To teach or not to teach Shakespeare? That is the question!   If you are thinking, "There’s no way I can teach Shakespeare to my kids!" or "There is no way my kids will enjoy learning about Shakespeare and his plays.  I don't understand him.  How in the world will my little guys get it?" then you need to join Carrie for this week's little coffee break.  Yes!  You can teach Shakespeare. And Yes! Your children will love it!  Have no fear! It's time for some Shakespeare!  It is not only doable but can be quite fun to add a little Shakespeare to your homeschooling.  In this week's coffee break, Carrie shares five simple strategies to reading and enjoying the plays of Shakespeare.  She also gives some fun and practical tips for introducing the Bard, his old English banter, and the beauty of Shakespearean language.  Carrie even gives ideas on how to incorporate games, drama, and Legos (yes, even Legos) into your Shakespearean studies. 

For links, books, and activities mentioned in this week's podcast, go to Coffee With Carrie Website.  The blog article "Summer of Shakespeare" has all resources with links mentioned in this episode plus more!

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Join Carrie for this little coffee break.  In this episode, Carrie shares fun and simple ways to incorporate math picture books, games, read aloud, and problem-solving activities into your Morning (or Basket) Time.  Carrie shares how to use and rotate SIX of her favorite "Go To" Math Resources during morning basket time.  These super fun, quick, (and inexpensive) ideas are sure to be a hit with you and with your family.  Exploring math and practicing computation as a family can be as easy as pi!  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up and join Carrie for little coffee and conversation about taming those math tears and fears.

Math Picture Book List (PDF file):  CLICK HERE

Recommended Math Picture Books with Amazon Links:  CLICK HERE

Recommended Games (Including Math Games) with Amazon Links:  CLICK HERE

BedTime Math APP:  CLICK HERE

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Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

There’s a beautiful new trend in the homeschooling community: grandparents partnering with parents to homeschool their grandkids!  Do you work full-time or part-time and need extra support homeschooling your child? Are you a single parent who could use an additional hand? Or do you have a parent or mother-in-law who would love to play a more active role in your child’s education?  If so, you’ll love this week’s conversation with Valerie Costanza and Chris Gonzalez. Carrie sits down with this dynamic mother-daughter team who have been homeschooling Valerie’s daughter—and Chris’s granddaughter—Camila, together for the past eight years. From the very beginning, homeschooling has truly been a team effort.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and join Carrie, Valerie, and Chris for a little coffee and conversation about homeschooling together and generational home education.

Join our Costa Rica Culture & Nature Study Adventure Trip for Homeschoolers: https://coffeewithcarrie.org/costa-rica-trip

Register before August 8th to get Early Enrollment Discount ($200 off your trip).  Use code EarlyEnrollment2027 https://www.educationaltravel.com/register TRIP ID # 4345

Info About WorldStrides:  https://worldstrides.com/en-us

Got Specific Questions about Costa Rica Trip?  Set up a conference call:  https://calendly.com/mdefrancisco8892/30min?month=2026-06 

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

No textbook? No problem!  You can teach history without relying on dry, boring textbooks filled with sound bites, half-truths, political agendas, or revisionist narratives. Did you hate history class growing up? Are your kids bored to death when it’s time for history lessons? If you’re looking for a fresh way to make history come alive in your homeschool, then grab a cup of coffee and take a break with Carrie.  This week features an updated version of the popular “History Alive” episode from Season 1. Carrie shares practical, engaging, and inexpensive ways to teach history to the entire family.  In the first part, she shows how to organize your history lessons for the year and include everyone in the family. In the second part, Carrie offers six super easy and simple ways to make meaningful connections and help history feel relevant to your kids.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and learn how to teach history in a way that’s truly engaging and fun for the whole family.

Field Trip Opportunity:  Join our Costa Rica Culture & Nature Study Adventure Trip for Homeschoolers.  Go to www.coffeewithcarrie.org / Costa Rica Trip for details or to sign up.

