Homeschool Better Together with Pam Barnhill

Summer is for fun and what is more fun than a summer reading program and Morning Time. In this episode Pam and member success manager Laney Homan talk about the Traveling Through the Pages FREE summer reading program that encourages your kids to stretch outside their comfort zones and read widely this summer. Laney gives a number of great ideas of how to use the program and the accompanying Morning Time plans. Don't miss this practical episode. For show notes and episode downloads, visit pambarnhill.com/ymb116.

 Morning Time gives us a gift. It gives us a time in our day where we can enjoy the music, poetry, and art of a culture -- either our own or the culture of others. Today I am joined by Amber O'Neal Johnston who talks about why exploring both are important, and she has a ton of examples and ideas of how we can do that in our Morning Time. For podcast show notes and episode downloads, visit pambarnhill.com/ymb115.

 So often we set ourselves up to fail when we have unrealistic expectations and expect a perfect Morning Time. Sometimes we don't even realize that perfectionism is the problem we are fighting. In this episode Pam breaks down what perfectionism can look like in your Morning Time and gives some tips on how to beat it so you can your kids can enjoy Morning Time together for years to come. For show notes and episode downloads, visit pambarnhill.com/ymb114.

 Maybe you want to do memory work with your kids but you are worried that it will become a drill and kill time that nobody loves. I used to worry about that too but the reality was far from that. Today I am joined by Abby Wahl and we chat about different ways you can make memory work more enjoyable to do -- even if you don't consider yourself a "fun" mom. For show notes and episode downloads, visit pambarnhill.com/ymb113.

 You enjoy Morning Time but you sometimes wonder if it will really have the outcomes that you hope. When you have little ones, how do you keep pushing through the messy moments when the results of your efforts are so far away. I am joined by Heather Tully and Brittny Bailey today to talk about just that topic and together we offer the perspectives of a newer homeschool mom, one in the messy middle, and a mom who has graduated a few as we tackle the question: will Morning Time bear fruit? Visit pambarnhill.com/ymb112 for show notes and episode downloads.

 Sometimes history texts can be a little dry and uninspiring, but what can homeschoolers do to bring history to life? My guest Amy Sloan eschews the textbooks altogether and simply uses real living books to teach history to her kids. Worried about how to make it happen? Amy breaks down how to do it, where to find the books, and some of the benefits that can come from taking a more interesting approach to history. For show notes and episode downloads, visit pambarnhill.com/ymb111.

 Today I am joined by Jeanette Pascua, homeschool mom of four, who has always used a Morning Basket as preschool in her homeschool. Jeanette and I chat about how Morning Time is the perfect way to accomplish preschool goals of language development. We also chat about how Morning Time with preschoolers looks different when your preschool child is your oldest versus when he is your youngest child. Have a listen and tell us what you think. 

. It happens to all of us. We cozy up with our kids and a good book expecting a blissful Morning Time of family learning when all of a sudden, "He hit me!" erupts from the couch. How are we supposed to focus on truth, goodness, and beauty with bickering, punching, and yelling are going on in our living room? is it even worth the effort when all our kids want to do is duke it out in Morning Time? Let's get some strategies and talk about that very topic today with our guest Lynna Sutherland. For show notes and episode downloads, go to pambarnhill.com/ymb109.

 One of the things I love is hearing about how other families work Morning Time into their homeschool days. How did they get started? What is their journeys like? Today on the podcast veteran homeschool mom Laney Homan is here to share here Morning Time story. She started about seven years ago and she keeps adapting Morning Time to meet her needs. Enjoy! For show notes and episode downloads, visit pambarnhill.com/ymb108.

If your Morning Time has ever fizzled or you have felt daunted by the idea of starting back in a new semester, this is the episode for you. Dawn Garrett and I chat about getting over the hump of the semester break, how to prepare for the February blues, plus we introduce our brand new Morning Time Journal and planner that we are so excited to share with you. For shownotes and episode downloads, visit pambarnhill.com/ymb107.