Homeschool Unrefined

Homeschool parents do A LOT, but none of us do it all. We want to normalize not doing it all—and embrace the idea that homeschool and parenting will be more enjoyable and sustainable when we take things off our plates. So this episode is a celebration of what we don't do! In addition to the things on our don't-do list, we share listener answers, too.    Takeaways -We try to remember the phrase: Saying "yes" to one thing means saying "no" to something else.   -We teach people how to treat us: Not doing it all is a way to set healthy boundaries.   -We model for our kids that no one should be expected to do it all.   -Our kids learn we trust them when we don't do everything for them.   This episode is last in a series: You've Got This! We're tackling some of the most common questions and daily dilemmas we face in homeschool and parenting. Listen to the previous episodes in the series: The Device Dilemma and A Harmonious Homeschool.     Mentions Subscribe to our NEW (super short!) newsletter and get 2 FREEBIES! You'll automatically get our FREE High 5 Homeschool Guide. And coming soon: a FREE Screen Time Conversation Guide, exclusively for our email list! Sign up NOW to get that new guide when it drops.   Episode 23: What We Don't Do Episode 50: What We Don't Do (Holiday Edition)   Join the Squad! When you join Patreon, you get access to our Patreon Squad Facebook Group -- a fun and fantastic community of like-minded homeschool parents. Plus a bunch of other great rewards like more episodes, extended interviews, and more!   Listener Review myshell726, 09/11/2020 "I always enjoy listening to this podcast. Maren and Angela are funny, and they have a good balance of casual conversation and topical discussion. I also admire them for speaking out on the need for homeschoolers to become more inclusive. There are a lot of homeschool podcasts, but this is one of my favorites!" Leave us a 5-star rating and review here.   Loving This Week Angela: Multi-Color Light Bulb Pathway Markers Maren: YUEDGE socks   Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. An hour-long chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!      More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.     Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

We see these comments pop up in every homeschool Facebook group: "How do I get my kid to do their work?" "My kid is fighting with me about doing math." "Homeschool is hurting my relationships with my kids." Homeschool doesn't have to be contentious, and burnout isn't the inevitable outcome of homeschooling. So how can we begin to homeschool in harmony? Join us as we explore the ways we're creating a harmonious homeschool experience for ourselves and our kids.    Takeaways -We often feel the tension of playing two roles: parent and teacher. At our best, we're in only ONE role: parent.   -No one is enjoying homeschool if you and your kids are grinding your way through it.   -As a homeschool parent, we have freedom to do things differently from a teacher in a classroom.   -The thing your child is most interested in is the thing they're going to learn the most about.   -There are non-negotiable things we want our kids to learn. But we can let go of WHEN and HOW they learn those things.   -Learn to recognize the signals when a learning experience is taking a negative turn BEFORE it gets to the point of yelling, crying, frustration.    -Our kids need to know that their voice and their feelings matter, and we can listen when they're telling us they need to stop or something isn't working.   -Kids have bad days, too. They might have another need that needs to be met before they can sit down and learn. They might need a new approach/curriculum/time of day for a subject.   -It's our KIDS and their plans/ideas that often create the best and most magical learning moments.   -We want our kids to come into a learning experience with their cups of connection filled up!     Mentions Our bookshop.org book lists! Back to School Summit Personality Classes   This episode is second in a series: You've Got This! We're tackling some of the most common questions and daily dilemmas we face in homeschool and parenting. Listen to our previous episode: The Device Dilemma all about screen time.     Join the Squad! When you join Patreon, you get access to our Patreon Squad Facebook Group -- a fun and fantastic community of like-minded homeschool parents. Plus a bunch of other great rewards like more episodes, extended interviews, and more!   Listener Review myshell726, 09/11/2020 "I always enjoy listening to this podcast. Maren and Angela are funny, and they have a good balance of casual conversation and topical discussion. I also admire them for speaking out on the need for homeschoolers to become more inclusive. There are a lot of homeschool podcasts, but this is one of my favorites!" Leave us a 5-star rating and review here.   Loving This Week Angela: Schitt's Creek Maren: WiZ smart lights   Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. An hour-long chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!      More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.     Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Two words: SCREEN TIME. We’re all sick of thinking about it, but we also can’t stop thinking about it. We don’t have the device dilemma figured out either, but we’re here to process with you all the pros and cons and big question marks. Grab a cup of whatever it takes and let’s chat!   This episode is first in a new series: You've Got This! We'll be tackling some of the most common questions and daily dilemmas we face in homeschool and parenting.   Takeaways -Not all screen time is equal. Screens are helping us stay connected to friends and family and one another. We don’t have to ditch family movie night just because our kids were on screens with friends earlier today. -Kids are often working on amazing projects on screens. Reframe how we see the work they’re doing when they learn a new dance or unlock a new game level. -We can use this opportunity to help our kids learn to be smart and safe consumers and citizens. -Managing screen time takes so much energy. We’re constantly having to evaluate, make decisions, and set new boundaries. -We’re having ongoing family conversations, spontaneously and often. -Some kids need different limits and restrictions than others. Helping our kids with their screen time takes lots of communication. -Always up for discussion: We’re reconsidering and changing our minds and trying new strategies all the time. Nothing is set in stone.   Connected Kindred This episode is being sponsored by Connected Kindred. From founder and parent coach Niurka Maldonado: "We can lead families of unique individuals that communicate clearly, honor boundaries, and love fiercely. Let me show you the way." Connect with Niurka and her coaching practice on Instagram, Facebook, and on her website.   Join the Squad! When you join Patreon, you get access to our Patreon Squad Facebook Group -- a fun and fantastic community of like-minded homeschool parents.   Books Visit our new bookshop.org store. When you shop with Bookshop, you’re supporting us AND local independent bookstores. Woohoo!   Listener Review myshell726, 09/11/2020 "I always enjoy listening to this podcast. Maren and Angela are funny, and they have a good balance of casual conversation and topical discussion. I also admire them for speaking out on the need for homeschoolers to become more inclusive. There are a lot of homeschool podcasts, but this is one of my favorites!" Leave us a 5-star rating and review here.   Loving This Week Angela: Easy 30-Minute Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup Maren: Blueland Hand Soap Refill Tablets   Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. An hour-long chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!      More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.     Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Niurka Maldonado is a certified Conscious Parenting coach and the founder of Connected Kindred. Niurka shares about her experience as a homeschool family of color. While the homeschooling community is becoming increasingly more diverse, the majority of homeschoolers are white. Niurka sheds light on the subtle ways racism shows up in homeschool spaces and offers advice for how white homeschoolers can be better allies to homeschooling families of color. She also talks about the unique homeschool benefits and opportunities for families of color and the ways she's embracing the joy in homeschooling.    Connect with Niurka and her coaching practice on Instagram, Facebook, and on her website.   EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS! Listeners, Niurka is offering you an exclusive discount! You can get a $200 discount on a private coaching session and $100 off a group session. Just use the code "Homeschool Unrefined" on your call with Niurka!   Extended Interview (and a BONUS GIFT) on Patreon! Get an extended interview with Niurka on Patreon. We get Niurka's take on the Homeschool Unrefined signatures "What We Don't Do" and "Giving Ourselves Credit." Plus, she shares about what she's reading, watching, listening to, and her specific self-care practices.   Patrons are also getting a very special BONUS GIFT from Niurka. She is gifting the $5 Squad a FREE meditation gift you won't want to miss. Join now to receive your meditation gift.     Mentions And The Skylark Sings With Me The Aluna Method on Instagram Raising Proud Black Children by Sankofa Club on Facebook Latinx Parenting on Facebook and Instagram Rachel Cargle   When you join Patreon, you get access to our Patreon Squad Facebook Group -- a fun and fantastic community of like-minded homeschool parents.     Books Visit our new bookshop.org store. When you shop with Bookshop, you’re supporting us AND a local independent bookstore of your choice. Woohoo!   Listener Review myshell726, 09/11/2020 "I always enjoy listening to this podcast. Maren and Angela are funny, and they have a good balance of casual conversation and topical discussion. I also admire them for speaking out on the need for homeschoolers to become more inclusive. There are a lot of homeschool podcasts, but this is one of my favorites!" Leave us a 5-star rating and review here.   