In this engaging podcast episode, we sit down with two remarkable homeschooled students who have ventured into the world of authorship. Our guests discuss their captivating books, each with a unique and valuable perspective. The first student penned a book that weaves a delightful tale of time-traveling dogs imparting history lessons to her readers, while the second student authored a guide for high schoolers on navigating homeschooling without the stress and resentment. Their passion for learni...
Nov 07, 2023•50 min
Are you searching for a way to not just help your child behave, but internally manage emotions and navigate social situations? Then this discussion and the 5 keys covered in this episode are exactly what you have been searching for. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Anna-Lisa Mackey, CEO of Paths Program LLC and author of "The Social Emotional Classroom." Anna-Lisa shared with us about "5 Keys to Improve Student Behavior" Viewers like you funded similar episo...
Oct 31, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Does your child struggle with meltdowns, starting tasks, keeping things organized, or remembering where they put something? Then this conversation has what you need to build strategies specific to the needs of your child that will get to the root of these issues and build personalized executive functioning skills to improve behavior and learning. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Karen Haggard M. Ed, Barton certified literacy consulting specialist and owner o...
Oct 24, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Are you looking for ways to make teaching math easier on you and learning math easier for your student? Then this conversation is for you as we go beyond simple how-to methods to tips that address the underlying issues that make math difficult not only to teach but understand. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Dennis DiNoia M.A.Ed., founder of Mr. D Math and author, who holds an M.A. in Education from the University of South Florida and has been a Florida Sta...
Oct 17, 2023•59 min
Do you think you like your child to be more independent but you are unsure of how to get there? This conversation will walk you through 4 steps that are required for any student to develop learning independence with examples of how to tackle each one. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Leroy Smith, Founder & CEO of Realized Solutions. Leroy shared with us on how to "How to Put Your Child in Charge of Learning" Viewers like you funded similar episodes, and ...
Oct 10, 2023•1 hr 11 min
Are you looking for ways to stretch your family's learning boundaries, find new ways to challenge your children to think for themselves, or take advantage of the many freedoms that home education allows you to take in your teaching approach? Then this is the conversation for you! Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Rekha Magon, Co-Founder & Head of Student Experience at Boundless Life. Rekha shared with us on how to "Optimize Experiential and Child-Directed...
Oct 03, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Simple and effective ways to change your home teaching strategies that will help your unique learner are what we talked about this week on broadcast. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations will be Sarah Collins, OT, and founder of Homeschool OT. Sarah will share with us about "3 Things that Boost At-Home Learning" Viewers like you funded similar episodes, and other free resources from SPED Homeschool. To learn how you can support the nonprofit work of SPED Homeschool ...
Sep 26, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Have your student's struggles taken over the trajectory of your at-home learning to where you are more frustrated than motivated in helping your child learn? Change is possible and much easier than you would think. In this episode, we talk about the one thing that is leading to most of your frustration and how you can homeschool effectively without its influence. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Lindsay Leiviska, MAT, SNAM, ADHD Homeschool mom, blogger and a...
Sep 19, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Are you wondering what you can do to help your struggling student learn better at home? In this episode we talked about things you can do to pre-plan for successful homeschooling lessons, how best to start off your homeschooling year, ways you can create memories and traditions while encouraging your student as a person and as a learner, how to set goals and work towards them, and how to focus on the things that you will be thankful you focused on as you continue homeschooling and progress each ...
Sep 12, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Does home educating your children seem to steal your joy and you aren't sure there is any way to homeschool without sacrificing calm and peace in your life? Well, help is here and you CAN find peace and calm. You just have to know where to look. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Kristen LaValley, R.N., homeschool mom, Health & Wellness Coach, and Owner of Revive and Thrive Coaching for Moms. Kristen shared with us "The Secret to Finding Calm in Homeschool...
