HS #273 Dysgraphia: When a Child Hates to Write with Dianne Craft

Students can seem “lazy, sloppy, unmotivated” while having an undiagnosed Dysgraphia or blocked writing gate. Many times it isn’t identified until a child is a teenager and not turning in written work! The most common gate that is blocked with gifted kids. He knows so much but just can’t get his thoughts down in writing because this “head to hand” process takes too much energy….a blocked learning gate.

This student has not internalized directionality and does not have a well-defined sense of space. A powerful simple daily exercise develops this important skill and takes the stress out of the writing system, by sending this process to the Automatic Brain Hemisphere. Affects sports too …coaches report improved performance on the court or field.

HS #272 You Can’t Make Me! (But I Can Be Persuaded) with Cynthia Tobias and Sue Acuña

Do you have a strong-willed child? You’ll love these quick, practical ways to bring out the best in a strong-willed child of ANY age!

HS #271 Homeschooling When Mom and Dad Work in Ministry or on the Side with Guest Alyssa Bethke

What does homeschooling look like when your family is busy with ministry projects, work, or just life? In this episode Jessica interviews Alyssa Bethke about what homeschooling in Hawaii has looked like for their family as they lead several ministries and also write books. Alyssa offers encouragement for overwhelmed moms and reminds us of the many benefits of homeschooling, even when family life is full!

HS Special Edition #270 Hindsight’s 20/20 - A Look Back at an Unprecedented Year with Wendy Speake

While we may not have had 20/20 vision going into this year, I’ve found that hindsight really is 20/20. In today’s show, I am sharing three lessons I learned and Bible stories to flesh those lessons out! Let’s take the lessons we learned in 2020 with us into 2021!

HS #269 Homeschooling Your Struggling Learner with Guest Kathy Kuhl

Sometimes learning seems harder than it should be. Both parent and student can feel frustrated, not knowing what to do. Join Kathy Kuhl and me as we talk about reading, writing, and learning, and ways you can help students who struggle.

HS #268 Homeschooling Screen Kids with Guest Arlene Pellicane

Today we are talking with the author of Screen Kids, Arlene Pellicane, about the boundaries we can set around our children’s devices (and our own.)

HS #267 Oh There’s No Way I’m Homeschooling for the Holidays with Jennifer Cabrera

Step away from the Yuletide unit studies! Put down the glitter and the glue guns. You can’t add “making merry” to a homeschool transcript. Why try? One of the best things about homeschooling for the holidays is...you don’t have to! But if you insist, listen in for my Christmas tips for seasonal sanity, and ways to to get the kids involved without ending up as nutty as a fruitcake.

HS #266 Powerful Reading Comprehension Strategy: Make a Movie In Your Head with Dianne Craft

One of the most puzzling situations a mother finds herself in is when she has a child who can read the words in a book but cannot answer the questions or tell her what has just been read. These moms frequently hear the phrase, “I don’t remember,” when queried about the reading material.

When working with bright, hardworking 4th through 8th graders in my reading class, I realized that these students were not proficient at converting the words they were reading into a “movie” in their head, as the rest of us do when we read. They were merely doing “word calling” much of the time. I found that “movie making” was a skill that could be developed in them, using an easy fifteen-minute a day exercise. This exercise did not involve paper or pencil, but only the use of their brain. “Word calling” is a left-brain auditory task, while creating a picture or movie of those words is the responsibility of the right brain hemisphere. I merely showed them how to create a seamless flow of words to pictures as they were reading. You can do this at home, very easily.

HS #265 Christmas Traditions for the Family with Jessica Smartt

In this episode, Jessica chats with her sister, Julie, about making memories over the holidays. They cover food traditions, entertaining, Advent traditions, and centering your holiday around Jesus.

HS #264 Middle School: The Inside Story with Cynthia Tobias and Sue Acuña

Middle Schoolers reveal their thoughts, feelings, and fears--and it may not be what you expect!

HS #263 Reading and Writing, and Why They Matter with Janice Campbell and Brian Wasko

HS #262 What Do You Turn To (to alleviate your stress) On Your Hardest Days? with Wendy Speake

Wendy Speake often talks with us about our various Homeschool Triggers, but today she’s asking us this hard question: What do you turn to to help you deal with those Triggers on your hardest homeschool days? Tune in for a convincing conversation that ends with an exciting invitation!