Loving This Week Angela: Heavyweight podcast (try #16: Rob) Maren: Poetry Unbound podcast & Throughline podcast (this episode and this one) Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. An hour-long chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!      More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.     Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Ok, but how are you doing REALLY? You’re getting the unedited behind-the-scenes look at our homeschool lives—the academics and routines we’re doing (or not doing), the stuff that’s going well (and what's NOT working), and the self-care solutions that are saving us (when we hold ourselves and each other accountable to making self-care happen!). This is the conversation we’re having every. single. month. on Patreon with our $5 Squad. Join us!   When you join Patreon, you’ll unlock 2 years of patron rewards including an archive of extended interviews, monthly episodes, the Back to School Summit, and a discount code for our Homeschool+Personalities classes. Plus, you get access to our Patreon Squad Facebook Group -- a fun and fantastic community of like-minded homeschool parents. All for just $5/month. Or sign up for an annual membership for about $50!   Loving This Week No LTWs this week--but you get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. An hour-long chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!    Books Visit our new bookshop.org store. When you shop with Bookshop, you’re supporting us AND a local independent bookstore of your choice. Woohoo!   Get a FREE guide! Get our FREE High Five Homeschool Guide when you sign up for our newsletter!   Listener Review chemicalhippos, 09/16/2020 "Not only is this my favorite homeschool podcast, it’s my FAVORITE PODCAST. I listen to every episode and have recently started working through the back catalog. I’m a young mom and my kids are still young but I find so much reassurance in Maren and Angela’s stories about homeschooling and raising older kids. They are like the cool older sisters I never had and inspire me to chill out and focus on connecting with my kids instead of forcing them to do workbook after workbook. I also love getting a glimpse into their long and beautiful friendship. It’s a privilege to be a part of. " Leave us a 5-star rating and review here.   More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.     Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Raising confident kids can be inconvenient, uncomfortable, and challenging--but it's so worth it! And we can't talk about raising confident kids without talking about raising ourselves, too. This important work is woven into what we do every day through listening to and trusting our kids, modeling how we show up in the world, and advocating for ourselves and setting boundaries. Watch your homeschool learning atmosphere come alive and your relationships blossom as you and your children embrace and express yourselves more fully TOGETHER.   Takeaways -What our kids say and think matters-- they know themselves and what they need MORE than we do. -Listening to our kids and valuing what they say will help them learn their voice is important. -As homeschool parents, we make lots of plans, but listening to our kids when they tell us something isn't working and changing our plans sends a strong message that our kids can listen, value, and trust themselves. -What do they want to learn? How do they want to learn? -We want them to be able to advocate for themselves as adults, so we have to know it starts at home, it starts with us.   Get a FREE guide! Get our FREE High Five Homeschool Guide when you sign up for our newsletter!   Mentions When you join Patreon, you get access to our Patreon Squad Facebook Group -- a fun and fantastic community of like-minded homeschool parents. Family Math book Racko Apples to Apples Jr Let's Play Math   Books Visit our new bookshop.org store. When you shop with Bookshop, you’re supporting us AND a local independent bookstore of your choice. Woohoo!   Listener Review chemicalhippos, 09/16/2020 "Not only is this my favorite homeschool podcast, it’s my FAVORITE PODCAST. I listen to every episode and have recently started working through the back catalog. I’m a young mom and my kids are still young but I find so much reassurance in Maren and Angela’s stories about homeschooling and raising older kids. They are like the cool older sisters I never had and inspire me to chill out and focus on connecting with my kids instead of forcing them to do workbook after workbook. I also love getting a glimpse into their long and beautiful friendship. It’s a privilege to be a part of. " Leave us a 5-star rating and review here.   Loving This Week Angela: Crewneck Sweatshirt from Target Maren: YouTube channels: Chillhop and ChilledCow   More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.     Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

