The Edvantage

Homeschool students turned homeschool parents Nick & Ashley Taylor have a message for fellow parents of neurodivergent kids, and that messages is that you may be overlooking a superpower. In this raw and upfront interview Nick and Ashley talk about their own experiences in traditional school settings and homeschool settings as kids, their college experiences, and the ways they have been able to leverage the flexibility afforded by homeschooling to best meet the needs of their own neurodivergent kids. If you or anyone you love has struggled with stigmas, external limitations, or misconceptions relating to a different way of thinking, you will find this interview at once cathartic and empowering. We also talk about some of the common limitations of a public school setting when it comes to meeting the unique needs of neurodivergent students, and I lay out why many students end up struggling without a diagnosis for the first several years of their public education, and how a homeschooling approach can help spare your child from this struggle. This episode is one of my favorites, as this topic is one about which I am very passionate. You can connect with Ashley Taylor on her Instagram account: https://instagram.com/thisjoyfilledhouse?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Be sure to stay connected with The Edvantage via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/toddkmichael If you enjoyed this episode, please take a few minutes to give the show a positive rating and review, and be sure to share it with the educators and parents in your life. Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

When Michael Perrone and his wife started homeschooling their five children, joining a co-op wasn't in the plans. It wasn't long, however, before they not only were a part of a co-op, but they were the ones who started it. In this focused and direct interview, Michael shares how anybody can start a co-op, why being a part of one is advantageous, and why we should keep things simple and manageable for the sake of all involved. Michael also shares about how homeschooling has allowed him to have a more active and positive influence on his kids, and how this has helped him become a better father. If you haven't found a homeschool co-op that's a good fit for your family's needs, that very well may mean that you will need to start one, and listening to this episode is a perfect way to start preparing. Be sure to stay connected with The Edvantage via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/toddkmichael If you enjoyed this episode, please take a few minutes to give the show a positive rating and review, and be sure to share it with the educators and parents in your life. Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

If you have ever seen Chrissy Barco's YouTube and Instagram content, you might presume that literature has always been a central part of her life. You would mostly likely never guess, however, that she grew up in a home where books were seldom read, discussed, or owned. In this episode Chrissy shares how she was able to discover her own love of reading as a young mother, and how she went on to share that passion for literature with her children as a homemaker and homeschool mom. Chrissy also shares how she has embraced the nobility and purpose she saw in motherhood in her extended family and community growing up as she now raises her five children and advocates for purposeful homemaking. It is in this time at home that she finds the little moments that allow her to connect with her children, give them opportunities to open up, and allow her family to form strong relationships. This interview will at once educate and inspire you, as Chrissy helps us explore how a homeschool approach centered on motherhood and homemaking can leave a woman feeling more fulfilled than she ever thought possible. Connect with Chrissy at the following links: Youtube channel: https://youtube.com/c/alittleglamalotofmom Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alittleglam_alotofmom/ Be sure to also stay connected with The Edvantage via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/toddkmichael If you enjoyed this episode, please take a few minutes to give the show a positive rating and review, and be sure to share it with the educators and parents in your life. Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

When Melissa was pregnant with her and Rob's first child, she had a fateful conversation with a retired teacher who challenged her to ask folks about their experiences in middle school. She did, and after talking to dozens of people it became clear that almost everyone's experience was largely negative. This opened her mind to the possible benefits of homeschooling at some future point, but she continued with public education for her daughter for the first few years of her education. For his part, Rob grew up in Brazil where homeschooling is illegal, and he had no personal experience with, and a pretty skeptical opinion of it. It wasn't until a fateful transition when they had the chance to homeschool their daughter for the second half of the school year that Melissa and Rob discovered just how many benefits there truly can be with homeschooling, and just how well they could work together to support their kids. Now, as homeschool parents and advocates, Melissa and Rob play to each other's strengths as they support their kids in every aspect of their learning. This episode is full of meaningful perspectives that will encourage and inspire homeschool parents who seek to work together as a team. Enjoy! Be sure to also stay connected with The Edvantage via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/toddkmichael If you enjoyed this episode, please take a few minutes to give the show a positive rating and review, and be sure to share it with the educators and parents in your life. Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

