Homeschool Better Together with Pam Barnhill

Consistency in homeschooling can be a game-changer, and today I’m joined by Krystal Joslin, a military homeschooling mom and graduate of the Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp. Krystal shares how she went from a go-with-the-flow approach to building a structured, consistent homeschool routine that works—despite frequent moves and unpredictable schedules.She opens up about the challenges she faced, the small changes that made the biggest difference, and how consistency has transformed her homeschool (and her confidence as a mom!). If you're struggling to find a rhythm, Krystal’s story will encourage you that small changes lead to big results.Key Takeaways:Small, consistent habits build a strong homeschool foundation.Clear expectations reduce resistance from kids.A simple daily routine can keep learning on track.Self-reflection and small tweaks lead to long-term success.Homeschooling confidence grows with consistency.Links and Resources: Homeschool Better Together CommunityHomeschool Consistency Boot CampRead-Aloud Revival with Sarah McKenzieThe Long Winter by Laura Ingalls WilderThe Magician's Nephew by C.S. LewisFor full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt31To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

Are you ready to tackle consistency in your homeschool? In this episode, I’m joined by Dawn Garrett to talk about one of my favorite tools: the Minimum Viable Day (MVD). We share how this simple concept helped us overcome perfectionism and establish daily momentum in our homeschools. Learn how to identify what truly matters for your family, create a flexible fallback plan, and build trust with your kids—all while simplifying your homeschool days.Key Takeaways:What a Minimum Viable Day is and why it’s a game-changer for consistency.How MVD evolves with your homeschool season and supports your unique needs.Practical tips for creating your own MVD and sticking to it.Key Resources:Homeschool Better Together PodcastHomeschool Consistency Boot CampTo Kill A Mockingbird by Harper LeeEverything Sad is Untrue by Daniel NayiriHow the States Got Their ShapesMagic School BusZoboomafooLiberty's KidsWhere in the World is Carmen Sandiego? by Rebecca TinkerAtomic Habits by James ClearFor full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt30To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

It’s time to make 2025 the year of intentional progress! In this episode, I’m joined by Laney Homan, our member success manager, to talk about goal setting that works for busy homeschool moms. Laney and I discuss the difference between planning and goal setting, the power of starting small, and how to craft goals that fit your life’s current season.We share personal stories—like Laney’s inspiring journey to tackle health and fitness goals (she climbed a literal mountain!)—and I reflect on finding meaningful ways to reclaim my evenings. Whether you're climbing your own mountain or simply figuring out the next right step, this episode is full of practical advice to help you move toward growth in your homeschool and beyond.Key Takeaways:The distinction between planning tasks and setting intentional goals.Breaking goals into tiny, achievable steps to build momentum.Why it's essential to align goals with your family’s needs and current life season.How tools like goal cards and habit tracking can help keep you on course.Resources and Links: Elevate 2025 ProgramHomeschool Better Together CommunityFor full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt29To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

This episode of Homeschool Better Together dives into the concept of choosing a word of the year and how it can add intentionality and focus to your homeschool journey. I’m joined by Dawn Garrett, our community manager, as we share our personal experiences, thoughts, and even some fun quirks about selecting and living out our yearly words.From the practical to the reflective, we talk about how a word of the year can shape your mindset, guide your decisions, and create a more purposeful year ahead. Whether you’ve been hesitant or are a seasoned word chooser, there’s something here for you, including tips on avoiding perfectionism and embracing the process. We also introduce our upcoming workshop, where we’ll help you choose your word and explore ways to live it fully.Key Takeaways:Words of the year as tools for personal growth and homeschool focus.The difference between setting goals and choosing a guiding word.How to reflect on, engage with, and incorporate your word into daily life.Details about our Align Workshop and how it ties into Elevate Homeschool 2025.Resource List:Homeschool Better Together CommunityHomeschool Better Together PodcastElevate 2025For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt28To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

This episode of the Homeschool Better Together Podcast features a delightful conversation with Sarah Mackenzie from the Read Aloud Revival. Sarah and I chat about rekindling the joy of reading for ourselves as moms. We explore the power of quitting books that don’t spark joy, the fun of keeping a reading log, and how to find books that truly resonate with you. Plus, we dive into reading challenges—are they motivating or just another checklist? Spoiler: we both have strong opinions!We also talk about Sarah’s exciting projects with Waxwing Books, including a middle-grade fantasy novel perfect for family read-alouds. If your reading life needs a little inspiration or you're searching for the perfect book list, this episode is packed with ideas and encouragement to get you turning pages again.Key Takeaways:Rekindle your love for reading by giving yourself permission to quit books that don’t excite you.A simple reading log can help you reflect on and savor what you’ve read.Waxwing Books’ upcoming middle-grade fantasy, Beyond Mulberry Glen, is an excellent family read-aloud.Reading challenges can be fun if approached with flexibility—don’t let them feel like a burden.Key Resources:Homeschool Better Together PodcastReadAloudRevival.comRead-Aloud Revival PodcastWaxwing Books"Dear Duck, Please Come" by Sarah Mackenzie"Beyond Mulberry Glen" by Millie Florence"The Myth Makers, The Remarkable Fellowship of CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien" by John Hendricks"The Lively Art of Writing" by Lucille Van Paine"84 Charing Cross Road" by Helene Hanff"West with Giraffes" by Lynda Rutledge"The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown"The Women" by Kristin Hannah"4:50 from Paddington: A Miss Marple Mystery" by Agatha Christie"The Wishing Game" by Meg Shaffer"Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundle"Only the Beautiful" by Susan Meissner"All It Takes is a Goal" by John AcuffFor full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt27To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

