The Homeschool Sanity Show

🧮 This episode is proudly sponsored by CTCMath — an online math program designed to help homeschool families build confidence and mastery, one lesson at a time.

The best way to teach grammar in high school homeschool is through short, practical instruction that connects directly to real writing. High school students are often more developmentally ready to understand grammar than younger students, and they are more motivated to improve because grammar now affects essays, communication, and future academic or career goals.

Do you have a high school student who struggles with grammar? Or do you have a soon-to-be high school student and no idea how to approach grammar at this stage?

This is the Homeschool Sanity Show, the episode where I share a sane approach to teaching grammar in high school.

Hey, homeschoolers! If you’ve struggled to help your high schooler use correct grammar in writing or if the thought of teaching it in the high school years gives you the heebie geebies, I have good news.

This episode is sponsored by CTCMath.com

As I’ve explained to parents of elementary students many times, these younger students simply aren’t developmentally prepared to master the abstraction of grammar. It’s similar to the abstract reasoning ability required to master algebra. Sure, some students develop this reasoning ability earlier, but most don’t. Up until this point in their development, they were working hard to decode and pronounce words and determine the meaning of words given the context of the sentence. Asking them to determine the role of the word in a sentence as well is extra challenging.

That’s why I made Grammar Galaxy a fun, confidence-building introduction to grammar and other language arts in the elementary years. I didn’t want them avoiding grammar once the were developmentally ready to use it in their writing.

When students are in classes with other students and sharing in speech or writing, they will want to avoid the embarrassment of poor grammar. I capitalized on this peer pressure with my own kids with great results. In the English classes I taught, students read their writing aloud and passed it to a friend to read aloud. This performance pressure rapidly improved my students’ grammar and spelling. High school students also begin to use messaging and email and do not want to have poor grammar and spelling for their friends to see. Some of them will be interested in learning grammar for the first time as a result.

With the developmental ability and new motivation, students can use grammar curriculum to learn more quickly than they could have in elementary school. With instruction, they will learn to make better use of automatic editors like Grammarly. Like all writers, they will still require another human editor–whether that’s you, an outside instructor, or a friend with good grammar. I have found high school students learn from this editing feedback very quickly.

I hope I’ve convinced you that your teen isn’t behind or incapable of growing as a writer if they still need to master grammar.

Studies indicate that high school students tend to spend more time with friends than reading as much as they did in their earlier years. They also tend to use reading time for study instead of leisure. But reading for enjoyment is the key to developing your student’s vocabulary, grammar, and writing. Invest time helping your student find enjoyable books and making time to read them in their schedule.

Reluctant students want to know why they should care. Using prescreened, funny grammar memes and examples is a great way to do this. Because I write grammar curriculum, my high school student loves pointing out grammar errors he finds. You can have fun with this, too. Consider having a competition to find grammar errors.

When choosing a grammar curriculum for high school, you haven’t had many options. There are worksheet drills indistinguishable from elementary and middle school curriculum. There are the thoroughly dry English curricula that have sentences unrelated to story or to teens’ lives. And then there are brief reviews that are optional. My students didn’t learn anything from these.

The number one request I get from Grammar Galaxy booth visitors at Great Homeschool Conventions is a curriculum for high school. I knew that the Grammar Galaxy story line wasn’t well suited to older teens, so I created a new fictional curriculum. Kirk English, the programming whiz kid in Grammar Galaxy, has developed a program to deal the failure of autocorrect. His Fast Grammar training is for human autocorrectors. These trainees will get to know clients’ intentions so they can correct their grammar in real time through the power of science fiction.

The client in the training is a high school student who has typical teen troubles as well as high school writing assignments. Students who use Fast Grammar correct the client’s grammar while learning it themselves. Trainees will look forward to getting the client’s updates in each lesson.

Fast Grammar is a supplemental, secular curriculum that can be used with any high school literature or writing program. The brief lessons can be completed in one sitting or preferentially, spread out over the week. Like Grammar Galaxy, much of the lesson can be completed with a highlighter. Homophone graphics are included each week because choosing the wrong homophone is a common and embarrassing problem for writers.

The curriculum is completely independent, with the solutions at the back of the student book. At the end of each unit, teachers can administer a test that is available in a separate PDF download. The solutions will help you score the test and give a grade that can contribute to the English grade for the year.

Click here to download a complete lesson. If you’ll be joining me at the Great Homeschool Conventions this year, you can see it in person. The week of this broadcast, the curriculum is 20% off in print or digital.

