10 Minutes to a Better Homeschool

In this episode of "Ten Minutes to a Better Homeschool," host Pam Barnhill and guest Denise Gaskins, veteran homeschool mom and author of a dozen playful math books like, Let's Play Math, How Families Can Learn Together and Enjoy It, and Math You Can Play delve into the world of homeschool math education. Denise shares five essential tips to transform math lessons without the need for a complete overhaul of the curriculum. 

The episode covers the vital role of fostering mathematical thinking and reasoning in children, rather than solely focusing on right answers. Denise emphasizes the importance of shifting the goal of math education from achieving correct answers to encouraging children to think critically about math concepts.

If you’re seeking actionable advice to enhance your child's math learning experience at home, then tune in for this informational and empowering episode. 

Key Takeaways:

• Focus on the thinking process in math rather than just getting the right answers, to help children make sense of math and reduce frustration.
• Encourage children to think creatively and resourcefully about math problems, rather than telling them what to do, to engage their problem-solving skills and natural creativity.
• Utilize stories to build understanding in math, as they help children visualize and comprehend abstract number calculations, making math concepts more relatable and understandable.
• Empower parents to make decisions about math curriculum and resources, and emphasize the importance of exploring different areas of math based on children's interests and readiness, rather than feeling constrained by a linear progression.
• Emphasize the use of math games to engage children in practicing and applying math skills, promoting strategic thinking rather than just rote memorization, to make math enjoyable and enhance learning.

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to https://pambarnhill.com/how-to-transform-math-lessons-without-changing-your-curriculum-with-denise-gaskins/

To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

In this episode of "Ten Minutes to a Better Homeschool," Pam Barnhill welcomes Durenda Wilson, a seasoned homeschooler and author of the book, "Raising Boys to Men." The conversation revolves around the unique aspects of homeschooling boys, advice for moms navigating the challenges, and the importance of an unhurried approach to learning. Durenda shares insights into the differences between educating boys and girls, emphasizing the need for more hands-on and active learning experiences for boys. She also highlights the significance of understanding and respecting the natural inclinations and developmental pace of boys, emphasizing an open and flexible approach.

The episode delves into the cultural messages surrounding masculinity and the challenges moms may encounter in setting boundaries and maintaining authority over their teen boys. Durenda's advice on maintaining respect and honor while allowing boys to take on responsibilities provides valuable insights for parents.

Listeners will find practical tips and strategies for homeschooling boys, addressing the societal influences impacting masculinity and the benefits of an unhurried approach to learning. Pam and Durenda's discussion offers an enlightening and informative resource for parents navigating the homeschooling journey of raising boys.

Key Takeaways

• Boys and girls have different learning styles and needs when it comes to education; understanding and accommodating these differences is crucial for effective homeschooling.
• Homeschooling boys often involves a more hands-on and physical approach, with the need for frequent breaks and an unhurried pace to accommodate their development.
• Boys tend to be more logic-oriented and may struggle with writing, requiring alternative methods such as narration and creative communication to cultivate their skills without causing stress.
• The societal narrative around gender and masculinity presents challenges for homeschooling moms, requiring a return to foundational principles and a biblical perspective to guide boys into healthy manhood.
• Dealing with boys in their preteen and teen years involves understanding their need for autonomy and providing them with responsibilities while maintaining authority and respect, with guidance and input from fathers being crucial.
• Taking an unhurried approach to homeschooling boys allows them to respond better to learning, fosters a love for learning, and dispels the misconception that starting early gives an advantage, as studies have shown the opposite to be true.
• The importance of recognizing and leveraging alternative methods of learning outside traditional approaches, including reading aloud, games, audiobooks, and podcasts, to engage boys effectively.

Links and Resources

• Night Zookeeper
• Durenda's website
• Simply Unhurried Podcast
• Raising Boys to Men
• The 4 Hour School Day
• The Unhurried Homeschooler
• Unhurried Grace for a Mom's Heart

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to

In this episode of "Ten Minutes to a Better Homeschool," guest host Dawn Garrett introduces an insightful excerpt from the Navigating High School Course. This excerpt features an interview with Dr. Kristin Moon, founder of kristenmoonscience.com, a former scientist who homeschools her children and shares with homeschool families her passion for teaching high school science. 

