The Happy Homeschooler Podcast

Self-care during the holidays can be a challenge, especially for a homeschooling parent. Wrapping up a semester while attending holiday events, making time to shop for gifts, and cooking innumerable holiday treats and meals, can be tough. Stress seems inevitable, but it’s possible to make preparations to ensure your holiday celebrations are a time of comfort and joy, rather than exhaustion and str...

Homeschooling as an introvert can be overwhelming. Far from the quiet and ordered world preferred by an introvert, a learning lifestyle can be one of hustle and multiple balls in the air. Alyssa Wolff of the Unbusy Mom Podcast joins us on the podcast today to help. For years, she’s been giving introverted homeschooling parents the advice and tools they need to ensure a positive and productive home...

Many parents begin their homeschooling journey not having met any homeschool graduates. It can create apprehension, not knowing how your children will react to a different learning lifestyle than what might be considered the norm. But today we hear from five homeschool graduates as they tell us everything they loved about being homeschooled, what the advantages and disadvantages were, and how thei...

Extracurriculars are events and activities outside the lesson plan. Maybe for you it’s sports, music, or Scouts. Extracurriculars add much needed variety and spice to your learning lifestyle. In extracurriculars, your students can discover passions they never thought they’d have. In today’s episode, we discuss what extracurriculars are, why they’re important, and how they can get out of control. B...

Homeschooling on a budget is important, especially these days. With prices going up at the grocery store it can be hard to know where to cut spending, but a low-cost education does not mean a substandard one. World-class low-cost and no-cost homeschooling options abound, if only you know where to look. Today, we’ll be discussing why people find themselves looking for low-cost options, ideas on how...

Everyone can learn how to teach history. Much more than a just series of important dates to remember, history is the story of all the people of the world. Through history, you can discover new worlds and fascinating people, learning along with your students and building interests you never knew you had. Whether at home, on the road, or through the web, there’s history anywhere and everywhere. Toda...

Every homeschooler will parent a teen at some point, and understanding your teen better is crucial. Awash with new experiences, challenges, and feelings more intense than ever before, teens require new tactics for parents. Every experience they go through will affect the others. Academic difficulty can lead to emotional issues, or vice-versa. Understanding your teen better will allow you to be bet...

There are a lot of homeschooling resources out there, whether for the teacher or student. But homeschooling is a learning lifestyle, and you need more than just pencils and curricula to make sure your homeschool runs smoothly. That’s why today we’re sharing our favorite homeschooling resources. We’ve gathered our favorite resources for teachers, students, organization, home management, and our fav...

New homeschoolers can sometimes become overwhelmed with all the new duties a learning lifestyle entails. Having someone who knows what it’s like and how to get off to a good start can be a lifesaver. That’s why we’re interviewing Mary James today. She’s a long-time homeschooler (since 1989!) who founded a support group for new homeschoolers, and those who still feel a little new too. It’s called S...

Whether you’re still new, or you’re a seasoned homeschooler, there are always important questions to answer before starting the school year. Today, we’re asking Who, What, Where, When, and Why. By answering these five questions, you’ll be able to focus on building your school year, planning for ups and downs, and understanding your student better. Join us today while we discuss what each of the qu...

The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is turning 2, and we’re celebrating the occasion! On today’s episode, we’re chatting about our histories with the podcast, how it’s changed over the years, what we’ve learned by being part of it, and where we hope to see it go in the future. And as a special 2-year treat, we’ve got Matt Bass himself– founder of Transcript Maker and producer of The Happy Homeschooler...

If more traditional homeschooling doesn’t suit your life or your family, these alternative homeschooling styles might just be what you’ve been looking for! On today’s episode, your hosts discuss why one might need to switch up their style of homeschooling, how to recognize when you should, and which alternative homeschooling styles are best for you. And stay to the end when we answer a listener em...

Volunteering is a regular part of many homeschoolers lives, but if you haven’t yet made it a habit, you may be wondering where to start. In today’s episode, we discuss volunteering, how to find volunteering opportunities, challenges you may face, and all the rewards that can come from volunteering. And be sure to stay to the end of the episode to hear Holly, Jennifer, and Melody discuss their favo...

