Tried and True Homeschooling

✨What If Your Kids Could Take the Control of Their Education? This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Alison and William, who homeschooled all three of their children through to college. Their greatest strength lies in how intentionally they taught their kids to take ownership of their education, building discipline slowly while nurturing a genuine love of learning.All three children made a smooth transition to college, and Alison and William share the thoughtful steps they took to ensure that success. Along the way, we talk about how much curriculum you really need to complete and how sports became a vital part of their children’s education. One of them even went on to play college baseball.I left this conversation feeling deeply encouraged by Alison and William’s calm confidence and authenticity. They’re truly special, and I hope you enjoy learning from them as much as I did.🖋️If you want to learn more from Alison and Will, you can find them on X @myHomeSmithsER. If you found this episode helpful, please give me a 5 star✨ rating on your favorite podcast platform! It helps the podcast grow and reach more families. Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

✨Are you trying to catch your kid up from a poor public school experience? OR Trying to help a child with severe anxiety find their way in the world? ORAre you interested in hybrid homeschooling? This episode packs a punch friends! Today, I talk with Pepper, a Las Vegas homeschooling mom, about the real, messy, beautiful work of guiding three very different kids. First, she tell us how she caught her oldest son up from a bad public school experience, helping him find his way back to curiosity and confidence so much so that he ended up teaching a lot of the high school classes he attended. Pepper also successfully navigated her youngest crippling anxiety by going basics and using unschooling as a guide. Finally, she talks how she used hybrid homeschooling to create a well rounded education for all three. Pepper’s story is raw, real, and deeply instructive. It shows parents how to meet children where they are, reignite their love of learning, and build resilience. Her story reminds parents that homeschooling isn’t about perfection—it’s about helping each child learn in the way that works best for them.PS.🔥Did you know there are downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, and more?!?Click below for show notes from this and all episodes👇Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

Michelle Brock, a seasoned homeschool mom, shares her journey of blending strong academics and child-led interests while raising her three kids. She discusses the art of being an 'educational broker,' finding tailored resources, and maintaining joyful learning experiences. Michelle emphasizes the importance of structured freedom, self-assessment, and independent learning, all while preparing teens for college and careers. She offers insights into overcoming common homeschooling challenges and celebrates moments that make the journey worthwhile.

✨What does it look like to be the steady one—the grounding force—in a homeschool?In today’s episode, I talk with Chris, a father of four who homeschooled his kids through high school while juggling military relocations, teen dynamics, and unexpected life turns. Chris shares how he learned to support his wife through annual burnout, to offer consistency in a constantly changing world, and to keep showing up even when homeschooling felt uncertain or off-track. This is a story of quiet leadership—the kind that doesn’t seek the spotlight, but builds a strong foundation. We talk about structure, character, trust, and the long arc of parenting kids who grow into their own stories.I recorded this episode during a particularly hard time and Chris’s words of wisdom telling me that they wanted to quit every spring rang true to me. It helped me think about how I could run our homeschool life differently to reduce burnout and focus on creating beautiful memories.Whether you're in a season of doubt or just trying to bring steadiness to your homeschool, this one’s for you.If you found this episode helpful, please give us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others find us!🔥Did you know there are downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, journal prompts, and more?!?Click below for show notes from this and all episodes. Exclusively for my favorite people👇Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

✨Wondering what homeschooled kids really think once they grow up?In this vulnerable and wisdom-rich episode, I sit down with Kathryn Fogleman-White - a homeschool alumna, certified life coach, author, and now homeschooling mom - oh and the eldest daughter of the incredible Dawnita Fogleman from our first episode. Kathryn grew up the oldest of six on an rural Oklahoma farm. School looked like rich literature, dog training, farm chores, budget spreadsheets, and finishing math before lunch. But it wasn’t all dreamy freedom—she also wrestled with parentification, self-neglect, and the cost of growing up too fast. Now raising a daughter of her own, Kathryn shares what she’s keeping, what she’s changing, and how she’s building a family life around values like financial freedom, flexibility, and honest connection. If you’re wondering how homeschooled kids turn out — this one’s for you.🖋️Connect with Kathryn on her website and X. You can also hear from her mother in our first episode Secrets of a Pioneer Homeschool Mom! If you found this episode helpful, please give us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others find us!🔥Did you know there are downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, journal prompts, and more?!?Click below for show notes from this and all episodes. Exclusively for my favorite people👇Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

Listen above or on Apple, Spotify, or Pocketcasts✨What does education look like when it’s driven by curiosity, not curriculum?Today, I talk with the incredible Kerry McDonald—a Harvard-trained economist, author, and unschooling mom of four—for a rich and honest conversation about educational freedom.Kerry shares how a chance encounter with a homeschooling family turned her life upside down, sparking a journey away from traditional schooling and toward self-directed education. From her daughter teaching herself to read at four, to navigating teenage years without coercion, Kerry walks us through what it really looks like to trust your child—and yourself.If you’ve ever wondered whether kids can really learn without being “taught”, this conversation is for you.We also dive deep into the growing microschool movement and show you why so many families are stepping outside the system to build something better. 🖋️If you’d like to connect with Kerry, you’ll find her at her podcast website. You can also buy her new book Joyful Learning available TODAY!If you found this episode helpful, please give us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others find us!🔥BONUS! Downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, journal prompts, and more! Exclusively for my favorite people👇Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

