Episode Archives

How to help a Struggling Reader at Home

Today on The Modern Homeschool Podcast, I am diving into a topic that is near and dear to my heart and that is how to help a struggling reader. I’ll share how my daughter and I are working together and have been for years, to overcome her reading challenges. While there is no cure for dyslexia, and I am not a clinician, I can offer you suggestions about what i truly believe is working for our family.

Suggestions for helping your struggling reader at home:

1. Commit to using the program Lexia, for 15-20 minutes daily.

https://www.lexialearning.com/core5

2. Encourage Children to choose books they are interested in or gravitate toward.

3. Sitting and reading with your child often.

4. Read alouds as a family. Reference The Read Aloud Family

5. Art Journaling, Favorite Journals linked here Arteza Art Journals

6. Consider Building Literature Studies, more information on this topic here:

https://themodernhomeschool.com/podcast/build-your-own-literature-studies-in-5-easy-steps/

Check out my new book here:

https://amzn.to/4dYhBlD

My Instagram for All things The Modern Homeschool:

http://www.instagram.com/the.modern.homeschool

The Modern Homeschool Website for Free Homeschooling Resources:

https://themodernhomeschool.com

Outdoor Play Ideas for Kids of All Ages

Today on The Modern Homeschool Podcast, I discuss things kids can do outside at all ages. I will share things that have worked with my kids from the toddler years through now, the teenage years. Encouraging children to stay active, healthy and to get as much vitamin D as possible is what this episode is all about.

Fall Favorites for Homeschooling

Today on The Modern Homeschool Podcast, I discuss all of my Fall favorites for homeschooling and there are a lot! From baking, cooking, and reading to crafting, painting, and playing I try to cover it all. Fall is one of my favorite times of year for homeschooling. I love to start the new year with intentional, fun activities that the kids love and make our home feel cozy and comfy! Today I share some of the things that make Fall so special in our home.

Did you know that homeschooling is currently the fastest growing form of education? With nearly five million homeschoolers in America today, I hope that my listeners will gain inspiration, research and new ways to implement education with their children in natural and intentional ways. I want to offer solutions to the many challenging problems our youth faces today. I want to unify home educators and parents from around the world.

Here is the link to my brand new book on Amazon. You can find more of The Modern Homeschool on Instagram, my website and you can download my freebies here: Thrifting Living Books Planning

Links: (DISCLOSURE: Please note that some links on TheModernHomeschool.com are affiliate links. We may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you click through our links and make a purchase from one of our partners.)

Morning Pages, to get your kiddos started in the morning!

Favorite Fall Books, Crafts, Recipes and More! (Scroll to the bottom for all the best links)

Pumpkin Soup Tutorial for water play!

Rice Sensory Halloween Ideas

The Novels we are Currently Reading Front Desk, One Crazy Summer, Charlotte’s Web

Living Books, The Modern Homeschool, Book Lists

Books we love:

The Wizard of Oz, The Hobbit, Wind in the Willows, The Secret Garden, Christmas Carol,Green Glass House, Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn

Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Arteza Art Journals

My Episode: Plan your Homeschool Year in 4 Easy Steps

My Episode: Choosing Curriculum, 4 Things to Consider

My Episode: 5 Perks of Homeschooling

A Day in the Life of a Homeschool Family

Today on The Modern Homeschool Podcast, I discuss how our first day of homeschool went this school year. This was an accidental episode that just came about because the day was successful and I thought it would be fun to share! I hope you are kicking off your school year with some successful first days and wish you a great week.

Did you know the homeschooling is currently the fastest growing form of education? With nearly five million homeschoolers in America today, I hope that my listeners will gain inspiration, research and new ways to implement education with their children in natural and intentional ways. I want to offer solutions to the many challenging problems our youth faces today. I want to unify home educators and parents from around the world.

Here is the link to my brand new book on Amazon. You can find more of The Modern Homeschool on Instagram, my website and you can download my freebies here: Thrifting Living Books Planning

Links:

My Episode: Plan your Homeschool Year in 4 Easy Steps

My Episode: Choosing Curriculum in 4 Easy Steps

My Episode: 5 Perks of Homeschooling

My Episode: Build Your Own Literature Studies in 5 Easy Steps

Five Easy Screentime Rules for the Family

The Screens.

Today on The Modern Homeschool Podcast, I discuss my rules of thumb for screentime with my kids. Screens are everywhere today and a huge temptation for our kids. How do we as adults manage this new technology for our children so that they are healthy, happy and well adjusted. It starts in our own homes with firm boundaries and today I’ll share mine!

It’s never too late to detox from screens or other vices that are creeping up too often in our homes. Be strong parents, you’ve got this!

Easy Screentime Boundaries

1. Two Hours Max

2. Screens VS Outdoor Time

3. Game Time Limited to the Weekend (1 hour)/day

4. Exceptions- Visitors, Movie Nights, Special Occasions

5. Phones with Limits, Internet with a Filter

Did you know the homeschooling is currently the fastest growing form of education? With nearly five million homeschoolers in America today, I hope that my listeners will gain inspiration, research and new ways to implement education with their children in natural and intentional ways. I want to offer solutions to the many challenging problems our youth faces today. I want to unify home educators and parents from around the world.

