Character Building
Help your child build Christ-centered character through homeschooling!
What Is Character?

Having character means that you can be trusted to be honest, responsible, and trustworthy.
Someone with character does the right thing even when no one is looking.
As a homeschool parent, you have a unique role in helping your child build Christ-centered character!
Raising Responsible Children
One of the first steps in teaching children responsibility is to clearly communicate what is expected of them and to ensure it is an age-appropriate expectation.
One example is doing chores around the house like taking the dinner plate off of the table, rinsing it, and loading it in the dish washer. Make sure they understand the cause and effect of their actions. If you don’t do what I asked you to do, this is the consequence.
Sometimes it may take asking more than once and having patience and mercy. Praise them when they complete the task and follow through with the consequence if they do not do what is expected.
Do all of these things from a loving perspective.
Character Building for Kids
Give your kid a simple project to help build character. It can be as simple as picking up sticks and raking leaves in the back yard.
It will give them a sense of accomplishment and teach them responsibility.
Character Building for Teens
Teens learn best by example. If you expect your teenager to behave in a certain way, make sure you model that behavior. Some parents fall into the trap of do as I say, not as I do.
Trust me, they are watching you and learning from you. Teach them compassion for strangers by opening doors, saying thank you, or helping someone in need.
Character Building Resources

The Home Part Of Homeschooling | 203
Today, we are joined by Chelsea Cameron. Leslie and Chelsea are going to be talking about the home part of homeschooling, because that’s where the

Rubric for Growth | 198
Is it possible to gauge how our children are growing in their faith? Could there possibly be a “rubric” that we could look to to

Staying On Mission With Many Children | Episode 192
For so many families, parents are outnumbered by kiddos, so it’s important to understand how to stay on the mission when you have many children

What’s Holding You Back from Biblical Education?
Education has been a crucial aspect of human development for thousands of years, and the Bible provides a rich understanding of what education should look

We don’t advocate homeschooling! Are you surprised?
You might be surprised to hear me say that as a parent, your greatest mission isn’t to homeschool. Don’t get me wrong; homeschooling is awesome.

The Power Of Developing Quality Communication Skills | 185
We talk a lot about Heart Schooling—or discipleship-focused homeschooling. So, this week, David and I are going to look specifically at what Heart Schooling really entails and give you some ideas to start putting some of these concepts into action right now.

The Importance of Heart Schooling | 184
We talk a lot about Heart Schooling—or discipleship-focused homeschooling. So, this week, David and I are going to look specifically at what Heart Schooling really entails and give you some ideas to start putting some of these concepts into action right now.

Get Your Head In the Game
David and I have 4 children who have always been active and involved in athletics (among other things.) Our daughters are both volleyball players, so

The Joy of Parenting Teens | 182
Today we are joined today by Amber Johnston. Amber and Leslie Nunnery are going to be discussing the absolute joys of parenting teens, and we

What to Do When it Seems Like the World is Ending
Right now in the world, there are so many difficult things going on. There’s inflation, the threat of war, the church is on the decline, political unrest, and

Actively Remember What Is Important
I love this time of year, but I was missing it! About two weeks before Christmas, I looked up from the trenches of work and

Parenting Lying Children | 175
Is your child struggling with lying, but you aren’t sure how to address it from a heart-oriented, biblical perspective? Then we’re glad you’re joining us

Trust God’s Plans Because They Are Good
God’s plans for His people are so good—and they haven’t changed since the beginning of time. The Lord really reinforced that for me over the

The Wisdom Of Putting Things Together As Parents | 170
Last week, David and I took a few days to head up to the mountains to pray and plan about the next few months. We

Every Home Needs A Strong Foundation
Teach Them Diligently has been in existence now for eleven years. During that time, my children have grown from youngsters to young men and women.

Common Hindrances for Parents | 162
This week, we’re going to look at a couple of the hindrances many families allow to hold them back from truly fulfilling their mission. These

Strengthen Relationships Through Creative Writing
Homeschooling provides us with a great tool and countless opportunities to get to the heart of our children. We also have a myriad of ways

Wise and Discerning Children | 157
For over 30 years, Mark and his wife Debbie have devoted themselves to making ready a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:17), and today’s

Men and Boys Growing In Their Faith Together | 151
On today’s podcast, we’re going to be addressing a question that I get a lot from members of TTD365. We talk so much about growing

Children and Whining | 149
Today’s podcast is a practical one and I’m excited to dive in, because we’re going to be discussing an issue that hits home for all

The Impact of Relationships | 139
On today’s podcast, we are joined by a Teach Them Diligently favorite! Todd Wilson of The Familyman Ministries is a favorite among moms and dads

Strengthening Character in Your Homeschool | 129
This week, Kathie Morrissey of the Character Corner is joining us. Kathie is a veteran homeschool mom of 8, all who have graduated and launched.

