The Homeschool Show with NCHE

Homeschooling is an important part of family life, but it doesn't have to become your entire identity.

In episode 230 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie discuss the importance of maintaining interests, relationships, and goals beyond homeschooling. They share practical ideas for making time for personal interests, investing in marriage and family relationships, finding balance in everyday life, and discovering activities that bring fulfillment outside the homeschool routine.

Preparing children for adulthood also means giving them opportunities to develop independence. Amanda and Melanie also discuss practical ways to teach children everyday skills, from doing laundry and cooking to making phone calls, handling money, and speaking for themselves at appointments. They consider how parents can intentionally prepare children for the next stage of life while allowing room for mistakes and learning along the way.

Homeschool Happenings

• Thrive! 2027  

• Charlotte Ballet: The Nutcracker

• NCHE at the Charlotte Hornets

Homeschool community doesn't have to mean joining a co-op. In episode 229 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie discuss how families can find meaningful connections through small groups of friends, church, field trips, park days, and informal gatherings. They consider how parents can evaluate the needs of their individual family members, find community beyond structured activities, and make room for strong relationships within the family.

They also discuss challenges some homeschool graduates encounter when applying for jobs with a homeschool diploma. They talk about the importance of professional diplomas and transcripts, understanding North Carolina homeschool law, and deciding how to respond when an employer does not accept a homeschool diploma. The episode also includes a board highlight featuring Vicki Gurganus and NCHE happenings.

Homeschool Happenings

• Carolina Sunshine Alpaca Farm field trip

• Charlotte Ballet performance of The Nutcracker

• Charlotte Hornets game

• Monthly special needs parent Zoom meeting 

• Monthly Real Talk with Real Dads

In episode 228 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda talks with Sarah Collins of Homeschool OT about fostering independence, understanding executive functioning, and helping children develop the skills they need for everyday tasks.

Sarah explains how occupational therapy can support homeschool families with challenges such as handwriting, sensory processing, time management, and completing tasks, with or without a diagnosis.

Melanie and Amanda also share homeschool happenings, including upcoming field trips, the Charlotte Ballet, a Charlotte Hornets game, featured speakers for Thrive!, and Graduate Central. 

Homeschool Happenings

• Carolina Sunshine Alpaca Farm field trip 

• Charlotte Ballet trip 

• Charlotte Hornets game  

• Graduate Central 

• Thrive! featured speakers

In episode 226 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie discuss budgeting for homeschooling, including ways to reduce expenses, find free curriculum and educational resources, and plan for costs such as field trips, printing, and co-ops. They also consider how families can make homeschooling work within different budgets, involve children in financial decisions, and explore available homeschool funding in North Carolina.

In the Real World Readiness segment, Amanda and Melanie discuss teaching children financial skills as they grow, from recognizing and spending money in elementary school to budgeting, saving, managing bank accounts, and understanding taxes, insurance, loans, and household expenses as teenagers. They also share practical ways to involve children in family finances and help prepare them for financial independence.

Homeschool Happenings

• Special needs parents Zoom meeting

• Dads Zoom meeting 

• Fall field trips

• Thrive! graduation ceremonies and Graduate Central

In episode 225 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda talks with Aaron Mabe about Career and College Promise and the opportunities available to North Carolina homeschool students through dual enrollment. They discuss early college, career and technical education, college transfer, and the new Career and College Readiness pathway, along with ways families can connect with their local community college.

Melanie also shares several simple fall art projects, including a bird feeder, leaf butterfly, and two kinds of twine pumpkins. The episode also includes information about the upcoming graduation ceremony at Thrive!, graduation applications and diplomas, and submitting graduate announcements to GREENHOUSE Magazine.

Homeschool Happenings

• North Carolina Nature Center field trip 

• Carolina Sunshine Alpaca Farm field trip  

• The Nutcracker at Charlotte Ballet 

• Charlotte Hornets basketball trip 

• NCHEAC state cross-country meet

• NCHEAC state volleyball tournament 

• NCHEAC State Boys Soccer Tournament  

What can life after high school look like when college is not the only option? In episode 224 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie talk about trades, apprenticeships, entering the workforce, entrepreneurship, military training, gap years, missions, and other ways students can explore their interests and prepare for the future. They also discuss job shadowing, volunteering, dual enrollment, the ASVAB career exploration program, and giving students time and space to discover what fits them.

