Homeschool Better Together with Pam Barnhill

Welcome to the Homeschool Better Together Podcast, where we explore building a joyful homeschool experience for your family. In this episode, host Pam Barnhill shares four practical tips that will help you move from feeling overwhelmed to prepared; ensuring your homeschooling days are filled with curiosity, excitement, and wonder. Whether it’s planning amazing field trips, following your kids' interests with a Wonder Wall, or incorporating morning basket time into your routine, this episode has you covered.Listen in for practical tips on selecting the best resources, making your homeschool both orderly and enriching, and creating an environment tailored to the interests of your children. Let's step out of the overwhelm and into the joy of learning together!Key Resources:Order and Wonder courseYMB PlusHalliburton's MarvelsHomeschool Better Together CommunityKey Takeaways:Discover the structured approach to choosing curriculum as the fourth step in homeschooling planning, detailing the prior steps including reviewing the homeschool vision and setting specific student goals.Learn how to incorporate wonder into your homeschool planning, focusing on creating opportunities for children to wonder about the world rather than only experiencing big, awe-inspiring moments.Understand the importance of intentionality in your homeschool vision and goals, specifically how setting specific aims for introducing wonder can transform your educational environment.Explore practical scheduling strategies to include wonder regularly, whether through field trips, weekly or biweekly wonder activities, or daily morning basket routines.Get insights on following your children's interests by creating a Wonder Wall, allowing them to contribute topics they are curious about and using this input to plan engaging studies.Hear suggestions for preparing ahead to gather the best resources, such as highly-recommended books, videos, and games, ensuring these materials are enriching and inspiring for your children.Learn about the benefits of leveraging the Homeschool Better Together community to crowdsource recommendations, helping you find high-quality educational tools and foster a collaborative learning experience.For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt7To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.Mentioned in this episode:Spring Curriculum Showcase – Fresh Deals Every Week at PamBarnhill.com!Say goodbye to overwhelm and hello to joyful learning! The Spring Curriculum Showcase at PamBarnhill.com/shop is live, featuring weekly spotlights on our most-loved and brand-new resources for the 2025–2026 school year. Discover open-and-go language arts bundles, brand-new middle school resources, geography notebooks, a new photography course for teens, and more! Each week brings a new special you won't want to miss—shop now and find flexible, family-friendly curriculum that fits your real life.Shop

Welcome back to the Homeschool Better Together Podcast. In today's episode, host Pam Barnhill and guest Amie Gardner dive into the intricacies of homeschool planning and the tools that can make it all more manageable. Amie shares her experience using Put Your Homeschool Year on Autopilot, which has been a game-changer in balancing lesson plans for her family and creating a confident, structured homeschooling environment. We'll also hear about Amie's journey from feeling overwhelmed with curriculum to finding flexibility and peace of mind. Pam and Amie reflect on the pressures of finding the perfect curriculum and fostering a love for learning in children. This episode is packed with valuable insights, practical tips, and heartfelt discussion aimed at helping you navigate your homeschooling journey with confidence and ease.Resource and Links:Homeschool PlanetAll About ReadingTapestry of GraceSonlight CurriculumPut Your Homeschool Year on AutopilotNavigating High SchoolHomeschooling Better Together CommunityKey Takeaways:Discover how Amie Gardner uses Put Your Year on Autopilot and Plan Your Year to simplify homeschool planning, providing a checks and balances system for her lesson planningUnderstand the benefits of online homeschool planners in tracking and shifting dates, helping to create an organized education plan within a short timeframe.Explore the flexibility and customization offered by Plan Your Year, making it adaptable for any homeschool approach and reducing chaos in daily schedules.Hear Amie's journey from starting homeschooling due to her oldest child's struggles in public school, to finding the right resources that helped her develop a confident and effective homeschool routine.Learn the advantages and potential challenges of the buffet curriculum approach, and the importance of making decisions ahead of time to avoid decision fatigue.Gain insights into the benefits of structured yet flexible planning processes that provide a sense of direction, reduce overwhelm, and ensure comprehensive subject coverage.Reflect on the balance between finding the perfect curriculum and fostering a love for learning, understanding the pressure on curriculum providers and the value of scripted homeschool curriculums.For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt6To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.Mentioned in this episode:Spring Curriculum Showcase – Fresh Deals Every Week at PamBarnhill.com!Say goodbye to overwhelm and hello to joyful learning! The Spring Curriculum Showcase at PamBarnhill.com/shop is live, featuring weekly spotlights on our most-loved and brand-new resources for the 2025–2026 school year. Discover open-and-go language arts bundles, brand-new middle school resources, geography notebooks, a new photography course for teens, and more! Each week brings a new special you won't want to miss—shop now and find flexible, family-friendly curriculum that fits your real life.Shop

