Homeschool Moms Unfiltered

Portfolio reviews, work samples, district meetings… how much proof of homeschooling do you actually need? This week, we’re talking about what’s worth documenting, what you can stop saving, how requirements can vary wildly depending on where and how you homeschool, and why your portfolio should reflect the education your child actually received… not manufacture a school-shaped version of it. Whether you live in a low-regulation state or a high-regulation state, our goal for you is the same - meet the requirements without letting documentation take over your homeschool.

Our current book club pick is The Self-Driven Child. Want to join us?  The best part is… we don’t judge you if you show up and haven’t read the book!  Join our Bookworm or All-Access Patreon membership if you’d like to participate in the book club.  We’d love to welcome you!  https://bit.ly/HMUPatreon  

Did you know Homeschool Moms Unfiltered is SO much more than just a podcast?

We’ve built the tools, resources, and community we wish had existed when we started homeschooling, so you don’t have to bump your way through it alone. And we’re still building all the time.

Visit https://homeschoolmomsunfiltered.com/  to find everything in one place, including:

• Personalized Homeschool Coaching - Get practical, judgment-free support tailored to your family, your kids, your questions, and your real-life homeschool challenges.

• Self-Paced Homeschool Courses - Start anytime and work at your own pace with hands-on courses that include companion workbooks, practical exercises, and step-by-step support to help you build your homeschool foundation, choose curriculum, gain confidence, and so much more.

• Books to Support Your Homeschool Life - We wrote The Only Homeschool Book You Actually Need and the name isn’t ironic. From getting started to choosing curriculum to dealing with homeschooling naysayers, our books are created to help you make informed decisions without panic, perfectionism, or someone else’s rigid blueprint.

• Live Monthly Meetings on Patreon - Join us for supportive, honest conversations with other homeschool parents and caregivers who get it. Bring your questions, your wins, your worries, and your “what even is happening?” moments.

• Secular, Progressive Unit Studies - Explore themed studies designed for curious learners and thoughtful families, with resources that are inclusive, accurate, engaging, and never trying to sneak in a worldview you didn’t ask for.

• Twice-Monthly Parent/Caregiver Book Club on Patreon - A low-pressure, community-centered book club for homeschool grown-ups who want to reflect, learn, laugh, and grow alongside people who understand the beautiful chaos of this life.

Let's be friends!!! Follow us on social media for giveaways and updates!!

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered/⁠ FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠ 

Love Homeschool Moms Unfiltered and want to show your support? ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠

Homeschool socialization… everyone has an opinion, but what does it actually look like in real life? This week, we’re talking about how much socialization kids really need, close friends vs. acquaintances, avoiding the urge to overschedule, and how we’ve helped our own kids find their people from the elementary years through the teens.

Our next book club pick is The Self-Driven Child. Want to join us?  And the best part is… we don’t judge you if you show up and haven’t read the book!  Join our Bookworm or All-Access Patreon membership if you’d like to participate in the book club.  We’d love to welcome you!  https://bit.ly/HMUPatreon  

Did you know Homeschool Moms Unfiltered is SO much more than just a podcast?

We’ve built the tools, resources, and community we wish had existed when we started homeschooling, so you don’t have to bump your way through it alone. And we’re still building all the time.

Visit https://homeschoolmomsunfiltered.com/  to find everything in one place, including:

• Personalized Homeschool Coaching - Get practical, judgment-free support tailored to your family, your kids, your questions, and your real-life homeschool challenges.

• Self-Paced Homeschool Courses - Start anytime and work at your own pace with hands-on courses that include companion workbooks, practical exercises, and step-by-step support to help you build your homeschool foundation, choose curriculum, gain confidence, and so much more.

• Books to Support Your Homeschool Life - We wrote The Only Homeschool Book You Actually Need and the name isn’t ironic. From getting started to choosing curriculum to dealing with homeschooling naysayers, our books are created to help you make informed decisions without panic, perfectionism, or someone else’s rigid blueprint.