A Hidden Secret of a Healthy Marriage | 118
Today’s episode is a throw back to our most popular episode of 2020. This has been such a helpful conversation through the years and we

Raising Boys To Be Men | 115
This week, we are thrilled to have Mark Hancock, who leads Trail Life USA joining us. Mark is a homeschool dad who knows a lot

Teaching (and Learning) Obedience | 112
This week on the podcast, David and Leslie will be talking all about teaching and learning obedience. They will share tips about how they approached

Revival
Over the summer, I came across a little known revival in the mid-19th Century that very few people know or talk about. It took place

Finishing the School Year Strong! | 111
Are you having a hard time with the motivation to finish the homeschool year strong? Or, are you looking at all that needs to be

Only You Can Do It!!
I was a cheerleader for my Christian high school when I was a teenager, and I can actually remember a lot of the cheers we

Top 5 Mistakes Homeschoolers Make | 110
With the end of the school year upon us and many of us doing an assessment of the year and planning for next, we wanted

The Lasting Impact of Fathers | 109
On today’s podcast, we are joined by Stephen Ashton. Stephen has a heart for ministering to our boys and he’s spent a lifetime doing it–
Role of Education in Character Building

Character building is taught in some traditional schools but it is not consistent.
You can choose a homeschool program that teaches lessons on character building and that pulls parables and stories from the Bible to reinforce the concepts.
Building Christian Character
Here are some top Christian character traits that we can teach our children to help them build a strong foundation for spiritual growth:
- Humility
- Honesty
- Integrity
- Courage
- Love
- Kindness

Join TTD365 for Even More Character Building Resources!
Teach Them Diligently 365 is an online homeschool community and homeschool resource library designed to help you make the most out of your homeschool experience.

TTD365 Audio Resources - Christian Character (Members Only!)

Wise Words for Kids
Speaker: Ginger Hubbard Yep, that’s right, it’s a fun, entertaining and character-building session for kids! Through captivating stories and charming illustrations, Ginger tickles funny bones and reaches hearts with wisdom from God’s Word about whining and lying. Kids of all ages will laugh their way into learning the benefits of being obedient, self-controlled and truthful […]

Responding Biblically to Anger
Speaker: Lisa Schmidt Anger is a God given emotion that we all experience from time to time. The problem is that our human natures have the tendency to be angry in a sinful way. Anger may characterize how we respond to certain triggers, but anger itself doesn’t control us, the evil desires within us do. […]

Rules For Saving Civilization
Speaker: Jennifer Pepito In this session, Jennifer will share how the same principles that saved civilization during the dark ages can be applied to our homes to help create islands of virtue in the midst of a chaotic time. Listen Now

5 Core Habits to Help Your Child Learn Anything
Speaker: Audry Buritica Come and hear about how you can help your child acquire the essential habits to learn anything. This talk will model these “core habits,” allowing you to experience them yourself! Listen Now

How to Raise Motivated Learners
Speaker: Dollie Freeman Discover the key to motivating your children, regardless of the subject, tasks, or requirement that will empower them to willingly take ownership of what is asked of them, even if they find it difficult or challenging in the beginning. Listen Now

Understanding the Temperaments (And Their Blends)
Speaker: Catherine Zoller “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6) has often been misunderstood as assuring parents of prodigals that they will return to the Lord. However, the verse is more properly translated, “Train….according to their bent, or in […]

Secrets to Developing Christ-like Character
Speaker: Wayne Musson “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6. This verse tells the importance of children learning Christ-centered character not only for now, while they are young, but also for when they are grown. Successful people in life […]

The Power of Godly Influence & the Legacy it Leaves
Speaker: Heidi St. JohnDid you know that you have influence? You do! The question is, what you are doing with the influence that God has given you? You have influence with your children, your friends, family, co-workers. What are you doing with it? How is your faith influencing those around you? In this powerful presentation, […]

