Homeschool Made Simple

Carole sits down with founder of the Well-Read Mom ministry, Marcie Stokman, to chat about how her ministry got started and the purpose behind these communities.

Their mission says it all! “Well Read Mom accompanies women in the reading of great books and spiritual classics to encourage personal growth, friendship, and meaningful conversations in order to explore the human condition and reorient ourselves to what is good, beautiful...

One of the first questions many homeschooling families hear at family events or from public school friends is how will your children be socialized?"

In this replay episode, Kristi Woodard, homeschool mom of eight, joins us to share her and her husband, Jason, experiences with raising children who perfectly answer this question of socialization with their community involvement, warmth, and general popularity.

You'll hear about:

• Ho...

While the world presses in on us for children to learn to read in preschool and be able to do high-level math early on, the research shows it's actually better to slow down and wait for developmental readiness. In this encore episode, Carole shares about the work of Dr. Raymond Moore and his idea that late is better than early.

You'll hear:

- Why we need to look at the facts instead of the neighbors.

- The socialization our childr...

Sometimes we lose steam for homeschooling but we also can lose steam for breastfeeding. Both, it turns out, are so beneficial to our children! In the second part of our discussion with Lactation Consultant and Homeschooling Mama, Jill Seberger, we discuss the benefits of breastfeeding and how Jill has maintained this while homeschooling her large family. This episode will surely fan the flame to continue breastfeeding through diffi...

The early years of a child's life are crucial for bonding. Carole and Rachel sit down with Lactation Consultant and homeschool mom of 5 Jill Seberger. They discuss the importance of eye contact and skin-to-skin contact to the diverse ways of nurturing a strong parent-child connection, whether you are breastfeeding or not. This will surely encourage you towards a positive connection with your littles.

RESOURCES

+Jill Seberger’s Breast...

While an ideal marriage can't be guaranteed, we can learn to live with faithfulness in the covenant we have made as a husband or wife. In this replay episode, Carole and one her best friends, Anne Storm talk about part of Carole’s marriage journey to her husband, John. Truly, each of us carries a burden with us in life, and Carole is a walking testament to following the Lord in her difficult circumstance. Be encouraged!

RESOURCES

+Bu...

As Carole continues her conversation (see Episode 255) with homeschooling parents David and Audrey Ryan, she learns about their journey into doing life screen-free and how they initially struggled to unplug their children. However, they have seen real benefits in their children’s attitudes and behavior, such as improved family bonding and less conflict among their children. They love their new environment where children can explore...

Does homeschooling work for a child with special needs or learning differences? Carole sits down with David and Audrey Ryan to talk about their experiences with public school and their transition to homeschooling. They share how they have moved past standardized tests and rigid benchmarks, to create a custom, nurturing educational environment tailored to their child’s unique needs. Join us for this encouraging episode!

RESOURCES

+The...

The thing about being home all day with your family is that your house gets a lot of use and that can be a challenge. Rachel and Carole discuss homemaking and the importance of passing the skills on to our kids. They discuss focus, “baking therapy,” hospitality, and the whys behind shifting our attitudes about home-keeping. Join us!

RESOURCES

+Home Comforts: The Art and Comfort of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson

+Build Your Family’s...

Some states require state testing to happen every year for homeschooling families. In this episode, Carole and Rachel address families' concerns about standardized testing, especially in states where it is mandatory, and offer practical advice for preparing children without inducing anxiety. And reading to your children is a game-changer for doing well on those tests! Carole encourages parents to approach test days positively and g...

In this second conversation with Eryn Lynum of the Nat Theo Podcast, we discuss how to be outside in nature with our children. Is better to be in awe without much guidance or to point out all kinds of things in our natural world?

Eryn encourages new naturalists with some helpful tips to take your first few experiences into nature. She offers practical ideas like setting up bird habitats, utilizing your local library for nature books...

Rachel Winchester speaks with Eryn Lynum, naturalist and podcast host of the Nat Theo show, about how nature points us to our creator God.

They discuss the origins of modern scientific thought and how we as homeschool parents struggle with “teaching” or over-explaining nature.

This first of a two-part conversation gives you the whys behind Eryn’s focus on nature. Next week, we’ll dive into the how-to’s of nature exploration. Join u...

What a joy to be celebrating our 250th episode of Homeschool Made Simple with you. We so appreciate our listeners and our families! In this episode, Carole reminds us of that guiding our children to be people of good character and to follow the Lord is the foundation of the HMS method. Character is grown by being consistent in parenting, and encouraging families to be low-tech and nature-rich. More inspiration is here…listen in!

RES...

As our culture shifts and time goes on, it can be tough to find the great books we most love. Prepare yourself for a wonderful resource: Private Lending Libraries!

Carole and Kathleen Seeger from Madison, Wisconsin, discuss how these affordable treasure troves are assisting our homeschooling efforts with carefully curated collections of quality books (and many out-of-print books.) With budget-friendly memberships and quality-focused...

Are you feeling full of regret because of your curriculum choices this year? Carole and Rachel discuss this common scenario for us as homeschoolers. It’s time to cut your losses and carefully consider why the curriculum doesn’t work. Carole believes that not giving in to FOMO and taking a longer look at the curriculum before hitting the BUY button are good strategies for not repeating the mid-year curriculum blues. This is a must l...

In part 2 of Rachel’s conversation with homeschool mom of 4, Hanni Go shares her journey of breaking free from the pressure of following other homeschooling families. She has chosen to value relationships and nurturing her children over the academic rigor that others might expect. Carole’s proven teaching methods and the example of the many families who have used them have encouraged Hanni to ditch the comparison trap to see her ch...

Today Rachel talks with Hanni Go, a homeschooling mom of 4. Hanni talks us through the balancing act between nurturing relationships and academic pursuits. They discuss Hanni’s takeaways from one of Carole’s seminars that she attended because she needed a fresh perspective on homeschooling. We know you will relate to Hanni and hope this brings you fuel to press on!

RESOURCES

+Build Your Family’s Library: Grab our FREE book list here

+...

Carole Joy Seid and her son J. J. Seid continue their conversation about how dads, as servant leaders, play a vital role in setting the tone for the family. J.J. shares some wonderful stories and practical ideas about teaching kids to appreciate nature regularly, tackle hard work with enthusiasm, and build character through outdoor adventures. Fathers, let this episode inspire and guide you on how to enrich your homeschool experie...

Oftentimes we think of homeschooling as mom's gig, which is really unfortunate. It is so important for dads to be on board and for both husband and wife to have a shared vision for their children's education. In this episode, we discuss the variety of roles that dads can play in support of mom and as a model for our children. Share this episode with every homeschooling father you know!

RESOURCES

The Masculine Mandate: God's Calling t...