This episode includes a discussion about building a summer daily routine, helping kids to work, creative ways to make memories as a family, goal-setting over the summer, and how to help parents truly rest without letting the household structure disintegrate! About Katie Katie Clark has worked in non-profits and prison ministries and now is a homeschooling mom of four children, passionate about encouraging and helping families thrive and grow together. She lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband ...
May 16, 2023•37 min•Ep 376•Transcript available on Metacast Listen, laugh, and relate to this list of 101 homeschool lies. Lies we tell ourselves with the best intentions. Fibs and complete baloney caused by the pressure for perfection and desire for the outside world to pat us on the back. Dreams of educational success can lead to grand expectations and impossible goals we can’t begin to complete with when life gets in the way. Saying them out loud reveals the ridiculousness and frees your efforts to be awesome at this! About Jennifer Jennifer Cabrera, ...
May 09, 2023•33 min•Ep 375•Transcript available on Metacast Although there are many practical reasons to read daily, the list of the benefits of reading begins with delight. There are few things more soul-nourishing than a great book. However, reading can reduce stress, improve communication skills, increase empathy, build vocabulary, and so much more. It's no surprise that reading builds brains; what’s surprising is how little reading time is built into most people’s day. You don’t have to read for hours a day to benefit. According to at least one study...
May 02, 2023•11 min•Ep 374•Transcript available on Metacast Adult life is so hectic, particularly for the homeschooling parent, that we can easily gloss over the unique beauty that is to be found in each season of our child's life. So often we are found urging them into adulthood to make life easier for us, but it often has the opposite effect (and it only serves to discourage them). In this episode I'll discuss how important it is for us as parents to help our children extract all the joy they can from each age while simultaneously helping them reach fo...
Apr 25, 2023•36 min•Ep 373•Transcript available on Metacast A fun and informative look at the common fallacies we fall for and the practical tips to avoid them when curriculum hunting for the bouquet of courses and material guaranteed to bring homeschool success and possible college scholarships. About Jennifer Jennifer Cabrera, the Hifalutin Homeschooler , is the writer of homeschool truth, humor, and inspiration. Jennifer lives in Salado, Texas with her husband and three brilliant boys. She is a licensed Physician Assistant/MPH, but set aside that care...
Apr 18, 2023•33 min•Ep 372•Transcript available on Metacast What goes into your homeschool is as important as what surrounds it. Today’s episode focuses on how important it is to create an atmosphere of learning in your home. This atmosphere is made up of many things including organization, discipline, attitude and even decor. If you find that your homeschool just seems to be dragging along, let this episode serve as a call to stop and take a day (or a week!) to address the environmental factors that may be keeping you from creating the homeschool you’ve...
Apr 11, 2023•44 min•Ep 371•Transcript available on Metacast With the ease of copy and paste in the online writing environment, plagiarism has become a real problem for students, teachers, and homeschooling families. Join me for some simple tips on how to avoid plagiarizing as you research and write great papers. About Janice Janice Campbell, a lifelong reader and writer, loves to introduce students to great books and beautiful writing. She holds an English degree from Mary Baldwin College, and is the graduated homeschool mom of four sons. You’ll find mor...
Apr 04, 2023•14 min•Ep 370•Transcript available on Metacast We meet hundreds of parents every year at homeschool conventions across the country. We are often approached and asked what advice or counsel we might give regarding difficulties many of these parents may be facing with their children. Sometimes we feel like we have a very clear answer to give, but more often than not, the best advice we can offer them is also, perhaps, the most obvious. In this episode I'll discuss what this bit of advice is and, despite it being hidden in plain sight, why it i...
Mar 28, 2023•32 min•Ep 369•Transcript available on Metacast Are you evaluating education for your kids? Are considering (or re-evaluating) homeschooling? Looking at part-time or full-time school? Considering a co-op? Online classes? Activities? No matter what choices you face, this episode will give you new, effective tools to make these decisions for your family, making the choice that you will feel best about! About Jessica Jessica is a wife, homeschool mom of three, author, and blogger. She lives in sunny North Carolina on a big family farm with chick...
Mar 21, 2023•23 min•Ep 368•Transcript available on Metacast Seasons of anxiety and depression are difficult but can be even more challenging for the homeschool mother. In this episode Jessica shares her experiences with anxiety, highlighting tips for "emergency-level" anxiety as well as chronic, background anxiety. About Jessica Jessica is a wife, homeschool mom of three, author, and blogger. She lives in sunny North Carolina on a big family farm with chickens, goats, cousins, and lots of mud. Resources 20 Things to Do When You're Anxious Change Your Bra...
Mar 14, 2023•27 min•Ep 367•Transcript available on Metacast In this brief episode you'll learn why penmanship, including cursive, is important for learning, and you'll get practical tips for helping your children master this useful art. About Janice Janice Campbell, a lifelong reader and writer, loves to introduce students to great books and beautiful writing. She holds an English degree from Mary Baldwin College, and is the graduated homeschool mom of four sons. You’ll find more about reading, writing, planning, and education from a Charlotte Mason/Clas...
