Real Homeschool Moms Plan Their Year
In this episode, I am joined by homeschool mom Courtney Guarnieri to explore the dynamic balance between structured and unstructured activities in homeschooling. This is the first in a series of interviews featuring real homeschool moms discussing their planning processes. Courtney shares insights into the nuances of homeschooling in New York, including the challenges and perception of homeschooling in this state. We'll also discuss our favorite personal tips for planning out your homeschool year and various scheduling methods, such as the "magic number" and periodic break weeks. Through...
Five Steps to a Fabulous Summer Plan
Ah summer. Swimming pools, ice cream, and hours free to get bored do what you want. I loved summer because our days are more relaxed. I love a break from the structured school time and the feeling of needing to get a litany of school work accomplished each day. But if I am not careful our summers turn into a marathon of cartoons, video games, and YouTube (Does anyone else's kids like to look up their current passion on YouTube and watch all the videos?) This summer I have decided to try and stop those activities before they even begin. We are taking about eight weeks off our homeschool...
YMB 136 Finding Freedom in Your Homeschool Schedule
In this episode of the Your Morning Basket podcast, host Pam Barnhill discusses the importance of creating a flexible homeschool schedule that aligns with your family's values and goals. Pam shares practical tips and tools for overcoming the challenges of feeling overwhelmed by all the subjects, avoiding falling behind and building margin into your homeschool schedule. Pam encourages listeners to embrace rabbit trails and unexpected learning opportunities, as well as to build in margin to allow for emergencies or unexpected events. She also...
YMB 135 Measuring Success as a Homeschooler
In this episode of the Your Morning Basket podcast, host Pam Barnhill discusses how to assess learning in your homeschool Morning Time. She explains the importance of setting goals, self-assessment, parent observation, and real-world application in evaluating your children's progress. In this episode of the Your Morning Basket podcast, host Pam Barnhill discusses how to assess learning in your homeschool Morning Time. However, she emphasizes that non-traditional methods of assessment, such as building relationships and fostering a love for learning, are just as important in evaluating the...
Empowering Kids with Essential Life Skills
In this episode of the Ten Minutes to a Better Homeschool podcast, host Pam Barnhill talks with Katie Kimball, the National Voice of Healthy Kids Cooking and founder of the Kids Cook Real Food e-course, about the LifeSkills Summer Camp. This free online camp offers families the opportunity to learn life skills from a team of experts, including workshops on cooking, gardening, financial independence, communication, coping skills, stress management, and more. Kimball discusses the importance of teaching kids life skills and how parents can make the most of their summertime to teach these...
How to Salvage a Homeschool Curriculum That’s Not Working
As homeschool moms, we all want the perfect curriculum that our kids will love and will guarantee their success. We spend countless hours researching and evaluating different options to find the best fit for our families. However, no matter how much time we spend, sometimes the curriculum doesn't work out the way we hoped it would. Our child struggles to understand the material, and we feel like we're failing as homeschoolers. But don't despair! Here are some practical tips for salvaging a homeschool curriculum that's not working for your child. With a few adjustments and a positive...
YMB #134 How Morning Time Changed My Homeschool: A Conversation with Barbara Cozens
In this episode, we talk to Barbara, a homeschooling mom who shares her experience with implementing Morning Time into her homeschooling routine. Barbara talks about her journey to discovering Morning Time and how she initially struggled with finding resources to use. She shares how Morning Time has helped her create a connection with her children, and how it has become a grounding and warming up exercise for the day. Barbara also talks about how she uses Morning Time to bring in other aspects of learning, such as grammar and history. Links and resources from today’s show: Resources...
Why More And More Families Are Choosing To Homeschool Their Kids
As a homeschooling parent, I've always been curious about why families homeschool their children. According to recent statistics from the National Center for Education, homeschooling has seen a significant rise in popularity. In 2021, approximately 11% of US households with school-aged children were homeschooling, which is up from 5.4% in 2019, translating to roughly 2.5 million American children who are currently being homeschooled. The reasons for homeschooling are many, but it's essential to do some soul-searching and not make the decision out of fear. Fear of the education system or...
Inspiring Homeschool Moms with the Learning Well Journal
In this episode of The 10 Minutes to a Better Homeschool Podcast, Pam Barnhill speaks with Alicia Hutchinson, the founder of Learning Well Community and Learning Well Journal, about the importance of print magazines in today's digital age. Alicia shares her two-fold mission behind the quarterly print magazine, which covers four topics: home, homeschool, faith, and family. She also explains how each issue is themed around a verse in scripture and contains a mix of practical advice, inspirational articles, and fun projects. Throughout the conversation, Pam and Alicia emphasize the...
YMB #133 How to Add Fun to Your Homeschool Day
In this episode of the Your Morning Basket podcast, host Pam Barnhill interviews Mystie Winckler, creator of Simply Convivial and author of The Convivial Homeschool. They discuss the importance of creating a convivial atmosphere in the home while homeschooling and how it leads to greater enjoyment and success in learning. Mystie emphasizes that the atmosphere of the home is the atmosphere of homeschooling and that it is essential for mothers to put a smile on their faces and enjoy homeschooling to create an enjoyable atmosphere. They also discuss practical tips for adding joy...