Whether you try Fast Grammar or not, I hope I’ve given you hope that high school can be the time that your student grasps grammar. Give some of these strategies a try, and I feel confident that you’ll see your high schooler’s writing improve.

Have a happy homeschool week!

No, high school is often the ideal time to teach grammar because teens are more developmentally ready to understand abstract grammar concepts and more motivated to apply them in writing.

Many homeschool high school students benefit from a grammar curriculum, especially if they struggle with writing mechanics, punctuation, sentence structure, or common usage errors.

The best grammar curriculum for homeschool high school is one that is age-appropriate, practical, and easy to apply in real writing rather than just isolated drills.

Grammar is often most effective when taught in short, consistent lessons rather than long, infrequent sessions.

The post Special Replay: How To Teach Grammar In High School appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

🌿 This episode is proudly sponsored by Eden’s Table — a Christ-centered herbalism curriculum for K-5 homeschool families. One plant a week, woven through Bible, science, history, art, and Latin.

Why does music matter in home education? Is it just so we can have junior show off for grandparents at recitals? Is it just a nice elective to fill out the kids’ transcript? Or is it an underappreciated medium for the development of multiple skills? That’s what I’ll discuss with my guest Adrian Edward.

Visit our sponsor: Now Programs, Neuro Development of Words

I met Adrian the way I meet many of my podcast guests and eventual friends—at a Great Homeschool Convention. One of the first things I noticed about Adrian and his wife Maria was how much friends who greeted them at their booth loved them. Like adored them. After seeing him at five conventions, I’ve realized it’s because that’s how much they love other people. They have both made me feel special. But that’s not all they have going for them. Their Color Me Mozart materials are ingenious and professional. I can’t wait to use them with future grandchildren.

Adrian is a music educator, but it was during his work at The Guild for Exceptional Children in Brooklyn that he saw just how powerful music could be—especially for children with special needs. But he also noticed a troubling truth: in many early education programs, music was treated as an afterthought. Adrian set out to change that.

Through innovative teaching methods and a deep belief that music should be accessible to every child, Adrian has helped families and educators bring joy, connection, and growth into their homes and classrooms—whether their children are neurotypical or have special needs.

We discuss:

How preschoolers can learn real music—even if you aren’t musical The brain science behind music as a language The surprising reason most music curriculums fail young learners

https://colormemozart.com

https://www.instagram.com/colormemozartmusic

https://www.facebook.com/ColormeMozartMusic

Have a happy homeschool week!

The post Special Replay: The Importance Of Music In Child Development appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

🌿 This episode is proudly sponsored by Eden’s Table — a Christ-centered herbalism curriculum for K-5 homeschool families. One plant a week, woven through Bible, science, history, art, and Latin.

Your child wants to keep every rock, every toy, every piece of packaging. And saying “this is trash” just creates power struggles.

Dana K. White (decluttering expert and author of “Winnie’s Pillows”) shares a better way.

Learn: • The biggest mistake parents make when decluttering with kids • Two powerful questions that help kids make their own decisions • How the Container Concept works even with strong-willed kids • Why the “five-minute pickup” is your secret weapon • How “Winnie’s Pillows” gets kids to voluntarily declutter

**Key insight:** You don’t have to convince kids something is “bad” to let it go. Just help them face the reality of space.

Parents report: After reading “Winnie’s Pillows,” their kids asked to declutter their own rooms!

Book: Available anywhere books are sold Connect: @DanaKWhite or @ASlobComesClean

Training Aliens: https://funtolearnbooks.com/product/training-aliens-level-2-kit/

Thank you to our sponsor, CTCMath.com

The post Your Child Wants To Keep Everything: Here’s What to Do appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

🌿 This episode is proudly sponsored by Eden’s Table — a Christ-centered herbalism curriculum for K-5 homeschool families. One plant a week, woven through Bible, science, history, art, and Latin.

Jonathan is a homeschool graduate who became the youngest director of admissions in Virginia. He spent 11 years on the inside of traditional higher education. Now, as CEO of Unbound and father of eight homeschooled kids, he’s challenging everything we think we know about preparing young adults for life after high school.

WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER:

RESOURCES

Unbound: http://beunbound.us

Call and ask for Jonathan directly (yes, really!)

Today’s episode sponsor: CTCMath.com

“I came home and my 11-year-old daughter opened the door. And I thought: I wouldn’t send her to the college where I’m working.”

That moment changed everything for Jonathan Brush—and led him to create a completely different approach to post-high school education.