When Steve Robe was young, his dad told him if he didn't want to go into the military he should get really fast to earn a scholarship for college. Steve did get really fast and earn his way through college, and he hasn't slowed down since. Now as a homeschool dad and self taught real estate broker he takes every opportunity to educate, challenge, and encourage his kids. Steve and his wife, Zayra Vega (of @willowtree_schoolhouse on Instagram and YouTube), have three young kids and apply a Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling. In this episode, Steve shares about his own formal education and how it clashed with his natural interest in the outdoors, his self-education after college as he worked his way up to become a broker and own his own real estate brokerage, and his approach to being an intentional and involved father. We also talk about how any dad can increase his involvement with his children, why every dad should seek to, and how homeschooling affords an added measure of influence over one's children. This is a high energy interview, and will be especially beneficial for all the homeschool dads out there! You can connect with Steve's wife, Zayra, on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willowtree_schoolhouse/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDiNahhXUkF_G7QwAd2Xn3A Be sure to also stay connected with The Edvantage via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/toddkmichael If you enjoyed this episode, please take a few minutes to give the show a positive rating and review, and be sure to share it with the educators and parents in your life. Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Since he was ten years old, Tyler Davis has been preparing to start the wildlife control business that he now runs. He didn't exactly know it at the time, but as a homeschooler he was allowed to follow his passions, work with a mentor, and gain valuable real world experience. Most importantly, he was able to cultivate and preserve a love for learning, which helped him realize he could learn anything he wanted to, with or without a formal education. Now as a father he and his wife work to preserve that love for learning in their daughter through their approach to homeschooling. In this episode Tyler also shares about how dads can become more involved with their kid's education, and how homeschool moms can encourage that involvement from their husbands. This honest, insightful, and far-reaching conversation is the first in a series of interviews with homeschool dads, and you will no doubt have many takeaways as you listen! Be sure to also stay connected with Todd via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/toddkmichael If you enjoyed this episode, please take a few minutes to give the show a positive rating and review, and be sure to share it with the educators and parents in your life. Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Homeschooling wasn't always a part of Shelley Vaughn's life. That is, until she met her husband, who was homeschooled, but she figured that would be the extent of her experience with it. Imagine her surprise now as she is a little over a year into homeschooling her three young children, has a popular Instagram account (linked below) dedicated to motherhood and homeschooling, and is an active advocate for the benefits of homeschooling! In this interview, we talk about Shelley's experiences attending the school where her mother works, her steadily increasing appreciation for homeschooling, the benefits of the Charlotte Mason approach, and the many benefits of getting our children outside. Shelley's humility is only surpassed by her sincerity, and this interview is packed with honest advice, observations, and reflections that we all can learn from! Follow Shelley on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/that.whichislovely/ Be sure to also stay connected with Todd via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/toddkmichael If you enjoyed this episode, please take a few minutes to give the show a positive rating and review, and be sure to share it with the educators and parents in your life. Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

At first glance, Sabah Hashmi's life homeschooling her children in a small town in Pennsylvania may not seem that surprising. But for most of Sabah's life, her goal was to become Prime Minister of Canada where she was born and raised. This aspiration led her to earn a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Administration and ultimately to work with the Government of Canada tracking and combating financial crimes at high levels. How, then, did so much shift for her to the point where she would now rather play with and educate her young children? In this interview Sabah talks about that transition, how her in-depth study of her Islamic faith as a practicing Muslim and of scientific research led her to the same conclusions about child development, and how the power of play can transform your child's learning in several positive ways. We also talk about the ways public schools often leave out the most important aspects of learning, how homeschooling can become a joy for both child and parent, and the unexpected shifts in priority many mothers and fathers experience as they embrace a homeschooling lifestyle. This episode will be equally valuable for parents homeschooling as well as those who are not. Connect with Sabah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourhomeschooloasis/ Check out her parenting Blog: https://sabahscorner.com/ Be sure to also stay connected with Todd via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/toddkmichael If you enjoyed this episode, please take a few minutes to give the show a positive rating and review, and be sure to share it with the educators and parents in your life. Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

