Homeschool Unrefined

We're tackling a common homeschool conundrum: socialization. Listener Leigh writes, "A topic that is on my mind a lot is community and socialization. This topic feels a bit taboo in homeschool communities. We say, 'It's all socializing!' and don't address the very real needs of kids to have peers and a close group of friends." In this Question & Processing episode from Patreon, we're sharing our own thoughts on this often misunderstood concept.

We've answered dozens of listener questions like this one on Patreon, including

-supporting kids who are afraid to make mistakes,

-finding workable routines,

-delaying formal academics,

-balancing kids' different learning styles and needs, and more!

When you join the $5 Squad on Patreon, you get access to our entire back catalog of 100+ episodes, AND you get 4+ new episodes a month. We process patron questions 2x/month and discuss them with our community of like-minded parents.

This episode is sponsored by Nexbooks. Get your free trial today at nexbooks.org and get 10% off your subscription by using discount code: unrefined.

Coffee Hour Live Event

We're hosting an interactive Question & Processing event with listener questions about homeschooling and outside validation and checking in about our experiences having kids in school. This is an exclusive event for patrons. Join us for this LIVE podcast recording (or watch / listen to the playback afterwards). Tuesday, November 16 at 7pm Central.

Aha Moment

Create a weekend plan that is different from the weekday routine and responsibilities.

Newsletter

Let's stay in touch, even when our favorite social media platforms crash. Plus, you get a FREEBIE from us when you subscribe! homeschoolunrefined.com/newsletter

Loving This Week (LTW)

Angela: Thrive Instant Brow Fix Semi-Permanent Eyebrow Gel

Maren: Dickinson

Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. A chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!

More About Homeschool Unrefined

We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in "parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Merch Shop | bookshop.org

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at [email protected]

This is the third episode in our "How We Homeschool" series. We're talking with different homeschool parents all season to hear about their philosophies, insights, and experiences.

Iris Chen is our guest this week, and we couldn't be more excited! You might be familiar with Iris's work on Instagram account @untigering and her book Untigering (which we LOVED). We talk with Iris about healing and shifting away from authoritarian parenting toward more collaborative, peaceful parenting and how that impacts her parenting ideology and practices. Iris shares about unschooling, finding community, and the routines that are working for her and her kids.

Find Iris on Instagram, Facebook, on her website, and order her book Untigering: Peaceful Parenting for the Deconstructing Tiger Parent here.

This episode is sponsored by Elephants and Algebra. Elephants and Algebra offers one-on-one K-12 math tutoring that meets your child where they are. http://elephantsandalgebra.com/

Aha Moment

"It's ok to not plan." -Maren

Newsletter

Let's stay in touch, even when our favorite social media platforms crash. Plus, you get a FREEBIE from us when you subscribe! homeschoolunrefined.com/newsletter

Want more episodes?

Join our $5 Squad on Patreon to get an extra episode every week. Every month, you'll get 2 Listener Q&P (Question & Process) Episodes, an LTW Extra episode, and a monthly check-in where we get real about what's going well, what's hard right now, and what we're doing for self-care. You'll also get plugged into our community of like-minded parents for support, encouragement, and fun!

Loving This Week (LTW)

Angela: Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement

Maren: Windex Outdoor Window Cleaner

Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. A chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!

More About Homeschool Unrefined

We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in "parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Merch Shop | bookshop.org

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at [email protected]

"How do I get my kid to ____?" "Why won't my child _____?" Have you ever found yourself asking those questions? (We've all been there!) We're devoting a whole episode to this very common homeschool and parenting dilemma. Whether you're getting reluctance about a school subject, a household chore, or even a fun extracurricular activity, we'll break down why your child might be reluctant and what to do about it. And some of our suggestions might surprise you!

This episode is sponsored by NaliniKIDS. Help your kids reflect on the words in their lives with WORD Workouts, a free lesson library for kids 4-18 from NaliniKIDS.

Aha Moment

"We're still smack-dab in the middle of the largest experiment on children ever done." Get the whole thread here.