Significant Parenting
Speaker: Emily Jones Homeschool parents put so much emphasis on ensuring that their children learn the information necessary to meet state requirements. However, it is equally important for us to take advantage of the freedom homeschool provides in order to raise wholesome children who grow up and become adults who contribute to society and make […]

I Don’t Have Enough Patience!
Many moms feel like they don’t have enough patience to home educate their children. What do you do when your worst fears are confirmed and you find out you don’t have enough patience to continue homeschooling? Come learn about what patience is, what it isn’t, where it comes from, and how to grow and thrive in the pressure cooker of mothering.

Teaching Several Grades at Once
Teaching several grade levels all together can seem daunting. However, what might at first appear to be overwhelming can be turned into an asset in your homeschool. Let’s look together at planning ahead, group teaching, leading older children in sharing knowledge (and boundaries for this approach), and ideas that bring the family together.

Lost Secrets of Ancient Civilization
Lost Secrets of Ancient CivilizationSpeaker: Mike Snavely Listen Now https://s3.amazonaws.com/ttdfiles.teachthemdiligently.net/memberscontent/audio/2018/columbus-oh/lost-secrets-of-ancient-civilization.mp3 Download this Audio File

Adulting in Your Parents Home
Speaker: Sarah Fowler Listen Now https://s3.amazonaws.com/ttdfiles.teachthemdiligently.net/memberscontent/audio/2018/columbus-oh/adulting-in-your-parents-home.mp3 Download this Audio File

A Woman of Remarkable Endurance
Desiring to be homeschool moms and wives who endure with hope in the race set before us, we will go over how to maintain JOY. The secret is something that we need to do daily (if not moment by moment). You will find this session encouraging as Brandy shows you that you can go through and come out of this journey with a smile on your face; not just surviving but thriving!

How and Why to Incorporate Educational Travel into Your Homeschool
Teaching and learning can be fun! There are many ways students can learn through real-life experiences including educational travel. Many of us think of educational travel as something that is too expensive or too difficult. But educational travel doesn’t have to be to far-off or expensive destinations. It can include those, but with planning and budgeting, educational travel can be a reality for most homeschooling families! Why is educational travel important anyway? Because students can learn so much more through travel than they can with traditional academics alone! Not only can they learn about the states, cities, landmarks, and map skills in a hands-on way, but they can also learn more about relationship building, problem solving, and other life skills that they can’t learn effectively in any other way. We will share some practical, affordable ways to incorporate educational travel into your homeschool

Handfuls of Treasure: Embracing Busy Family Life
Spelling, Arithmetic, Reading, Dishes, Diapers, Laundry, Cooking….the list goes on and on! Homeschooling mothers wear so many hats. Busy family life can threaten to steal the realization that our hands are holding, guiding and directing eternal souls. This session focuses on recognizing treasure, laying it up in heaven, and loving the family God has given us.

How Home Education Prepared Me for Public Office
Sarah Fowler is the first homeschool graduate to serve on a State Board of Education. In this session she will be exploring key education experiences that prepared her for service in state government and how the lack of training in these areas has undermined the ministry and service of others. Sarah will explore the benefits of Christian mentorship in her personal and spiritual development and share how she has reciprocated by mentoring young people as well.

Live to Love With Jesus
Experience freedom and joy in satisfying relationships as you learn the difference between a counterfeit love and Jesus love, two hindrances to the flow of love, and Gods provision for establishing loving relationships. Everyone wants the homeschooling experience to be satisfying and enjoyable. However, parents and children can unknowingly make idols out of homeschooling and relationships which always results in control and disappointment. Youll be encouraged as you hear how to live to love with Jesus.

Building a Solid Math Foundation
Who is going to build a house by starting with the walls? Without a solid foundation, those walls
may hold up for a bit but eventually will come crashing down. Math is a lot like building a house.
We need to start with a strong foundation and build up from there. It doesnt have to be hard!
Come and see how easy it is to teach math.

