Homeschool Made Easy

Every homeschool mom loves to talk curriculum. In this episode, I talk about my own curriculum and why I chose it for my 10-year-old twins. Here's what we get into:why I changed curriculum mid-yearpros and cons of curriculum I have useddescriptions of my curriculumhow to know you need to change toolsand more!In this episode:All About Spelling, level 2Math-U-See DeltaMath-U-See manipulativesAbeka grammarTapestry of GraceBuilding Thinking Skills, level 2Find me on Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Today's episode is all about an issue I'm facing right now: how to renew and refresh my homeschool-gone-frustrating. I've been thinking about this a lot and taking specific steps to change course and change my spirit. I hope some of these help you, too.Here's what we get into:what are the symptoms we need a restartwhat are specific steps we can take to start overhow do we know our refresh is successfulwhat change we should see in our spirit and homewhat is homeschooling for mastery, reallyand more!In this episode:SPED Homeschooling Support GroupEverything You Need to Know About HomeschoolingFind me on Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Over two decades and three homeschool books behind me, and I'm learning a whole new way of homeschooling:Homeschooling struggling learners.Just a couple months after Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling was released, my adopted twins both received diagnosis of a relatively rare behavioral/emotional issue as well as ADHD. Fun times.It totally explained the frustrations that had been gradually mounting over the past couple of years. But it also pointed to a new hurdle: I needed to learn new parenting and homeschooling skills.So when I met Peggy Ployhar at a conference for homeschool leaders, I was so relieved. At last, someone who understood and ministered right where I and so many of my friends are at: teaching struggling learners.Peggy Ployhar, SPED Homeschool Founder & CEO, is a physicist turned home educator who left a lucrative career in the medical device industry to teach the struggling learners in her own home after her oldest son's diagnosis with Asperger Syndrome.Peggy founded SPED Homeschool in 2017, an organization that empowers families across the globe to homeschool children with specialized educational needs, and she also hosts the popular live broadcast and podcast, Empowering Homeschool Conversations, a weekly talk show where her guests address relevant issues related to homeschooling for unique learners.Peggy helps us out with so many things:what do we mean by "struggling learner"what strategies help a struggling learnerwhat kind of training do parents needwhat kind of curriculum works besthow to incorporate therapy into homeschoolinghow to approach high school and adulthoodand more!In this episode:Empowered Homeschool NetworkPeggy Ployhar Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube

I am such a suburban girl. An indoor suburban girl. I can't catch a ball, I don't know the names of any trees (pretty sure Christmas trees are called evergreens, but that's as much as I've got.). So definitely, I'm not teaching anything outside.But now I will!Rachel came on the show and changed my mind for good. Literally, for good.Rachel Tidd is the author of the Wild Math curriculum and the Wild Reading curriculum. She is passionate about integrating the outdoors and natural materials in education. Prior to creating Wild Math curriculum, Rachel had extensive teaching experience as an elementary and special education teacher. She and her husband also homeschool their two adventurous boys outside of Ithaca, NY.Here's what Rachel taught me:what are the proven benefits of learning outsidewhy outdoor learning helps neurodiverse students and other unique situationswhat materials are needed to get startedwhat homeschool styles are appropriate for outdoor learninghow to integrate outdoor learning into an indoor lifestyleand more!In this episode:large wooden yard dicesmall chalkboardplastic letters and numberslarge chalkRachel Tidd Website | Facebook | Instagram 

"What is your interview about today, Mom?""I'm talking with my friend Amy Sloan about memory work in our homeschooling.""Memory work?! Mom! You called me the wrong name three times just this morning!""This is why I need help."My son may not believe it, but memory work is possible -- even for me! That's because Amy has a whole different perspective on it than do most people -- especially my son.Amy Sloan and her husband John are 2nd-generation homeschoolers to 5 children from 6 to 16 years old. The Sloan family adventures together in NC where they pursue a restfully-classical education. If you hang out with Amy for any length of time you'll quickly learn that she loves overflowing book stacks, giant mugs of coffee, beautiful memory work, and silly memes. At any moment she could break into song and dance from Hamilton, 90s country music, or Shakespeare. Amy writes at HumilityandDoxology.com and hosts the weekly “Homeschool Conversations” podcast.I love what Amy has to say about memorizing. She reframed the concept and made this something beautiful and practical ... and even easy.It is simple. Here's what she tells us:what is memory work, reallywhat kinds of things we can memorizehow we can do memory work with all ageshow to easily incorporate it into just a few minutes a dayand more!In this episode:free memory printablesAmy's playlists of Shakespeare shorts"Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll"Death Be Not Proud" by John Donnemy favorite book by Shel SilversteinHumility and Doxology Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