Newsletter

Let's stay in touch, even when our favorite social media platforms crash. Plus, you get a FREEBIE from us when you subscribe! homeschoolunrefined.com/newsletter

Want more episodes?

Get our latest episodes on Patreon, including our October LTW Extra.

Join our $5 Squad on Patreon to get an extra episode every week. Every month, you'll get 2 Listener Q&P (Question & Process) Episodes, an LTW Extra episode, and a monthly check-in where we get real about what's going well, what's hard right now, and what we're doing for self-care. You'll also get plugged into our community of like-minded parents for support, encouragement, and fun!

Loving This Week (LTW)

Angela: Suspect podcast

Maren: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. A chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!

More About Homeschool Unrefined

We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in "parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Merch Shop | bookshop.org

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at [email protected]

This is the second episode in our "How We Homeschool" series. We'll be talking with different homeschool parents all season to hear about their philosophies, insights, and experiences.

Let's meet Faryal! She homeschools her 4 kids, ages 7-17. Faryal shares how teaching influenced her philosophy of homeschool, how her homeschool has changed over the years, and how she evolved from a classical home educator to a more relaxed, eclectic homeschooler. Get a glimpse into her curriculum choices, homeschool routines, and the personal practices that sustain her. Plus, we talk about how she's finding community. We have MORE with Faryal available when you join our $5 Squad on Patreon!

Find Faryal on Instagram at @life.of.faryal and @cup.of.home and blogging at acupofhome.com.

This episode is sponsored by Elephants and Algebra. Elephants and Algebra offers one-on-one K-12 math tutoring that meets your child where they are. http://elephantsandalgebra.com/

Aha Moment

"Get the book." -Maren

Mentions

Brave Writer

The Good and the Beautiful Saxon Math Mr. D Math

Newsletter

Let's stay in touch, even when our favorite social media platforms crash. Plus, you get a FREEBIE from us when you subscribe! homeschoolunrefined.com/newsletter

Want more episodes?

Join our $5 Squad on Patreon to get an extra episode every week. Every month, you'll get 2 Listener Q&P (Question & Process) Episodes, an LTW Extra episode, and a monthly check-in where we get real about what's going well, what's hard right now, and what we're doing for self-care. You'll also get plugged into our community of like-minded parents for support, encouragement, and fun!

Loving This Week (LTW)

Angela: Democracy Jeans (bootcut and straight leg)

Maren: Overheard Austin

Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. A chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!

More About Homeschool Unrefined

We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in "parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Merch Shop | bookshop.org

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at [email protected]

Not sure which is more daunting: figuring out our kids' educational options, or getting on the same page with our partner about those options! This is a topic that has come up A LOT in our conversations with other parents, so we're processing our own stories about making school / homeschool decisions with our partners. We also share 3 tips to help you have these conversations with your partner.

Join us on Patreon this week where we'll be talking with our partners!

This episode is sponsored by NaliniKIDS. Help your kids reflect on the words in their lives with WORD Workouts, a free lesson library for kids 4-18 from NaliniKIDS.

Coffee Hour Live Event

Join us for a LIVE podcast recording (or watch / listen to the playback afterwards). This is an exclusive event for patrons. Tuesday, October 19 at 1pm CST.

Aha Moment

"5 minutes of quality time can be enough." -Angela

Mentions

Free to Learn

Newsletter

Let's stay in touch, even when our favorite social media platforms crash. Plus, you get a FREEBIE from us when you subscribe! homeschoolunrefined.com/newsletter

Want more episodes?

Get our latest episodes on Patreon, including Workable Routines & Supporting Kids Who are Afraid to Make Mistakes.

Join our $5 Squad on Patreon to get an extra episode every week. Every month, you'll get 2 Listener Q&P (Question & Process) Episodes, an LTW Extra episode, and a monthly check-in where we get real about what's going well, what's hard right now, and what we're doing for self-care. You'll also get plugged into our community of like-minded parents for support, encouragement, and fun!

