In this archive episode, Carole Joy Seid reflects on the remarkable wisdom of Dorothy Moore, wife of Dr. Raymond Moore, two pioneers often referred to as the grandparents of American homeschooling. Carole shares Dorothy’s practical strategies—like building a strong daily routine and focusing young learners on Bible, nature, and hands-on work—became the foundation to her own approach as a homeschool mentor. You will hear stories of Dorothy’s discipline, frugality, Christian faith, and quiet confi...
Jul 09, 2025•22 min•Season 5Ep. 273
In this episode from the archives, Carole sits down with her son J.J. to discuss knowing the “why” behind your decision to homeschool. Whether you're considering homeschooling or you're two decades into this adventure, today we're talking about what would cause you to educate your kids at home, and what will sustain you through the years. This episode will help you refresh your memory and give fuel to your fire to press on! RESOURCES +Build Your Family’s Library: Grab our FREE book list here +Ge...
Jul 02, 2025•30 min•Season 5Ep. 272
If you haven’t listened to Part 1 of our conversation with Mellany Zepelak, start there! This episode begins with Mellany sharing the fruit of speaking blessings and encouragement to her children and her husband, noting how these efforts have shifted the tone of her household toward encouragement and empathy. Parents play a powerful role in modeling God’s love to their children. Join us! RESOURCES + The Blessing Seminar +Build Your Family’s Library: Grab our FREE book list here +Get our FREE ebo...
Jun 25, 2025•19 min•Season 5Ep. 271
Homeschooling and family life can drain the life out of us. How do we maintain a right attitude and perspective in our families for the long haul? Carol talks with consulting client Mellany Zepelak about how learning to create margin in her life and receive God's love has transformed her family life. They discuss how adding personal downtime, encouraging a positive home environment, and embracing your identity in Christ can radically improve your family dynamics. Don’t miss this hope-filled conv...
Jun 18, 2025•25 min•Season 5Ep. 270
The early years of a child's life are crucial for their long term development and success. In this archive episode, Carole, Rachel and her husband, Jesse, discuss how home is the best nest, especially in the preschool years. They share their family’s practical rhythms—like meaningful work, daily nature walks, and lots of read-aloud time—all focused on nurturing curiosity, habits, and character. What kids truly need is loving connection, real-life learning, and parents who are confident guides. Y...
Jun 11, 2025•30 min•Season 5Ep. 269
Today Carole sat down with Jennifer Stowe, a veteran homeschool mom of six with 27 years of experience. Jennifer shares her journey from reluctant homeschooler to advocate, inspired by Dr. Raymond Moore and Charlotte Mason. She gives practical tips for using great books, embracing time outdoors, and documenting the activities you do each day. This episode is perfect for those seeking reassurance and encouragement as new or experienced homeschool parents to press on! RESOURCES + The Eclectic’s Mi...
Jun 04, 2025•24 min•Season 5Ep. 268
In the second part of our conversation with Leila Lawler, author and homeschool mom, we get practical! How do build a strong and wise family bond that will last for our children’s lives? We discuss a healthy mindset around Christmas, Sabbath rest, seeing children as blessing and making connecting a priority. Join us! RESOURCES + Leila Lawler Blog + The Summa Domestica by Leila Lawler +Build Your Family’s Library: Grab our FREE book list here +Get our FREE ebook: 5 Essential Parts of a Great Educ...
May 28, 2025•25 min•Season 5Ep. 267
Each memory and value we build within our family adds to the bridge our children are building for their adult life. Our guest, author and blogger Leila Lawler, has written a three-volume set on the value of building a home. In this episode, she shares about how her past informed her writings and the concept of collective memory in this 2-part interview with Carole and Rachel. How do we build a culture in our homes that is worth passing onto our children? Join us! RESOURCES + Leila Lawler Blog + ...
May 21, 2025•25 min•Season 5Ep. 266
In this episode from the archives, Carole sits down with the owner of Yellow House Story Shoppe, Chelsea Jacobs, to talk about books that we can use to give our children "Windows and Mirrors" into the world and other cultures. The Windows : seeing through the windows to other cultures and stories The Mirrors : children seeing themselves represented in stories. Join us for a wonderful list of books that your family can read to get a fuller appreciation of life around the globe. For a full list of...
May 14, 2025•40 min•Season 5Ep. 265
In this second episode with Jan Bloom, Carole and Jan remind us that true classics—books that have stood the test of time—are far more than relics of the past. These are the stories filled with innocence, joy, and the richness of family life, the very things our modern world sometimes seems to have lost. Whether it’s Wind in the Willows, Winnie the Pooh, or the hilarious works of P.G. Wodehouse, these books are worthy of our time! This episode is chock full of authors to read. Join us! RESOURCES...
