Homeschool Made Easy

You may know that I am a homeschool graduate. I love talking with other homeschool grads about our shared experiences and our different opinions. Homeschool grads are such a diverse group now, and it's fun to get together. So for this episode, I talk with homeschool graduate Christina Somerville.

Christina Somerville was homeschooled from Grades 1-12 and has a B.A. in Literature from Patrick Henry College. She spent ten years in high school and college theater, ten years in curriculum development (designing Jr. High and High School literature class plans for Tapestry of Grace), and twelve years in teaching. Christina teaches history, literature, writing, and the Bible as Literature for online academies (most recently The Potter’s School and Y2 Academy for SAT/ACT prep). She also tutors professionally in grammar, writing, vocabulary, history of all kinds, literature of all kinds, SAT and ACT preparation, and reading comprehension, to students across the spectrum from home schools, private schools, and public schools, in two different countries and from elementary to college level. She has edited several works for publication and is the author of two textbooks on literary analysis: Poetics and The Literary Toolbox.

This is a unique episode of the podcast because Christina and I discover some of our different perspectives on homeschooling and worldview. It was a really interesting and thoughtful conversation. I hope you enjoyed it!

In this episode, Christina tells us:

• the different experiences of homeschool grads
• the way homeschooling affects homeschool grads' perspective
• if homeschooling is the same or different across different social groups
• unintended affects of homeschooling
• the independent thinking (or not) of homeschoolers
• the "outside" viewpoint of homeschool grads
• homeschool grads and bitterness
• and more!

In this episode:

• Lampstand Press

Tapestry of Grace on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

You have questions. I have researched the answers. On today's episode, I answer more of your questions to help you homeschool confidently. All of this episode's questions are dealing with making homeschooling easier and simplifying the process.

I spent years researching and interviewing experts for the reference manual Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling. This book -- nearly 600 pages -- answers all your questions and gives you all the info to get started, keep going, and know if you're "doing it right." 

So in this episode, I answer questions you recently sent me. Keep them coming! I'm all about helping you out! You can even send me a question right here, and I'll answer you personally.

In this episode, I discuss:

• how to homeschool when you feel scattered
• how to customize your own homeschool
• steps to choosing a curriculum
• how to simplify your homeschooling
• my favorite homeschool tips
• easier lesson plans
• and more!

In this episode:

• Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling
• The interview on learning styles with Tyler Hogan
• Cathy Duffy reviews
• Moms of MasterBooks on Facebook
• Tapestry of Grace groups on Facebook
• Easy Peasy Homeschooling on Facebook

Me on Facebook | Instagram

When we think about Charlotte Mason homeschooling, we usually think about reading and nature studies and character development. But we don't usually think about Math. Curriculum author Angela O'Dell changes that.

Angela is a veteran homeschool mom, who loves to invest in the lives of homeschooling families. She is the author of the Math Lessons for a Living Education curriculum series, America’s Story 1-3, and The World’s Story 1-3, all of which are published through Master Books. She is also the creator of the popular podcast show, Real Cool History for Kids. Angela’s goal is to bring materials that teach and train hearts and minds to find the answers for our generation in the never changing truth of God and His Word.

Some things we discuss:

• Charlotte Mason's perspective
• what Charlotte Mason may be missing
• the Charlotte Mason advantage in math
• what to do when your child says "I can't do it"
• how to engage different parts of the child's brain
• how to do narration with math
• and more!

In this episode:

• Math Lessons for a Living Education
• Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling
• The interview in the Facebook Group by Hifalutin Homeschool

Angela on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

You have questions. I have researched the answers. On today's episode, we tackle some of your problems and find happy ways (I hope!) to keep on homeschooling.

I spent years researching and interviewing experts for the reference manual Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling. This book -- nearly 600 pages -- answers all your questions and gives you all the info to get started, keep going, and know if you're "doing it right." 

So in this episode, I answer questions you recently sent me. Keep them coming! I'm all about helping you out!

So I talk about lots of different things:

• ways to make learning interesting
• why shorten your homeschool days
• how to know what credits your high schooler needs
• what science your high schooler needs
• how to train your high school student to take ownership of her work
• how to know if your student is ready for high school
• and more!

In this episode:

• Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling
• The interview in the Facebook Group by Hifalutin Homeschool

Me on Facebook | Instagram

Homeschooling can be hard. It can be confusing. It can be overwhelming. But it doesn't need to be. We can find the information and encouragement we need to keep teaching our student the way we teach best for the way he learns best.

I spent years researching and interviewing experts for the reference manual Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling. This book -- nearly 600 pages -- answers all your questions and gives you all the info to get started, keep going, and know if you're "doing it right." 