Sep 05, 2023•1 hr 2 min
This week Peggy Ployhar, SPED Homeschool Founder & CEO, retired homeschool mom of 19 years, your host at Empowering Homeschool Conversations, and expert home educating diverse learners answers community submitted questions on how to home educate a student with diverse learning needs. This episode covers the following topics: -How to encourage the love of learning in a child who doesn't want to learn -How to help disorganized children get more organized -Scheduling that works for both you and...
Aug 29, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Sonya Shafer. Sonya Shafer is a popular homeschool speaker and writer, specializing in the Charlotte Mason Method. She has been on an adventure for over 20 years studying, researching, practicing, and teaching Charlotte’s gentle and effective methods of education. Sonya has a special place in her heart for homeschooling parents with special needs children. Her youngest daughter has autism and pervasive developmental delays. N...
Aug 22, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Learn about the Online Spanish Classes with Elizabeth Kouma in this short bonus podcast of Empowering Homeschool Conversations. in this bonus podcast interview between Peggy Ployhar, host of Empowering Homeschool Conversation/SPED Homeschool Founder & CEO, and Elizabeth Kouma, Owner of Online Spanish Classes with Elizabeth Kouma as they talk about the highlights of these live interactive Spanish classes for anyone ages 4 and up. Using the TPRS method, Spanish is used as a means to facilitate...
Aug 17, 2023•20 min
Homeschooling a struggling learner is hard, and it takes a lot of perseverance to stay the course, especially through the hard days when you feel like throwing in the towel. If you need some wisdom and practical advice on how to keep homeschooling so you can finish well, then this episode is for you. Annie Yorty joined us on Empowering Homeschool Conversations this week as our special guest. She's a wife, mother, special needs homeschooler, writer, and speaker. Annie shared with us about "All In...
Aug 15, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Home educating during difficult life circumstances can feel lonely and impossible to navigate. We understand these challenges at SPED Homeschool, that's why we focus one month of our broadcast each year for sharing homeschool veteran stories of hope and encouragement. This week's broadcast features a veteran homeschooler, Kerry Beck and her story on how she transformed education by defying the traditional education model. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Ker...
Aug 08, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Home educating during difficult life circumstances can feel lonely and impossible to navigate. We understand these challenges at SPED Homeschool, that's why we focus one month of our broadcast each year for sharing homeschool veteran stories of hope and encouragement. This week's broadcast features a veteran homeschooler, Karena Moss and her story on how she overcame her fears and embraced the amazing educational freedom she had in homeschooling her children. Our special guest this week on Empow...
Aug 01, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Home educating during difficult life circumstances can feel lonely and impossible to navigate. We understand these challenges at SPED Homeschool, that's why we focus one month of our broadcast each year for sharing homeschool veteran stories of hope and encouragement. This week's broadcast features a veteran homeschooler, Nichelle Nelson and her story on how she and her family homeschooled while grieving the loss of her oldest child and the lessons they learned through this journey. Our special ...
Jul 25, 2023•59 min
Home educating a child with life and learning challenges is difficult. We know that at SPED Homeschool, and that is why we focus one month of our broadcast each year for sharing homeschool veteran stories of hope and encouragement. This week's broadcast features a veteran homeschooler, Lisa Walls and her story on how she homeschooled and nurtured her son with autism towards greater independence. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Lisa Walls, veteran homeschool...
Jul 18, 2023•59 min
Are you looking for ideas on how to modify, accommodate, simplify, or how to go about making science more hands-on in your at home learning environment? This interview is packed with simple and practical ideas that any parent can apply to take homeschool science to the next level for students who learn differently. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Luke and Trisha Gilkerson, homeschool parents and founders of Journey Homeschool Academy. Luke and Trisha shared...
Jul 11, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Do you have a student who resists reading, is interested in everything besides reading, or who you are trying to teach with a classical or Charlotte Mason methodology with living books and wants nothing to do with learning? Help is here as our guest shares 40 different ways to help resistant readers develop the habit of reading. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Julia Nalle, BiblioPlan's curriculum designer & co-author. Julia shared with us why we "Don’t ...
