Coffee With Carrie: Homeschool Podcast

It’s that time of the year. October is scary season:  the Great October Homeschool Freak Out!  This is the month when your carefully crafted homeschool plan comes back to haunt you.  The October Homeschool Reckoning is when Moms realize: "I didn't plan a homeschool. I accidentally created a homeschool monster." Your thoughtfully pieced together curriculum, classes, activities, schedules, and commitments start chasing you in October.  Turn your Great October Freak-Out into your Great October Reset. Don't throw anything into your curriculum graveyard just yet.  Listen to this week's episode.  Carrie shares five things you might want to reset before giving up or starting over.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, eat some chocolate, and take a little coffee break.  Don't freak out! You've got this.

Support the show

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie:  The Best of the Podcast to get access to premium episodes and some of Carrie's favorite conversations with popular guests:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/939064/subscribe

• 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.

Are you art-challenged? Even you can teach art!  Art is so much more than drawing or learning about great artists. Children need opportunities to draw, observe, create, and make things by hand. Creative expression should be an important part of every child’s day and education. In this week’s episode, Carrie is talking with Julie Abels, author of Anyone Can Teach Art and founder of Ridge Light Ranch. Julie and Carrie share how to include art instruction and art appreciation in your home education without an art degree. They also discuss how to add beauty and creativity to your homeschool week in just 20 minutes! And they even get into the hot topic of AI and human creativity.

It’s a must-listen for homeschool moms who want to bring more art and beauty into their homes—even if they don’t consider themselves artists. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and join Carrie and Julie for a little coffee and conversation about art.

Get FREE “Drawing Botanicals like Linnaeus” Lesson at ridgelightranch.com/carrie

Check Art Curriculum and Art Instruction videos at https://ridgelightranch.com/

Listen to Anyone Can Teach Art Podcast with Julie at https://ridgelightranch.com/anyone-can-teach-art/

Purchase Anyone Can Teach Art by Julie Abels https://link.amazon/B02sOKS7Q 

Support the show

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie:  The Best of the Podcast to get access to premium episodes and some of Carrie's favorite conversations with popular guests:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/939064/subscribe

• 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 think outside the box!  The number one reason veteran homeschool moms burn out or give up is because they try to do school at home.  The first mistake many new homeschooling moms make is they try to replicate traditional school at home.  Why are you modeling your home education after the very thing you are trying to escape?  Don't do school at home.  Think outside the box.  Let's do "school" differently this year.  This week, Carrie shares how to think outside the curriculum box and how to get out of the classroom mindset.   If you are new to homeschooling, you will need the reassurance and encouragement to change your mindset.  If you are a seasoned homeschooling mom, you probably need these important reminders.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and join Carrie for a little coffee break.

Support the show

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie:  The Best of the Podcast to get access to premium episodes and some of Carrie's favorite conversations with popular guests:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/939064/subscribe

• 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.

If you have a toddler, preschooler, TK, Kindergartener or 6 year old, you don't want to miss this Coffee With Carrie Homeschool episode.  If your children are past this stage, then make sure you share this episode with friends who are thinking of homeschooling their little ones.  In this week's episode, Carrie explains the seven essentials of preschool and kindergarten and how to create a nurturing, learning environment with and without formal curriculum.  If you have little ones or you are new to homeschooling, you don't want to miss this episode.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and join Carrie for a little coffee break. 

Guide to Early Years Home Education:  CLICK HERE

Support the show

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie:  The Best of the Podcast to get access to premium episodes and some of Carrie's favorite conversations with popular guests:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/939064/subscribe

• 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.

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!

Support the show

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie:  The Best of the Podcast to get access to premium episodes and some of Carrie's favorite conversations with popular guests:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/939064/subscribe

• 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.

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

Support the show

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie:  The Best of the Podcast to get access to premium episodes and some of Carrie's favorite conversations with popular guests:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/939064/subscribe

• 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

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie:  The Best of the Podcast to get access to premium episodes and some of Carrie's favorite conversations with popular guests:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/939064/subscribe

• 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

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie:  The Best of the Podcast to get access to premium episodes and some of Carrie's favorite conversations with popular guests:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/939064/subscribe

• 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

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie:  The Best of the Podcast to get access to premium episodes and some of Carrie's favorite conversations with popular guests:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/939064/subscribe

• 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

Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie:  The Best of the Podcast to get access to premium episodes and some of Carrie's favorite conversations with popular guests:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/939064/subscribe

• 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.