Dr. Moon discusses the importance of hands-on experiences in learning and she offers practical tips for parents who are considering teaching lab sciences to their high schoolers. Listeners will gain valuable information and resources for providing a quality science education at home, making this episode an essential listen for homeschooling parents seeking guidance on science education.

Key Takeaways:

• Lab sciences in high school provide a hands-on experience that helps students connect abstract concepts to real-world applications, making the material more understandable and memorable.
• Lab sciences also foster resilience, problem-solving skills, a sense of wonder, and the ability to handle experiments that don't work as expected.
• While outsourcing lab sciences to science educators is an option, there are also online resources and self-paced courses available for parents who choose to teach lab sciences at home.
• Dr. Kristin Moon offers self-paced high school biology and chemistry courses, designed to work with various science textbooks, providing resources and materials for conducting experiments at home.
• Parents can find Dr. Kristin Moon at Kristin Moon Science on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and can access her curriculum and valuable science teaching resources on her website at kristinmoonscience.com.

Links and Resources

• Night Zookeeper
• Navigating High School
• Dr Moon's Website
• Dr Moon's YouTube
• Home Science Tools

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to https://pambarnhill.com/tmbh89

To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

Mentioned in this episode:

Navigating High School

Go from anxiety about homeschooling the high school years to confidence you can prepare your teen for college, trade school, a career or any other opportunities life throws their way. Navigating High School is a guide to confident homeschooling! Get confident in your ability to plan for high school, meet your teen’s needs, and launch them successfully into whatever next step awaits them. Join now: https://pambarnhill.com/navigating/

Navigating High School

Welcome back to "Ten Minutes to a Better Homeschool." In this episode, host Pam Barnhill gives you a sneak peek of the upcoming course, "Navigating High School, A Guide to Confident Homeschooling." In this excerpt, Pam shares a candid conversation with guest speakers and homeschool moms Laney Homan, Dawn Garrett, and Heather Tully. 

Homeschooling high school isn't merely about checking off boxes on an academic syllabus but it’s about nurturing a well-rounded, capable individual ready to face the world beyond high school. As parents and educators, we must equip them not just with knowledge, but with confidence, resilience, and adaptability. Tune in for some practical advice and wisdom on how to prepare your high schoolers for success.

Key Takeaways:

• Recognize that it's okay not to teach everything. Parents can't prepare them for every possible scenario.
• It’s essential to focus on cultivating a well-rounded education.
• Shift the mindset from a checklist approach to understanding that knowledge is not just a collection of information but also includes life skills, communication abilities, and the capacity to adapt to new environments.
• Emphasize the importance of engaging in conversations and building relationships with high schoolers to understand their individual strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations, which can help guide their education.
• Advocate for a supportive approach that involves coaching high schoolers through practical experiences, allowing them to learn the skills needed for the next stage of their journey, whether it's college, work, or other endeavors.

Links and Resources:

• Night Zookeeper
• Navigating High School, A Guide to Confident Homeschooling
• Homeschool Better Together Portal

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to https://pambarnhill.com/tmbh#88

To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

Does the thought of homeschooling high school stop you in your tracks? Do you have concerns that it, “won’t be enough,” or, “how can I possibly plan all of this?” If so, you’re in the right place! In this episode of, "Ten Minutes to a Better Homeschool," host Pam Barnhill is talking about all things homeschooling through high school. 

From life skills, flexibility, and building a supportive community – there are so many great reasons to stick with homeschooling through high school. The high school years present a unique opportunity to not only witness but actively participate in your teen's growth and learning.

Whether you're seeking reassurance or advice on intimidating subjects and finding affordable high school options, this episode has you covered. Tune in for insightful discussion and helpful resources, including our brand new course called, Navigating High School. 

Key Takeaways:

• Homeschooling high school provides flexibility to customize your teen's education based on their interests, and future plans without sacrificing academic process.
• Homeschooling offers additional time, allowing teens to pursue internships, volunteer work, and dual enrollment opportunities without the constraints of a traditional school schedule.
• With a multitude of available resources, you're the facilitator of your child's education. 
• The homeschooling community is incredibly supportive to growing teens, offering diverse social activities and various groups for high school students.
• Homeschooling in high school is not only academic learning but also life preparation. Your child can work on life skills, such as, budgeting, cooking, time management.
• Embracing the journey of homeschooling through high school allows for learning and growth, not just for your teen, but also for you as a parent. 
• Parents don't have to have high school all figured out at the beginning.

