Discover my two simple steps to starting to homeschool and get a great PEP TALK for the beginning of the year (or the middle or the end!). You can do this and you’re not alone! Parents are primary and by nature and grace have what it takes to raise amazing, interesting, and loving kids! WHAT I’M STARTING WITH (My curriculum reveal 2021 series!): REVEAL! 11th Grade Curriculum | What We’re Using: https://youtu.be/-0GZXFCqEoM HELP ME! Do I start Kindergarten this Year? https://youtu.be/vMcszknjflI ...
Aug 31, 2021•14 min•Season 1Ep. 109
See my three organizing tools that I have developed over 16 years of homeschooling! These three flexible organizing principles have worked with children ages 2 through 16, for multiple kids, and for children schooling solo. Tried and true parenting and home education hacks for busy parents who want to stop worrying about color coding and start focusing on real learning in their heart of their homes! THE THREE B’S OF ORGANIZING TOOLS (affiliate links!) Hanging Folder Organizer (for smaller famili...
Aug 30, 2021•17 min•Season 1Ep. 112
What a first day of homeschool **really** looks like for us! Complete with the good, the bad, and the screaming toddler -- we are so excited to start a new school year with you! Join our family in this beautiful life centered on God, each other, and educating lifelong, independent learners. #homeschooling #dayinthelife #newschoolyear WHAT I’M STARTING WITH (My curriculum reveal 2021 series!): REVEAL! 11th Grade Curriculum | What We’re Using: https://youtu.be/-0GZXFCqEoM HELP ME! Do I start Kinde...
Aug 30, 2021•18 min•Season 1Ep. 111
It’s not all about mom planning! Starting the year right means equipping kids with the tools they need to succeed and making sure both parents are on the same page. Homeschooling is a family team effort -- so watch how we prepare the whole family to start the year together. WHAT I’M STARTING WITH (My curriculum reveal 2021 series!): REVEAL! 11th Grade Curriculum | What We’re Using: https://youtu.be/-0GZXFCqEoM HELP ME! Do I start Kindergarten this Year? https://youtu.be/vMcszknjflI REVEAL! 3rd G...
Aug 23, 2021•19 min•Ep. 110
What DO THE LITTLE KIDS DO while I’m homeschooling 4 others? | Tips for managing a busy homeschool household (or any wide family!)! What do I do with little kids during homeschooling time? Taking the littles onto your homeschool team. Parenting a wide family while educating. Growth mindset for busy homeschoolers! This is a WHOLE FAMILY affair! #homeschooling #littlekids #tips RESOURCES: Blick Art Color Wheel Watercolors: https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100402570-12117697?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.di...
Aug 16, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 108
Family night prayer that connects you to the Church through time and around the world! Printable resource for adapting COMPLINE (Night Office) to the family home. How and why we introduce our kids to the Divine Office and Liturgy of the Hours. Transform your family culture with the Psalms! #familyprayer #compline #homeschooling MY RELATED VIDEOS AND CONTENT: Printable Compline for Families: https://www.verityed.com/shop Building a Family Culture Part I: https://youtu.be/8i5W-fakulw Building a Fa...
Aug 16, 2021•14 min•Season 1Ep. 107
Only two more years of high school -- WHAT?!?!? Here is the plan for our oldest child’s 11th grade year. Check out curriculum picks, book lists, and the reasons why. Quick homeschooling tips on how to think about picking curriculum. What are the most important goals for 11th grade? #homeschooling #curriculumreveal #eleventhgrade RESOURCES: Medieval Literature Guide with Memoria Press: https://id.memoriapress.com//idevaffiliate.php?id=263 Theology (Apologetics text): https://shop.catholic.com/han...
Aug 09, 2021•19 min•Season 1Ep. 106
I’m just opening up about Kindergarten and my thought process for deciding when to start homeschooling Kindergarten. Hear me think through the Pro’s and Con’s for starting a 4-year-old on Kinder studies. And just what is the purpose of Kindergarten!?! Join that conversation! What will we do? MY RELATED VIDEOS AND CONTENT: PRESCHOOL at Home (Four Habits): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqBdZ8iJgKE&t=80s 4 Preschool Activities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ6up95EWQ0&t=73s Outdoor Pre...
Aug 07, 2021•17 min•Season 1Ep. 105
History with TAN Academy: https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-100402570-14568427?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftanbooks.com%2Fcatholic-kids-books%2Fstory-of-civilivation-series%2Fthe-story-of-civilization-volume-2-the-medieval-world%2F Science with Memoria Press: https://id.memoriapress.com//idevaffiliate.php?id=263 Art with Catholic Heritage Curricula: https://www.chcweb.com/catalog/ByGradeLevel/SeventhGrade/EverAncientEverNewArtHistory,Appreciation,Theory,andPracticeLevel2/product_info.html Math, Theology, and ...