Reflecting on the past school year is so important as a home educator, but we often find ourselves too busy to think to do it. Even for homeschoolers who school year-round, May is a good time to take a moment, breathe deep, and look back at everything that worked and didn’t last year. In today’s episode, we discuss our own 2022-2023 school years, our triumphs and challenges, and we look forward to...

Family resistance to homeschooling can come in different ways. From simple misunderstandings to serious disagreements, from aunts and uncles to sometimes one’s own spouse. For those unfamiliar with homeschooling, it can seem strange or confusing. But you know you’ve made the right choice, living a learning lifestyle that grows your family closer together. So how to you respond when you meet family...

You don’t have to be Da Vinci or Picasso to know how to teach art! Many homeschoolers wonder how to teach art to their students, it can cause a lot of stress. But Holly, Melody, and Jennifer are here to tell you not to worry, teaching art can be one of the most fun and fulfilling subjects to explore! Join us as we discuss why it’s important to learn about art, how to combat teacher and student res...

We often see questions about homeschooling preschoolers. From what curriculum, if any, to use to what homeschooling groups are right, it can be a stressful experience before you even begin. That’s why in today’s episode, we’re helping you navigate your way through homeschooling preschoolers. We’ll discuss challenges you’ll face, mistakes to avoid, and even share what we did our own preschool stude...

What are unit studies? They may just be the most versatile educational method out there. By tying all your subjects into a common theme, you can streamline your schooldays and reinforce the lesson all day long. Today, Jennifer, Holly, and Melody discuss everything you need to know to start incorporating unit studies into your learning lifestyle. Discussion topics include: Why to choose unit studie...

When we think about college readiness, we tend to think about studying, extracurriculars, and exams, but there’s another side that’s crucial to preparing your kids not just for college, but for adulthood! Many college students find themselves needing to learn these skills on the fly, leading to distraction from their studies and unneeded stress. Making sure your children have the best footing poss...

Are you experiencing homeschooling burnout? You’re not alone! Every year around this time, homeschoolers all over start getting “yellow bus syndrome.” You might think to yourself, “There’s a yellow bus that stops at my corner, maybe we should try that.” We’re here to say don’t do it! Melody, Jennifer, and Holly have been homeschooling for a long time, and they know all the signs of burnout. But be...

Co-ops are a centerpiece of many home schools, and it’s never been a better time to join one! Or even create one…? Today we’re discussing all you need to know about co-ops. Topics range from why co-ops are great and how to choose the right one for your students, all the way to the nitty gritty of making a co-op of your own from the ground up. And be sure to stay to the end, when Jennifer and Holly...

Homeschool organization is crucial no matter what kind of homeschooler you are! Whether you’re homeschooling for one semester or for the rest of your life, Holly and Jennifer’s longtime homeschooling experience will set you right. Topics include keeping your house tidy, record keeping, homeschooling rooms, and more! Homeschool organization will be a cinch! And stay to the end of the episode, when...

The benefits of homeschooling are well known, whether it’s the freedom to choose your curricula, or teaching to proficiency rather than teaching for an exam. But there are a whole host of unexpected benefits too! They may not be why you chose to start homeschooling, but they’ve improved your lives immeasurably. Holly, Melody, and new co-host Jennifer discuss all the wonderful unexpected benefits t...

We’ve covered a lot of ground here at the Happy Homeschooler Podcast in 2021, and to celebrate the end of the year, we’re looking at all of our 2021 episodes. We’ll discuss each one, review them, and point out a few of our favorites. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite too! And be sure to listen to the end, when we give a sneak peek and some of our plans for 2022! If you have any homeschooling questi...

Music is all around us, on TV, in movies, everywhere we go. It’s so omnipresent, that we can sometimes forget to actively make space for it in our lives, and the lives of our children. In today’s episode, Holly and Melody discuss making music a part of your life, why it’s important, what benefits you can expect for your children, how to access music in different forms, and more! Listen to discover...