Homeschool Better Together

Welcome to the Homeschool Better Together Podcast, where we explore building a joyful homeschool experience for your family. In this episode, host Pam Barnhill shares insights and practical tips for determining what's "enough" for your family.

Pam breaks down four homeschool mom personality types - Carefree Cathy, Best Intention Becky, Strategic Susan, and Overwhelmed Olivia. You'll find out which type resonates with you and gain valuable advice for overcoming the unique struggles each type faces.

Tune in to discover that while each personality type has its struggles, there are practical solutions and encouragement to help you homeschool better. So grab your favorite drink, take a break, and get ready to be empowered to step out of the overwhelm and into the wonder of homeschooling better together. 

Links and Resources:

Which Kind of Homeschool Mom Are You? Part 2

Homeschool Better Together Community

Put Your Year on Autopilot 

Plan Your Year

Key Takeaways:

• Reflect on the concept of "enough" in homeschooling and the process of defining what "enough" means for your family.
• Explore the importance of creating a vision for your homeschool and how it helps in determining what is "enough" for your family.
• Delve into the personality types of homeschool moms, including Carefree Cathy, Homeschooler Best Intention Becky, Strategic Susan, and Overwhelmed Olivia.
• Understand the struggles and challenges faced by each homeschool mom personality type in their homeschooling journey.
• Recognize that it's okay to enjoy the homeschool planning process, even if you don't get to implement every single plan.
• Acknowledge the impact of unexpected life events on homeschool plans and the need to adapt and adjust to challenges.
• Learn about joining the free homeschool community and share insights about the identified homeschool mom personality type.

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt3

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

Welcome to the Homeschool Better Together Podcast, where we explore building a joyful homeschool experience for your family. Are you looking to equip your kids with valuable life skills and build confidence in the kitchen? Then you won't want to miss Episode 2. In this episode, the host, Pam Barnhill, is joined by Katie Kimball, the national voice of Healthy Kids Cooking, two time TEDx speaker, writer, and mom of 4 kids who founded the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse, which was recommended by The Wall Street Journal as the best online cooking class for kids.

Together, they explore the world of teaching kids important life skills and the impact of the digital age on parenting.

Katie shares her journey from being an elementary teacher to a successful entrepreneur and mom of four kids, discussing the challenges of parenting in the digital age and the necessity of teaching kids face-to-face communication, understanding the value of money, and stress management in this tech-heavy and busy world.

The episode is packed with insights and practical tips from experts on developing these vital life skills in kids and teens, making it an invaluable resource for today's homeschooling parents.

Links and Resources:

• Life Skills Now Summer Camp
• Kids Cook Real Food Blog
• Kitchen Stewardship Blog
• HSBT Podcast
• Homeschool Better Together Community

Key Takeaways:

• Discover the value of teaching life skills beyond academics to help children thrive in the digital age and beyond, including communication, financial literacy, and stress management.
• Understand the importance of face-to-face communication skills and how to teach children polite communication, eye contact, and how to start conversations.
• Explore the concept of financial literacy for children, including understanding the value of physical money, opening a checking account, and the basics of banking and compound interest.
• Learn the practical skills of self-regulation, including tools for calming, morning routines, and mastering resilience to help kids cope with stress and anxiety in today’s tech-heavy world.
• Gain insights into how the workshops offered in the Life Skills Now summer camp provide practical, hands-on learning experiences for children to develop essential life skills.
• Discover the benefits of the Life Skills Now summer camp, which includes an extensive selection of workshops, prizes to motivate participation, and the opportunity for kids to apply what they've learned.

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt2

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

Welcome to the Homeschool Better Together Podcast, the place where we explore the wonders of homeschooling as a community. In this episode, host Pam Barnhill shares her personal experience of finishing up the school year with her kids and introduces the new direction of the podcast. She reflects on the importance of simplifying the podcast and merging two previous podcasts into one, focusing on the theme of homeschooling better together. 