Discover strategies to simplify homeschool lesson planning with tips like lesson plan lists, loop scheduling, and procedure lists. Learn how to create a flexible plan that adapts to your family's needs and eliminates decision fatigue, allowing you to enjoy the homeschool journey more.

Welcome to the Homeschool Better Together Podcast, where we journey through the challenging yet rewarding world of homeschooling as a community. In today's episode, you'll discover how strategic planning frameworks can relieve the overwhelm of daily decision-making, turning any curriculum into a seamless, open-and-go experience. Whether you're like "Best Intention Becky," who loves to plan but tends to overdo it or "Carefree Cathy," who thrives on spontaneity but struggles to cover the core subjects, this episode offers flexible planning techniques like lesson plan lists and magic number scheduling that could be perfect for you. Pam candidly discusses her own struggles with maintaining spontaneity while keeping up with homeschooling demands and introduces flexible planning approaches that can offer peace and predictability amidst life's uncertainties. Tune in for real stories, practical tips, and empowering resources to make your homeschooling journey more joyful and less stressful. Let's make homeschooling better, together!Links and Resources:Which Kind of Homeschool Mom Are You? Part 1Homeschool Better Together CommunityPut Your Year on AutopilotPlan Your YearKey Takeaways:Learn how structuring your homeschooling approach with lists rather than rigid schedules can provide the flexibility to accommodate life's uncertainties and spontaneous learning moments.Understand the role of a vision statement in creating an effective homeschool plan, allowing parents to test their decisions against their long-term educational goals and stay disciplined.Explore the concept of lesson plan lists without specific dates, combined with magic number scheduling as techniques to maintain educational progression without the stress of constant replanning.Gain insights into reducing stress and decision fatigue by using flexible planning frameworks that turn any curriculum into an open-and-go format, improving the overall homeschooling experience.Recognize the importance of periodic reviews to calmly assess the effectiveness of your homeschool plan, ensuring it remains adaptable and aligned with your family's needs and goals.Discover how autopilot planning can help families stay on track with homeschooling even in the face of unexpected events, like Alicia Brooklands did after hurricane Michael.Hear Pam's reflections on homeschooling year-round, managing seasonal breaks, and the impact of flexible planning on maintaining a joyful and balanced learning environment for her family.For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt4To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.Mentioned in this episode:Spring Curriculum Showcase – Fresh Deals Every Week at PamBarnhill.com!Say goodbye to overwhelm and hello to joyful learning! The Spring Curriculum Showcase at PamBarnhill.com/shop is live, featuring weekly spotlights on our most-loved and brand-new resources for the 2025–2026 school year. Discover open-and-go language arts bundles, brand-new middle school resources, geography notebooks, a new photography course for teens, and more! Each week brings a new special you won't want to miss—shop now and find flexible, family-friendly curriculum that fits your real life.Shop

