Homeschool Better Together

In this episode, I sit down with Denise Gaskins, math educator and author, to talk about how we can transform math from a dreaded subject into something joyful and engaging. Denise shares why so many homeschoolers struggle with math and how shifting our approach can make a huge difference.

She encourages parents to make math playful through games, storytelling, and real-life problem-solving. Whether you have a math-loving child or one who resists every lesson, Denise’s insights will help you bring curiosity and creativity into your homeschool math routine.

Tune in for practical strategies to build math confidence and make learning more enjoyable for the whole family!

Key Takeaways:

• Math Should Be Playful – Learning math through games, puzzles, and real-life applications makes it more engaging and less intimidating for kids.
• Ditch the Memorization-Only Approach – Understanding why math works is more valuable than rote memorization. Encourage exploration instead of just drilling facts.
• Use Stories to Teach Math – Turning math problems into narratives or real-world situations makes them more meaningful and relatable for kids.
• Encourage Mathematical Thinking – Instead of giving answers right away, ask your kids questions like “What do you think?” or “How else could we solve this?”
• It’s Okay to Change Your Approach – If a curriculum isn’t working, try something new! Hands-on learning, different resources, or adjusting your teaching style can make a big difference.Focus on Confidence, Not Just Correct Answers – Helping kids feel comfortable making mistakes and thinking through problems builds long-term math success.
• Math Doesn’t Have to Be a Daily Battle – Shift the focus from completing worksheets to fostering curiosity and discovery.

Links and Resources: 

• Homeschool Better Together Free Community
• Denise Gaskins Website
• Denise Gaskins' Blog
• Denise Gaskins Playful Math Store
• The "If Not Methods" blog Series
• My Math Journaling Adventures Kickstarter

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt32

To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

Consistency in homeschooling can be a game-changer, and today I’m joined by Krystal Joslin, a military homeschooling mom and graduate of the Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp. Krystal shares how she went from a go-with-the-flow approach to building a structured, consistent homeschool routine that works—despite frequent moves and unpredictable schedules.

She opens up about the challenges she faced, the small changes that made the biggest difference, and how consistency has transformed her homeschool (and her confidence as a mom!). If you're struggling to find a rhythm, Krystal’s story will encourage you that small changes lead to big results.

Key Takeaways:

• Small, consistent habits build a strong homeschool foundation.
• Clear expectations reduce resistance from kids.
• A simple daily routine can keep learning on track.
• Self-reflection and small tweaks lead to long-term success.
• Homeschooling confidence grows with consistency.

Links and Resources:

• Homeschool Better Together Community
• Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp
• Read-Aloud Revival with Sarah McKenzie
• The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt31

To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

Are you ready to tackle consistency in your homeschool? In this episode, I’m joined by Dawn Garrett to talk about one of my favorite tools: the Minimum Viable Day (MVD). We share how this simple concept helped us overcome perfectionism and establish daily momentum in our homeschools. Learn how to identify what truly matters for your family, create a flexible fallback plan, and build trust with your kids—all while simplifying your homeschool days.

Key Takeaways:

• What a Minimum Viable Day is and why it’s a game-changer for consistency.
• How MVD evolves with your homeschool season and supports your unique needs.
• Practical tips for creating your own MVD and sticking to it.

Key Resources:

Homeschool Better Together Podcast

Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayiri

How the States Got Their Shapes

Magic School Bus

Zoboomafoo

Liberty's Kids

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? by Rebecca Tinker

Atomic Habits by James Clear

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt30

To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

It’s time to make 2025 the year of intentional progress! In this episode, I’m joined by Laney Homan, our member success manager, to talk about goal setting that works for busy homeschool moms. Laney and I discuss the difference between planning and goal setting, the power of starting small, and how to craft goals that fit your life’s current season.

We share personal stories—like Laney’s inspiring journey to tackle health and fitness goals (she climbed a literal mountain!)—and I reflect on finding meaningful ways to reclaim my evenings. Whether you're climbing your own mountain or simply figuring out the next right step, this episode is full of practical advice to help you move toward growth in your homeschool and beyond.