So in this episode, I answer questions you submitted. I had so much fun seeing what you are thinking about and talking about how we can make homeschooling easier.

So I talk about lots of different things:

• how to get started homeschooling
• how to homeschool high school
• how to prepare for graduation
• are we doing too much or not enough
• how to homeschool with younger siblings
• can we afford to homeschool
• how to choose electives for high school
• and more!

In this episode:

• Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling

Me on Facebook | Instagram 

Once students start writing essays, they are writing them everywhere -- nearly every subject for years of their education. But how do we get them started right? How do we teach good essay form? How do we grade it?

Kim Kautzer, founder and creative director at WriteShop, is a veteran homeschooler, author, and conference speaker who loves to help parents feel more confident about teaching their struggling writers. The Kautzers make their home in Southern California where they homeschooled for 15 years. Kim's favorites include tea, travel, reading, gardening---and her nine grandkids!

Kim and I both love writing, obviously, so we enjoyed talking about it all:

• how writing is like swimming and other life skills
• steps for the writing process
• ways to simplify writing for students who get overwhelmed
• how to grow writing maturity
• the most important writing tip to teach your student
• and more!

In this episode:

• Kim's free writing prompts and writing helps
• WriteShop writing curriculum

WriteShop Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

Learning styles. Some people swear by them, others don’t believe in them. Is there anything useful in learning style models? What does the research really tell us?

Tyler Hogan is the President of Bright Ideas Press. He and his wife, Helen, are both homeschool graduates and now homeschool their five adorable children. Tyler is the author of North Star Geography and Demystifying Learning Styles, head cartographer of WonderMaps, and game designer of Civitas. He is an elder at Grace Church, where he also serves as Christian Education Coordinator. When not at home, he speaks and teaches about homeschooling, geography, the arts, worldview, entrepreneurship, and other topics. In his spare time, he loves reading good books, playing games with friends, drinking good tea, and enjoying the adventure of lifelong learning. He has a BA in theatre ministries from Belhaven University.

Tyler and I have a great conversation about learning styles:

• what exactly are learning styles
• what are different viewpoints on learning
• what are common myths about learning styles
• how to teach subjects that don’t come naturally to a child
• why some children should be taught outside their learning style
• and more!

In this episode:

• Tyler’s book Demystifying Learning Styles
• My book I read from Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling

Bright Ideas Press Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube

Should Christians teach math differently? What does it mean to teach math from a biblical perspective? This is a subject we don't often think about!

Katherine Loop Hannon is a homeschool graduate and the author of various resources, including Principles of Mathematics, a biblical worldview junior high math program (with Algebra 2 coming in 2020!) published by Master Books. Understanding the biblical worldview in math made a tremendous difference in her life, and she’s been researching, writing, and speaking on math, as well as other topics for over a decade now. Her heart is to point people to “seek the Lord, and His strength” (Psalm 104:4) in everything.

Katherine talks about what biblical math means:

• how this is different from simply using bible stories for story problems
• how understanding biblical math makes that subject an opportunity rather than a joy
• how to explain why there are letters in algebra
• how to teach math we don't understand
• how to help a child who hates math
• and more!

In this episode:

• Revealing Arithmetic
• Katherine's curriculum and resources
• FREE "Numbers Everywhere" story and math lesson

Katherine Loop Hannon Website | Facebook | YouTube

So many parents are confused about teaching writing. Is my child doing a good job? Is he just copying what he's seen me or other authors write? Is he getting any better? Today we find out.

Julie Bogart is the author of the book The Brave Learner and the founder and creator of the popular Brave Writer program. She homeschooled her five children who are now adults. She coaches home educators and parents in the Brave Learner Home community.

Julie talks about how our child learns writing naturally:

• how learning to write is like learning to speak
• whether we should worry about our child to "copy"
• how to move from speaking to writing
• what are the developmental stages in writing
• dangers of the grading rubric
• how to teach strong research skills
• and more!

In this episode:

• The Brave Learner
• Book lists

Julie Bogart Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Reading is one of the hardest (maybe the single hardest?) subjects to teach. We think. There's so much pressure to get it right and early and raise a child that loves reading all the time. 

But that's not the truth. Phonics and reading can be actually relaxed ... and fun. That's where Carrie Lindquist comes in. She's the author of the Foundations Phonics curriculum and an advocate for a beautifully relational way of learning. It is a real pleasure to talk with her about how to teach reading wisely to our children.

Carrie eases our mind and helps us teach this easily with:

• when should we begin teaching phonics
• how do I know my child is ready to read
• how to teach phonics and reading
• how to overcome reading issues
• how to help a child read fluently
• how to keep my student's attention
• how to know if my child needs help
• how to use other activities to boost reading ability
• and more!

