as a homeschooled kid to
talk more than in a different school setting is really valuable.
And then the last one, not the least important, they're
(11:50):
not really in any order. The self smart, the self
smart part of the brain thinks with deep reflection. So
it's kind of the exact opposite. People, smart people, think
with other people, get their joy from talking about what
they know. The self smart part of the brain gets
the joy from knowing what you know, and you tend
to be quieter as you absorb information. It can be
hard to get these kids to talk about their insights,
(12:11):
but of course it's so valuable that we do that.
So those are the eight. And you know, if people
are listening and they're not able to home school, you
can use these these thoughts with when you help your
kids with homework and Bible memory and Sunday school lessons.
But again, we certainly think homeschooling is a really, really
wise decision.
S1 (12:30):
You know, Cathy, every time you go through that list,
I laugh on the inside because you just, uh, you know,
kind of breezed through that. And I don't know if
you've been teaching it so long to realize how much
of a mic drop that is, but everything you just
said is so life changing. It's like when you're introduced
(12:52):
to this concept. It's still amazes me now. The other
reason why I laugh is because I literally just wrote
next to, uh, these, uh, these different smarts, the names
of my kids. And I'm laughing because they're so different.
My Zoe, who's the oldest, is so word smart. She's
(13:12):
constantly verbal, right. My Sophia, my five year old daughter,
is singing and humming all day long. And her siblings
are constantly saying, stop singing so much. My Cameron is
body smart. He loves sports. He's constantly running and jumping
and doing all the physical stuff. Our Judah is people smart.
(13:33):
He loves being in community. So all I'm saying is
that part of my joy is hearing this, because it
really helps me to appreciate. I understand the danger from
talking to you of having only one grid, one lens,
one definition of smart through which we evaluate our kids.
But as it pertains to home educators, as it pertains
(13:56):
to being a homeschool Parent. My empathy is that man,
how hard is it when you are dealing with children
who are smart in different ways? It's beautiful, but how
hard is it to shape an educational program that encompasses this?
So we're going to pick this up. When we come back.
(14:17):
We're going to talk about how Tina Hollenbeck. Hollenbeck took
Cathy's research and applied it to homeschooling. We're also going
to ask Cathy, how do we discover the type of
smart our kid is? I hope this is a blessing
for you. I believe it's life changing. I believe it's
a game changer. So much that I'm encouraging all of
(14:39):
our listeners to get a copy of this book. If
you're a home educator, it's a must, but even if
you're not, it'll be a huge blessing. Go to our website,
learn ordering information right now at equip equip Radio.com. What
a great way to enter the weekend. by purchasing this
great resource. Eight great smarts for homeschoolers will be right
(15:02):
back right after this. As followers of Christ, we know
daily time in God's Word matters, but some are. Distractions
can make it hard to stay consistent. Now is the
perfect time to refresh or begin this life giving habit.
I would love to send you the Quiet Time Kickstart
by Rachel Jones. This compact guide starts small and helps
(15:26):
you build a steady, meaningful rhythm in Scripture, setting you
up for ongoing success. Request your copy today with a
gift of any amount. To equip, simply call (888)Â 644-4144 or
visit Equip Radio org. Today's program has been pre-recorded so
(15:47):
our phone lines are not open. Welcome back to equipped
with Chris Brooks. Kathy Cook is with me. Fired up
to have her on this Friday in which we are
wall to wall homeschool. We want to equip parents who
have chosen to be homeschoolers. Congratulations to you! That's awesome.
(16:10):
We also know it might be the toughest job you'll
ever love. And so we want to make sure that
you have the resources needed. And Kathy's team has put
together a wonderful resource. Eight Great Smarts for homeschoolers, written
by Tina Hollenbeck and based upon Kathy's eight great smarts.
And so we want to help you today if you
have questions, if you want prayer, call 8775675, just like
(16:34):
Roberta did from Saint Charles, Illinois. Let's go to Roberta. Hey, Roberta,
thank you so much for listening. What's your question for Kathy?
S3 (16:43):
My question is, I have a child that has really
bad anxiety, and she's been going to public school and
she's just been falling further and further behind. And, um,
so really, her only option right now is probably homeschooling
because she's too far behind and can't really get a
private class at school. Um, but the problem is, is
(17:04):
she keeps throwing, she throws up these walls so she
has a wall, and she doesn't want me to teach
her homeschool, but she doesn't want to go to high
school either. So how do you deal with, you know, uh,
the wall that's there, that's that's going to stop you
from teaching.
S1 (17:22):
Great question.
S2 (17:23):
She's high school age.
S3 (17:26):
Yes.
S2 (17:27):
Yes. Um, Roberta, thanks for calling. And thanks for knowing
your daughter well enough to know what's going on. And
I pray that the anxiety will lift as she's able
to stay at home with you and find a safe space.
I would, you know, part of it's going to be
content that she cares about. Does she have dreams for
her future? Does she have service that she would love
to offer? Does she care about the elderly? Does she
(17:49):
want to fly a plane? Does she want to be
a ballerina? Does she think that maybe being an accountant
one day would be a cool career if you could
tap into problems that she wants to solve, people she
wants to serve, dreams that she has for her tomorrow.
You can teach those things. The freedom homeschoolers have to
(18:09):
get out of the box or never even be in
a box is somewhat scary for those of us who
like the box because we like boundaries, but it's a
beautiful thing. So I would recommend that you really not
school her for a season. You know, whether that be
a quarter, whether that be two months, really go free.
Do if you can go to museums, go to field trips, um,
(18:33):
talk to have mentors over for lunch and dinner who
have dreams and ambitions that might match your daughter's and
remind her that learning is purposeful. Learning isn't about earning
an A on a test on Thursday. Learning is about
learning something so you can use it in your future.
And if you can help her get back in touch
(18:53):
with that, I think it'll really help her when she
realizes that there isn't the pressure of comparison to other
peers of a test on Tuesday. The paper has to
be due at 2:00 with 400 words, when you can
give her freedom. Hopefully, she'll begin to trust you. And
that'll be a huge thing. So I wish you well.
(19:14):
Hope that that's helpful. You can do this. You can
challenge her. You have every right as authority to look
her in the eye and ask her to trust you.
And then you'll find the rhythm that'll work. I really
believe that.
S1 (19:26):
Roberta, we're going to blast you by giving you a
complimentary copy of eight Great Smarts for homeschoolers. I hope
this is a resource that blesses you. Father, thank you
for Roberta. Thank you for her heart, for her daughter.
I do pray that anxiety would be overcome by peace,
that you would allow her daughter to feel safe, that
the love of a mom and the home would be, uh, Lord,
(19:51):
just healing to her soul. And I do pray that
this year would go so much better than what Roberta
even anticipates as she lives into and leans into her
daughter's dreams for the future. Bless Roberta, in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Hey, Roberta.
Thank you for calling. Stay on the line. Our producer
will get a copy of, uh, eight Great Smarts for homeschoolers.
(20:14):
Right into your hands. Uh, so many people are calling in.
If you're on the line, stay on the line. We're
going to get to you in just a moment. Uh, but, Cathy,
I asked a question, kind of teased it out before
we went to break. Eight Great smarts. How do you
discover as a parent which smart your child is?
S2 (20:31):
Mhm. You know, the first thing I think of Chris
is what gets you what gets a kid into trouble
you know. Right. And that's probably relevant for your five.
Even though your kids are great kids and I've enjoyed
meeting them you know. Do they move too much, talk
too much, color too much, sing too much. So what
do they do? That's a strength, but it's too much
at the wrong time in the wrong way. And then
(20:53):
when they do talk, what do they talk about? Do
they talk about nature? Do they talk about how things work?
Which would be logic? Do they talk about their drawing? Um,
what questions do they ask? Certainly. What do they do
in their spare time is another way to look at it.
When they do have free time, do they color? Do
they read? Do they talk to a friend? Do they
pet their dog? Um, what have they done? Well, historically
(21:15):
has it been science, math, English, creative writing versus kind
of a nonfiction writing? Those are some of the ways
that you can look. And, you know, the other thing
I would do, Chris, I would love our listeners to
tell their children, hey, you know what I found out
today on Chris Brooks Show? You have eight ways of
being smart and then name them and maybe, you know,
(21:36):
educate them a bit and then say, which of those
do you think you have the most brain cells in?
It's fascinating. I was just with a group of 16
to 25 year olds this summer. I've taught probably about 2000,
16 to 25 year olds. This model and Chris like
I'm sad that they don't know how smart they are.
I'm sad that they think their brother's the smart one
because they don't earn A's in math, so they can't
(21:58):
be smart. It makes me angry that the system is broken.