How's your homeschool going?No, really.Probably not all perfect, right? Struggles, arguments, messes, stress, fatigue, confusion ... it can get pretty hairy.We tend to think that the answer is a new curriculum, a new method, a new learning theory, a new gadget. But that's not really the case.My friend Leslie Nunnery has been there. She knows the tough side of homeschooling -- and she knows success. She is passionate (yes, I used that word, but it really fits this case) about helping homeschool moms regain their focus and find joy.Leslie is the homeschool mom of 4 children, 3 of which have already graduated and are pursuing God's plan for the rest of their lives. She is the cofounder of Teach Them Diligently and is the author of several books and classes including most notably Teach Them Diligently, Raising Children of Promise and Heart School, which helps homeschool families thrive by seeing homeschooling as a great tool for discipleship and good parenting. You can connect with Leslie at Teach Them Diligently events, through their podcast and blog, as well as through the free Teach Them Diligently app.To meet Leslie is to love her. Seriously, I could look at her bubbly face all day. She always makes me smile.And here's how she'll make you smile, too:what is a homeschool missionwhat is the difference between the reason you chose to homeschool and why you homeschoolhow to start off righthow to fix a bad daywhat is the real reason behind homeschool struggles2 people you need to help you nowand more!In this episode:Heart SchoolTeach Them Diligently conventionscontact me to talkTeach Them Diligently Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

My daughter is being bullied. I never imagined that this would be an issue in my family -- we are homeschoolers, for crying out loud! But sure enough, just playing with her neighbor friends exposed her to pain and rejection. And I didn't recognize it.I thought they were arguing. I thought the other girl "just isn't nice." I thought my daughter could just kill her with kindness. It took me months to realize we were dealing with something much bigger. Much more dangerous.Bullying is everywhere: in our neighborhoods, in our co-ops, in our church classes.In our families.When I met Candice Dugger, I was so naïve. Why was she concerned with something that's a public school problem? Then she explained to me the prevalence. Then I knew I needed to share this with you.Candice is the founder of Bullied, Broken, Redeemed and a nationally recognized anti-bullying expert, author, speaker and trainer. Candice and her team specialize in equipping leaders, parents and youth on all aspects of Gen Z Bullying. These life-changing programs use interactive activities and projects to motivate and empower effective anti-bullying warriors. Candice has been featured on NBC, CBN, FRC and is a recognized trainer for Fortune 100 companies.Candice is one of the nicest people I have ever met. God keeps bringing us together in the neatest situations. And I'm so glad I can introduce her to you.Here's what Candice knows you need to know:what is the difference between conflict and bullyingwhat is the chance your student will be bulliedwhat are the effects of bullyinghow to recognize bullyingwhat to do if your child is the bullyhow to help your child who is being bulliedwhat all of our children need to know about bullyingand more!In this episode:Candice's course on Gen Z BullyingCandice Dugger Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

In today's episode, I get to answer some of my favorite homeschool questions. Why are they my favorite? Because they get to the heart of what we are doing: teaching our children while taking care of our needs as well as theirs.Here's what we get into:why I hate the question "Is my child behind?"what to consider instead of academic achievementdo we ever get time to ourselveswhat children learn from time alonewhat to think about children and screen timeand more!In this episode:Summer of the MonkeysEverything You Need to Know About HomeschoolingFind me on Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