• Live Monthly Meetings on Patreon - Join us for supportive, honest conversations with other homeschool parents and caregivers who get it. Bring your questions, your wins, your worries, and your “what even is happening?” moments.

• Secular, Progressive Unit Studies - Explore themed studies designed for curious learners and thoughtful families, with resources that are inclusive, accurate, engaging, and never trying to sneak in a worldview you didn’t ask for.

• Twice-Monthly Parent/Caregiver Book Club on Patreon - A low-pressure, community-centered book club for homeschool grown-ups who want to reflect, learn, laugh, and grow alongside people who understand the beautiful chaos of this life.

Let's be friends!!! Follow us on social media for giveaways and updates!!

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered/⁠ FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠ 

Love Homeschool Moms Unfiltered and want to show your support? ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠

This week, we’re recapping The Yes Brain by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson, our latest Homeschool Moms Unfiltered Book Club pick. We’re sharing the bits we loved, the parts that got us thinking, and how the book’s approach to resilience, flexibility, and emotional growth might be relevant on your homeschooling and parenting journey. 

Our next book club pick is The Self-Driven Child. Want to join us?  And the best part is… we don’t judge you if you show up and haven’t read the book!  Join our Bookworm or All-Access Patreon membership if you’d like to participate in the book club.  We’d love to welcome you!  https://bit.ly/HMUPatreon  

Did you know Homeschool Moms Unfiltered is SO much more than just a podcast?

We’ve built the tools, resources, and community we wish had existed when we started homeschooling, so you don’t have to bump your way through it alone. And we’re still building all the time.

Visit https://homeschoolmomsunfiltered.com/  to find everything in one place, including:

• Personalized Homeschool Coaching - Get practical, judgment-free support tailored to your family, your kids, your questions, and your real-life homeschool challenges.

• Self-Paced Homeschool Courses - Start anytime and work at your own pace with hands-on courses that include companion workbooks, practical exercises, and step-by-step support to help you build your homeschool foundation, choose curriculum, gain confidence, and so much more.

• Books to Support Your Homeschool Life - We wrote The Only Homeschool Book You Actually Need and the name isn’t ironic. From getting started to choosing curriculum to dealing with homeschooling naysayers, our books are created to help you make informed decisions without panic, perfectionism, or someone else’s rigid blueprint.

• Live Monthly Meetings on Patreon - Join us for supportive, honest conversations with other homeschool parents and caregivers who get it. Bring your questions, your wins, your worries, and your “what even is happening?” moments.

• Secular, Progressive Unit Studies - Explore themed studies designed for curious learners and thoughtful families, with resources that are inclusive, accurate, engaging, and never trying to sneak in a worldview you didn’t ask for.

• Twice-Monthly Parent/Caregiver Book Club on Patreon - A low-pressure, community-centered book club for homeschool grown-ups who want to reflect, learn, laugh, and grow alongside people who understand the beautiful chaos of this life.

Let's be friends!!! Follow us on social media for giveaways and updates!!

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered/⁠ FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠ 

Love Homeschool Moms Unfiltered and want to show your support? ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠ 

How much does homeschooling really cost? Spoiler: the curriculum is only the beginning. This week, we’re digging into potential hidden costs of homeschooling. We’ll explore lost income, extracurriculars, co-op fees, gas, subscriptions, testing, and teen expenses. We’ll also talk about things that are harder to quantify like time, energy, and mental load. They never show up on the receipt, but we feel them alright! This isn’t about scaring anyone away from homeschooling; it’s about knowing the real cost so you can plan for it and build a homeschool life that’s actually sustainable for your family. 

Did you know Homeschool Moms Unfiltered is SO much more than just a podcast?

We’ve built the tools, resources, and community we wish had existed when we started homeschooling, so you don’t have to bump your way through it alone. And we’re still building all the time.