It is powerfully significant to change a child's identity from
I can't to I can from I'm the stupid one
to I'm smarter than I thought, and I'm smart in
these specific ways, so I love that we're talking about
this today.
S1 (22:14):
This is great. Eight Great Smarts for homeschoolers. You can
find out more at our website. Equip radio.org. Kendra is
listening in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Let's go to Alabama. Kendra. What
question do you have for Kathy?
S4 (22:30):
Yes. Hello. Um, I have a seven year old son,
and he is word smart. Uh, I homeschool him. He'll
be in first grade this year. And my question is,
sometimes he. I guess he just doesn't, um. I want
(22:50):
him to be able to listen to us, I guess
is the best. His parents. I think that's the best
way to say it, because he does have a lot
of words, and he talks as if he knows I just.
How how can my husband and I help him to understand?
Sometimes he needs to, you know, listen to us.
S2 (23:12):
That's such a great question, Kendra. And I bet every
adult listening is clapping going, yes, that was my question too. Um,
you know words. All children need to listen. And word
smart children do like the sound of their own voice.
We actually don't need an audience. We enjoy talking and sharing.
And if you listen to us, that's what I call
frosting on the cake of life. If your son is
(23:34):
also people smart, then he needs to talk to you
and your husband. And so that is his energy. That
is his go to default. And I love that you
know that about him. And I don't want you to
paralyze that by saying stop talking so often that he
actually stops. But he does need the discipline of listening.
And that is your right. You know, as a believer,
(23:55):
you can share Scripture. Proverbs has a lot to say
about listening and about quieting the tongue, about being still. Um,
sometimes it's a thumbs up if you're let's say that
your son is telling you a story or telling you
what he learned about frogs or, you know, talking about church,
and you really do have something that you want to share.
Put your thumb up, which means that you understand him.
(24:16):
You have heard him, and now it's your turn. If
there's some type of a physical symbol you can use
rather than hey, it's my turn, it doesn't feel as
rejecting to a child. Um, sometimes you can go first
in the conversation. And I also want to say boldly,
you have every right to have a consequence for his
(24:36):
choice to not listen. That is an obedience issue. Kids
today need to understand that although they're wise, they're not
as wise as a parent or certainly God. And so
for you to model teachability humility. Those are really, really
important things. Affirm him when he is quiet and listens.
Make sure you affirm him when he does listen to
(24:56):
you and he's able to recite back what Mom and
Dad said. Make sure you say, man, I'm really proud
of you. Thank you for listening. So affirm, don't just correct.
That's also really helpful.
S1 (25:08):
So good. Let's pray. Kendra, we're going to pray for
you and get you a copy of eight Great Smarts
as well. Father, thank you so much for Kendra. Thank
you for her beautiful seven year old. I do pray
that she would just be able to affirm him and
his particular area of smarts, the Lord, that he would
know that being word smart is a beautiful gift, but
(25:30):
that he would also be humble in heart and submissive
to his mom and dad. That they would create an
atmosphere that challenges him to be obedient, but also encourages
him in the unique way God has gifted him blessed.
Kendra encouraged her heart. In Jesus name, Amen. Kendra, you
still on the line? Our producer will get you eight
great smarts for homeschoolers. My friends, this is a wonderful
(25:54):
guide based on your child's unique strengths. I want to
encourage you. Get a copy, go to org. We'll be
right back. Hey there friends, welcome to a Friday edition
(26:23):
of equip. I hope you are being blessed and encouraged
by the wonderful conversation I'm having with Kathy Cook today.
We're going to get back to Kathy in just a moment,
but let me say thank you to all of you
who are supporting the program prayerfully and financially. We know
that we cannot be here if it was not for
God's grace and your generosity. So let me say thanks
to Mark from New York for your support for the program.
(26:46):
Jean from Gurnee, Illinois. Thank you so much. Mark from
New Hampshire. What a blessing you are as well to
all of our friends who support this ministry. Uh, your
investment allows us to equip Christians to live, share and
defend their faith. If you have been blessed by the program,
maybe today can be a giving Friday for you. Can
you support? Equip? No. On the other side of your
(27:09):
gift today, you're helping to change the world one life
at a time. As we tackle the tough questions of
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So why don't you call 888644 4144? Again, if we've
been a blessing to you, partner with us today at
(27:30):
888644 4144 or go to equip radio Dot. Kathy Cook
is with me today. She is the founder of Celebrate Kids, Inc.
She's also a great author and speaker. Today, we're talking
about one of the resources her team recently produced for homeschoolers,
eight Grade Smarts for homeschoolers, written by Tina Hollenbeck and
(27:53):
foreword by Kathy Cook. And I want to encourage you
to get a copy if you are homeschool mom or dad.
Today's your day. You can join the conversation with your
questions or even your prayer requests for your children. For yourself.
It's 87756758775483675. We're going to go back to the phone
(28:14):
lines in just a moment. But Kathy, I love the
way that the book opens and it just reminds us
of your heart. You say this, you said when I
taught second graders, I was saddened by the number of
my students who already thought of themselves as incapable or stupid.
I know that that breaks your heart, gets you upset,
(28:35):
get your passions going. How do you help kids who
To have such deep doubts already.
S5 (28:42):
Yeah. Wow. Um, we pray.
S2 (28:45):
And we look for their strengths, and we call them out.
All kids have strengths. We've got to call them out.
I think teaching to the different parts of the brain
is one of the ways to convince them that they're smart.
You know, word and logic are very much school smarts.
They're also church smarts. Because what do we do in
school and church? Read, write, speak, listen, ask, and answer
(29:05):
questions when we can teach and let kids sketch the
definition and do a role play and do a drama
and build a diorama and, you know, have a conversation
with someone to demonstrate how much they understand about the lesson.
Then all of a sudden they have proof that they
did actually remember and they did actually understand. So part
of it is using the eight smarts. Part of it
(29:26):
is the conversation. You know, part of it is us
as the older adults getting out of our head the
definition of smart that we grew up with.
S1 (29:34):
Yes.
S2 (29:34):
And right, Chris. And making sure that when we look
at our kids that we're seeing today's children in front
of us, and how they're created by God to be
really good.
S1 (29:45):
That's great. All right. We're going to go back to
the phone lines. 8775675 is the number. That's 877548 3675.
If you want to join the conversation, like Angela who's
listening in Naperville, Illinois. Hey, Angela, thank you so much
for calling. What's your question for Cathy?
S6 (30:06):
Hi. Thank you. Um, my question is, as a parent,
how do I praise one child without in an area
without making the other child who maybe isn't as great
in that area feel less than and and vice versa.
You know, because they have different strengths. Um, because often
(30:26):
what I find is that even though I may tell
child A, they're great this way and child B they're
great that way, they still want to be great the
way each other are Ah, great. So how do I
do that without feeling less than somehow?
S2 (30:42):
Angela, what a great question. And again, every parent is, is,
is applauding your insights because it is hard. And actually,
you know, one of the advantages of homeschooling schooling, not
schooling at home, but true homeschooling is the sibling relationship
and the, um, cooperation and the collaboration and the love
(31:02):
and the like that can happen there. It can be awkward,
especially if an older child is not as smart in
an area as a younger child. So if a younger
child is a better reader, for instance, that can be
really stressful. Certainly making sure that we do affirm everybody
is key, that we don't have a favorite. I think
sometimes teaching our children to affirm their siblings is also
(31:25):
really huge, making sure that maybe we do it more privately.
I think sometimes, you know, we'd spontaneously do it in
the group and the kids are at the table and
they're all working on something, and you spontaneously affirm, Peter, like,
I get that, but sometimes you take the kids aside
and you have a longer affirmation conversation when there's no
competition and no, um, comparison that would take place. I
(31:49):
also want to say again, I'm very all of us
at celebrate kids are very we very much agree that
we should be bold with our children. Honest, truthful, grace
and mercy. Sometimes we need to say to the kids,
you know what, James? I wasn't talking about you. I
was talking about Peter. And it is okay that your
brother has this gift. And, you know, we just had
(32:09):
a conversation about your gifts. So I'm not happy that
you're diminishing your brother because you're competing. But we don't
compete in our family. That's not what we're created for.
So sometimes I think we have to be that bold
and say that also, one more thing. Be really specific
when we're specific with our praise. You're creative. I know,
because one of our powerful phrases is, I know because
(32:32):
you know you're creative. I know because I left at
the end of your story. You took the main character
in a really unique direction or to say to a child,
you know, you're very organized. I know because you quickly
came when I said it was time for math and
you had everything you needed. And I'm so glad because
there wasn't stress and I didn't have to argue. Thank
you for being so organized. When we're specific, the siblings
(32:53):
believe it and might now want to behave in that
same way if they're capable of it.
