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.

Mentioned in this episode:

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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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the Wonder Kids Club!

Give the gift of fun all year long with the Wonder Kids Club! For just $34, enjoy monthly print-and-play activities, exciting bonus audios, and a personalized birthday shoutout for your kids in 2025. Join by December 31st with code WWDecember to save!

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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)

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the Wonder Kids Club!

Give the gift of fun all year long with the Wonder Kids Club! For just $34, enjoy monthly print-and-play activities, exciting bonus audios, and a personalized birthday shoutout for your kids in 2025. Join by December 31st with code WWDecember to save!

Wonder Kids Club

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the Wonder Kids Club!

Give the gift of fun all year long with the Wonder Kids Club! For just $34, enjoy monthly print-and-play activities, exciting bonus audios, and a personalized birthday shoutout for your kids in 2025. Join by December 31st with code WWDecember to save!

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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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the Wonder Kids Club!

Give the gift of fun all year long with the Wonder Kids Club! For just $34, enjoy monthly print-and-play activities, exciting bonus audios, and a personalized birthday shoutout for your kids in 2025. Join by December 31st with code WWDecember to save!

Wonder Kids Club

In this episode of the Homeschool Better Together podcast, I’m talking about one key mindset shift that can make a world of difference in your homeschool—honoring your school day. It’s easy to let distractions take over or convince ourselves that we can always multitask, but setting aside dedicated time for homeschooling is critical. I’ll share how this simple change has transformed our homeschool and made our days smoother and more consistent.

I also dive into why multitasking during school hours might be the very thing holding you back. When we try to do it all, it’s easy to lose focus on what’s most important—being fully present with our kids during school time. I’ll give you some practical tips to make sure you’re honoring that school day, avoiding the temptation to juggle too much, and making the most of your homeschool hours.

Key Points:

• Honoring your school day means prioritizing dedicated homeschool time.
• Avoid multitasking during school hours to stay focused.
• Being present with your kids during lessons helps keep the day productive.
• Choose just two priorities for each day, with homeschooling being one of them.

Key Resources:

• Homeschool Consistency Bootcamp
• Homeschool Better Together Website
• Homeschool Better Together Community

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt22

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

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the Wonder Kids Club!

Give the gift of fun all year long with the Wonder Kids Club! For just $34, enjoy monthly print-and-play activities, exciting bonus audios, and a personalized birthday shoutout for your kids in 2025. Join by December 31st with code WWDecember to save!

Wonder Kids Club

In this episode of the Homeschool Better Together podcast, I’m giving you a bit of a pep talk. I’ve been there—staring at the clock, realizing the day is slipping away and thinking, “If I can’t follow my perfect plan, I might as well do nothing.” Sound familiar? Well, I discovered that my problem wasn’t laziness—it was perfectionism. And that perfectionism was sabotaging my ability to be consistent with homeschooling.

I talk about how embracing imperfection helped me break through the inconsistency in our homeschool. I realized that half-hearted school days and not following the plan exactly were still valuable. The key is to show up and do something, even if it’s not perfect. I also share how creating a “minimum viable day” helped me focus on the most important subjects and stay consistent, even on the craziest days.

If you’re feeling stuck because things aren’t going perfectly, I encourage you to give yourself some grace. Consistency over perfection is what will make a huge difference in your homeschool.

Key Takeaways:

• Perfectionism can sabotage your homeschool consistency.
• Even imperfect school days can be effective.
• The “minimum viable day” approach helps focus on essential subjects.
• Consistency, not perfection, builds long-term homeschool success.

Links and Resources:

• Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp
• Homeschool Better Together free community
• Pam Barnhill's website

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

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt21

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the Wonder Kids Club!

Give the gift of fun all year long with the Wonder Kids Club! For just $34, enjoy monthly print-and-play activities, exciting bonus audios, and a personalized birthday shoutout for your kids in 2025. Join by December 31st with code WWDecember to save!

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In this episode of the Homeschool Better Together podcast, I’m sharing an overview of our curriculum choices for the 2024-2025 school year. With both a senior and a 9th grader, our homeschool routine is a bit different, and I’m excited to walk you through our approach.