Key Takeaways:

• The distinction between planning tasks and setting intentional goals.
• Breaking goals into tiny, achievable steps to build momentum.
• Why it's essential to align goals with your family’s needs and current life season.
• How tools like goal cards and habit tracking can help keep you on course.

Resources and Links:

• Elevate 2025 Program
• Homeschool Better Together Community

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt29

To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

This episode of Homeschool Better Together dives into the concept of choosing a word of the year and how it can add intentionality and focus to your homeschool journey. I’m joined by Dawn Garrett, our community manager, as we share our personal experiences, thoughts, and even some fun quirks about selecting and living out our yearly words.

From the practical to the reflective, we talk about how a word of the year can shape your mindset, guide your decisions, and create a more purposeful year ahead. Whether you’ve been hesitant or are a seasoned word chooser, there’s something here for you, including tips on avoiding perfectionism and embracing the process. We also introduce our upcoming workshop, where we’ll help you choose your word and explore ways to live it fully.

Key Takeaways:

• Words of the year as tools for personal growth and homeschool focus.
• The difference between setting goals and choosing a guiding word.
• How to reflect on, engage with, and incorporate your word into daily life.
• Details about our Align Workshop and how it ties into Elevate Homeschool 2025.

Resource List:

• Homeschool Better Together Community
• Homeschool Better Together Podcast
• Elevate 2025

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt28

To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

This episode of the Homeschool Better Together Podcast features a delightful conversation with Sarah Mackenzie from the Read Aloud Revival. Sarah and I chat about rekindling the joy of reading for ourselves as moms. We explore the power of quitting books that don’t spark joy, the fun of keeping a reading log, and how to find books that truly resonate with you. Plus, we dive into reading challenges—are they motivating or just another checklist? Spoiler: we both have strong opinions!

We also talk about Sarah’s exciting projects with Waxwing Books, including a middle-grade fantasy novel perfect for family read-alouds. If your reading life needs a little inspiration or you're searching for the perfect book list, this episode is packed with ideas and encouragement to get you turning pages again.

Key Takeaways:

• Rekindle your love for reading by giving yourself permission to quit books that don’t excite you.
• A simple reading log can help you reflect on and savor what you’ve read.
• Waxwing Books’ upcoming middle-grade fantasy, Beyond Mulberry Glen, is an excellent family read-aloud.
• Reading challenges can be fun if approached with flexibility—don’t let them feel like a burden.

Key Resources:

• Homeschool Better Together Podcast
• ReadAloudRevival.com
• Read-Aloud Revival Podcast
• Waxwing Books
• "Dear Duck, Please Come" by Sarah Mackenzie
• "Beyond Mulberry Glen" by Millie Florence
• "The Myth Makers, The Remarkable Fellowship of CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien" by John Hendricks
• "The Lively Art of Writing" by Lucille Van Paine
• "84 Charing Cross Road" by Helene Hanff
• "West with Giraffes" by Lynda Rutledge
• "The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown
• "The Women" by Kristin Hannah
• "4:50 from Paddington: A Miss Marple Mystery" by Agatha Christie
• "The Wishing Game" by Meg Shaffer
• "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundle
• "Only the Beautiful" by Susan Meissner
• "All It Takes is a Goal" by John Acuff

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt27

To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

In this episode of Homeschool Better Together, I’m joined by my friend Sunni Dallas, a mom of seven, who shares how she uses the Wonder World Podcast to enrich her homeschool days—especially when life is busy with babies, toddlers, and teens. Sunni talks about how lunchtime has become the perfect anchor for learning, where we provide the content, and she simply hits play. From history to fables, Wonder World is her go-to resource for a mini morning time with her kids.

We also chat about other resources Sunni uses to simplify homeschooling and keep her big family engaged without overloading herself with planning. If you’ve ever struggled to keep up with morning time or need a fresh way to make learning work with multiple ages, Sunni’s approach will give you ideas and inspiration.

Key Takeaways:

• Using Wonder World at lunch for a “mini morning time” when life gets busy.
• Tips for balancing homeschooling with kids of all ages.
• Practical resources and routines that keep homeschool simple and fun.
• How using pre-prepared resources frees up time and keeps kids engaged.

