Episodes

If your student wants to attend college but doesn’t want to be loaded down with debt, I have a treat for you. This is The Homeschool Sanity Show, the episode where guest Kara Walker shares uncommon but practical tips for saving money on a college education. Hey, homeschoolers! I absolutely love chatting with homeschoolers. That’s just one reason I wanted to interview Kara Walker. Kara graduated from college debt-free, and is now on a quest to help other students do the same with her podcast, “M...

Hey, homeschoolers! Homeschooling has changed so much since I started teaching my kids. I wonder what it will look like if and when my kids start homeschooling their children. I wanted to talk with someone who is on the cutting edge of education. I know you’ll be interested in what my guest has to say because it can change the way you homeschool now. For over 30 years, Matt Bowman has been reimagining education for the digital age. As a former sixth-grade teacher turned tech executive and educa...

We know what to do when our child gets hurt – a skinned knee, a bruise, a cut. But we may feel ill equipped to help when our child’s heart is hurting. Teasing, feeling different, even bullying can cause woundedness. I have written Training Aliens Social & Emotional Skills curriculum because I am passionate about kids and parents having tools to build confidence. That’s why I wanted my guest to share her unique approach to helping parents and kids respond to hurts. Listening will encourage you as...

Hey, homeschoolers! If you’ve been discouraged lately, know that I can relate. I’ve been through a season that has diminished my courage to keep podcasting, writing, and building relationships. I went through similar seasons while homeschooling. Watch on YouTube Sponsor: NIV Application Bible There are three lies the enemy tells us that can deflate us and three responses that can get us homeschooling courageously again. Before I share them I want to thank the NIV Application Bible for sponsor...

Hey, homeschoolers! In 2019, I started a monthly podcast series I called the Trust Project. I wanted us to focus on how to trust God in multiple areas of our lives. Today, though, I’d like to check in with you–not by asking whether you’re trusting God in your homeschool, for your kids, for your health, and so on–but by asking you WHAT you’re trusting in. Life can be very difficult when we trust in something other than God. We may live in constant fear. We don’t have peace or joy. And we are un...

Hey, homeschoolers! How to help an anxious, frustrated, or bored child is the most common question I get. In this episode, I’ll share a three-step approach you can use to help your child manage any negative emotion. Watch on YouTube Summary In this episode, Melanie Wilson addresses the common concern of homeschooling parents regarding their child’s ability to manage emotions. She emphasizes that emotional struggles should be seen as skill deficits rather than character flaws. Melanie highligh...

Hey, homeschoolers! Are you overwhelmed? Is it embarrassing to be overwhelmed this early in the year? I can empathize. I’ve been feeling the same way, even though I’m a homeschool business owner and not teaching this fall. I asked the Lord for wisdom and I wrote down three steps we can take to get out of overwhelm now. I already feel so much better after taking them, and I pray that you will too. SPONSOR: NOW Programs Before I share more, I want to thank NOW Programs for sponsoring the podcast...

How to Have a Better Homeschool Year Want a better homeschool year—but without buying a new curriculum, rebuilding your schedule, or starting over from scratch? Sometimes the biggest homeschool changes don’t begin with a planner or a new routine. They begin with a mindset shift. In this episode of the Homeschool Sanity Show, Melanie Wilson shares a simple but powerful strategy called “What’s Better” to help homeschool moms improve self-image, reset negative thinking, and move through challenge...

Hey, homeschoolers! Will you have a preschooler this year or next? Do you know someone who wonders how to homeschool a preschooler? If so, this episode is for you or your friend. I’ll be sharing how I started teaching preschool, how I changed my approach with experience, and what I would do if I were homeschooling my preschool grandchildren. Watch on YouTube Sponsor: CTC Math Are you looking for a new Math Curriculum? CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-s...

Hey, homeschoolers! If you’re not where you expected to be in your homeschool, I’ve got you. In this episode, you’ll learn why we find ourselves on a detour, how we can get even more off track, and 5 tips for reaching our destination quickly. Watch on YouTube First, let’s define a homeschool detour. Detours for our purposes can be taking the same route we planned, but it’s taking far longer than we thought. This was the most common detour for me. I experienced a version of it every one of my 2...

Do you lack confidence as a homeschool mom? A number of moms on the Homeschool Sanity Facebook page have commented that they do. This is The Homeschool Sanity Show, the episode where we discuss how we can have more confidence as homeschool moms this year. Hey, homeschoolers! Before we dive into the topic of mom confidence, I’d like to thank CTC Math for sponsoring this episode. Sponsor Finding a math curriculum that works for your family can be a challenge! With CTCMath, all of your kids from...

If you have a child whose creativity and confidence you’d love to encourage, this episode is for you! I chat with Bethany Baldwin of MAD Society Inc. about her ingenious approach to homeschool theater: The surprising benefits of theater—even if your child isn’t a “theater kid” How to start a homeschool drama club with zero experience Why student-led performances can spark confidence and creativity in every child Ready to be inspired? Watch or listen now! Watch on YouTube Read the Transcript...

