The
How to Homeschool
Podcast
Available where you listen to podcasts.
Episode 0 About this Podcast
Enjoy this quick introduction to The How to Homeschool Podcast. Listen to us every Wednesday wherever you go for your podcasts. Be sure to leave us a review and let us know what you'd like to hear us cover in the podcast!
Episode 1 How to Homeschol, Part 1
Let's get down to it - you want to homeschool but you have no idea where to start. I've got you covered in this first episode in my How to Homeschool series.
In this episode you'll learn 3 of the first things you'll want to consider when you're thinking about homeschooling: finding out your state homeschool laws, figuring out how to set up your homeschool and choosing your curriculum.
I also bust the myth that you can't work if you homeschool!
Finally, you'll discover the top challenge that all homeschoolers grapple with and how to over come it.
One of the key benefits of homeschoooling is the ability to teach your child to think critically. You can truly help your child to move toward critical thinking versus memorizing just to pass a test. Grab my audio download, Teaching Your Child to Think to learn how to raise your child's analytical skills.
Join my Facebook group, How to Homeschool, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
For videos and articles on homeschooling and education, follow me here:
Episode 2 How to Homeschool, Part 2
In this part two of my 3 part How to Homeschool series, we dive into how you should define your homeschooling goal sand how to use assessments to best provide the level of course work that your child needs.
If you are on the fence about homeschooling because you think you lack the patience - think again! I'll share with you the key strategy you'll need to get past your concern about having enough patience. Here I'll share a secret: its OK if you're not perfect.
One of the awesome things about homeschooling is that you don't have to be beholden to anyone else's schedule. Every family is uniqe and your homeschooling schedule should be based on your family's needs.
If you've listened to episode 1, you'll be ready to ready to put together your schedule with tips from this second episode.
A key benefits of homeschoooling is the ability to teach your child to think critically. You can truly help your child to move toward critical thinking versus memorizing just to pass a test. Grab my audio download, Teaching Your Child to Think to learn how to raise your child's analytical skills.
Join my Facebook group, How to Homeschool, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
For videos and articles on homeschooling and education, follow me here:
Episode 3 How to Homeschool, Part 3
The final episode in my 3 part How to Homeschool series covers the big question - how do you socialize homeschooled kids? This is probably the most asked, and the most irritating, inquiry that a homeschooling parent receives! In fact, this very question may be what's keeping you from homeschooling. Stay tuned to learn why socialization is not a problem . . if you are intentional.
We also discuss the mysterious "deschooling" that is recommended for kids who are pulled out of school, especially when a child is pulled out suddenly during the school year. We'll discuss what it is, how to do it and how long to deschool for you and your child.
And lastly, we'll talk about how to incorporate learning into every day life.
If you are considering homeschooling but need help getting organized and running, reach out to me here! I offer homeschool coaching to get you started on a successful homeschooling journey.
One of the key benefits of homeschoooling is the ability to teach your child to think critically. You can truly help your child to move toward critical thinking versus memorizing just to pass a test. Grab my audio download, Teaching Your Child to Think to learn how to raise your child's analytical skills.
Join my Facebook group, How to Homeschool, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
For videos and articles on homeschooling and education, follow me here:
Episode 4 You Don't have to be Pinterest Mom to Homeschool
Who doesn't love scrolling through Pinterest, looking at all the beautiful homeschool rooms, the intricate crafts and the endless possibilities of how glorious your homeschool environment could be?
But then you put your phone down and look at your dining room table, strewn with books, loose papers, random legos and other disorganized, non-beautiful signs of your attempts to home educate your children.
You may even look in the kitchen and find dishes piled up because, after all, everyone has been at home all day, the kids have been doing their school work and you've been busy doing your own thing.
Sometimes we can feel like we are doing something terribly wrong when our homeschool doesn't look like the rooms on Pinterest. Or like the one our very creative and crafty neighbor down the street has put together.
This episode will help you to relax and feel confident in your homeschooling efforts even if everything isn't perfect. Even if your homeschool set up looks nothing like what can be found on Pinterest. Or in your neighbor's house.
So clear a spot on your sofa, put your feet up on the coffee table (or the laundry basket containing last week's clean laundry), get your favorite hot drink and unwind while you listen to this episode.
