In our final regular episode of Homeschool Conversations Season 3, I’m joined by Adrienne Freas , another one of the lovely guest suggestions I received from Karen Glass. Adrienne has experience as a Classical Charlotte Mason homeschooling mom, and has also worked to implement these ideas in charter school programs. Our conversation touched on topics like the Trivium as curriculum and pedagogy, the role of picture study and nature study in developing contemplation, and the realities and challeng...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 21
Have you wondered about including Latin in your homeschool? We've had both highs and lows in our own family's experience studying Latin, so when Karen Glass recommended I speak with Angela Reed, I was eager to hear her perspective. Angela loves classics and Latin and that joy is evident! She also teaches Latin classes designed especially for Charlotte Mason homeschoolers. Regardless of your educational philosophy (and even regardless of your interest in Latin), I know you will be encouraged by o...
May 17, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 20
The statistics are sobering. About one in four women and one in six men are or will be survivors of sexual abuse in their lifetime. 34% of perpetrators are family members. 58% are known to the child and family. Only 7% are strangers . Tragically, we know that this can and does occur in local churches and homeschool groups. How can we help our children protect their bodies from those who would seek to harm them? Justin and Lindsey Holcomb join us in this week’s Homeschool Conversations episode to...
May 10, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 19
Anne says, “ we primarily learn languages so that we can relate better to, and serve and learn from, other people .” Watch out…this conversation might change your whole mindset when it comes to language learning at home! Have you wanted to include a foreign language in your homeschool, but you’re just not sure how? Have you wondered why language learning is even important? Maybe you’ve been entranced by the idea of bilingual education, but that sounds way too complicated for your ordinary homesc...
May 03, 2021•44 min•Season 3Ep. 18
Jami Marstall is a Charlotte Mason homeschooling mom of 4, including 2 homeschool graduates! When I was exploring options for podcast guests, I reached out to previous guests Karen Glass and Cindy Rollins for their recommendations. When both of them mentioned Jami as someone I should talk to, I knew she would be a scintillating guest! Our conversations ranged from the joys and challenges of homeschooling to the nitty-gritty of homeschooling (and graduating) a high schooler using a Charlotte Maso...
Apr 26, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 17
What do struggles with tying your shoes, using correct prepositions, and telling time have in common? They are all early warning signs of dyslexia. These and other signs can help you discern if your child is just a late reader or is dealing with underlying learning challenges. Today's Homeschool Conversations guest Marianne Sunderland is a veteran homeschooling mom of 8 children, 7 of whom have dyslexia and other learning challenges. She brings her personal experience and expertise to today's ch...
Apr 19, 2021•34 min•Season 3Ep. 16
When Karen Glass recommends someone "wise and experienced" for your podcast, you listen! And today's guest, Kelly Cumbee, does not disappoint. Kelly brings experience as a veteran homeschool mom of 7 children who have graduated from her homeschool, so her perspective on home education is not to be missed. Kelly is also an enthusiastic lover of Medieval literature, especially the Faerie Queen. In our conversation, we dive into what defines the Medieval imagination, the reasons why studying Mediev...
Apr 12, 2021•48 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Many of my friends have found Classical Conversations to be a good option for their families. While CC has not fit with our family's personal or educational priorities, I know so many folks love CC, and several have asked me to include a Classical Conversations perspective on the podcast. Marc Hays is not only a curriculum developer for Classical Conversations, but he's also an old friend. In fact, I once lived with the Hays family for several months and helped care for their newly adopted infan...
Apr 05, 2021•48 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Do you feel the pressure to homeschool in just the right way or to provide a rigorous education no matter what? Do you sometimes find yourself turning your homeschool approach into a perfectionistic competition? Jennifer Pepito joins us today to encourage us to consider the whole child in our home. She reminds us to take some of the pressure off and to consider what is truly most important, lest we wind up with children who may know a lot, but who certainly don’t care a lot. This is an encouragi...
Mar 29, 2021•34 min•Season 3Ep. 13
I’m delighted to share this bonus episode with you! Today’s episode is an audioblog of “ Homeschool Generations: Part 1, ” a post I wrote in partnership with The Curriculum Choice . This is going to be a 4-part series exploring past, present, and future generations of homeschoolers! Listen to this bonus episode, then head over to the post and share your own homeschool story in the comments! --> https://www.thecurriculumchoice.com/homeschool-generations-part-1/ Find more Homeschool Conversatio...
