Homeschool Hints Podcast

We all can use a little help during the cold winter months of homeschool! Jordan Gabler explores Women's Encouragement Day and how it can inspire, refresh and help moms to get through the end of the school year. -What is Women’s Encouragement Day? [1:35] -How it encourages and refreshes “the weary mother” [2:56] -Jordan’s personal highlights [3:40] -Tips for first-time attendees [4:55] -This year’...

Upcoming events in January and beyond include: * Our Facebook Live with Zan Tyler is Jan. 9. Zan is a featured speaker for both our Women’s Encouragement Day in February and conference in April! * 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 Excel...

How do you homeschool during the holidays? Jordan Gabler discusses setting expectations, getting help, and avoiding the two “ditches” of too many projects vs. too little merriment for the season! -Some ways her holiday season has changed over the years [1:25] -Avoiding the two ditches of Advent and Christmas preparation [1:40] -How being meaningful doesn’t have to mean being busy [2:55] -Adjusting...

Upcoming events in December and beyond include: Our last Moms Breakfast for the year is Thursday, Dec. 14, at Denny’s on Shawnee Mission Parkway. We’ve scheduled a Facebook Live with Zan Tyler on Jan. 9. Zan is a featured speaker for both our Women’s Encouragement Day in February and homeschool conference & curriculum fair in April! Homeschool Capitol Day is Feb. 1. Coming to the Capitol is the ea...

How do you homeschool during a school year when you're pregnant or have babies or toddlers who aren’t school-age yet? Krystal Evensen, mom of 13, shares some tips and tricks that have worked from personal experience! -Naptimes for the win [0:45] -Activities at the table, educational movies, learning games, etc. [1:15] -How to set realistic expectations? [5:17] -Knowing when to have a change of sce...

Upcoming events in November and beyond include: 1) Great Wolf Lodge Homeschool Weeks  in February. Registration is now open. Enjoy fantastic deals and discounts on room rates, waterpark wristbands, food and concessions, MagiQuest and more! 2) Our  Women's Encouragement Day  will open for registration in November. It's a quiet, relaxing day in the middle of winter when we all could use a little enc...

How do homeschoolers spend all that time with their kids? 😉 Krystal Evensen, a mom of 13, discusses her strategies and experiences raising many children in a small space and finding joy along the way, even if life doesn't always go as planned! -How Krystal started homeschooling [1:05] -Making a schedule to plan the day, including times to rest and recharge [3:15] -Other tips and coping strategies...

Some events coming up for October include the following: * Next graduation meeting for the Class of 2024 will be Monday, Oct. 9. * The Crown Center Homeschool Week will take place Oct. 9-14. * Shawnee Town 1929 is offering a Homeschool Day on Friday, Oct. 13. * The free online Homeschool Parenting 2.0 Summit is taking place Oct. 16-21. Get full access to Homeschool Hints at homeschoolhints.substac...

In a previous episode, Angelena Stowell discussed planning and organizing your homeschool year. Today we’ll discuss how to build your homeschool community and different ways to do so, from homeschool co-ops and small groups to enrichment programs and more! -What are co-ops, groups, and enrichment programs? What are the differences? [1:00] -Building community not just among your children, but also...

Some events MPE has planned for September: * Today (Aug. 25) is the last day to register for our Sept. 1 Homeschool Day at the K ! Tailgating starts at 4 p.m. It includes Food, Music, Games and Fellowship. Game against the Red Sox starts at 7:10 p.m. Look out for a drone show at the end! * The first graduation meeting for our Class of 2024 will be Monday, Sept. 11, at Garrett Chapel at College Chu...

Learn how homeschool families organize and plan for their school year - across a wide range of learning spaces. Angelena Stowell, a KC-area homeschool mom, discusses her best tips for organization and planning - including favorites like Japanese chalk and metal bins! -How Angelena started her homeschool journey [1:01]  -Tips for organizing and planning the homeschool year: cleaning, decluttering,...

July is one of the most exciting times of the year for homeschool families! Some events MPE has planned for the upcoming school year: * “How to Homeschool in KS or MO” live webinar, 3-4 p.m. July 18. We’ll help you set expectations, meet legal requirements, tailor curriculum, and choose educational methods for your unique family. You will leave with resources and confidence to begin or continue yo...

Meet Marissa Hitt, who graduated with MPE's Class of 2023! She's also an artist and business owner through Melane & Co. She credits her homeschool experience with giving her the ability to pursue her interests from an early age and jumpstart her entrepreneurship skills, partly because of the strong support and encouragement from her parents. -Graduating with MPE and fellow homeschool students [1:0...

Field trips can be the homeschool family's "secret weapon" to make learning fun! Annette Vaughn is a homeschool mom to three boys and organizes regular outings for a group of 20+ families in the Kansas City area. She shares strategies for planning your next field trip, including cost-cutting strategies, research, and catering to different ages and grades. -Different categories or options for field...

Our 2023 Women’s Encouragement Day featured Abbie Halberstadt, author of the book “M is for Mama.” Abbie is also a fitness instructor, homeschool teacher, and mama of ten children, including two sets of identical twins! Here are some highlights from a Q&A with Abbie, using questions submitted by the homeschool moms in the audience. -How do you deal with people saying you’re always with your childr...

What are government-funded Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), and how do they relate to homeschooling? Scott Woodruff, HSLDA attorney, discusses these and the "ugly baggage" that can come with ESA Statutes from his experience in other states. Look for Scott as one of our speakers at the March 31-April 1 homeschool conference and curriculum fair at the KCI Expo Center! -HSLDA’s position on the curr...

With more than 27 years of home education experience, Durenda Wilson is a trusted voice and resource at homeschooling conventions and on The Durenda Wilson Podcast. Durenda and her husband, Darryl, have eight kids (7 graduated) and nine grandchildren. As an author, speaker, and podcaster her greatest joy is reminding parents how doable and effective homeschooling is and that they are, in fact, qua...

Natalie Haber shares her homeschool journey, including her marriage to a public school administrator and addressing her family's initial hesitations with this educational choice. Her latest initiative is GROW, a division at MPE meant to create community through small workshops where women are encouraged and equipped to create a life-giving homeschool environment. -How Natalie started her homeschoo...

Homeschool moms need one another for encouragement and support, especially during the cold, wintry months when the days seem extra long and school seems extra challenging! Join us on Feb. 4 with Abbie Halberstadt, "M is for Mama" author and homeschool mom of 10. The day starts with a light breakfast that you didn’t have to make. Enjoy refreshments, hot drinks, and chocolates throughout the day sur...

Join us for an interview with Chad and Michelle Womble! Chad is MPE's President and has been serving at MPE for more than two decades. Learn more about the nonprofit's homeschool history and benefits. -Introductions from Chad and Michelle [0:30] -How they heard about MPE and its conference [2:00] -What has MPE meant to them over the years [3:00] -Benefits they’ve seen in their own family from serv...