One of the key benefits of homeschoooling is the ability to teach your child to think critically. You can truly help your child to move toward critical thinking versus memorizing just to pass a test. Grab my audio download, Teaching Your Child to Think to learn how to raise your child's analytical skills.
Join my Facebook group, How to Homeschool, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
For videos and articles on homeschooling and education, follow me here:
Episode 5 You Don't Need a Teaching Degree to Homeschool Your Kids
Are you thinking of homeschooling but you don’t think you’re qualified to do it?
Or are you concerned that you’re going to miss teaching your kid that one thing that is going to ruin their education?
Maybe you really want to homeschool but those close to you aren’t being supportive.
Believe or not, these are things that veteran homeschooling parents deal with all the time. No matter how long you’ve been homeschooling, doubt and worry will creep in.
In this episode, I talk with Mary Jo Dean, Co-Founder of Great Homeschool Conventions, and veteran homeschooling mom of 3 adult children.
Whether you are new to homeschooling or have been homeschooling for years, Mary Jo’s words of wisdom and encouragement will both inspire and motivate you to follow your heart and continue on your homeschooling journey.
We cover a lot of ground in this one, including:
Most importantly, Mary Jo shares how she overcame the feelings of inadequacy that every homeschooling parent grapples with.
This is an episode that you don’t want to miss. Be sure to forward to your friends and family that are thinking about homeschooling or who are questioning your decision to homeschool. I guarantee they’ll learn something!
One of the key benefits of homeschoooling is the ability to teach your child to think critically. You can truly help your child to move toward critical thinking versus memorizing just to pass a test. Grab my audio download, Teaching Your Child to Think to learn how to raise your child's analytical skills.
Join my Facebook group, How to Homeschool, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
For videos and articles on homeschooling and education, follow me here:
Episode 6 Homeschool Spanish Academy with Founder and CEO, Ron Fortin
Do you want your kids to learn a second language? Do your high schoolers need to take two years of a second language for college admissions? Are you traveling to a Spanish speaking country and would like to be able to communicate with the locals?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’ve come to the right place!
My kids are in their second year with Homeschool Spanish Academy so I thought I would review it for you and give you tons of information to help you learn more about the program.
In this episode, I interview Homeschool Spanish Academy CEO and Founder, Ron Fortin. Ron shares his fascinating journey to creating Homeschool Spanish Academy and then we jump into:
[8:00] Details about the Homeschool Spanish Academy program
[16:00] Teacher certification, school accreditation and high school credit that is accepted by colleges and universities
[22:00] How the program also accommodates non-homeschooling families, adults and businesses
[25:00] How homeschooling co-ops can use the Homeschool Spanish Academy program
[27:00] Individual and family lessons
[29:00] Whether your kids take Spanish instead of Latin
. . . .and more!
One of the key benefits of homeschoooling is the ability to teach your child to think critically. You can truly help your child to move toward critical thinking versus memorizing just to pass a test. Grab my audio download, Teaching Your Child to Think to learn how to raise your child's analytical skills.
Join my Facebook group, How to Homeschool, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
For videos and articles on homeschooling and education, follow me here:
Homeschool Spanish Academy Links:
Link to free class: https://try.spanish.academy/
Link to homepage: https://www.spanish.academy
Episode 7 Should You Use Book Lists in your Homeschool?
In an effort to ensure that their kids are covering all the necessary academic material, homeschoolers will often turn to book lists. You know, that list of “great books” that all kids should read.
Some homeschoolers cling religiously to their book lists. While others eschew book lists and choose a different route.
Which approach is the right one?
In this episode, I talk about why I don’t use booklists, the benefits of using a book list, why finding diverse literature is important for all children and considerations for finding a book list.
One of the key benefits of homeschoooling is the ability to teach your child to think critically. You can truly help your child to move toward critical thinking versus memorizing just to pass a test. Grab my audio download, Teaching Your Child to Think to learn how to raise your child's analytical skills.
Join my Facebook group, How to Homeschool, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
For videos and articles on homeschooling and education, follow me here:
Episode 8 How to Start a Homeschooling Group
Building community is one of the most important things you can do as a homeschooling family. When I speak at homeschooling conventions, I invariably am asked how to start a homeschool group for various reasons. In this episode, I talk to Amber O’Neil Johnston, founder of Heritage Homeschoolers in Atlanta, GA about how she started her group.