Aug 05, 2021•12 min•Season 1Ep. 104
Here’s what we are planning to use for 6th grade, 2021-2022! Check out curriculum picks, book lists, and the reason why. Quick homeschooling tips on how to think about picking curriculum. When will I know to step and back and try something new? 6th grade, here we come! #homeschooling #curriculumreveal #sixthgrade RESOURCES: Latin and Science with Memoria Press: https://id.memoriapress.com//idevaffiliate.php?id=263 Writing with Classical Academic Press: https://classicalacademicpress.com/collecti...
Aug 05, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 103
Meet Sara, former public school teacher and now homeschooling mom of 7! We talk about how to transition to homeschooling, her personal story, and get real about the “bad days”. Join us for an uplifting and encouraging conversation: everyone needs a Sara in their life, so I’m sharing mine with YOU! #classicaleducation #publicschool #homeschooling MY RELATED VIDEOS AND CONTENT: Danielle Bean and Erika: The Talk! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-POe6WtjQFE Building Homeschool Communities (Interview...
Jul 21, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 102
Looking for great products to enhance your family culture? Check out my review of three FUN and educational products from The Catholic Company for great summer shopping that supports small business! #classicaleducation #catholiccompany #verityed RESOURCES (contains affiliate links): Catholic Company Books & Gifts*: https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-100400252-11973853 Saint John Paul II Story Cards: https://www.tkqlhce.com/click-100402570-12058792?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholiccompany.com%2Fsaint...
Jul 08, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 100
Roy Peachey and Erika discuss classical education, children’s literature, and the state of education across the Pond in the United Kingdom. Is the school system broken? Is there a place for Catholics in the education system? What do we gain when we bring education home? What do we lose? And with all the awesome literature, poetry, and history out there how do we prioritize and choose without anxiety? RESOURCES: Roy’s Website: https://roypeachey.com/ Order Roy’s latest book: https://www.amazon.co...
Jul 06, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 99
What does the Memoria Press 5th Grade Curriculum look like? What ages and home situations work best? Erika reviews Memoria Press 5th Grade with tips for parents seeking homeschooling support and structure. Watch all the way to the end for the bottom line on this classical/traditional mixed approach to 5th Grade. RESOURCES (contains affiliate links): Memoria Press*: https://id.memoriapress.com//idevaffiliate.php?id=263 MY RELATED VIDEOS: Mother of Divine Grace 5th Grade Review: https://youtu.be/d...
Jul 03, 2021•12 min•Season 1Ep. 98
See INSIDE Memoria Press elementary-level literature guides. Take a sneak peek into Memoria Press’s guides to classic children’s literature for homeschoolers or any classical education students. You’ll get my take on how and when to use these…. And if the price is right! RESOURCES (contains affiliate links): Memoria Press*: https://id.memoriapress.com//idevaffiliate.php?id=263 MY RELATED VIDEOS: What We do for History/Lit in Elementary Years: https://youtu.be/t5rfZcZsZx4 Memoria Press High Schoo...
Jun 28, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 97
Great! You want the BEST education for your child. But what IS education? What’s the point of all this effort to find the best education? In simple terms, I break down what education is, what “arts and sciences” means, and how we should think about the liberal arts. Homeschooling, Catholic School, Public School, Co-ops… let’s focus on the essentials. Practical, concrete examples that helped me understand and make better education choices for my kids! RESOURCES: “What is Education?” by Martin Cot...
Jun 23, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 96
Erika REVIEWS The Story of Civilization, TAN Academy’s elementary Medieval history program. Look inside the Teacher’s Manual and Activity Book, and get the best tips for using this program at home. Can you use it as a one-room schoolhouse program? To what ages and stages is it best suited? How parent-friendly is it? Watch to find out! MY RELATED VIDEOS AND CONTENT: My Memoria Press High School Literature Review: https://youtu.be/espW9y5S0NI My Memoria Press Science Review: https://youtu.be/u9-wX...
Jun 22, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 95
Liz Lantigua saw a need: Scholastic Book Fairs were failing her kids, so she created a better way! Erika and Liz discuss reading, freedom, challenging the status quo, and the Good News! Book Fair -- a great Scholastic Book Fairs alternative. How do you fill your library and build up your family culture of learning, wonder, and charity? Find better, more wholesome books. Good News! Book Fair might help. Liz also opens up about her parents’ experience of Cuban totalitarianism and how they inspired...
Jun 16, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 94
Erika reviews the new Institute for Catholic Liberal Education book, Renewing Catholic Schools , from a homeschooler’s perspective. Takeaway: this book is a must read for parents, teachers, administrators, donors, bishops, and priests! Whether you homeschool or not, this book will bring hope and courage as you renew education for your family. RESOURCES: Erika’s author page at the National Catholic Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/erika-j-ahern SUPPORT VERITY ED: Shop these links to su...
Jun 14, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 93
What does the Memoria Press Kindergarten Curriculum look like? What ages and home situations work best? Erika reviews Memoria Press Kindergarten with tips for parents seeking homeschooling support and structure. Watch all the way to the end for the bottom line on this classical/traditional mixed approach to Kindergarten. RESOURCES (contains affiliate links): Memoria Press*: https://id.memoriapress.com//idevaffiliate.php?id=263 SUPPORT VERITY ED: Shop these links to support Verity Ed. Thank you! ...