Welcome to the Homeschool Better Together Podcast, where we explore building a joyful homeschool experience for your family. In this episode, host Pam Barnhill shares insights and practical tips for determining what's "enough" for your family.Pam breaks down four homeschool mom personality types - Carefree Cathy, Best Intention Becky, Strategic Susan, and Overwhelmed Olivia. You'll find out which type resonates with you and gain valuable advice for overcoming the unique struggles each type faces.Tune in to discover that while each personality type has its struggles, there are practical solutions and encouragement to help you homeschool better. So grab your favorite drink, take a break, and get ready to be empowered to step out of the overwhelm and into the wonder of homeschooling better together. Links and Resources:Which Kind of Homeschool Mom Are You? Part 2Homeschool Better Together CommunityPut Your Year on Autopilot Plan Your YearKey Takeaways:Reflect on the concept of "enough" in homeschooling and the process of defining what "enough" means for your family.Explore the importance of creating a vision for your homeschool and how it helps in determining what is "enough" for your family.Delve into the personality types of homeschool moms, including Carefree Cathy, Homeschooler Best Intention Becky, Strategic Susan, and Overwhelmed Olivia.Understand the struggles and challenges faced by each homeschool mom personality type in their homeschooling journey.Recognize that it's okay to enjoy the homeschool planning process, even if you don't get to implement every single plan.Acknowledge the impact of unexpected life events on homeschool plans and the need to adapt and adjust to challenges.Learn about joining the free homeschool community and share insights about the identified homeschool mom personality type.For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt3To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.Mentioned in this episode:Spring Curriculum Showcase – Fresh Deals Every Week at PamBarnhill.com!Say goodbye to overwhelm and hello to joyful learning! The Spring Curriculum Showcase at PamBarnhill.com/shop is live, featuring weekly spotlights on our most-loved and brand-new resources for the 2025–2026 school year. Discover open-and-go language arts bundles, brand-new middle school resources, geography notebooks, a new photography course for teens, and more! Each week brings a new special you won't want to miss—shop now and find flexible, family-friendly curriculum that fits your real life.Shop

Welcome to the Homeschool Better Together Podcast, where we explore building a joyful homeschool experience for your family. Are you looking to equip your kids with valuable life skills and build confidence in the kitchen? Then you won't want to miss Episode 2. In this episode, the host, Pam Barnhill, is joined by Katie Kimball, the national voice of Healthy Kids Cooking, two time TEDx speaker, writer, and mom of 4 kids who founded the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse, which was recommended by The Wall Street Journal as the best online cooking class for kids.Together, they explore the world of teaching kids important life skills and the impact of the digital age on parenting.Katie shares her journey from being an elementary teacher to a successful entrepreneur and mom of four kids, discussing the challenges of parenting in the digital age and the necessity of teaching kids face-to-face communication, understanding the value of money, and stress management in this tech-heavy and busy world.The episode is packed with insights and practical tips from experts on developing these vital life skills in kids and teens, making it an invaluable resource for today's homeschooling parents.Links and Resources:Life Skills Now Summer CampKids Cook Real Food BlogKitchen Stewardship BlogHSBT PodcastHomeschool Better Together CommunityKey Takeaways:Discover the value of teaching life skills beyond academics to help children thrive in the digital age and beyond, including communication, financial literacy, and stress management.Understand the importance of face-to-face communication skills and how to teach children polite communication, eye contact, and how to start conversations.Explore the concept of financial literacy for children, including understanding the value of physical money, opening a checking account, and the basics of banking and compound interest.Learn the practical skills of self-regulation, including tools for calming, morning routines, and mastering resilience to help kids cope with stress and anxiety in today’s tech-heavy world.Gain insights into how the workshops offered in the Life Skills Now summer camp provide practical, hands-on learning experiences for children to develop essential life skills.Discover the benefits of the Life Skills Now summer camp, which includes an extensive selection of workshops, prizes to motivate participation, and the opportunity for kids to apply what they've learned.For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt2To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.Mentioned in this episode:Spring Curriculum Showcase – Fresh Deals Every Week at PamBarnhill.com!Say goodbye to overwhelm and hello to joyful learning! The Spring Curriculum Showcase at PamBarnhill.com/shop is live, featuring weekly spotlights on our most-loved and brand-new resources for the 2025–2026 school year. Discover open-and-go language arts bundles, brand-new middle school resources, geography notebooks, a new photography course for teens, and more! Each week brings a new special you won't want to miss—shop now and find flexible, family-friendly curriculum that fits your real life.Shop