Mar 07, 2023•17 min•Ep 366•Transcript available on Metacast Nobody ever said that homeschooling would be easy (and if they did they must be lying). How could it be? It's one of the most self-sacrificing endeavors that you could ever attempt. In this episode, we'll discuss how this often discouraging struggle against our selfish nature is the very thing our children need to see played out before them so that they too may be inspired to struggle against their lesser selves. And though this nature is constantly striving to press us into a rut, we'll discuss...
Feb 28, 2023•47 min•Ep 366•Transcript available on Metacast Interests can lead to learning, but kids don't always follow them past fun and convenience. Career dreams can only become reality through work and meeting requirements. Requirements only parents may fully understand and need to push behind the interests. But what if they have no interests? There's a spark for learning in all kids that we want to kindle but not put out. But how do we find the perfect balance? ABOUT JENNIFER Jennifer Cabrera, the Hifalutin Homeschooler , is the writer of homeschoo...
Feb 21, 2023•29 min•Ep 365•Transcript available on Metacast There are many different reasons why people decide to homeschool, but not all reasons carry the same amount of conviction. Regardless of whether you’re just starting out or have been homeschooling for years, getting clear about the “why” behind your homeschool is critical to its longevity. Now is the perfect time to consider again why you’re schooling your children at home and whether that reason is convicting enough to see you through to the end. ABOUT SEAN Sean Allen is the founder of The Well...
Feb 14, 2023•42 min•Ep 364•Transcript available on Metacast Long before textbooks and workbooks were invented, students kept notebooks and commonplace books to help them think, understand, and remember what they learned. Learning journals are a tool your student can use to do the same — here's how to begin using them! About Janice Janice Campbell, a lifelong reader and writer, loves to introduce students to great books and beautiful writing. She holds an English degree from Mary Baldwin College, and is the graduated homeschool mom of four sons. You’ll fi...
Feb 07, 2023•25 min•Ep 363•Transcript available on Metacast Join Jessica Smartt for a conversation about building your community as a mom! About Jessica Jessica is a wife, homeschool mom of three, author, and blogger. She lives in sunny North Carolina on a big family farm with chickens, goats, cousins, and lots of mud. Resources Memory-Making Mom by Jessica Smartt Let Them Be Little by Jessica Smartt Homeschool Bootcamp with Jessica Smartt Connect Jessica Smartt | Instagram | Facebook | Website Homeschooling.mom | Instagram | Website Thank you to our spo...
Jan 24, 2023•21 min•Ep 361•Transcript available on Metacast Are you in need of a mid-year homeschool pick-me-up? In this audioblog episode, we revisit a beloved episode with Janice Campbell at the exact time we all need to hear this encouragement! About Janice Janice Campbell, a lifelong reader and writer, loves to introduce students to great books and beautiful writing. She holds an English degree from Mary Baldwin College, and is the graduated homeschool mom of four sons. You’ll find more about reading, writing, planning, and education from a Charlotte...
Jan 17, 2023•12 min•Ep 360•Transcript available on Metacast ABOUT JANICE Janice Campbell, a lifelong reader and writer, loves to introduce students to great books and beautiful writing. She holds an English degree from Mary Baldwin College, and is the graduated homeschool mom of four sons. You’ll find more about reading, writing, planning, and education from a Charlotte Mason/Classical perspective at her websites, EverydayEducation.com , Excellence-in-Literature.com , and DoingWhatMatters.com . RESOURCES MENTIONED Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin Daily...
Jan 10, 2023•17 min•Ep 359•Transcript available on Metacast Homeschool worries can keep parents up with insomnia or restless with nightmares of ruining their child. Listen and laugh as I recount a couple of restless nights of valid concerns and mostly ridiculous worries. Know you're not alone and that things look different in the morning. About Jennifer Jennifer Cabrera, the Hifalutin Homeschooler , is the writer of homeschool truth, humor, and inspiration. Jennifer lives in Salado, Texas with her husband and three brilliant boys. She is a licensed Physi...
Dec 27, 2022•27 min•Ep 357•Transcript available on Metacast About Jessica Jessica is a wife, homeschool mom of three, author, and blogger. She lives in sunny North Carolina on a big family farm with chickens, goats, cousins, and lots of mud. Resources Memory-Making Mom by Jessica Smartt Pioneer Woman Cinnamon Rolls Jotham’s Journey by Arnold Ytreeide One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham Hallelujah: Advent Traditions by Cindy Rollins Connect Jessica Smartt | Instagram | Facebook | Website Homeschooling.mom | Instagram | Website Thank you to our sponsors! ...
