Homeschool Better Together

Are you ready to break out of “school-at-home” thinking and finally build a homeschool rhythm that fits YOUR real life—not just the one in the curriculum guide? This week, I invited our two resident schedule-geeks—Laney Homan and Dawn Garrett—into the studio for a lively, practical (and very honest) roundtable on all things homeschool schedules. We’re tackling the myth that there’s only one “right...

What happens when your homeschool plan goes on the road—literally? Today, I’m joined by second-generation homeschooler and seasoned moving pro, Adrienne Denison, to talk about schooling through cross-country moves, starting over in a new place, and making sure your curriculum doesn’t get lost between boxes of Legos and winter coats. Adrienne unpacks (pun absolutely intended) the lessons she’s lear...

It’s curriculum season, and you know what that means: a flood of shiny programs, glowing reviews, and unboxing videos that make everything look like the answer to your homeschool stress. But here’s my honest take—it only counts if it actually works for your own real-life family, not just the influencer on YouTube. Today, I’m flying solo to give you my six best questions to ask yourself BEFORE you...

Let’s get brutally honest: no single curriculum is ever going to save your homeschool, fix your child’s attitude, or turn your kitchen into one of those magical, Instagram-perfect learning havens. If you’re looking for the “unicorn curriculum,” keep dreaming (or better yet, listen up—because we’re about to set you free). In this episode of Homeschool Better Together, I sat down with the queen of c...

Are you hesitant to homeschool? You're not alone! In this episode of Homeschool Better Together, host Pam Barnhill chats with Mandy McArthur and Jessica Solis Carpinelli, authors of "Hesitant to Homeschool: Answers to 20 Common Questions." Mandy and Jessica share practical insights and encouragement for parents considering homeschooling but feeling apprehensive. Discover how a strong support syste...

Homeschooling high school feels like a big shift. Suddenly, you’re looking at advanced subjects, keeping transcripts, and preparing your teen for what comes next. In this episode, I sit down with Meg Angelino, our operations manager and curriculum editor, to talk about what happens when you start outsourcing classes while still juggling motherhood. We discuss our journeys toward more organized hom...

Homeschooling high school can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! In this episode, our community manager, Dawn Garrett, steps in as host to chat with homeschool mom Elizabeth Overcash about her experience navigating these crucial years. Elizabeth, a retired military wife, shares her unique perspective—having one child who graduated from a traditional school while homeschooling her younge...

In this episode, I sit down with  Denise Gaskins , math educator and author, to talk about how we can transform math from a dreaded subject into something joyful and engaging. Denise shares why so many homeschoolers struggle with math and how shifting our approach can make a huge difference. She encourages parents to  make math playful  through games, storytelling, and real-life pro...

Consistency in homeschooling can be a game-changer, and today I’m joined by Krystal Joslin, a military homeschooling mom and graduate of the Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp. Krystal shares how she went from a go-with-the-flow approach to building a structured, consistent homeschool routine that works—despite frequent moves and unpredictable schedules. She opens up about the challenges s...

Are you ready to tackle consistency in your homeschool? In this episode, I’m joined by Dawn Garrett to talk about one of my favorite tools: the Minimum Viable Day (MVD). We share how this simple concept helped us overcome perfectionism and establish daily momentum in our homeschools. Learn how to identify what truly matters for your family, create a flexible fallback plan, and build trust with you...

It’s time to make 2025 the year of intentional progress! In this episode, I’m joined by Laney Homan, our member success manager, to talk about goal setting that works for busy homeschool moms. Laney and I discuss the difference between planning and goal setting, the power of starting small, and how to craft goals that fit your life’s current season. We share personal stories—like Laney’s inspiring...

This episode of Homeschool Better Together dives into the concept of choosing a word of the year and how it can add intentionality and focus to your homeschool journey. I’m joined by Dawn Garrett, our community manager, as we share our personal experiences, thoughts, and even some fun quirks about selecting and living out our yearly words. From the practical to the reflective, we talk ab...

This episode of the Homeschool Better Together Podcast features a delightful conversation with Sarah Mackenzie from the Read Aloud Revival. Sarah and I chat about rekindling the joy of reading for ourselves as moms. We explore the power of quitting books that don’t spark joy, the fun of keeping a reading log, and how to find books that truly resonate with you. Plus, we dive into reading...

In this episode of Homeschool Better Together, I’m joined by my friend Sunni Dallas, a mom of seven, who shares how she uses the Wonder World Podcast to enrich her homeschool days—especially when life is busy with babies, toddlers, and teens. Sunni talks about how lunchtime has become the perfect anchor for learning, where we provide the content, and she simply hits play. From history to fables, W...

In this episode of the Homeschool Better Together podcast, I’m joined by Dawn Garrett to chat about our special gift for homeschoolers this year—A Christmas Carol explorations! We’re offering a free resource full of fun activities, discussions, and enrichment to bring some holiday cheer into your homeschool. Dawn and I go over the history behind this yearly gift, why we’re excited about A Christma...

In this episode of the Homeschool Better Together podcast, I sit down with Dawn Garrett, our customer service guru, to reflect on the lessons we’ve learned over seven years of running the Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp. We talk about how consistency—not perfection—can transform your homeschool and why sticking with even a “minimum viable day” can make all the difference. Dawn and I share some of...

In this episode of the Homeschool Better Together podcast, I’m chatting with Katie McCune, a mom from our community, about her journey with the Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp. Katie shares how, before the boot camp, their homeschool days were often filled with morning time and spontaneous field trips, but progress through their core subjects was slow. She talks about how she struggled with perfe...

In this episode of the Homeschool Better Together podcast, I’m talking about one key mindset shift that can make a world of difference in your homeschool—honoring your school day. It’s easy to let distractions take over or convince ourselves that we can always multitask, but setting aside dedicated time for homeschooling is critical. I’ll share how this simple change has transformed our homeschool...

In this episode of the Homeschool Better Together podcast, I’m giving you a bit of a pep talk. I’ve been there—staring at the clock, realizing the day is slipping away and thinking, “If I can’t follow my perfect plan, I might as well do nothing.” Sound familiar? Well, I discovered that my problem wasn’t laziness—it was perfectionism. And that perfectionism was sabotaging my ability to be consisten...

In this episode of the Homeschool Better Together podcast, I’m sharing an overview of our curriculum choices for the 2024-2025 school year. With both a senior and a 9th grader, our homeschool routine is a bit different, and I’m excited to walk you through our approach. We start each day with a focused morning time that sets the tone for learning, followed by individual subjects tailored to each ch...

In this episode, I share a hard-learned lesson: as homeschooling moms, we shouldn't be the ones working the hardest! I used to think every lesson had to be fun and engaging, but it turns out, simplicity and consistency are key. I talk about the importance of short, manageable lessons and meeting our kids where they are—focusing on what really matters. Morning time routines have also been a game ch...

In this episode of Homeschool Better Together, I'm tackling something we all face—the way that initial excitement of a new homeschool year can quickly fade. Trust me, I’ve been there too. So, let's chat about what happens when that "honeymoon period" ends and how to handle it without the guilt. I’ll share how I’ve learned to go with the natural ups and downs of homeschooling instead of forcing the...

Starting a new homeschool year is exciting but can also feel overwhelming. In this episode, I share some of the common challenges we face, like kids resisting lessons or forgetting things over the break. I offer practical tips to ease the transition, like involving your kids in planning, starting with subjects they enjoy, and reviewing key skills before diving into new material. I also talk about...

Oh, my goodness! Starting a new homeschool year can feel like a rollercoaster with its ups and downs. In this episode, I share my favorite strategies to make this transition smoother and more enjoyable. We talk about dealing with that first-week exhaustion and finding the right balance between excitement and routine. Curious about my secrets for a smoother start? Tune in to hear how small changes,...

As summer winds down, our family loves to kick off the school year with a special back-to-school tradition. For the past few years, we've visited the donut shop, and it's become a cherished ritual for us. From picking out donuts to snapping a photo outside the shop, this simple tradition brings us joy and wonderful memories. In this episode, I share why having a back-to-school tradition is importa...