Art of Homeschooling Podcast

Send us Fan Mail EP263:  Do you miss the simple summers of your childhood? In this episode, Jean explores why homeschoolers need a 90s summer ~ not to recreate the past, but to rediscover the freedom, creativity, and spaciousness children need to thrive. Learn why boredom isn't something to avoid, why ordinary moments matter, and how an unhurried summer can become one of your family's gr...

Send us Fan Mail EP262:  What happens when you stop trying to figure out homeschooling on your own? In this episode, Jean shares a story from her early homeschooling years and explores why ongoing support can make all the difference. Discover how mentorship, community, and hands-on experience help homeschooling parents build confidence and turn information into transformation.  Find the show notes...

Send us Fan Mail EP261:  Before you decide it's time to start over, consider this: the curriculum may not be the problem. In this episode, Jean shares why it's often better to customize before you quit and how small adjustments can transform your homeschool. Discover how observation, flexibility, and trusting your judgment can help you create a learning experience that truly fits your ch...

Send us Fan Mail EP260:  Do you ever feel like you need more confidence before you can move forward in your homeschool? In this episode, Jean shares why confidence isn't the starting point—it's the result of taking action. Learn a simple reflect, act, observe process that helps homeschooling parents build trust in themselves, their children, and the learning journey one step at a time. ...

Send us Fan Mail EP259:  What if summer is when your homeschool matures? In this special episode, Jean and the Taproot Teacher Training team explore the idea of summer integration ~ how rest, reflection, play, creativity, and simple rhythms help learning settle more deeply. If you've ever wondered how to approach summer without pressure or guilt, this conversation offers a refreshing perspect...

Send us Fan Mail EP258:  Before you rush into summer or start planning next year, Jean offers a gentle invitation. So don’t end your school year without doing this! In this episode, she shares why reflection is one of the most powerful practices for homeschooling parents and how slowing down can help you move forward with more clarity, wisdom, and confidence.  Find the show notes  here . ➡️ https:...

Send us Fan Mail EP257: Ever wonder why homeschool planning feels endless ? In this episode, Jean explores why so many homeschool plans fall apart and how shifting from rigid planning to flexible, resilient planning can bring more peace, clarity, and confidence to your homeschool days. Find the show notes  here . https://artofhomeschooling.com/episode257/ ✨ 20th Anniversary of the Taproot Teacher...

Send us Fan Mail Send us Fan Mail EP256:  Feeling overwhelmed or tempted to overhaul your homeschool again? In this episode, Jean shares a simple monthly reset for homeschooling parents that can help you pause, reflect, and homeschool with more clarity and confidence. Learn how monthly reflection creates space for connection, gentle course correction, and a calmer, more intentional homeschool rhyt...

Send us Fan Mail EP255: What if the most important part of your homeschool isn’t the curriculum ~ but you? In this episode, Jean explores how you are the emotional thermostat and how your presence shapes the entire learning environment. Learn how awareness, self-care, and small resets can create a more connected, grounded homeschool.  Find the show notes  here . https://artofhomeschooling.com/epis...

Send us Fan Mail EP254: Feeling stuck in homeschool overwhelm? In this episode, Jean shares how to go from overwhelmed to intentional by using simple filters to make clearer, more confident decisions. Find the show notes  here . https://artofhomeschooling.com/episode253/ ✨ 20th Anniversary of the Taproot Teacher Training ✨ August 6-9, 2026 Reconnect with your purpose and leave with fresh homesch...

Send us Fan Mail EP253: What happens when a school principal becomes a homeschool mom? Listen in as two former educators talk about their choice to homeschool. In this episode, Jean is joined by Mandy Davis of Home Built Education, a former public school principal who stepped away from the system to homeschool her three children. Together, they explore what really changes when you leave traditiona...

Send us Fan Mail EP252: You can read all the books, listen to all the podcasts, and still feel unclear about how to actually do homeschool lessons. In this episode of the Art of Homeschooling Podcast, Jean shares why that gap exists ~ and what really changes when you move from learning about homeschooling to actually practicing it in real life. If you’ve been stuck in research mode or wondering wh...

Send us Fan Mail EP251: Curriculum hopping often starts with good intentions. We want better homeschool plans, smoother lessons, and a child who feels engaged. But when we pile new programs on top of old ones, we end up with conflicting advice about what to teach and when. That overload can turn curriculum into a crutch, increase homeschool burnout, and make decisions feel harder instead of easier...