Amber is a homeschooling mom of 4 and business owner, who found herself in need of something that didn’t exist – a black homeschooling group in her county. Thinking she would find success if she could find 5 or so other families in her area, Amber’s group grew to over 90 families in only 2 years. An example of how there are always people out there for us to build community with, we just need to position ourselves to find them.
During this interview, Amber shares what led her to homeschool, how she discovered her need for a new homeschooling group (she was already, and continues to be, a member of several other homeschooling groups) and she details exactly how she started her homeschool group.
4:30 About Amber and her life in corporate america
6:00 How Amber grew her business organically
8:00 What led Amber to homeschool her children
10:00 How she overcame the fear that she wasn’t capable of homeschooling her children
15:00 What led her to start her homeschool group (a must-hear for moms of African American children!)
18:00 Why community is important
22:00 Starting the Community
29:00 Homeschool communities and African American boys
32:30 Mechanics of how she started her homeschool group (exactly what she did and her thought process)
39:30 Recommendations for getting started
44:00 What to do if you can’t find a group you need
Links from the Episode:
One of the key benefits of homeschoooling is the ability to teach your child to think critically. You can truly help your child to move toward critical thinking versus memorizing just to pass a test. Grab my audio download, Teaching Your Child to Think to learn how to raise your child's analytical skills.
Join my Facebook group, How to Homeschool, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
For videos and articles on homeschooling and education, follow me here:
Episode 9 Improving Your Child's Behavior and Executive Functioning
Your child can’t stay on task. Your son is impulsive. Your daughter has poor short-term memory. You have a child who has been diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, ODD or any number of the alphabet cocktails that kids are being labeled with today. As a parent, all you want are answers. You just want to know how you can help your child.
Today’s episode explores taking a neurodevelopmental approach to tackling the symptoms that can lead to many of these diagnoses. Dr. Jan Bedell, a neurodevelopmental expert and founder of Little Giant Steps, discusses how we can help most children improve in their information acquisition and storage, which will directly impact their ability to stay on task, keep and follow checklists, improve reading and math skills and more.
Be sure to make the time to listen to this eye-opening episode!
3:15 What is executive functioning?
6:00 Labeling children vs dealing with symptoms
12:00 How to help kids stay on task
20:00 Examples of things you can do today to help with auditory processing
23:00 Why infants need tactile stimulation
25:30 Examples of things you can do today to help with short term memory storage
30:00 How Improving executive functioning can help improve test scores
33:30 Working with learning styles
35:00 How building new neural pathways helps the brain function better
38:00 Programs that could help develop executive functioning
43:00 Why movement and tactile experience is so important for infants and young children
47:00 Free Resources
49:30 There is help for older children and adults
52:30 Labels
Links Discussed
YouTube @braincoachtips
Free Auditory Processing Test Kits: https://www.littlegiantsteps.com/auditory-processing
Free Math Facts Proficiency Recommendations: https://www.littlegiantsteps.com/math-proficiency
Visual Circle Math: https://www.brainsprints.com/math-proficiency/
To get a free consultation: https://www.littlegiantsteps.com/our-services
One of the key benefits of homeschoooling is the ability to teach your child to think critically. You can truly help your child to move toward critical thinking versus memorizing just to pass a test. Grab my audio download, Teaching Your Child to Think to learn how to raise your child's analytical skills.
Join my Facebook group, How to Homeschool, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
For videos and articles on homeschooling and education, follow me here:
Episode 10 Homeschool Meltdowns and How to Handle Them
As much as we all love the idea of homeschooling, the reality is that we all have "those days." You know, those days when the kids won't do anything you ask them to do, your house is a mess, nothing is going your way, nothing is getting done and you really just want to curl up in a ball and cry.
In this episode, I share with you my own experience with a meltdown day and I give you 3 strategies to use in order to get through it when you have those days.
One of the key benefits of homeschoooling is the ability to teach your child to think critically. You can truly help your child to move toward critical thinking versus memorizing just to pass a test. Grab my audio download, Teaching Your Child to Think to learn how to raise your child's analytical skills.
Join my Facebook group, How to Homeschool, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
For videos and articles on homeschooling and education, follow me here:
Episode 11 Homeschooling the Littles: Ages 3 through 6
Trying to figure out what to do with your littles? In this episode, Jennifer Howell-Stephens, Ph.D turned homeschooling mom of 5 year old twins, shares her experience with homeschooling her little ones. Jennifer is also a homesteader and founder of Sweet Peas 'n Carrots Homestead and a homeschooling Forest School that helps expose African American children to the beauty and wonder of nature and science.
