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

Ever look at your bookshelves and wonder if you're doing this whole "home library" thing right? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Lisa Bailey sits down with fellow book-lovers Jennifer Courtney and Delise to talk about how to build a home library your kids will actually love — one thrifted treasure, hand-me-down classic, and cherished read-aloud at a time.

From Jennifer's collection of vintage Landmark history books (including one that sparked a beautiful conversation with her dad) to Delise's hunt for out-of-print gems at the thrift store, this episode is full of practical, budget-friendly ideas for growing your family's collection. They also dig into how to teach kids to be discerning readers — using tools like Philippians 4:8 and trusted review sites — and why re-reading old favorites with your children is never a waste of time.

You don't need a perfectly curated shelf to start — you just need a love of good stories and a plan for growing your collection one book at a time. Tune in for the encouragement (and the book recommendations) every homeschool mom 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 notice how your own love of learning shows up after you start homeschooling? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Amy Jones talks with Classical Conversations mentor Aimee Smith about the 15-year journey that took her from a nervous first-year Foundations tutor — who once got caught not knowing where to find things on the map — to a Classical Learning Cohort mentor helping other homeschool moms teach with confidence. Somewhere along the way, she picked up something she never expected: a real, honest love of learning.

Aimee opens up about the Classical Learning Cohort's five semesters (Classical Way, Invitation, Form, Assessment, and Catechesis) and how "hospitable assessment" reshaped the way she sees herself, not just her students. She also shares the moment she — an adult who'd never read the classics — cracked open the Iliad and Odyssey for the first time to tutor Challenge IV, and how that leap turned into teaching Online Learning Seminars on Homer's epics today.

Whatever stage of the homeschool journey you're in, Aimee's advice is simple: take one step, learn one thing alongside your child. You don't have to check every box — you just have to keep going. Tune in for an honest, encouraging conversation about growing up right alongside your kids.

Learn more about the Classical Learning Cohort, Online Learning Seminars, and Aimee's master's program: https://ccalumni.network/programs/

🎙️ Love this episode? You'll enjoy our other podcast too! Check out Refining Rhetoric: https://refiningrhetoric.com/

🔎 Find a CC Community Near You: https://classicalconversations.com/community-search/

📅 Upcoming CC Events: https://classicalconversations.com/events/

📚 Foundations Curriculum: https://classicalconversationsbooks.com/collections/foundations/

🛍️ CC Shoppable Catalog: https://classicalconversationsbooks.com/pages/shoppable-catalog/

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 catch your kids — or yourself — speed-reading through a book just to check it off the list? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Lisa Bailey talks with Tim Knotts, Director of Challenge Development for Classical Conversations, about the lost art of close reading: slowing down enough to actually understand a text, whether it's Scripture, a history document, or a confusing Russian novel. Tim introduces Classical Conversations' newest resource, Reasoning Together Words in the Word, built around the same 15 skills and three arts your family has been practicing since Foundations.

Tim walks Lisa through the four tools he built into the book to help students dig deeper: parsing, highlighting, annotating, and writing note cards. Each one gets paired with a single skill so kids aren't paralyzed by too many choices — but Tim's quick to point out these aren't new tricks, just old, trustworthy tools most of us learned somewhere along the way and quietly stopped using. He shares why parsing helps with everything from understanding Paul's letters to getting the joke in a good pun, and why note cards are secretly one of the best assessment tools a parent has — flip through your student's cards and you'll know instantly how closely they really read.

You don't need a Challenge IV student to benefit from this one. Whether your kids are Scribblers or you're the one who wants to read more deeply yourself, this conversation is a gentle nudge to slow down, read fewer things well, and let your soul get a little fatter for it. Tune in for a rich, encouraging look at what it means to build a family culture of real, careful reading.

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:

Classical Conversations Plus Online Learning Seminars

OLS provides a unique opportunity for adult learners to engage with rich, meaningful content through 4- to 6-week online seminars rooted in classical, Christian education. Each seminar is facilitated by experienced Classical Conversations graduate parents who have walked the homeschooling journey and bring real-world wisdom to their teaching.