In this episode of Homeschool Better Together, I’m joined by my friend Sunni Dallas, a mom of seven, who shares how she uses the Wonder World Podcast to enrich her homeschool days—especially when life is busy with babies, toddlers, and teens. Sunni talks about how lunchtime has become the perfect anchor for learning, where we provide the content, and she simply hits play. From history to fables, Wonder World is her go-to resource for a mini morning time with her kids.We also chat about other resources Sunni uses to simplify homeschooling and keep her big family engaged without overloading herself with planning. If you’ve ever struggled to keep up with morning time or need a fresh way to make learning work with multiple ages, Sunni’s approach will give you ideas and inspiration.Key Takeaways:Using Wonder World at lunch for a “mini morning time” when life gets busy.Tips for balancing homeschooling with kids of all ages.Practical resources and routines that keep homeschool simple and fun.How using pre-prepared resources frees up time and keeps kids engaged.Resources and Links:Wonder World PodcastWonder World Kids ClubThe World from A to ZCatholic-based content from Ascension PresentsBrains OnClassical ConversationsThe Boxcar ChildrenFor full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt26To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

In this episode of the Homeschool Better Together podcast, I’m joined by Dawn Garrett to chat about our special gift for homeschoolers this year—A Christmas Carol explorations! We’re offering a free resource full of fun activities, discussions, and enrichment to bring some holiday cheer into your homeschool. Dawn and I go over the history behind this yearly gift, why we’re excited about A Christmas Carol as this year's theme, and a few reasons you might not want to skip this one.I share my journey of rediscovering the story’s true meaning and why it’s a perfect classic to enjoy as a family. We also talk about the Camp Christmas upgrade, packed with even more holiday fun, crafts, and planning resources to keep your homeschool cozy and memorable this season.Key Points:A Christmas Carol explorations as a free holiday gift.Why this story offers valuable lessons in a family-friendly way.Optional Camp Christmas upgrade for extra activities, crafts, and planning tools.Fun community challenges and a chance to win prizes.Resources and LinksA Free Christmas Carol ExplorationsDr. Anthony Esolen's Video on "A Christmas Carol"Skolay Sisters Podcast (Episode 46, "Don't Be the White Witch")Advent Morning Time PlansChristmas Celebration Morning Time PlansHomeschool Better Together Community "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens"10 Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child" by Anthony Esolen"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson"The Muppet Christmas Carol" (Movie)Tim Curry's Narration of "A Christmas Carol" (Audiobook)Merry Beggars’ "A Christmas Carol" Radio ShowPatrick Stewart performing "A Christmas Carol" (both as a single-person play and audiobook)For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt(25)

In this episode of the Homeschool Better Together podcast, I sit down with Dawn Garrett, our customer service guru, to reflect on the lessons we’ve learned over seven years of running the Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp. We talk about how consistency—not perfection—can transform your homeschool and why sticking with even a “minimum viable day” can make all the difference.Dawn and I share some of the challenges homeschool moms face and how the Boot Camp provides tools and mindset shifts to help you stay the course. We also chat about the power of accountability and how taking charge—though exhausting—yields big results.If you’ve been feeling stuck or overwhelmed, this episode will inspire you to take small steps toward consistency and show how even imperfect days can lead to long-term success.Key Takeaways:Consistency matters more than curriculum or homeschool method.The "minimum viable day" helps keep you on track, even on tough days.Taking charge can be tiring, but it leads to the best results.Accountability plays a huge role in building consistent habits.There’s never a perfect time to start—just jump in and begin today.Resources and Links:Homeschool Consistency Boot CampMorning Time PlansPut Your Year on AutopilotElevate All Access ProgramFree Homeschool Better Together CommunityFor full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt24To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

In this episode of the Homeschool Better Together podcast, I’m chatting with Katie McCune, a mom from our community, about her journey with the Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp. Katie shares how, before the boot camp, their homeschool days were often filled with morning time and spontaneous field trips, but progress through their core subjects was slow. She talks about how she struggled with perfectionism and how that mindset made it hard to feel satisfied with her homeschool efforts.We discuss how the boot camp helped her implement small, consistent habits that made a huge difference. Katie shares how the accountability and practical tips she learned transformed her homeschool—leading to less resistance from her kids and a much more joyful, organized approach. We also dive into how showing up consistently helped Katie feel more confident and in control, making homeschooling feel more like a rewarding vocation.If you’re on the fence about joining the boot camp, this episode will give you a peek into how it can help you move from feeling overwhelmed to building a homeschool routine you can feel proud of.Key Takeaways:Katie’s struggles with consistency and perfectionism before boot camp.How the Homeschool Consistency Boot Camp helped build effective routines.The impact of consistent habits on reducing resistance from kids.Homeschooling as a vocation: showing up every day with purpose.Resources and Links:Homeschool Better Together CommunityHomeschool Consistency Boot CampFor full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt23To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.

In this episode of the Homeschool Better Together podcast, I’m talking about one key mindset shift that can make a world of difference in your homeschool—honoring your school day. It’s easy to let distractions take over or convince ourselves that we can always multitask, but setting aside dedicated time for homeschooling is critical. I’ll share how this simple change has transformed our homeschool and made our days smoother and more consistent.I also dive into why multitasking during school hours might be the very thing holding you back. When we try to do it all, it’s easy to lose focus on what’s most important—being fully present with our kids during school time. I’ll give you some practical tips to make sure you’re honoring that school day, avoiding the temptation to juggle too much, and making the most of your homeschool hours.Key Points:Honoring your school day means prioritizing dedicated homeschool time.Avoid multitasking during school hours to stay focused.Being present with your kids during lessons helps keep the day productive.Choose just two priorities for each day, with homeschooling being one of them.Key Resources:Homeschool Consistency BootcampHomeschool Better Together WebsiteHomeschool Better Together CommunityFor full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt22To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.