S1 (32:59):
I love it. Yeah, it really, really is for so
many parents. And Angela, I pray that it was an
encouragement to you. Angela, I just want to affirm you.
What a blessing you are as a mom to be
sensitive to that. Keep affirming your kids in their unique giftings.
Create that atmosphere within the house in which we cheer
for one another, and I know God will bless you guys.
(33:21):
Please stay on the line. My producer gets you a copy. Uh,
Angela of eight great smarts for homeschoolers. Jess is our
way of saying thank you. Cathy. One of the chapters
in the book that I don't want to miss is about, um,
religious education. So I guess here's my question is how
(33:41):
does eight great smarts inform spiritual formation?
S5 (33:47):
Yeah.
S2 (33:47):
Great question. Um, you know, word smart. Those of us
who are word smart, we're going to love the names
of God and the names of Christ and the definition
of love. And we might even fool around with some
Greek and Hebrew using websites when we don't know what
we're really doing. Um, logic smart. The God of Daniel
is the God of revelation and answering kids questions. Elijah.
(34:08):
Smart kids, you know, because faith is something, man. You
have to think with your heart, right? It's hard. You
can't prove some things about the gospel this side of heaven,
and it's hard. It totally makes sense. But to the
unsaved person, it doesn't. And it can be really challenging
for logic. Smart kids, um, smart kids will often have
God show them something. And what's interesting, because I'm not
(34:30):
very smart, it's number 7 or 8 for me. So
God has only shown me something. One time in my
life I was being rebellious. I did not want to
do it. God knew it. I woke up with a
vision and no joke. I knelt and I was so
quickly obedient because I'm like, oh my gosh, you know,
slap on the head. And so if I, if, if
I was raising a child who came to me and said, mom,
God showed me what to do, I might go, no,
(34:52):
he doesn't work that way. No, we can't put God
in a box. He communicates to us the best way
that he knows he can reach us. So body smart
kids will feel the hug of God or are desperate
to feel it. Um, nature smart kids. Jonah Noah. Creation
from Genesis, Psalm 23. Psalm 46, going for a walk
in the park and talking about God's incredible beauty. I
(35:15):
was just at an Oregon and I went to the ocean,
and I went to an aquarium on the coast of
Ocean of Oregon. And I think you probably know, Chris,
that there are there are fish God created that we
will never see because we can't dive deep enough to
see them. But he created them for his glory because
he loves beauty. When you teach that to nature smart kids,
(35:37):
they have a whole new appreciation about the bigness of God,
if I can put it that way. Um. So smart
kids enjoy quiet and journaling and maybe having a family
devotional time with your five kids. And then. And then
you take a ten minute break. You're not quite done
with the devotional yet. Take a ten minute break and
let the nature smart kid walk outside. And the picture
smart kid draws something that's on his mind and the self.
(35:59):
Smart girl. Go to a quiet space and think about
what dad just said. Then the bell rings. You come
back together and you share the insight. We can let
them wrestle with and learn and meditate upon the things
of God, the way they were created to be. Tina
and I feel very strongly about that. Appreciate your question.
S1 (36:18):
Yeah, absolutely. So encouraging to understand that. And yet I
do believe, because all of these reside in us at
different measures, that we can engage our kids and cultivate
and encourage them to draw into a relationship with God
in areas in ways that maybe isn't their primary way,
(36:40):
but still the Bible. You know, even if you're a
word smart person still encourages worship. The the the earth
is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. Nature is so
important in this process. So I want people to hear
what you're saying in that we're going to be drawn, uh,
to the Lord through, uh, different means based off of
(37:02):
our unique smarts. But I also want us to understand
all the rest of these smarts are at play within us,
and God will use them as well. Let me ask.
S2 (37:13):
You so.
S5 (37:14):
Wise.
S2 (37:14):
And if I can interject, Chris, that you know, the
family unit was ordained by God. And so if a
mom and a dad have a particular bent and a
particular smart, let's say nature is something mom and dad love.
They love to garden and they go to the botanical
garden and they pay attention to the daisy. Well, you're
going to want your children to develop that gifting and
that interest and that smarts, so that the family unit
(37:37):
enjoys the family vacation where you go to the park
in a whole nother city and you pay attention to
the handiwork of God there. So absolutely, all of them matter.
And I love what you talked about drawing. Yeah. God
will draw us according to our gifts. And then all eight. Absolutely.
Watch for that. So cool.
S1 (37:54):
Yeah. So real quickly, with about two minutes before our
next break, how does all of this not only explain
how we're drawn to God differently, but explain why parents
can be drawn to certain children more than others?
S2 (38:10):
Oh, that's a great question because I don't want any
parent to feel guilt. You know, we have to unconditionally
love them. But isn't it cool that there's no verse
that says we have to unconditionally like them? Um, you know,
and there are things that that really will irritate us. But,
you know, if your body smart and you have a
kid who's body smart. It's easier to spend free time
with that kid because you wrestle, or you do jumping
(38:31):
jacks or you, you know, kick the ball or shoot,
shoot hoops in the driveway. If you have a smart
kid who would love to color and that's not your jam,
like I get that. And I would ask you to
walk toward your daughter and get an adult coloring book.
It won't kill you and sit in color. Um, because
they will feel so honored by your presence and by
your interest when they know that it was a stretch
(38:53):
for you. That's a yeah, the smarts are relevant to
free time. That likeability factor. You know what's so amazing, Chris?
The brain is a malleable muscle, and it's never too
late to expand it. So if a parent is recognizing,
no wonder I don't like my oldest as much as
my youngest. It's never too late. You can walk towards
(39:13):
your oldest and watch your brain expand as you allow
your older son to minister himself to you, if that
makes sense.
S1 (39:21):
That makes a lot of sense and it's so powerful. Parents,
this book is going to help you, not just as
it pertains to designing an educational program for your kid
or picking out curriculum. It'll help you in that way,
but it certainly will help you to be able to
give yourself and receive from your children in a beautiful
(39:41):
relationship based off of the way you both are uniquely
designed by God. Listen, you are smart. I hope you
get that message today. You are smart as a mom
or a dad. You can do it. You can homeschool
your children. And then for our children who are listening,
they need to know they're smart as well. You are smart.
(40:04):
Created in the image of an awesome God and he
created you smart in your own way. Eight Great Smarts
for homeschoolers A Guide to teaching based on your child's
unique strengths. Go to Equip Radio to learn more. We'll
be right back. Each day on equip, unequipped, we confront
(40:24):
the cultural challenges of our time, offering biblical truth with
discernment and confidence in God's plans and purposes. Your support
as an Equipper helps us reach more people with God's truth,
and you'll receive exclusive monthly resources and updates to encourage
your spiritual life. Become an Equipper today and partner with
(40:45):
us in this vital ministry. Call (888)Â 644-4144 or go online
to equip Radio.com. Do you wrestle with sexual shame or
unmet longings? Do you wonder if God cares about your
wounds and desires? Would you love a more intimate, honest
(41:06):
relationship with him? Then you need to read Surrender Sexuality
by Doctor Julie Slattery. She'll help you take your deepest
needs to a loving Savior who meets you without shame
or condemnation. Ask for your copy of Surrender Sexuality when
you support equipped this month, simply call 888644 4144 or
(41:28):
visit Radio.com. Chris Brooks here reminding you that today's program
is pre-recorded. While we won't be taking calls, we do
want to connect with you on social media. Kathy Cook
is my guest. Kathy, let's quickly go to Alan in
West Palm Beach, Florida. Hey, Alan, what's your question for Kathy?
S7 (41:52):
Yes. Thank you. Um, as a grandparent, how do I
help my grand my daughter in law as she homeschools
a seven year old with a three year old and
a two year old also in the house, all of
them females.
S1 (42:08):
There you go, Kathy.
S2 (42:12):
I'm sorry.
S1 (42:13):
Kathy, go right ahead. I'm sorry.
S5 (42:15):
Okay.
S2 (42:16):
Um, I appreciate.
S5 (42:17):
That you.
S2 (42:18):
Are concerned about and love your daughter in law and
the grandkids. So good for you. Um. It's hard. I will,
I'll just say. I'll just say up front that, um,
time management can be a challenge. I think your daughter
in law needs to have a very honest appraisal of
what is possible. She obviously needs to love well, the
two and three year old and entertain them and take
care of them and make sure that they're safe and
(42:40):
happy and getting their needs met. So the seven year
old doesn't need to sit for four hours a day.
