The OpenEd Podcast

After 12 years in public education, Peggy couldn't ignore what her training in human development was telling her - the system wasn't working for kids. Now running Apogee Utah, she shares how giving children autonomy, respecting their developmental needs, and allowing them to fail forward has transformed their learning experience. From 15-minute lunch breaks to rigid testing schedules, she reveals what really happens in traditional classrooms and how there's a better way forward. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 0:13 - From Public School Teacher to Alternative Education 6:24 - Understanding Developmental Appropriateness 12:10 - The Apogee Approach 26:36 - Daily Structure at Apogee 25:10 - Age Integration 27:59 - Building Confidence Through Understanding 36:49 - Socratic Discussions 40:11 - Final Thoughts on Growth In this powerful conversation, Peggy shares: - Why traditional classroom structures often don't serve children's developmental needs - How giving children autonomy over basic needs builds responsibility - The importance of letting children fail forward - Why age integration benefits both younger and older students - How "would you rather" questions build confidence in decision-making #AlternativeEducation #Homeschooling #Education #OpenEd #LearningRevolution #EducationReform #TeacherStories

"I think the biggest why is love really. I love my children. I love children in general. It's what got me into education in the first place." – Keri Mae What if personalized education wasn't just for stay-at-home parents? In this eye-opening episode, former public school teacher and single mom Keri Mae shares how she crafts individualized learning experiences for her three boys while working full-time (at OpenEd). From navigating Montessori to homeschooling, Keri Mae challenges the notion that alternative education requires a traditional two-parent, stay-at-home setup. She reveals practical strategies for balancing work and education, advocating for your children's needs, and creating rich learning experiences even with time and resource constraints. Learn why she implemented a strict no-homework policy for her elementary-aged children, and how this decision created more time for family connection and real-world learning. Learn: - How to personalize education while working full-time, including creative scheduling and resource management - Why homework policies should be questioned and how to advocate for your child's after-school time - The power of practical skills and hands-on learning versus traditional worksheets - How to blend different educational approaches (Montessori, homeschool, etc.) based on each child's needs - Real-world strategies for staying involved in your children's education as a working parent - Why age 12 can be the perfect transition point for homeschooling Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:15 Starting the Journey: Public School Experience 01:45 Challenges with Public Schooling 02:49 Transition to Homeschooling 03:14 Current Educational Setup 04:49 Pandemic and Homeschooling Realizations 09:08 Daily Homeschool Routine 11:48 Balancing Work and Homeschooling 12:37 Personalizing Education for Each Child 15:36 Values and Family Activities 16:36 Challenges and Adjustments in Homeschooling 19:48 Monitoring and Accountability 21:29 Staying Involved with Montessori 22:52 Engaging with Your Child's Education 24:20 The No Homework Policy 26:54 Alternative Learning Methods 30:57 The Importance of Context in Learning 36:31 Fostering Independence and Practical Skills 38:14 The Motivation Behind Open Education 40:36 Rapid Fire Questions and Reflections

Featuring Cassie Shepard of Home Centered Learning Just when you figure out how to teach one way, everything changes - it's like having a baby. You have to adjust to different stages, but that's the beauty of homeschooling." – Cassie Shepard When Cassie Shepard noticed her twin daughters' spirits dimming in first grade, she took an unexpected leap into homeschooling. Five years later, she shares her evolution from rigid schedules to a flourishing, flexible approach that lets each child's unique light shine. In this deeply personal conversation, Cassie reveals how she transformed from a traditional-school mindset to embracing an eclectic, child-led approach to education. She discusses the emotional journey of leaving the school system, overcoming initial fears, and discovering that education can be customized to nurture each child's innate curiosity and talents. Learn: - How to recognize when your child's "light goes out" and trust your parental instincts - Why transitioning from traditional school structure to homeschool flexibility is like having a baby - constant adjustment and growth - The power of "Tell me more about that" in understanding your child's needs and interests - How to balance teaching multiple children while maintaining individual attention and growth - Why creating a customizable lifestyle is key to sustainable homeschooling success Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:08 Cassie Shepard's Homeschooling Journey 01:49 Making the Decision to Homeschool 03:10 Pros and Cons of Homeschooling 04:37 Initial Challenges and Adjustments 06:19 Emotional and Social Impact on Children 08:42 Balancing Homeschooling and Family Life 17:59 Adapting and Evolving the Homeschooling Approach 20:32 Homeschooling: Adapting to Different Learning Stages 21:31 Eclectic Homeschooling: Mixing and Matching Curriculums 22:15 Nurturing Individual Passions in Homeschooling 24:53 Managing Multiple Children in Homeschooling 30:00 Creating a Customized Homeschooling Lifestyle 34:42 Rapid Fire Questions: Insights and Tips