There is nothing quite like living with your child 24/7. Am I right? In fact, one of the main reasons people give for not homeschooling is "I don't want to be in the same house with my child all day" or "I can't handle my child, but the teacher can." I have often said that homeschooling is just parenting on steroids. And part of that "steroid" part is seeing the actions and attitudes of our child that just, quite frankly, drive us insane. They just don't do their work and chores immediately and sweetly every time we ask. And we don't see immediate changes in them as soon as we correct. Sometimes, quite frankly, we just don't know what to do with a difficult, er, parenting "opportunity."That's why I wanted to talk with my friend and parenting expert Ginger Hubbard about how I could do better.Ginger Hubbard, bestselling author of Don't Make Me Count to Three, Wise Words for Moms, and I Can't Believe You Just Said That, speaks at women's events, parenting conferences and home school conventions across the country, and co-hosts the Parenting with Ginger Hubbard Podcast. Jesus saved and southern raised, Ginger and her husband, Ronnie, reside in Opelika, AL, where they enjoy working together from home.What I love about Ginger is she doesn't just give some "when they do this, you do that, and everything is fixed" kind of answer. Instead, she helps us see the spiritual issue and practical ways to open our child to change.Ginger gave a lot of good help:what is the real problem when my child whines and complainshow to correct meaningfullywhat to do when I screw upthree steps to correctionand more!In this episode:Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted TrippWise Words for Moms ChartDon't Make Me Count to ThreeFREE books How to Lead Your Child to Christ and How to Pray for Your Child (scroll down)Ginger Hubbard Website | Facebook | Instagram 

One of the main reasons we homeschool is to pass on our faith to our children. But then why is teaching Bible so hard? It is, though. It's hard to fit into the schedule, to find the right program, to answer the right questions our children have. Sometimes, we just want to give up.Danika Cooley understands. A homeschool mom of four, she has faced down teaching her children the Bible and found a way to make it real. And she believes that we can, indeed, teach our children the Scriptures -- even the hard parts. Even when we don't feel like it.Danika Cooley is an award-winning children's author and Bible curriculum developer. Weekly, she encourages tens of thousands of parents to intentionally raise biblically literate children. Danika is a homeschool mother of four with a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Washington.Danika Cooley's book, Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible, will give you the tools and confidence to study the Bible as a family. It will help you identify and overcome your objections and fears, give you a crash course in what the Bible is all about and how to teach it, and provide the guidance you need to set up a family Bible study habit.You will finish this book feeling encouraged and empowered to initiate and strengthen your child's relationship with the Lord through His Word.Danika and I talk about the hard things:how to find time to teach the Biblehow much do we really have to preparehow to teach the really confusing partshow to keep our children engagedwhat to understand when our children seem to question our faithand more!In this episode:New City CatechismKeys for KidsFREE Bible Study ToolkitBible Road TripHelp Your Kids Learn & Love the BibleDanika Cooley Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube | Twitter 

Here you find evidence that once-upon-a-time, I cleaned my house.Beyond that, there's better info. This introvert talks to those introverts out there about how to get started, how to do it on a budget, how to get dad involved, and how to hide from people.Seriously, here's the gist:how to get ready for a new school yearhow to get free help and materialhow to get your husband on boardhow to keep your husband involvedhow to avoid burnouthow to homeschool if you're an introvertand more!In this episode:Everything You Need to Know About HomeschoolingMe on Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

I love music. I studied piano and violin in college, started two school music programs, headed a church music ministry, taught piano and violin for many years, and played in a symphony orchestra.But I never really taught my children music appreciation.In one conversation, Mary Prather changed my mind about that. Mary is the mother of a homeschool high schooler and a college student. She is a former public school music teacher and has a master's degree in Educational Leadership and Supervision. Mary is the author of SQUILT Music Appreciation curriculum which makes music appreciation easy and accessible.Now I want to integrate music into my homeschool, too.So while Mary and I talked about something we both love, she taught me a lot I didn't know. And maybe some stuff you don't know, too.Mary explains a lot:what a school teacher finds different about homeschoolingwhat music appreciation really looks like at homewhat your student should be getting out of itwhy students should be exposed to musichow music helps homeschoolingand more!In this episode:Sample of SQUILTarticle "The Importance of Music Education"article "Getting Started with Music Education"SQUILT Website | Facebook | Instagram