Amanda and Melanie also introduce board advisor Rhonda Marshall and hear about her homeschooling journey, including her favorite homeschool memories and what she learned about not trying to replicate school at home. Rhonda shares how allowing a homeschool to look different from others can make a meaningful difference for families.

Homeschool Happenings: 

• NCHE annual  cross-country meet

• NCHE annual girls volleyball  tournament 

• NCHE annual boys soccer tournament 

• Western North Carolina Nature Center field trip 

• The Nutcracker with Charlotte Ballet 

• NCHE Day at the Hornets   

• Dads Zoom event  

AI is becoming part of everyday life, including education and homeschooling. In episode 223 of The Homeschool Show, Jeff and Luke Ertzberger join Melanie to discuss how homeschool families can approach AI with discernment, understand what the technology can and cannot do, and use it as a tool without allowing it to replace thinking, learning, or human connection.

The conversation also considers how homeschooling prepared Luke for a rapidly changing technology field, how families can introduce AI through shared experiences, and why skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and human connection remain essential. The episode also includes information about upcoming NCHE sports events and field trips, including the NCHEAC annual cross-country, girls' volleyball, and boys' soccer events, a Western North Carolina Nature Center field trip, the Charlotte Ballet's Nutcracker performance, and NCHE's takeover of the Hive for a Charlotte Hornets game.

Homeschool Happenings

• NCHEAC annual cross-country meet 

• NCHEAC annual girls' volleyball tournament

• NCHEAC annual boys' soccer tournament 

• Western North Carolina Nature Center field trip

• Charlotte Ballet Nutcracker Performance

• NCHE Takes Over the Hive 

In episode 222 of The Homeschool Show, Melanie talks with author and former homeschool mom Kim Griffin about the challenges of homeschooling, advice for new homeschoolers, and the transition into life after homeschooling. They also consider what comes next when homeschooling has been such a significant part of family life, along with Kim’s transition into writing Christian fiction.

Melanie and Amanda also discuss what they’ve been seeing online, including North Carolina’s notice of intent submission hours and a change to the driver eligibility certificate requirement for teen drivers.

Homeschool Happenings

• Notice of intent submission hours

• Driver eligibility certificate requirement: October 1, 2026 effective date

In this episode of The Homeschool Show, Andrew Pudewa joins Matthew McDill at Thrive! for a conversation about creativity, classical and Renaissance education, and the role of a child’s environment in learning. They discuss drawing from the ideas and work of those who came before us, the value of classics, and how good content can provide a foundation for creativity.

The episode also considers homeschool research discussed in a Wall Street Journal editorial by Brian Ray, including findings on academic achievement, social and emotional development, and later adult outcomes. Amanda and Melanie also introduce a new board highlight featuring Brian Garrett.

Homeschool Happenings

• American Revolution Augmented Experience — September 18, 2026

• Free Online Chess Workshop — September 18, 2026, 2 p.m.

• Western North Carolina Nature Center Field Trip — October 26, 2026

• Charlotte Ballet Nutcracker Field Trip — December 16, 2026

In episode 220 of The Homeschool Show, Amanda and Melanie continue their conversation about hormones and homeschooling with an interview featuring Mike Dixon, the Fit Farmer , recorded at Thrive! Mike shares a father’s perspective on helping children navigate the physical and emotional changes of adolescence, the role of fathers in homeschooling, supporting a wife through demanding seasons, and the idea of “life schooling.”

Melanie’s Real World Readiness segment focuses on teaching children how to use a calendar, schedule appointments, make phone calls, plan for travel time, and handle cancellations and rescheduling. Amanda and Melanie also reflect on how these practical skills continue to matter as children grow into young adults.

Homeschool Happenings:

• American Revolution Augmented Experience at the Charlotte Museum of History

• Online chess workshop

• The Nutcracker Ballet at the Charlotte Blumenthal Performing Arts Center