Jun 09, 2021•12 min•Season 1Ep. 92
The BEST option for standardized college entrance exams. Hear all about the CLT (The Classic Learning Test), when to take it, why to take it, and how. Erika and Soren Schwab, the CLT’s Vice President of Partnerships, discuss the purpose of college entrance tests, why the SAT and ACT are broken, and positive ways to give your child a better option! Homeschooling high school for college prep is possible, and the CLT is just one organization making it better for parents and students. RESOURCES: Lea...
Jun 07, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 91
Danielle Bean and Erika talk mom to mom about “the Talk”: how do Catholic parents approach sex ed in the home? We talk through our early anxieties about our kids, encouraging a family culture of openness to questions, and the joys of figuring out life together. Danielle shares her experiences parenting 8 children over the last 25 years! Help your children know their value and dignity, and resist pornography, addiction, and falsehoods when it comes to sex. Be not afraid and join us for a great co...
Jun 03, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 90
Erika and Todd discuss their homeschooling journey. Find out how we decided to homeschool, how we juggle it while working, and why Erika started Verity Ed. RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO: Verity Ed’s Free E-Book: Outside the Box: Reclaiming Education at Home https://www.verityed.com/free-ebook-outside-the-box-reclaiming-education-at-home See http://verityed.com __________ If you’re new to homeschooling, want fresh ideas, need a parent community, and are ready to reboot your family...
Jun 02, 2021•34 min
Get the inside scoop on Mother of Divine Grace’s classical 2nd grade syllabus for homeschooling. What’s so great about it? Is it worth the price? What are my favorite homeschooling hacks to take full advantage of the MODG and Laura Berquist's genius? Get all the info in this quick video! RESOURCES: Mother of Divine Grace Bookstore (2nd Grade): https://books.modg.org/primary-stage/second-grade MY RELATED VIDEOS AND CONTENT: My Review of Sound Beginnings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqqGndGpF5...
Jun 01, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 89
Looking for a way to track summer reading? See the options with Memoria Press’s 100 Days of Summer Reading Challenge workbook (student journal). Tips for parents for getting kids motivated to spend long, lazy days reading this summer. RESOURCES: 100 Days of Summer Reading: Book One*: https://id.memoriapress.com//idevaffiliate.php?id=263 MY RELATED VIDEOS AND CONTENT: The Verity Ed Book Challenge Reading Lists (FREE!): https://www.verityed.com/printables My Memoria Press High School Literature Re...
May 28, 2021•3 min•Season 1Ep. 88
Get the inside scoop on Mother of Divine Grace’s (MODG’s) classical 5th grade syllabus and curriculum picks. What’s so great about it? Is it worth the price? What are my favorite hacks to really take full advantage of the MODG and Laura Berquist genius? Get all the info in this quick video! RESOURCES: Mother of Divine Grace Bookstore (5th Grade): https://books.modg.org/grammatical-stage/fifth-grade MY RELATED VIDEOS AND CONTENT: Video on History/Lit curricula: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5r...
May 28, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 87
HOW do I grow a classical family culture? (Practical Ideas for the Home) | Don’t just survive: THRIVE as a homeschooling parent. These practical tips will help you re-orient and integrate all areas of your life for stress relief at home. In part two, I talk about simple (and affordable) shifts in your home to keep your family and children focused on the good, true, and beautiful. Classical education is a whole person, whole family affair! RESOURCES & SUPPORT VERITY ED: Shop these links. Than...
May 24, 2021•19 min•Season 1Ep. 86
HOW do I grow a classical family culture? (Practical Ideas for the Home) | Don’t just survive: THRIVE as a homeschooling parent. These practical tips will help you re-orient and integrate all areas of your life for stress relief at home. In part two, I talk about simple (and affordable) shifts in your home to keep your family and children focused on the good, true, and beautiful. Classical education is a whole person, whole family affair! Eat meals together! https://www.cnn.com/2011/10/25/living...
May 24, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 84
What’s really inside a Memoria Press literature guide? Take a sneak peek into Memoria Press’s high school/college-prep level guides to classical literature from the Western canon for homeschoolers or any classical education students. You’ll get my take on how and when to use these…. And if the price is right! RESOURCES: Memoria Press: Literature and Poetry Guide: https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/literature-and-poetry/ Memoria Press: Merchant of Venice Teacher Guide: https://www.memoriapre...
May 12, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 82
THREE Fun Outdoor Preschool Activities (Get Outside with your STEM) | Walk with me through 3 distinct preschool activities that you can do even in a small yard or bucket of dirt! Engage their imagination and affirm their curiosity and wonder as you explore nature together. Young children begin the amazing journey of a classical education outdoors in the sunshine! “Day in the Life” Bonus footage: See how it works with my 4 year old. MY RELATED VIDEOS AND CONTENT: My Video on the Four Habits of Hi...
May 10, 2021•12 min•Season 1Ep. 81