Welcome to the Homeschool Better Together Podcast, the place where we explore the wonders of homeschooling as a community. In this episode, host Pam Barnhill shares her personal experience of finishing up the school year with her kids and introduces the new direction of the podcast. She reflects on the importance of simplifying the podcast and merging two previous podcasts into one, focusing on the theme of homeschooling better together. Pam emphasizes the significance of family learning, building relationships, and fostering a sense of wonder in the homeschooling journey. She also invites listeners to join the Homeschool Better Together community. Stay tuned for more episodes filled with practical tips, conversations with experts, and inspiration to make homeschooling more joyful and effective.Links and Resources:Humility and Doxology blog by Amy SloanHome Science ToolsHomeschool Better Together CommunityHSBT PodcastKey Takeaways:Discover the concept of the "I'm done list" as a practical tool for wrapping up the school year, allowing students to focus on completing specific tasks and bringing closure to various subjects.Understand the transition from the previous podcasts to the new "Homeschool Better Together" podcast, which combines the themes of morning time and better homeschooling to create a holistic learning experience for families.Gain insight into the importance of relationships in homeschooling, emphasizing how homeschooling better together can lead to long-lasting connections with children that surpass academic achievements.Learn about the podcast's focus on homeschool topics, including planning, teaching math, accommodating gifted and twice exceptional kids, and incorporating various subjects such as science, history, and geography into the homeschool curriculum.For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt1To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.Mentioned in this episode:Spring Curriculum Showcase – Fresh Deals Every Week at PamBarnhill.com!Say goodbye to overwhelm and hello to joyful learning! The Spring Curriculum Showcase at PamBarnhill.com/shop is live, featuring weekly spotlights on our most-loved and brand-new resources for the 2025–2026 school year. Discover open-and-go language arts bundles, brand-new middle school resources, geography notebooks, a new photography course for teens, and more! Each week brings a new special you won't want to miss—shop now and find flexible, family-friendly curriculum that fits your real life.Shop

Are you ready for homeschooling to feel joyful again? Do you need support as you learn alongside your kids? Welcome to Homeschool Better Together. Hosted by Pam Barnhill, this podcast shares how to stop questioning if you are doing enough and create a homeschool experience that fits your family.Each Tuesday, we break down the big ideas into manageable chunks to give you the confidence and resources you need to finally step out of the overwhelm and into the wonder. Homeschool stories and practical tips are delivered straight to your earbuds full of inspiration and encouragement. They are perfect to listen to while running errands or folding a load of laundry. No matter what homeschool method you use, you’ll learn how to remove the overwhelm from your homeschool so you can focus on building relationships. To stay connected and learn even more about the Homeschooling Better Together resources, join the free community: https://pambarnhill.com/homeschool-better-together-podcast/Mentioned in this episode:Spring Curriculum Showcase – Fresh Deals Every Week at PamBarnhill.com!Say goodbye to overwhelm and hello to joyful learning! The Spring Curriculum Showcase at PamBarnhill.com/shop is live, featuring weekly spotlights on our most-loved and brand-new resources for the 2025–2026 school year. Discover open-and-go language arts bundles, brand-new middle school resources, geography notebooks, a new photography course for teens, and more! Each week brings a new special you won't want to miss—shop now and find flexible, family-friendly curriculum that fits your real life.Shop