Send us Fan Mail EP250: If your curriculum isn’t working, it’s easy to think you need something new. But what if the real shift isn’t the curriculum…it’s how you use it? Listen in as Jean shares how to move from “search and do” to “observe and create,” so you can adapt any homeschool curriculum to fit your unique child. You’ll learn three simple Waldorf-inspired principles that make homeschooling...

Send us Fan Mail EP249: Spring often brings a quiet wave of homeschool doubt. Parents start noticing unfinished curriculum, lower energy, and the pull to be outside — and suddenly it feels like the whole year is falling apart. In this episode of the Art of Homeschooling Podcast, Jean explains why homeschoolers often feel behind in March and April and how to stop starting over every spring. You&apo...

Send us Fan Mail EP248: That question shows up everywhere: at the park, in a comment thread, from a neighbor who means well, or from someone who clearly doesn’t. “But what about socialization?” can land like a punch, especially when you’re already doing the brave work of choosing homeschooling and trying to stay confident in your decision. We unpack why homeschooling socialization is rarely the pr...

Send us Fan Mail EP247: In this episode, Jean explores a common frustration many homeschooling parents face: feeling like the curriculum just isn’t working. If you’ve ever wondered whether you chose the wrong program or felt tempted to start over with something new, this episode offers a different perspective. Jean explains why the real issue usually isn’t the curriculum itself, but how it’s being...

Send us Fan Mail EP256: What if the most important thing you can do in your homeschool today is just show up? In this episode, Jean offers reassurance and simple, practical ideas for those homeschooling days when you don't have a plan. Learn why presence matters more than perfection, how learning is always happening, and easy ways to begin your day with connection and rhythm ~ even when thing...

Send us Fan Mail EP245: Feeling like your homeschool rhythm is a little unsteady right now? You don’t need to start over ~ and you don’t need a brand-new plan. In this episode of the Art of Homeschooling Podcast , Jean shares one gentle, powerful idea: rhythm anchor points . Instead of reworking your entire day, you’ll learn how one small, steady moment can bring calm and stability back into your...

Send us Fan Mail EP244: In this episode of the Art of Homeschooling Podcast , Jean is joined by members of the Taproot Team to share gentle, practical tips for getting back to homeschooling after the holidays ~ or after any kind of break. January can feel surprisingly hard for homeschoolers. While September brings fresh notebooks and new energy, January often arrives with fatigue, self-doubt, and...

Send us Fan Mail EP243: January often brings pressure to plan, reset, and have it all figured out. But what if the new year is asking for something gentler? In this episode of the Art of Homeschooling Podcast, Jean invites you to welcome the new year without a plan (yet) and return to your center before making any homeschooling decisions. Inspired by a quote from Rainer Maria Rilke, we explore why...

Send us Fan Mail EP242:  Discover four simple ways to bring more balance, calm, and connection to your homeschool during the holiday season. Learn how to simplify traditions, preview plans, maintain gentle rhythms, and support your child through the seasonal swirl. Plus, hear how Handwork + Stories can help your family enjoy meaningful, low-stress learning all December long.  Join the Inspired at...

Send us Fan Mail EP241: Struggle isn’t a setback ~ it’s part of the learning process. In this episode, we’re discussing how to welcome productive struggle in that powerful space where challenge leads to confidence, deeper understanding, and real growth. As homeschooling parents, it can feel uncomfortable to watch our kids wrestle with something new, but this gentle kind of struggle is essential fo...

Send us Fan Mail EP240: You might feel like homeschooling would be easier if you could just find the right curriculum. But here's the truth: your homeschool will thrive if you focus on rhythm over curriculum . It’s not about the curriculum. It’s about the rhythm and bringing more ease and simplicity into your homeschooling days.  In this episode, you’ll learn about the 2-day lesson rhythm ins...

Send us Fan Mail EP239: In this episode, Jean shares a simple way to craft age-appropriate homeschool lessons by pairing story-rich content with a focused skill goal, all within a spiral model of learning that lowers pressure and builds depth. Practical steps, planning tools, and holiday tweaks help you simplify and stay connected. Here's what we're talking about: • DAP as a lens for chi...