This episode is probably not what you expect. I'm not really even talking about homeschooling. Instead, I'm talking about life.Three of you asked me recently the same question: How do I balance it all? And the answer is not so easy, but it's also not so hard.I'm not giving you a step-by-step "how to make homeschooling work in 3 hours with 5 children" kind of answer. Instead, I'm delving into what makes our lives as wives, mothers, homeschoolers, entrepreneurs, employees, volunteers ... what makes it all work. So here is what I talk to you about:how many things are importantwhat are "must-do's"how to define successhow to get it all donewhy not to do a lot of itand more!In this episode:Prayers for the Mother of the GroomMe on Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Not very many moms enjoy teaching writing. Even fewer students enjoy learning writing. Yet all of us enjoy a good story. And we can create stories ourselves. That's the message Daniel Schwabauer has for us.Daniel Schwabauer, M.A. is an award-winning novelist, teacher, and the creator of The One Year Adventure Novel, Byline, and Cover Story writing programs. His professional work includes novels, stage plays, radio scripts, short stories, newspaper columns, comic books, and teleplays. He lives in Kansas City with his wife and a 9-week-old puppy.I loved this conversation because we delved into much more than the mechanics of writing: good stories, good messages, good truths. In this episode, Daniel and I talk about:what makes students love writinghow to teach writing if you don't understand ithow to have fun with writingwhat is a good storywhat is truth in writingand more!In this episode:Clearwater PressThe One Year Adventure NovelCuriosity Saved the CatDaniel's booksDaniel's personal websiteDaniel Schwabauer on Facebook | Instagram

For a long time, I was not a fan of online homeschooling. I wanted to be more hands-on with my students, believing that was how they learned best. But I was wrong.When one of my sons moved to Peru for a year, he needed a way to study on his own. So I turned to online schooling. And you know what? He thrived. The compact lessons, the video lessons, and the online assessments met his learning style better than I had. He learned a lot. Lee Giles is the creator of Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool, a free homeschool curriculum for preschool through twelfth grade. She is the mother of six children ages 8 - 21. Her family served as missionaries for 14 years in Macedonia and Turkey.Lee and I talk about the misconceptions about online homeschooling, how and why of to use it, and the ways it benefits you and your students. Some of the things we talk about:how I changed my mind about online homeschoolinghow online homeschooling has evolvedhow the free homeschool program startedthe difference between public school distance learning and online homeschoolingthe difference between making homeschool decisions out of fear or out of lovehow to stay involved in your child's education while online homeschoolinghow to teach a child who seems not to be academically talentedand more!Easy Peasy Homeschooling Website | Facebook

I love writing. And I love teaching writing. Sometimes. Some students love to learn writing, and some of them really don't. It's hard to teach the ones that don't. Andrew Pudewa understands and helps. Andrew is the founder and director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing and a father of seven. Traveling and speaking around the world, he addresses issues related to teaching, writing, thinking, spelling, and music with clarity, insight, practical experience, and humor. His seminars for parents, students, and teachers have helped transform many a reluctant writer and have equipped educators with powerful tools to dramatically improve students' skills.This episode is fun not only because we both get to talk about a subject we love, but also because we get to talk about helping students and parents love writing, too. I hope you are inspired by the conversation.Andrew and I talk about:another thing we both love and the surprising ways it helps writinghow to keep from ruining your child's enthusiasmwhen you should teach writing (not what you think!)how to know if your student's writing is goodhow to help your student write betterand more!In this episode:video writing classesStructure and Style for studentsFREE writing lessonsIEW on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest | LinkedIn

I just learned that my son has ADHD. And in looking at his unique difficulties with his doctor and therapist, I realized that he has been struggling more than necessary in several areas. He's bright, he loves to learn, but he has these bad "glitches" that are slowing him down.So I was really, really excited to talk with Dianne Craft. Dianne has a master's degree in special education. She has over 25 years' experience teaching bright children who have to work too hard to learn. She has developed the successful “Three-Pronged Approach” to reducing and eliminating learning disabilities: Brain Integration Therapy, Right Brain Teaching Strategies, and Targeted Nutritional Interventions.In this episode, she talks with me about surprising (to me) strategies that make a huge difference in not only fixing learning issues (yes, she says they can be fixed!) but also in the student's confidence. And these strategies work at any age. Dianne tells uswhat is really causing dysgraphia, dyslexia, and other learning difficultieswhat is the one skill the student is actually missing what to do when the curriculum isn't working (it's not a new curriculum!)what kind of progress we can expect with a new approach to teachingthat we can teach our uniquely challenged student successfully!and more!In this episode:how to use her strategies in the Brain Integration Therapy Manualdownloadable skills assessmentssample lesson plans you can use nowDianne's learning productsDianne's Brain Integration Therapy Facebook groupDianne Craft on Facebook | Instagram