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://ccalumni.network/programs/ and scroll down to find OLS.

Cate-whaaat? If you've ever heard the word "catechesis" and wondered what it means for your homeschool, this one's for you. In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Delise welcomes back Rachel Thompson and Amy Jones to unpack the Classical Conversations catechesis wheel — the diagram that puts God at the center and shows how every strand of learning connects back to His character — and to talk about what it really looks like to keep Christ at the center of home education, not as one more subject, but as the source everything else flows from.

Rachel and Amy open by sharing their testimonies — one who came to a personal faith as a young child, one who found it in college — a reminder that the Lord meets each of us right where we are. From there the conversation moves to the scriptures that compel us to disciple our children (Deuteronomy 6, Ephesians 6, and the "new creation" of 2 Corinthians 5:17), how to marry rearing and schooling into one integrated lifestyle rather than separating "school time" from "God time," and how classical skills — resilience, perseverance, wrestling with hard truths — actually equip children to think higher thoughts about God. The three also speak tenderly to parents carrying shame or the false weight of believing their child's salvation rests on their shoulders, returning again and again to the gospel: there is no condemnation for those in Christ, and our calling is to be faithful, not perfect.

You don't have to have it all figured out. Keep pointing to Christ, keep learning alongside your children, and remember the mission at the center of it all: to know God and make Him known.

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by: Classical Conversations Plus Classical Fellowship. The Classical Fellowship extends classical Christian formation into the years after Challenge, providing Christ-centered worldview formation, classical thinking skills, and Christ-centered community while graduates pursue their calling — whether college, trade, missions, or vocation. To learn more about the CC Plus Classical Fellowship or extend the classical conversation into your next chapter, go to https://ccnetwork.app/ClassicalFellowship

How do you plan a whole homeschool year without letting the plan crowd out the reason you started? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Delise Germond sits down with Kelli Wilt to talk about preparing for the new homeschool year while keeping God at the center — the mindset shifts, routines, and practical organization tips that make the difference before the first day of school ever arrives.

Whether you're heading into your very first Foundations year or you're a veteran mom sending a student into the Challenge program, this conversation is full of ideas you can put to work this summer.

You don't have to have the perfect plan. Start by lifting your eyes off the checklist and back to your child, remembering the real aim of the year: to know God and make Him known.

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by: Classical Conversations Plus Online Learning Seminars OLS provides a unique opportunity for adult learners to engage with rich, meaningful content through 4- to 6-week online seminars rooted in classical, Christian education. Each seminar is facilitated by experienced Classical Conversations graduate parents who have walked the homeschooling journey and bring real-world wisdom to their teaching. [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://ccalumni.network/programs/ and scroll down to find OLS.](https://ccalumni.network/programs/)

America is turning 250 — and there's never been a better time to bring US history to life in your homeschool. In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Lisa Bailey sits down with Kelli Wilt and Amy Jones to explore practical, joyful ways homeschool families can celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence — from living history activities and patriotic family discussions to CC's Cycle 3 memory work and a sneak peek at the upcoming Foundations Curriculum 6th Edition.

Whether your children are preschoolers who just love a birthday party or older students ready to wrestle with what freedom really means, this conversation is full of ideas you can use this summer and all year long. Kelli shares how Cycle 3's American history memory work is perfectly timed for this milestone year, Amy offers hands-on activity ideas for the littlest learners, and the group unpacks a student essay contest open to all Essentials students for the 2026–27 school year — limited to exactly 776 words, naturally.

You don't have to have the perfect plan. Start with a flag, a story, and a question around the dinner table: What does freedom mean to your family?

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:

Classical Conversations Plus Online Learning Seminars

OLS provides a unique opportunity for adult learners to engage with rich, meaningful content through 4- to 6-week online seminars rooted in classical, Christian education. Each seminar is facilitated by experienced Classical Conversations graduate parents who have walked the homeschooling journey and bring real-world wisdom to their teaching.

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://ccalumni.network/programs/ and scroll down to find OLS.