Jonathan is a homeschool graduate who became the youngest director of admissions in Virginia. He spent 11 years on the inside of traditional higher education. Now, as CEO of Unbound and father of eight homeschooled kids, he’s challenging everything we think we know about preparing young adults for life after high school.

WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER:

RESOURCES

Unbound: http://beunbound.us

Call and ask for Jonathan directly (yes, really!)

Today’s episode sponsor: CTCMath.com

The post The College Model Is Broken; What To Do Instead appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Hey, homeschoolers! I used to be of the mind that leaders were born, not made. What I mean is, I thought you needed to be a Type A extrovert to be a leader. There didn’t seem to be much point to teaching my introverted kids how to lead.

But my opinion has changed as I’ve watched my introverted, Type B child become a leader. I’ve also changed my thinking after interviewing Kerry Beck for the podcast. Her definition of leadership motivates us to teach every child these skills.

I’m thrilled to be joining Kerry for the Raising Leaders, Not Followers conference starting February 25th. You can sign up now for free if you know you’ll be able to watch live or register for the VIP option at homeschoolsanity.com/leaders. I’ll be sharing how to help your child make and keep friends. I would love to have you join me.

Kerry Beck helps you get past the perfect Instagram image & move on to real-life ways to raise your kids to lead, instead of follow. She offers practical tips to encourage your kids to love learning, think critically and influence those around them as adults. She inspires moms with her personal & spiritual stories of moving from overwhelmed to peace & resting in God.

Kerry homeschooled her three (now adult) children for 10 years. She has a free homeschooling ebook for you at HowToHomeschoolMyChild.com.

CTC Math.com

Leadership Resources

Homeschool Coffee Break Podcast: https://howtohomeschoolmychild.com/podcast2024/

Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/groups/HowToHomeschoolMyChild

Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/howtohomeschoolmychild/

YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuF_qVYrSVUUZrL8mWhYfA

Pinterest  https://www.pinterest.com/howtohomeschool/

Leadership Summit http://homeschoolsanity.com/leaders

Have a happy homeschool week!

The post How To Teach Leadership appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

How do you teach your kids to make wise decisions in a world that feels increasingly morally gray? As homeschool parents, many of us worry about striking the right balance. We don’t want to be too controlling on one hand, but we also don’t want to just let our kids “figure it out” on their own. So how do we help them develop godly wisdom without micromanaging every choice?

In this episode, I talk with Dean Zuleger—a father of four, grandfather of seven, and someone who has spent decades mentoring kids through coaching, teaching, and ministry. Dean homeschooled his own children in Wisconsin, and now his son and daughter-in-law are homeschooling their five kids in Minnesota. Dean has developed a biblical framework for teaching decision-making to children that gives them structure and security in an uncertain world.

His approach? Use classic literature and powerful questions to help kids move from observing characters’ choices to owning wisdom themselves. Whether you have wiggly elementary boys, decision-averse teens, or kids somewhere in between, this conversation is packed with practical tools and biblical wisdom for raising wise decision-makers.

Sponsored by CTCMath.com

Have a happy homeschool week!

The post How To Teach Your Kids To Make Wise Decisions appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Feeling overwhelmed, isolated, or like you’re the only one struggling? This conversation will remind you that you’re not alone.

Annette Vaughn, author of Dear Homeschool Mom, shares early warning signs of burnout, the difference between healthy reflection and unhealthy guilt, and practical ways to refuel your tank before you hit empty.

Sponsored by CTCMath.com

The best part? Her book features encouragement from 50+ ordinary homeschool moms who’ve been there—written specifically for different struggles and seasons you’re facing.

Learn:

Warning signs you’re heading toward burnout

How to tell the difference between a bad day and burnout

Why feeling isolated is normal (you’re doing something countercultural!)

Practical ways to fill yourself with encouragement

Why you have value to offer other moms (even if you’re brand new)

Book: Dear Homeschool Mom

Connect: @DearHomeschoolMomBook (Instagram/Facebook)

You’re doing better than you think. Your kids will be okay. You don’t have to have it all figured out.

The post Homeschool Mom: You’re Not Alone appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Tired? Fearful about your family’s health? Overwhelmed by conflicting health information and not sure who to trust? You’re not alone. And this conversation is going to help.

In this episode, Dr. Melanie Wilson talks with Dr. Dusty Hess, founder of Upstream Health and publisher of Upstream Magazine, about how to realign your family’s health back to God’s original design—without fear, without overwhelm, and without needing to become a health expert.

WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER:

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

**Upstream Health** Website: upstreamhealth.com

Find the health membership & magazine subscription: Monthly devotions, workout plans, meal plans, recipes, and health education for Christian families

**Connect With Dr. Dusty:**

Social Media: @UpstreamHealthHub (all platforms)

Great Homeschool Conventions

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

What’s ONE small health change you’re going to make this month? Share in the comments below! If this episode gave you hope or shifted your perspective, please subscribe for more encouragement and share with a homeschool mom who needs to hear this

Remember: God chose you—weaknesses and all—to steward your family’s health. You can trust Him with this journey, one small step at a time.

Have a happy homeschool week!

The post Faith In Family Health appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Do you feel like you’re failing because your kids’ character, or math skills, or writing aren’t where they should be? Did you plan to read more books, finish more lessons, and make more healthy meals than you did? Or do you feel like you’re failing personally in your faith, organization, or health? If so, know that I can relate. I’m Dr. Melanie Wilson and this is The Homeschool Sanity Show where I will share three reasons you think you’re failing and how you can just stop that already. Seriously, I want you to feel better after listening to this episode. So grab a cup of coffee, some laundry to fold, or some sneakers and let’s get over this failure fixation, shall we?

Sponsored by CTCMath.com

I have always thought I homeschooled six kids in spite of my weaknesses in organization, patience, and focus. Then I watched a video clip of Pastor Emmanuel Iren discussing Jonah’s impact on Nineveh and my whole perspective changed. I was likewise focused on Jonah’s weaknesses. He was bitter and disobedient. But he was the perfect prophet to accomplish God’s purposes. Before Jonah arrived, the people of Nineveh believed in a god that was a man who emerged from a fish.

You’re going to catch on to this quickly, so I will just say it. God chose Jonah because he knew he would run to the boat to avoid preaching to the Ninevites. He didn’t choose Jonah in spite of this weakness. Jonah did have a very good prophet characteristic, however. He told the truth. The men said, “What up?” and he told them he was running from God. The men apparently thought this God was just an average God that was no concern to them. Until the storm threatened them. They cast lots to see who was responsible, and who made the lot fall on Jonah? God. I love that Jonah continues to be honest and says, “Yep, it’s me. I’m responsible for the storm. Throw me overboard.” That was no kind of honesty that these men were used to and they were scared. They threw out everything else but Jonah to survive the storm, but as you know it didn’t work. They threw Jonah out and prayed to the one true God for mercy.

A big fish swallows Jonah and delivers him to the shores of Nineveh where the people can see him being spit out. Can you imagine? They’re rubbing their eyes in disbelief. Jonah is in a much more obedient state of mind after his time out in a fish. He tells the people to repent and they are willing to listen to anything this man from God has to say.

Now what does this have to do with why you feel like you’re failing? If you are focused on your weaknesses as a source of failure, you’ve missed the boat. God may very well have chosen you to homeschool your children at this time BECAUSE of your weaknesses. God knew I was disorganized. He knew that I was drowning in a mess until a flyfisherwoman called the FLYLady pulled me in and taught me about routines. She set me free so I could homeschool and handle more kids. Like Jonah I was ready to preach! I shared my story with other homeschool moms in The Organized Homeschool Life.

God used a disobedient prophet to save a ship full of sailors and an entire city. So God can surely use your weaknesses to teach your children. I ask you now to consider how God has used your weaknesses for good. And throw the idea of weaknesses meaning failure overboard.

You know it’s wrong, but you keep sneaking peeks at what your homeschool neighbor is doing. I did that at my son’s homeschool kindergarten graduation. I agreed to participate before I knew any better. I thought it was a photo op with cake. But no, apparently it was an exhibition for homeschool talent scouts.

I was shocked that several kindergarteners provided the music for the graduation. I didn’t even have my son in lessons yet. Clearly, I was already years behind. While a couple of these youngsters spoke for the ceremony, my son wasn’t even paying attention. There was more of this to come.

I put my son in soccer in second grade. He would look everywhere but the field during games and slowly jogged behind the players moving the ball. His coach left him on the bench most of the time, and even my husband concluded he wasn’t athletic.

When he started high school, I didn’t even consider putting him in leadership activities some of the other homeschooled boys were in. He just didn’t have the personality they had.

When it came time for my son to go to college, he entered with an undeclared major. His best friend knew exactly what he wanted to do.

