Homeschool is a Work of Heart

Send us Fan Mail Hello! It's our 50th episode, so I have some summer surprises for you. Thank you for being a fabulous part of our homeschooling community. I'm grateful for you and love how this season in life has brought us together.    First, I have a new way for us to connect this semester. During the fall semester, I'll host five parent homeschool classes developed to raise your...

Send us Fan Mail Today, someone is in need of encouragement, and I'm here to offer it to you! Who we become as adults stems from our past experiences, including our childhood, societal pressures, and self-criticism. Whatever baggage we collect over the years is ours to keep or give away. Some of us need to trash those bags! If we can remember that we've been smart since the day we were b...

Send us Fan Mail Patrick Lencioni wrote a wonderful book titled The 6 Types of Working Genius . While the material is intended to improve teams in a working environment, I see the benefits awaiting families who take the time to consider their areas of genius, too. In this week's episode, let's see if you can discover who in your family is the idealist, level-headed thinker, and go-getter...

Send us Fan Mail By focusing on value over volume, especially when educating our children, parents can create a more meaningful and effective learning experience that fosters a deeper understanding and love for learning in their children. In this week's episode, I have several suggestions and ways you can do just that. If you're looking for more support or help with writing, we're r...

Send us Fan Mail Many parents and teachers have shared their concerns regarding ChatGPT in education. Several people have asked if I'm worried this new technology is just the beginning of the end for my writing business and future in teaching. The truth is that ChatGPT, a technology generating human-like responses, is both helpful and hurtful.  While this form of AI can quickly produce essays...

Send us Fan Mail There were so many times I told my children never to lie. Lying is bad. Yet, I lie. My kids lie. Everyone I know lies. So, maybe lying isn't so bad. Or is it? And what about cheating?! Well. That's never a good thing! Or is it? In this week's episode, you'll hear my take on lying, cheating, and other great things! I hope you tune in and decide for yourself. Can...

Send us Fan Mail Most people and parents who I know question their parenting skills and performance from the very first day a baby is born.  We all want to do our best and be our best, but how might we evaluate our progress? In this week's episode, I'll share ways parents can assess what is and create what could be. Mentioned in this episode: Pathological Positivity by Dr. Paul Jenkins T...

Send us Fan Mail While willpower is fun to chuckle about, it's also something most of us would love to master. It's just tough! Willpower requires strong emotion. Most of us can power our will for bouts of time, but eventually, we tire of it.  There's good news, though. To achieve great things, we do not have to rely on willpower. We have another fantastic tool at our disposal.   In...

Send us Fan Mail Summer is here; if you want this year to be your best year, this episode is for you. Creating a fun summer calendar for the family is a fun project, but there are many benefits. You'll make the most out of your days, weeks, and months. You'll also increase anticipatory joy; the structure is great for our kids. I mentioned some things in this week's episode and promi...

Send us Fan Mail It's the title to a great Tony Bennett song, but it's also a terrific tool to improve your relationship. Tune in this week to learn how to use a number scale to alleviate conflict in your home. Big or small issues, no problem! This handy dandy technique will have you singing a merry tune. 

Send us Fan Mail There's a whole lot of science supporting the importance of including multiple, short breaks spaced throughout our days. This may look different for all of us, but all of us can benefit from the practice. In this episode, I'll share my experience with this life hack. To take a deeper dive into the topic, please be sure to listen to Andrew Huberman's interview with D...

Send us Fan Mail By definition, transformation is a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance . Transformations are constantly taking place all around us. We easily accept that bugs, insects, and animals transform as part of their life cycle. We watch seasons change quarterly. We boil water and watch it turn from liquid to steam without thinking much about it. However, it's worth cons...

Send us Fan Mail Our final SPRING CLEAN 🧹️📦 🪣 project was an extreme garage clean-up that took days and days to complete, but it feels so good to see things decluttered, reorganized, and properly placed. Wouldn't it be nice if we could do an extreme clean-up on our brains?! We can. It's called journaling. On June 4, 2024, I'll host a Journaling Webinar for Women . Please join me....

Send us Fan Mail We're all quitters! Sometimes, we quit bad habits or toxic relationships, and that's a good thing. Other times we give up and quit and feel poorly about our decision. When should you quit? The things we quit can be big, small, temporary, or permanent. If you've been thinking about quitting something, this week's episode will offer three important questions to a...

Send us Fan Mail In today's day and age we are used to getting things done quickly. Fast! Fast! Fast! That's how we roll. So, when we have to wait, it can be hard! If you're open to a few ideas and suggestions, impatience is about to take a backseat. 

Send us Fan Mail How many times have you sung along to "It takes two to make a thing go ri-ight! It takes two to make it outta sight!" 🎶 It's a catchy song, but it's not true. One person can make a relationship healthier and happier. In this week's episode, I'll share three ways you can have awesome relationships with everyone. 

Send us Fan Mail Did or do your children love to read the same picture books or read alouds again and again? Are any books falling apart at the seams because they've been lovingly read multiple times? If so, that's great! Reading and rereading books has many educational benefits. Tune in to hear all about it! You'll find yourself inspired to do what's worth repeating. If you&ap...

Send us Fan Mail As parents and teachers, we have an opportunity to impress upon our children the profound significance of the heartfelt words and humor we share with one another in writing, knowing the powerful, positive impact it has on the life of another human being. While I believe in helping our children learn when to write in a formal and academic manner, this week, I’m reminding you to tea...

Send us Fan Mail This has been the #1 most asked question recently. It's a super question! As with all things educationally, people have strong opinions. Some say they never enforce spelling while others insist on spelling tests every Friday. In this episode, I'll share my personal spelling-mastery philosophy and what I recommend. In fact, I even have a materials list, suggested practice...

Send us Fan Mail Between food addiction, substance abuse, and excessive screen time, many adults find themselves stuck in destructive behaviors to avoid emotional pain, but is that what we want for our children? As their teachers and parents, we are responsible for giving them the tools they'll need to thrive in their adult lives.  In this week's episode, I want to share some science on...

Send us Fan Mail "I'm just so busy" is a phrase we hear on a daily basis. However, that sentence only stirs up feelings of overwhelm and anxiety. It rarely serves us in a positive way. In this week's episode, I challenge you to complete a time audit and see for yourself just how busy you really are. But! If you are too busy to teach academic writing, or you need to free up some...

Send us Fan Mail You could be lying and not even realize it. Listen in this week to hear five common lies we tell our kids. Once you consider the other side of these beliefs, you may have a change of heart. And if you believe giving your child honest feedback on his or her writing is hard, we can help. We are currently offering a "FREE ESSAY REVIEW." Sign up if you're interested in...

Send us Fan Mail What disciplinary style is your "go-to" method? Do discipline and punishment go hand-in-hand in your mind? In this week's episode, I take on this touchy subject but only to offer you some hope and direction as you train your children to be self-disciplined, productive adults. 

Send us Fan Mail "Teaching can't be that hard." Ha! It can be hard and frustrating. In this week's episode, I will share a remedy for your homeschooling frustration.  Structure! Specifically, I want to share the 5-Step Lesson Plan I've used for decades. It works! I believe this structured approach can make a huge difference. It supports your child's learning and makes...

Send us Fan Mail 🧺️ Some things never end! Piles of laundry and life problems. In this week's episode, you'll enjoy hearing how the two are closely related. You'll also find yourself ready to dig in and solve some nagging issues that have been weighing you down. Enjoy! If you need help sorting out the challenges brought on by teaching academic writing, we have programs sure to help...