HSP 41 Kristen Hochhalter: Secular Homeschooling
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Our last episode of the season features Kristen Hochhalter, a secular homeschooler. Kristen never thought she would homeschool, but as soon as some common misconceptions were blown out of the water, the doors of homeschooling possibilities began to open.
Kristen talks about all she has learned from homeschooling, secular homeschooling, and finding community. We get real for a bit as we admit failures, talk about asking for forgiveness, and being your kids’ first role model.
Join us and be encouraged to find community wherever it is you are. Remember, we’re all in this together.

Links and resources from today’s show:
- Teaching Stars
- Harry Potter
- Ann of Green Gables by L.M. MontgomeryÂ
- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- Winnie the Pooh audio
- Classical Conversations Communities
- The Homeschoolers Guide to the Galaxy
Teaching StarsHarry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7)
Anne of Green Gables (Black & White Classics)
The Secret Garden
Winnie-the-Pooh: A.A. Milne’s Pooh Classics, Volume 1
Classical Conversations
The Homeschoolers Guide to the Galaxy
&
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I am so happy you had a conversation about secular homeschooling! As a secular homeschooler myself, I find an overwhelming number of podcasts and podcast topics that have a Christ-centered vision. Like Kristen, I would like to raise my boys with an understanding of many world-views, not just a secular or Christian viewpoint. I really appreciate hearing from a fellow secular homeschooler and applaud your decision to allow this topic to be presented on your show. And I have the same fear Pam, about what the relationship will look like between me and my boys as they get older. Will they lose their respect for me? Will they think of me as some boring paper-pushing schoolmarm? As long as I have inspiring podcasts like yours to motivate me, I doubt it. Thank you again. A note for those who found this one enlightening: I wrote a blog post listing the secular homeschooling podcasts I have found and enjoy, and plan to write an updated blog this February, 2017. http://www.home-farm.org/secular-homeschooling-podcasts/
Alison – Thank you for your kind comment. My goal is to provide resources for all homeschoolers — no matter what their religious persuasion. 😉 While I myself am Christian, and many of my guests are as well, and that often comes across in our conversations, I hope that everyone can find something helpful or relatable in most of the podcasts.
I also wanted to thank you for including a secular homeschooler. Personally, I appreciate it very much.
I requested that a secular homeschool mom be interviewed on your lovely podcast. I was so excited to listen to this episode! It’s so nice to hear from someone coming from the same place. I enjoy all of your shows, but this one was so relatable for me. It’s refreshing to not feel quite so much like a minority within a minority. Thank you so much! I truly appreciate it.
We are always happy to include homeschoolers just because they homeschool. Send along some names you want to hear from — secular, grape flavored, Martian, whatever — and we will try to have them on. 🙂
I’d also like to thank you for specifically including a secular homeschooler. We’re Christian but we homeschool for secular reasons and use mostly secular materials, so I often feel caught in the middle!
Personally, I’d also love to hear from some more unschoolers 🙂
Thank you, great podcast, we are secular homeschoolers and loved listening to this!
I am a Brit and definitely agree that Pooh bear is written in a very British way and it is the way my grandparents spoke and people just don’t really speak that way anymore and you need an ear for it. I read the books to our kids (at 6 yrs & 4 yrs) and they LOVED them and I was asked to read them every day for weeks. My husband is not British and he tried reading them and he and my kids were just not into it!