Featuring Sandy Grant, Homeschool Mother of Six "Sometimes you have to put the relationship before your desire to have them meet all of your check boxes." – Sandy Grant From a $50 total budget for three kids to navigating high school calculus, veteran homeschool mom Sandy Grant shares her raw, unfiltered journey of educating six very different children over two decades. After seeing five graduate (three through college), she reveals the surprising truth about what actually matters in home education. Whether you're worried about teaching advanced subjects, balancing multiple kids' needs, or maintaining your parent-child relationship, Sandy's practical wisdom and honest insights illuminate a path forward. Learn: - Why the parent-child relationship should come before academic checkboxes - How to balance structure and flexibility in your homeschool day - The truth about socializing homeschool teenagers vs. younger children - Why leaving free time for self-directed interests is crucial for development - How to adapt your approach for different learning styles and personalities - The surprising benefits of letting kids choose their own learning path Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:53 Sandy's Homeschooling Journey Begins 03:03 Adapting Homeschool Methods 05:32 Creating Effective Checklists 07:30 Evaluating Curriculum Effectiveness 09:52 Balancing Parent and Teacher Roles 18:38 Transitioning from Young Kids to Teens 23:51 College and Career Paths 27:06 Encouraging Self-Led Interests 33:06 Social Aspects of Homeschooling 37:05 Rapid Fire Questions and Conclusion

With Special Guest Andrea Fife, ADHD Education Specialist "Try different, try again. Don't just try harder, try something different." – Andrea Fife In this packed Q&A episode, we tackle the tough questions parents face in alternative education. Special guest Andrea Fife delivers a masterclass on supporting ADHD learners, revealing why traditional approaches often fail and how technology, dopamine, and understanding executive function are key to success. Plus, Isaac and Matt explore finding community, essential subjects, and knowing when to push vs. when to let go. Learn: - Why executive function age in ADHD learners is typically 2/3 of their chronological age and what this means for expectations - How to help kids develop social skills in the age of screens (hint: model it yourself!) - The "three R's plus entrepreneurship" approach to essential subjects - When to let kids quit activities vs. pushing through challenges - Why sharing your own struggles and vulnerabilities builds trust with teens - How alternative education creates unique opportunities for multi-age relationships and real-world learning Chapters 00:00 Welcome Back to the Open Ed Podcast 00:46 Addressing ADHD in Homeschooling 02:06 Expert Insights with Andrea Fife 11:43 The Role of Exercise and Dopamine 19:32 Finding Community and Socialization 26:27 A Radical Approach to Education 26:54 The Importance of Basic Skills 27:57 Connecting Learning to Real Life 29:21 Nurturing Natural Aptitudes 30:32 Alternative Math Learning Methods 31:54 Addressing Parental Concerns 32:32 Raising Resilient and Responsible Adults 38:14 Balancing Fun and Learning 39:35 Encouraging Perseverance in Kids 47:18 Success Stories and Final Thoughts

When Krystle's daughter was struggling to read at a first-grade level at age 10, multiple diagnoses and years of Orton-Gillingham programs weren't helping. Then she discovered something surprising: it wasn't dyslexia at all - it was a treatable vision problem called convergence insufficiency. Today, her daughter reads 800 words per minute at college level. In this eye-opening episode, learn how vision problems are often misdiagnosed as dyslexia, and discover a promising solution that's helping students worldwide overcome reading challenges. Perfect for parents whose children are struggling with reading or have been diagnosed with dyslexia. Visit Vision Reading Academy: https://visionreadingacademy.com Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:17 - Krystle's Daughter's Story 04:16 - What is Convergence Insufficiency? 07:53 - How to Identify Vision Problems vs. Dyslexia 11:33 - The Assessment Process 13:55 - How the Program Works 16:45 - How Screen Time Affects Vision 20:45 - When to Worry About Reading Struggles 25:35 - The Problem with Labels and Diagnoses 29:30 - Success Stories and Transformation 34:30 - How to Get Help 37:18 - Final Thoughts and Resources

