Episodes

Hey, homeschoolers! It should be easy to teach life skills in our homeschools. The kids are cooking with us, cleaning with us, and even doing home repairs with us. But sometimes academics, activities, and daily life get in the way. We have good intentions, but before we know it, Junior is on his own driving the car with no oil in it. Don’t ask why I’m using that as an example. My guest today, Katie Kimball of Kids Cook Real Food, has joined me before to talk about teaching cooking skills. But t...

Hey, homeschoolers! Does your child struggle with self-control? Judging by the response to my session on self-control at the Great Homeschool Conventions, I’m going to guess that the answer for many is yes. Self-control is an overarching concept that includes emotion management and control of what we say and do. It means that our child can say no to their desires that can have immediate or long-term negative consequences–especially when in challenging situations. Parents who want to talk to me ...

We know that Hollywood is not our friend when it comes to raising the next generation, but Craig DeHut is. He is the co-founder and COO of Appian Media. What sets Appian Media apart is their three-pronged approach, accuracy, professional production, and free accessibility. This commitment reflects their mission to remove barriers to the gospel. Appian Media’s success is evident not just through awards and views, but in its profound impact on individuals. With nine million YouTube views and globa...

Watch on YouTube Before I introduce her and our chat, I want to thank CTC Math for sponsoring the podcast. Learn more at CTCMath.com. Felice is an author and the founder of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network and the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network. Felice is a life-long Catholic Christian who loves and serves the Lord, Jesus Christ. She is a graduate of Florida Southern College and a former teacher with a degree in Elementary Education, Learning Disabilities and Early Childhood Educati...

Hey, homeschoolers! Are you wondering how AI can make homeschooling easier or are you concerned about using it? In either case, I have you covered. I have been using AI more and more in my business and personal life. I talk to people who are confused or curious about it, so I thought it would be fun to create a podcast on the topic using AI as much as possible to create the episode. AI generated the title, the script, and the b-roll or background video for the YouTube version you can check out a...

Introduction: In this episode, I address the common concern of homeschooling parents trying to juggle too many tasks, curriculum, and activities in their homeschooling journey. I outline six telltale signs that indicate you might be taking on more than you can handle and provides valuable insights for finding a healthier balance. Watch on YouTube SPONSOR: NOW Programs Visit Now Programs to learn about their resources for specials-needs students. Visit funtolearnbooks.com/samples to try a free...

Do you love Charlotte Mason’s approach to education? This is the Homeschool Sanity Show, the episode where I explain why I think Charlotte Mason would approve of my unique approach to teaching language arts and why you might want to consider adding it to your studies this year. Sponsor: NOW Programs Learn more about how NOW Programs can help you homeschool a special-needs student. Charlotte Mason Approach If you love a Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling, I’m not surprised. Charlotte t...

Have you ever wondered if it’s possible (or legal) for your high school student to homeschool themselves? This is The Homeschool Sanity Show — the episode where guest Karla Marie Williams answers our questions about self-directed homeschooling. Karla Marie Williams has been a guest on this podcast before. She’s the author of multiple books, an international speaker, and a global advocate for children and families. She is also the President of BeBold Publishing, a publishing company that launche...

Hey, homeschoolers! I think media literacy is a course we should consider including in our high school curriculum plan. When I learned that friend Nate Noorlander was teaching a class on it, I asked him to rejoin me on the podcast to discuss it. Nate gave me a new perspective that I hope blesses you as it did me. Watch on YouTube Sponsor: Judson College JudsonCollege.com/Visit Takeaways Media literacy is an important skill for high school students to navigate the internet safely and critical...

Hey, homeschoolers! I experienced a few types of math motivation problems with my kids: reluctance to learn math, reluctance to memorize math facts, and reluctance to prep for the math portion of college entrance exams. If you’re struggling with math motivation, I have a guest who can help. Dennis DeNoia is better known as Mr. D., the math teacher. Several of my kids had him as an instructor and adored him. I met him in person at a Great Homeschool Convention eight years ago. He is one of the mo...

At a recent Great Homeschool Convention, a mom asked me for the best way to have her son’s books published. This is the best time in history to become a published author. That’s because you no longer have to convince a publisher that receives thousands of manuscripts a year to choose your book. Neither do you have to pay thousands of dollars to publish the book yourself. My guest today is Grace Walker, a homeschooled student who self-published her first book, Stardust, at just 14. You’re going ...

Hey, homeschoolers! This weekend I met a fellow homeschooler who was down about her homeschooled child’s rebellion. She wondered if homeschooling had even been worth it because of what was happening. I did my best to encourage her because I have been there. Because I haven’t addressed this topic on the podcast before, I wanted to share what I told her and even more if I had had the time. Watch on YouTube Introduction Before I start by sharing three key do’s and don’ts for teen rebellion, I wan...