The Transformative Power of Reading for the Central One Idea
This talk, geared toward students and teachers of literature, can dramatically change the way you read literature. Reading for the Central One Idea gives purpose and direction to your reading, opening the way for a more illuminating and sophisticated interaction with the text

Important Things to Teach Our Families
Homeschooling parents often have many things they want to teach their children, but what are the most important things that parents can pass down from one generation to the next? In her talk “Important Things to Teach Our Families” Ruth Adams seeks to encourage parents to intentionally disciple their families in the process of daily learning and living. Ruth is the author of the book “Legacy Reflections of a Homeschooled, Homeschooling Mama” and shares out of almost four decades of involvement in homeschooling both as a student and now as a Mama to seven. Ruth understands the joys and struggles of homeschooling many children and is passionate about helping other mamas embrace the ministry within their homes.

Hebrews 11: 23 and 2 Kings 3:16. The secret of our Homeschooling “Why” and “How”
The secret to success in Homeschooling is theres no secret! The elements of success in Homeschooling match those in discipleship, marriage, parenting, entrepreneurship and gardening.
My husband introduced me to gardening in 1981. I was ready to wean our 13-month old twins to baby food. He argued for a garden because we dont know whos bottling that! When I balked he said Sweetie Pie, gardening is like pastoring and parenting. All require daily attention to detail in the same posture of humility, head bowed, body bent. Folks who dont have time to garden probably dont have time to parent. I joined him in the garden and learned the secret works in discipleship, marriage, parenting, entrepreneurship, gardening, and of course homeschooling. It isnt easy but its also not complex. Homeschooling three sons to a state of holistic health required a challenging yet simple Morning by Morning approach. Id love to share our Why and How Homeschooling secrets with you.

Americans Forgotten Founders
Speaker: Pamela Openshaw Listen Now https://s3.amazonaws.com/ttdfiles.teachthemdiligently.net/memberscontent/audio/2018/columbus-oh/americans-forgotten-founders.mp3 Download this Audio File

Maintaining Chaos In Daily Life
Learn how to manage the chaos of homeschooling and keep a heart of hope and joy through chores, messes, markers on the wall, and diaper changes!

Homeschooling and Living out the Gospel
Intentionally living out Godliness through the living Gospel everyday should be my goal as a mama, wife, teacher, and friend. When life gets crazy, where do we turn? Or who do we turn into? The learning my children receive not only comes from books, but more importantly, it comes from a life wholly dedicated to God. A life that LIVES OUT THE GOSPEL.

Mission Minded Mom’s Night
Join Ann Dunagan and Leslie Nunnery for an evening just for moms. In addition to some fun and a wonderful time of worship together, Ann will be sharing her heart for moms– and we’ll be hearing from those of you in the audience as well. This is an evening you will not want to miss.

Our Only Hope
Life can be very difficult and many feel helpless and defeated when struggles become too much to handle. As I share my story in my book, Our Only Hope, I describe the extreme hardships I faced throughout my youth and adult life, more than most individuals could imagine facing in an entire lifetime. If you are searching for hope and a purpose, I will share with you the encouragement and inspiration to move forward through the most difficult times. I will guide you down a path of unimaginable hope and a new-found purpose for your life.

Responding Biblically to Temptation
We all know that the Bible instructs us to flee evil desires, but how is that possible when the bait is so tempting? In this workshop, we will discuss the doctrine of sanctification, specifically as it relates to the work of the Holy Spirit coupled with our obedience to Gods commands in Scripture. We will learn how to respond biblically to temptation through the put off/put on process and also learn what it means to radically amputate sin from our lives.

The Highly Sensitive Homeschool Mom
Do you make it a priority to arrange your life to avoid overwhelming situations? Do you get rattled when you have a lot to do in a short amount of time? Do your childrens moods deeply affect you? If you answered yes to some or all of these questions you may be a highly sensitive person or HSP. Understanding your personal strengths and weaknesses as an HSP can help your homeschool world become more peaceful and manageable. In this seminar, I will explain what it is like to be a highly sensitive homeschooling mom and how God can help you to faithfully teach your children even on the toughest days.

The 6 Simple Steps to Ending Music Practice Gripes
Discover how to get more practice out of less time, without begging and bribing your child. Routines are always easier with hard skills such as math or English, one may believe. When the Gospel is injected into a homeschooling sessions, one discovers inspiration to learn and inclusion of one’s children intrinsically follows. Learn how infectious joy can become be the creative spark for violin or other fretless instruments… to be practiced well and without complaint. Get encouraging takeaways and get ready to immediately apply at home!