Dec 20, 2022•40 min•Ep 356•Transcript available on Metacast When your student finishes a literature class or curriculum with the firm determination to never read again, what happened? These three tips provide a bit of ironic insight into ways that a good book can be ruined. Perhaps they'll help you avoid some pitfalls as you guide your students in reading and the joyful study of literature. ABOUT JANICE Janice Campbell, a lifelong reader and writer, loves to introduce students to great books and beautiful writing. She holds an English degree from Mary Ba...
Dec 13, 2022•12 min•Ep 355•Transcript available on Metacast Does it feel like each member of your family is pulling in his or her own direction? Is there a sense of disconnectedness to your homeschool? Would you like your children to feel more involved in the pursuit of your family goals? If you answered "Yes" to any one of these questions, you should be having regular family meetings. In this episode we'll explore the many ways that routine family meetings can bless your homeschool day, express love and appreciation to your children, and get your entire...
Dec 06, 2022•41 min•Ep 354•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jessica chats with Amy Frank about how her family has adopted holiday traditions that are based in the liturgical year. In addition to some Advent and Epiphany traditions, they discuss some ways to celebrate throughout the rest of the year. ABOUT AMY Amy Frank lives in Grove City, Pennsylvania with her family. She is a longtime homeschooling mom who loves family traditions. ABOUT JESSICA Jessica is a wife, homeschool mom of three, author, and blogger. She lives in sunny North Ca...
Nov 29, 2022•31 min•Ep 353•Transcript available on Metacast Step away from the Yuletide unit studies! Put down the glitter and the glue guns. You can’t add “making merry” to a homeschool transcript. Why try? One of the best things about homeschooling for the holidays is… you don’t have to! But if you insist, listen in for Jennifer’s Christmas tips for seasonal sanity, and ways to get the kids involved without ending up as nutty as a fruitcake. About Jennifer Jennifer Cabrera, the Hifalutin Homeschooler , is the writer of homeschool truth, humor, and insp...
Nov 22, 2022•24 min•Ep 352•Transcript available on Metacast Memorization shouldn't be about rote learning — it is meant for cultivating wisdom, virtue, and a beautiful mind. Join me as I share a bit about my personal memory project — what I memorize, why, and how. I hope you'll be inspired to create a memory project that works for you! ABOUT JANICE Janice Campbell and her husband Donald homeschooled their four sons from preschool into early college using a lifestyle of learning approach influenced by Charlotte Mason and classical education. Janice is the...
Nov 15, 2022•24 min•Ep 351•Transcript available on Metacast It's the most wonderful time of the year...and the most hectic. With all the hustle and the bustle, the rich opportunity for us to help our children consider the people and events that make Thanksgiving and Christmas truly memorable often escapes us. It doesn't have to be this way. In this episode we'll talk about practical ways that you can set up altars of remembrance in your home through simple, routine devotions. These devotions are truly the gift that keeps on giving and will remain with yo...
Nov 08, 2022•35 min•Ep 350•Transcript available on Metacast Don't be afraid to homeschool high school. After putting in the sweat, worry-lines and coffee grounds to get this far, don't ditch now! Let's talk about why homeschooling high school is the most rewarding part and why the part that worries you most is the exact reason you should give it all you've got. ABOUT JENNIFER Jennifer Cabrera, the Hifalutin Homeschooler , is the writer of homeschool truth, humor, and inspiration. Jennifer lives in Salado, Texas with her husband and three brilliant boys. ...
Nov 01, 2022•33 min•Ep 349•Transcript available on Metacast In this chaotic world, our first duty as mothers should be to make our home a sanctuary—a tranquil place where learning and creativity thrive. That's why it's vital that we guard our schedule. It's such a blessing that there are so many wonderful activities, opportunities, and curricula to choose from. But with so many choices, we are at risk of adding things that are not God's best for us. In this talk, Jeannie Fulbright will share the mistakes that taught her to guard her schedule, and how God...
Oct 25, 2022•34 min•Ep 348•Transcript available on Metacast Join curriculum expert Cathy Duffy and me as we talk about the art of choosing homeschool curriculum. You'll learn about goals, learning styles, types of homeschooling, and more. I think you'll come away feeling much more comfortable about making choices that fit your family. ABOUT CATHY Cathy Duffy has been reviewing homeschool curriculum and resources since the 1980s, and is the author of several books, including her most recent volume, 103 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum. Cathy began educ...
Oct 18, 2022•45 min•Ep 347•Transcript available on Metacast Everything, and I mean everything that is right and true is under assault today. For instance, we've moved far beyond questioning whether a woman's rightful place is in the home rearing her children. Today, the world and all her emissaries of confusion question whether such a thing as a woman even exists. For decades we've been told that women are just as capable as men, no matter the field, no matter the task. Predictably (and at the same time inconceivably) we are told today that men are just ...
Oct 11, 2022•43 min•Ep 346•Transcript available on Metacast 