What's really cool about homeschooling is that it can be
20 minutes here and ten minutes there and, you know,
17 minutes in the backyard, you know, at the at
the picnic table while the two and the three year
old are playing, uh, or resting comfortably on a, on
a mat in the grass. So I think fair expectations
(43:00):
for use of time is huge when kids are little.
Reading to them, reading to them, and reading to them
again is a huge part of homeschooling. I'm going on
little trips which are two, and a three year old
could do as well in the stroller. Would be a
great way to educate the kids. So fair expectations. Lots
of reading, lots of real applications like counting the silverware
when the seven year old helped set the table, counting
(43:22):
the Tupperware lids to see if there's as many lids
as there are Tupperware bowls. Making learning real is a
very important thing to do when kids are little, so
they understand the purpose of school. So I wouldn't be
huge on worksheets and textbooks. We don't have to homeschool
that way. There can be a lot of freedom. And
I think that's what I would recommend for your daughter
in law. And again, I really appreciate, Alan, that you
(43:42):
you care and that you want to be helpful. I
love that about you.
S1 (43:46):
Can I humbly add two things, Cathy. Just two quick things. One,
we're going to get you a copy of eight Great
Smarts for homeschoolers for her. And so, Alan, you stay
on the line. Our producer gets your information. We'll send it,
give it to her as a gift and just just
attach to it a card where you write an encouraging
(44:07):
note letting her know that she can do this. And
here's a resource that will help her to do it.
So I would say that. And then I just want
to say, for all young families. If you're a grandparent,
please listen to this. Pull over to the side of
the road. There is no greater gift than babysitting. I'm
just going to tell you right now babysit as much
(44:28):
as you can. If you are more than willing to
do that, I'm telling you, I just want to give
a big shout out to all the grandparents out there
that are willing to do that. And and obviously being
an encouragement and prayer as well. Just being a prayer partner,
I love that. Just about every day when this broadcast
(44:49):
is over, I get a chance to talk to my
mom and my mom prays for me, encourages me constantly,
and I. And I'm old and grown. But I still
need that. And I'm grateful for my dad is a
great source of wisdom and encouragement for me. My mother
in law helps us so much more than I can
even express. We have a great support network, so grandparents,
(45:10):
you are critical. The second most important people in the
life of a child are the grandparents. So thank you
so much. And I would just say to grandparents that
are out there, get this book so that you can
help your homeschooling kids, homeschool your grandkids. Kathy, please tell
Tina we said thank you. Thank you for her labor
(45:32):
of love in this. And I want to say thank
you to you as well for the way you inspire
so many, and in particular today, those who are home educators,
that they can do it and you equip them with
resources to do it. Thank you for what you're doing.
S2 (45:47):
Hey, you're very welcome. Thanks for having me on the show.
Appreciate it.
S1 (45:50):
Have a great weekend, folks. Listen, I want to encourage
you to go to the website equip radio. That's equip radio, Cathy,
is a huge blessing, uh, to all of us. And
I pray that you will be encouraged as well. By
Tina Hollenbeck's wonderful book, eight Great Smarts for homeschoolers. That's
(46:12):
Tina Hollenbeck, uh, she's author. Cathy It, wrote the Forward,
and it's based off of Cathy's research. And I believe
that every one of us will benefit from understanding how
God has uniquely made us smart in order to draw him,
to draw us to himself and use us for his glory.
Know that you are smart in Jesus and know that
(46:34):
your kids are as well. And as you get ready
to go into the weekend, make sure you're gathering together
with the people of God to lift up the name
of God in the house of God. What a great
way to mark your weekend until we're together again next time.
As always, remember equip with Chris Brooks is a production
of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.
Chris Brooks here, reminding you that today's program is pre-recorded
and we won't be taking your calls. Hey there friends,
welcome to another exciting edition of Equipped with Chris Brooks.
I am so glad you tuned in today. Do me
a favor, strap on your seat belt. We're going to
navigate through the contours of culture, as always with the
(00:38):
lens of the biblical worldview on. But before we do that,
let me remind you this is the day that the
Lord has made. He has given it as a gift
so that you and I can rejoice and be glad
in it. So let's do just that. Let's follow the
words of the Apostle Paul. Let's rejoice in the Lord always.
And again I say rejoice. And with that, I welcome
you into what will be a very interactive edition of equip.
(01:01):
If you, like me, are almost nervously anticipating the return
of another school year, today is your day. It's hard
to believe summer is almost over. We're just weeks away
from back to school time. You can see it in
the commercials, the advertisements, everything from uniforms to school supplies.
(01:23):
Most churches are doing backpack drives, all of those things.
But as you explore your educational options, increasingly so many
families are choosing homeschooling as their option. I love homeschoolers,
have carried a passion for homeschooling, and I'm super grateful
for resources that help homeschoolers. And if you are a
(01:45):
homeschool mom or dead grandparents today, we want to encourage
and equip you. Let's be honest, designing an educational plan
for your kid can feel overwhelming. In particular, when you
have multiple children who may be very different and distinct
in the way that they're smart and in their learning styles.
(02:09):
And so we want to help you. We want to
really come alongside of you. Maybe you have Questions as
a homeschool parent about how you can help your child
to maximize their educational experience. Maybe as you disciple your
child loving them so intimately, you want to know how
you can just care for them well and navigate them
(02:30):
through the homeschool season of their life. It's such a
awesome window of discipleship. But we want to make sure
that we are navigating it well. And so that's why
I'm so excited to have Cathy Cook on with me today.
Cathy needs barely any introduction, but for those of you
who may not be familiar with Cathy. Cathy is a
(02:50):
rock star. She is so awesome. She is the founder
of Celebrate Kids, Inc., based in Fort Worth, Texas. Uh,
and and ignite the family, uh, their conference ministry. She
influenced thousands of parents, teachers and children around the world,
literally through her keynote messages, her seminars, her chapels, banquet talks,
(03:12):
and her resources. Uh, she is the author of many books,
including eight Great Smarts. And today we're going to talk
about a book that was written by one of the
women that she has had the privilege of helping to
mentor and pour into, uh, Tina, uh, Hollenbeck. Uh, the
book is entitled eight Great Smarts for homeschoolers, and I
(03:36):
Love It a Guide to Teaching Based on Your Child's
unique Strengths. Uh, Cathy is here with us. Hey, Cathy,
how are you?
S2 (03:45):
I'm fabulous because I'm on the radio with Chris Brooks.
Thanks for having me back.
S1 (03:49):
Hey, it is so great to be with you. I
always come in, uh, with my ears perked up because,
you know, I'm. I'm the dad of five kids, right?
And so, as I think about how unique and how
different they are. Man, what a resource you have been
to us. I want to just start because this book
(04:11):
was written by Tina, I want to start by asking,
how did you meet Tina?
S2 (04:17):
Yeah, it's a fun story. Thanks for asking. Tina was
a university student of mine, so I was a professor
for seven years up at UW green Bay. And Tina
was a class, you know, class student. She just showed
up in one of my classes, and then a second,
third and fourth, and we were involved in InterVarsity Christian
Fellowship together. I was the faculty advisor, and she actually
(04:39):
came to faith in Christ under the ministry of InterVarsity
and the church that I attended that she began to attend.
And so we have a really cool bond of that
Christ like sisterhood from the very beginning. I stood up
in her wedding to Jeff Hollenbeck and am considered an
aunt to their children. So we have a really cool background,
(05:01):
and I chose her to write this book, partly because
she'd been writing for us at Celebrate Kids for about
20 years. She was the best writer I had as
an undergraduate student. She even back then she was just
a gifted writer, and I watched her implement the eight
smarts with her children. And when she was a public
school educator, so I knew that she was the one
because she has homeschooled her children. She is the one
(05:23):
who could take this to that next level. And I'm
really excited that we're here talking about the book.
S1 (05:27):
Yeah, you say some really lofty and awesome things about her.
You say that Tina was one of the best thinkers
and writers you taught, and you expressed your excitement of
publishing this particular work. Eight Great Smarts for homeschoolers. All right,
education is intimidating enough. Let's get into the world of homeschoolers.
(05:49):
More and more parents are opting into this, uh, this particular, uh,
educational method and option. I think there's multiple motivations. As
you know, Kathy, for some it's all about discipleship. It
is all about home based discipleship, which I love. For others,
it is in response to how quickly public education has
(06:12):
changed and, uh, and maybe concerns about the rapid changes
in public education. Uh, there are a lot of different reasons.