Info About WorldStrides:  https://worldstrides.com/en-us

Got Specific Questions about Costa Rica Trip?  Set up a conference call:  https://calendly.com/mdefrancisco8892/30min?month=2026-06 

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

Is gentle homeschooling truly effective, or does it risk leaving children unprepared compared to a rigorous, structured approach?  In this episode, Carrie sits down with Christina Carpenter to explore the Gentle vs Rigorous Home Education debate.  Christina is a homeschool mom of four with over 15 years of experience (and one high school graduate), founder of Authentic Joy in the Journey, and creator of Bloom & Blossom conferences. They explore the definition what is “gentle” and “rigorous” homeschooling, examine what each looks like in daily life, and discuss how a gentle, wonder-filled education can also be rich, deep, and academically strong.  Carrie and Christina address common criticisms head-on: Is a gentler rhythm “lazy,” does it lack discipline, will it create educational gaps, or does it fail to prepare children for the future. Both Carrie and Christina share the key benefits they have seen in their own families and offer practical wisdom on the strengths and qualities this approach cultivates.  For moms just starting out or transitioning from a more traditional, highly structured style, this episode provides simple, actionable steps to begin shifting toward a gentler rhythm in the home.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and join Christina and Carrie for a little coffee and conversation about gentle homeschooling.

Check out Christina's Website:  https://www.christinacarpenter.org/

Learn about her 2027 Bloom & Blossom Mom Conference:  https://www.christinacarpenter.org/bloom-and-blossom-conference

Connect with Christina on Instagram and TikTok  @authenticjoyinthejourney

Join our Costa Rica Culture & Nature Study Adventure Trip for Homeschoolers. Sign up at  https://coffeewithcarrie.org/coming-soon

Info About WorldStrides:  https://worldstrides.com/en-us

Got Specific Questions about Costa Rica Trip?  Set up a conference call:  https://calendly.com/mdefrancisco8892/30min?month=2026-06 

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

In this week’s coffee date, Carrie welcomes Ingrid Fincher of Healthy Holy MomLife to discuss how homeschooling moms can create healthy, Christ-centered rhythms that nurture their spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being in every season of motherhood. Together, Carrie and Ingrid discuss practical ways overwhelmed moms can care for their spiritual, emotional, and physical health without adding more pressure to their already full plates. Ingrid shares realistic self-care for busy homeschooling moms, and how daily and weekly rhythms can help mothers cultivate peace, purpose, and sustainability in their homes. Whether you are feeling exhausted, stretched thin, or simply longing for more balance, this conversation is filled with practical tools and biblical encouragement to help you thrive instead of merely survive.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and join Carrie and Ingrid for a little coffee and conversation.

Learn more at https://www.healthyholymomlife.com/

Connect with Ingrid on Instagram @healthyholymomlife

Join Healthy Holy Momlife All Access Membership:  https://www.healthyholymomlife.com/p/home 

Listen to Truth Over Trends Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/truth-over-trends-podcast-biblical-womanhood-faith/id1774374017

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

In this week’s Coffee Break, Carrie sits down with one of her closest friends, Georgina Tanefski—better known in our homeschool community as Señora T.  A bilingual speaker with over ten years of teaching & tutoring experience, Señora T has been teaching Conversational Spanish to homeschoolers through fun, engaging, and inexpensive activities. She has successfully taught her own children and grandchild, along with hundreds of homeschool families across Southern California. In this episode, Carrie and Señora T discuss the many benefits of learning a second language and how to do it naturally—without declensions, conjugations, or endless grammar drills. If you’re looking for a relaxed and effective way to help your children learn Conversational Spanish (or any second language) at home, this episode is for you. Pour yourself a cup of espresso, put your feet up, and join Georgina and Carrie for a little coffee and conversation about learning Spanish.