Visit https://homeschoolmomsunfiltered.com/  to find everything in one place, including:

• Personalized Homeschool Coaching - Get practical, judgment-free support tailored to your family, your kids, your questions, and your real-life homeschool challenges.

• Self-Paced Homeschool Courses - Start anytime and work at your own pace with hands-on courses that include companion workbooks, practical exercises, and step-by-step support to help you build your homeschool foundation, choose curriculum, gain confidence, and so much more.

• Books to Support Your Homeschool Life - We wrote The Only Homeschool Book You Actually Need and the name isn’t ironic. From getting started to choosing curriculum to dealing with homeschooling naysayers, our books are created to help you make informed decisions without panic, perfectionism, or someone else’s rigid blueprint.

• Live Monthly Meetings on Patreon - Join us for supportive, honest conversations with other homeschool parents and caregivers who get it. Bring your questions, your wins, your worries, and your “what even is happening?” moments.

• Secular, Progressive Unit Studies - Explore themed studies designed for curious learners and thoughtful families, with resources that are inclusive, accurate, engaging, and never trying to sneak in a worldview you didn’t ask for.

• Twice-Monthly Parent/Caregiver Book Club on Patreon - A low-pressure, community-centered book club for homeschool grown-ups who want to reflect, learn, laugh, and grow alongside people who understand the beautiful chaos of this life.

Let's be friends!!! Follow us on social media for giveaways and updates!!

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered/⁠ FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠ 

Love Homeschool Moms Unfiltered and want to show your support? ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠

Your kid finished the lesson, completed the worksheet, and checked every box... but did they actually learn it? This week, we’re talking about what makes learning stick, why simply doing more practice isn’t always the answer, and how mistakes and meaningful feedback can turn practice into real understanding. We’ll also share simple ways to spot the difference between completing the work and actually mastering what they’re learning. (And - in a most scandalous turn of events - we’ll share instances where mastering content might not necessarily be the goal.)

Did you know Homeschool Moms Unfiltered is SO much more than just a podcast?

We’ve built the tools, resources, and community we wish had existed when we started homeschooling, so you don’t have to bump your way through it alone. And we’re still building all the time.

Visit https://homeschoolmomsunfiltered.com/  to find everything in one place, including:

• Personalized Homeschool Coaching - Get practical, judgment-free support tailored to your family, your kids, your questions, and your real-life homeschool challenges.

• Self-Paced Homeschool Courses - Start anytime and work at your own pace with hands-on courses that include companion workbooks, practical exercises, and step-by-step support to help you build your homeschool foundation, choose curriculum, gain confidence, and so much more.

• Books to Support Your Homeschool Life - We wrote The Only Homeschool Book You Actually Need and the name isn’t ironic. From getting started to choosing curriculum to dealing with homeschooling naysayers, our books are created to help you make informed decisions without panic, perfectionism, or someone else’s rigid blueprint.

• Live Monthly Meetings on Patreon - Join us for supportive, honest conversations with other homeschool parents and caregivers who get it. Bring your questions, your wins, your worries, and your “what even is happening?” moments.

• Secular, Progressive Unit Studies - Explore themed studies designed for curious learners and thoughtful families, with resources that are inclusive, accurate, engaging, and never trying to sneak in a worldview you didn’t ask for.

• Twice-Monthly Parent/Caregiver Book Club on Patreon - A low-pressure, community-centered book club for homeschool grown-ups who want to reflect, learn, laugh, and grow alongside people who understand the beautiful chaos of this life.

Let's be friends!!! Follow us on social media for giveaways and updates!!

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered/⁠ FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠ 

Love Homeschool Moms Unfiltered and want to show your support? ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠

Discovering that your child has a significant gap in reading, writing, math, or another foundational skill can send even the most seasoned homeschool parent into a panic spiral. In this episode, we’re talking about how to figure out what’s actually missing, address learning gaps without turning “catching up” into your child’s entire education, and protect their confidence along the way. Because sometimes you don’t need to lower the ceiling… you just need to build the missing stairs.