For others, it's because of the unique needs that they
feel their kids might have. Talk about the pains and
joys of homeschooling, what's great about it, and what is
challenging about it.
S2 (06:33):
Hey, I love your intro because you're exactly right. You know,
I think what's challenging, certainly, you know, if you're new
at this man, welcome to the family of homeschoolers and,
you know, believe that you can do it if you're
still on the fence. You know, I hope that this
conversation motivates you to really very much consider it. It
is exhausting. Let's go there. Um, but it's exhausting in
a different way. You know, if you have kids in
(06:53):
a different school model, you might have free time, if
you will, from 8 to 3, depending upon the age
of your kids. But then they come home and there's
homework hassles and there's all kinds of other stresses, and
there's tests and there's quizzes and there's assignments to monitor.
So it's a very different type of busyness. What's cool
about homeschooling is that you're busy with your children. You
get to know them. You get to like them. I
(07:14):
think one of the greatest advantages is the sibling relationships
that can occur. Um, homeschool kids have the best relationships
with people from all generations, because homeschool families tend to
get out of the house and do service field trips,
potentially cooperative experiences where you were with other families. So
that's a really cool advantage. And I think, you know,
(07:35):
being able to meet the individual needs of the children,
like you were saying, you might have a kid with
special needs. All kids are special, right? And all kids
have needs. And if they have special needs, the system
across the road might not work for them. And you
will always be your child's best teacher. I'd love to say, Chris,
that even on your worst day, you. You are your
child's best teacher because you will love them more and
(07:58):
know them more than anybody else will, and you'll advocate
for them. And that's part of the power when kids
know that you are on their side and you want
them to succeed and you answer their questions. Oh my goodness,
that changes everything.
S1 (08:13):
You say this, that the beauty of homeschooling is that
you know and you love your children with all their
unique gifts. And I believe that to the core of
my being, and I am 100% in agreement with you
that you are your child's best teacher. And if you're
feeling overwhelmed today, I do pray that today would be
a day of encouragement. But I do have a burden
(08:34):
for how hard the job is teaching in general, in particular, uh,
home based education. And so if you just need prayer,
just encouragement today, we would love the honor of praying
with you for you and being your prayer partner. Today,
I want to lay more of a foundation though, before
we go to the phone lines. Cathy, this book that
(08:55):
Tina has written, uh, builds upon your research in eight
great smarts. For those who aren't familiar, give us a
quick overview. Eight great smarts and the discovery you made
in your PhD program about the unique learning styles of
our kids.
S2 (09:13):
Yeah, I'd love to do that. The work is actually
based on I'm Doctor Howard Gardner, and he was the
one who originally found these eight intelligences residing in everyone's brain.
And then I enjoyed taking it to a very practical
level and adding, if you will, the Christian piece to it.
What does faith have to do with it? All kids
have all eight. If we teach to the whole brain,
they're more motivated. They'll comprehend it and apply it better.
(09:36):
Word smart. When we're being word smart, we think with
our words. So if you have a Chatty Cathy like me,
that's probably a word. Smart kid. Uh, logic. Smart children.
When you are being logic smart, you think with questions.
These are the kids who tend to like math and
science because they love it when things make sense. They
love to discover truth on their own. When we're being
picture smart, we think with our eyes in visuals, we
(09:58):
draw quickly. We remember things that we see. We enjoy
fiction and history. We might have a better memory for
Bible than even a mom and a dad. Because the
action of the verse or the story, if you will,
comes alive in our mind. A fourth intelligence is music smart.
These are kids who think with rhythms and melodies. They
might sing in tune and play musical instruments. And if
(10:20):
you excite them, they make noise. Not necessarily music, but
they make noise. And then the body. Smart kids, Chris,
are the ones who think with movement and touch. These
are kids who often cry with me at the end
of programs that I'm privileged to do, because they have
never felt smart. They just know that they move a lot.
But they move well. They touch well. That's how they
absorb information. They might be actors, actresses, dancers, clay sculptor,
(10:44):
surgeons and teachers and pastors who talk with their hands.
So body smart thinking with movement and touch. And then
nature smart kids think with patterns. And all of us
are all eight. So when your children are in the
nature smart part of their brain, they're thinking with patterns.
That's how they know it's not a bluebird and a
blue bluejay. And it's actually going to be helpful for
words like was and saw and the number six and nine.
(11:08):
When you activate that part of the brain, it helps
them think strategically and intentionally with their eyes looking for patterns.
And then the last two really interesting people, smart people
think with other people. When your children are being people smart,
they think with other people. They will want to brainstorm, collaborate, network.
They're the ones who come up to you and say, hey, dad,
look at this answer. It's really cool. And you're like,
(11:30):
are you finished? No. But, dad, my answer is really cool.
You know, sometimes that's a lack of confidence, but often
those are those are people, smart people who know what
they know when they hear themselves say it to someone.
And the freedom they have as a homeschooled kid to
talk more than in a different school setting is really valuable.
And then the last one, not the least important, they're
(11:50):
not really in any order. The self smart, the self
smart part of the brain thinks with deep reflection. So
it's kind of the exact opposite. People, smart people, think
with other people, get their joy from talking about what
they know. The self smart part of the brain gets
the joy from knowing what you know, and you tend
to be quieter as you absorb information. It can be
hard to get these kids to talk about their insights,
(12:11):
but of course it's so valuable that we do that.
So those are the eight. And you know, if people
are listening and they're not able to home school, you
can use these these thoughts with when you help your
kids with homework and Bible memory and Sunday school lessons.
But again, we certainly think homeschooling is a really, really
wise decision.
S1 (12:30):
You know, Cathy, every time you go through that list,
I laugh on the inside because you just, uh, you know,
kind of breezed through that. And I don't know if
you've been teaching it so long to realize how much
of a mic drop that is, but everything you just
said is so life changing. It's like when you're introduced
(12:52):
to this concept. It's still amazes me now. The other
reason why I laugh is because I literally just wrote
next to, uh, these, uh, these different smarts, the names
of my kids. And I'm laughing because they're so different.
My Zoe, who's the oldest, is so word smart. She's
(13:12):
constantly verbal, right. My Sophia, my five year old daughter,
is singing and humming all day long. And her siblings
are constantly saying, stop singing so much. My Cameron is
body smart. He loves sports. He's constantly running and jumping
and doing all the physical stuff. Our Judah is people smart.
(13:33):
He loves being in community. So all I'm saying is
that part of my joy is hearing this, because it
really helps me to appreciate. I understand the danger from
talking to you of having only one grid, one lens,
one definition of smart through which we evaluate our kids.
But as it pertains to home educators, as it pertains
(13:56):
to being a homeschool Parent. My empathy is that man,
how hard is it when you are dealing with children
who are smart in different ways? It's beautiful, but how
hard is it to shape an educational program that encompasses this?
So we're going to pick this up. When we come back.
(14:17):
We're going to talk about how Tina Hollenbeck. Hollenbeck took
Cathy's research and applied it to homeschooling. We're also going
to ask Cathy, how do we discover the type of
smart our kid is? I hope this is a blessing
for you. I believe it's life changing. I believe it's
a game changer. So much that I'm encouraging all of
(14:39):
our listeners to get a copy of this book. If
you're a home educator, it's a must, but even if
you're not, it'll be a huge blessing. Go to our website,
learn ordering information right now at equip equip Radio.com. What
a great way to enter the weekend. by purchasing this
great resource. Eight great smarts for homeschoolers will be right
(15:02):
back right after this. As followers of Christ, we know
daily time in God's Word matters, but some are. Distractions
can make it hard to stay consistent. Now is the
perfect time to refresh or begin this life giving habit.
I would love to send you the Quiet Time Kickstart
by Rachel Jones. This compact guide starts small and helps
(15:26):
you build a steady, meaningful rhythm in Scripture, setting you
up for ongoing success. Request your copy today with a
gift of any amount. To equip, simply call (888)Â 644-4144 or
visit Equip Radio org. Today's program has been pre-recorded so
(15:47):
our phone lines are not open. Welcome back to equipped
with Chris Brooks. Kathy Cook is with me. Fired up
to have her on this Friday in which we are
wall to wall homeschool. We want to equip parents who
have chosen to be homeschoolers. Congratulations to you! That's awesome.
(16:10):
We also know it might be the toughest job you'll
ever love. And so we want to make sure that
you have the resources needed. And Kathy's team has put
together a wonderful resource. Eight Great Smarts for homeschoolers, written
by Tina Hollenbeck and based upon Kathy's eight great smarts.