When Zayra Vega pulled her son out of private school in 2020, she thought it was going to be for a a brief period of time. As with many of us, however, the experience of homeschooling helped her realize how much she loved the lifestyle, and she has since become a prolific influencer in the homeschool community. Through her Instagram account as well as her YouTube channel, both of the same name, Willowtree Schoolhouse, Zayra offers a refreshingly honest and authentic view into her experiences, challenges, successes, and goals. Her approach is at once attainable and aspirational, which is a wonderful combination to find. In this episode, we discuss her experiences as a Mexican immigrant student in a traditional school setting in the US, her transition to homeschooling and the emotional side of sending her child to school, the exciting things she has learned as she teaches her children, as well as the value she has discovered in finding and building her homeschool tribe. You can connect with Zayra on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willowtree_schoolhouse/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDiNahhXUkF_G7QwAd2Xn3A Be sure to also stay connected with The Edvantage via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/toddkmichael If you enjoyed this episode, please take a few minutes to give the show a positive rating and review, and be sure to share it with the educators and parents in your life. Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

With a name like the "School Sucks Project" and "School Sucks Podcast," it's not hard to guess what Brett Veinotte is passionate about discussing. Once you hear him speak, however, you quickly realize that his critique of traditional school settings goes much deeper than a bad experience, a vendetta, or any of the usual politically driven reasons folks rail on schools today. In this interview Brett explains why the very structure and function of public schools is antithetical to fostering deep, independent thinkers and lifelong learners. He eloquently and succinctly explores the relationship between the way most members of society spend their school years and how they behave and think as adults. He also discusses the pitfalls of trying to "change" a system that is not actually built to educate children, and the distinction between education and schooling. If your natural inclination is to accept the educational system in its current form, this episode is especially for you. Listen with an open mind, and prepare to have some assumptions challenged. It will be well worth your time. Listen and subscribe to The School Sucks Podcast here: https://schoolsucks.fireside.fm/ Check out Brett's YouTube Channel, and watch the playlist he mentioned in the show here: The Underground History of American Education Be sure to stay connected with The Edvantage via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/toddkmichael If you enjoyed this episode, please take a few minutes to give the show a positive rating and review, and be sure to share it with the educators and parents in your life. Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We've all heard the trope, "I don't want to homeschool my kid because I don't want them to be sheltered." This week's guest, Monica Ann, and her husband defy that generalization on every front. They have built their marriage around adventure, and welcoming kids into their family was not about to slow them down. In this episode Monica talks about how homeschooling has afforded her family the flexibility to incorporate vacations, field trips, day trips, weekend trips, outdoor activities, and many other adventures into her kids' education. She shares some of her tips for avoiding boredom and frustration, staying organized, and keeping your expectations realistic when you're new to homeschooling. Monica also shares about her own and her kids' experiences with traditional educational settings, and how choosing homeschooling isn't always rooted in a disdain for other options. Lastly, she shares about how her unexpected and inspired switch to homeschooling her children has led to opportunities to support many other families through her Instagram account, coaching, and website. Connect with Monica on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/morning_school/?hl=en Check out her coaching and course here: https://linktr.ee/morningschool Be sure to stay connected with The Edvantage via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/toddkmichael If you enjoyed this episode, please take a few minutes to give the show a positive rating and review, and be sure to share it with the educators and parents in your life. Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

When most folks hear the term "unschooling," they assume it means some sort of chaotic free for all in which very little learning takes place. When Leah McDermott is the one talking about unschooling, however, you will quickly recognize how far off that assumption is, and how natural and powerful of an approach it can be. In this episode, Leah and Todd discuss how many of the best practices taught in teacher training programs can seldom be applied in traditional school settings, how an understanding of brain development and the natural processes that inform a baby's learning to crawl and walk can be extended to all learning, as well as some common myths around what unschooling is and isn't. Leah also shares her advice for parents who are interested in challenging their assumptions that have resulted from their own educational experiences, and how doing so can result in a more positive and complete educational experience for you and for your child. This is a must listen for anyone who feels overwhelmed or intimidated by homeschooling, as well as any homeschoolers who are unfamiliar with unschooling, as many of your assumptions will likely be challenged. To learn more about developing your natural learner, head over to Leah's website: http://leahmcdermott.com/starthere/ To learn more about registering your child with Bridge Academy, or to purchase curriculum visit: https://leahmcdermott.lpages.co/bridgeacademy/ Be sure to stay connected with Todd and The Edvantage via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ All other links (including social media): https://linktr.ee/toddkmichael If you enjoyed this episode, please take a few minutes to give the show a positive rating and review, and be sure to share it with the educators and parents in your life. Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