Sign up for Señora T's Conversational Spanish Class (In Pasadena, CA Area):  FitSport Kinetics Accelerator Homeschool Program: https://fitsportkinetics.com/academic-classes/ 

Practice Your Conversational Spanish in Costa Rica!  Join our Costa Rica Culture & Nature Study Adventure Trip for Homeschoolers: https://coffeewithcarrie.org/costa-rica-trip

Register before August 13th to get Early Enrollment Discount ($200 off your trip).  Use code EarlyEnrollment2027 https://www.educationaltravel.com/register 

TRIP ID # 4345 

PROGRAM ID:  DeFrancisco-4343

Info About WorldStrides:  https://worldstrides.com/en-us

Got Specific Questions about Costa Rica Trip?  Set up a conference call:  https://calendly.com/mdefrancisco8892/30min?month=2026-06 

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

It's time to declutter and build a habit of organization.  "Instead of seeing items as objects, see them as magnets for your attention" (James Clear, Author of Atomic Habits).  Let's get rid of (or at least re-organize) those "magnets"!  In this week's episode, Carrie shares some of her secrets how to get (and stay organized) by decluttering not only your space but your mind as well.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and sip, sort, and simplify your home and mind with Carrie this week.

Resources Mentioned in This Week's Episode:

Adjustable Drawer Dividers: https://amzn.to/4u4ylQb

Index Card Holder:  https://amzn.to/4uBBYgn

Clear Plastic Storage Bins for Refrigerator: https://amzn.to/4tqSWgE

Under Bed Storage Bin:  https://amzn.to/4wonylB

Nuuly Clothes Subscription

PaperBack Swap Club

Pango Books: Buy & Sell Books with Other Readers

Join our Costa Rica Culture & Nature Study Adventure Trip for Homeschoolers: https://coffeewithcarrie.org/costa-rica-trip

Register before August 13th to get Early Enrollment Discount ($200 off your trip).  Use code EarlyEnrollment2027 https://www.educationaltravel.com/register 

TRIP ID # 4345 

PROGRAM ID:  DeFrancisco-4343

Info About WorldStrides:  https://worldstrides.com/en-us

Got Specific Questions about Costa Rica Trip?  Set up a conference call:  https://calendly.com/mdefrancisco8892/30min?month=2026-06 

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

The habit of prayer does not and should not be complicated.  As homeschool moms and busy women, it is hard creating a consistent and meaningful prayer life.  In this week's coffee break, Carrie is talking with author, speaker, and her long-time homeschooling friend, Stacey Waller Holford, about her new book, The Prayer Card System.   The Prayer Card System is a simple, structured prayer method Stacey has used for more than 45 years.  What started as a way to remember to pray for people has grown into a system that has carried her through motherhood, business, loss, rebuilding, and many unexpected turns along the way.  You won't believe how simple it is!  Join Carrie and Stacey for a little coffee and conversation about making your prayer life meaningful and simple. 

Order The Prayer Card System https://prayercardsystem.com/pcs-about

Learn More About Stacey and The Prayer System at www.staceywaller.com 

Connect with Stacey on Instagram @stacey_waller.

Check out Stacey's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@staceywaller-author

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

Exciting News!  Coffee with Carrie is going to Costa Rica and we would love for you and your family to join us!  In partnership with WorldStrides, Mike and I have curated an unforgettable 8- day educational adventure through one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet- Costa Rica!  This is an all inclusive trip full of nature hikes, walking tours, explorations, eating, cooking, and more.  Make sure you listen to this week's little coffee break to get the scoop and all the juicy details.  Your middle schooler will fill their nature journals, your high schooler and/or college kid can get high school or college credit, your coffee cup will overflow (literally), and your family will create cherished memories on this once-in-a-lifetime trip.  Join Carrie, her husband, and other homeschooling families in Costa Rica, June 2027!  

Details about the trip: https://coffeewithcarrie.org/costa-rica-trip

Register before August 13th to get Early Discount ($200 off your trip).  Use code EarlyEnrollment2027 https://www.educationaltravel.com/register 

TRIP ID # 4345

PROGRAM ID:  DeFrancisco-4345

Info About WorldStrides:  https://worldstrides.com/en-us

Got Specific Questions?  Set up a conference call:  https://calendly.com/mdefrancisco8892/30min?month=2026-06 

Support the show

Purchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based Learning

Purchase Homeschool High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education

Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee):  Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably.  

Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session:  Coffee With Carrie 

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips  https://coffeewithcarrie.org

Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.