And so we want to help you today if you
have questions, if you want prayer, call 8775675, just like
(16:34):
Roberta did from Saint Charles, Illinois. Let's go to Roberta. Hey, Roberta,
thank you so much for listening. What's your question for Kathy?
S3 (16:43):
My question is, I have a child that has really
bad anxiety, and she's been going to public school and
she's just been falling further and further behind. And, um,
so really, her only option right now is probably homeschooling
because she's too far behind and can't really get a
private class at school. Um, but the problem is, is
(17:04):
she keeps throwing, she throws up these walls so she
has a wall, and she doesn't want me to teach
her homeschool, but she doesn't want to go to high
school either. So how do you deal with, you know, uh,
the wall that's there, that's that's going to stop you
from teaching.
S1 (17:22):
Great question.
S2 (17:23):
She's high school age.
S3 (17:26):
Yes.
S2 (17:27):
Yes. Um, Roberta, thanks for calling. And thanks for knowing
your daughter well enough to know what's going on. And
I pray that the anxiety will lift as she's able
to stay at home with you and find a safe space.
I would, you know, part of it's going to be
content that she cares about. Does she have dreams for
her future? Does she have service that she would love
to offer? Does she care about the elderly? Does she
(17:49):
want to fly a plane? Does she want to be
a ballerina? Does she think that maybe being an accountant
one day would be a cool career if you could
tap into problems that she wants to solve, people she
wants to serve, dreams that she has for her tomorrow.
You can teach those things. The freedom homeschoolers have to
(18:09):
get out of the box or never even be in
a box is somewhat scary for those of us who
like the box because we like boundaries, but it's a
beautiful thing. So I would recommend that you really not
school her for a season. You know, whether that be
a quarter, whether that be two months, really go free.
Do if you can go to museums, go to field trips, um,
(18:33):
talk to have mentors over for lunch and dinner who
have dreams and ambitions that might match your daughter's and
remind her that learning is purposeful. Learning isn't about earning
an A on a test on Thursday. Learning is about
learning something so you can use it in your future.
And if you can help her get back in touch
(18:53):
with that, I think it'll really help her when she
realizes that there isn't the pressure of comparison to other
peers of a test on Tuesday. The paper has to
be due at 2:00 with 400 words, when you can
give her freedom. Hopefully, she'll begin to trust you. And
that'll be a huge thing. So I wish you well.
(19:14):
Hope that that's helpful. You can do this. You can
challenge her. You have every right as authority to look
her in the eye and ask her to trust you.
And then you'll find the rhythm that'll work. I really
believe that.
S1 (19:26):
Roberta, we're going to blast you by giving you a
complimentary copy of eight Great Smarts for homeschoolers. I hope
this is a resource that blesses you. Father, thank you
for Roberta. Thank you for her heart, for her daughter.
I do pray that anxiety would be overcome by peace,
that you would allow her daughter to feel safe, that
the love of a mom and the home would be, uh, Lord,
(19:51):
just healing to her soul. And I do pray that
this year would go so much better than what Roberta
even anticipates as she lives into and leans into her
daughter's dreams for the future. Bless Roberta, in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Hey, Roberta.
Thank you for calling. Stay on the line. Our producer
will get a copy of, uh, eight Great Smarts for homeschoolers.
(20:14):
Right into your hands. Uh, so many people are calling in.
If you're on the line, stay on the line. We're
going to get to you in just a moment. Uh, but, Cathy,
I asked a question, kind of teased it out before
we went to break. Eight Great smarts. How do you
discover as a parent which smart your child is?
S2 (20:31):
Mhm. You know, the first thing I think of Chris
is what gets you what gets a kid into trouble
you know. Right. And that's probably relevant for your five.
Even though your kids are great kids and I've enjoyed
meeting them you know. Do they move too much, talk
too much, color too much, sing too much. So what
do they do? That's a strength, but it's too much
at the wrong time in the wrong way. And then
(20:53):
when they do talk, what do they talk about? Do
they talk about nature? Do they talk about how things work?
Which would be logic? Do they talk about their drawing? Um,
what questions do they ask? Certainly. What do they do
in their spare time is another way to look at it.
When they do have free time, do they color? Do
they read? Do they talk to a friend? Do they
pet their dog? Um, what have they done? Well, historically
(21:15):
has it been science, math, English, creative writing versus kind
of a nonfiction writing? Those are some of the ways
that you can look. And, you know, the other thing
I would do, Chris, I would love our listeners to
tell their children, hey, you know what I found out
today on Chris Brooks Show? You have eight ways of
being smart and then name them and maybe, you know,
(21:36):
educate them a bit and then say, which of those
do you think you have the most brain cells in?
It's fascinating. I was just with a group of 16
to 25 year olds this summer. I've taught probably about 2000,
16 to 25 year olds. This model and Chris like
I'm sad that they don't know how smart they are.
I'm sad that they think their brother's the smart one
because they don't earn A's in math, so they can't
(21:58):
be smart. It makes me angry that the system is broken.
It is powerfully significant to change a child's identity from
I can't to I can from I'm the stupid one
to I'm smarter than I thought, and I'm smart in
these specific ways, so I love that we're talking about
this today.
S1 (22:14):
This is great. Eight Great Smarts for homeschoolers. You can
find out more at our website. Equip radio.org. Kendra is
listening in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Let's go to Alabama. Kendra. What
question do you have for Kathy?
S4 (22:30):
Yes. Hello. Um, I have a seven year old son,
and he is word smart. Uh, I homeschool him. He'll
be in first grade this year. And my question is,
sometimes he. I guess he just doesn't, um. I want
(22:50):
him to be able to listen to us, I guess
is the best. His parents. I think that's the best
way to say it, because he does have a lot
of words, and he talks as if he knows I just.
How how can my husband and I help him to understand?
Sometimes he needs to, you know, listen to us.
S2 (23:12):
That's such a great question, Kendra. And I bet every
adult listening is clapping going, yes, that was my question too. Um,
you know words. All children need to listen. And word
smart children do like the sound of their own voice.
We actually don't need an audience. We enjoy talking and sharing.
And if you listen to us, that's what I call
frosting on the cake of life. If your son is
(23:34):
also people smart, then he needs to talk to you
and your husband. And so that is his energy. That
is his go to default. And I love that you
know that about him. And I don't want you to
paralyze that by saying stop talking so often that he
actually stops. But he does need the discipline of listening.
And that is your right. You know, as a believer,
(23:55):
you can share Scripture. Proverbs has a lot to say
about listening and about quieting the tongue, about being still. Um,
sometimes it's a thumbs up if you're let's say that
your son is telling you a story or telling you
what he learned about frogs or, you know, talking about church,
and you really do have something that you want to share.
Put your thumb up, which means that you understand him.
(24:16):
You have heard him, and now it's your turn. If
there's some type of a physical symbol you can use
rather than hey, it's my turn, it doesn't feel as
rejecting to a child. Um, sometimes you can go first
in the conversation. And I also want to say boldly,
you have every right to have a consequence for his
(24:36):
choice to not listen. That is an obedience issue. Kids
today need to understand that although they're wise, they're not
as wise as a parent or certainly God. And so
for you to model teachability humility. Those are really, really
important things. Affirm him when he is quiet and listens.
Make sure you affirm him when he does listen to
(24:56):
you and he's able to recite back what Mom and
Dad said. Make sure you say, man, I'm really proud
of you. Thank you for listening. So affirm, don't just correct.
That's also really helpful.
S1 (25:08):
So good. Let's pray. Kendra, we're going to pray for
you and get you a copy of eight Great Smarts
as well. Father, thank you so much for Kendra. Thank
you for her beautiful seven year old. I do pray
that she would just be able to affirm him and
his particular area of smarts, the Lord, that he would
know that being word smart is a beautiful gift, but
(25:30):
that he would also be humble in heart and submissive
to his mom and dad. That they would create an
atmosphere that challenges him to be obedient, but also encourages
him in the unique way God has gifted him blessed.
Kendra encouraged her heart. In Jesus name, Amen. Kendra, you
still on the line? Our producer will get you eight
great smarts for homeschoolers. My friends, this is a wonderful
(25:54):
guide based on your child's unique strengths. I want to
encourage you. Get a copy, go to org. We'll be
right back. Hey there friends, welcome to a Friday edition
(26:23):
of equip. I hope you are being blessed and encouraged
by the wonderful conversation I'm having with Kathy Cook today.
We're going to get back to Kathy in just a moment,
but let me say thank you to all of you
who are supporting the program prayerfully and financially. We know
that we cannot be here if it was not for
God's grace and your generosity. So let me say thanks
to Mark from New York for your support for the program.
