Everyday Homeschool

In today's episode of Everyday Homeschool, we're tackling one of the biggest questions: where do you start with homeschooling? It can feel super overwhelming, but don't worry — Renee Cook is here to help you navigate those initial steps and make the process a whole lot easier. Tune in for some great advice and encouragement! The show notes & resources mentioned in this episode can be found here.You can connect with Renee Cook on Instagram. Also, snag her simple free homeschool planning pages here.

Today's Everyday Homeschool episode guest is Renee Cook's dear friend, Kristin Hruska. She's incredibly vulnerable as she shares how she hated homeschooling in the beginning.For anyone who has felt…frustratedscaredon-the-fenceafraid of the commitmentafraid you'll mess updesperate for alone timesad to give up their free timelike they wouldn't be good enoughThis one is for you.No one is a homeschool supermom. Don't believe that lie. Soak in the truth and heart behind what Kristin shares in this episode. You can do it!!The show notes & resources mentioned in this episode can be found here.You can connect with Renee Cook on Instagram. Also, snag her simple free homeschool planning pages here.

Joining Renee Cook in today's episode of Everyday Homeschool is Renee Robinson, who iss FULL of grace and wisdom.She and her husband felt called to begin homeschooling when her boys were in 7th, 5th, and 2nd grades. Renee shares openly about the ups and downs of that transition and why they continued homeschooling all the way through high school.You definitely don't want to miss hearing all the wisdom & advice for new homeschool moms from someone who has been at it for 13 years.Renee Cook and Renee Robinson Discuss:- What was worth prioritizing?- What Renee wishes she would have done differently- What it's like to homeschool all boys- The advice an experienced homeschool mom would give herself- The thing that matters most in homeschooling.The show notes & resources mentioned in this episode can be found here.You can connect with Renee Cook on Instagram. Also, snag her simple free homeschool planning pages here.

Today's episode of Everyday Homeschool is a little bit different. Renee Cook shares a segment of her homeschool planning and vision course, focusing on setting up a core curriculum plan and budget, alongside vision casting for homeschooling families.Renee Cook discusses:- The airplane planning metaphor for homeschooling- How to cast a vision for your homeschool year- Ways to simplify your core curriculum plan- And her top secret to stress-free homeschooling.Access the entire homeschool planning and vision course at https://everydayhomeschool.thinkific.com/courses/your-first-course.The show notes & resources mentioned in this episode can be found here.You can connect with Renee Cook on Instagram and sign up for her weekly email of homeschool encouragement here.

In this episode, Renee Cook interviewed Cindy Rollins, who is the author of several books including Morning Time: a Liturgy of Love. Morning Time is the main topic of this episode, but they also covered several aspects of homeschooling life.Renee and Cindy Discussed:- Why reading aloud and narration might be the two most important components of homeschooling- Practically how to start with narration and stick with it- What prepares your kids for life (Cindy and her husband have launched 9 of them!!)- Creative ways to build the habit of attention- And what to do when people are grumpy. Cindy has the benefit of hindsight. She can look back on her decades of daily, faithful seed-planting & watering and see that it was indeed worth it. She gave homeschooling a resounding, “Yes, I'd do it all over again.” The shownotes & resources mentioned in this episode can be found here.You can connect with Renee Cook on Instagram and sign up for her weekly email of homeschool encouragement here.

Hey there, homeschoolers! Welcome to another episode of Everyday Homeschool. Today, Renee Cook together with her good friend Jamie Weak, dive into the world of homeschooling.Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, this episode's got something for you.Jaime has gathered a bunch of new homeschooling mom questions to ask and they will tackle those burning questions and worries that come with homeschooling... like wondering if you're doing enough and those feelings of being lost in the whole thing. Renee and Jamie Discuss:- Guidance and tips for choosing the right curriculum- Real talk about what homeschooling is really like versus what you might expect- Tips for crafting a flexible homeschool schedule that actually works- Some golden nuggets of wisdom for those on the fence about homeschooling.The shownotes & resources mentioned in this episode can be found here.You can connect with Renee Cook on Instagram and sign up for her weekly email of homeschool encouragement here.

