The Brave & Balanced Homeschool with Mary Berghammer

Welcome back to The Brave and Balanced Homeschool Podcast! This is Part 3 of our “Getting Ready to Homeschool” summer series, and today we’re pressing pause on curriculum talk so we can get to the heart of your homeschool journey—your vision.

Before we jump into what to teach and how to plan it all, let’s stop and reflect on why you want to homeschool in the first place. In this episode, I’ll walk you through my free Homeschool Vision Worksheet, a simple tool to help you lay a strong foundation for your year.

We’ll talk about:

Grab a pen and paper, or download the free worksheet by joining the waitlist for The Brave and Balanced Homeschool Membership at www.whatabouthomeschooling.com

Or just grab the worksheet here whatabouthomeschooling.kit.com/vision

Let’s get grounded in purpose—so you can homeschool with confidence.

Click here for more info on The Brave and Balanced Homeschool Membership

Part 2 of the “Getting Ready to Homeschool” Summer Series

Do fears like “What if I fail my child?” or “I’m just not organized or smart enough” hold you back from homeschooling? You're not alone—and you're not disqualified.

In this heart-to-heart episode, I’m speaking directly to the fears and doubts many new or potential homeschool moms feel. This is the encouragement-packed second part of the Getting Ready to Homeschool series, and it’s all about mindset, grace, and trusting that God equips those He calls.

You’ll hear:

The real reason those fears don’t disqualify you

Why it’s okay to mess up (and how to recover when you do)

Personal stories from my own homeschool journey—yes, even the flops!

How your child learns powerful life lessons by watching you

Gentle, practical encouragement to help you start with confidence

Why connection matters more than curriculum

Plus, I introduce the Brave and Balanced Homeschool Membership—created especially for new homeschool moms of elementary-aged kids. Get all the details on what’s inside and how to join the waitlist (no commitment required!) to grab your free Homeschool Vision Worksheet.

🎁 Visit WhatAboutHomeschooling.com to sign up for the waitlist and download your free resource.

Get on the Brave and Balanced Homeschool Membership wait list and grab the Homeschool Vision Worksheet here - WhatAboutHomeschooling.com

Check out the Homeschool Legal Defense here - HSLDA.org

Welcome to the Brave and Balanced Homeschool podcast! In this kickoff episode of our brand-new "Getting Ready to Homeschool" summer series, we're diving into the essential first steps every new homeschool parent should take before beginning their homeschool journey.

Whether you're just starting to research homeschooling, preparing to homeschool for the first time, or looking for a refresh as a seasoned homeschool mom, this episode will guide you through foundational steps that bring peace and clarity. You'll learn:

You'll also hear a personal story about homeschooling a child with dyslexia and how trusting God's timing brought long-awaited results.

If you’re overwhelmed or unsure where to begin, this episode offers practical, faith-based encouragement for getting started with homeschooling the right way.

Listen now and start preparing for your best homeschool year yet!

🖋️ Mentioned resources are available at whatabouthomeschooling.com

In today’s episode of The Brave and Balanced Homeschool, we’re diving into one of those foundational homeschool topics—writing. Specifically, we’re talking penmanship: should you teach your homeschooled children cursive or print first? I’ll share my personal experience teaching writing to my four children, what I’ve learned along the way, and why I might do things differently if I had the chance to start over.

You’ll hear about the surprising benefits of cursive writing, how it compares to print, and why actual writing (yes, with pencil and paper!) beats typing every time. We’ll also look at how cursive might support children with learning differences like dyslexia, and I’ll give you some practical tips and curriculum suggestions if you’re thinking about teaching cursive from the start.

Whether you’re new to homeschooling or simply rethinking your approach to penmanship, this episode will encourage you to choose what works best for your family—with confidence and peace.

🖋️ Mentioned resources are available at whatabouthomeschooling.com

Check the What About Homeschooling Website:  www.whatabouthomeschooling.com

Mentioned is this episode:

Saxon Math at christianbook.com

DIVE and  Shorman Math

Saxon placement tests

Robinson Curriculum

Homeschool classifieds for used homeschool books.

In this episode of The Brave and Balanced Homeschool, we dive into Saxon Math, a secular curriculum known for its structured, incremental approach with plenty of review. While Saxon is not a Christian-based program, it is a solid, traditional math curriculum that has been used in public schools and by homeschoolers alike.

If you’re confident in math or willing to learn alongside your child, Saxon Math is a fantastic, proven curriculum. However, if you prefer more structured teaching support, DIVE or Shorman Math may be better options—especially for higher-level math. Or you can look into how Art Robinson taught his children, or rather how they taught themselves, using Saxon Math.

Make sure to visit my homeschool website www.whatabouthomeschooling.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Shurley English

HSLDA

Sonlight timeline Book

In this episode, we dive deep into the challenges homeschool families face during tough times. Whether you're dealing with personal struggles or family stress, it's essential to know when to pause or slow down homeschooling to prioritize well-being. We also explore how to recognize when your current curriculum isn't working and how to adjust your approach, whether it’s modifying teaching methods or switching to a new homeschooling curriculum altogether. If you're feeling overwhelmed by your homeschooling journey, this episode offers practical advice and solutions to help you find balance, adjust, and thrive.

https://www.whatabouthomeschooling.com

https://www.teachingtextbooks.com

In this episode, I dive into one of my all-time favorite homeschool math curricula—Teaching Textbooks. If you’ve been looking for a self-grading, online math program that simplifies the homeschooling, you’re in the right place! I share how Teaching Textbooks has been a game changer for my family, providing flexibility, ease of use, and a stress-free grading system.

From the ability to access lessons on-the-go to customizing grading for each child, Teaching Textbooks offers everything a busy homeschooling parent could need. I also discuss how the curriculum supports students from grades 3 through high school and provides lifetime access to grades—perfect for homeschoolers who need to track progress or meet state requirements.

Plus, there's a gem that I wish I had known about when my kids were younger—free math tutoring over the phone! If your child struggles with a lesson, just call and get real-time help from the Teaching Textbooks team.

Listen in for a detailed review, pros and cons, and a bonus—how to get your first 15 lessons free to see if Teaching Textbooks is the right fit for your homeschool.

In episode 30, I talk about how to choose the best homeschool math curriculum for your child. We cover three key points: the importance of including math fact memorization, deciding whether math manipulatives are necessary for your child, and choosing between detailed lesson plans versus simplified ones.

Tune in for tips on finding the right fit for your homeschool needs!

Visit my website:

https://www.whatabouthomeschooling.com

Alpha School

Make sure you grab your free downloads. Click the link, and grab them while they are still available!

www.whatabouthomeschooling.com/podcast

Homeschooling after the holiday season can be a little difficult. How do you help your homeschooled children keep motivated to finish the school year? How about yourself? Do you feel a little bored with the same day to day homeschool tasks? Listen in for some simple ideas to help you get through the end of the homeschool year.

Interested in any of the resources mentioned in this episode.

Just go to my website and find links to all of them.

Being able to homeschool my children was one of my life's greatest blessings!

One thing I did with my children almost every school day was read aloud.

In this episode, published right before Christmas, I share one of my favorite Christmas stories as I read it aloud to you. I hope you enjoy it!