This post was incorrectly marked paid only. The podcast is always free - especially this episode! I’ve deleted the prior post. My apologies for the mistake and the second email in your inbox. Listen above or on Apple, Spotify, or Pocketcasts✨Are you homeschooling kids with dyslexia and wondering if they'll ever thrive as readers and learners? Meet Jessica Kulynych —a mom who accidentally fell into homeschooling and ended up transforming the lives of her three dyslexic children. Faced with delayed reading, dysgraphia, and emotional sensitivities, Jessica refused to give up. Instead, she became an expert - researching relentlessly, embracing Orton-Gillingham, and crafting a flexible classical-eclectic approach that met her kids exactly where they were. Today, her children are thriving adults in love with reading.Jessica is a warrior mom whose story left me in awe of what dedicated homeschooling can achieve. If you're dealing with dyslexia, Jessica’s story will give you hope, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose.🖋️Connect with Jessica Kulynych on her Substack An Unexpected Difficulty or enjoy her article Homeschooling Dyslexia: Lessons from 20 Years of Trial and Triumph. 🔥BONUS! Downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, journal prompts, and more! Exclusively for my favorite people👇If you found this episode helpful, please give us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others find us!Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

Listen above or on Apple, Spotify, or Pocketcasts✨Are you homeschooling kids with dyslexia and wondering if they'll ever thrive as readers and learners? Meet Jessica Kulynych —a mom who accidentally fell into homeschooling and ended up transforming the lives of her three dyslexic children. Faced with delayed reading, dysgraphia, and emotional sensitivities, Jessica refused to give up. Instead, she became an expert - researching relentlessly, embracing Orton-Gillingham, and crafting a flexible classical-eclectic approach that met her kids exactly where they were. Today, her children are thriving adults in love with reading.Jessica is a warrior mom whose story left me in awe of what dedicated homeschooling can achieve. If you're dealing with dyslexia, Jessica’s story will give you hope, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose.🖋️Connect with Jessica Kulynych on her Substack An Unexpected Difficulty or enjoy her article Homeschooling Dyslexia: Lessons from 20 Years of Trial and Triumph. 🔥BONUS! Downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, journal prompts, and more! Exclusively for my favorite people👇If you found this episode helpful, please give us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others find us!Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.clarified.lifeListen above or on Apple, Spotify, or Pocketcasts✨What happens when you ditch traditional schooling and fold your child into the rhythms of real life? I had the pure pleasure of sitting down with Peter, a music producer, author, and homeschooling dad, to explore the unique and beautiful way he educated his son.Peter and his wife integrated their son John into their music business, fostering his independence and diverse skills. Peter’s son was running the cash box by 8. Later he ran sound checks, managed security and ticket booths. He tried his hand at blacksmithing and learning to fly a plane. Peter’s “curriculum” was anything but conventional. Peter’s philosophy emphasizes following a child’s interests, embracing individuality, and learning through real-world experiences. He’ll even share what happened when his son decided to go back to public high school.If you're feeling boxed in by traditional education, this conversation will stretch your thinking and inspire new possibilities.🖋️If you’d like to connect with Peter, you can find him on his website and X. Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.✨INTRODUCING ClarifiEd Show Notes!I kept finding myself relistening to episodes to remember precisely what resources these incredible veterans recommended or their beautiful quotes, so I decided to write a short, snappy, summary of each episode with my favorite takeaways, inspirational quotes, things I plan to try, thought prompts, and ALL the recommended resources from each episode - all in a nice downloadable pdf.I’m crafting these show notes as a thank you to my paid supporters. Your help covers video, editing tools, all my time recording and editing these podcasts (it’s a lot of hours friends!). Any level of support comes with access to my You Can Homeschool course. Thank you friends. Truly♥️ClarifiEd Show Notes👇

If you are listening outside my website, head over to clarified.life for workshops, courses, lesson plans, and more. ✨Are you worried that your messy, imperfect life will get in the way of homeschooling?Today's guest tells reassures us that it’s not perfect conditions, but teaching strength of character and responsibility, that shapes strong, capable adults.Let’s dive into the extraordinary story of Von, a homeschooling dad six and grandfather to 25, who, alongside his wife, educated their kids in remote African mission fields. Facing challenges like delayed curricula shipments, his wife’s illnesses, and raising kids in a high-stakes, sometime dangerous environments, Von prioritized character and practical skills. His approach—rooted in obedience, great books, and real-world responsibility—produced six successful adults, all now homeschooling their own kids or thriving in careers like programming and running their own construction companies.🖋️His Key Advice to Homeschooling Parents👉Focus on Character First: Teach obedience and responsibility early to manage chaos and build lifelong resilience.👉Use Great Books for Critical Thinking: Read classics together, discuss values, and spark curiosity to teach kids how to learn.In this episode, you’ll learn👇* Homeschooling in Crisis: How Von’s family kept learning during his wife’s bed rest by training kids to manage the household.* Raising Responsible Kids: Strategies like “two-year-old obedience” and “hierarchical obedience” to handle large families.* Building Work-Ready Teens: Why early jobs (like dairy work at 14) created resumes that outshine college degrees.* Using Classic Books for Values: How discussions around Little Britches and other stories shaped character and critical thinking.* Language Learning Regrets and Tips: Why bilingualism matters and how to use free resources and cooking shows to teach Spanish effectively.PS: Don’t miss the last 10 minutes when Von gives practical advice on teaching kids a 2nd language!Von inspired me to think more deeply about the importance of raising responsible children with high character. His approach my not be for everyone, but I encourage you to listen with an open heart. As Aristotle says it is the mark of “an educated person to consider an idea without immediately accepting or rejecting it.”Favorite Quote: “You’re not a grade, you’re a person.”If you’d like to connect with Von, you can find him at his website.Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.Know someone who would benefit from hearing this podcast? Please share! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe