Everyday Educator

Is homeschooling through a hard season even possible — when illness, a move, a new baby, aging parents, or a teenager's growing pains turn your picnic-blanket read-aloud dreams upside down? In this episode of Everyday Educator, host Delise Germond sits down with Lisa Bailey — veteran homeschool mom of two grown daughters and a pastor's wife who began homeschooling the same season her family set out to plant a church — for an honest, hope-filled conversation about homeschooling through hard times.

Lisa shares why knowing your "why" carries you when well-meaning friends suggest you just quit and get a job, and how a simple daily rhythm — devotion, memory work, reading, then math, even when the morning starts in the afternoon — gives kids steadiness when life feels like papers flying through the air. Delise remembers being homeschooled while her mother walked through cancer treatment and why that unchanging routine became a gift. Together they unpack the freedom of "there is always a choice": skipping the African capitals for a season of Challenge A, taking Fridays off to be with Dad, listening to heavy books on audio, discussing a book instead of writing the paper, and trading worksheets for Legos. Lisa leans on Matthew 11:28–30, Delise on Psalm 30:5 — weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Plus, practical ways to keep the joy: the Candle of Happiness, a surprise diner-waitress lunch, a quilt-tent reading nook, and cozy-season ideas for the post-Christmas winter blues.

If you're in a hard season right now, consider this your permission to bend so you don't break — and a gentle reminder that seasons change and the light is coming. Pour a cup of hot chocolate, light a candle, and share this one with a mom who needs to hear it today.

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by HSLDA

Homeschooling gives you the freedom to direct your child's education and tailor it to their unique needs and abilities. At HSLDA, we passionately advocate for your right to homeschool and provide unwavering support along the way. From personalized legal support for your family to exclusive articles, webinars, and downloads, plus discounts from major companies, HSLDA is there to help you with every step of the journey.

Learn more about joining *HSLDA.

*CC family members can save $15 off their annual membership. Find your HSLDA discount

code on the CC Member Advantage list in CC Connected.

What does your first year of homeschooling look like next to your very last one? In this episode of Everyday Educator, host Delise sits down with Kelli Wilt — former public school teacher, Challenge 4 director, and homeschool mom finishing her family's 18-year journey — as one mom celebrates her son's very first day of Classical Conversations and the other marks her daughter's last first day of community.

Kelli shares how one throwaway line in a friend's Christmas newsletter led to an information meeting, to Leigh Bortins' The Core, and to a community she stayed in for reasons much bigger than curriculum. Delise, a classically educated homeschool graduate, explains why watching CC teach her younger brother how to think convinced her to enroll her own boys. Then they get practical about preparing for the homeschool year: Kelli's week-one bingo board for her Challenge 4 class (including thank-you notes to five people who shaped their faith), giving away books at the end of the cycle, freezer meals, and realistic expectations for laundry and chores; Delise's handwritten morning plan with prayer and Scripture at the top, time limits as guardrails, testing rooms to find where your child learns best, and a prepped cart beside the school table. Both name the traps to avoid — comparison, "a quiet thief," and hurrying past moments like a surprise caterpillar.

Whether you're on your first lap or your final one, you'll walk away reminded that your homeschool doesn't have to look like anyone else's to be a good one — your calling is faithfulness, not control. Grab a tissue, and share this one with a mom who needs some wind in her sails.

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Your homeschool community can be part of this global mission by packing gift-filled shoeboxes full of quality toys, school supplies, and personal care items that are sent to children in over 100 countries. Through this project, Samaritan's Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations. Make Operation Christmas Child part of your school year leading up to National Collection Week November 16-23.

Learn more about Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child

Ever felt a little nervous at the thought of teaching Latin? You're not alone — and this episode might just change your mind. In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Lisa Bailey sits down with Kathy Donegia, longtime Challenge tutor and lead curriculum developer for Classical Conversations' brand-new Common Latin program, launching for Challenge A, B, and I in 2027 (with Challenge II, III, and IV following in the years after).

Kathy shares her own journey from a two-year high school Latin student to a 15-year CC Latin tutor, and walks through what makes Common Latin different: six manageable weekly tasks, a focus on reading the Latin Vulgate to deepen understanding of familiar Scripture passages, and a design built around three purposes — becoming lovers of language, growing as classical linguists, and building community around shared study. Best of all, Kathy is clear: parents don't need to already know Latin. They just need to read the lesson a little ahead of their student and learn together.

Whether Latin has scared you off in the past or you're just looking forward to what's next for your homeschool, this conversation will leave you encouraged — and maybe even excited — to gather your family around the table and dig in.

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Your homeschool community can be part of this global mission by packing gift-filled shoeboxes full of quality toys, school supplies, and personal care items that are sent to children in over 100 countries. Through this project, Samaritan's Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations. Make Operation Christmas Child part of your school year leading up to National Collection Week November 16-23.

