Homeschool Hints Podcast

Trisha Pull from Homeschooling With Confidence discusses things she wished she had known before she started her homeschool journey. She's a former teacher turned homeschool mom of six kids and knows life in the trenches of homeschooling, as well as the triumphs along the way! -Tip #1: Did you know how messy homeschooling can be? What Trisha wishes she had known about the "mess" that comes with hom...

Adelaide Olguin from TalkBox. Mom discusses foreign language success as a homeschool family, how it's never too early to educate. She also outlines common pitfalls that can stop you from learning languages easily. -Defining success in a foreign language: when everyone in your family is using it throughout the day to get things done [2:00] -The problem of starting with numbers, letters, and colors...

Amanda Medford, a second-generation homeschooler, explains how events like Women's Encouragement Day can help homeschoolers build community. Amanda has homeschooled five children in three states and knows the importance of fellowship and connection along your educational journey! -Why Amanda decided to join the Encouragement Day committee [2:00] -The differences between her homeschool journey vs....

Upcoming events in January and beyond include: Our homeschool webinar on co-ops, enrichment, and athletics programs will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. Explore all the options, including “on-site” vs. “drop-off,” pricing, enrollment, curriculum, and more. A Facebook Live with conference vendor TalkBox. Mom is scheduled for 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13. Leave a comment during the Live session, and you'll...

How can we help raise children who live honorable lives and reach their full potential? Monica Irvine from The Etiquette Factory explains how we can show our children the "payoff" in helping those around us feel valued and comfortable (Monica's definition of etiquette)! -Skill #1: How to prioritize our lives (and teaching our children by modeling it ourselves as parents) [3:00] -The power of a pra...

How do you explain homeschooling during the holidays when visiting skeptical family and friends? Good news: we can do it winsomely, knowing the data is already on our side! Christy Faith, author of "Homeschool Rising," discusses quick tips and disarming one-line replies to help address the hearts of our listeners - especially those who may become our biggest supporters if shown the tangible benefi...

Upcoming events in November and beyond include: Our next First Aid and CPR class for ages 12 and up will be Nov. 9 at Journey Bible Church in Olathe. Our next Class of 2025 homeschool high school graduation meeting will be 7 p.m. Nov. 11 at College Church of the Nazarene. This is the last day to sign up for our May 9 graduation ceremony! Our Dad’s Night Out Chili Cook-off is scheduled for Jan. 31...

Crisis times can derail even the most veteran homeschooling plans. However, they also give us opportunities to grow and set firm foundations so our children can enjoy a lifetime of resilience. Join homeschool mama and podcaster Terri Hitt as she shares her story of trusting God through multiple crises - loss of a child and parents, job losses, international adoptions, and more. -Explaining common...

Upcoming events in October and beyond include: The next Moms’ Morning Out will be 6:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, at Denny’s along Shawnee Mission Parkway in Merriam. Everyone is welcome — from those just thinking about homeschooling as well as those who have been homeschool veterans for decades. Our next Class of 2025 homeschool high school graduation meeting will be 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at College Church...

Suzanne Wandling, elementary education and special needs expert, discusses homeschool kindergarten readiness and what to expect. -Overview of homeschool kindergarten using play-based and simple learning activities [0:30] -Common misconceptions or myths about elementary education [2:20] -Knowing the general attention span for a typical kindergarten student and introducing breaks [4:40] -Other devel...

Upcoming events in September and beyond include: Another webinar on “homeschool socialization” in our series will take place 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7. It will explore how to ensure your child’s social success with peer-based events, meetups, volunteering opportunities, and more!  Our preparations for the Class of 2025 homeschool high school graduation will kick off with an informational meetin...

Jacklynn Walters, a Shawnee City Councilwoman and longtime homeschool mom, discusses our upcoming "how to homeschool workshop" and what to expect. -Topics covered at the homeschool workshop: overview of the law, organizing a homeschool day, choosing curriculum, etc. [2:30] -Using the question-and-answer time to connect with other parents, both moms and dads [3:15] -Answering common objections to s...

Upcoming events in August and beyond include: Our GROW workshop for homeschool moms will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, at Grace Point Baptist Church in KCMO. All supplies for the activity are included in your fee, along with a delicious spread of food and drink. Seating is limited! Our annual legislative event for Kansas homeschoolers is 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at Hope Family Fellowshi...