When Gabrielle (Gabs) Clark sent her son to high school, the last thing she expected for him to experience was an infringement of his civil rights. When she spoke up about it, the last thing she wanted was to get the run around. When she realized she wasn't getting anywhere with his school, she realized it was time to file the first federal lawsuit against indoctrination. Whether it's CRT, SEL, or religious ideologies, Gabs has continued to push back against indoctrination in schools through her advocacy and support of other parents concerned for their children's rights as Americans. This episode is full of straightforward and frank conversation about the very real dangers children and youth face today. Todd and Gabs also discuss the risks associated with refusing to speak up or push back out of a sense of politeness, and the very real and well-organized influences that seek to capture the minds of children in public education systems and on social media. This is not a fringe conspiracy theory, this is a reality already playing out across the US. If you are a parent of teens or young children, you do not want to miss out on this opportunity to have your assumptions challenged and your awareness broadened. Your child's safety is on the line. To support Gabs in her advocacy, and to connect with her to learn more and get support from her, go to: https://www.givesendgo.com/supporttheclarks Be sure to stay connected with The Edvantage via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ Campsite: https://campsite.to/homeschool Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=1vp4sayemz3gl&utm_content=mz1hmdb Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Homeschool-Edvantage-104839662006310 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HomEdConsulting YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf4OLZiKFwj8ZL_w_v0RetQ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTdQhPWD1/ If you enjoyed this episode, please take a few minutes to give the show a positive rating and review, and be sure to share it with the educators and parents in your life. Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In the debate between public school and homeschool, there are few who can better understand the nature and value of each than Stephanie Cavin. As a homeschool mom and full-time public school teacher in Northern California, Stephanie often finds herself defending public school teachers and homeschool parents with the same level of passion and concern. Her popular Instagram reels are full of advice, encouragement, and cathartic humor for all educators and parents. In this interview Stephanie and Todd share notes on life as homeschoolers in the early 90's, and how the many additional resources that have since become available are making homeschooling significantly more accessible to parents today. Stephanie explains how her faith fits in to her approach to classroom teaching while still respecting the beliefs of her students, how she and her husband balance work and homeschooling their own two children, and the benefits of homeschooling that she has been able to identify more readily as she contrasts it with what she sees as a classroom teacher. She also shares about the very real challenges that exist in public education today, and the tough spot many teachers find themselves in as they try to give their students the best education possible within a broken system. This candid conversation explores many of the current challenges and concerns that exist within public education, while balancing those concerns with a hope for what can be accomplished as parents and educators work together with the common goal of improving education for ALL children. Follow Stephanie on Instagram for more great content: https://instagram.com/thatcalteacherlife?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Be sure to stay connected with The Edvantage via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ Campsite: https://campsite.to/homeschool Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=1vp4sayemz3gl&utm_content=mz1hmdb Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Homeschool-Edvantage-104839662006310 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HomEdConsulting YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf4OLZiKFwj8ZL_w_v0RetQ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTdQhPWD1/ If you enjoyed this episode, please take a few minutes to give the show a positive rating and review, and be sure to share it with the educators and parents in your life. Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