Mar 24, 2021•12 min
I know it is a wonderful interview when I get just as many goosebumps while editing and preparing it for publication as I did when I first chatted with my guest! That was certainly the case with today's conversation with Jennifer Dow. Jennifer will encourage you to ask questions and think about many things in a new way. She emphasized the vital importance of curiosity and surrender in classical education in general and in our study of poetry in particular. But, really, you just need to listen to...
Mar 22, 2021•54 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Today’s Homeschool Conversations guest has a unique homeschool perspective to share. Aimee Otto and her husband, Nick, equally share the loads in their family when it comes to both homeschooling and work. They’ve faced challenges along their journey, but have found an approach that works well for their unique family. Aimee also shares some pretty fabulous tips for creatively collaborating with your children when they’re struggling, some fun family read aloud suggestions, and some encouragement f...
Mar 15, 2021•33 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Today I'm interviewing Dennis DiNoia (aka Mr. D) from Mr. D Math. He has great advice to share about homeschooling high school math, encouraging teens to learn, and utilizing online high school courses to help homeschool parents. A few years ago I won an Instagram giveaway that changed my daughter's life. Ok, so maybe that's a bit melodramatic. But that was how we were first introduced to Mr. D Math. My daughter is now such a huge fan that we've continued to purchase her online high school math ...
Mar 08, 2021•38 min•Season 3Ep. 10
I've absolutely loved following Amber Johnston on Instagram. I enjoy seeing pictures of her family exploring the world through travel, reading, and just ordinary family living. I appreciate her reminders that this homeschool mom life we're living is a good gift. So it was such a delight to chat with her for this episode of Homeschool Conversations! We discussed topics like how she came to embrace a Charlotte Mason education; the value of cherishing a slow, gentle childhood; the concept of books ...
Mar 01, 2021•49 min•Season 3Ep. 9
It’s always fun to meet and chat with another second-generation homeschooler! Katie Waalkes brought so many practical and encouraging tips for thriving in the midst of Life in the Mundane in today’s episode. Katie Waalkes is a wife of 12 years, mother to 6 kids, and runs the YouTube channel "Life in the Mundane". She is passionate about encouraging parents in their biblical parenting and helping homeschool moms in their journey. Katie has a unique perspective on homeschooling as both she and her...
Feb 22, 2021•31 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Lynna Sutherland, Mary Wilson, and Amy Sloan are 3 homeschool mamas right there in the trenches with you! We have over 30 years of homeschool experience among us (well, more if you count Amy and Lynna’s experience as homeschooled students!), and we know that sometimes the Homeschool Blahs strike when you least expect them. Listen in as we share a few simple tips and encouragement for banishing the homeschool blahs! Find Amy: Humility and Doxology ( https://humilityanddoxology.com/ ) and the Home...
Feb 17, 2021•48 min
Jessica Jensen has homeschooled through a host of joys and challenges over the years. Her homeschool journey has included a childhood cancer diagnosis, a chronic illness, and the more typical struggles of homeschooling thru the tween and teen years . We had such a delightful conversation on topics ranging from surviving the middle school years to growing into our own unique homeschool approaches. Read or listen to my interview with Jessica for lots of encouragement and wise homeschool mama persp...
Feb 15, 2021•37 min•Season 3Ep. 7
The purpose of education is not to fill our children’s heads with knowledge. Rather, we want them to grow in wisdom, in wonder, and in love of God and neighbor. And our most important job as Christian parents is to raise our children to be fellow worshippers. These are just a few of the topics Keren Chu and I discussed in this week’s Homeschool Conversation! Keren is a pastor’s wife and homeschool mama classically educating her young children in the Philippines. I have followed Keren online for ...
Feb 08, 2021•38 min•Season 3Ep. 6
It's our first repeat guest on Homeschool Conversations, and I think you're going to quickly see why I invited my friend Dr. Kristin Moon back on the podcast! Kristin combines a passion for science with real-life experience as a homeschool mom in the trenches. She brings an attitude of wonder and delight to every discussion about science. Because of her years teaching science to homeschoolers, she has lots of great wisdom to share in this episode specifically about preparing for and succeeding i...
Feb 01, 2021•39 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Tawnya Vinyard believes that God created each of us homeschool moms unique with a special mission, and we need to stick together knowing we're not alone. She brought that enthusiasm and encouraging perspective to this week's Homeschool Conversations interview! We chatted about eclectic homeschooling, how planning can help you have a happy homeschool (no, really), and the importance of focusing on relationship in those hard homeschool moments. This season I'm going to be including a full transcri...