Comparing had me thinking I had failed. But here’s the end of the story. This son of mine learned to play multiple instruments, mostly on his own. He asked to be part of our church’s worship team. In college he started playing handball and excelled at it. He also started playing in pickleball tournaments and winning. He convinced his younger siblings to join the handball team and started a book club with friends and siblings as a working adult. He decided to become a physician’s assistant while in college. He arranged to get the patient hours he needed, was accepted to PA school, graduated, and got a job he loves.

Now, I am not responsible for this young man’s success. But neither did I fail him. Instead of comparing yourself to other moms or your kids to theirs, compare where you and your child are now to where you started. No doubt you’ve made progress.

I recently began working on being able to do a pull-up. To build my strength, I was going to do negative pull-ups. You jump up to a bar and slowly lower yourself. I jumped up to the pull-up bar, only I didn’t slowly lower. I very quickly landed flat on my back because the bar wasn’t secure. I’m thrilled to say that I was okay. Thanks be to God.

But this is how I started my homeschooling journey too. I thought I was strong enough and disciplined enough to do it. And pride goeth before a fall. My pull-up training WAS a fail, but that was my first effort. After throwing the pull-up bar in the trash, I went to the gym and used a pull-up machine. I stood on a step that provided the support I needed when my strength wasn’t up to the job. Since then I have been doing negative pull-ups at home. At first I asked my husband to spot me.

God is our strength and support for everything we do in this homeschooling life. He bears the burdens. He makes things work even when we mess up. All we have to do is ask Him. If we could do it in our own strength, we would be filled with pride. We wouldn’t depend on Him.

God also provides support through a spouse, family, and friends. I could not have finished the job of homeschooling without their help and encouragement. Ask yourself if you’ve been trying to do homeschooling with no support. If so, ask for help. One thing I have learned about other homeschoolers in particular is they LOVE to help.

If you felt like you were failing when you started this podcast because you were focused on your weaknesses, comparisons, or doing it all yourself, I hope you’re beginning to see the shore come into focus. You will land on your feet when you see that everything is working out exactly as God planned.

And one more thing. Although Jonah’s failure is in print for thousands of years, your children are unlikely to remember your shortcomings. What will be a lasting memory is your faith in God and your love for them.

Be sure to subscribe for more encouragement. Have a happy homeschool week!

The post To The Homeschool Mom Who Feels Like She’s Failing appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Do you feel like you’re only as good as your last perfect homeschool day? Do you struggle with the exhausting cycle of trying to prove your worth through achievement? In this powerful conversation, Pamela Good shares her journey from childhood survival mode to adult perfectionism—and how she finally broke free.

Pamela grew up with three siblings in a home where their mother struggled with paranoid schizophrenia. To cope, she learned to push herself relentlessly in sports, work, and eventually motherhood. But that survival strategy that served her as a child became a prison as an adult. She shares how she crashed and burned trying to be perfect, and how she discovered God’s love and grace in the midst of her brokenness.

Sponsored by CTCMath.com

• How childhood trauma can lead to perfectionism in adulthood

• Why trying to prove you’re not broken only makes things worse

• How perfectionism affects our children (even when we think we’re hiding it)

• The lies Satan tells us when we’re discouraged

• Three truths that help us break free from performance-based living

• Why it’s important to give ourselves grace for survival strategies that no longer serve us

• How worship music and Scripture helped Pamela renew her mind

• The difference between being a perfectionist and being a recovering perfectionist

“I wanted people to think I was worthy. I didn’t want people to see me as broken. So I was going to be the perfect mother, even though I never had one.”

“I realized the voices telling me ‘you need to do this’ or ‘this isn’t good enough’ weren’t me—it was Satan, the ruler of darkness.”

“Only Jesus is perfect. You will never be perfect. But you just feel you can achieve it. And you keep on that little wheel going round and round.”

“I’m a child of God. And if the Son sets you free, you’re free indeed.”

Pamela is the author of “He Never Let Go: Overcoming Childhood Trauma with the Love of God.” She and her three siblings survived a chaotic childhood and all went on to raise beautiful families of their own. Pamela’s book recently won an award for transformative stories.

• Website: pamelawaggonergood.com

• Facebook: Pamela Waggoner Good

If this episode encouraged you, please share it with a friend who needs to hear this message!

Subscribe to the podcast

Follow on Instagram: @homeschoolsanity

Remember, friend: You are not defined by your productivity. You are not measured by how perfectly your homeschool runs. You are a child of God, loved just as you are.

The post Overcoming Perfectionism As A Homeschool Mom appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.