EP234: Art anchors learning at home and can serve as a powerful tool for teaching across all subject areas.

In this episode of the Art of Homeschooling Podcast, Jean is joined by guest Robyn Beaufoy, CEO of Waldorfish. The award-winning Weekly Art Foundations program created by Waldorfish offers a guided path for parents to bring art to their children at home.

Robyn and Jean explore how art makes learning more memorable while also building key skills like focus, perseverance, and problem-solving.

Join us in sharing your artistic creations on social media by tagging @Waldorfish and @Art.of.Homeschooling on Instagram or finding us over on Facebook! 

Check out Weekly Art Foundations from Waldorfish for step-by-step guidance on bringing more art into your homeschool.

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EP233: You are enough, just as you are.

If you are a homeschooling parent endlessly wondering if you are measuring up, then these simple words can carry profound power.

In this episode of the Art of Homeschooling podcast, Jean invites you to pause the endless striving and settle into a moment of genuine self-acceptance.

Join the Inspired at Home community https://artofhomeschooling.com/inspiredathome 

Find the Show Notes here  https://artofhomeschooling.com/episode233/

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EP232: What does Waldorf homeschooling look like in 2025? How has the homeschooling landscape and the Waldorf homeschooling movement changed? And what remains steady at the heart of Waldorf homeschooling?

Join Jean on the Art of Homeschooling podcast this week to explore the changing landscape of Waldorf homeschooling as families seek a more connected, creative, and holistic approach to educating their children at home.

Find the Show Notes here  https://artofhomeschooling.com/episode232/

If this  episode resonates with you as a Waldorf-inspired homeschooler in 2025, please join Jean and her team at the 19th annual Taproot Teacher Training in northeastern Ohio from August 14th to 17th, 2025.

Taproot is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to connect with kindred spirits, step away from the day-to-day, and immerse yourself in the arts, storytelling, music, and nature. Reconnect with your homeschooling purpose at Taproot 2025!

Join us at The Taproot Teacher Training www.artofhomeschooling.com/taproot

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EP231: Jessica Bentson's journey into toymaking began with a heartfelt desire to provide her children with natural playthings she couldn't afford to buy. That spark of inspiration has grown into Toymaking Magic, her membership that helps parents create beautiful handmade toys regardless of their crafting experience. In this conversation, Jean and Jessica talk about the value of handmade toys and open-ended play. 

Jessica shares why simple projects like beanbags make the perfect starting point for beginners while offering tremendous play value for children from toddlerhood through the elementary years. "Making beanbags is so satisfying," she explains. "My kids loved them so much and played with them the most out of everything I've ever made." These open-ended toys inspire children to invent games, build structures, and incorporate them into imaginative play scenarios for years. 

For parents who feel intimidated by handwork, Jessica's step-by-step video tutorials show every detail of the process, making projects accessible even to complete beginners. Whether you're curious about needle felting, sewing, knitting, or woodwork, Toy Making Magic offers a treasure trove of Waldorf-inspired crafts that enhance both your homeschooling journey and your children's development. Discover the joys of making toys by hand and how this activity can transform your family's relationship with play and learning.

Find the Show Notes here  https://artofhomeschooling.com/episode231/

Learn more about Toymaking Magic here www.artofhomeschooling.com/toymakingmagic 

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EP230: Banish homeschool burnout with these nine simple tips aligned with Waldorf-inspired homeschooling so you can reignite your enthusiasm and bring joy back into your days with your kiddos.

The tips in this episode of the Art of Homeschooling podcast get to the heart of the matter ~ connection.

We all experience burnout and fatigue at some point on our homeschooling journey. And it’s so important to be able to identify when you’re burning out, so you can reset and rest. And then get back to connecting with your kiddos on your homeschooling journey.

The Taproot Teacher Training, held every August in northeastern Ohio, might be just the experience you need to banish burnout, reset, and reconnect with your homeschool vision. At Taproot, you’ll experience hands-on lessons as though you were the student, right alongside other like-minded homeschoolers. Part continuing education for homeschool parents, part personal retreat, and part summer camp, Taproot is a transformational experience!