Prepare for the next school year by taking time just for you - the homeschool mom! Christa Norman, former public-school teacher and founder of a homeschool co-op, shares her tips for eliminating overwhelm, creating margin in your life, and welcoming friendships. -What moms can expect at a GROW event: fun projects, time for discussions or reflection, and refreshments without any cleanup! [2:50] -Qu...

Upcoming events in July and beyond include: Our next Moms’ Morning Out will be at 6:30 a.m. Thursday, July 11, for breakfast at Denny’s at 9001 Shawnee Mission Parkway in Merriam. A free “How to Homeschool” webinar will be 10 a.m. Saturday, July 13. We’ll help you set expectations, meet legal requirements, tailor curriculum, and choose homeschool styles for your unique family. Leave with the resou...

Save money, get educational supplies at a discount, and make friends in your homeschool community at our Used Curriculum Sale! Jennifer Laporte, one of MPE's board members, shares how these sales have helped her family over 20 years of homeschooling. See her tips for packing, parking, and more. -How sales have helped her find items out of her reach to buy new, but able to get used [1:05] -What ite...

Upcoming events in June and beyond include: Our GROW workshop for homeschool moms will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, at Grace Point Baptist Church in KCMO.  Join KC Connected Homeschool in creating a make-and-take wooden “Welcome” sign and discussing the value of joy-filled friendships. A variety of sweet and savory snacks and drinks will also be provided. Registration is limited to 24 moms....

Craig Harrison, homeschool dad and engineer, shares his experience as full-time home educator to his sons. Any parent, dad or mom, can provide their children with an exceptional education - and Craig would like to show you how! -How Craig began as a "reluctant homeschooler" [0:20] -His background in science, mathematics and engineering [2:45] -Challenges for dads as the primary homeschoolers [5:30...

Upcoming events in May and beyond include: Our GROW workshop for homeschool moms will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, at Grace Point Baptist Church in KCMO.  Join KC Connected Homeschool in creating a make-and-take wooden “Welcome” sign and discussing the value of joy-filled friendships. A variety of sweet and savory snacks and drinks will also be provided. Registration is limited to 24 moms. T...

Gracie Neland graduated high school with MPE - following her mother, who is also an MPE alumna! Gracie explains what a homeschool graduation ceremony can look like, as well as her future career plans. -How Gracie got involved in the MPE graduation class of 2022 [1:02] -Some thoughts on what to expect and how to prepare for the ceremony [3:28] -The rose ceremony and how it celebrates those who have...

Upcoming events in April and beyond include: * Our April 5-6 conference is almost here! Some action items to best prepare are: * If you haven’t already signed up , this is your last chance to do so before end of day Sunday, March 31, at the earlybird rate. After April 1, Family membership will reflect the $75 at-the-door admission rate. * If your child can benefit from a sensory-motor screening (a...

Is your child a unique learner? Special education teacher and homeschooler Suzanne Wandling explores "red flags" or behaviors that can indicate developmental delays, dyslexia, or other special needs your child may have. She also discusses resources to help homeschool families, including screenings at the April 5-6 conference and curriculum fair. -How Suzanne started helping homeschool families [1:...

Upcoming events in March and beyond include: * School of Economics field trip on March 13. Registration has closed, but you can sign up for next year’s waitlist by emailing our office at info@midwesthomeschoolers.org. * Learning screenings at our April 5-6 homeschool conference and curriculum fair. A screening is a short survey of a child to determine whether a more in-depth evaluation is recommen...

Not too long ago, homeschooling wasn't legal in all 50 states. Zan Tyler explains how she started homeschooling in 1984 and how the movement has changed. She also answers questions from our audience about navigating curriculum, co-ops & more! -How Zan and Joe Tyler started homeschooling [1:01] -Why February is such a hard season for homeschool moms [5:48] -Raising children to be others-centric, no...

Upcoming events in February and beyond include: * Homeschool Capitol Day will be Feb. 1. In addition to meeting with your own state legislators, you can also enjoy the wit and wisdom of our special guest speaker, Andrew Pudewa of the Institute for Excellence in Writing! If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Laporte at office@kansashomeschool.org . * We’re having a Homeschool Dads Nigh...