The Happy Homeschooler Podcast

One of the very best things about homeschooling is the freedom it provides you. We've discussed homeschooling at the beach and on vacation before, but worldschooling blows it all out of the water. With worldschooling you can be a world traveler and still give your kids a world class education! Today, we sit down with our friend Amanda Coate to learn the ins and outs of worldschooling! SHOW NOTES:...

Today, we bring you an interview with homeschooling author and podcaster, Debra Bell! Debra uses her expertise in neuroscience to teach us all the benefits that homeschooling has for students. Listen and learn all about the neuroscience of homeschooling! SHOW NOTES: Visit our website at www.happyhomeschoolerpodcast.com If you have any questions or comments, please email us at  happyhomeschoolpod@g...

Homeschooling has never been more popular. With more and more families choosing homeschooling for their children's educational needs, it's more important than ever to know exactly how it works. The thing is, homeschooling is different in each state, with different rules and regulations that go with it. That's why today we're beginning a new series: Homeschooling Across America, starting with Texas...

When you make the decision to homeschool, you take on another job. With all the extra time you spend preparing and teaching lessons, it can sometimes be hard to find the time to figure out what to eat every day. Meal planning takes the stress out of your meals. With a little prep and a little forethought, dinner can end up being the easiest item on your to-do list. Today, Holly and Jennifer discus...

The Waldorf Method is a time-honored educational philosophy that focuses on developing students' intellectual, artistic, and practical skills. While Waldorf is often seen in the context of private schools, the freedom of homeschooling allows you to choose any educational philosophy you desire. Today, we sit down with our longtime friend (and longtime Waldorf homeschooler) Alison, to learn all abou...

Science is one of the most enjoyable subjects you can learn at home, and there's so many ways to teach science that put the subject right in the hands of your students. Today, we discuss how our different educational philosophies informed how we taught science and reminisce about our favorite science projects and experiments! And be sure to stay to the end, when we discuss a big homeschooling news...

Youth civic organizations like scouting can be a great opportunity to foster your child’s independence while bolstering their education. But where do you start? How do you find the right organization for your child? And are there any downsides? We answer all these questions and more today, so join us and learn all about youth civic organizations! SHOW NOTES: If you have any questions or comments,...

Back to school can be a stressful time, even for homeschoolers! But with the homeschooling boom still going strong, there’s lots of new homeschooling families that are getting back to school in a whole new way. So today, we’re discussing back to school in two parts. First, we talk about back to school for new homeschoolers. We discuss tips to allow it to go smoothly, and we speak frankly about wha...

Dyslexia is a disability, even if you can’t see it. As a learning disability, homeschooling parents want to be on the lookout for dyslexia and need to know how they can best support their dyslexic children. Today, we welcome Stephen Yearout of the Empower Dyslexia podcast to discuss his experience with his dyslexia, what the early warning signs are, and what you can do as a parent to help your chi...

Independence is the most important skill a parent can teach their child, but for homeschoolers it can be a bit harder. We’re always with our kids anyway, so it can be hard to loosen our grip and let them alone for a while, but with a few sensible precautions and a healthy dose of trust, it can be an immensely rewarding experience for parent and child alike. Today, we discuss the reasons for being...

Homeschooling at the beach can make summer learning fun! With a variety of different experiences and things to see and do at the beach, you’ll have no trouble making sure that the learning opportunities don’t end, even when it’s summertime. There are so many things to learn about at the beach. Weather, tides, engineering, fishing, wildlife, ecosystems, the list goes on and on. Today, we discuss al...

Enrichment academies are a great resource for any homeschooling family. Whether you choose one to ensure a complex subject is taught with expertise or because you need to make time to work, enrichment academies can supplement your child’s education immensely. Getting out of the house, interacting with other kids, and learning the expectations of a classroom setting will set your child up for succe...

