Coffee With Carrie: Homeschool Podcast

The Coop (Jessica Carpinelli and Mandi McArthur) are back on the Coffee With Carrie Homeschool Podcast.  This time Carrie, Jessica, Mandi are sharing activities you can do to celebrate the First Day (and 1st Week) of "School."  Carrie and The Coop also share some fun, non-traditional ways to celebrate NOT going Back to School.  Transitioning from summer break to school mode can be a bit challenging.  Transitioning from tr...

Being a homeschool mom does not require a teaching credential, a masters in education, or an expertise in algebra.  Moms can homeschool without these things.  However, there is one thing you cannot homeschool without. It is a sense of humor.  In order to joyfully home educate, moms need to be able to laugh at themselves.  Moms need to laugh like Sarah did in Genesis 21:6.  "Sarah said, 'God has brought me laughter, and ev...

If you have constant battles over handwriting, composition, and/or math lessons, then check out this week's episode.  This week, Carrie explains Dyslexia's cousins:  Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia.  Students with Dysgraphia have extreme difficulties with written expression, fine motor coordination, and language processing.  People with dyscalculia have very poor number sense and may struggle with basic math skills like counti...

Why on earth do classical educators include Latin instruction in their homeschooling?  Even if you aren't a classical homeschooler, you may want to resurrect this "dead" language and teach it to your child.  In this week's episode, Carrie shares the advantages of learning Latin and then she shares simple and fun ways to teach it.  She also shares some of her favorite Latin resources, curriculum, and games.  Seiz...

Don't just survive while homeschooling.  It is time to thrive instead!  What is the secret to thriving instead of just surviving?  It isn't teaching with a particular methodology or using a specific curriculum.  The secret to thriving is living and learning in community!  In this week's episode, Carrie sits down again with Christina Carpenter, speaker, blogger, coach, homeschool mom, and organizer of Bloom & Blos...

Do want or need a summer break but dread the fall out when formal school or lessons begin?  Are your kids whining this summer that they are bored?  Have no fear! Create a summer rhythm that will carry you through the summer and into the school year.  In this week's episode, Carrie shares some simple and fun things you can do during the summer break to make "school time" easier in the fall and that will tame the "...

Homeschooling is full of different transitions.  If not managed correctly, these different transitions times can be quite stressful.  In this week's episode, Carrie shares ideas for making the five most common homeschool transition times smoother and more enjoyable:  

1. Transitioning from one activity to another
2. Transitioning from long breaks back into school mode
3. Transitioning from middle school work into high school level wor...

What does the Bible and creation teach us about Sabbath living? We all need true rest but how do we achieve it?  Where can we find examples to follow?  In this week's episode, Carrie talks with Erin Lynum, master naturalist and author of the new book, The Nature of Rest, to answer some of these questions.  Carrie and Erin discuss how to return to God’s original pattern of rest and work, how to experience daily rest, how to pra...

It is Homeschool Convention Season!  This week Carrie is updating a previous Coffee With Carrie Homeschool Podcast episode that will help you navigate the homeschool curriculum exhibit hall and will help you get the most out of your homeschool convention experience.  In the first half of this episode, Carrie shares her "Plan of Attack" and advice for surviving the Convention Exhibit Hall. In the second half of this episod...

Yes, there are four important "Coffee Dates" every believer, wife, mother, and home educator should make as a priority.  These one-on-one dates will help you build your relationship with God, your spouse, your children, and your friends.  This is one coffee date you don't want to miss.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and join Carrie for a little coffee and conversation about which coffee dates you s...

Should you include foreign language instruction in your homeschooling?  If so, which one?  What if you don't fluently speak a second language?  Can you competently teach your child French, Spanish, Mandarin, or German if you only speak English?  The answer to all of these questions is YES!  The sooner you start, the better the outcome but don't worry, it's never too late to introduce a new language and a new culture ...

Are you thinking about homeschooling but have tons of questions?  Are you bombarded with questions about your homeschooling decision but not sure how to answer them?  Then make sure you listen to this week's  coffee break!  In this week's episode, Carrie and her guests, Mandi McArthur and Jessica Carpinelli answer the most common questions about home education.  Mandi McArthur and Jessica Carpinelli are the co-authors of ...

This spring, ramble down a few rabbit trails and jump into a few rabbit holes with your kids.  In this little coffee break, Carrie shares the importance and simplicity of following the interests God has placed in your child's heart.  After 20+ years of homeschooling, Carrie finally learned to respect the rabbit holes and to appreciate rambling down a few rabbit trails.  In this week's episode, Carrie shares how to embrace...

Are you in a homeschooling learning rut?  Do you need to jump start your lessons and reignite your child's love of learning?  If so, then try inserting a few Theme Days into your homeschooling.  What are Theme Days?  They are a fun, fast, and easy way to get your students excited about learning while focusing on one particular theme or topic for a day.  In this week's episode, Carrie explains what Theme Days are and gives...

Can you work full time or part time and homeschool?  Can you homeschool and work from home or run your own business?  The answer is YES and you can even earn some extra income while homeschooling.  It is possible if you change your mind set and get a little creative!  In this week's episode, Carrie helps working moms think outside the box so they can earn an income and homeschool too.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your f...

You have heard the mind-boggling statistics about technology and social media use. The numbers don’t lie; our obsession with smartphones and social media is slowly eroding the very essence of our homes and families. You see it. You feel it. You know it.  So what do we do about it? Opt out!  I know! It's easier said than done.  This week Carrie talks with Erin Lochner, NY Best Seller Author and founder of "The Opt Out Move...

Easter and Passover are just around the corner.  Do you celebrate Passover as part of your Easter traditions?  Celebrating biblical feasts as believers can enrich our understanding of Jesus and God's plan for salvation and they are steeped in rich traditions. As with all biblical festivals, Passover foreshadows the coming of Jesus, our Deliverer and our Savior.  In this week's episode, Carrie talks with Michelle Akrami, f...

Charlotte Mason for the Rest of Us has a double meaning. It’s for those of you who, for whatever reason, aren’t fully disciplined (you may have failed your own CM habit training), don’t want to be a CM purist, or who have kids who can't sit still for print studies, who make bodily noises while reading living books, and/or who hate tea and poetry.  If this sounds like you, don't feel guilty!  Implementing Miss Mason’s phil...

It's time to talk to your kids about porn. It's a hard conversation but an important one to have.  In this week's episode, Carrie talks with Greta Eskridge about her new book, It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity.  It's never too early and it's never too late to talk to your kids about sexual integrity, the dangers of pornography,...