HS #261 Elections and the Homeschool Connection Jennifer Cabrera

The 2020 election infection... Is it over yet? We might want to be oblivious to the political turmoil outside our blanket forts but homeschooling and elections have connections and consequences. Just like no candidate in any election is perfect, no educational choice is perfect. Yet whichever we say yes to, we should still be saying yes to God's plan, not popular opinion. Choosing what is right is not always easy or with the "in crowd", but then again neither is homeschooling. Join me for some hifalutin and earnest thoughts on civic responsibility and how it relates to homeschooling.

HS #260 Change the Evidence with Dianne Craft

Are working with a bright, hard-working learner who feels “dumb”? Change the evidence by changing the way he learns. Here are some strategies that I used in my resource room and consultation practice to prove to students how smart they really are. The students that use these “zany” memory strategies find they have great success in school and take these skills with them to college.

HS #259 Welcome to Puberty! with Cynthia Tobias and Sue Acuña

How to recognize and celebrate the transition from childhood to adolescence--and still keep your sanity!

HS #258 Homeschool Organization, Kindergarten, Special Needs Families with Jessica Smartt

Elizabeth Kidd offers her humor and practical tips on what supplies are absolutely essential, best curriculum for kindergarten, and how a child with Down’s Syndrome has been a gift to their family.

HS #257 College Isn’t the Only Path to a Successful Future with Janice Campbell and Cindy LaJoy

Although we are surrounded by messages that imply that college is the best choice for everyone, that isn’t always true. Some kids and families have the kinds of gifts and talents that make a skilled trade or entrepreneurship a much better option. Join us today to hear about Cindy LaJoy’s experience in homeschooling a blue-collar family.

HS #256 Teaching Our Children to Know God’s Voice with Wendy Speake and Mark Batterson

Today we are going to be talking about teaching our children to know God’s voice. Mark and his daughter Summer recently released a children’s book entitled God Speaks in Whispers.

This may have been my favorite interview yet! Even if you don’t have young children to read this picture book to… this is a not-to-be-missed conversation!

HS #255 Homeschool Laughs and Lingo with Jennifer Cabrera, Hifalutin Homeschooler

Humor and introspection into the different species of homeschoolers, homeschool uniforms, and the lingo and vocabulary unique to the homeschool culture.

HS #254 Kids With Sensory Processing Problems with Dianne Craft

Do you have a child who is anxious, and gets upset easily…who is “overreactive” to his environment? Childhood should be “carefree”, but for some kids and teens, it is anxiety-filled. Their nervous system is sending them erratic messages that make them feel uneasy, panicked, or upset. We call them kids whose nervous system is in disequilibrium. Is it “Character or Chemistry?”. In this Podcast, we will explore the physical symptoms that a child often has that leads to behavior that is inappropriate. We will explore ways that we can help these kids feel so much better. Looking to the body’s manufacturing place for the calming neurotransmistters (the “gut”), we will explore an easy nutritional supplement plan (using your local health food store), that many parents use to help their child’s body make more calming neurotransmitters, so they can feel peacefull, fall asleep easily, handle loud noises, and in general be able to react to their everyday environment with more ease.

HS #253 How Many Times Do I Have to Say It? with Cynthia Tobias and Sue Acuña

Tried and true ways to get your kids to actually remember what you say!

HS Episode #252 Identify Issues In The Homeschool Mother with Jessica Smartt and Rachel Jankovic

Jessica talks with Rachel Jankovic about the success of her first book, Loving the Little Years, about her passion for women reading Scripture, and about why women need to understand their identity.

HS #251 The Joy of Reading in Community with Janice Campbell and Jennifer Dow

Reading in community can take you more deeply into a book, and more deeply into the heart of friendship, too. If you’ve ever wanted to start a book group or wondered how to lead a class discussion on a classic work of literature, Jennifer Dow’s wise counsel can help you do both. You don’t have to know everything about a book in order to do this. Jennifer suggests that “If the goal is community and the hospitality that leads to healing, we must provide free space with clear, helpful boundaries. We must meet people where they are, at the same time offer or invite others to a vision of what can be, together, shoulder to shoulder. This expresses itself in the environment we curate, the content we behold, and the way we teach or read.” Join us to learn more about how to cultivate a reading atmosphere that leads to learning, growth, and relationship.

HS #250 How to be a Work-at-Home(school) Mom with Wendy Speake

We’re talking about another HOMESCHOOL TRIGGER. Today’s episode is for the working moms in our community — those of you who are not only doing the work of homeschool, but also working a job! Whether 9-5 or part time work, getting paid or volunteering, it’s hard to balance the heavy load. That’s why we are talking about carefully and intentionally scheduling our homeschool days. We don’t want to be so stretched out that we are stressed out and freaking out at our kids.