Every homeschooling parent will wonder how to find money for college. It can be hard enough for parents of one child, but if you have multiple children, the costs can stack up. Thankfully, Brad Baldridge joins us today to help. Brad is a financial planner specializing in last minute college budgeting. With his help, you’ll be able to identify how to save money for college, when to start, and what...

The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is celebrating our 100th episode! Today we pour a few drinks and enjoy a wide-ranging conversation. Topics include: books we’ve been reading, looking back at previous episodes, how homeschooling has changed since 2020, our earliest memories, and more! SHOW NOTES: If you have any questions or comments, please email us at  happyhomeschoolpod@gmail.com Visit Transcript...

Homeschooling through hard times can be overwhelming, and many homeschooling parents are told they should put their children into public school. But there’s no need. The truth is when your family is facing hardship, homeschooling is your greatest advantage, because you can all face the hardships together. Today, we discuss the hard times we’ve gone through and how we continued our learning lifesty...

One of the best benefits of homeschooling is that you can tailor your pace to suit your student’s needs. But sometimes that makes it hard to know when to graduate your child. What are the signs beyond the academic that your child is ready to graduate? What needs to happen in advance? How can you best prepare your child for the adult world? All these questions and more in our discussion today. And...

Knowing when and how to get learning disability testing is crucial if you’ve noticed your child struggling in some areas. But how do you as a homeschooling parent navigate the complicated world of securing testing for your child? Today, we’re joined by learning disability testing advocate Jessamyn Putnam, who gives and all the ins and outs of learning disability testing, when and how to get it, an...

You took the final step in your decision to homeschool, but now you’re probably wondering what to do after pulling your child out of public school. You’ve made a big change and have endless possibilities in front of you. It can be more than a little overwhelming. Today, we discuss this really big question and offer advice and perspectives from our decades of homeschooling experience. From the impo...

Learning foreign languages can be an immensely enriching experience, exposing you and your student to new perspectives, cultures, and ideas, and can even help you to understand your native language better as well. While foreign language learning can be full of joy, it’s not without its challenges. Today, we discuss the joys we’ve had and the challenges we’ve faced while teaching foreign languages...

Nature is all around us, whether you live in the countryside or in a big city, and it’s important to spend time outside. As Charlotte Mason said, “One should not be indoors when one can rightly be out of doors.” Getting out into nature can soothe the mind and introduce new interests and ideas for child and parent alike. From sitting outside for lunch to big camping trips to national parks, there’s...

What is the Montessori Method? The Montessori Method is an educational method and philosophy that’s been revolutionizing the way children are taught for over 100 years. Starting from a young age and going all the way up to high school and beyond, the Montessori Method teaches students how to build their independence in ways that reach far beyond the classroom. Today, we’re speaking with Nichole Ga...

Getting your partner involved in your homeschooling takes stress off your mind and lets you relax. When you make the decision to homeschool your children, it’s great to have a partner who supports you. But once the schooling begins, the support doesn’t stop. Even if the bulk of the day-to-day academics falls on one parent more than the other, there are a myriad of ways your partner can help take t...

What is the Charlotte Mason Method? The Charlotte Mason method is a time-honored teaching method incorporating a rich variety of books, music, art, history, and just about anything you can think of. But the Charlotte Mason method is also a philosophy of teaching, stressing the importance of being outside, physical movement, and treating children as full people in their own right. Today, Jennifer a...

Field trip homeschooling is one of the most enriching and rewarding ways to live a learning lifestyle. From mini-trips to the grocery store to month-long vacations in another country, field trips can fit the size and shape of your homeschool. Can’t go anywhere? Our hosts share their favorite virtual fields trips, with all the fun and learning of going somewhere, but from the comfort of your own ho...

Today, we look back at 2022 in our own lives, and look forward to what we hope for 2023. From all of us who work on The Happy Homeschooler Podcast, thank you for listening to The Happy Homeschooler Podcast this year, we’ll see you in 2023. SHOW NOTES: If you have any questions or comments, please email us at happyhomeschoolpod@gmail.com Visit Transcript Maker and get your 14-day free trial! Like o...