Here is the link to my brand new book on Amazon. You can find more of The Modern Homeschool on Instagram, my website and you can download my freebies here: Thrifting Living Books Planning

Links:

My Episode: Plan your Homeschool Year in 4 Easy Steps

My Episode: Choosing Curriculum in 4 Easy Steps

My Episode: 5 Perks of Homeschooling

AAP Screentime Guidelines

Outdoor Play VS Screentime

Common Sense Media

Pinwheel Phone

How to Homeschool in California

California Homeschool. Today on The Modern Homeschool Podcast, I discuss the three main ways that people homeschool in California. There are so many options to structure your homeschool in California but the three main ways are: Private Homeschool, Charter School Homeschool Program and Private School Satellite Program. There are benefits to each homeschool structure and todayContinue reading “How to Homeschool in California”

Build Your Own Literature Studies in 5 Easy Steps

Today on The Modern Homeschool Podcast, I discuss 5 easy steps to building your own literature studies. Building literature studies has become a staple of the best homeschool curriculum in my opinion. Over the years we have read so many living books and now I have developed a process of putting together your own literature studies for living books you select for your children. Today I am sharing my process of building guides and how we can successfully incorporate reading into our daily homeschool curriculum.

5 Perks of Homeschooling discussed today are as follows:

1. Choose Books

2. Choose a Literature Guide (See Below)

3. Add in Art Projects

4. Add in Writing Projects

5. Add a Final Culminating Activity

Did you know the homeschooling is currently the fastest growing form of education? With nearly five million homeschoolers in America today, I hope that my listeners will gain inspiration, research and new ways to implement education with their children in natural and intentional ways. I want to offer solutions to the many challenging problems our youth faces today. I want to unify home educators and parents from around the world.

Here is the link to my brand new book on Amazon. You can find more of The Modern Homeschool on Instagram, my website and you can download my freebies here: Thrifting Living Books Planning

Links: (DISCLOSURE: Please note that some links on TheModernHomeschool.com are affiliate links. We may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you click through our links and make a purchase from one of our partners.)

The Novel Front Desk, One Crazy Summer

Great Works Literature Guides Tuck Everlasting

Great Works Literature Guides Charlottes Web

Great Works Literature Guides Bridge to Terabithia

Novel Ties, Wind in the Willows

Living Books, The Modern Homeschool

The Wizard of Oz, The Hobbit, Wind in the Willows, The Secret Garden, Christmas Carol,

Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Arteza Art Journals

Lightning Literature, The Read Aloud Family, Green Glass House

My Episode: Plan your Homeschool Year in 4 Easy Steps

My Episode: Choosing Curriculum in 4 Easy Steps

My Episode: 5 Perks of Homeschooling

5 Perks of Homeschooling

Today on The Modern Homeschool Podcast, I discuss 5 perks of homeschooling. Though there are almost unlimited, small, daily reminders and perks of homeschooling; today I narrow down the discussion to five. I share our love of our schedule, our ability to make decisions directly for our children’s learning and how the curriculum and family bonding have strengthened not only our children’s relationships but also, their academic success. Join me as I dive into some of the great and tangible benefits of homeschooling.

5 Perks of Homeschooling discussed today are as follows:

1. A Flexible Schedule

2. A Richer Curriculum

3. A Generous Family Bond

4. A Protected Childhood

5. Academic Success

Did you know the homeschooling is currently the fastest growing form of education? With nearly five million homeschoolers in America today, I hope that my listeners will gain inspiration, research and new ways to implement education with their children in natural and intentional ways. I want to offer solutions to the many challenging problems our youth faces today. I want to unify home educators and parents from around the world.

Here is the link to my brand new book on Amazon. You can find more of The Modern Homeschool on Instagram, my website and you can download my freebies here: Thrifting Living Books Planning

Links: My Episode: Plan your Homeschool Year in 4 Easy Steps

Links: My Episode: Choosing Curriculum in 4 Easy Steps

4 Things to Consider When Selecting Curriculum for your Children

Today on The Modern Homeschool Podcast, I discuss what my 4 main steps or criteria I look to when selecting a curriculum for my children. We also take a deep dive into some curricula my family has used and loved over the past four years and what we are planning to use in the Fall. With so many curricula options now, it’s important to have help in discerning what is right for you and your family. I advocate not forcing curricula that doesn’t work for you or your child and talk about knowing when its time to close the book.

My 4 items to consider are as follows:

1. Your child’s academic level

2. Your child’s interest levels

3. The specific aspects of each curricula

4. Your ability to teach it and your time commitment level

Did you know the homeschooling is currently the fastest growing form of education? With nearly five million homeschoolers in America today, I hope that my listeners will gain inspiration, research and new ways to implement education with their children in natural and intentional ways. I want to offer solutions to the many challenging problems our youth faces today. I want to unify home educators and parents from around the world.

Here is the link to my brand new book on Amazon. You can find more of The Modern Homeschool on Instagram, my website and you can download my freebies here: Thrifting Living Books Planning

Links: My Episode: Plan your Homeschool Year in 4 Easy Steps

The Good and Beautiful Math, Handwriting, Constitution Study

Great Works Literature Studies

Everything you need to know about world history

Soaring with Spelling

Lightning Literature

BJU Press English

Plan Your Homeschool Year in 4 Easy Steps

Today on The Modern Homeschool Podcast, I’ll be diving into one of my favorite topics, homeschooling planning. By the end of this episode you’ll know how I plan my entire homeschool year in 4 easy steps! I try to strike a balance between planning and unschooling and this discussion is all about how to do that.

My 4 easy steps are as follows:

1. Set yearly goals and choose a focus

2. Choose what you’ll learn

3. Create a loose yearly plan

4. Set your ideal weekly schedule

Did you know the homeschooling is currently the fastest growing form of education? With nearly five million homeschoolers in America today, I hope that my listeners will gain inspiration, research and new ways to implement education with their children in natural and intentional ways. I want to offer solutions to the many challenging problems our youth faces today. I want to unify home educators and parents from around the world.

Here is the link to my brand new book on Amazon. You can find more of The Modern Homeschool on Instagram, my website and you can download my freebies here: Thrifting Living Books Planning