make joy normal: cozy homeschooling

send us a text via Fan Mail! See part one for resources Contact On Instagram at @make.joy.normal   By email at makejoynormal@gmail.com Search podcast episodes by topic   www.bonnielandry.ca Shop my recommended resources Thanks for listening to Make Joy Normal Podcast! 

send us a text via Fan Mail! I interview John Paul Meenan, professor at Seat of Wisdom College in Ontario.  From a Catholic perspective, we explore the idea of Grace.  What is grace, responding to grace, how to increase out capacity for grace.  What is the role of grace in our lives, and what does that mean for parents.  He is fluent in St. Thomas, and we benefit as parents from the insight he bri...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Welcome to part two of my workshop, Homeschooling with JOY.  At the beginning of COVID, I made a video workshop that I have free, so that people could be supported through a difficult time.  I uploaded it to YouTube, and it will stay there for time immemorial.  I decided it would be good as an audio option as well, so for the next few  weeks, I’ll be putting the four s...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Christina and I dive into  the differences in -  brain and chemistry (and how that plays out) in raising and teaching - boys and girls.  We veer into sensitivity to readiness, and one of the worst things we can say to our kids.  2:13 - Differences based on research 11:19 - Experience of homeschooling boys and girls 21:19 - Being sensitive to readiness and  how to chall...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Dear listeners.  At the beginning of COVID, I made a video workshop that I have free, so that people could be supported through a difficult time.  I uploaded it to YouTube, and it will stay there for time immemorial.  I decided it would be good as an audio option as well, so for the next few  weeks, I’ll be putting the four segments up podcast episodes.  So that you do...

send us a text via Fan Mail! short, sweet and awesome Contact On Instagram at @make.joy.normal   By email at makejoynormal@gmail.com Search podcast episodes by topic   www.bonnielandry.ca Shop my recommended resources Thanks for listening to Make Joy Normal Podcast! 

send us a text via Fan Mail! I know it's a long title, but I really wanted you to get the picture.  My guest, Cheri Blomquist is the author of Before Austen Comes Aesop: The Children’s Great Books and How to Experience Them.  We discuss the why of literature, and specifically children's literature.  Cheri explains how we can best use her book and the value in our understanding of reading...

send us a text via Fan Mail! My guest co-host, Christina Jaloway,  and myself  wrestle some big questions today.  Christina Jaloway joins me for the next few episodes as a guest co-host while Elizabeth is preoccupied with other things!  Christina is just starting her homeschool journey and she asks some of the big questions.  We address the question of “when should I begin homeschooling” ~ it’s a...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Such a beautiful interview with Maureen Wittmann.  Co-founder of Homeschool Connections and veteran homeschool mom, Maureen has encountered several learning challenges with her own children.  We spend time just talking about living with and accepting what is about they way our children learn.  Maureen covers dyslexia, autism, speech impediment and “drama-diva-itis.” Ma...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Well if this isn't a podcasting career highlight for me.  Joseph Pearce is a beloved writer in the Catholic sphere and beyond, his particular area of passion is literature.  Our listener's benefit not only from his knowledge and love of Shakespeare, but his insights into suffering, the blessings of  home education and our life as the primary educators of our...

send us a text via Fan Mail! A fun, rousing and thought provoking episode!  I chat with two moms from the UK, Bo, a pioneer home educator, and Zoe, a covid-induced newbie about the climate of home education in the UK and their own experiences.   But our conversations leads so many good places.  What is education…how do we deal with judgement, the effect that homeschooling has on women, and some po...

send us a text via Fan Mail! With our guest, Crystal Campbell, we discuss the nature of classical education.  There are often misunderstandings of what a classical education means, and how we approach this.  Classical education is a means of helping a human to flourish, and not a series of subjects or even the honing the human faculties or skills.   8:40 - A definition of classical education    24...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Well, I can remember thinking, what do I do all day with this small person?  We talk about developing a routine with our littles ones as we move into homeschooling life.  We also talk about getting kids to help out as part of that framework.  We touch on getting distracted with our phones, and what to do when your child wants to “do it his way.” 2:48 - What do we do al...

