Homeschool Your Way

Tired of swapping out hats, going from parent role to teacher role? Great news! There are no homeschool hats! You are a parent. And parents are teachers—always have been and always will be. Absorb the down-to-earth encouragement from special guest Camille Kirksey who takes a holistic approach to being both mom and teacher, simultaneously. Dissolve the barriers of roles and relax into learning alon...

It's summer! Tune in for suggestions of how to spend these precious weeks of freedom. Hosts DeeDee and Ximena suggest having a loose plan with some academic and life skills goals. You may want to go all out and do a special science or history camp or book club with your homeschool co-op this summer or have a more low-key experience at home catching up on the things you didn't have time for during...

The worst homeschool myths make parents afraid to try homeschooling. This episode is here to put your mind at ease with a behind-the-scenes look at what homeschooling is really like. No, it's not all peaches and rainbows. But it isn't drudgery or non-stop frustration either! These six myths are legitimate fears, but don't let them keep you from homeschooling if you want to. All of these can be ove...

Homeschooling has a lot of perks. If you send your kids back to public school, you may not completely lose these perks, but they are a heck of a lot harder to achieve! Spending extra time with your children and being immersed in their day-to-day learning creates a unique dynamic that you can't easily recreate when your children are at school all day. Join Janna, DeeDee and Ximena as they explore w...

Hosts DeeDee and Ximena want to say "well done" to all of the podcast listeners. This has not been an easy year and a half for any of us. As a listener, you care about your kids. You've tried your absolute best and you're still trying. They know you love your children and no matter how hard the school year was, you did your best! This episode is to debrief some of the tough parts of the school yea...

If you started homeschooling because of the pandemic, you have a big decision ahead: Will I homeschool again next year? And actually, nearly all homeschool families revisit this decision periodically. Our kids change; circumstances change. And it's important to be sure you're still making the right choice.  In this episode DeeDee explains why her son is going to private school and the mixed f...

Learn how to leverage the power of the village through co-ops, hybrid learning, and virtual options. All of these learning avenues can extend your at-home experience and build a supportive community for you and for your children.  ★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at bookshark.com. TIMESTAMPS 02:35 Homeschool Co-ops Co-ops are great for community and for...

Shed your science insecurities and join your kids as a fellow learner! That's the main advice in this podcast hosted by Janna with special guest Amy Ratliff, curriculum designer at BookShark. Amy says that the biggest part of teaching your kids science is to engage their curiosity. Enjoy the scientific process even when things don't go exactly right.  ★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your cou...

Your homeschool why is your motivation or reason to homeschool. You might phrase it as a goal or even a vision statement. Special guest Candice Kelly from Homeschool on the Hill uses a simple list of pros and cons she can reference to affirm her choice to homeschool. It's a living document that she adds to from time to time. Join host Janna and Candice in this talk about the reasons to homesc...

When we're thinking about standards, it's common to worry our children will be behind. The good news is that it's easy to know what your state standards are because they are very clear and published online. You can compare your curriculum to the standards and reassure yourself that you're covering all the bases.  ★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at book...

You don't have to be math-minded to effectively homeschool your child. This common misconception has intimidated parents, diminishing their confidence to pursue math. In this episode special guest Ken Hively, homeschool dad to 6 children and creator of My Math Assistant , shares practical applications for math at home. ★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at boo...

Homeschooling a wide swath of ages and personalities means juggling multiple needs at once. Tanya has found success by combining her children as much as possible with a literature-based curriculum. She makes adjustments for each child as needed, but she doesn't create her own lesson plans. Learn why Tanya finds life skills so important and hear her tips for extracurriculars, socialization, and fin...

When you hit the high school years, yes, you need a plan, and it's best to stick with it instead of flip flopping around. But that doesn't mean you throw out all the fun! Learn how to relax through the high school years with special guest Candice Kelly who has already graduated one son.  ★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at bookshark.com. QUOTABLES ...

Literature-based learning works! It's also called the natural approach to language arts. In this episode, product specialist Lynn Woodley explains the ins and outs of how a natural lit-based education works. She also tackles the common objections to this style of homeschooling, demonstrating that it produces children and teens who can think critically and write expressively. ★★★ LISTENER COUPON CO...

The middle school years are a bridge between childhood and adolescence. Make the most of this quirky period with your tweens and teens because homeschooling these years can be really fun ! Kids are still young enough to enjoy read-alouds and field trips but old enough to take more accountability for their studies and direct their own interest-led units. Tune in to get more tips for teaching grades...

The elementary years lay a foundation for your child's entire education and forge family memories you all can cherish. Make the elementary years a fun, pressure-free experience for your kids by letting your children set the pace with academics and letting their interests inform your choices. Because DeeDee and Ximena are already past the elementary years, they invited special guest Lindsay to help...

Do your kids give up easily when challenged? Are they perfectionists, afraid to try something new or afraid to fail? Do they make excuses for performing poorly with cop-outs like "I'm just not good at math." If so, they need a dose of GROWTH MINDSET. Learn how to celebrate victories, no matter how small, and build a sense of persistence into your kids with positive self-talk and a focus on the pro...

Learn how to make games, play, and fun part of your homeschool with special guest Jessica Waldock from The Waldock Way . Jessica has a special game plan (get it?) where she chooses one academic subject each day to learn through games. If a week goes by when they haven't used games, then they have a full day of games! Gameschooling can be board and card games, but it can also be play in genera...

Burnout in homeschool is very common and it's almost inevitable if we're not intentional. Sadly, burnout is often our own fault! Learn the signs of homeschool burnout. (Do you have it?) And then find out the ways to resolve or hopefully avoid it. ★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at bookshark.com. Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curricu...

One of the most difficult decisions a homeschooler makes is which curriculum to use. For the most part, your choice will carry you through an entire school year, so you want your curriculum pretty close to being the perfect fit. You can always tweak a program to suit you though. It's a lot like buying a formal dress. You may expect to make small alterations to the fit to make is suit your body bet...

Little kids are cute, but they are also a ton of work! And that's why homeschooling tweens and teens (even with all the emotions, insecurities, and headphone isolation) is so rewarding! You get to shift in your role and see them blossom in independence. Parenting and homeschooling gets better every year! Tune in to hear what you have to look forward to in the tween/teen years. If you're alrea...

Most every homeschool parent has considered quitting from time to time. Homeschool is tough, and we have to find ways to stay motivated and keep things fresh for ourselves and for the kids. If the daily grind is getting you down, we want to help you process those feelings and recharge. This episode covers what to do when you are fed up with homeschooling and ready to throw in the towel from frustr...

Language arts is a huge chunk of your homeschool education, encompassing reading, literature, writing, vocabulary, spelling and even handwriting or typing. Avoid teaching these skills in isolation. Instead, use the natural approach to language arts by exploring these skills in context of great literature and meaningful writing assignments.  ★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to...

Every year needs its own reflection and its own decisions. Whether you are at the start of a new calendar year or a new school year, take stock of your homeschool experience with DeeDee and Ximena as your guides!  ★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at bookshark.com. Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samp...

Is your kid super smart, intense, and also a bit odd ... like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole? Your child may be gifted — the term defining a person with an IQ of 130 or above. Join guest Jen Vail as she tells her story of homeschooling when public school couldn't meet her son's needs.  ★★★ LISTENER COUPON CODE Request your coupon code to use on any purchase at bookshark.com. Tha...