When Jamie Lesko - a former special education teacher, first started homeschooling, she did what many teachers-turned-homeschoolers do: she recreated school at home. Desks. Rigid schedules. Planners. Her son regularly melted down on the floor. Then one day, she found all three kids doing schoolwork atop a closet loft. Her first instinct? Worry. But then she had an epiphany: "Why do they have to learn at a desk?" Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come when we stop trying to replicate what we know and start building what works. In this episode, Jamie Lesko takes us through her family's unexpected journey into homeschooling, and how the pandemic led her to a more personalized approach for her three children. We explore: - Why traditional teaching credentials aren't always the most important qualification - How to transition from "bringing school home" to true homeschooling - The power of letting children choose when and where they learn - Creating an "educational cocktail" unique to each child - Managing full-time work while homeschooling - Building independence and problem-solving skills Chapters 00:00 Introduction to OpenEd Podcast 00:35 Jamie's Family Educational Journey 01:45 Transition to Homeschooling 03:55 Homeschooling Challenges and Discoveries 05:24 Charter School Experience 08:29 Homeschooling Realizations and Community Support 11:29 Adapting to Homeschooling 16:33 Balancing Homeschooling and Family Life 16:59 Flexibility and Autonomy in Homeschooling 18:27 Choosing the Right Curriculum 20:40 Adapting to Individual Learning Styles 24:35 Teaching Problem-Solving Skills 27:13 Parental Roles in Homeschooling 34:10 Rapid Fire Questions and Insights

You don't have to choose between work and customized learning. Build around the system, not against it. Sunny Simkin, a single working mom reveals how she transformed her children's education without leaving public school. After struggling with math herself, she refused to let her daughter face the same challenges. Instead of fighting the system, she built around it - combining public school with targeted programs like Mathnasium, Ninja Warrior classes, and specialized music education. Learn how she: - Identified her children's unique learning styles - Found creative alternatives to traditional sports - Improved her daughter's math performance - Balanced work and educational enrichment - Discovered hidden local resources Plus: Get specific recommendations for after-school programs that actually work, including Let's Play Music, Soccer Shots, and more. Perfect for working parents who want to personalize their kids' education without homeschooling. Follow for more practical education tips for working parents! Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Personalized Education 00:31 Meet Sunny Simkin 01:19 Sunny's Educational Journey 03:11 Challenges with Math 05:27 Interventions and Solutions 11:44 Extracurricular Activities 19:27 Balancing Public School and Personalization 25:18 Resources and Recommendations 28:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Charlynn Chambers didn't set out to revolutionize education. She just wanted to help her kids learn. But somewhere between the pandemic and pancakes, she stumbled upon a profound truth: education isn't separate from real life. For her children, traditional schooling had been a struggle. Sitting still, focusing on worksheets, and regurgitating facts for tests seemed to dim their natural curiosity. At home, though, a different story unfolded. Charlynn found learning opportunities everywhere. Division wasn't just numbers on a page; it was splitting Stormtrooper armies in Star Wars scenarios. Fractions weren't abstract concepts; they were measurements in a favorite recipe. Leadership wasn't a buzzword; it was taking charge of making breakfast for the family. "Education isn't about being able to just score all the right things on all the right tests," Charlynn realized. "It's about really being more of a whole individual." This wasn't a rejection of academic rigor. Rather, it was an expansion of what "education" could mean. By integrating learning into daily life, Charlynn's children weren't just memorizing facts – they were developing skills to navigate the real world, pursue their passions, and continue learning long after any test was over. In Charlynn's kitchen classroom, education became more than preparation for life. It became life itself. Resources mentioned: • OpenEd • Math Base Camp • Education.com • Reading Eggs Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:22 Transition from Charter to Homeschool 01:24 Pandemic's Impact on Education Choices 03:12 Homeschooling and Neurodivergence 04:20 Parental Involvement and Curriculum Concerns 08:45 Homeschooling Journey and Adjustments 12:19 Customizing Education for ADHD 16:24 Hands-On Learning and Life Skills 18:34 Balancing Curriculum and Life Lessons 22:39 Intentional Living and Learning 27:11 Fostering Lifelong Learning at Home 28:28 Challenges and Rewards of Homeschooling 31:41 Essential Resources for Homeschooling 35:47 Homeschooling in Oregon: Insights and Trends 46:09 Practical Tips for New Homeschooling Parents 47:15 Balancing Challenges and Growth 51:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

From factory settings to farm life, Apogee Strong founder Matt Beaudreau reveals why traditional schooling may be holding your child back. Learn how real education happens outside the classroom and why parents are better equipped than "experts" to guide their children's learning. Matt shares insights from his journey founding his microschool network, working at Stanford, and transforming education for thousands of families. Learn more: https://apogeestrong.com/apogee-schools Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:38 Education Isn't Political 05:11 Individualized Education 09:29 Fundamentals of Education 14:29 Defining Success 18:51 Simplifying Education 26:11 Lightbulb Moments 34:07 Transfer of a Way of Life 37:00 Socratic Conversations at Home 44:41 Parents Are the Experts 48:43 The Value of Experience