Links and Resources

• Night Zookeeper
•  Mr. D Math
• IEW for high school
• Teens on Track
• Raising Lifelong Learners 
• Homeschool Better Together Portal

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to https://pambarnhill.com/tmbh87

To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

Join host Pam Barnhill and homeschooling mom Angela Britt in this episode as Angela reveals the transformative impact of embracing consistency in her homeschooling journey. From shifting her mindset to achieving accountability, Angela shares valuable insights and practical tips for finding balance and building trust with her children.

Tune in to gain inspiring perspectives and actionable strategies for enhancing your homeschooling experience through intentional consistency.

You won't want to miss Angela's journey and the powerful difference that consistency can make in your homeschool.

Key Takeaways

• Consistency in homeschooling is crucial for success, but it can be challenging to maintain, especially for large families with varying age groups.
• Homeschooling accountability and community support can significantly impact a parent's ability to stay consistent and dedicated to the homeschooling routine.
• The Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp focuses on prioritizing homeschooling as a job and committing to a minimum viable day, which helps instill consistency and build trust with children.
• Overcoming perfectionism and the urge for novel experiences can increase consistency and focus in homeschooling.
• Establishing consistent routines, such as prioritizing adequate sleep and setting reminders, can positively impact a parent's ability to stay consistent and disciplined in homeschooling.
• A consistent homeschooling routine diminishes the need for negotiation with children about whether school will happen each day, fostering a smoother, more productive learning environment.

Links and Resources

• Night Zookeeper
• Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp
• Meals on Autopilot
• Sleepytime Calculator

In this episode of "Ten Minutes to a Better Homeschool," host Pam Barnhill shares her struggle with homeschool consistency, revealing her journey from feelings of overwhelm to finding solutions. She candidly discusses her early challenges with perfectionism and its impact on her homeschool routine, offering relatable insights for parents facing similar struggles.

Listeners will gain valuable tips and mindset shifts that helped Pam overcome her consistency struggles, leading to positive changes in her homeschool experience. By addressing the impact of inconsistent homeschooling on her children's learning and attitudes, she offers practical strategies that have worked for her and hundreds of other homeschoolers.

Tune in to gain inspiration, practical advice, and the reassurance that you are not alone in your homeschool consistency journey. Join Pam in transforming your homeschool experience one tip at a time.

Key Takeaways:

• Many homeschooling parents have struggled with maintaining homeschooling consistency, feeling alone in their struggle. 
• Inconsistency in homeschooling can impact children's learning and hinder the identification of potential learning struggles or disabilities due to a lack of routine and consistent practice.
• Pam identified perfectionism as a significant factor contributing to her inconsistency, realizing her struggle was not rooted in laziness, but in her striving for perfection.
• Creating a routine and adding an accountability system was crucial in establishing better consistency and improved attitudes within her homeschool.
• By utilizing mindset shifts, tools, and strategies, Pam successfully overcame her struggle with consistency, ultimately leading her to help other homeschooling parents through the Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp.
• Pam encourages homeschooling parents struggling with consistency to seek support, emphasizing the presence of hundreds of others facing similar challenges and the benefits of joining an accountability group.

Links and Resources

• Night Zookeeper
• Homeschool Consistency Bootcamp

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/tmbh85.

To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

Host Pam Barnhill welcomes Ginny Yurich, the founder of 1000 Hours Outside, a global movement highlighting the transformational impact of outdoor play. Ginny shares her journey as a homeschooling mother of five, describing her challenges and initial struggles in parenting. She reveals how her pursuit of finding joy and tranquility led her to the concept of spending 1000 hours outside with her children, igniting a passion for the outdoors that has since resonated with families worldwide.

Ginny imparts invaluable insights into the benefits of nature-based play, underscoring its contribution to children's physical, emotional, and cognitive development. She emphasizes the importance of providing unstructured outdoor time for children, fostering resilience, creativity, risk-taking, and emotional and social skills. Ginny also discusses the value of balancing the allure of screen time with the enriching experiences of real-life interactions and hands-on activities.

Find out more about shares Ginny's practical resources, including her book Until the Streetlights Come On, an app for tracking outdoor time, and the "1000 Hours Outside" podcast. She encourages families to consider the movement's approach as a foundation for homeschooling, offering flexibility in adjusting outdoor time based on different seasons and individual family dynamics.

This episode delivers insightful perspectives on promoting a lifestyle that unites families and nature, offering encouraging and practical strategies for enhancing the homeschooling experience through intentional outdoor play.