Pam emphasizes the significance of family learning, building relationships, and fostering a sense of wonder in the homeschooling journey. She also invites listeners to join the Homeschool Better Together community. Stay tuned for more episodes filled with practical tips, conversations with experts, and inspiration to make homeschooling more joyful and effective.

Links and Resources:

• Humility and Doxology blog by Amy Sloan
• Home Science Tools
• Homeschool Better Together Community
• HSBT Podcast

Key Takeaways:

• Discover the concept of the "I'm done list" as a practical tool for wrapping up the school year, allowing students to focus on completing specific tasks and bringing closure to various subjects.
• Understand the transition from the previous podcasts to the new "Homeschool Better Together" podcast, which combines the themes of morning time and better homeschooling to create a holistic learning experience for families.
• Gain insight into the importance of relationships in homeschooling, emphasizing how homeschooling better together can lead to long-lasting connections with children that surpass academic achievements.
• Learn about the podcast's focus on homeschool topics, including planning, teaching math, accommodating gifted and twice exceptional kids, and incorporating various subjects such as science, history, and geography into the homeschool curriculum.

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt1

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

Are you ready for homeschooling to feel joyful again? Do you need support as you learn alongside your kids? Welcome to Homeschool Better Together. Hosted by Pam Barnhill, this podcast shares how to stop questioning if you are doing enough and create a homeschool experience that fits your family.

Each Tuesday, we break down the big ideas into manageable chunks to give you the confidence and resources you need to finally step out of the overwhelm and into the wonder. Homeschool stories and practical tips are delivered straight to your earbuds full of inspiration and encouragement. They are perfect to listen to while running errands or folding a load of laundry. No matter what homeschool method you use, you’ll learn how to remove the overwhelm from your homeschool so you can focus on building relationships. To stay connected and learn even more about the Homeschooling Better Together resources, join the free community: https://pambarnhill.com/homeschool-better-together-podcast/

In this episode of Your Morning Basket, host Pam Barnhill welcomes Jennifer Pepito, the host of the Restoration Home podcast, to chat about creating a sacred home environment. They dive into the inspiration behind Jennifer's newest book, "Habits for a Sacred Home," which draws from the monastery movement and the impact of spiritual disciplines on history. The conversation covers the specific practices that are essential for nurturing a literature-based homeschool and the role of daily prayer in creating a peaceful and connected community within the home.

Pam and Jennifer talk about the importance of a rule of life, which helps families identify their core values and live according to those values. To make it practical, the book includes different rules from St. Benedict paired with biographical sketches of women in history who exemplified those rules. The book also offers a study guide, recipe, prayer, scripture verses, and a pre-order offer with additional resources.

This episode is a treasure trove for homeschooling parents looking to infuse their homes with meaningful practices and spiritual disciplines. To get access to the resources and the pre-order offer, you can visit habitsforasacredhome.com.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the concept of a rule of life or a mission statement for homeschooling, and how it can provide a vision and direction for the education of children, as well as decision-making about curriculum and activities.
• Experience the joys and benefits of incorporating daily prayer and poetry recitation into the homeschool routine, fostering a sense of spirituality and connection within the family.
• Explore the idea of stewardship within the home, including the importance of teaching children responsibility through daily chores and room care, and the impact of cultivating inner calm through quiet time practices.
• Learn about the historical significance of the monastery movement and see how this can inspire mothers to create a sense of community and stability within their homes, especially in turbulent times.
• Embrace the freedom and peace that comes from living according to the values and disciplines of a sacred home, and how this approach can help mothers and families weather the challenges of our culture while living out their faith and values.