send us a text via Fan Mail! The resources we mention are here in this blog post. Oh, one of my favourite topics.  Prepping for our homeschool year.   Prepare our supplies and our curriculum ~ but mostly our hearts.   Yes, for sure there are some practical tidbits, where I actually say out loud to our listeners that hinged pencil boxes are life changing.   We discuss snacks at length.  I’m not sur...

send us a text via Fan Mail! We actually answer several questions today, but the one the episode is named after is where we spend most of our time...and such a fundamental question.   What is the difference?  Here are some more thoughts on that. But the other questions we spend some time on are:   How do we become good leaders in our home? What if our husbands aren't on board with this type o...

send us a text via Fan Mail! All the resources I recommend are in this blog post, linking to my YouTube workshop.  Most things are linked directly to the source.  They are NOT affiliate links....in case you're wondering.   There is also a list of ideas you can talk about with your kids as you learn how to make reading into the curriculum.  0:49 - Feedback from a listener 3:30 - The Door in th...

send us a text via Fan Mail! In this episode, we talk with Phillip Campbell again, author of the The Story of Civilization series.  We discuss the importance and purpose of studying history and what grabs our attention about it.  How to get our kids to love it! We also talk about historical accuracy in books and movies, propaganda throughout history and how we use the symbols of history in our eve...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Some  thoughts about homeschooling high school.  This talk was given at the Canadian Online Homeschool Conference in February, and I'm chatting about the things I learned about high school.  Some resources are included here, so enjoy! 1:48 - The importance of our attitude towards our teenagers 4:40 - The goal is keeping your relationship intact 8:51 - Practical th...

send us a text via Fan Mail!  Christina Jaloway joins me co-hosting this episode where we interview Dr. Deborah MacNamara.  A wealth of knowledge and passion, Deborah MacNamara has beautiful and sensitive insights into the hearts of our children.    We discuss her work and her book, Rest, Play, Grow: making sense of preschoolers (or anyone who acts like one) .  Deborah walks us gently, graciously...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Elizabeth and I talk about the end of the school year.  What to finish, what to put on hold...what to forgo!  We have a lot of good conversation about what "done" actually means and about what education actually is.  We also talk a little about the importance of keeping records, so I've included some resources from my website here in the show notes.  1:3...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Today we interview Maureen Wittmann and Walter Crawford, of Homeschool Connections.  I came across HSC three years ago, and my high schoolers have taken several courses through them, and have been blown away by the quality of courses and professors, the speed and efficiency of meeting the needs of my children and myself, and the commitment these delightful souls have t...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Today we interview the lovely Jena Love of Rooms Need Love…she’s organizing specialist who teaches women efficient homemaking and organizing systems. In 2019, she traded in her corporate spreadsheets to become a full-time homemaker and homeschooling mom while supporting women in their pursuit to create peaceful homes for themselves and their families. We get some insig...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Is it your dream?  It’s certainly the dream of many homeschool families…to pack up their homeschool life as they know it, move to the country and start farming.  I had the blessing of having our guest move just up  the road from me, and friendship was born. Her family farm is right here on Vancouver Island, so have a listen! Today we talk to Rachel, former city dweller...

send us a text via Fan Mail! Elizabeth and I chat today about some thoughts on meal strategies to make life sail a little smoother! 4:50 - How do you handle meals during pregnancy? 11:25 - How do you deal with everyone's different taste in food?  20:11 - Cheap and hearty go-to meals 26:41 - How to make mealtime easier  42:00 - Special meals and where to find recipes https://www.halfbakedharve...

send us a text via Fan Mail! ⚠️ Trigger warning:  In today's interview with Sarah, we talk about the challenges she's experienced, which include pregnancy loss, for those sensitive to this topic.   Sarah is an army wife...life has taken her on perhaps more adventures than she ever imagined possible.  Through challenges aplenty, Sarah shares how she railed, found peace and continues to st...