This episode is chock full of great information for moms trying to figure out how to homeschool very young children while keeping the joy and curiosity of early childhood intact.
3:00 How Jennifer overcame her husband's objections to homeschooling
8:30 What Jennifer did with her 3 year olds
14:00 The importance of playing outside
22:00 What Jennifer did with her 4 year olds
31:00 About Jennifer's Forest School
37:00 Jennifer's Homesteading Classes at The Little Learning Farm
38:30 What Jennifer is doing with her 5 year olds
47:00 Scheduling the school day and week
57:00 Jennifer's plans for her 6 years olds
Discussed in this episode:
https://www.instagram.com/sweetpeasncarrotshomestead
Join my Facebook group, https://facebook.com/groups/howtostarthomeschooling, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
You can follow me here:
https://instagram.com/judysardenspeaker
https://youtube.com/judysarden
Episode 12 Homeschooling the Struggling Reader with Kristen Eckenwiler
Kristen Eckenwiler talks to us about all things reading in this episode. She shares what is developmentally appropriate, best teaching practices and how to figure out whether your child is a reluctant reader versus a struggling reader.
Highlights from this episode:
12:00 On you can’t teach your kids everything
14:00 What’s really important to teach
16:30 When is reading developmentally appropriate
27:00 Required reading vs leisure reading
33:30 Thoughts on the AR Reading system and assessing your child’s reading level
44:00 How to know when your child needs help
Mentioned Links:
https://www.thestrugglingreader.com
For free homeschooling downloads, visit my website at https://www.judysarden.com/homeschool
Join my Facebook group, https://facebook.com/groups/howtostarthomeschooling, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
You can follow me here:
https://instagram.com/judysardenspeaker
https://youtube.com/judysarden
Episode 13 Helping Your Child Acquire Math Facts Using the Rapid Recall System, with Dr. Jan Bedell
Math facts! The bane of many child’s (and parent’s) existence! Dr. Jan Bedell, Neuro Developmentalist, discusses her Rapid Recall System and a very different way of helping both neuro-typical and neuro-diverse children acquire math facts.
Links Discussed
YouTube @braincoachtips
Free Auditory Processing Test Kits: https://www.littlegiantsteps.com/auditory-processing
Free Math Facts Proficiency Recommendations: https://www.littlegiantsteps.com/math-proficiency
Visual Circle Math: https://www.brainsprints.com/math-proficiency/
To get a free consultation: https://www.littlegiantsteps.com/our-services
For free homeschooling audio downloads, visit my website at https://www.judysarden.com/homeschool
Join my Facebook group, https://facebook.com/groups/howtostarthomeschooling, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
You can follow me here:
https://instagram.com/judysardenspeaker
https://youtube.com/judysarden
Episode 14 How to Provide Your Child with a World Class Education
Educating your child should be about more than just academics that require a 7.5 hour school day and hours of homework, all in the name of being called "rigorous." Education should be about helping your child discover and pursue her passions and build a life for herself.
Wouldn't it be great if you could facilitate your child's education in a way that helps him to truly mold who he is and who he wants to be, without wasting time on busy work and tasks that simply will have no impact on his future?
And what if you could give this to your children and on a world class scale while instilling in them a real passion for learning?
Does such a thing even exist?
Yes, it does and its called homeschooling.
Let's explore the possibilities.
Links Mentioned in this episode:
https://judysarden.com/grouphomeschoolcoaching
Email me here: sardenquestions at gmail.com to discuss our exclusive one-on-one Concierge Level Homeschool Coaching program.
One of the key benefits of homeschoooling is the ability to teach your child to think critically. You can truly help your child to move toward critical thinking versus memorizing just to pass a test. Grab my audio download, Teaching Your Child to Think to learn how to raise your child's analytical skills.
Join my Facebook group, How to Homeschool, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
For videos and articles on homeschooling and education, follow me here:
https://judysarden.com/homeschool
https://youtube.com/judysarden
Twitter @ sadenjudy
Instagram and Facebook @judysardenspeaker
Episode 15 Interview with Chris Lane, Homeschooling Dad and Business Owner
So many people have asked for a dad's perspective on homeschooling and I am super excited to bring you this interview! Meet Chris Lane. He homeschools his kindergartener, is caring for his 18 month old and runs a successful fitness business.