Links and Resources

• Your Morning Basket+
• Morning Time Plans
• Mothering by the Book: The Power of Reading Aloud to Overcome Fear and Recapture Joy by Jennifer Pepito
• Habits for a Sacred Home book by Jennifer Pepito
• Restoration Home Podcast
• The Peaceful Press
• The Peaceful Press Curriculum
• 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
• At Home with Sally Podcast
• The Read Aloud Revival
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Put Your Homeschool Year on Autopilot

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to https://pambarnhill.com/ymb152

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

In this episode of Your Morning Basket, host Pam Barnhill and co-hosts Dawn Garrett and Laney Homan share insightful strategies for incorporating picture study into your homeschooling routine. This episode discusses the benefits of picture study, such as creating a mental gallery of paintings for children to enjoy as well as highlighting that it's not about learning art history, but rather about observing and appreciating the details in a painting. 

Gain practical insights on how to conduct picture study sessions, including the basic method of observing a painting, discussing it with your children, and prompting them to think about and offer their own titles for the artwork. Whether you're new to picture study or looking for fresh ideas to invigorate your homeschooling curriculum, this episode has something for every homeschooling parent.

Key Takeaways:

• Emphasize the value of setting a timer for 5 minutes to draw a painting as an exercise in attention, not about recreating the style of the artist.
• Highlight the importance of dividing a painting into thirds and showing each part to children, focusing on details like colors, brushstrokes, light, and texture. 
• Discuss the process of telling a story about a picture to engage with the painting, emphasizing the use of details in the painting to guide the story.
• Encourage the community to share more ideas for picture study and other activities in a free homeschool portal.
• Stress the significance of building the habit of attention through picture study and other activities like nature study, music, and poetry.
• Recommend not revealing the title of the painting initially to encourage critical thinking, and suggest asking questions to prompt children to think about the painting and offer their own titles.

Links and Resources

• Your Morning Basket+
• Morning Time Plans
• Artistic Pursuits curriculum
• The belated Party on Mansfield Mountain by Jerome B. Thompson
• "Impression Sunrise" by Claude Monet
• Angelica Kauffman
• J.M.W. Turner

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to https://pambarnhill.com/ymb151

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

In this episode of “Your Morning Basket,” host Pam Barnhill and co-host Heather Tully, a mom of ten and a veteran morning time homeschooler, discuss the enriching experience of nature study. Parents will discover the benefits of incorporating nature study into their homeschool routine, learning how it can foster observation skills, connect children with science in a vivid and approachable way, and significantly benefit mental wellness by encouraging outdoor time.

This episode covers practical tips for making nature study a seamless part of morning time, including building drawing and watercoloring skills as well as choosing specific topics for deeper exploration. Listen in for inspiring strategies to bring the wonders of the natural world into your homeschool.

Key Takeaways:

• Nature study in homeschooling encourages children to observe and connect with science in a tangible and engaging way.
• Integrating nature study into morning time can be achieved through skill-building activities like drawing and watercoloring, and by focusing on thematic studies such as rocks or evergreens.
• Even without venturing outdoors, nature study can be effectively conducted at the table with resources like nature lore books and magnifying glasses for closer observation.
• Consistency in nature study can be fostered by forming groups for regular nature walks, thereby making the practice a communal and anticipated event.
• Nature study not only deepens child's understanding of the natural world but also promotes mental well-being by encouraging them to spend time outside, observing and appreciating their surroundings.

Links and Resources

• Your Morning Basket+
• Gather: Exploring the Wonder, Wisdom & Worship of Learning at Home
• Heather Tully Photography
• Eyes and No Eyes: Volume 1
• Among the Meadow People
• The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling by John Muir Laws
• Circle of Seasons; The Journal of a Naturalist's Year
• Simply Charlotte Mason

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to https://pambarnhill.com/ymb150

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

If you're a homeschooling parent looking for meaningful ways to engage with your high schoolers and bring joy to your homeschool routine, this episode of Your Morning Basket is for you. Join host Pam Barnhill and co-hosts Laney Homan and Dawn Garrett, as they discuss incorporating Morning Time for high schoolers and the importance of Morning Time, plans that cater to the whole family.