When I started off this podcast, one of the first questions listeners asked me (and several did!) was "How do I organize all the homeschool stuff?" I need help with that, too (don't look at my homeschool bookshelves and supply cart).Kristi Clover is a home organization and #momlife expert. She's also the author of M.O.M: Master Organizer of Mayhem and Homeschool Basics as well as a popular conference speaker. Her passion is to encourage families to find simple ways to bring more joy into their home and life. She loves to share about her adventures in motherhood and home life through a variety of media that you can find at KristiClover.com. Kristi lives in San Diego with her husband, Steve, and their five children.Kristi helps me out so much in this episode, and I think you'll get some ideas, too.In this episode, Jamie gives us steps to prepare:what to do first when you are planning the next yearwhy to rip up your schoolbookshow to finish a schoolyear when you feel "totally over it"what one topic I would rather plan my subjects aroundhow to get the day startedwhat in the world to do with all those booksand more!In this episode:Mom: Master Organizer of MayhemHomeschool Organization CourseFree Sanity Savers for Mom bookKristi Clover Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube | Twitter

There are two homeschool questions I get all.the.time. 1. How do I get started? 2. What about high school? I've been spending a little more time lately on that second question. And in this episode, Jamie Gaddy helps us out.Jamie is Editor-in-Chief of Homeschool.com and homeschool mom of six. Jamie has been homeschooling for 14 years and has graduated several children on to college. She loves helping new homeschool moms find their path to homeschooling and loving it.I loved this conversation with Jamie because it was so meaty and practical! And fun, too!In this episode, Jamie gives us steps to prepare:check your state requirementsask your teen questionschoose the right electivesfind the right toolsprepare for exams and scholarshipsuse summers wiselyand more!In this episode:homeschool.comFREE career explorations courseFREE high school 4-year planning toolFREE teen plannerHomeschool.com Website |  Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube

It doesn't matter if you are a new homeschooler or old hat at this, we all can get overwhelmed or even in a boring rut. It doesn't matter if it's the beginning of the year, the end of the year, or that dreaded month of February. We sometimes just need an attitude check.This week, then, I'm answering several of your questions about just that: what we should be thinking about homeschooling and how that affects our actions. I get to talk about some things I really love discussing with homeschoolers, and I think you'll enjoy these questions and answers, too.As always, you can find more questions and answers including in-depth information on these topics in my reference work Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling.In this episode, I answer questions about...recovering from homeschooling in a stressful Christian environmentavoiding homeschool "rules"finding your own homeschool waysome of my own tips and trickswhy I hate the term "manager of her home"what is actually "redeeming the time"how to get over public school mentalityand more!In this episode:Everything You Need to Know About HomeschoolingJoin me on Facebook | Instagram

You may know that I am a homeschool graduate. I love talking with other homeschool grads about our shared experiences and our different opinions. Homeschool grads are such a diverse group now, and it's fun to get together. So for this episode, I talk with homeschool graduate Christina Somerville.Christina Somerville was homeschooled from Grades 1-12 and has a B.A. in Literature from Patrick Henry College. She spent ten years in high school and college theater, ten years in curriculum development (designing Jr. High and High School literature class plans for Tapestry of Grace), and twelve years in teaching. Christina teaches history, literature, writing, and the Bible as Literature for online academies (most recently The Potter's School and Y2 Academy for SAT/ACT prep). She also tutors professionally in grammar, writing, vocabulary, history of all kinds, literature of all kinds, SAT and ACT preparation, and reading comprehension, to students across the spectrum from home schools, private schools, and public schools, in two different countries and from elementary to college level. She has edited several works for publication and is the author of two textbooks on literary analysis: Poetics and The Literary Toolbox.This is a unique episode of the podcast because Christina and I discover some of our different perspectives on homeschooling and worldview. It was a really interesting and thoughtful conversation. I hope you enjoyed it!In this episode, Christina tells us:the different experiences of homeschool gradsthe way homeschooling affects homeschool grads' perspectiveif homeschooling is the same or different across different social groupsunintended affects of homeschoolingthe independent thinking (or not) of homeschoolersthe "outside" viewpoint of homeschool gradshomeschool grads and bitternessand more!In this episode:Lampstand PressTapestry of Grace on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