HS #249 Mom on Demand Worn Out Moms and Worn Out Excuses NOT to Homeschool Jennifer Cabrera, Hifalutin Homeschooler

2020 inspiration from the front lines of homeschooling for worn out moms wondering why they should carry on and a nudge for those that know deep down they could homeschool, maybe they should, they kind of want to, but... what about me time?

HS Special Edition #3 Teens, The News, and Positive Screen Time

Getting your teens to engage with the news can be a challenge but we believe it's crucial for young students to understand what's happening in the world in order to develop critical thinking skills and discernment.

HS #248 Photographic Memory: Your Child’s Greatest Resource with Dianne Craft

Today we are going to discuss the most useful resource you can give to your bright, hard working learners. Many people think that some are just born with a “photographic memory”. But we now know that this amazing ability can be easily taught. The ability to use the photographic memory is one of the best gifts you can give your child. Your child can store his spelling words in his photographic memory for quick retrieval. Poor test takers will learn how to store facts using their photographic memory. Everyone looks smart when these strategies are used.

HS Special Edition #2 Homeschool Connections Podcast by Sonlight: Literature-Based Learning Conversations

Today’s two-part podcast features an animated conversation between Stephanie, Judy, and Sarita about literature-based homeschooling. Filled with anecdotes and practical advice for those considering homeschooling, and those already on the journey. In addition, listen to Sarita share what makes great literature and delightful narratives so effective for teaching. Find out what kinds of books to avoid and how to get your kids begging for just one more chapter - even if they aren’t in love with reading yet.

HS #247 Finding the Right Spot Cynthia Tobias and Sue Acuña

Help your children discover what motivates them to concentrate--and how to prove it works.

HS #246 Homeschooling the Next Great Generation! Wendy Speake and Jonathan Catherman

Today we are talking about raising children to be ready to take on the many demands of life! This is so much more than reading, writing and arithmetic. If you’ve ever wanted a “manual” or a “guide” — or wanted to pass a manual / guide onto your children as they hit middle school and high school… this is the conversation for you!

HS #245: Creating A Plan for Your Family’s Summer- Jessica Smartt

This episode includes a discussion about building a summer daily routine, helping kids to work, creative ways to make memories as a family, goal-setting over the summer, and how to help parents truly rest without letting the household structure disintegrate!

HS Special Edition #1 Homeschooling 101: How to Begin with Janice Campbell

Homeschooling expert, Janice Campbell shares her vast knowledge of all things homeschooling. This workshop is a wealth of information geared toward helping those new-to-homeschooling families begin their journey. Janice discusses how to get started, what you need to know in order to choose a homeschooling method and the curriculum that fits. She also spends a few minutes talking about how to plan your time and find that all-important support.
Even if you have been homeschooling for a while, you can also find helpful information in this workshop.

HS #244 Stories and Music and Learning that Sticks with Janice Campbell and Carol Reynolds

Children are born with a love for music and stories, but sometimes it can seem as if those things are just for fun and must be set aside when “real school” begins. That’s really not true! Join us in this episode as we talk about how stories show up in books, history, science, and music, and why stories and the arts aren’t extras in your homeschool — they’re essential all the way through as you teach your whole child — head, heart, and hand.

HS #242 with Wendy Speake

Today we are announcing something thrilling. Here on the Homeschool Solutions Show, we are growing in exciting ways — and we hope that you will grow with us. Not only will you be encouraged, during this episode, to reach out and live out Acts 2:42 in your own community of friends, but Wendy will be sharing how our podcast will be inviting new friends to join us each week as well!

HS #240 Talking With Our Children About Racism Susan Seay

Susan Seay’s main message to moms is that we have the privilege and the responsibility of being present and purposeful with our children, every day with ever topic we race.Today we’re talking about about what intentionality looks like in the conversation about race relations and local social justice for our brothers and sisters of color.

HS #238 Planning an Educational Family Vacation Brandy and Matt Gleason

Today's episode, Brandy Gleason and her husband Matt will share from their vacationing experiences as a homeschooling family of 10. You'll find many hints and tips to make a day trip or lengthy travel doable and how to create a paper trail for homeschool record-keeping. Now is the time to begin exploring and creating timeless memories with your family

HS #236 Family Worship Francie Winslow

Maybe our time of “family worship” is less about a devotional and more about our first love devotion to God overflowing in devoted love to the people in our home. Today’s podcast takes us out of a traditional box of “family devotions” and inspires us to live lives of devotion to God!

HS #234 — Rhonda Stoppe Homeschooling with No Regrets part 2

Today is part 2 of our 2-part conversation with Rhonda Stoppe. We’re covering the remaining 4 points from her list of 8 very specific things we can do to make sure we don’t look back on these homeschooling years with regrets. If you missed part-1, please listen to that one first! It’s a gem… and so is Rhonda!

