Homeschool is a Work of Heart

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever stood in a store debating whether something was really worth the price?  This week, a $70 bottle of self-tanner got me thinking about something much bigger than money. I started wondering about the other costs we pay to live the lives we desire.  Every day, we're making exchanges with our time, energy, attention, and priorities.  The question is: Are those excha...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever found yourself wishing someone would just change?  Maybe it's your child, your spouse, a friend, or even a difficult family member.  In this episode, Melissa explores the powerful concept of "my business, your business, and God's business" and how understanding the difference can bring greater peace, healthier relationships, and less worry.  Throu...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever encouraged your children to be curious, lifelong learners? I have, and this week, I found myself asking a different question: How often have I modeled that behavior myself? Recently, I stumbled across a strange foamy substance on one of my rosemary plants. What started as a quick gardening observation turned into an unexpected lesson about curiosity, learning, and th...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever noticed that putting something off doesn't actually make it disappear? This week, I'm sharing a simple realization that came to me while walking past a game closet that has needed attention for far too long. It got me thinking about how often we postpone projects, conversations, goals, and even important parts of homeschooling because we're waiting for...

Send us Fan Mail What if the hard thing you're facing is actually helping you grow? In this episode, I share the story of watching our oldest son complete his first marathon and the powerful lessons it reminded me of about resilience, confidence, perseverance, and encouragement.  From homeschooling and parenting to health goals, business challenges, and personal growth, some of life's gr...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever find yourself frustrated because your spouse, child, friend, or family member isn't behaving the way you think they should? You may be carrying around an invisible rulebook without even realizing it. In this episode, I'm eager to share a life-changing concept I learned years ago from a coach who transformed my marriage, relationships, parenting, and emotional...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Homeschool is a Work of Heart , I’m talking about something that affects every home, every classroom, and every relationship: rewards and consequences.  Inspired by conversations within my business, Write On Webb, about student essay reviews and motivation, I share some newly found research on why quick feedback matters and how timing affects learning and growth.  We&...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s episode of Homeschool is a Work of Heart , we’re talking about something many parents try hard to avoid: boredom. But what if boredom is not a problem to solve, but a valuable life skill to develop?  Let's explore what child psychologists and researchers say about boredom, creativity, emotional regulation, and the “effort gap” that keeps kids reaching for insta...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Homeschool is a Work of Heart , we’re diving into emotional regulation, what it is, what it is not, and why it matters so much in parenting and homeschooling. Most of us were taught how to manage behaviors, not regulate emotions. So what happens when our children experience big feelings, and we do too? In this episode, I’m sharing practical examples, parenting mindset...

Send us Fan Mail With Mother’s Day approaching, many moms quietly carry expectations about feeling appreciated, celebrated, and noticed. But what happens when those expectations go unmet? In this episode, I plan to share a powerful mindset shift inspired by Brooke Castillo's weekly fresh flower delivery service.   And, from fresh flowers to family expectations, this conversation explores how...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I reflect on a powerful idea I heard from Andrew Pudewa about how each major revolution has divided people into two groups. From the “hands and hands not” of the Industrial Revolution to the “maths and maths not” of the Information Age, we now find ourselves in the era of AI and robotics, where the divide may become the “thinks and the think nots.”  So, what happe...

Send us Fan Mail Ever notice how quickly emotions spread in your home? One frustrated child turns into two, then suddenly everyone is overwhelmed. It feels like it came out of nowhere, but it didn’t. In this episode, I’m breaking down something called “mirroring” and why your child reflects more than just your words. They reflect your tone, your reactions, and even your stress. Backed by brain sci...

Send us Fan Mail Hey Home Educators!  What if the missing piece in your homeschool isn’t more or better curriculum, but rather wonder and awe? Wonder and awe are catalysts for deeper, more engaging learning, and it does require some planning.  In this episode, I’m challenging you to think bigger than a book and start planning for awe. Inspired by Dacher Keltner's research, we’ll explore how e...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Kami Wanous, founder of The Freedom Scholar, to talk about why so many homeschooling families struggle and how to move beyond it.  Kami shares her early experience of recreating school at home, which quickly led to frustration for both her and her son. Can you relate? The turning point came when she stopped focusing on checking boxes and started re...

Send us Fan Mail What if one simple storybook could spark an entire unit of learning? In this episode, I share how a single story can become the foundation for reading, science, writing, art, and more. Inspired by a few surprising ladybug facts from my own garden, I walk you through the power of thematic learning and why connecting subjects helps children understand more and remember more. I also...

Send us Fan Mail “I forgot.” Have you heard that one before? This week, I want to talk about why kids forget and why it’s actually okay that they do. After reading over a hundred student essays this month with my team, I was reminded of something so important. One of our students skipped a step in the writing process… again. He felt frustrated and embarrassed and told me, “I forgot.” And it got me...

Send us Fan Mail Have you heard of neuroscientist Richard J. Davidson, author of Born to Flourish ? Until this past week, I hadn’t either. But I’m so glad I know who he is now, and I want to share him and his research with you. In this episode, based on both his studies and my own experiences working with children for more than 30 years, I share three ideas that homeschooling parents can use to he...

Send us Fan Mail After more than 30 years in education, I’ve had the privilege of watching thousands of children learn, struggle, grow, and eventually step into adulthood. If there’s one thing experience has taught me, it’s this: most of what we stress about in our children’s lives is small stuff. In this episode, I’m zooming out and sharing five life lessons I’ve learned from three decades of tea...

Send us Fan Mail Two years ago, I released an episode called Leave Busyness to the Bees , and it resonated with so many homeschool moms that I decided to build something practical to go with it.  In this episode, I’m replaying that conversation about busyness, time, and the stories we tell ourselves about why we can’t get everything done.  But this time there’s a brand-new resource waiting for you...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever set a goal with the best intentions, only to watch it quietly fall apart? Me, too! And the fact is that you and I are not lazy, and nothing is wrong with us. We've just been fighting the wrong battle.  In this episode of Homeschool is a Work of Heart, I would like to share a powerful framework with you.  Brendon Burchard taught this concept years ago, and it hel...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of Homeschool is a Work of Heart, I’m naming a growing problem I’m seeing everywhere: we are becoming a skimming society.  Skimming is fine for recreational enjoyment, but such passive engagement hurts today's learners. We need to do better. Students are racing through instruction, multitasking, and playing learning videos at high speeds while missing the d...

Send us Fan Mail State testing is a hot topic in the homeschool world, especially when it comes to ELA performance tasks. Many families feel unsure about testing, or even resistant to it. I get it! In this episode, we are going to take a fresh look at state tests and explore why and how they can be helpful tools rather than something to fear.  There may be plenty of cons, but there are so many pro...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Homeschool is a Work of Heart, we are talking about The Accountability Advantage and why it is one of the most powerful skills you can teach your child at home.  Accountability is often framed as pressure or control, but real accountability is "support with structure."  Accountability is the difference between hoping work gets done and having a plan to...

Send us Fan Mail Someone recently left me a comment on Facebook in response to an ad I created for a free essay-writing lesson plan. She said, “Yeah. Teach essay writing because we always need to write 5-paragraph essays as adults. What a joke.”  Okay. Sure, I get the sentiment, but I also think this home educator is missing the bigger picture. We do not teach the 5-paragraph essay because it is a...

Send us Fan Mail What if we aren't being the supportive parents we think we are?  Asking questions like, “Do you need help?” “Are you doing okay?” sounds supportive.  How about, “Let me know if you need anything. I'm here.” Doesn't that sound nice?  The fact is, however nice those questions and offers sound, they aren't all that helpful.  In this episode, we explore why overwhe...