For ongoing support and community, join the Inspired at Home online membership.

Find the Show Notes here  https://artofhomeschooling.com/episode230/

Come to the Taproot Teacher Training 2025
https://artofhomeschooling.com/taproot2025

Join the Inspired at Home community https://artofhomeschooling.com/inspiredathome 

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EP229: Ever felt like you're drowning in curriculum overwhelm? The secret to Waldorf-without-the-box is creating a custom curriculum for your homeschooling journey.

You are not alone!

Many homeschooling parents purchase one curriculum after another, desperately trying to follow someone else's plan only to feel perpetually behind and increasingly frustrated. 

Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf education, never wrote a standardized curriculum. Instead, he encouraged teachers to observe their students and craft lessons specifically for them. When we embrace this freedom rather than trying to follow someone else's plan, our homeschooling journey truly transforms. 

A "boxed" curriculum can be a wonderful and necessary resource, but only if you embrace the key principles of your homeschool approach, understand the natural rhythm and needs of your family, and lean into simplicity and flexibility. 

Find the Show Notes here  https://artofhomeschooling.com/episode229/

Join Plan It Out inside the Inspired at Home community https://artofhomeschooling.com/inspiredathome 

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EP228: Let's talk about why and how to celebrate your homeschool journey!

Ever find yourself staring at unfinished lessons, math workbooks, or art projects at the end of the year? If you're feeling that familiar weight of disappointment about what didn't get accomplished this year, you're not alone. 

In this episode of the Art of Homeschooling, I discuss why shifting our focus toward what did happen strengthens the learning, builds connections, and creates positive momentum in our homeschools. 

When we celebrate progress, our brains release dopamine, which strengthens neural pathways and cements learning in ways that help reinforce the learning. 

You've accomplished more than you realize. Celebrating allows you and your kiddos to embrace progress over perfection!

Find the Show Notes here  https://artofhomeschooling.com/episode228/

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EP227: Sometimes we homeschoolers have a tendency to make things more complicated than they need to be. The truth is that simplicity is power! 

When you finally land in a place of simplicity, you can stop spinning your wheels and take action. 

Get yourself out of the weeds and back on the path with the power of simplicity. 

In this episode the Art of Homeschooling podcast, I share four easy to understand ideas to harness the power of simplicity. 

Find the Show Notes here  https://artofhomeschooling.com/episode227/

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EP226: "Falling behind" might be the most common worry among homeschooling parents, but it's based on a misunderstanding of how learning works. When we measure ourselves against arbitrary timelines and standardized expectations, we miss the beautiful truth that homeschooling allows us to follow our children's natural development.

The Waldorf approach offers remarkable wisdom here through its spiral curriculum ~ a thoughtful progression where subjects unfold with increasing complexity as children mature. Listen in for three steps to take when you feel behind in your homeschooling.

Ready for a fresh perspective? Join our Summer Reset inside the Inspired at Home community, where we'll reflect on your homeschooling journey and create space for both planning and summer fun. 

Find the Show Notes here  https://artofhomeschooling.com/episode226/

Join the Inspired at Home Community to join in for The Summer Reset

Get the Waldorf Homeschool Starter Kit here

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EP225: Freedom thrives within structure and simplicity, not rigidity. This is a powerful truth that I've learned on my journey to embrace the freedom of homeschooling. 

In this episode of the Art of Homeschooling podcast, you'll hear my thoughts about the precious opportunity that homeschoolers have to truly see and respond to the children before us, customizing learning experiences without the constraints of external requirements that stifle creativity and individualized approaches.

After years of teaching in public schools, private institutions, and even working to establish Waldorf schools, I've discovered that homeschooling is truly a place of educational freedom. 

Learn how to embrace this freedom and simplify your homeschooling so you can teach and lead with intention and love. 

Find the Show Notes here  https://artofhomeschooling.com/episode225/

Join the Inspired at Home Community

Get the Waldorf Homeschool Starter Kit here

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