You have questions. I have researched the answers. On today's episode, I answer more of your questions to help you homeschool confidently. All of this episode's questions are dealing with making homeschooling easier and simplifying the process.I spent years researching and interviewing experts for the reference manual Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling. This book -- nearly 600 pages -- answers all your questions and gives you all the info to get started, keep going, and know if you're "doing it right." So in this episode, I answer questions you recently sent me. Keep them coming! I'm all about helping you out! You can even send me a question right here, and I'll answer you personally.In this episode, I discuss:how to homeschool when you feel scatteredhow to customize your own homeschoolsteps to choosing a curriculumhow to simplify your homeschoolingmy favorite homeschool tipseasier lesson plansand more!In this episode:Everything You Need to Know About HomeschoolingThe interview on learning styles with Tyler HoganCathy Duffy reviewsMoms of MasterBooks on FacebookTapestry of Grace groups on FacebookEasy Peasy Homeschooling on FacebookMe on Facebook | Instagram

When we think about Charlotte Mason homeschooling, we usually think about reading and nature studies and character development. But we don't usually think about Math. Curriculum author Angela O'Dell changes that.Angela is a veteran homeschool mom, who loves to invest in the lives of homeschooling families. She is the author of the Math Lessons for a Living Education curriculum series, America's Story 1-3, and The World's Story 1-3, all of which are published through Master Books. She is also the creator of the popular podcast show, Real Cool History for Kids. Angela's goal is to bring materials that teach and train hearts and minds to find the answers for our generation in the never changing truth of God and His Word.Some things we discuss:Charlotte Mason's perspectivewhat Charlotte Mason may be missingthe Charlotte Mason advantage in mathwhat to do when your child says "I can't do it"how to engage different parts of the child's brainhow to do narration with mathand more!In this episode:Math Lessons for a Living EducationEverything You Need to Know About HomeschoolingThe interview in the Facebook Group by Hifalutin HomeschoolAngela on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

You have questions. I have researched the answers. On today's episode, we tackle some of your problems and find happy ways (I hope!) to keep on homeschooling.I spent years researching and interviewing experts for the reference manual Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling. This book -- nearly 600 pages -- answers all your questions and gives you all the info to get started, keep going, and know if you're "doing it right." So in this episode, I answer questions you recently sent me. Keep them coming! I'm all about helping you out!So I talk about lots of different things:ways to make learning interestingwhy shorten your homeschool dayshow to know what credits your high schooler needswhat science your high schooler needshow to train your high school student to take ownership of her workhow to know if your student is ready for high schooland more!In this episode:Everything You Need to Know About HomeschoolingThe interview in the Facebook Group by Hifalutin HomeschoolMe on Facebook | Instagram

Homeschooling can be hard. It can be confusing. It can be overwhelming. But it doesn't need to be. We can find the information and encouragement we need to keep teaching our student the way we teach best for the way he learns best.I spent years researching and interviewing experts for the reference manual Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling. This book -- nearly 600 pages -- answers all your questions and gives you all the info to get started, keep going, and know if you're "doing it right." So in this episode, I answer questions you submitted. I had so much fun seeing what you are thinking about and talking about how we can make homeschooling easier.So I talk about lots of different things:how to get started homeschoolinghow to homeschool high schoolhow to prepare for graduationare we doing too much or not enoughhow to homeschool with younger siblingscan we afford to homeschoolhow to choose electives for high schooland more!In this episode:Everything You Need to Know About HomeschoolingMe on Facebook | Instagram 

Once students start writing essays, they are writing them everywhere -- nearly every subject for years of their education. But how do we get them started right? How do we teach good essay form? How do we grade it?Kim Kautzer, founder and creative director at WriteShop, is a veteran homeschooler, author, and conference speaker who loves to help parents feel more confident about teaching their struggling writers. The Kautzers make their home in Southern California where they homeschooled for 15 years. Kim's favorites include tea, travel, reading, gardening---and her nine grandkids!Kim and I both love writing, obviously, so we enjoyed talking about it all:how writing is like swimming and other life skillssteps for the writing processways to simplify writing for students who get overwhelmedhow to grow writing maturitythe most important writing tip to teach your studentand more!In this episode:Kim's free writing prompts and writing helpsWriteShop writing curriculumWriteShop Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