HS #232 - Homeschooling with No Regrets - Rhonda Stoppe

Today is part 1 of our 2-part conversation with Rhonda Stoppe. We’re covering eight very specific things we can do to make sure we don’t look back on these homeschooling years with regrets. Today we’re talking about our calling, our motivation, and so much more!

HS #230 — Wendy Speake - Where Do You Turn in Times of Stress?

We’ve heard it said, “These are unprecedented times”, but stress is nothing new. How are you doing with your stress these days? How is it affecting your home and your homeschool? Today’s short episode challenges listeners to take inventory. Are you taking your stress to social media as the form of escapism? Is your pantry where you hide? Do you turn for comfort in comfort food these days, rather than turning to the great comforter? Or maybe you are self-medicating with a nightly glass of wine. Today’s we’re turning to God’s Word for our help in times of trouble.

Episode #228 — Julie Kieras — Family Hobbies Make the Best Unit Studies

This conversation may be my favorite one to date! We are diving in and talking about unit studies — but not as something more to add to our already too-full plates. We’re talking about slowing down and taking our time to learn more about the things that we already enjoy as a family. I hope you’ll be as blessed by this conversation as I was!

HS #226 — Kristen Welch — Moving Mountains as a Family

Life is an incredible journey with ups and downs. We soar, struggle, scale and stumble, and often stand at the edge of cliffs, afraid to step into the unknown, unsure of where we will land. But instead of running away, we are called by God to stand firm, muster up what faith we can, and take a step. Because we were made to move mountains.

In today’s podcast interview, Kristen Welch calls us to step out in faith and climb the mountain right in front of us — not because we are good enough or adequate or able, but because God makes a way where there is no way. Of course this applies to our homeschooling dreams, to our families, marriage and raising children. But what else can God called you (and your family) to be part of out in the world today?

This episode is about all that, and so much more. It’s a joy to have author Kristen Welch with us on the Homeschool Solutions Show.

HS #224 — Jessica Smartt — The Memory Making (Homeschool) Mom

We’re talking today about making memories as a homeschool family. Jessica Smartt is sharing plenty of “easy-button” memory making ideas your family may love. We’re talking about how (and why) to make memories when you feel totally overwhelmed and exhausted as a mom.

HS #222 — Kris Camealy — The Art of Surrender

We’re talking today about the beautiful yet (oh so) hard topic of surrender. Homeschooling, parenting, following Christ all requires great-gobs of surrender, and there’s no one I’d rather talk it through with than Kris Camealy.

HS #220 — Katie M. Reid -- Parenting from a Place of Rest

Let’s talk about experiencing rest as a Homeschool Mama! We want to exchange our striving for settledness, our sense of panic to a sweet sense of peace. But how do we parent our children from a place of rest? We’re talking about it all today with Katie M. Reid.

HS #218 — Connie Albers -- Homeschooling Teens

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Today we are talking about how parents can create a rich relationship with their children throughout their parenting/homeschool journey. Children are a masterpiece and parents hold the brushes. God is the architect who knows the plans he has for each of his children. Too often parents give up or give in… not realizing that we are the primary influence in our children's lives.

HS #216 — SD Smith — Story-Telling and the Power of Imagination

I cannot sum up today’s podcast conversation with a simple description. I loved it all and it was sweeping! S.D. Smith talks in quotes. He quotes the master story-tellers who went before Him, but masterfully crafts wonderful words of his own, many of which can stand alone as quotable phrases. The main theme of our conversation was valuing good stories if we want to be good story-tellers — or even good people.

That said, my very favorite part of this interview was when Sam shared that he often looks out at all of the homeschool moms who come to The Great Homeschool Conventions and thinks, “These are warriors of light!” I may have teared up when he went on to encourage us, “This matters. You are a hero!”

HS #214 — Wendy Speake — Accidental Homeschoolers (COVID-19)

Today’s unique episode is for the moms and dads who didn’t choose to homeschool, but don’t have a choice right now. Given current events, kids are home from school with various levels of support from their local school districts. Here is some advice!

HS 210 — Angie Mosteller — Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day

Angie Mosteller is passionate about many things, but teaching and hospitality are always near the top of the list. She specifically loves the holidays because she gets to put both of her passions to work – the teacher in her is intrigued by the amazing history of our celebrations (which she passes down to her kids through meaningful traditions); and the hospitality enthusiast in her fills their home with creative holiday food, decor, and music. Over the years, Angie has built a website — Celebratingholidays.com — as a resource for other families who want to learn about the rich Christian history of their favorite holidays.

