It's Not That Hard to Homeschool

Can you homeschool a subject you don't understand yourself? Chemistry, algebra, Latin... the subjects that make you want to hide under the kitchen table? Good news: you don't have to be the expert. You have to be the GUIDE, and the Fourfold Method is a guide's toolkit. In this episode, we show how to teach confidently, even when you're learning right alongside your kids. In this episode: Why not k...

Is your child's arguing a problem you need to shut down? Not always. In this episode, Lisa Nehring and Gina Steffy show you how to turn arguing into THINKING. You'll give it a home in the  Test step of the Fourfold Method and a structure with the 5 Common Topics . That kid who argues about everything might just be a future debater, writer, or leader in the making. In this episode: The difference b...

"Why do I HAVE to learn this?" If you've heard that at your kitchen table (maybe today!), this episode is for you. It's actually a good question, and the answer lives in the step most curricula skip: Connect . When kids see how a lesson ties to their lives, other subjects, and the bigger story, the frustration turns into real interest, and the learning actually sticks. In this episode: What "why d...

Behind in your homeschool and lying awake doing the math on how many lessons are left? Before you add Saturday school or double lessons, ask one simple question: behind WHAT? In this snack episode (10 minutes, one question), Lisa and Gina take the pressure off the families who feel behind. They share four practical ways to catch up without burning out. August mom planned 180 perfect days. March mo...

How do you KNOW your homeschooler actually learned it, without giving test after test? Every Fourfold entry ends with a small test that doesn't feel like one. Even better, it leaves real evidence behind that you can hand to an evaluator, a co-op teacher, or a skeptical grandparent. In this episode, Lisa and Gina talk about simple, low-stress ways to check for understanding, when traditional tests...

Do you REALLY need a separate curriculum for every subject? For math, phonics, and a foreign language, probably yes. For almost everything else, one simple method can carry the load, and it works with the books you already own. In this episode, Lisa Nehring and Gina Steffy break down which subjects truly need their own program and how the Fourfold Method can simplify the rest of your homeschool. L...

Your child reads the chapter, nods along, and a week later remembers almost nothing. Sound familiar? That's not a character flaw. It's how memory works for ALL of us. The fix is the last step of the Fourfold Method: Commit . Say it in your own words, without looking. In this episode, Lisa Nehring and Gina Steffy dig into why reading alone doesn't stick and share simple, practical ways to help your...

Gina and Lisa homeschooled nine kids between them, and neither one kept four plans going for long. Here's how one lesson can work for every child at the table. Subscribe for more content every week! In this episode What layered learning is, and why it gives you your evenings back How each of the four Fourfold steps stretches from a six-year-old to a fifteen-year-old Which subjects can be family su...

Does your student freeze up when asked to write, discuss, or explain what they've learned? The 5 Common Topics are simple, powerful classical teaching tools that help students quickly recognize  what they already know , make connections across subjects, and get further than they ever thought possible! Lisa and Gina Steffy from NTH explain how the 5 Common Topics work and how to use them in your ho...

How to homeschool elementary kids, from someone who's done it for 30+ years! If you're wondering where to start with homeschooling K–5th grade, this beginner's guide walks you through the essentials. Veteran homeschool mom Lisa shares practical advice, what to expect at each developmental stage, and real-life examples to help you build a strong, confident foundation for your child's early educatio...

Nick Freitas joins Lisa for a powerful conversation about homeschooling and what it really means to raise kids in freedom. They talk about why parental choice in education matters now more than ever, how homeschooling connects to the bigger picture of personal liberty, and the practical wisdom Nick has picked up along the way. Whether you're homeschooling already or just curious about the movement...

Can faith and neuroscience actually rewire your brain for better learning and mental health? Dr. Timothy Jennings says yes — and the science will surprise you. On this episode of It's Not That Hard to Homeschool, Lisa sits down with Dr. Timothy Jennings — board-certified neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and bestselling author of The God-Shaped Brain and The God-Shaped Heart — to unpack how the brain'...