Jan 25, 2021•23 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Have you ever opened your mouth intending to say one thing, but then something else entirely comes out? Oops! That happened to me last fall while I was being interviewed for this episode which originally aired on the Joyfully Homeschooling Podcast! Misty Bailey asked me, " How do you find joy in your homeschool day? " I took a breath and opened my mouth to deliver the answer I had prepared ahead of time. But what I ended up saying instead was definitely more vulnerable than I had planned to shar...
Jan 23, 2021•33 min
Accidental-Homeschooler-Turned-Classical-Educator Kristen Rudd joins us in this week's Homeschool Conversations episode. We're chatting about one of our favorite topics: BOOKS! Have you wondered what people mean by "The Great Books"? Have you wondered if the Great Books even matter? Or maybe you're convinced that they're important, but it seems way too overwhelming to know how to start reading and teaching them in your homeschool. Well, you definitely don't want to miss my conversation with Kris...
Jan 18, 2021•35 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Studying history can be awesome! Learn how to craft a customized, multi-age, textbook-free history curriculum for your unique homeschool family. In my new 45 minute video masterclass and 12 page e-booklet , I share my perspective as a 2nd-generation homeschool mom of 5 and give lots of tips for studying (and enjoying) history in your homeschool. Leave a rating and review for Homeschool Conversations in your favorite podcast app, send a screenshot to Amy@HumilityandDoxology.com (or share it and t...
Jan 13, 2021•7 min
How do you study current events in your homeschool ? How do you teach your students to listen to the news with discernment ? And how ought we as Christians approach these sometimes tricky topics? In today’s episode of the Homeschool Conversations podcast I’m joined by Nick Eicher and Brian Basham from WORLD. It was an absolutely fabulous conversation ranging from profound questions about Biblically-objective journalism to some behind-the-scenes insights into the silly moments in WORLD Watch vide...
Jan 11, 2021•42 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Homeschool Conversations is BACK for Season 3, and I am so excited you're here with us! To kick us off this season I'm chatting with my friend Colleen Kessler all about the joys (and challenges) of homeschooling quirky, differently-wired, gifted, and twice-exceptional kids. We both share some of our own personal stories in this episode and the lessons learned along the way. I hope it is an encouragement to each of you! Plus, I'm trying something new! This season I'm going to be including a full ...
Jan 04, 2021•52 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Did you know that before Homeschool Conversations was a podcast it started as a video interview series? I uploaded all those original interviews to the feed back when I first launched this podcast, but those older conversations are unknown to many of you! As a special holiday bonus between Season 2 and Season 3, I'm dusting off a few of my favorites to share with you. I hope they keep you company as you wrap presents, bake holiday goodies, and keep the laundry folded. Because, after all, laundry...
Dec 28, 2020•45 min
Did you know that before Homeschool Conversations was a podcast it started as a video interview series? I uploaded all those original interviews to the feed back when I first launched this podcast, but those older conversations are unknown to many of you! As a special holiday bonus between Season 2 and Season 3, I'm dusting off a few of my favorites to share with you. I hope they keep you company as you wrap presents, bake holiday goodies, and keep the laundry folded. Because, after all, laundry...
Dec 21, 2020•51 min
Did you know that before Homeschool Conversations was a podcast it started as a video interview series? I uploaded all those original interviews to the feed back when I first launched this podcast, but those older conversations are unknown to many of you! As a special holiday bonus between Season 2 and Season 3, I'm dusting off a few of my favorites to share with you. I hope they keep you company as you wrap presents, bake holiday goodies, and keep the laundry folded. Because, after all, laundry...
Dec 14, 2020•36 min
Did you know that before Homeschool Conversations was a podcast it started as a video interview series? I uploaded all those original interviews to the feed back when I first launched this podcast, but those older conversations are unknown to many of you! As a special holiday bonus between Season 2 and Season 3, I'm dusting off a few of my favorites to share with you. I hope they keep you company as you wrap presents, bake holiday goodies, and keep the laundry folded. Because, after all, laundry...
Dec 07, 2020•32 min
Did you know that before Homeschool Conversations was a podcast it started as a video interview series? I uploaded all those original interviews to the feed back when I first launched this podcast, but those older conversations are unknown to many of you! As a special holiday bonus between Season 2 and Season 3, I'm dusting off a few of my favorites to share with you. I hope they keep you company as you wrap presents, bake holiday goodies, and keep the laundry folded. Because, after all, laundry...
Nov 30, 2020•44 min