There are three words that can ruin your day: What’s for dinner? We make a decision, shop for a meal, prepare it, and almost before the kitchen is cleaned, these family members of ours are back for more. For help with meal planning, you’ll want to listen to my discussion with guest Allison Schaaf. Allison is the founder and CEO of Prep Dish, a meal-planning service that helps busy individuals and families save time while enjoying healthy, stress-free meals. As a registered dietitian and traine...

Hey, homeschoolers! I recently chatted with a guest about the conflict Christian homeschoolers can have with Hollywood’s content. But we can also use the media we consume as a family to deepen relationships and teach our values. This week my guests are Nathan and D’Lytha Myers. Nathan is a set designer for The Chosen, and D’Lytha is a trained musical theater performer. Together they have created a God-honoring kids’ film that combats today’s culture of confusion, rebellion, and moral drift—not ...

A homeschool mom wrote to ask me where my episode on gamifying your homeschool was. The problem is I don’t have one! But I thought it was a fantastic idea. This is The Homeschool Sanity Show, the episode where we talk about making our homeschooling more like a fun, motivating game. Sponsor Finding a math curriculum that works for your family can be a challenge! With CTCMath, all of your kids from K-12 can learn at their own pace with one family subscription. That’s right! With a CTCMath member...

Thank you to the Harper Collins NIV Application Bible for sponsoring the podcast. Hey, homeschoolers! So often I learn about great ideas that I wish I’d had when I was still homeschooling. Today’s topic of starting or joining a parent-child book club is no exception. If you’re using Grammar Galaxy or would like to, starting a Grammar Galaxy book club is a fantastic idea. Make sure you’re subscribed to FunToLearnBooks.com so you’re notified of our Prime Days sale for significant savings on Gramm...

Hey, homeschoolers! As we are solidly into the school year, you may be experiencing some challenges. I want to share the top five struggles I dealt with in my 25+ years of homeschooling and how I dealt with them or would deal with them today. My hope is that you will feel normal if a psychologist and mother of six had the same issues that you do. My hope is also to encourage you that you can overcome these difficulties. You absolutely can! Watch on YouTube 1. Keep the house in order My first st...

Hey, homeschoolers! If you have a tween son or daughter, you may wonder what happened to your baby! I know I had that experience. If you need wisdom and encouragement for parenting tweens, there is no better place to turn after praying than my friend Tara Lee Felix. Lee is a champion of others, a certified conversion copywriter, and a hybrid homeschooling mom of five. As the founder of Created Social and Like Minded Musings, she blends nearly two decades of parenting with over a decade of experi...

Hey homeschoolers! I knew that reading the Bible in the context of its Hebrew roots could make it come alive. But I was still surprised by my reaction to what I learned from my guest on this topic. If you long for you and your kids to be more engaged with scripture, you’ll want to hear from him too. David Necruitman is the founder of Biblical Excavations.and an advisor to The Chosen. He is a renowned speaker, author, and teacher, bringing a fresh and insightful perspective on the Hebraic roots o...

Hey, homeschoolers! Are your kids connecting with their grandparents and other elders? There is so much to be gained from intergenerational relationships as my guest can attest to. Grandparent Podcast Guest: Isabel Tom Isabel is a mother of three, the author of The Value of Wrinkles, and a professional serving the older adult population. She was raised in an intergenerational home and is passionate about improving these family relationships. I loved our chat and wished I had met Isabel when m...

Hey, homeschoolers! It’s finally summer here. If you’re anything like me, you use the summer to review your homeschooling approach. What worked, what didn’t, and what will you do this year? One approach that I was interested in (and I know many of you are too) is homeschooling along the way, less dependent on curriculum. If you are interested in unschooling, I know you’ll enjoy hearing from my guest, Danielle Papageorgiou. Podcast Guest: Danielle Papageorgiou Danielle is married to Jon and to...

Hey, homeschoolers! Last week my guest and I talked about finding a homeschool community. Often our biggest concern is helping our kids make friends. But what about us? We need friends too. I might not have made it without the homeschool mom friendships I had. If you’re interested in developing new friendships, you’ll love my chat with Kristen Strong. Kristen, whose authored books include Girl Meets Change and When Change Finds You, also compiled the 90-day devotional, Praying Through Lonelines...

Sponsor Thank you to NOW programs for sponsoring this episode of the Homeschool Sanity Show. Hey homeschoolers, you can homeschool apart from a community, but why would you want to? Although online communities have helped connect homeschoolers around the world, most of us desire a local community. Local communities can answer our questions about activities and services, and they provide a source of friendships for us and our kids. My guest today is Morgan Bergstrom, founder of BaseCampEd, a n...

Thank you to NOW Programs for sponsoring this episode of the Homeschool Sanity Show. Hey, homeschoolers! One of my most popular talks at Great Homeschool Conventions was “The Anger Antidote for Homeschool Parents.” I understand why. My anger was a stronghold in my life that I just couldn’t seem to overcome. Although I believe this talk is chock full of inspiration, it’s light on tools. That’s why I was excited to connect with Amber Lia. Amber is a certified independent health coach, a homescho...