Welcome back to another episode of Everyday Homeschool with Renee Cook!In this episode, Renee tackles a topic that can be both exciting and daunting: teaching our little ones to read at home.Side by side, on the couch, and hopefully without all tears or tantrums.Renee particularly knows how overwhelming this can be, but she's going to break it down into bite-sized, stress-free steps.Renee Discuss:- How to spot the signs that your child might be ready to read and how to conduct a simple test to gauge their readiness.- The importance of phonograms and blending sounds, plus practical tips for teaching them effectively.- Practices to guide your child in building words, spelling, and handwriting, all essential components of reading.- And tons of recommendations for reading curriculum options and resources for further support.With this comprehensive guide, you can empower your child on their reading journey without the need for expensive curriculums or advanced degrees. Follow along with Renee's tips and watch your child blossom into a confident reader!The shownotes & resources mentioned in this episode can be found here.You can connect with Renee Cook on Instagram and sign up for her weekly email of homeschool encouragement here.

Today's Everyday Homeschool episode is super cool as Renee Cook had a chat with Nicki Truesdell, who's been in the homeschool world for 40 years! She was homeschooled from middle school on, then spent 23 years homeschooling her own kids. Talk about crazy dedication!They talked about how Nicki's homeschooling journey has been like a rollercoaster, with different seasons bringing different challenges and she's even looking forward to homeschooling her grandkids.Nicki wrote a book called Anyone Can Homeschool, and honestly, after their conversation, I totally get where she's coming from. She's very committed to the idea that if you really want to homeschool, you can.Renee and Nicki Discuss:- Nicki Truesdell's 40 years of homeschooling experience.- The philosophy behind “Anyone Can Homeschool.”- How to overcome obstacles in homeschooling like schedules and budgets.- Why it doesn't take 12 years to educate a child?- The importance of reading and copy work in homeschooling.The shownotes & resources mentioned in this episode can be found here.You can connect with Renee Cook on Instagram and sign up for her weekly email of homeschool encouragement here.

Today on Everyday Homeschool, Renee Cook talks about homeschooling through life's seasons and how to embrace flexibility in your educational journey. As homeschooling parents, it's easy to start with a traditional school approach at home, but life often throws us curveballs that disrupt our well-laid plans. Join Renee as she chats about how to establish rhythms that work with your unique life season, making homeschooling easier and more enjoyable for everyone involved. In this episode, Renee Cook discussed:- A philosophy of planning your homeschool around the season of life that you're in- Specific examples of seasons-based homeschooling- How to think outside the traditional school classroom in terms of planning and routines.Homeschooling through life's seasons requires a mindset shift towards flexibility and embracing the natural rhythms of family life. By planning homeschooling around the season of life you're in, you can create a nurturing environment where learning flourishes.The shownotes & resources mentioned in this episode can be found here.You can connect with Renee Cook on Instagram and sign up for her weekly email of homeschool encouragement here.

In this podcast episode, Renee Cook dives into this cool concept called seasons-based homeschooling. Basically, she's all about syncing up your homeschooling routine with the natural flow of the seasons throughout the year. Think about it - no matter where you live, those annual seasons have a way of shaping how you go about your day-to-day life. Renee makes a great point about how tapping into these rhythms can actually make homeschooling feel more natural and fun.Renee Cook Discuss:- The theory of seasons-based homeschooling- Ideas for homeschooling in the fall vs. winter vs. springInstead of sticking to the traditional school calendar, go with the flow of the seasons. It's like riding a wave of freedom and joy in your homeschooling journey. So, whether it's autumn leaves or summer sun, embracing the seasons could totally spice up your homeschool routine!The shownotes & resources mentioned in this episode can be found here.You can connect with Renee Cook on Instagram and sign up for her weekly email of homeschool encouragement here.