In this episode of Your Morning Basket, host Pam Barnhill welcomes Jennifer Pepito, the host of the Restoration Home podcast, to chat about creating a sacred home environment. They dive into the inspiration behind Jennifer's newest book, "Habits for a Sacred Home," which draws from the monastery movement and the impact of spiritual disciplines on history. The conversation covers the specific practices that are essential for nurturing a literature-based homeschool and the role of daily prayer in creating a peaceful and connected community within the home.Pam and Jennifer talk about the importance of a rule of life, which helps families identify their core values and live according to those values. To make it practical, the book includes different rules from St. Benedict paired with biographical sketches of women in history who exemplified those rules. The book also offers a study guide, recipe, prayer, scripture verses, and a pre-order offer with additional resources.This episode is a treasure trove for homeschooling parents looking to infuse their homes with meaningful practices and spiritual disciplines. To get access to the resources and the pre-order offer, you can visit habitsforasacredhome.com.Key Takeaways:Understand the concept of a rule of life or a mission statement for homeschooling, and how it can provide a vision and direction for the education of children, as well as decision-making about curriculum and activities.Experience the joys and benefits of incorporating daily prayer and poetry recitation into the homeschool routine, fostering a sense of spirituality and connection within the family.Explore the idea of stewardship within the home, including the importance of teaching children responsibility through daily chores and room care, and the impact of cultivating inner calm through quiet time practices.Learn about the historical significance of the monastery movement and see how this can inspire mothers to create a sense of community and stability within their homes, especially in turbulent times.Embrace the freedom and peace that comes from living according to the values and disciplines of a sacred home, and how this approach can help mothers and families weather the challenges of our culture while living out their faith and values.Links and ResourcesYour Morning Basket+Morning Time PlansMothering by the Book: The Power of Reading Aloud to Overcome Fear and Recapture Joy by Jennifer PepitoHabits for a Sacred Home book by Jennifer PepitoRestoration Home PodcastThe Peaceful PressThe Peaceful Press Curriculum1000 Hours Outside PodcastAt Home with Sally PodcastThe Read Aloud Revival Atomic Habits by James ClearLittle Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls WilderPut Your Homeschool Year on AutopilotFor full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to https://pambarnhill.com/ymb152To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.Mentioned in this episode:Spring Curriculum Showcase – Fresh Deals Every Week at PamBarnhill.com!Say goodbye to overwhelm and hello to joyful learning! The Spring Curriculum Showcase at PamBarnhill.com/shop is live, featuring weekly spotlights on our most-loved and brand-new resources for the 2025–2026 school year. Discover open-and-go language arts bundles, brand-new middle school resources, geography notebooks, a new photography course for teens, and more! Each week brings a new special you won't want to miss—shop now and find flexible, family-friendly curriculum that fits your real life.Shop

In this episode of Your Morning Basket, host Pam Barnhill and co-hosts Dawn Garrett and Laney Homan share insightful strategies for incorporating picture study into your homeschooling routine. This episode discusses the benefits of picture study, such as creating a mental gallery of paintings for children to enjoy as well as highlighting that it's not about learning art history, but rather about observing and appreciating the details in a painting. Gain practical insights on how to conduct picture study sessions, including the basic method of observing a painting, discussing it with your children, and prompting them to think about and offer their own titles for the artwork. Whether you're new to picture study or looking for fresh ideas to invigorate your homeschooling curriculum, this episode has something for every homeschooling parent.Key Takeaways:Emphasize the value of setting a timer for 5 minutes to draw a painting as an exercise in attention, not about recreating the style of the artist.Highlight the importance of dividing a painting into thirds and showing each part to children, focusing on details like colors, brushstrokes, light, and texture. Discuss the process of telling a story about a picture to engage with the painting, emphasizing the use of details in the painting to guide the story.Encourage the community to share more ideas for picture study and other activities in a free homeschool portal.Stress the significance of building the habit of attention through picture study and other activities like nature study, music, and poetry.Recommend not revealing the title of the painting initially to encourage critical thinking, and suggest asking questions to prompt children to think about the painting and offer their own titles.Links and ResourcesYour Morning Basket+Morning Time PlansArtistic Pursuits curriculumThe belated Party on Mansfield Mountain by Jerome B. Thompson"Impression Sunrise" by Claude MonetAngelica KauffmanJ.M.W. TurnerFor full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to https://pambarnhill.com/ymb151To join our free homeschool community, you can create an account right here.Mentioned in this episode:Spring Curriculum Showcase – Fresh Deals Every Week at PamBarnhill.com!Say goodbye to overwhelm and hello to joyful learning! The Spring Curriculum Showcase at PamBarnhill.com/shop is live, featuring weekly spotlights on our most-loved and brand-new resources for the 2025–2026 school year. Discover open-and-go language arts bundles, brand-new middle school resources, geography notebooks, a new photography course for teens, and more! Each week brings a new special you won't want to miss—shop now and find flexible, family-friendly curriculum that fits your real life.Shop