May 07, 2025•25 min•Season 5Ep. 264
This week, we continue our little series on literature because we believe in the power of books to shape us. Carole sat down with Jan Bloom, the author behind “Who Should We Then Read,” to talk about how knowing the stories behind our favorite authors brings even more richness to homeschooling. Jan shared her journey from not growing up around books to becoming a homeschooling family who loved books, building an incredible home library, and helping families everywhere discover the best literatur...
Apr 30, 2025•23 min•Season 5Ep. 263
Carole sits down with founder of the Well-Read Mom ministry, Marcie Stokman, to chat about how her ministry got started and the purpose behind these communities. Their mission says it all! “Well Read Mom accompanies women in the reading of great books and spiritual classics to encourage personal growth, friendship, and meaningful conversations in order to explore the human condition and reorient ourselves to what is good, beautiful, and true.” Join us for this delightful conversation about mothe...
Apr 23, 2025•31 min•Season 5Ep. 262
One of the first questions many homeschooling families hear at family events or from public school friends is how will your children be socialized?" In this replay episode, Kristi Woodard, homeschool mom of eight, joins us to share her and her husband, Jason, experiences with raising children who perfectly answer this question of socialization with their community involvement, warmth, and general popularity. You'll hear about: How a wide range of relationships best socializes children The value ...
Apr 16, 2025•27 min•Season 5Ep. 261
While the world presses in on us for children to learn to read in preschool and be able to do high-level math early on, the research shows it's actually better to slow down and wait for developmental readiness. In this encore episode, Carole shares about the work of Dr. Raymond Moore and his idea that late is better than early. You'll hear: - Why we need to look at the facts instead of the neighbors. - The socialization our children really need. - How kindergarten has become the new first grade....
Apr 09, 2025•28 min•Season 5Ep. 260
Sometimes we lose steam for homeschooling but we also can lose steam for breastfeeding. Both, it turns out, are so beneficial to our children! In the second part of our discussion with Lactation Consultant and Homeschooling Mama, Jill Seberger, we discuss the benefits of breastfeeding and how Jill has maintained this while homeschooling her large family. This episode will surely fan the flame to continue breastfeeding through difficulties! RESOURCES +Jill Seberger’s Breastfeeding class: Breezy B...
Apr 02, 2025•24 min•Season 5Ep. 259
The early years of a child's life are crucial for bonding. Carole and Rachel sit down with Lactation Consultant and homeschool mom of 5 Jill Seberger. They discuss the importance of eye contact and skin-to-skin contact to the diverse ways of nurturing a strong parent-child connection, whether you are breastfeeding or not. This will surely encourage you towards a positive connection with your littles. RESOURCES +Jill Seberger’s Breastfeeding class: Breezy Breastfeeding Prenatal Class Coupon Code ...
Mar 26, 2025•26 min•Season 5Ep. 258
While an ideal marriage can't be guaranteed, we can learn to live with faithfulness in the covenant we have made as a husband or wife. In this replay episode, Carole and one her best friends, Anne Storm talk about part of Carole’s marriage journey to her husband, John. Truly, each of us carries a burden with us in life, and Carole is a walking testament to following the Lord in her difficult circumstance. Be encouraged! RESOURCES +Build Your Family’s Library: Grab our FREE book list here +Get ou...
Mar 19, 2025•24 min•Season 5Ep. 257
As Carole continues her conversation (see Episode 255) with homeschooling parents David and Audrey Ryan, she learns about their journey into doing life screen-free and how they initially struggled to unplug their children. However, they have seen real benefits in their children’s attitudes and behavior, such as improved family bonding and less conflict among their children. They love their new environment where children can explore and entertain themselves without the need for constant entertain...
Mar 12, 2025•23 min•Season 5Ep. 256
Does homeschooling work for a child with special needs or learning differences? Carole sits down with David and Audrey Ryan to talk about their experiences with public school and their transition to homeschooling. They share how they have moved past standardized tests and rigid benchmarks, to create a custom, nurturing educational environment tailored to their child’s unique needs. Join us for this encouraging episode! RESOURCES + The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley +Build Yo...
Mar 05, 2025•24 min•Season 5Ep. 255
The thing about being home all day with your family is that your house gets a lot of use and that can be a challenge. Rachel and Carole discuss homemaking and the importance of passing the skills on to our kids. They discuss focus, “baking therapy,” hospitality, and the whys behind shifting our attitudes about home-keeping. Join us! RESOURCES +Home Comforts: The Art and Comfort of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson +Build Your Family’s Library: Grab our FREE book list here +Get our FREE ebook: 5 ...
