The Homeschool Show with NCHE

In episode 228 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda talks with Sarah Collins of Homeschool OT about fostering independence, understanding executive functioning, and helping children develop the skills they need for everyday tasks. Sarah explains how occupational therapy can support homeschool families with challenges such as handwriting, sensory processing, time management, and completing tasks, with or...

In episode 226 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie discuss budgeting for homeschooling, including ways to reduce expenses, find free curriculum and educational resources, and plan for costs such as field trips, printing, and co-ops. They also consider how families can make homeschooling work within different budgets, involve children in financial decisions, and explore available homeschool...

In episode 225 of The Homeschool Show , Amanda talks with Aaron Mabe about Career and College Promise and the opportunities available to North Carolina homeschool students through dual enrollment. They discuss early college, career and technical education, college transfer, and the new Career and College Readiness pathway, along with ways families can connect with their local community college. Me...

What can life after high school look like when college is not the only option? In episode 224 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie talk about trades, apprenticeships, entering the workforce, entrepreneurship, military training, gap years, missions, and other ways students can explore their interests and prepare for the future. They also discuss job shadowing, volunteering, dual enrollment, t...

AI is becoming part of everyday life, including education and homeschooling. In episode 223 of The Homeschool Show, Jeff and Luke Ertzberger join Melanie to discuss how homeschool families can approach AI with discernment, understand what the technology can and cannot do, and use it as a tool without allowing it to replace thinking, learning, or human connection. The conversation also considers ho...

In episode 222 of The Homeschool Show , Melanie talks with author and former homeschool mom Kim Griffin about the challenges of homeschooling, advice for new homeschoolers, and the transition into life after homeschooling. They also consider what comes next when homeschooling has been such a significant part of family life, along with Kim’s transition into writing Christian fiction. Melanie and Am...

In this episode of The Homeschool Show, Andrew Pudewa joins Matthew McDill at Thrive! for a conversation about creativity, classical and Renaissance education, and the role of a child’s environment in learning. They discuss drawing from the ideas and work of those who came before us, the value of classics, and how good content can provide a foundation for creativity. The episode also considers hom...

In episode 220 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie continue their conversation about hormones and homeschooling with an interview featuring Mike Dixon, the Fit Farmer , recorded at Thrive! Mike shares a father’s perspective on helping children navigate the physical and emotional changes of adolescence, the role of fathers in homeschooling, supporting a wife through demanding seasons, and th...

Homeschooling can shift when hormones, fatigue, family needs, or unexpected challenges change the day. In episode 219 of The Homeschool Show, Jessica Frierson, a mother of ten and second-generation homeschool mom, shares what she has learned about recognizing those moments, pulling back when needed, and using flexibility to make room for relationships, character, and everyday life. The episode als...

In Episode 218 of The Homeschool Show, Melanie and Amanda begin the new season with a conversation about homeschooling through seasons of hormonal change. Amanda interviews Dana McDill about her experience homeschooling nine children while navigating postpartum changes, thyroid and adrenal issues, and perimenopause. Dana shares how she simplified homeschool during difficult seasons, gave herself g...

In episode 217 , Amanda and Melanie discuss how food can be a natural part of homeschooling, from geography and cooking to math, reading directions, and even chemistry. They also look ahead to Season 6 of The Homeschool Show , including topics for the whole family and the importance of communication within a homeschooling household. They also talk about NCHE activities and resources around North C...

In Episode 216 of The Homeschool Show, Michael Farris joins Matthew McDill for a conversation about parental rights, homeschooling freedom, and the challenges families may face as they make educational decisions. They discuss government funding, the importance of understanding and exercising parental rights, and why preserving the freedom to direct a child's education matters. The conversation...

In Episode 215 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda talks with Nikki Cooper ( specialneeds@nche.com )  about homeschooling children with special needs, offering practical encouragement for families who are just getting started or are looking for additional support. Their conversation covers common questions about IEPs, choosing curriculum, finding community, and giving yourself permission to adjust your...

Thinking about homeschooling for the first time? In episode 214 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie sit down with Stephen and Jean-Marie Lee to hear how their family came to homeschooling, why they chose to continue year after year, and how attending Thrive! helped shape their homeschool journey. They also discuss practical encouragement for families who are considering homeschooling and sh...

In this revisited episode of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie kick off Season 5 with the first installment of a series focused on homeschool dads. Through conversations with Matthew McDill and Tom Gurganus, they explore how fathers contribute to homeschooling in different seasons of family life, the importance of spiritual leadership, supporting a homeschooling spouse, and the lasting impac...

In episode 212 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie revisit some of the most common questions homeschool families ask, especially those finishing their first year or preparing to begin. They discuss annual testing requirements, when children need to be tested, options for standardized testing, and what families should know about filing a notice of intent in North Carolina. They also talk abo...

Amanda and Melanie talk about navigating hormones during the homeschool years, from puberty to perimenopause, and the ways emotional and physical changes can affect both parents and children. They share personal experiences, discuss the importance of communication and recognizing what may be happening beneath behavioral changes, and encourage families to approach these seasons with understanding a...

In Episode 210 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie answer common homeschool questions from parents navigating everything from early elementary struggles to high school graduation planning. They discuss feeling unprepared to homeschool, managing multiple children at different grade levels, homeschooling students with ADHD, and how to create a positive learning environment when both parent an...

In Episode 209 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie talk about social media etiquette and online safety as part of their Real World Readiness series. They share practical guidance for families on setting boundaries, teaching empathy, protecting personal information, and helping teens think carefully about what they post. They also emphasize the importance of parents leading by example and st...

Matthew talks with Juan Guadalupe about his family’s homeschool journey, the faith and sacrifice involved in choosing home education, and why homeschooling is more than school at home. Juan shares how his family began homeschooling while building a small business and how God provided along the way. Amanda and Melanie reflect on the importance of dads catching the vision for homeschooling as a life...

Amanda and Melanie talk with Karima Askour, co-founder of EZducate , about a new AI-driven platform designed to support students with special needs, particularly those on the autism spectrum. Drawing from her own experience as a parent, Karima shares how the platform uses visual tools, behavior plans, social stories, and personalized learning supports to help families address real challenges at ho...

In Episode 206 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda addresses recent concerns about DNPE activity and explains what it means for a homeschool to be marked inactive, along with the steps families can take to keep their school active and records accurate. She also clarifies the role of DNPE and how it differs from NCHE, helping families understand where to go for information and support. Amanda’s conversa...

In episode 205 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie talk about the everyday moments when meaningful conversations happen with our kids and how those connections grow over time. Amanda sits down with Christy Shipe of the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association (NCFCA) to learn how homeschool students can get involved in speech and debate, what participation looks like, and...

As spring approaches and routines shift, many homeschool families find themselves feeling stretched thin. In episode 204 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie talk honestly about burnout—what it looks like in daily life, how to recognize it, and small, practical ways to reset. From adjusting expectations to carving out moments of rest, they share encouragement for finishing the year with inte...

In episode 203 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda sits down with NCHE executive director Matthew McDill to talk about discipleship at home and what it looks like to move beyond behavior and academics toward helping children know and love Christ. Matthew shares how parents can encourage self-motivation, build meaningful relationships with their children, and approach parenting as an invitation rather t...