Art of Homeschooling Podcast

Send us Fan Mail EP113: Today on the podcast, Jean is talking all about getting still. How do we embrace the stillness of the solstice as homeschooling parents?  Listen in for some great ideas for super simple and quick ways to pause and find stillness within.  Wishing you a happy Winter (or Summer) Solstice. And a beautiful holiday season.  May you find that stillness and sanctuary within through...

Send us Fan Mail EP112: It’s time for the annual Window Star Challenge! Here are three ways that making folded paper window stars can cultivate mindfulness ~ helping us to slow down and pause ~ by creating something beautiful with our hands. Listen in for a beautiful poem about stars and also check out the video tutorials so you can make some window stars for yourself and with your kiddos. Enjoy m...

Send us Fan Mail EP111:  Instead of trying to squeeze in a main lesson block of lessons in December, try these tips instead.  In this episode, Jean shares 10 tips for homeschooling in December. She asked her homeschooling buddies to chime in with their tips, too. So listen up for some tried-and-true homeschooling advice based on years of experience. Find the Show Notes Here (www.artofhomeschooling...

Send us Fan Mail EP110: Today we’re talking all about choosing to homeschool. For so many of us, myself included, homeschooling is not just a one and done decision. We get opportunities to choose the best educational setting for each of our kiddos over and over again on our parenting journey. Two of my three kids went to school for a bit, too. Our oldest went to private school in 8th grade and the...

Send us Fan Mail EP109: Let gratitude be empowering. We can feel more grounded and present and willing to face whatever comes our way after focusing, even for just a few minutes, on gratitude. Not in an overly saccharine or toxic positivity kind of way. But in a way that allows us to embrace our lives with more courage and confidence, knowing that along with the challenges there are bright spots o...

Send us Fan Mail EP108: Start with simplicity. Return to simplicity. Embrace simplicity. This is Jean's #1 piece of advice to all homeschoolers.  Listen in to hear about 4 practical ways to live with simplicity as a central pillar of your homeschooling life. Find the Show Notes Here (www.artofhomeschooling.com/episode108) Inspired at Home Membership (www.artofhomeschooling.com/inspiredathome)...

Send us Fan Mail EP107: Main lesson blocks are a way of planning and organizing lessons around a central topic or theme. Today on the podcast, we dive into all things main lesson block learning to help demystify this approach.  The easiest way to bring main lesson block learning to your homeschool is to plan for a block or unit of study that’s anywhere from three to six weeks, during which one sub...

Send us Fan Mail EP106: How do you kindle your own fire, keep the flame alive, fuel that spark deep inside? As the days grow shorter, listen up for some encouragement from Jean to look toward creating and celebrating a Lantern Festival.  And not just because it’s good for our children and families. But also, because it’s a wonderful time to contemplate our own light that we bring to the world. Fin...

Send us Fan Mail EP105: In this week's episode, we combine language arts and nature study!  Here's a simple yet beautiful idea for combining poetry and nature by writing nature-inspired found poetry.   A found poem is created by collecting words from somewhere and refashioning them into a poem. You get to rearrange words, phrases, or quotes from another text and create something new. And...

Send us Fan Mail EP104: Let go of the guilt. That's right ~ let it go! Guilt never serves us well. And, sitting in guilt does not do anything to move us forward in our homeschooling. The truth is, we do not improve from a place of feeling bad about ourselves. Here's the encouragement you need, along with some suggestions, for letting guilt go. Find the Show Notes Here (www.artofhomeschoo...

Send us Fan Mail EP103: Listen in as Jean shares with you a simplified perspective on what we teach our children at different stages of their schooling. As homeschoolers and teachers, we usually start with what to teach in each grade. But today, we’re going to look at dividing the elementary years into just three stages rather than 8 grades. This way of looking at what we’re teaching can be really...

Send us Fan Mail EP102: Book Hearth workshops are designed to help homeschooling parents bring stories, lessons, and experiences to your children and students all designed around one book so that you can craft the learning with more ease and keep your homeschooling simple, inspiring, and doable. Join us at the Book Hearth! Book Hearth Workshops (www.artofhomeschooling.com/bookhearth) Find the Show...

