Homeschool Made Easy

Every homeschool mom loves to talk curriculum. In this episode, I talk about my own curriculum and why I chose it for my 10-year-old twins. 

Here's what we get into:

• why I changed curriculum mid-year
• pros and cons of curriculum I have used
• descriptions of my curriculum
• how to know you need to change tools
• and more!

In this episode:

• All About Spelling, level 2
• Math-U-See Delta
• Math-U-See manipulatives
• Abeka grammar
• Tapestry of Grace
• Building Thinking Skills, level 2

Find me on Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Today's episode is all about an issue I'm facing right now: how to renew and refresh my homeschool-gone-frustrating. I've been thinking about this a lot and taking specific steps to change course and change my spirit. I hope some of these help you, too.

Here's what we get into:

• what are the symptoms we need a restart
• what are specific steps we can take to start over
• how do we know our refresh is successful
• what change we should see in our spirit and home
• what is homeschooling for mastery, really
• and more!

In this episode:

• SPED Homeschooling Support Group
• Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling

Find me on Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Over two decades and three homeschool books behind me, and I'm learning a whole new way of homeschooling:

Homeschooling struggling learners.

Just a couple months after Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling was released, my adopted twins both received diagnosis of a relatively rare behavioral/emotional issue as well as ADHD. 

Fun times.

It totally explained the frustrations that had been gradually mounting over the past couple of years. But it also pointed to a new hurdle: I needed to learn new parenting and homeschooling skills.

So when I met Peggy Ployhar at a conference for homeschool leaders, I was so relieved. At last, someone who understood and ministered right where I and so many of my friends are at: teaching struggling learners.

Peggy Ployhar, SPED Homeschool Founder & CEO, is a physicist turned home educator who left a lucrative career in the medical device industry to teach the struggling learners in her own home after her oldest son’s diagnosis with Asperger Syndrome.

Peggy founded SPED Homeschool in 2017, an organization that empowers families across the globe to homeschool children with specialized educational needs, and she also hosts the popular live broadcast and podcast, Empowering Homeschool Conversations, a weekly talk show where her guests address relevant issues related to homeschooling for unique learners.

Peggy helps us out with so many things:

• what do we mean by "struggling learner"
• what strategies help a struggling learner
• what kind of training do parents need
• what kind of curriculum works best
• how to incorporate therapy into homeschooling
• how to approach high school and adulthood
• and more!

In this episode:

• Empowered Homeschool Network

Peggy Ployhar Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube

I am such a suburban girl. An indoor suburban girl. I can't catch a ball, I don't know the names of any trees (pretty sure Christmas trees are called evergreens, but that's as much as I've got.). So definitely, I'm not teaching anything outside.

But now I will!

Rachel came on the show and changed my mind for good. Literally, for good.

Rachel Tidd is the author of the Wild Math curriculum and the Wild Reading curriculum. She is passionate about integrating the outdoors and natural materials in education. Prior to creating Wild Math curriculum, Rachel had extensive teaching experience as an elementary and special education teacher. She and her husband also homeschool their two adventurous boys outside of Ithaca, NY.

Here's what Rachel taught me:

• what are the proven benefits of learning outside
• why outdoor learning helps neurodiverse students and other unique situations
• what materials are needed to get started
• what homeschool styles are appropriate for outdoor learning
• how to integrate outdoor learning into an indoor lifestyle
• and more!

In this episode:

• large wooden yard dice
• small chalkboard
• plastic letters and numbers
• large chalk

Rachel Tidd Website | Facebook | Instagram 

"What is your interview about today, Mom?"

"I'm talking with my friend Amy Sloan about memory work in our homeschooling."

"Memory work?! Mom! You called me the wrong name three times just this morning!"

"This is why I need help."

My son may not believe it, but memory work is possible -- even for me! That's because Amy has a whole different perspective on it than do most people -- especially my son.

Amy Sloan and her husband John are 2nd-generation homeschoolers to 5 children from 6 to 16 years old. The Sloan family adventures together in NC where they pursue a restfully-classical education. If you hang out with Amy for any length of time you’ll quickly learn that she loves overflowing book stacks, giant mugs of coffee, beautiful memory work, and silly memes. At any moment she could break into song and dance from Hamilton, 90s country music, or Shakespeare. Amy writes at HumilityandDoxology.com and hosts the weekly “Homeschool Conversations” podcast.

I love what Amy has to say about memorizing. She reframed the concept and made this something beautiful and practical ... and even easy.

It is simple. Here's what she tells us:

• what is memory work, really
• what kinds of things we can memorize
• how we can do memory work with all ages
• how to easily incorporate it into just a few minutes a day
• and more!

In this episode:

• free memory printables
• Amy's playlists of Shakespeare shorts
• "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll
• "Death Be Not Proud" by John Donne
• my favorite book by Shel Silverstein

Humility and Doxology Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

How's your homeschool going?

No, really.

Probably not all perfect, right? Struggles, arguments, messes, stress, fatigue, confusion ... it can get pretty hairy.

We tend to think that the answer is a new curriculum, a new method, a new learning theory, a new gadget. But that's not really the case.

My friend Leslie Nunnery has been there. She knows the tough side of homeschooling -- and she knows success. She is passionate (yes, I used that word, but it really fits this case) about helping homeschool moms regain their focus and find joy.

Leslie is the homeschool mom of 4 children, 3 of which have already graduated and are pursuing God's plan for the rest of their lives. She is the cofounder of Teach Them Diligently and is the author of several books and classes including most notably Teach Them Diligently, Raising Children of Promise and Heart School, which helps homeschool families thrive by seeing homeschooling as a great tool for discipleship and good parenting. You can connect with Leslie at Teach Them Diligently events, through their podcast and blog, as well as through the free Teach Them Diligently app.