Feb 26, 2025•32 min•Season 5Ep. 254
Some states require state testing to happen every year for homeschooling families. In this episode, Carole and Rachel address families' concerns about standardized testing, especially in states where it is mandatory, and offer practical advice for preparing children without inducing anxiety. And reading to your children is a game-changer for doing well on those tests! Carole encourages parents to approach test days positively and gives tips on preparing older children for the SAT and ACT. We hop...
Feb 19, 2025•27 min•Season 5Ep. 253
In this second conversation with Eryn Lynum of the Nat Theo Podcast, we discuss how to be outside in nature with our children. Is better to be in awe without much guidance or to point out all kinds of things in our natural world? Eryn encourages new naturalists with some helpful tips to take your first few experiences into nature. She offers practical ideas like setting up bird habitats, utilizing your local library for nature books, and using simple tools like microscopes to make science come a...
Feb 12, 2025•23 min•Season 5Ep. 252
Rachel Winchester speaks with Eryn Lynum, naturalist and podcast host of the Nat Theo show, about how nature points us to our creator God. They discuss the origins of modern scientific thought and how we as homeschool parents struggle with “teaching” or over-explaining nature. This first of a two-part conversation gives you the whys behind Eryn’s focus on nature. Next week, we’ll dive into the how-to’s of nature exploration. Join us! RESOURCES + Nature book list +Check out the Nat Theo Podcast !...
Feb 05, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 251
What a joy to be celebrating our 250th episode of Homeschool Made Simple with you. We so appreciate our listeners and our families! In this episode, Carole reminds us of that guiding our children to be people of good character and to follow the Lord is the foundation of the HMS method. Character is grown by being consistent in parenting, and encouraging families to be low-tech and nature-rich. More inspiration is here…listen in! RESOURCES +David Arroyo episodes: 102: God Calls a Father's Heart H...
Jan 29, 2025•35 min•Season 5Ep. 250
As our culture shifts and time goes on, it can be tough to find the great books we most love. Prepare yourself for a wonderful resource: Private Lending Libraries! Carole and Kathleen Seeger from Madison, Wisconsin, discuss how these affordable treasure troves are assisting our homeschooling efforts with carefully curated collections of quality books (and many out-of-print books.) With budget-friendly memberships and quality-focused selections, they're becoming the smart parent's secret weapon f...
Jan 22, 2025•29 min•Season 5Ep. 249
Are you feeling full of regret because of your curriculum choices this year? Carole and Rachel discuss this common scenario for us as homeschoolers. It’s time to cut your losses and carefully consider why the curriculum doesn’t work. Carole believes that not giving in to FOMO and taking a longer look at the curriculum before hitting the BUY button are good strategies for not repeating the mid-year curriculum blues. This is a must listen! RESOURCES +Build Your Family’s Library: Grab our FREE book...
Jan 15, 2025•28 min•Season 5Ep. 248
In part 2 of Rachel’s conversation with homeschool mom of 4, Hanni Go shares her journey of breaking free from the pressure of following other homeschooling families. She has chosen to value relationships and nurturing her children over the academic rigor that others might expect. Carole’s proven teaching methods and the example of the many families who have used them have encouraged Hanni to ditch the comparison trap to see her children be who God made them to be. RESOURCES +Download your own c...
Jan 08, 2025•18 min•Season 5Ep. 247
Today Rachel talks with Hanni Go, a homeschooling mom of 4. Hanni talks us through the balancing act between nurturing relationships and academic pursuits. They discuss Hanni’s takeaways from one of Carole’s seminars that she attended because she needed a fresh perspective on homeschooling. We know you will relate to Hanni and hope this brings you fuel to press on! RESOURCES +Build Your Family’s Library: Grab our FREE book list here +Get our FREE ebook: 5 Essential Parts of a Great Education . +...
Jan 01, 2025•29 min•Season 5Ep. 246
Carole Joy Seid and her son J. J. Seid continue their conversation about how dads, as servant leaders, play a vital role in setting the tone for the family. J.J. shares some wonderful stories and practical ideas about teaching kids to appreciate nature regularly, tackle hard work with enthusiasm, and build character through outdoor adventures. Fathers, let this episode inspire and guide you on how to enrich your homeschool experience as a team! RESOURCES +Build Your Family’s Library: Grab our FR...
Dec 18, 2024•26 min•Season 5Ep. 245
Oftentimes we think of homeschooling as mom's gig, which is really unfortunate. It is so important for dads to be on board and for both husband and wife to have a shared vision for their children's education. In this episode, we discuss the variety of roles that dads can play in support of mom and as a model for our children. Share this episode with every homeschooling father you know! RESOURCES The Masculine Mandate: God's Calling to Men by Richard D Phillips +Build Your Family’s Library: Grab ...
Dec 11, 2024•27 min•Season 5Ep. 244