Send us Fan Mail EP101: Have you just begun your homeschool year? Has it been less than stellar? Or even a huge flop?  It can take some time for everyone to settle into a new routine, a new rhythm.  Whether you’re new to homeschooling or have been on this journey for a while, please know that transitions can be rocky. And they always seem to last longer than we expect them to! In this episode, Jea...

Send us Fan Mail EP100: In this episode, Jean reflects back on 26 years of homeschooling. She describes three distinct qualities that homeschooling fosters and what can be gained from being a part of a homeschooling family for many years. Those three qualities are: loyalty, acceptance, and self-sufficiency. Here are her reflections on each one. Listen in for insights to encourage you on your homes...

Send us Fan Mail EP99: As the seasons turn, listen in for some fun fall baking ideas, recipes, stories, and books. So you can plan engaging activities with your children. Because fall baking is one of the best ways to get into the season. And there are so many lessons that can be woven into these homeschooling activities. Find the Show Notes Here (www.artofhomeschooling.com/episode99) Inspired at...

Send us Fan Mail EP98: Today on the Art of Homeschooling podcast, Jean talks with her my dear friend, Janet Kramer, all about why they love raising and watching Monarch butterflies. Listen in for tips on how to raise butterflies, how to help with butterfly and habitat preservation, and suggested resources to help you learn more. Plus lots of funny stories about their experiences raising monarch bu...

Send us Fan Mail EP97: Today, we're talking all about the beauty of homeschooling rituals. Here are some observations of why rituals can really help make homeschooling special. And then lots of ideas and rituals that you might choose to do with your family. Rhythm + Rituals can really help us as parents stay grounded and present in the moment. And at the same time, help our children feel secu...

Send us Fan Mail EP96: How are you feeling, dear homeschool parent? Are you ready for a new homeschool year? Often, when we hear this question, we think about curriculum and the lesson plans. But really, I believe our feelings about the upcoming year are even more important. That's what today's episode is all about  - are YOU ready for a new homeschool year? Listen in for 3 tips to help...

Send us Fan Mail EP95: As homeschoolers, we often feel overwhelmed. This may well be our #1 challenge as homeschooling parents!  Listen in to today's episode to hear all about curiosity. And how curiosity can really be the antidote to overwhelm. Plus, learn the 3 steps to getting curious about our thoughts and feelings in a way that allows us to change that feeling of overwhelm into one of co...

Send us Fan Mail EP94: As homeschooling parents, we're all trying so hard to get it right. We care deeply about our children and we don’t want to mess this up. It’s a big responsibility to homeschool. And we all take this job VERY seriously. We also have so many doubts. And wonder if we can do it. If we know enough, or are good enough. We sometimes even wonder if our kids would be better off...

Send us Fan Mail EP93: A few times a year, Jean asks listeners to submit questions for her to answer on the podcast. Listen in as she answers six questions that you've probably asked too over the years. And get your fill of not only homeschooling wisdom based on years of experience, but also teaching and parenting  support for whatever it is you're going through right now. Find the Show...

Send us Fan Mail EP92: The common advice to parents about answering children’s questions is to respond in an elaborate yet easy to understand way. But in this episode, you’ll hear about why I disagree with this common advice. And what I suggest instead. Kids always have questions. Sometimes a boatload of questions! Children’s questions can be funny, insightful, and at times wildly surprising. But...

Send us Fan Mail EP91: Homeschooling provides so many opportunities to spend time outdoors and share a love of nature with our children. Nature can help us foster connections with ourselves, our children, and the world.  Listen in to today's episode for all the ways nature helps us restore connections, along with tips for engaging in nature study with children. Find the Show Notes Here (www.a...

Send us Fan Mail EP90: Here at the Art of Homeschooling, Jean recommends block teaching . Because this is the best, strongest method of teaching for families at home for both retention and engagement. Listen in as Jean talks about block teaching and how it’s similar to and different from other popular homeschool methods such as unit studies or even project-based learning. Then stay tuned to hear a...

Send us Fan Mail EP89: Homeschooling can be stressful, let's face it. But we can also choose to show up as our best selves. Listen in for 7 specific tips to help you show up as your best self or even switch gears when you’re feeling stressed.  Find the Show Notes Here (www.artofhomeschooling.com/episode89) Inspired at Home Membership (www.artofhomeschooling.com/inspiredathome) ✨ 20th Anniver...