Did you know Homeschool Moms Unfiltered is SO much more than just a podcast?

We’ve built the tools, resources, and community we wish had existed when we started homeschooling, so you don’t have to bump your way through it alone. And we’re still building all the time.

Visit https://homeschoolmomsunfiltered.com/  to find everything in one place, including:

• Personalized Homeschool Coaching - Get practical, judgment-free support tailored to your family, your kids, your questions, and your real-life homeschool challenges.

• Self-Paced Homeschool Courses - Start anytime and work at your own pace with hands-on courses that include companion workbooks, practical exercises, and step-by-step support to help you build your homeschool foundation, choose curriculum, gain confidence, and so much more.

• Books to Support Your Homeschool Life - We wrote The Only Homeschool Book You Actually Need and the name isn’t ironic. From getting started to choosing curriculum to dealing with homeschooling naysayers, our books are created to help you make informed decisions without panic, perfectionism, or someone else’s rigid blueprint.

• Live Monthly Meetings on Patreon - Join us for supportive, honest conversations with other homeschool parents and caregivers who get it. Bring your questions, your wins, your worries, and your “what even is happening?” moments.

• Secular, Progressive Unit Studies - Explore themed studies designed for curious learners and thoughtful families, with resources that are inclusive, accurate, engaging, and never trying to sneak in a worldview you didn’t ask for.

• Twice-Monthly Parent/Caregiver Book Club on Patreon - A low-pressure, community-centered book club for homeschool grown-ups who want to reflect, learn, laugh, and grow alongside people who understand the beautiful chaos of this life.

Let's be friends!!! Follow us on social media for giveaways and updates!!

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered/⁠ FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠ 

Love Homeschool Moms Unfiltered and want to show your support? ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠ 

We were recently asked to talk about homeschooling neurodivergent kids who struggle, and it got us thinking about why struggle isn't always the part of our homeschool lives you hear us talking about most these days. Our kids absolutely do struggle, and there have been seasons when those struggles were incredibly difficult, but we've also spent years learning how their brains work and intentionally designing their education around them. In this episode, we're talking about how we got here and what a strengths-based approach can look like in practice, from leaning into interests and supporting executive function to using accommodations and removing barriers that make learning unnecessarily difficult. And because supporting our kids doesn't mean making everything easy, we're also talking about finding that balance between providing the support they need and giving them meaningful opportunities to stretch, build confidence, develop grit, and discover just how capable they really are. 

Did you know Homeschool Moms Unfiltered is SO much more than just a podcast?

We’ve built the tools, resources, and community we wish had existed when we started homeschooling, so you don’t have to bump your way through it alone. And we’re still building all the time.

Visit https://homeschoolmomsunfiltered.com/  to find everything in one place, including:

• Personalized Homeschool Coaching - Get practical, judgment-free support tailored to your family, your kids, your questions, and your real-life homeschool challenges.

• Self-Paced Homeschool Courses - Start anytime and work at your own pace with hands-on courses that include companion workbooks, practical exercises, and step-by-step support to help you build your homeschool foundation, choose curriculum, gain confidence, and so much more.

• Books to Support Your Homeschool Life - We wrote The Only Homeschool Book You Actually Need and the name isn’t ironic. From getting started to choosing curriculum to dealing with homeschooling naysayers, our books are created to help you make informed decisions without panic, perfectionism, or someone else’s rigid blueprint.

• Live Monthly Meetings on Patreon - Join us for supportive, honest conversations with other homeschool parents and caregivers who get it. Bring your questions, your wins, your worries, and your “what even is happening?” moments.

• Secular, Progressive Unit Studies - Explore themed studies designed for curious learners and thoughtful families, with resources that are inclusive, accurate, engaging, and never trying to sneak in a worldview you didn’t ask for.

