Everyday Educator

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.

Are you spending more energy on SAT scores than on your child's character — and wondering if you've got your priorities backward? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Amy Jones sits down with 15-year CC veteran Rachel Thompson and co-host Delise Germond to make the case that true college readiness isn't built in a testing center — it's built in community, around the Word, one habit at a time.

Rachel shares what she's learned raising three CC kids — including a college senior — and why the skills colleges now prize most (resilience, collaboration, empathy, and perseverance) are the very things Classical Conversations builds from Foundations all the way through Challenge. From CC's community triangle to the Odyssey post-graduate program, Rachel and Delise walk through how classical Christian homeschooling quietly equips students for everything that comes after the diploma. Delise reflects on her own college experience — the misconceptions she carried in and the ones the Lord had to correct along the way — offering honest encouragement for moms who want to start well, even with a houseful of littles.

Whether your oldest is four or seventeen, this episode will refocus your homeschool on what actually matters: knowing God, seeking Him first, and trusting that the second things will follow. You don't need a perfect transcript. You need a child on a scavenger hunt for their Creator.

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:

Classical Conversations just released "The Habits of a Classical Education"—the long-awaited successor to "The Core." This resource helps you naturally integrate the Five Core Habits into daily life, enabling classical, Christian education where relationships and lifelong learning flourish.

It's here! Order your copy of "The Habits of a Classical Education: Practicing the Art of Grammar" at https://classicalconversationsbooks.com/products/the-habits-of-a-classical-education-practicing-the-art-of-grammar

What if the gift you've had since childhood was always meant to glorify God — you just didn't know it yet? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Delise sits down with Mercy Koimburi, a Kenyan Classical Conversations homeschool mom and professional photographer, to explore how creativity, faith, and classical education are more connected than you might think.

Mercy shares how she discovered photography at age 11, how she uses it to capture emotion and tell stories of family and faith, and why she believes God placed that gift in her long before she had a name for it. From the math hidden inside every great photo — hello, Fibonacci sequence! — to how CC's classical framework shows up through her lens, this conversation is full of warm encouragement for homeschool moms who want to nurture the gifts in themselves and in their children. Mercy also opens up about her CC community in Kenya, what homeschool days look like on the other side of the world, and the Bible verses that have carried her through the hard days of the journey.

Whether you have a budding young artist at home or you're still figuring out how your own gifts fit into your homeschool life, Mercy's story will leave you inspired and equipped. You don't have to have it all figured out — he gently leads those who have young. Tune in and be encouraged.

Find Mercy's photography work at: https://www.mercykoimburi.com/

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:

Classical Conversations just released "The Habits of a Classical Education"—the long-awaited successor to "The Core." This resource helps you naturally integrate the Five Core Habits into daily life, enabling classical, Christian education where relationships and lifelong learning flourish.

It's here! Order your copy of "The Habits of a Classical Education: Practicing the Art of Grammar" at https://classicalconversationsbooks.com/products/the-habits-of-a-classical-education-practicing-the-art-of-grammar

What does it take to win the National Memory Master competition? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Kelli Wilt sits down with Nikolai — the 2026 National Memory Master Champion — along with his parents Olga and Jim, to hear the story behind his win. From six years of Memory Master to competing aboard the CC Family Cruise in the Caribbean, Nikolai's journey is equal parts inspiring and practical.

Olga and Jim share how their family leaned on community support, creative study methods (including a hand-built 3D-printed timeline!), and the family motto of "we do hard things" to prepare Nikolai for the biggest memory competition in Classical Conversations. Whether your foundation student is thinking about entering next year or you just love a great homeschool win, this episode is packed with encouragement and real prep tips straight from the champion himself.

Nikolai's advice to future competitors? "Just go for it — and do it for the glory of God, not for the glory of you." Tune in and get ready to cheer.

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:

Classical Conversations just released "The Habits of a Classical Education"—the long-awaited successor to "The Core." This resource helps you naturally integrate the Five Core

Habits into daily life, enabling classical, Christian education where relationships and lifelong learning flourish.

It's here! Order your copy of "The Habits of a Classical Education: Practicing the Art of Grammar" at https://classicalconversationsbooks.com/products/the-habits-of-a-classical-education-practicing-the-art-of-grammar

Want to start a book club for your homeschool family this summer — but not sure where to begin? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Lisa Bailey and her guest Stephanie Meter explore how book clubs for all ages can build community, spark rich conversations, and raise lifelong readers. Whether you have a one-year-old or a high schooler working through philosophy, there's a book club format that works for your family.