In today's episode, Renee Cook welcomes Crystal Paine, author, and founder of MoneySavingMom.com, who shares her experiences as a parent of 3 teens and 3 toddlers, one of whom is a sweet adopted little boy with Down syndrome, discussing both the challenges and joys of parenting.Renee and Crystal Discuss:- How Crystal managed to deal with anxiety and overwhelm.- Practical tips for handling those unsolicited advice that all parents seem to get.- Crystal's approach to fostering connections with preteen and teenage children.- And most importantly, keeping love at the core of everything when it comes to parenting.There's so much valuable wisdom to take away from their conversation! And if you're looking for some hard-won parenting wisdom, grab a copy of Crystal's book, Love-Centered Parenting.The shownotes & resources mentioned in this episode can be found here.You can connect with Renee Cook on Instagram and sign up for her weekly email of homeschool encouragement here.

In this episode, Renee Cook shares the 3 basic questions she gets any time they get into a conversation in public and someone says, “Ohhhh… you homeschool.”She half-jokingly remarks that strangers' reactions are always interesting, but finds that most people respond positively.But really, what others think isn't Renee's problem!She always tries to be nice and answer as much as they want to know.Renee Cook Discuss:The 3 most common questions she gets when someone finds out they homeschool.- Did you always plan to homeschool?- Are you going to homeschool through high school?- Why did you decide to homeschool?The shownotes & resources mentioned in this episode can be found here.You can connect with Renee Cook on Instagram and sign up for her weekly email of homeschool encouragement here.

Renee Cook and Mary Prather discuss music appreciation in your homeschool and Mary's reflections upon her kids' graduation from homeschool. Mary is the founder of SQUILT Music Appreciation and Homegrown Learners.Mary shares her homeschooling journey and how she teaches music appreciation online to hundreds of homeschool kiddos. She is so enthusiastic about this topic! Mary also has a great perspective, looking back on homeschooling her own kids. She has the benefit of hindsight to give to current homeschooling moms. Renee & Mary Discuss:- A Glimpse of One of SQUILT's Live Program Activities- The SQUILT Shop: Do-It-Yourself Resources- The End of Mary's Homeschooling Journey: Reflections and Memories- Homegrown Learners: Mary's Homeschooling Years- Learning Through Play: Lego as an Educational Tool- Mary's Friendly Advice for New Homeschooling Parents- The Value of Music in Homeschooling

This conversation with Andrew Pudewa and Renee Cook is bound to encourage homeschooling moms, no matter the age of your kids. You'll get tons of ideas and inspiration for thinking outside the box, incorporating literature & poetry, and even making memorization fun.Renee & Andrew Discuss- Overarching principles for teaching writing really well- Why writing is like cookingHow not to teach writing- The 4 deadly errors of teaching writing- How to apply easy plus one with your young children- What is “enough” for homeschool lessons with 5-8 year olds- Why chess may be the missing piece to your 2nd grader's curriculum- How memorization helps build critical thinking- What writing instruction might look like in the early years.- How to detach schoolwork & learning from paper & pencils & desks. (AKA: How to not replicate school at home.)The shownotes & resources mentioned in this episode can be found here.You can find Andrew Pudewa on his weekly podcast: The Arts of Language. You can connect with Renee Cook on Instagram. You can sign up for Renee's homeschooling encouragement newsletter here.

This episode is an introduction to Everyday Homeschool & the host, Renee Cook. Renee is a homeschool mom of 4 and the creator of the Musical Memory program.Renee has loved teaching ever since she was 8 years old and teaching dolls with a chalkboard. This podcast will discuss: - How children actually learn- Teaching, inspiring, and motivating kids- How school at home might look quite different than the classrooms we all grew up inAt Everyday Homeschool, Renee truly believes anyone who really wants to homeschool can do it well and enjoy it. The goal of this podcast is to equip, inspire, and encourage you in your own homeschooling journey. You can virtually meet Renee on her personal Instagram here. You can learn more about Musical Memory here.You can sign up to receive my weekly newsletter here. It's full of tips, resources, and encouragement for homeschooling moms. Plus I'll let you know when new episodes are out!