Laney Homan shares her experience of using Morning Time plans with her senior high schooler and her 7-year-old, emphasizing the value of not making high school plans and engaging in enjoyable learning together. Dawn Garrett discusses making Morning Time count for high schoolers and provides insight into incorporating it into their daily routine.

Discover how morning time plans offer valuable learning experiences for children of different ages, including high schoolers. Don't miss out on this insightful discussion that will inspire and guide you in making Morning Time work for your high schoolers!

Key Takeaways:

• Morning time plans for homeschooling high schoolers can be varied and flexible, incorporating activities that cater to different subjects and interests.
• Morning time plans include diverse activities, videos, picture study, poetry, and level-up activities suitable for older students.
• High schoolers can engage with morning time plans through activities like math, which includes advanced concepts suitable for their age and ability.
• Discover how morning time plans can benefit high schoolers and the whole family

Links and Resources

• Your Morning Basket+
• Month of Morning Time
• Picture Books Aren't Just for Preschoolers

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to https://pambarnhill.com/ymb149

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

If you're a homeschooling mom looking for ways to incorporate current events into your homeschool, episode 148 of Your Morning Basket is a must-listen! Join host Pam Barnhill and returning guest, Carl Azuz the host and executive producer of The World From A to Z as they delve into the world of news and media literacy. Pam and Carl discuss the importance of engaging kids in meaningful conversations about global events and navigating the complex landscape of media and news consumption.

Carl shares his experience as a news presenter for CNN and his reasons behind creating, "The World From A to Z," a nonpartisan news show designed to provide a well-rounded look at international events, cultures, and stories for students. Discover how "The World From A to Z" can help bring current issues to your homeschool in a family-friendly manner.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn how, The World From A to Z provides a well-rounded perspective on news and culture.
• As homeschoolers, we have a unique opportunity to engage our kids in critical thinking conversations about what's happening in the world. 
• Carl shares his journey from CNN to creating The World From A to Z, a family friendly news outlet for students.
• Carl encourages multiple perspectives and fact-checking in an ever growing digital age. 
• Learn how discussing news and current events can help our children think critically and have meaningful discussions.
• Encourage our children to have well-rounded perspectives, especially on controversial topics. 
• Encourage our children to bridge disagreement and polarization within their communities with factual news information. 
• The World From A to Z runs a fresh, nine minute episode each weekday.

Links and Resources

• Your Morning Basket Plus
• The World From A to Z
• Carl Azuz's YouTube channel
• Carl Azuz on Your Morning Basket
• Poynter Institute
• Sonlight Homeschool Curriculum

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to https://pambarnhill.com/ymb148

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

In this episode, discover practical strategies to combat burnout in your homeschool with Pam Barnhill and co-hosts, Ali Madej and Meg Angelino. You will gain valuable insight on using Morning Time and other tools to engage your children during times of curriculum fatigue, seasonal illness, new baby, or overall burnout. 

This candid conversation acknowledges the natural ebbs and flows in the homeschooling journey and the importance of extending grace to both parents and children during periods of burnout. The team offers practical insights into managing grading and striking a balance between pleasurable learning and skill subjects.

Tune in to Your Morning Basket Podcast and start your journey towards a more intentional and joyful homeschooling approach today.

Key Ideas About Morning Time and Burnout

• Utilize library apps, such as; Hoopla, Libby for audiobooks and online resources to engage kids in learning during times of burnout.
• Embrace the fun and learning potential in Explorations, read-aloud time, and strewing to keep kids engaged.
• Explore strategies for managing burnout, including; managing mom's health, starting with enjoyable subjects, and outsourcing subjects.
• Emphasize the importance of balance and grace for both the homeschooling parent and the children during times of burnout.
• See Morning Time as a fundamental tool to combat burnout. 

Links and Resources

• YMB+
• Hoopla
• Libby
• Life of Fred
• Put Your Homeschool Year On Autopilot
• Denise Gaskin on YMB
• Handbook of Nature Study

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to https://pambarnhill.com/ymb147

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