Learn more about Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child

Feeling the holiday pressure creep in before the leaves even turn? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Delise Germond welcomes back author Abbey Wedgeworth (All Kinds of Weather) for an honest conversation about approaching the holidays — Halloween through Christmas and everything after — with wonder and rest instead of stress and striving.

Abbey opens up about resting in the finished work of Jesus rather than chasing the "perfect" Thanksgiving table, homemade costume, or fully-completed Advent devotional. She and Delise talk candidly about realistic expectations for your kids' ages and stages, leaning on community and resources instead of building every tradition from scratch, and how holidays can hold both grief and joy at the same time — without one canceling out the other.

You don't have to knock every holiday out of the park for your kids to remember a joyful, faith-filled childhood. Tune in for a warm, grounding conversation that will help you walk into this season with open hands.

🌐 Abbey Wedgeworth's website: abbeywedgeworth.com 📸 Instagram: @abbeywedgeworth

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by Classical Conversations Plus Online Learning Seminars

"CC Dads" is a 6-week online seminar exploring how fathers can take an active role, whether or not they are the main homeschool teacher in their home. Facilitated by Joseph Tokar, a homeschool dad who encourages fathers to be present as leaders, supporters, and encouragers in their God-given role, this seminar walks through six sessions grounded in Scripture on encouraging mothers, teaching sons and daughters, and finding a father's place in the classical education his family is already living out.

To learn more about the CC Plus Online Learning Seminars or to begin your journey of pursuing your next season of learning, go to https://ccnetwork.app/OnlineLearningSeminars and register today.

Courses begin October 1, 2026.

Can classical education really prepare your child for a future in science, technology, engineering, or math? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Emma Bortins sits down with fellow CC moms Delise and Tunrade to answer exactly that question.

Delise — daughter of an electrical engineer and a homeschool grad herself — and Tunrade, a 14-year CC mom whose oldest just graduated as a double major in electrical engineering and philosophy, share how the humanities actually build the skills future scientists need: asking good questions, thinking clearly, and sitting with a problem instead of reaching for a shortcut. They also dig into a timely question every homeschool parent is wrestling with: is AI eroding curiosity in young learners, or can it be used well?

Whether your child is chiptune-composing on an old Game Boy or still working out how tenacity and math go together, this episode will leave you encouraged that classical conversations isn't in spite of STEM — it's exactly what STEM needs.

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by the 2027 CC Family Cruise featuring the National Memory Master Competition, the National Number Knockout Competition, & the National Commencement.

The CC Family Cruise is setting sail May 2-8th, 2027, departing from Galveston, Texas, and your whole family is invited! Onboard, you can enjoy CC Signature events and exclusive perks like group dining, merchandise, events, onboard credit, and time with Leigh and Robert Bortins.

Space is filling up quickly, so visit classicalconversations.com/cruise to start your booking today!

Ever wish your kids got as excited about math as they do about game night? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Lisa Bailey talks with Jennifer Hester and Chris Blackburn — two of the original minds behind National Number Knockout (N2K) — about how this simple dice-and-numbers game turns math facts, exponents, and order of operations into something kids actually beg to play.

Jennifer and Chris break down exactly how to play (all you need is a 1–36 grid and three dice), share where to find sample boards, and explain how the game secretly builds skills in addition, multiplication, exponents, and even fractional exponents — without a single worksheet in sight. They also point parents to the packet waiting in the CC Connected Learning Center, including a "Powers, Squares, and Cubes" cheat sheet that makes patterns click for kids of every age.

You don't need to be a math person to get your family playing tonight. Whether you're aiming for the National Championship or just want your kids to stop dreading math, this episode gives you everything you need to start reclaiming the world of numbers — together.

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by the 2027 CC Family Cruise featuring the National Memory Master Competition, the National Number Knockout Competition, & the National Commencement.

The CC Family Cruise is setting sail May 2-8th, 2027, departing from Galveston, Texas, and your whole family is invited! Onboard, you can enjoy CC Signature events and exclusive perks like group dining, merchandise, events, onboard credit, and time with Leigh and Robert Bortins.

Space is filling up quickly, so visit classicalconversations.com/cruise to start your booking today!

Can a simple gift really change how a child sees God? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Delise Germond sits down with Katie Shearin and Izabella McMillon — two women whose lives intersect through Operation Christmas Child, the shoebox ministry of Samaritan's Purse. Izabella shares her powerful testimony of growing up in communist Romania, where faith had to be practiced in secret, and how a single shoebox gift — and the snow globe tucked inside it — became the moment God's faithfulness became undeniably real to her as a 13-year-old girl.

Katie, a Classical Conversations mom of 15 years, shares how her family has packed shoeboxes together year after year, and how Operation Christmas Child's mission of tangible love and gospel outreach mirrors CC's own heartbeat of discipleship — knowing God and making Him known. Together, Katie and Izabella talk practically about how to get your own family or CC community started, from buying your first pack of boxes to hosting a packing party.