HS 212: September McCarthy — Why Homeschooling Matters

September McCarthy has been homeschooling for 24 years! She is the mom of 10, grandma to 7, and her youngest is only 8. Which means that she’s still in the trenches with us, but has great-gobs of wisdom to share. September is the author of [Why] Motherhood Matters and is talking with us today about [Why] Homeschooling Matters. Her top reasons for choosing to homeschool her children are to help them:

• Know their identity
• Grow in character
• Develop strong relationships
• Discover their mission for life

In today’s conversation we talk a lot about all four of these things, but my main takeaway had to do with teaching my children about good and Godly character traits. I don’t want to simply discipline my children for the times they lack character. I want to train my children to grow in character. September’s “Character Matters” cards and posters are valuable resources to help us do just that!

HS 208: Ruth and Troy Simons — Education as Discipleship

Today we’re talking about seeing our children’s education as discipleship. Not merely giving them the head knowledge they need, but laying the foundation they need (with them, as a family) for a life of knowing and loving Christ and His Word.

In their book Foundations, Ruth and Troy Simons encourage parents to take the time to invest in a relationship with God as the starting point for leading their families to become long-lasting, fruitful followers of Christ. The couple outlines the importance of heeding God’s instructions and being transformed in their own lives as the magnetic force that draws their children’s interest to cultivate their own relationship with the Lord.

HS #206 - Asheritah Ciuciu - How to Make Lent Part of Your Homeschool Curriculum

Lead your children through Lent with creative activities and Bible readings! Today’s episode is the most gracious conversation about inviting our children to spend time with us in the word during the lenten season. Asheritah Ciuciu, author of Uncovering the Love of Jesus: a lent devotional, tells us both the history and the purpose of Lent, and gives us resources to make this more than just another “unit study.”

HS Episode #204 — Kate Battistelli — Raising Creative Kids

On today’s show we talk with Kate Batistelli about raising our children to do amazing things for the glory of God. During the conversation, however, we turn our attention back to the moms… and challenge ourselves to live life with a “Here I am, send me” availability to whatever God calls us to as well.

HS #202: Turn Your Homeschool Challenges Into “Challenges” with Wendy Speake

Everyone has challenges! But we all have a choice to make regarding how we respond to our challenges and the challenges of those we love (and teach.) Do we let them challenge us to the point that we can’t deal with the issues lovingly? Or do we deal with the challenges in a Christlike way? This has to do with our challenges and our children’s challenges. Today we’re talking about turning our kids’ challenges into “challenges” that help them pinpoint and then grow in those areas. Getting angry and allowing their struggles to become a matter of contention in our homes isn’t helping anyone. So let’s get creative and find some practical solutions together!

HS 200: When Marriage Stress Affects the Homeschool with Amber Lia

"Don't discuss triggered issues in the middle of a triggered moment. -Amber Lia

HS 198: Homeschooling Boys with Monica Swanson

Today’s podcast is for the Boy Mom in our midst!

HS 196: The Introverted Homeschool Mom with Jamie Martin

Motherhood is beautiful; motherhood is hard. All moms understand this paradoxical truth. Yet introverted mothers face unique challenges. When our quiet nature collides with our often loud role, frustration and guilt result. We wonder why motherhood feels at odds with our personality, and in our darkest moments fear we’re simply not cut out for the job. This experience can be especially challenging for introverted homescooling moms!

HS 194: Homeschooling Encouragement with Sally Clarkson

Sally shares with us the story of how she caught the vision to homeschool her family and what a tremendous blessing it was. Not only did it foster a deep love relationship among their family members, but homeschooling helped to cultivate three specific things in the Clarkson household.

HS 193: Troubles in the Homeschool, with Wendy Speake

Here on the show every week you’ll get to listen in on some great conversations, with wonderful guests, all designed to equip us as homeschooling moms. And then once a month, we’ll be opening up the Bible together, applying God’s Word to our long, blessed, but often challenging days. It is my hope as we gather together in this space, we will encourage one another with some practical, biblical solutions.

HS 192: Passing the Baton with Wendy Speake

All good things must come to an end and this is one of those cases. I have decided to turn my focus to Morning Baskets in 2020 and beyond and therefore am stepping down as host of the Homeschool Solutions show. But never fear, I am leaving you in great hands. Enter Wendy Speake, homeschool mom and blogger extraordinaire. She is taking the helm of the show and carrying it into the next decade. Join us today to get to know Wendy and hear her vision for the show.