To meet Leslie is to love her. Seriously, I could look at her bubbly face all day. She always makes me smile.

And here's how she'll make you smile, too:

• what is a homeschool mission
• what is the difference between the reason you chose to homeschool and why you homeschool
• how to start off right
• how to fix a bad day
• what is the real reason behind homeschool struggles
• 2 people you need to help you now
• and more!

In this episode:

• Heart School
• Teach Them Diligently conventions
• contact me to talk

Teach Them Diligently Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

My daughter is being bullied. I never imagined that this would be an issue in my family -- we are homeschoolers, for crying out loud! But sure enough, just playing with her neighbor friends exposed her to pain and rejection. 

And I didn't recognize it.

I thought they were arguing. I thought the other girl "just isn't nice." I thought my daughter could just kill her with kindness. It took me months to realize we were dealing with something much bigger. Much more dangerous.

Bullying is everywhere: in our neighborhoods, in our co-ops, in our church classes.

In our families.

When I met Candice Dugger, I was so naïve. Why was she concerned with something that's a public school problem? Then she explained to me the prevalence. Then I knew I needed to share this with you.

Candice is the founder of Bullied, Broken, Redeemed and a nationally recognized anti-bullying expert, author, speaker and trainer. Candice and her team specialize in equipping leaders, parents and youth on all aspects of Gen Z Bullying. These life-changing programs use interactive activities and projects to motivate and empower effective anti-bullying warriors. Candice has been featured on NBC, CBN, FRC and is a recognized trainer for Fortune 100 companies.

Candice is one of the nicest people I have ever met. God keeps bringing us together in the neatest situations. And I'm so glad I can introduce her to you.

Here's what Candice knows you need to know:

• what is the difference between conflict and bullying
• what is the chance your student will be bullied
• what are the effects of bullying
• how to recognize bullying
• what to do if your child is the bully
• how to help your child who is being bullied
• what all of our children need to know about bullying
• and more!

In this episode:

• Candice's course on Gen Z Bullying

Candice Dugger Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

In today's episode, I get to answer some of my favorite homeschool questions. Why are they my favorite? Because they get to the heart of what we are doing: teaching our children while taking care of our needs as well as theirs.

Here's what we get into:

• why I hate the question "Is my child behind?"
• what to consider instead of academic achievement
• do we ever get time to ourselves
• what children learn from time alone
• what to think about children and screen time
• and more!

In this episode:

• Summer of the Monkeys
• Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling

Find me on Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

There is nothing quite like living with your child 24/7. Am I right? In fact, one of the main reasons people give for not homeschooling is "I don't want to be in the same house with my child all day" or "I can't handle my child, but the teacher can." 

I have often said that homeschooling is just parenting on steroids. And part of that "steroid" part is seeing the actions and attitudes of our child that just, quite frankly, drive us insane. They just don't do their work and chores immediately and sweetly every time we ask. And we don't see immediate changes in them as soon as we correct. Sometimes, quite frankly, we just don't know what to do with a difficult, er, parenting "opportunity."

That's why I wanted to talk with my friend and parenting expert Ginger Hubbard about how I could do better.

Ginger Hubbard, bestselling author of Don’t Make Me Count to Three, Wise Words for Moms, and I Can’t Believe You Just Said That, speaks at women’s events, parenting conferences and home school conventions across the country, and co-hosts the Parenting with Ginger Hubbard Podcast. Jesus saved and southern raised, Ginger and her husband, Ronnie, reside in Opelika, AL, where they enjoy working together from home.

What I love about Ginger is she doesn't just give some "when they do this, you do that, and everything is fixed" kind of answer. Instead, she helps us see the spiritual issue and practical ways to open our child to change.

Ginger gave a lot of good help:

• what is the real problem when my child whines and complains
• how to correct meaningfully
• what to do when I screw up
• three steps to correction
• and more!

In this episode:

• Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp
• Wise Words for Moms Chart
• Don't Make Me Count to Three
• FREE books How to Lead Your Child to Christ and How to Pray for Your Child (scroll down)

Ginger Hubbard Website | Facebook | Instagram 

One of the main reasons we homeschool is to pass on our faith to our children. But then why is teaching Bible so hard? It is, though. It's hard to fit into the schedule, to find the right program, to answer the right questions our children have. Sometimes, we just want to give up.

Danika Cooley understands. A homeschool mom of four, she has faced down teaching her children the Bible and found a way to make it real. And she believes that we can, indeed, teach our children the Scriptures -- even the hard parts. Even when we don't feel like it.

Danika Cooley is an award-winning children's author and Bible curriculum developer. Weekly, she encourages tens of thousands of parents to intentionally raise biblically literate children. Danika is a homeschool mother of four with a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Washington.

Danika Cooley’s book, Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible, will give you the tools and confidence to study the Bible as a family. It will help you identify and overcome your objections and fears, give you a crash course in what the Bible is all about and how to teach it, and provide the guidance you need to set up a family Bible study habit.

You will finish this book feeling encouraged and empowered to initiate and strengthen your child’s relationship with the Lord through His Word.

Danika and I talk about the hard things:

• how to find time to teach the Bible
• how much do we really have to prepare
• how to teach the really confusing parts
• how to keep our children engaged
• what to understand when our children seem to question our faith
• and more!

In this episode:

• New City Catechism
• Keys for Kids
• FREE Bible Study Toolkit
• Bible Road Trip
• Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible

Danika Cooley Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube | Twitter