Resources and Links:

• Wonder World Podcast
• Wonder World Kids Club
• The World from A to Z
• Catholic-based content from Ascension Presents
• Brains On
• Classical Conversations
• The Boxcar Children

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt26

To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

In this episode of the Homeschool Better Together podcast, I’m joined by Dawn Garrett to chat about our special gift for homeschoolers this year—A Christmas Carol explorations! We’re offering a free resource full of fun activities, discussions, and enrichment to bring some holiday cheer into your homeschool. Dawn and I go over the history behind this yearly gift, why we’re excited about A Christmas Carol as this year's theme, and a few reasons you might not want to skip this one.

I share my journey of rediscovering the story’s true meaning and why it’s a perfect classic to enjoy as a family. We also talk about the Camp Christmas upgrade, packed with even more holiday fun, crafts, and planning resources to keep your homeschool cozy and memorable this season.

Key Points:

• A Christmas Carol explorations as a free holiday gift.
• Why this story offers valuable lessons in a family-friendly way.
• Optional Camp Christmas upgrade for extra activities, crafts, and planning tools.
• Fun community challenges and a chance to win prizes.

Resources and Links

• A Free Christmas Carol Explorations
• Dr. Anthony Esolen's Video on "A Christmas Carol"
• Skolay Sisters Podcast (Episode 46, "Don't Be the White Witch")
• Advent Morning Time Plans
• Christmas Celebration Morning Time Plans
• Homeschool Better Together Community 
• "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens
• "10 Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child" by Anthony Esolen
• "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson
• "The Muppet Christmas Carol" (Movie)
• Tim Curry's Narration of "A Christmas Carol" (Audiobook)
• Merry Beggars’ "A Christmas Carol" Radio Show
• Patrick Stewart performing "A Christmas Carol" (both as a single-person play and audiobook)

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt(25)

In this episode of the Homeschool Better Together podcast, I sit down with Dawn Garrett, our customer service guru, to reflect on the lessons we’ve learned over seven years of running the Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp. We talk about how consistency—not perfection—can transform your homeschool and why sticking with even a “minimum viable day” can make all the difference.

Dawn and I share some of the challenges homeschool moms face and how the Boot Camp provides tools and mindset shifts to help you stay the course. We also chat about the power of accountability and how taking charge—though exhausting—yields big results.

If you’ve been feeling stuck or overwhelmed, this episode will inspire you to take small steps toward consistency and show how even imperfect days can lead to long-term success.

Key Takeaways:

• Consistency matters more than curriculum or homeschool method.
• The "minimum viable day" helps keep you on track, even on tough days.
• Taking charge can be tiring, but it leads to the best results.
• Accountability plays a huge role in building consistent habits.
• There’s never a perfect time to start—just jump in and begin today.

Resources and Links:

• Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp
• Morning Time Plans
• Put Your Year on Autopilot
• Elevate All Access Program
• Free Homeschool Better Together Community

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt24

To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

In this episode of the Homeschool Better Together podcast, I’m chatting with Katie McCune, a mom from our community, about her journey with the Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp. Katie shares how, before the boot camp, their homeschool days were often filled with morning time and spontaneous field trips, but progress through their core subjects was slow. She talks about how she struggled with perfectionism and how that mindset made it hard to feel satisfied with her homeschool efforts.

We discuss how the boot camp helped her implement small, consistent habits that made a huge difference. Katie shares how the accountability and practical tips she learned transformed her homeschool—leading to less resistance from her kids and a much more joyful, organized approach. We also dive into how showing up consistently helped Katie feel more confident and in control, making homeschooling feel more like a rewarding vocation.

If you’re on the fence about joining the boot camp, this episode will give you a peek into how it can help you move from feeling overwhelmed to building a homeschool routine you can feel proud of.

Key Takeaways:

• Katie’s struggles with consistency and perfectionism before boot camp.
• How the Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp helped build effective routines.
• The impact of consistent habits on reducing resistance from kids.
• Homeschooling as a vocation: showing up every day with purpose.

Resources and Links:

• Homeschool Better Together Community
• Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt23

To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.