Learning styles. Some people swear by them, others don't believe in them. Is there anything useful in learning style models? What does the research really tell us?Tyler Hogan is the President of Bright Ideas Press. He and his wife, Helen, are both homeschool graduates and now homeschool their five adorable children. Tyler is the author of North Star Geography and Demystifying Learning Styles, head cartographer of WonderMaps, and game designer of Civitas. He is an elder at Grace Church, where he also serves as Christian Education Coordinator. When not at home, he speaks and teaches about homeschooling, geography, the arts, worldview, entrepreneurship, and other topics. In his spare time, he loves reading good books, playing games with friends, drinking good tea, and enjoying the adventure of lifelong learning. He has a BA in theatre ministries from Belhaven University.Tyler and I have a great conversation about learning styles:what exactly are learning styleswhat are different viewpoints on learningwhat are common myths about learning styleshow to teach subjects that don't come naturally to a childwhy some children should be taught outside their learning styleand more!In this episode:Tyler's book Demystifying Learning StylesMy book I read from Everything You Need to Know About HomeschoolingBright Ideas Press Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube

Should Christians teach math differently? What does it mean to teach math from a biblical perspective? This is a subject we don't often think about!Katherine Loop Hannon is a homeschool graduate and the author of various resources, including Principles of Mathematics, a biblical worldview junior high math program (with Algebra 2 coming in 2020!) published by Master Books. Understanding the biblical worldview in math made a tremendous difference in her life, and she's been researching, writing, and speaking on math, as well as other topics for over a decade now. Her heart is to point people to “seek the Lord, and His strength” (Psalm 104:4) in everything.Katherine talks about what biblical math means:how this is different from simply using bible stories for story problemshow understanding biblical math makes that subject an opportunity rather than a joyhow to explain why there are letters in algebrahow to teach math we don't understandhow to help a child who hates mathand more!In this episode:Revealing ArithmeticKatherine's curriculum and resourcesFREE "Numbers Everywhere" story and math lessonKatherine Loop Hannon Website | Facebook | YouTube

So many parents are confused about teaching writing. Is my child doing a good job? Is he just copying what he's seen me or other authors write? Is he getting any better? Today we find out.Julie Bogart is the author of the book The Brave Learner and the founder and creator of the popular Brave Writer program. She homeschooled her five children who are now adults. She coaches home educators and parents in the Brave Learner Home community.Julie talks about how our child learns writing naturally:how learning to write is like learning to speakwhether we should worry about our child to "copy"how to move from speaking to writingwhat are the developmental stages in writingdangers of the grading rubrichow to teach strong research skillsand more!In this episode:The Brave LearnerBook listsJulie Bogart Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Reading is one of the hardest (maybe the single hardest?) subjects to teach. We think. There's so much pressure to get it right and early and raise a child that loves reading all the time. But that's not the truth. Phonics and reading can be actually relaxed ... and fun. That's where Carrie Lindquist comes in. She's the author of the Foundations Phonics curriculum and an advocate for a beautifully relational way of learning. It is a real pleasure to talk with her about how to teach reading wisely to our children.Carrie eases our mind and helps us teach this easily with:when should we begin teaching phonicshow do I know my child is ready to readhow to teach phonics and readinghow to overcome reading issueshow to help a child read fluentlyhow to keep my student's attentionhow to know if my child needs helphow to use other activities to boost reading abilityand more!

Kristen Pratt is the author of the Language Lessons for a Living Education series. She is also the brand and curriculum manager for Master Books. Prior to working for Master Books, Kristen owned and operated her own curriculum supply company where she helped homeschool moms pick the right curriculum for their families. This experience has proven invaluable as she helps thousands of families navigate curriculum choices offered by Master Books. What was really interesting was our discussion about a modern Charlotte Mason education, how Mason might have taught if she lived right now.