(26:46):
Jean from Gurnee, Illinois. Thank you so much. Mark from
New Hampshire. What a blessing you are as well to
all of our friends who support this ministry. Uh, your
investment allows us to equip Christians to live, share and
defend their faith. If you have been blessed by the program,
maybe today can be a giving Friday for you. Can
you support? Equip? No. On the other side of your
(27:09):
gift today, you're helping to change the world one life
at a time. As we tackle the tough questions of
our culture with relevant and biblical answers, and help people
to take their next steps in their journey with Jesus.
So why don't you call 888644 4144? Again, if we've
been a blessing to you, partner with us today at
(27:30):
888644 4144 or go to equip radio Dot. Kathy Cook
is with me today. She is the founder of Celebrate Kids, Inc.
She's also a great author and speaker. Today, we're talking
about one of the resources her team recently produced for homeschoolers,
eight Grade Smarts for homeschoolers, written by Tina Hollenbeck and
(27:53):
foreword by Kathy Cook. And I want to encourage you
to get a copy if you are homeschool mom or dad.
Today's your day. You can join the conversation with your
questions or even your prayer requests for your children. For yourself.
It's 87756758775483675. We're going to go back to the phone
(28:14):
lines in just a moment. But Kathy, I love the
way that the book opens and it just reminds us
of your heart. You say this, you said when I
taught second graders, I was saddened by the number of
my students who already thought of themselves as incapable or stupid.
I know that that breaks your heart, gets you upset,
(28:35):
get your passions going. How do you help kids who
To have such deep doubts already.
S5 (28:42):
Yeah. Wow. Um, we pray.
S2 (28:45):
And we look for their strengths, and we call them out.
All kids have strengths. We've got to call them out.
I think teaching to the different parts of the brain
is one of the ways to convince them that they're smart.
You know, word and logic are very much school smarts.
They're also church smarts. Because what do we do in
school and church? Read, write, speak, listen, ask, and answer
(29:05):
questions when we can teach and let kids sketch the
definition and do a role play and do a drama
and build a diorama and, you know, have a conversation
with someone to demonstrate how much they understand about the lesson.
Then all of a sudden they have proof that they
did actually remember and they did actually understand. So part
of it is using the eight smarts. Part of it
(29:26):
is the conversation. You know, part of it is us
as the older adults getting out of our head the
definition of smart that we grew up with.
S1 (29:34):
Yes.
S2 (29:34):
And right, Chris. And making sure that when we look
at our kids that we're seeing today's children in front
of us, and how they're created by God to be
really good.
S1 (29:45):
That's great. All right. We're going to go back to
the phone lines. 8775675 is the number. That's 877548 3675.
If you want to join the conversation, like Angela who's
listening in Naperville, Illinois. Hey, Angela, thank you so much
for calling. What's your question for Cathy?
S6 (30:06):
Hi. Thank you. Um, my question is, as a parent,
how do I praise one child without in an area
without making the other child who maybe isn't as great
in that area feel less than and and vice versa.
You know, because they have different strengths. Um, because often
(30:26):
what I find is that even though I may tell
child A, they're great this way and child B they're
great that way, they still want to be great the
way each other are Ah, great. So how do I
do that without feeling less than somehow?
S2 (30:42):
Angela, what a great question. And again, every parent is, is,
is applauding your insights because it is hard. And actually,
you know, one of the advantages of homeschooling schooling, not
schooling at home, but true homeschooling is the sibling relationship
and the, um, cooperation and the collaboration and the love
(31:02):
and the like that can happen there. It can be awkward,
especially if an older child is not as smart in
an area as a younger child. So if a younger
child is a better reader, for instance, that can be
really stressful. Certainly making sure that we do affirm everybody
is key, that we don't have a favorite. I think
sometimes teaching our children to affirm their siblings is also
(31:25):
really huge, making sure that maybe we do it more privately.
I think sometimes, you know, we'd spontaneously do it in
the group and the kids are at the table and
they're all working on something, and you spontaneously affirm, Peter, like,
I get that, but sometimes you take the kids aside
and you have a longer affirmation conversation when there's no
competition and no, um, comparison that would take place. I
(31:49):
also want to say again, I'm very all of us
at celebrate kids are very we very much agree that
we should be bold with our children. Honest, truthful, grace
and mercy. Sometimes we need to say to the kids,
you know what, James? I wasn't talking about you. I
was talking about Peter. And it is okay that your
brother has this gift. And, you know, we just had
(32:09):
a conversation about your gifts. So I'm not happy that
you're diminishing your brother because you're competing. But we don't
compete in our family. That's not what we're created for.
So sometimes I think we have to be that bold
and say that also, one more thing. Be really specific
when we're specific with our praise. You're creative. I know,
because one of our powerful phrases is, I know because
(32:32):
you know you're creative. I know because I left at
the end of your story. You took the main character
in a really unique direction or to say to a child,
you know, you're very organized. I know because you quickly
came when I said it was time for math and
you had everything you needed. And I'm so glad because
there wasn't stress and I didn't have to argue. Thank
you for being so organized. When we're specific, the siblings
(32:53):
believe it and might now want to behave in that
same way if they're capable of it.
S1 (32:59):
I love it. Yeah, it really, really is for so
many parents. And Angela, I pray that it was an
encouragement to you. Angela, I just want to affirm you.
What a blessing you are as a mom to be
sensitive to that. Keep affirming your kids in their unique giftings.
Create that atmosphere within the house in which we cheer
for one another, and I know God will bless you guys.
(33:21):
Please stay on the line. My producer gets you a copy. Uh,
Angela of eight great smarts for homeschoolers. Jess is our
way of saying thank you. Cathy. One of the chapters
in the book that I don't want to miss is about, um,
religious education. So I guess here's my question is how
(33:41):
does eight great smarts inform spiritual formation?
S5 (33:47):
Yeah.
S2 (33:47):
Great question. Um, you know, word smart. Those of us
who are word smart, we're going to love the names
of God and the names of Christ and the definition
of love. And we might even fool around with some
Greek and Hebrew using websites when we don't know what
we're really doing. Um, logic smart. The God of Daniel
is the God of revelation and answering kids questions. Elijah.
(34:08):
Smart kids, you know, because faith is something, man. You
have to think with your heart, right? It's hard. You
can't prove some things about the gospel this side of heaven,
and it's hard. It totally makes sense. But to the
unsaved person, it doesn't. And it can be really challenging
for logic. Smart kids, um, smart kids will often have
God show them something. And what's interesting, because I'm not
(34:30):
very smart, it's number 7 or 8 for me. So
God has only shown me something. One time in my
life I was being rebellious. I did not want to
do it. God knew it. I woke up with a
vision and no joke. I knelt and I was so
quickly obedient because I'm like, oh my gosh, you know,
slap on the head. And so if I, if, if
I was raising a child who came to me and said, mom,
God showed me what to do, I might go, no,
(34:52):
he doesn't work that way. No, we can't put God
in a box. He communicates to us the best way
that he knows he can reach us. So body smart
kids will feel the hug of God or are desperate
to feel it. Um, nature smart kids. Jonah Noah. Creation
from Genesis, Psalm 23. Psalm 46, going for a walk
in the park and talking about God's incredible beauty. I
(35:15):
was just at an Oregon and I went to the ocean,
and I went to an aquarium on the coast of
Ocean of Oregon. And I think you probably know, Chris,
that there are there are fish God created that we
will never see because we can't dive deep enough to
see them. But he created them for his glory because
he loves beauty. When you teach that to nature smart kids,
(35:37):
they have a whole new appreciation about the bigness of God,
if I can put it that way. Um. So smart
kids enjoy quiet and journaling and maybe having a family
devotional time with your five kids. And then. And then
you take a ten minute break. You're not quite done
with the devotional yet. Take a ten minute break and
let the nature smart kid walk outside. And the picture
smart kid draws something that's on his mind and the self.
(35:59):
Smart girl. Go to a quiet space and think about
what dad just said. Then the bell rings. You come
back together and you share the insight. We can let
them wrestle with and learn and meditate upon the things
of God, the way they were created to be. Tina
and I feel very strongly about that. Appreciate your question.
S1 (36:18):
Yeah, absolutely. So encouraging to understand that. And yet I
do believe, because all of these reside in us at
different measures, that we can engage our kids and cultivate
and encourage them to draw into a relationship with God
in areas in ways that maybe isn't their primary way,
(36:40):
but still the Bible. You know, even if you're a
word smart person still encourages worship. The the the earth
is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. Nature is so
important in this process. So I want people to hear
what you're saying in that we're going to be drawn, uh,
to the Lord through, uh, different means based off of
(37:02):
our unique smarts. But I also want us to understand
all the rest of these smarts are at play within us,
and God will use them as well. Let me ask.