From practical tips on discussion questions and activities to how Classical Conversations' common topics framework can deepen any book discussion, this episode is packed with encouragement for homeschool moms ready to make reading a shared adventure.

You don't need a perfect plan — you need good books, good people, and maybe a snack. Tune in and get inspired to start reading together this summer!

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by Classical Conversations' new 2026 Product Line:

This April, Classical Conversations launched an exciting portfolio of new products designed to strengthen math fluency, develop critical reasoning skills, and equip families with practical tools for classical, Christian homeschooling. From flashcard resources and reasoning curriculum to hands-on manipulatives and a foundational parent resource, these releases deepen the classical learning journey for families at every level.

Visit ClassicalConversations.com/WhatsNew/ to explore the entire April 2026 product collection and start strengthening your family's classical, Christian education today.

In this episode of Everyday Educator, hosts Amy Jones and Delise Germond sit down with author Abbey Wedgeworth (Help, I'm Ruining My Kids) to talk about what every homeschool mom actually needs heading into summer — a soul that's as prepared as your curriculum. Together they explore gospel-centered motherhood, the hidden ways our own sin and unhealed wounds show up in our homeschools, and why community is the lifeline homeschool moms can't afford to skip.

Whether you're a new homeschool mom wrestling with your first year or a seasoned classical education parent facing a hard season, this conversation will remind you that the gospel is good news for your motherhood too — imperfections, meltdowns, and all.

Abbey also shares insights from her book Help, I'm Ruining My Kids: A Gospel Guide for the Mom Who's Desperate for Change — a must-read for any mom who's ever wondered if she's doing more harm than good.

Resources:

Abbey Wedgeworth's Website

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by Classical Conversations' new 2026 Product Line:

This April, Classical Conversations launched an exciting portfolio of new products designed to strengthen math fluency, develop critical reasoning skills, and equip families with practical tools for classical, Christian homeschooling. From flashcard resources and reasoning curriculum to hands-on manipulatives and a foundational parent resource, these releases deepen the classical learning journey for families at every level.

Visit ClassicalConversations.com/WhatsNew/ to explore the entire April 2026 product collection and start strengthening your family's classical, Christian education today.

Does traveling with your homeschool family feel overwhelming — or just out of reach? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Lisa Bailey sits down with CC veterans Courtney Sanford (Delightful Art Company) and travel agent Julie Denton to share practical, budget-friendly travel tips for homeschool moms. From using Google Flights Explore to find cheap international flights, to tying family trips to your CC history cycle, to handling travel disasters with grace — this conversation will inspire you to take learning on the road.

Whether you're planning a big summer adventure or a local field trip, Courtney and Julie share decades of wisdom on how to make travel educational, affordable, and genuinely fun — even with little kids in tow. Plus: how to pack carry-on only, find insider tips from waiters, and why "obstacles" are really just good stories waiting to happen.

Their best tips include using Airbnb and VRBO internationally, leveraging travel credit card points, renting an RV for a US road trip, and the sticker-on-a-water-bottle souvenir hack your kids will love. Don't miss the Sound of Music tour story — you won't regret it.

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by Classical Conversations' new 2026 Product Line:

This April, Classical Conversations launched an exciting portfolio of new products designed to strengthen math fluency, develop critical reasoning skills, and equip families with practical tools for classical, Christian homeschooling. From flashcard resources and reasoning curriculum to hands-on manipulatives and a foundational parent resource, these releases deepen the classical learning journey for families at every level.

Visit ClassicalConversations.com/WhatsNew/ to explore the entire April 2026 product collection and start strengthening your family's classical, Christian education today.

Ever wondered who's behind the voices on the Everyday Educator podcast? In this special episode, meet the full host panel — Lisa Bailey, Amy Jones, Kelli Wilt, Emma Bortins, and Delise Germond — as they share their personal homeschooling journeys, why they said yes to Classical Conversations, and what keeps them going. From 25-year veterans to a second-generation homeschooler just getting started, this conversation is the encouragement every homeschool mom needs.

From the history of the podcast (started in 2015!) to a panel of five hosts with decades of combined CC experience, this episode is a warm reintroduction to the Everyday Educator community. Whether you're brand new or a longtime listener, you'll feel right at home.

Learn more about the classical homeschooling journey: 👉 https://classicalconversations.com/blog/classical-education-curriculum/

🎙️ 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://classicalconversations.com/collections/foundations/

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

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by: 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 the Classical Fellowship or extend the classical conversation into your next chapter, go to https://ics.regfox.com/cc-plus-undergrad-live