One of the secrets to a sustainable homeschool is YOU. Your strengths energize you, and what energizes you will energize your homeschool. Doing what you are good at and what you enjoy will make your homeschool more enjoyable, efficient, and empowered. So we're focusing on YOUR strengths in this episode. Listeners share their unique strengths and how they're rocking their strengths to rock their homeschool. We know you'll be inspired by the ways real-life parents are using their incredible, practical, and unconventional strengths in homeschool.   Takeaways -ENERGIZE: Your strengths energize you, and what energizes you will energize your homeschool.    -ENJOY: Doing what you are good at and what you enjoy will make your homeschool more enjoyable.   -EMBRACE: When we embrace our strengths, we give permission to our kids to do that same from an early age!   -EFFECTIVE & EFFICIENT: Working within your strengths is the most effective and efficient way to learn and work.    -EDUCATE: We learn best when we're feeling good and enjoying our experience of learning--finding that sweet spot of being in our strengths!   -EMPOWERING: You and your kids will feel empowered to be who you are, to learn how you learn best, and to be supported in your own strengths as you support one another.    $5 Back to School Summit This summit is for new and experienced homeschoolers to inspire and equip us to design a SUSTAINABLE school year. We’ll help keep your homeschool simple, real, and fun by reframing your expectations and giving you real-life solutions.    You’ll get:  *3 inspiring and practical conversations  *Digital printable worksheets with reflection questions, takeaways, and partner episodes  *Special savings for our App School Guide & Curriculum Guide bundle *Patrons also get exclusive savings on our Personality & Homeschool Classes bundle and 2+ additional episodes a month     Mentions When you join Patreon, you get access to our Patreon Squad Facebook Group -- a fun and fantastic community of like-minded homeschool parents.     Books Visit our new bookshop.org store. When you shop with Bookshop, you’re supporting us AND a local independent bookstore of your choice. Woohoo!   Listener Review chemicalhippos, 09/16/2020 "Not only is this my favorite homeschool podcast, it’s my FAVORITE PODCAST. I listen to every episode and have recently started working through the back catalog. I’m a young mom and my kids are still young but I find so much reassurance in Maren and Angela’s stories about homeschooling and raising older kids. They are like the cool older sisters I never had and inspire me to chill out and focus on connecting with my kids instead of forcing them to do workbook after workbook. I also love getting a glimpse into their long and beautiful friendship. It’s a privilege to be a part of. " Leave us a 5-star rating and review here.     Loving This Week Angela: Laurel Bristow on Instagram Maren: Article   More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.     Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Yolonda Coles Jones (@yolonda_j) joins us for an important conversation about prioritizing mental health and wellbeing for ourselves and our families as we homeschool. How can we best support the mental health of our children in this difficult and uncertain time of pandemic?  How do we take care of ourselves while we take care of our kids? Yolonda also shares her advice for non-white families on how to take good care amidst increased visibility of and exposure to racial terror and trauma. Breathe deep with us as we receive the gift of Yolonda's wisdom and insight.   Get the extended interview with Yolonda when you join us on Patreon. We get Yolonda's take on the Homeschool Unrefined signatures "What We Don't Do" and "Rock Your Strengths/Giving Ourselves Credit." Plus, she shares about her typical homeschool day and specific self-care practices.   Connect with Yolonda and her coaching practice on Instagram, Facebook, and on her website.   Takeaways  -Surrender to the process: Don't hold yourself to unrealistic expectations. -Teaching our children to help: "How can we move the home forward together?" -Our kids may have more fear and anxiety than we have about the world right now because they have less context than we do.  -Use the autonomy and freedom you have in homeschool to honor your needs: Stop and breathe together. Take a day or a week off. Put on a movie for a snuggle or get takeout. -"Your right now's best is good enough." -"What do you need right now?"   Mentions Patreon Squad Facebook Group    Books Visit our new bookshop.org store. When you shop with Bookshop, you’re supporting us AND a local independent bookstore of your choice. Woohoo!   Listener Review myshell726, 09/11/2020 "I always enjoy listening to this podcast. Maren and Angela are funny, and they have a good balance of casual conversation and topical discussion. I also admire them for speaking out on the need for homeschoolers to become more inclusive. There are a lot of homeschool podcasts, but this is one of my favorites!" Leave us a 5-star rating and review here.     Loving This Week Angela: Target JoyLab Mid-Rise Jersey Joggers Maren: Outdoor string lights   More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.     Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