Jul 04, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Does your student need some extra supports for learning, but you are not sure if you can make assistive technology work with the curriculum or homeschooling method you are using? This conversation will help you understand how technology supports can help struggling students simply and easily no matter what teaching approach you are using at home. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations will be Katie Larew, M. Ed., C-SLDI, ATP, CERI Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexi...
Jun 27, 2023•56 min
Are you wondering if you should get an official diagnosis for your homeschool student? Or maybe you just don't know if the testing is worth the investment of your time and energy. This episode will answer those questions and others that many homeschool parents ask when it comes to determining their student's need for testing. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Tasha Douglas, Educational Diagnostician and Owner/CEO of TOP Assessment & Consulting. Tasha shar...
Jun 20, 2023•1 hr
Do you struggle with figuring out how best to connect with, let alone teach, your nonverbal child? This conversation will give you insight and strategies on how you can tap into your child's natural communication pathways and start those connections easily and naturally. Our special guest this Wednesday on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Kate Wilde, author, speaker, autism thought leader, and co-creator of the ACT Protocol. Kate shared with us about how families can "Tap Communication Pa...
Jun 12, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Does teaching your nonverbal student continually have you looking for new resources because nothing seems to work or at least work for long? If so, don't lose hope. There are strategies that will work for teaching your student, but you first have to know how your child's brain is working in order to know how to apply them. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Stephanie Buckwalter, special needs homeschooling mom, curriculum developer, and the creator of the ELAR...
Jun 06, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Are communication barriers, behavior, or other hurdles impeding your ability to teach your nonverbal student at home? Then this conversation is for you! Learn from an experienced home educator who discovered some amazing ways to teach her own son at home when words didn't work with helping her son reach specific learning and life goals. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Martha Gabler, B.A., M.A., Autism Parent, TAGteach Faculty: Autism Parent Educator, Author...
May 30, 2023•1 hr 3 min
If you are homeschooling or considering homeschooling a child with an expressive language struggle, this conversation will give you the insight and strategies you need for successful instruction modification and ideas on effective assessment of student understanding. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Heather Anderson, creator of Nonverbal Autism Homeschool, former journalist, and full-time caregiver and homeschool teacher to her 12-year-old son. Heather share...
May 23, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Whether you have long term or short term planning goals in saving and planning towards college for your student, you will learn lots of extremely helpful strategies on how to stretch your budget and make the most of the hard earned money you invest in your child’s education. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Brad Baldridge, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™, College Funding Consultant, and chief podcaster at Taming the High Cost of College. Brad shared with us on...
May 16, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Unsure if a gap year is a wise choice for your student? Or maybe you are looking for ways to maximize this experience for your teen or use it as a tool for a more successful transition into adulthood. Either way, we packed this conversation with lots of ideas and brilliant advice for making the most out of a gap year. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Alana Kilmartin, Movement Starter / Former wannabe-doctor / Snowboarder / Fan girl of work. Alana shared on "...
May 09, 2023•55 min
Is your student interested in going to college, but you are unsure of how to help them navigate the process, especially as a diverse learner? Packed with great tips and insight, this conversation will help you and your student move confidently into this process. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Kate Stone, Founder of University Gurus. Kate shared with us on "College Admission Tips for Unique Learners" Similar episodes and other free resources from SPED Homes...
May 02, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Are you wondering how to go about preparing your student with an intellectual disability for life after high school? This conversation will help you think through all the transition planning and preparation for helping your student prepare emotionally, physically, and cognitively for these changes. Our special guest this week on Empowering Homeschool Conversations was Stephanie Buckwalter, special needs homeschooling mom, curriculum developer, and the creator of the ELARP™ Method. Stephanie shar...
Apr 25, 2023•1 hr 3 min