You'll love hearing his perspective on juggling it all and especially the meal plans that he and his wife offer to help busy families shop for, prepare and pack nutritious meals for their kids on the go.
You can find Chris at his company website here:
If you are interested in working with Chris on meal plans for your kids, you can go here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/
For free homeschooling audio downloads, visit my website at
https://www.judysarden.com/homeschool
Join my Facebook group, https://facebook.com/groups/howtostarthomeschooling, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
You can follow me here:
https://instagram.com/judysardenspeaker
https://youtube.com/judysarden
Episode 16 College Admissions, Scholarships and Homeschooling High Schoolers
Are you homeschooling high school? Are you nervous about the prospect of homeschooling high school? Are you concerned about whether your homeschooled child will find it difficult getting into college, much less receive scholarships?
If any of these questions are looming in your mind, this is an absolutely must-listen episode! Joining me is Pam Andrews, founder of The Scholarship Shark. Pam brings her years of expertise in college admissions and winning scholarships for her clients. Even better, Pam is a homeschooling mom of 4. Pam’s oldest child, who was homeschooled throughout his K-12 education, was accepted to all 8 colleges to which he applied and was awarded over $700K in scholarships. That is not a typo, by the way.
Highlights for this episode are:
9:00 High school and transcript prep
14:00 Course planning for dual enrollment
16:00 Coming up with grades and a transcript
21:30 What’s most important
26:30 Volunteer work
28:00 Colleges are looking for “Intellectual Curiosity”
31:00 Hacking college credits
35:30 What colleges say about homeschoolers
36:30 Learn more about The Scholarship Shark and how Pam can help your child
40:00 Lessons learned
Links Mentioned in This Episode
http://www.mooc.org
https://www.edX.org
https://www.ocw.mit.edu
https://www.online.stanford.edu/courses
https://online-learning.harvard.edu
https://www.hslda.org/content/highschool/academics.asp
For free homeschooling audio downloads, visit my website at https://www.judysarden.com/homeschool
Learn how to provide your child with a world class education: https://www.judysarden.com/worldclasseducationlivenar
Join my Facebook group, https://facebook.com/groups/howtostarthomeschooling, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
You can follow me here:
https://instagram.com/judysardenspeaker
https://youtube.com/judysarden
Episode 17 Interview with Teresia Matthews, Entrepreneur and Homeschooling Mom
This interview with Teresia Matthews has something for everyone. Are you a homeschooling mom who wants to work from home? Are you a single homeschooling mom, wondering how to make it work? Are you trying to figure out how to get your hustle on so that you can stay home with you kids? Well, Teresia has done it all.
I am bringing this interview to you from my business coaching practice because it is so timely and relevant to so many homeschooling families who are trying to make it work financially.
Follow along on Teresia's journey as a recently divorced stay at home mom, then as a homeschooling mom and now as a married mom of two. For over 20 years Teresia has found a way to work for herself so that she can stay at home with her kids and pursue her vision of motherhood.
Teresia's New Company:
For free homeschooling audio downloads, visit my website at https://www.judysarden.com/homeschool
Learn how to provide your child with a world class education: https://www.judysarden.com/worldclasseducationlivenar
Join my Facebook group, https://facebook.com/groups/howtostarthomeschooling, to see videos, ask questions and join the conversation real time.
You can follow me here:
https://instagram.com/judysardenspeaker
https://youtube.com/judysarden
Episode 18 Recharging and Getting Over the Fear of Homeschooling
Are you thinking about homeschooling but have questions like: What if I don't know everything to teach my child? Or What if I can't give my child everything she needs? Or Do I have to quit my job? I address these questions and others in this episode.
Maybe you are currently homeschooling and are going through that winter slump that we all experience. What about burn out or that nagging suspicion that you are not doing enough? I talk about these, too, and give you strategies on how to push through it.
Want to talk about it some more? Join the Facebook Group How to Homeschool (https://facebook.com/groups/howtostarthomeschooling) to ask questions live, start a conversation and build a community.
You can also find resources on my website: https://www.judysarden.com/homeschool
You can follow me here:
https://instagram.com/judysardenspeaker
https://youtube.com/judysarden
Copyright 2019 Judy Sarden. All Rights Reserved