I don't know about you, but I think geography is kinda' hard to teach. Maybe it's because I don't naturally think of pictures; I cannot remember a map no matter how hard I study it. I think in words, so I could memorize some facts about a place but have no idea where that stuff is.So I invited Maggie Hogan to the show to see if she could help. And she did. Maggie Hogan is an author, homeschooling veteran, world traveler, and founder of Bright Ideas Press. For decades, she has encouraged families with her practical approach to geography, history, science, literature, family, and other topics. In this episode, Maggie helps us out a lot with some great tips:how to teach geography when you're map-challengedhow to enjoy fun and interesting topics related to geographyhow to study your local geographyhow to adapt your geography studies to different learning styleshands-on activities for learning geographywhy geography is so, so importantwhat is the time and place for a geography curriculumand more!In this episode:North Star GeographyFREE book: Real Scripture in Real Places: Ephesus

Today I'm talking to literally the busiest mom I know. She's my example of juggling it all with balance and joy. Homeschool mom of ten and a USA Today bestselling author, Tricia Goyer has published eighty books to date, written more than five hundred articles, and is on the blogging team at TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites. She is a two-time Carol Award winner and a Christy and ECPA Award Finalist and regularly receives starred reviews in the Romantic Times and Publishers Weekly. In this episode, Tricia gives great insight into working life:the impact on our childrenwhat to do when children are demanding attentionhow to entertain children while workinghow to schedule worktime-saving tipshow to take care of yourselfthe role of enjoymentand more!Show notes and product links on the website here.

Michelle Nietert has served as a professional counselor supervisor and director of Community Counseling Associates for over a decade. A previous school crisis counselor, she has been providing therapeutic interventions to children and their families in counseling offices for over 20 years. Along with the CCA staff, she offers parent consults across the country and in Texas Telehealth counseling. Michelle can be found often speaking in school, church and clinical settings. Links to products and show notes on the blog here.

Dr. Kristin Moon is owner and instructor at Kristin Moon Science. After earning a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology followed by a PhD in Molecular Genetics, Dr. Moon worked briefly in research designing a viral  delivery system for therapies directing drug delivery for patients losing their sight due to macular degeneration.  It was during that time in the lab that she discovered her affinity for teaching. A full-time educator of over twenty years, Dr. Moon teaches and provides resources through her own website Science Simplified. Get the free science course and show notes here.

A popular speaker and author, Dr. Lisle presents a rational defense of a literal Genesis, showing how science confirms the history recorded in the Bible. Dr. Lisle  obtained a Master's degree and Ph.D. in astrophysics at the University of Colorado in Boulder. There, he used the SOHO spacecraft to analyze the surface of the sun, and made a number of interesting discoveries, including the detection of giant cell boundaries. Since then, Lisle has worked in full-time apologetics ministry. He wrote a number of planetarium shows for the Creation Museum, including the popular “Created Cosmos.” Dr. Lisle has authored a number of best-selling books on the topic of creation, including: Taking Back Astronomy, Stargazer's Guide to the Night Sky, the Ultimate Proof of Creation, Discerning Truth, and Understanding Genesis.Show notes, links to products, and how to follow Dr. Lisle on the website here.

Former special education teacher Shawna Wingert is now a homeschool special needs expert, author, and consultant. As the mother of two boys with various special needs, she knows from both professional and parental experience how to meet the unique needs of these students. In this episode, Shawna answers important questions on special needs including attention disorders, autism spectrum disorders, learning differences, and other diagnosis needing accommodations.Show notes on the blog here.

Hifalutin Homeschooler herself shares about ...why it's important not to take homeschooling too seriouslywhat humor teaches our studentshow to regain a lost sense of humorwhy we need to know potty wordswhat is the roll of humor in our society and our homeswhy homeschool stereotypes are actually goodhow we might accidentally squash our child's interestswhy we need lots of reasons to homeschoolShow notes on the blog here.

Homeschool graduate and author of You Don't Really Hate Homeschooling, Adana shares what it is really like to be a homeschooled teen. With humor and insight, she talks about why teens struggle with making friends, getting a job, and even liking homeschooling in the first place. She also talks about getting ready for college and how parents can help their teens successfully launch into adulthood.Show notes -- including a free book -- on the blog here.