Whatever phase of homeschooling you're in, this conversation is an encouragement that discipleship doesn't have to be complicated — sometimes it starts with a box, a prayer, and a willingness to just do it. Pack a box, follow its journey, and see what God does with it.

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Your homeschool community can be part of this global mission by packing gift-filled shoeboxes full of quality toys, school supplies, and personal care items that are sent to children in over 100 countries. Through this project, Samaritan's Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations. Make Operation Christmas Child part of your school year leading up to National Collection Week November 16-23.

Learn More at https://samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/

Ever wonder if social media is doing your homeschool family more harm than good — or if it might actually be a gift? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Delise Germond sits down with Classical Conversations' own social media team, Tunrade Schumann and Treva Barnes, to talk honestly about what it looks like for homeschool families to use social media well.

Tunrade and Treva share the practical guardrails they use in their own homes — from time limits and phone-free schoolwork to defining your "why" before you scroll — plus how to talk with teens about social media boundaries without making it more enticing than it needs to be. They also unpack the difference between mindless scrolling and using social media as a true tool for encouragement, connection, and even friendship (including a few CC community stories that will make you tear up). To close things out, Tunrade and Treva break down exactly what you'll find on CC's Facebook, Instagram, X, Band, and YouTube — so you know where to go for equipping, encouragement, and a reminder that you are not doing this homeschool thing alone.

Whether you're wary of social media, love it a little too much, or just want a game plan before your kids start asking for it, this conversation offers wisdom, humor, and permission to use the tool wisely instead of letting it use you.

📱 Follow Classical Conversations: Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), Band, and YouTube — search "Classical Conversations" on your platform of choice

🎬 Watch "What's the Point?" (CC's memory-work explainer series) on the CC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Classical_Conversations

Is your homeschool student neurodivergent, dyslexic, or dealing with an undiagnosed learning struggle — and you're not sure where to even start looking? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Amy Jones sits down with Margaret Walsh, founder of Secret Garden Educational Pathways, and Alaina Gray, Classical Conversations academic advisor for Challenge A/B1 (and homeschool mom of four), to talk through how to recognize, support, and disciple a child with learning differences.

Margaret and Alaina unpack the real difference between a learning disability and an intellectual disability, why auditory processing struggles are so often missed in standard evaluations, and how a "whole person" classical framework — looking at senses, environment, and spiritual formation, not just test scores — leads to better outcomes. Elena also shares her own family's journey through adoption, diagnosis, and finding the right supports, while Margaret explains the "Secret Garden" metaphor behind her practice and her book, A Catholic Approach to Literacy for Struggling Students.

You don't need to have it all figured out today. Whether you're just starting to wonder if something's going on with your child, or you're deep in the diagnosis-and-therapy trenches, this episode will remind you that every learner — no matter their struggles — is made in the image of God, with real gifts worth uncovering.

Secret Garden Educational Pathways, the nation's leading provider of special needs support specifically designed for homeschool families, is working closely with Classical Conversations to make sure that all students have the resources that meet their needs. This is not to alarm you, but rather to comfort you: 1 in 5 students has a diagnosed learning disability, and you're not alone if you've wondered whether your student's struggles with reading or math are normal.

Do you want to know if your student shows signs of a disability? Do you want to know if specialized classes or intervention are needed, and what resources are available? Get answers now so you can either finally stop worrying, or get them the right help. It's never too late to intervene, but earlier is always easier.

Click below to sign up for Secret Garden's free reading screener, which also includes a mini consultation, addresses more than just reading, and provides instructional recommendations: https://www.secretgardenep.com/reading-screener?utm_source=hs_email&ut

Margaret's book – "A Catholic Approach to Literacy for Struggling Students: Connecting Philosophy and Practice": https://amzn.to/4ikdUvF

Ever wonder what actually happens at a Classical Conversations Parent Practicum — and whether it's worth your summer day? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Kelli Wilt sits down with fellow homeschool moms Lisa Bailey and Rachel Thompson to relive the 2026 Parent Practicum theme, "In the Beginning Was the Word." Together they reflect on how this year's focus on Latin and language pointed back to God's own intentionality — and why every subject, in the end, points back to Him.

From favorite table talks (the catechesis wheel and the Trivium skills chart both made the list) to new favorite Latin phrases and the one book every homeschool parent should read, this conversation is packed with the kind of takeaways that stick with you long after practicum ends. Lisa and Rachel also talk candidly about why community — not just curriculum — is the real reason practicum matters, especially for moms wondering if it's "really for them."

Whether you made it to practicum this year or missed it entirely, this episode is your invitation back into the conversation. Pour a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready to be reminded why you chose this homeschool journey in the first place.

Relive Practicum or catch up if you missed it: https://www.parentpracticum.com