Loving This Week (LTW)

Angela: Scenes from a Marriage

Maren: Vox on YouTube (Manhattan's Grid and Vox Darkroom)

Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. A chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!

More About Homeschool Unrefined

We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in "parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Merch Shop | bookshop.org

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at [email protected]

This is the first episode in our "How We Homeschool" series. We'll be talking with different homeschool parents all season to hear about their philosophies, insights, and experiences.

Tanya from Project Happy Home is with us to share her story and insights as a doctor-lawyer turned secular homeschooling mom of 3 kids. We chat curriculum, routines, and her perspective on finding community in person and online. We really love how Tanya doesn't let labels limit her homeschool style. We have MORE with Tanya available when you join our $5 Squad on Patreon!

Find Tanya and Project Happy Home on YouTube and Instagram.

This episode is sponsored by Elephants and Algebra. Elephants and Algebra offers one-on-one K-12 math tutoring that meets your child where they are. http://elephantsandalgebra.com/

Aha Moment

"I need to care less about some things." -Maren

Extended Interview

We have MORE with Tanya available when you join our $5 Squad on Patreon! We dive into personalities (and personality envy), shows she's loving, and Tanya's answers to our signature topics: What We Don't Do and Giving Yourself Credit.

Mentions

My Biggest Homeschooling Mistakes . . . So Far

BookShark

Hewitt Homeschool Lightning Literature

IEW

Math Mammoth

Build Your Library

Elan Planners

Tanya's ADHD videos

Newsletter

Let's stay in touch, even when our favorite social media platforms crash. Plus, you get a FREEBIE from us when you subscribe! homeschoolunrefined.com/newsletter

Want more episodes?

Get our latest episode on Patreon: Workable Routines & Supporting Kids Who are Afraid to Make Mistakes.

Join our $5 Squad on Patreon to get an extra episode every week. Every month, you'll get 2 Listener Q&P (Question & Process) Episodes, an LTW Extra episode, and a monthly check-in where we get real about what's going well, what's hard right now, and what we're doing for self-care. You'll also get plugged into our community of like-minded parents for support, encouragement, and fun!

Loving This Week (LTW)

Angela: Cold Brew & Oat Barista Blend Combo

Maren: Sunday Lawn Care

Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. A chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!

More About Homeschool Unrefined

We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in "parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Merch Shop | bookshop.org

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at [email protected]

We're back and kicking off our fall podcast season with some BIG personal updates. We hope you'll find some camaraderie in the stories we share and the changes our families are going through. Let's normalize all different kinds of learning experiences and choices families can make! And don't miss our 3 essential tips for a successful fall.

This episode is sponsored by NaliniKIDS. Help your kids reflect on the words in their lives with WORD Workouts, a free lesson library for kids 4-18 from NaliniKIDS.

Want more episodes?

Join our $5 Squad on Patreon to get an extra episode every week. Every month, you'll get 2 Listener Q&A episodes, an LTW Extra episode, and a monthly check-in where we get real about what's going well, what's hard right now, and what we're doing for self-care. You'll also get plugged into our community of like-minded parents for support and encouragement and fun!

Loving This Week (LTW)

Angela: Gua Sha (Wildling Empress Stone and tutorial)

Maren: Only Murders in the Building

Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. A chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!

More About Homeschool Unrefined

We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in "parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Merch Shop | bookshop.org

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at [email protected]

You're getting another mini-episode! We couldn't resist answering a listener question about diverse and inclusive books.

Back to School Summit: LAST CHANCE!

Looking for practical *and* inspirational support as we head into a new school year? Check out our Back to School Summit! This summit is for new and experienced homeschoolers to inspire and equip us to design a SUSTAINABLE school year. We'll help keep your homeschool simple, real, and fun by reframing your expectations and giving you real-life solutions based on our 20+ years of homeschool experience. (Psst... patrons in our $5 Squad get an exclusive discount PLUS all our extra content on Patreon!)