We start each day with a focused morning time that sets the tone for learning, followed by individual subjects tailored to each child’s needs and interests. I’ll also share tips on how we keep our homeschool organized and why staying flexible is key to a successful year.

Key Takeaways

• Overview of our curriculum choices for a senior and 9th grader.
• The importance of a focused morning time.
• Tips for staying organized and flexible in homeschool.

Resources and Links:

• Homeschool Better Together Free Community
• Put Your Homeschool Year on Autopilot course
• The World from A to Z with Carl Azuz
• Hallow app
• Whatever Happened to Penny Candy (Uncle Eric) by Richard J. Mayberry
• The Amazing Dr. Ransom's Bestiary of Adorable Fallacies by Douglas Wilson
• The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
• Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
• To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Odyssey by Homer 
• Student Planner Pages (from Homeschool Better Together)
• Fix It Grammar from IEW
• Consumer Math with Mr. D Math
• The Lively Art of Writing by Lucille Van Pelt
• Workbook for The Lively Art of Writing (found on the Well-Trained Mind Forum)
• The Writing Revolution: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades by Judith C. Hochman and Natalie Wexler
• Khan Academy (Biology course)
• The Illustrated Guide to Home Biology Experiments (book and lab kit from the Home Scientist)
• Elemental Science's high school biology PDF (labs scheduling)
• Japanese tutor
• Mr. D Geometry
• Language Arts Together
• Wonder Studies

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt20

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

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the Wonder Kids Club!

Give the gift of fun all year long with the Wonder Kids Club! For just $34, enjoy monthly print-and-play activities, exciting bonus audios, and a personalized birthday shoutout for your kids in 2025. Join by December 31st with code WWDecember to save!

Wonder Kids Club

In this episode, I share a hard-learned lesson: as homeschooling moms, we shouldn't be the ones working the hardest! I used to think every lesson had to be fun and engaging, but it turns out, simplicity and consistency are key.

I talk about the importance of short, manageable lessons and meeting our kids where they are—focusing on what really matters. Morning time routines have also been a game changer, bringing our family together and making our homeschool days more joyful. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember to simplify, breathe, and focus on building those meaningful relationships.

Key Takeaways:

• Simplify lessons and keep them short.
• Focus on consistency rather than perfection.
• Meet your kids where they are and consider their preferences.
• Incorporate a morning time routine for structure and joy.

Resources & Links:

• Morning Time Plans
• Homeschool Better Together Community
• Homeschool Better Together Planning Resources
• Simplify Your Homeschool With These Five Curriculum Types
• Wonder Studies

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt19

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

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the Wonder Kids Club!

Give the gift of fun all year long with the Wonder Kids Club! For just $34, enjoy monthly print-and-play activities, exciting bonus audios, and a personalized birthday shoutout for your kids in 2025. Join by December 31st with code WWDecember to save!

Wonder Kids Club

In this episode of Homeschool Better Together, I'm tackling something we all face—the way that initial excitement of a new homeschool year can quickly fade. Trust me, I’ve been there too. So, let's chat about what happens when that "honeymoon period" ends and how to handle it without the guilt.

I’ll share how I’ve learned to go with the natural ups and downs of homeschooling instead of forcing the same energy all year long. It's about finding what works for your family and allowing yourself those slower days.

I’ll also walk you through some simple strategies like tracking your homeschool patterns, making adjustments when needed, and not beating yourself up when things don’t go perfectly. Plus, I’ll talk about the importance of connecting with other homeschool moms, because we’re all in this together.

Key Takeaways:

• It's normal for the excitement of the new homeschool year to fade.
• Track your homeschool patterns to plan better.
• Embrace productive times and allow for rest during slower periods.
• Give yourself grace; perfection isn’t the goal.
• Connect with other homeschoolers for support and encouragement.

Resources and Links:

• Homeschool Better Together Community
• Morning Time Plans
• Join Wonder Studies
• Episode with Robin Ludwig on Seasonal Homeschooling

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt18

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

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the Wonder Kids Club!

Give the gift of fun all year long with the Wonder Kids Club! For just $34, enjoy monthly print-and-play activities, exciting bonus audios, and a personalized birthday shoutout for your kids in 2025. Join by December 31st with code WWDecember to save!

Wonder Kids Club