S2 (37:13):
You so.
S5 (37:14):
Wise.
S2 (37:14):
And if I can interject, Chris, that you know, the
family unit was ordained by God. And so if a
mom and a dad have a particular bent and a
particular smart, let's say nature is something mom and dad love.
They love to garden and they go to the botanical
garden and they pay attention to the daisy. Well, you're
going to want your children to develop that gifting and
that interest and that smarts, so that the family unit
(37:37):
enjoys the family vacation where you go to the park
in a whole nother city and you pay attention to
the handiwork of God there. So absolutely, all of them matter.
And I love what you talked about drawing. Yeah. God
will draw us according to our gifts. And then all eight. Absolutely.
Watch for that. So cool.
S1 (37:54):
Yeah. So real quickly, with about two minutes before our
next break, how does all of this not only explain
how we're drawn to God differently, but explain why parents
can be drawn to certain children more than others?
S2 (38:10):
Oh, that's a great question because I don't want any
parent to feel guilt. You know, we have to unconditionally
love them. But isn't it cool that there's no verse
that says we have to unconditionally like them? Um, you know,
and there are things that that really will irritate us. But,
you know, if your body smart and you have a
kid who's body smart. It's easier to spend free time
with that kid because you wrestle, or you do jumping
(38:31):
jacks or you, you know, kick the ball or shoot,
shoot hoops in the driveway. If you have a smart
kid who would love to color and that's not your jam,
like I get that. And I would ask you to
walk toward your daughter and get an adult coloring book.
It won't kill you and sit in color. Um, because
they will feel so honored by your presence and by
your interest when they know that it was a stretch
(38:53):
for you. That's a yeah, the smarts are relevant to
free time. That likeability factor. You know what's so amazing, Chris?
The brain is a malleable muscle, and it's never too
late to expand it. So if a parent is recognizing,
no wonder I don't like my oldest as much as
my youngest. It's never too late. You can walk towards
(39:13):
your oldest and watch your brain expand as you allow
your older son to minister himself to you, if that
makes sense.
S1 (39:21):
That makes a lot of sense and it's so powerful. Parents,
this book is going to help you, not just as
it pertains to designing an educational program for your kid
or picking out curriculum. It'll help you in that way,
but it certainly will help you to be able to
give yourself and receive from your children in a beautiful
(39:41):
relationship based off of the way you both are uniquely
designed by God. Listen, you are smart. I hope you
get that message today. You are smart as a mom
or a dad. You can do it. You can homeschool
your children. And then for our children who are listening,
they need to know they're smart as well. You are smart.
(40:04):
Created in the image of an awesome God and he
created you smart in your own way. Eight Great Smarts
for homeschoolers A Guide to teaching based on your child's
unique strengths. Go to Equip Radio to learn more. We'll
be right back. Each day on equip, unequipped, we confront
(40:24):
the cultural challenges of our time, offering biblical truth with
discernment and confidence in God's plans and purposes. Your support
as an Equipper helps us reach more people with God's truth,
and you'll receive exclusive monthly resources and updates to encourage
your spiritual life. Become an Equipper today and partner with
(40:45):
us in this vital ministry. Call (888)Â 644-4144 or go online
to equip Radio.com. Do you wrestle with sexual shame or
unmet longings? Do you wonder if God cares about your
wounds and desires? Would you love a more intimate, honest
(41:06):
relationship with him? Then you need to read Surrender Sexuality
by Doctor Julie Slattery. She'll help you take your deepest
needs to a loving Savior who meets you without shame
or condemnation. Ask for your copy of Surrender Sexuality when
you support equipped this month, simply call 888644 4144 or
(41:28):
visit Radio.com. Chris Brooks here reminding you that today's program
is pre-recorded. While we won't be taking calls, we do
want to connect with you on social media. Kathy Cook
is my guest. Kathy, let's quickly go to Alan in
West Palm Beach, Florida. Hey, Alan, what's your question for Kathy?
S7 (41:52):
Yes. Thank you. Um, as a grandparent, how do I
help my grand my daughter in law as she homeschools
a seven year old with a three year old and
a two year old also in the house, all of
them females.
S1 (42:08):
There you go, Kathy.
S2 (42:12):
I'm sorry.
S1 (42:13):
Kathy, go right ahead. I'm sorry.
S5 (42:15):
Okay.
S2 (42:16):
Um, I appreciate.
S5 (42:17):
That you.
S2 (42:18):
Are concerned about and love your daughter in law and
the grandkids. So good for you. Um. It's hard. I will,
I'll just say. I'll just say up front that, um,
time management can be a challenge. I think your daughter
in law needs to have a very honest appraisal of
what is possible. She obviously needs to love well, the
two and three year old and entertain them and take
care of them and make sure that they're safe and
(42:40):
happy and getting their needs met. So the seven year
old doesn't need to sit for four hours a day.
What's really cool about homeschooling is that it can be
20 minutes here and ten minutes there and, you know,
17 minutes in the backyard, you know, at the at
the picnic table while the two and the three year
old are playing, uh, or resting comfortably on a, on
a mat in the grass. So I think fair expectations
(43:00):
for use of time is huge when kids are little.
Reading to them, reading to them, and reading to them
again is a huge part of homeschooling. I'm going on
little trips which are two, and a three year old
could do as well in the stroller. Would be a
great way to educate the kids. So fair expectations. Lots
of reading, lots of real applications like counting the silverware
when the seven year old helped set the table, counting
(43:22):
the Tupperware lids to see if there's as many lids
as there are Tupperware bowls. Making learning real is a
very important thing to do when kids are little, so
they understand the purpose of school. So I wouldn't be
huge on worksheets and textbooks. We don't have to homeschool
that way. There can be a lot of freedom. And
I think that's what I would recommend for your daughter
in law. And again, I really appreciate, Alan, that you
(43:42):
you care and that you want to be helpful. I
love that about you.
S1 (43:46):
Can I humbly add two things, Cathy. Just two quick things. One,
we're going to get you a copy of eight Great
Smarts for homeschoolers for her. And so, Alan, you stay
on the line. Our producer gets your information. We'll send it,
give it to her as a gift and just just
attach to it a card where you write an encouraging
(44:07):
note letting her know that she can do this. And
here's a resource that will help her to do it.
So I would say that. And then I just want
to say, for all young families. If you're a grandparent,
please listen to this. Pull over to the side of
the road. There is no greater gift than babysitting. I'm
just going to tell you right now babysit as much
(44:28):
as you can. If you are more than willing to
do that, I'm telling you, I just want to give
a big shout out to all the grandparents out there
that are willing to do that. And and obviously being
an encouragement and prayer as well. Just being a prayer partner,
I love that. Just about every day when this broadcast
(44:49):
is over, I get a chance to talk to my
mom and my mom prays for me, encourages me constantly,
and I. And I'm old and grown. But I still
need that. And I'm grateful for my dad is a
great source of wisdom and encouragement for me. My mother
in law helps us so much more than I can
even express. We have a great support network, so grandparents,
(45:10):
you are critical. The second most important people in the
life of a child are the grandparents. So thank you
so much. And I would just say to grandparents that
are out there, get this book so that you can
help your homeschooling kids, homeschool your grandkids. Kathy, please tell
Tina we said thank you. Thank you for her labor
(45:32):
of love in this. And I want to say thank
you to you as well for the way you inspire
so many, and in particular today, those who are home educators,
that they can do it and you equip them with
resources to do it. Thank you for what you're doing.
S2 (45:47):
Hey, you're very welcome. Thanks for having me on the show.
Appreciate it.
S1 (45:50):
Have a great weekend, folks. Listen, I want to encourage
you to go to the website equip radio. That's equip radio, Cathy,
is a huge blessing, uh, to all of us. And
I pray that you will be encouraged as well. By
Tina Hollenbeck's wonderful book, eight Great Smarts for homeschoolers. That's
(46:12):
Tina Hollenbeck, uh, she's author. Cathy It, wrote the Forward,
and it's based off of Cathy's research. And I believe
that every one of us will benefit from understanding how
God has uniquely made us smart in order to draw him,
to draw us to himself and use us for his glory.
Know that you are smart in Jesus and know that
(46:34):
your kids are as well. And as you get ready
to go into the weekend, make sure you're gathering together
with the people of God to lift up the name
of God in the house of God. What a great
way to mark your weekend until we're together again next time.
As always, remember equip with Chris Brooks is a production
of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.
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