When it comes to simplifying your approach to homeschooling, Zara Fagen, PhD is on a mission to prove that LESS really is MORE! As the author of the book, Minimalist Homeschooling, and the creator of the "Simple is The New Smart" podcast and membership, Zara has become a favorite mentor among the homeschooling community. In this episode, Zara shares about her own experiences of feeling compelled to hide her abilities from peers to avoid being ridiculed in school, her philosophy on the value of keeping your homeschooling simple, and her advice on how to deal with pressure from outsiders who don't approve of the choices you make about your child. She also explains how shifting from a consumerist mindset can free up your schedule so that you and your child can make the best use of your time. From the homeschool reluctant parent to the experienced homeschooling veteran, there really is something for everyone is this thoughtful and thorough interview. Those who are familiar with Zara's no-nonsense approach will be delighted to hear more of her wisdom alongside some additional insights about her homeschooling origin story. This is an episode you do not want to miss! To learn more about all of Zara's avenues through which she supports homeschooling be sure to check out her website: https://zaraphd.com/home/ Be sure to stay connected with The Edvantage via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ Campsite: https://campsite.to/homeschool Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=1vp4sayemz3gl&utm_content=mz1hmdb Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Homeschool-Edvantage-104839662006310 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HomEdConsulting YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf4OLZiKFwj8ZL_w_v0RetQ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTdQhPWD1/ If you enjoyed this episode, please take a few minutes to give the show a positive rating and review, and be sure to share it with the educators and parents in your life. Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

If you've ever had your doubts about homeschooling, Yvonne Strachan has a message for YOU. Combining her experience homeschooling her five children over the last thirteen years with her convictions of faith, Yvonne shares in this episode stories, wisdom, and real talk about the struggles and triumphs of homeschooling that make it all worthwhile. As you listen to her, it will be no wonder that she is a successful blogger, speaker, consultant, and author of the aptly named book, Inspirational Homeschooling. Yvonne shares how she went from wishing she could homeschool her oldest child to later delighting in her husband's suggestion of it, and the successful career designing kitchens that she placed on the back burner (pun appreciated) in exchange for focusing her time on her kids. She also shares how raising a special needs child has enhanced her appreciation for homeschooling, her advice for those who might still feel unsure, and some cathartic honesty about how a colicky baby can disrupt your best plans without ruing your children's access to a quality education. Yvonne also relates how she balances her professional life with her home life and role as an educator, how homeschooling has made her family stronger, and how we can all prepare for when the interests of our children lead their ambitions in new directions. This is a truly inspirational interview that you do not want to miss! To learn more about the many ways Yvonne Strachan is inspiring homeschoolers nationwide, visit: https://www.inspirationalhomeschooling.com/ You can also connect with her via the following links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirationalhomeschooling/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspirationalHomeschooling/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/inspirationalhomeschooling/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/inspirationhmsc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVb7ZrrHJ_ObuFh26M3wplA/ Be sure to stay connected with The Edvantage via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ Campsite: https://campsite.to/homeschool Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=1vp4sayemz3gl&utm_content=mz1hmdb Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Homeschool-Edvantage-104839662006310 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HomEdConsulting YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf4OLZiKFwj8ZL_w_v0RetQ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTdQhPWD1/ If you enjoyed this episode, please take a few minutes to give the show a positive review, and be sure to share it with the educators and parents in your life. Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Like many parents during 2020, today's guest found herself rethinking her original take on homeschooling--which was the assumption that she could never handle it. On this episode, Todd interviews the mother and teacher of his four children, his wife, and business partner, Amber Michael. In this episode Amber explores her own public school and college experiences, her transition from being intimidated by to embracing homeschooling, and her take on what most mainstream educational settings are lacking. She gets honest about how her own insecurities limited what she considered possible for her children, and the benefits she has now seen in the first few years of homeschooling her four young kids. Be sure to stay connected with Todd and The Edvantage via the following links: Website: https://www.homeschooledvantage.com/ All other links (including social media): https://linktr.ee/toddkmichael --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this debut episode of The Edvantage, host Todd Michael interviews his mom, Gail Michael, about her own education, her decision to homeschool, and her views on education today. Gail is an OG homeschool mom who was among the few who dove into homeschooling in the early 90's when there was very little available support, and everyone assumed you were either living on a compound, a religious extremist, or both. She recounts the experiences with her daughter in public education that caused her to question the efficacy of the system, as well as her own trauma from her school experiences in the 1960's. *EDITORIAL NOTE* Due to the autobiographical nature of this episode, music and a few connecting narrations were added in to create a documentary feel and to cut down on time. Future episodes will more closely match a standard, long-form conversation type interview with guests. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The Edvantage podcast promo. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app