• Twice-Monthly Parent/Caregiver Book Club on Patreon - A low-pressure, community-centered book club for homeschool grown-ups who want to reflect, learn, laugh, and grow alongside people who understand the beautiful chaos of this life.

Let's be friends!!! Follow us on social media for giveaways and updates!!

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered/⁠ FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠ 

Love Homeschool Moms Unfiltered and want to show your support? ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠

For many homeschoolers, this time of year means a fresh start and new planning cycle. In this episode, we’re sharing our real-life homeschool plans for the 2026–2027 school year, including the curriculum we’re using, the classes and activities on the calendar, what we’re changing from last year, and how we’re thinking through it all. We’re inviting you behind the scenes to hear what we chose, what we skipped, and why.

*****

At the time this episode drops, Meagan has two spaces left in her 2026-2027 Unschooling Confidence Cohort. It’s for homeschool parents who want to recognize learning beyond the checkboxes, confidently support their kids’ interests, and build an education that actually works for their family. Learn more and grab one of the remaining spots here: https://bit.ly/unschoolingcohort

*****Did you know Homeschool Moms Unfiltered is SO much more than just a podcast?

We’ve built the tools, resources, and community we wish had existed when we started homeschooling, so you don’t have to bump your way through it alone. And we’re still building all the time.

Visit https://homeschoolmomsunfiltered.com/  to find everything in one place, including:

• Personalized Homeschool Coaching - Get practical, judgment-free support tailored to your family, your kids, your questions, and your real-life homeschool challenges.

• Self-Paced Homeschool Courses - Start anytime and work at your own pace with hands-on courses that include companion workbooks, practical exercises, and step-by-step support to help you build your homeschool foundation, choose curriculum, gain confidence, and so much more.

• Books to Support Your Homeschool Life - We wrote The Only Homeschool Book You Actually Need and the name isn’t ironic. From getting started to choosing curriculum to dealing with homeschooling naysayers, our books are created to help you make informed decisions without panic, perfectionism, or someone else’s rigid blueprint.

• Live Monthly Meetings on Patreon - Join us for supportive, honest conversations with other homeschool parents and caregivers who get it. Bring your questions, your wins, your worries, and your “what even is happening?” moments.

• Secular, Progressive Unit Studies - Explore themed studies designed for curious learners and thoughtful families, with resources that are inclusive, accurate, engaging, and never trying to sneak in a worldview you didn’t ask for.

• Twice-Monthly Parent/Caregiver Book Club on Patreon - A low-pressure, community-centered book club for homeschool grown-ups who want to reflect, learn, laugh, and grow alongside people who understand the beautiful chaos of this life.

Let's be friends!!! Follow us on social media for giveaways and updates!!

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered/⁠ FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠ 

Love Homeschool Moms Unfiltered and want to show your support? ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠ 

Reading instruction has become one of the biggest conversations in education, but what does the research actually say? In this episode, we explore the science behind phonics, how reading instruction shifted away from explicit phonics, and why so many schools are returning to evidence-based practices. We also share practical, play-based ways to introduce phonics at home, favorite resources for different ages, and why teaching children to decode words doesn't have to come at the expense of a love of books. Whether you're homeschooling a preschooler, supporting a struggling reader, or trying to make sense of the reading wars, you'll leave feeling informed, confident, and ready to help your child build a strong reading foundation.

For a list of studies and resources mentioned in this episode, scroll to the bottom of the show notes.

Homeschool Moms Unfiltered is more than a podcast! Visit https://homeschoolmomsunfiltered.com/ for personalized homeschool coaching, self-paced courses, books, secular unit studies, our Patreon community, and more.