Kristen Pratt is the author of the Language Lessons for a Living Education series. She is also the brand and curriculum manager for Master Books. Prior to working for Master Books, Kristen owned and operated her own curriculum supply company where she helped homeschool moms pick the right curriculum for their families. This experience has proven invaluable as she helps thousands of families navigate curriculum choices offered by Master Books. 

What was really interesting was our discussion about a modern Charlotte Mason education, how Mason might have taught if she lived right now.

I don't know about you, but I think geography is kinda' hard to teach. Maybe it's because I don't naturally think of pictures; I cannot remember a map no matter how hard I study it. I think in words, so I could memorize some facts about a place but have no idea where that stuff is.

So I invited Maggie Hogan to the show to see if she could help. And she did. Maggie Hogan is an author, homeschooling veteran, world traveler, and founder of Bright Ideas Press. For decades, she has encouraged families with her practical approach to geography, history, science, literature, family, and other topics. 

In this episode, Maggie helps us out a lot with some great tips:

• how to teach geography when you're map-challenged
• how to enjoy fun and interesting topics related to geography
• how to study your local geography
• how to adapt your geography studies to different learning styles
• hands-on activities for learning geography
• why geography is so, so important
• what is the time and place for a geography curriculum
• and more!

In this episode:

• North Star Geography
• FREE book: Real Scripture in Real Places: Ephesus

Today I'm talking to literally the busiest mom I know. She's my example of juggling it all with balance and joy. Homeschool mom of ten and a USA Today bestselling author, Tricia Goyer has published eighty books to date, written more than five hundred articles, and is on the blogging team at TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites. She is a two-time Carol Award winner and a Christy and ECPA Award Finalist and regularly receives starred reviews in the Romantic Times and Publishers Weekly. 

In this episode, Tricia gives great insight into working life:

• the impact on our children
• what to do when children are demanding attention
• how to entertain children while working
• how to schedule work
• time-saving tips
• how to take care of yourself
• the role of enjoyment
• and more!

Show notes and product links on the website here.

Michelle Nietert has served as a professional counselor supervisor and director of Community Counseling Associates for over a decade. A previous school crisis counselor, she has been providing therapeutic interventions to children and their families in counseling offices for over 20 years. Along with the CCA staff, she offers parent consults across the country and in Texas Telehealth counseling. Michelle can be found often speaking in school, church and clinical settings.

Links to products and show notes on the blog here.

Dr. Kristin Moon is owner and instructor at Kristin Moon Science. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology followed by a PhD in Molecular Genetics, Dr. Moon worked briefly in research designing a viral  delivery system for therapies directing drug delivery for patients losing their sight due to macular degeneration.  It was during that time in the lab that she discovered her affinity for teaching. A full-time educator of over twenty years, Dr. Moon teaches and provides resources through her own website Science Simplified.

Get the free science course and show notes here.

A popular speaker and author, Dr. Lisle presents a rational defense of a literal Genesis, showing how science confirms the history recorded in the Bible. Dr. Lisle  obtained a Master’s degree and Ph.D. in astrophysics at the University of Colorado in Boulder. There, he used the SOHO spacecraft to analyze the surface of the sun, and made a number of interesting discoveries, including the detection of giant cell boundaries. Since then, Lisle has worked in full-time apologetics ministry. He wrote a number of planetarium shows for the Creation Museum, including the popular “Created Cosmos.” Dr. Lisle has authored a number of best-selling books on the topic of creation, including: Taking Back Astronomy, Stargazer’s Guide to the Night Sky, the Ultimate Proof of Creation, Discerning Truth, and Understanding Genesis.

Show notes, links to products, and how to follow Dr. Lisle on the website here.

Former special education teacher Shawna Wingert is now a homeschool special needs expert, author, and consultant. As the mother of two boys with various special needs, she knows from both professional and parental experience how to meet the unique needs of these students. In this episode, Shawna answers important questions on special needs including attention disorders, autism spectrum disorders, learning differences, and other diagnosis needing accommodations.

Show notes on the blog here.

Hifalutin Homeschooler herself shares about ...

• why it’s important not to take homeschooling too seriously
• what humor teaches our students
• how to regain a lost sense of humor
• why we need to know potty words
• what is the roll of humor in our society and our homes
• why homeschool stereotypes are actually good
• how we might accidentally squash our child’s interests
• why we need lots of reasons to homeschool

Show notes on the blog here.

Homeschool graduate and author of You Don't Really Hate Homeschooling, Adana shares what it is really like to be a homeschooled teen. With humor and insight, she talks about why teens struggle with making friends, getting a job, and even liking homeschooling in the first place. She also talks about getting ready for college and how parents can help their teens successfully launch into adulthood.

Show notes -- including a free book -- on the blog here.