New federal caps on student loan borrowing could change how families pay for high-cost professional degrees. This episode breaks down what the caps mean for kids pursuing medicine, law, nursing, and aviation—and what funding options can help fill the gap. 📚 Episode Resources True North Academy  – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families. Not That Hard To Homeschool:  E...

Gen Z has been called the loneliest generation — and it's not hard to see why. Between the rise of AI, social media, economic crisis, and the lasting effects of COVID-19, so many young people are facing real isolation and struggling mental health. In this week's podcast, Hannah and Lisa Nehring tackle some of the hardest conversations parents are facing—from suicide and identity to college, purpos...

AI isn't coming—it's already here, reshaping how kids learn, research, and think. But what does that mean for the homeschool family sitting at the kitchen table? In this episode, we cut through the hype and the fear to ask the real question: is AI a threat to independent learning, or the biggest opportunity homeschoolers have ever had? Join Lisa as she sits down with Nancy Manos. Nancy is a gradua...

🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Math anxiety is a real thing: from low-level to full adrenaline responses. But it isn't the end! We can truly become confident students of math. Mathematics shouldn't be something to fear; it can actually be an enjoyable experience. Join Lisa as she speaks with Nathan King from CTC Math about how math anxiety is a real thing and how we can overcome it. 📚 Episod...

🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) What actually happens behind the scenes when you ask an AI a question? In this episode, we're joined by science instructors Sunshyn Hummel and Melissa Grande from True North Homeschool Academy for a fascinating — and eye-opening — conversation about the infrastructure powering the AI revolution. We break down what an AI data center actually is, how it differs fr...

🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Join Lisa as she talks with Jonathan Brush, the founder of Be Unbound - an organization that gives a hybrid Christian education to highschoolers and recent grads to help prepare them for success after school. 📚 Episode Resources True North Academy  – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families. Dual Degree Program:  For students ready t...

🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Join Lisa and two homeschool veteran teachers as they discuss America and it's exceptional history. 📚 Episode Resources True North Academy  – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool families. Dual Degree Program:  For students ready to earn both a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree simultaneously. Not That Hard To Homeschool:  EVERY...

🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Most families aren't actually following an education plan — they're choosing classes one semester at a time and hoping it all works out. Then suddenly it's junior year… and everyone feels behind. In this episode, Lisa Nehring explains what an education pathway really is, why it matters more than ever in today's rapidly changing world, and how intentional plannin...

🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Parents everywhere are asking: Is college still worth the cost? Does prestige equal competence? Are degrees translating into real skills? What happens if 25% of colleges close in the next decade? In this episode, we break down the educational shift happening right now — and what smart homeschool families are doing instead. This is not fear-based. It's clarity-ba...

Episode Sponsors:  CTC Math 🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) As homeschool parents, we push our kids to be smart and successful, but is that a recipe to help them build confidence? Lisa breaks down this concept and explains how to help kids feel confident to take hold of their future.  📚 Episode Resources True North Academy  – Live online classes, advising, and resources for homeschool familie...

Episode Sponsors:  CTC Math 🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) Dual degrees are one of the smartest ways to give your child a major head start on college — and we have an incredible opportunity for you! Check out the dual degree link in the description. Join Lisa as she breaks down everything you need to know about dual enrollment and dual credit programs. Discover how these powerful pathways can...

Episode Sponsors:  CTC Math 🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) When homeschooling, it's easy as parents to pour all our energy into academics—but what about building a strong character? Join Lisa as she explores why nurturing a solid moral compass in our children is just as vital as math and reading.  📚 Episode Resources True North Academy  – Live online classes, advising, and resources for home...

Episode Sponsors:  CTC Math 🎧 Episode Description (Show Notes) As homeschooling parents, we all want to nourish our families with real, healthy food and raise kids who can cook. But let's be honest—getting great meals on the table (while also teaching our children kitchen skills) can feel overwhelming. Join host Lisa and special guest Katie Kimball (of Kids Cook Real Food) as they share practical...