Links and Resources From Today’s Show

• The Night Zookeeper
• 1000 Hours Outside
• 1000 Hours Outside- Activities to Match Screen Time with Green Time
• My 1000 Hours Outside Journey
• 1000 Hours Outdoors
• iGen by Jean Twenge

Key Takeaways:

• Spending time outside can benefit both parents and kids, and it's okay to aim for 1000 hours outside, but the ultimate goal is to enjoy the benefits of outdoor time. 
• The 1000 Hours Outside movement is about reclaiming childhood and focuses on allowing kids to play freely outside to support their overall development. 
• The movement doesn't restrict activities to the outdoors and aims to create a balance between outdoor play and screen time in children's lives. The benefits of outdoor play include children's physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development, as well as promoting resilience, risk-taking, and creativity. 
• Parents can use the free tracker sheets to model balance in life and encourage their kids to fill their time with activities they enjoy before turning to screens. The movement is flexible and acknowledges that it's okay even if families don't reach 1000 hours, as any intentional outdoor time is beneficial. 
• Setting aside structured activities and leaving behind the stress of mess inside the house can create a more present and joyous experience for parents and children.
• Ginny's book, Until the Streetlights Come On, emphasizes preparing children for the rapidly changing world by allowing for unstructured play and downtime. 

For full show notes and a...

Today's episode is all about preparing for those unexpected, challenging days. Having those not-so-perfect days is a normal part of homeschooling; we all have them. The question is how can we prepare for them? We'll discuss practical, easy-to-implement strategies like engaging educational videos and creative strewing techniques to keep learning on track, even when the day doesn't go as planned. 

Discover how to make the most of challenging days by turning them into opportunities for adaptable, stress-free learning. Join us as we share insights and tips to help you stay prepared and maintain a positive homeschool environment, no matter what the day brings."

Key Takeaways:

• Expect and Accept Bad Days: Understand that bad days are a normal part of homeschooling and come with the territory.
• Have a Plan: Keep a 'Bad Day Plan' with activities that are low-effort but still educational, to help navigate through tough days.
• Use Strewing: Implement the strategy of 'strewing', which involves laying out interesting educational materials to encourage self-guided learning.
• Involving Older Children in Teaching: Leverage the help of older children in teaching younger ones, which can benefit both age groups.
• Be Flexible and Adapt: Flexibility is critical; be ready to adapt your plans and expectations based on the day's circumstances.

Links and Resources:

• Night Zookeeper
• Wonder Kids Club
• Wonder World Podcast
• Wild Kratts
• Magic School Bus
• Winnie-the-Pooh Audiobook
• Snap Circuits
• Spirographs
• DK Mysteries of the Universe
• Human Body Encyclopedia

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/tmbh83

To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

We are so excited about this coming year!

In 2024, we will help you solve the lack of motivation, interest, and effectiveness in your homeschool. We know you struggle with these areas (because we have too).

And instead of just helping you feel like a better homeschool teacher, we will help you become a better homeschool teacher.

Confidence comes with improved ability, not just feeling like you're doing enough.

Today, we are opening the doors to Elevate All Access. This year-long program includes the tools and support you need to become the teacher your kids deserve.

The one that will help them learn.

Elevate All Access includes the programs that will help you succeed in your homeschool all year. It includes:

• Ten monthly masterclasses exploring how students learn, how kids can be motivated, and how you can be a more effective homeschool teacher. We'll be using Why Don't Students Like School as our guide. Each class will have a discussion, an extension of the material, and actionable steps and challenges to help you make an immediate difference in your homeschool.
• The spring and fall sessions of the Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp will help you build the consistency muscle that will revolutionize your homeschool.
• Access to our monthly (weekly in the summer) Finisher's Club so you can be in regular contact with mentors to help you troubleshoot issues with planning, curriculum choice, lessons, and more. These sessions allow you to regularly carve out time to work on your homeschool so homeschool tasks don't get lost.
• Our All-Day and Half-Day planning sessions so you can start each semester prepared for whatever life throws at you.

The program's value is $400, but we are pricing it at only $190. And if you buy it before December 31, you can get it for only $165. (A payment plan is available.)

For about the price of a takeout pizza each month, you get homeschooling support and actionable coaching all year.

Sign up by December 31 and use the code ELEVATE24 for $25 off! Doors close on January 5.