Follow us for updates and giveaways!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered

Support the show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered

Resources from this episode:

Bruce McCandliss, Yuliya Yoncheva, and Jessica Wise, “Hemifield Differences in Word Learning Reveal Incomplete Mapping of Visual Words to Left Hemisphere Language Areas” (2015):
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2015.03.009

Henry May et al., “Long-Term Impacts of Reading Recovery Through Third and Fourth Grade: A Regression Discontinuity Study” (2023):
https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED628331

Full-text PDF:
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED628331.pdf

Philip Sirinides, Abigail Gray, and Henry May, “The Impacts of Reading Recovery at Scale: Results From the 4-Year i3 External Evaluation” (2018):
https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1186803

Sandra Iversen and William Tunmer, “Phonological Processing Skills and the Reading Recovery Program” (1993):
https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.85.1.112

University of Memphis evaluation of Fountas & Pinnell’s Leveled Literacy Intervention:
https://www.memphis.edu/crep/pdfs/publications/lli_efficacy_wo_appendices_accessible_10_29_18.pdf

Sold a Story:
https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/

Reading Eggs:
https://readingeggs.com

Preschool Prep Company (Meet the Phonics):
https://www.preschoolprepco.com

Hooked on Phonics:
https://www.hookedonphonics.com

All About Reading:
https://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/all-about-reading/

Meadowlark Preschool:
https://meadowlarkpreschool.com

Playing Preschool (Busy Toddler):
https://busytoddler.com/playing-preschool/

Explode the Code:
https://epslearning.com

Carson Dellosa Gold Stars Phonics:
https://www.carsondellosa.com

Logic of English:
https://www.logicofenglish.com

Studies & Resources

This week we're sharing one of our favorite homeschool "superpowers"... turning one simple resource into weeks or even months of rich, meaningful learning. Whether you're using a curriculum, a library book, a documentary, or a unit study, we'll show you how to follow your child's curiosity, make natural connections across subjects, and build unforgettable learning experiences without buying more curriculum. If you've ever wondered how experienced homeschoolers seem to make learning come alive, this episode is for you.

Did you know Homeschool Moms Unfiltered is SO much more than just a podcast?

We’ve built the tools, resources, and community we wish had existed when we started homeschooling, so you don’t have to bump your way through it alone. And we’re still building all the time.

Visit https://homeschoolmomsunfiltered.com/  to find everything in one place, including:

• Personalized Homeschool Coaching - Get practical, judgment-free support tailored to your family, your kids, your questions, and your real-life homeschool challenges.

• Self-Paced Homeschool Courses - Start anytime and work at your own pace with hands-on courses that include companion workbooks, practical exercises, and step-by-step support to help you build your homeschool foundation, choose curriculum, gain confidence, and so much more.

• Books to Support Your Homeschool Life - We wrote The Only Homeschool Book You Actually Need and the name isn’t ironic. From getting started to choosing curriculum to dealing with homeschooling naysayers, our books are created to help you make informed decisions without panic, perfectionism, or someone else’s rigid blueprint.

• Live Monthly Meetings on Patreon - Join us for supportive, honest conversations with other homeschool parents and caregivers who get it. Bring your questions, your wins, your worries, and your “what even is happening?” moments.

• Secular, Progressive Unit Studies - Explore themed studies designed for curious learners and thoughtful families, with resources that are inclusive, accurate, engaging, and never trying to sneak in a worldview you didn’t ask for.

• Custom Unit Study Building - Going on a summer trip? Have a kid with a wildly specific interest? Tell us what you want to explore, and we’ll build a ready-to-use unit study around it so you can just open it and go. We’ll even meet with you to walk through the resource and share tips for making the most of it.

• Twice-Monthly Parent/Caregiver Book Club on Patreon - A low-pressure, community-centered book club for homeschool grown-ups who want to reflect, learn, laugh, and grow alongside people who understand the beautiful chaos of this life.

Let's be friends!!! Follow us on social media for giveaways and updates!!

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered/⁠ FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠ 

Love Homeschool Moms Unfiltered and want to show your support? ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/homeschoolmomsunfiltered⁠