We love the flexibility of loose planning. We can be more responsive to the many different needs in our families, the changing seasons, and our own needs for both structure and spontaneity. Listen in as we talk about what loose planning looks like for each of us in our routines, on our bookshelves, and with the curriculum we're using. Our differing personalities shine through: Angela's loose plans are more detailed and organized, and Maren's are more open-ended and adjustable. What does homeschool planning look like for you?   You can find even more  of our favorite recommendations in our $5 App School Guide and $10 Curriculum Guide.     Books Books we mention can be found in our new bookshop.org store. When you shop with Bookshop, you’re supporting us AND a local independent bookstore of your choice. Woohoo!   Books for Homeschool Angela’s Books (take a peek on Instagram)   *Books will also be available in our Amazon store as we are able to update it.     Mentions Black Parade  Logic of English eLearning  Logic of English Lite  Brave Writer book clubs and classes  Mr. D Math  Outschool classes and tutoring  Saxon Math  DreamBox  Life of Fred  Family Math book  Prodigy Math  1491  Mel Science  Monterey Bay Aquarium online classes  CNN 10  Daily Language Review      Also Mentioned Patreon Squad Facebook Group  What We Don't Do episodes (here and here)    Listener Review myshell726, 09/11/2020 "I always enjoy listening to this podcast. Maren and Angela are funny, and they have a good balance of casual conversation and topical discussion. I also admire them for speaking out on the need for homeschoolers to become more inclusive. There are a lot of homeschool podcasts, but this is one of my favorites!" Leave us a 5-star rating and review here.     Loving This Week Angela: Punching the Air Maren: Charley Harper puzzle (this one and this one)   More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.     Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

[Cue Ross Geller: PIVOT!] We’re looking back on the Summer of 2020—the pandemic challenges, the cultural complexities, the big changes in our own lives and in our communities—and breaking down what it all means for the Fall of 2020 for us personally and professionally. We talk about what learning looks like in a pandemic and how we are emphasizing a deeper cultural and self awareness in this unique season for ourselves and our kids. We’ll be talking about our specific fall plans in our next episode!   Takeaways What do we do with all the “empty” time without co-ops, adventures, etc? Dealing with our own and our kids’ emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing is huge and important work in this time. We give ourselves and you permission to focus on that as much as we need to right now.   Take your time: We don’t have to be adapting to every new thing and transition with ease and speed.   Learning happens all the time: Our kids will keep learning and growing in their academics even if we don’t focus on that every day, AND we can also take advantage of more days at home to embrace more traditional learning.   How many Zooms is too many Zooms? We’re always trying to find the balance as we are online more with social distancing, connecting online with family and friends, homeschooling, distance learning, and hybrid-schooling.   The most powerful learning our kids might experience this year is knowing that we will listen when they tell us they don’t want to do something, like yet another Zoom class.     Back to School Summit Our Back to School Summit is for both new AND experienced homeschoolers to help us all reframe expectations, share real-life solutions, and get set up for a successful and sustainable school year. You’ll get:  3 inspiring and practical conversations  Digital printable worksheets with reflection questions, takeaways, and resources Special savings for our App School Guide & Curriculum Guide bundle    This summit is ONLY available on Patreon, which means that for JUST $5 you get all this--AND you’ll unlock 2 years of patron rewards including an archive of extended interviews, monthly episodes, our patron-only Facebook group, and a discount code for our Homeschool+Personalities classes. Sign up at patreon.com/homeschoolunrefined.     The Unrefined Curriculum Guide The Unrefined Curriculum Guide is 30 pages of inspiration, encouragement, and resources to build and boost your curriculum library with recommendations you won't dread using. Best of all, it’s just $10! Which means, it’s affordable for you AND it helps support us do what we do here at Homeschool Unrefined—win, win!   Listener Review! meg_girlmom, 08/26/2020 "I started at the beginning and have been listening non stop the past week. These mamas are real, intentional, and such an awesome resource for getting started (and staying) homeschooling!! And Patreon is a must!! they have printables, guides, and other helpful extras that have been so helpful to me. These women are living out their calling!!"   Leave us a 5-star rating and review here.   Homeschool Unrefined on Romper We were invited by Romper to talk about creating a more inclusive homeschool community. Check it out here!   Loving This Week Angela: Thrive Causemetics mascara Maren: Trade coffee subscription     More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here.     Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.