Hey, homeschoolers! I loved having Dana K. White of A Slob Comes Clean on the podcast to discuss the container concept for clutter. If you missed that one, it’s gold. When I heard she had a new book coming out, I jumped at the chance to have her back. I was especially intrigued because the book adds a faith-based perspective she hasn’t shared before. Watch on YouTube Sponsor: NOW Programs Visit NOW Programs for special-needs resources. Jesus Doesn’t Care About Your Messy House Have a happy h...

Hey, homeschoolers! Are you happy with your homeschool style or approach to education, or could it use an upgrade? In this episode, I’m going to share why we should up our homeschool style and three simple ways to do it. Watch on YouTube What is Homeschool Style? Although I’m not talking about your wardrobe, I will be using fashion as a metaphor. Homeschool style is the educational philosophy that guides the way you teach. Unit studies is the homeschool style I used at the beginning of our hom...

Hey, homeschoolers! I recently read Mark Forster’s book How to Get Everything Done and Still Have Time to Play and I absolutely loved it. It’s been another of his books that has been life-changing for me. In this episode, I want to share principles from the book that can help you accomplish your homeschool and other goals this year and have plenty of free time too. Watch on YouTube Sponsor NOW Programs for students with special needs. Defining Everything How can we possibly get everything do...

Organizing is a popular goal for the new year. If you’re a homeschooler wanting to get organized, it can be hard to know where to start. Consider the six areas I share in this podcast episode. SPONSOR: NOW Programs Have a child with learning challenges? NOW Programs offers help. Want to read the podcast as a blog post? READ HERE or SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES or ON STITCHER Links Airtable.com a comprehensive post about the best places buy/sell used curriculum Konmari method for folding clothes Plan ...

Hey, homeschoolers! I’m a time management/productivity enthusiast, which you know if you have my book, A Year of Living Productively. That book is the result of my experiments with more than 80 different productivity approaches. I did the reading and the experimenting to make the process of creating your own productivity formula faster. What I’ve discovered about has enabled me to write, speak, run a business, homeschool, maintain relationships, keep a home, and enjoy hobbies. But I’m never don...

Do you ever eat because you’re bored, anxious, or excited? The is the episode where we learn how to say goodbye to emotional eating so we can stay focused on homeschooling. Hey, homeschoolers! The problem with emotional eating for homeschooling parents is two-fold. We hate the consequences for ourselves and we hate even more the example it sets for our kids. But how can we get past it? Sponsor: NOW Programs http://nowprograms.com for your special-needs learners Podcast Guest: Barb Raveling ...

Hey, homeschoolers! How will you homeschool through the holiday season? There are many approaches that can work for you, but you’re most likely to feel good about the season when you’re intentional about it. I invited guest Katie Trent back to share with us some ideas for adjusting our homeschooling during the holidays. I also asked her about her new book that is a must-add-to-cart title. Watch on YouTube Before I get to our interview, I want to thank NOW Programs for sponsoring the podcast. S...

Hey, homeschoolers! When I began homeschooling, I thought I would have to teach reading on the couch. That’s a lot more comfortable for kids than at desks, but I didn’t know that I could do better–especially for my boys. Before I introduce my guest, I want to share this message from our sponsor, NOW Programs. Sponsor: NOW Programs https://www.nowprograms.com Podcast Guest: Stefanie Hohl Stefanie Hohl is an experienced educator specializing in early literacy and movement-based learning. She is ...

Hey, homeschoolers! When it comes to seeking a more relaxed homeschool, we can find numerous tips for adjusting our schedule and curriculum. But there is only one source for true rest. My guest today is going to share how we can find it. Watch on YouTube Before I introduce her, I’d like to thank our sponsor: CTC Math. Sponsor: CTC Math Are you looking for a new Math Curriculum? CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-sensory approach to learning. Favorably r...

Hey, homeschoolers! I was so excited about heaven as a little girl that I wasn’t afraid to die. My mother was freaked out and realized she needed to change her approach. What are you teaching your kids about heaven? As believers, we want what we teach to be biblical, but which aspects of heaven should we emphasize? Watch on YouTube I chatted about this topic with former guest Jordan Raynor, who has authored a new picture book for kids called The Royal in You. The YouTube version of our intervie...

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! September and all of its new-school-year excitement is behind us, leaving us to face a longer October. If you struggled to complete your plan (or to get your kids to complete the plan), you may be feeling a bit concerned. How will this month be better? Should you rely on push motivation? Do you need a new system? These are both issues I’ve discussed in recent episodes. Today, though, I want to help you determine if you truly have a motivation problem. If not, the solution ma...