Mentions

Rainbow Revolutionaries 50 LGBTQ+ People Who Made History

The Conscious Kid (and their Patreon)

Angela's book post

Teaching Outside The Binary

We Need Diverse Books

Our bookshop.org Shop

Scribd

Books for Teens

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adayemi

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

Slay Brittney Morris

Ancestor Approved: Intritribal Stories by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Authors

Jason Reynolds

Ibi Zoboi

Jacqueline Woodson

Elizabeth Acevedo

Nic Stone

Angie Thomas

Loving This Week (LTW)

Maren: Schmigadoon!

Angela: The White Lotus

More About Homeschool Unrefined

We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in "parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at [email protected]

Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

You're getting a mini-episode! Back to school support, a listener question about family time, and our LTWs!

Back to School Summit

Looking for practical *and* inspirational support as we head into a new school year? Check out our Back to School Summit! This summit is for new and experienced homeschoolers to inspire and equip us to design a SUSTAINABLE school year. We'll help keep your homeschool simple, real, and fun by reframing your expectations and giving you real-life solutions based on our 20+ years of homeschool experience. (Psst... patrons in our $5 Squad get an exclusive discount PLUS all our extra content on Patreon!)

Loving This Week (LTW)

Maren: Infinite Country

Angela: Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe

Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. An hour-long chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!

More About Homeschool Unrefined

We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in "parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at [email protected]

Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Are you ready for this? It's time to rethink everything you think you know about "screens" and how kids learn. We're making a case for why YouTube beats a science textbook, why PBS Kids is can be more than a pre-dinner pacifier, and why even Marvel movies (yes, Marvel movies) are worthy of being a central part of your homeschool. We hope you'll feel inspired (and feel the freedom!) to ditch your lesson plans and enjoy some great shows with the kids--because this is totally amazing and totally real learning.

You can join us on Patreon to hear our Q&A conversation.

This is our final episode this spring season, but the content continues year round over on Patreon!

Big List of Favorite Shows

Science: Nature

Tiny World

Earth at Night

Becoming You

Tiny Creatures

Our Planet

Planet Earth

My Octopus Teacher

Wild Kratts

Math and Science (Physics, Chemistry, etc)

Mark Rober

Mystery Doug

Sid the Science Kid

Curious George

Odd Squad

King of Random

The Hacksmith

Mythbusters

Mythbusters Jr

Social Studies

Amend

Finding Your Roots

Little America

CNN 10

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

Who Was?

Nick News Presents: Kids, Race, and Unity with Alicia Keys

History 101

Musicals

The Sound of Music

Hamilton

Annie (1982, 2014)

Newsies

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

West Side Story

Singin' in the Rain

Hairspray

Mary Poppins & Mary Poppins Returns

The Greatest Showman

In the Heights (June 2021)

Life/Misc.

The Speed Cubers

The World According to Jeff Goldblum

Cooking shows: Master Chef Jr, Great British Baking Show

Survivor

The Amazing Race

Atypical

Marvel movies and shows

The Social Dilemma

Aha Moment

"When my kids need me most, it reminds me that 1) I need to show up and help my kids, and 2) I need to take care of myself more, too. When I'm giving a lot, I also need to give more to myself." -Maren

Listener Question

Join us on Patreon where we're answering this question: "How do you handle situations with preteens who want to quit things that are really good for them?"

$5 Squad on Patreon

We know that a lot of subscriptions and memberships can be out of reach financially for homeschool families, and it's often us parents that give up the things we want in order to afford what our families need.

But we really want our Squad to be affordable for you because every homeschool parent should be able to get connected to the support they need. You get ALL our rewards and join our community for just $5/month. And we now offer a DISCOUNTED annual rate with TWO MONTHS FREE. $50/year is a small investment to make in YOURSELF—and you DESERVE it.

Loving This Week (LTW)

Maren: The Flight Attendant

Angela: Costco bath sheets

Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. An hour-long chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!

More About Homeschool Unrefined

We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in "parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at [email protected]

Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.