Tried and True Homeschooling

Listen above or on Apple, Spotify, or Pocketcasts✨What does education look like when it’s driven by curiosity, not curriculum?Today, I talk with the incredible Kerry McDonald—a Harvard-trained economist, author, and unschooling mom of four—for a rich and honest conversation about educational freedom.Kerry shares how a chance encounter with a homeschooling family turned her life upside down, sparking a journey away from traditional schooling and toward self-directed education. From her daughter teaching herself to read at four, to navigating teenage years without coercion, Kerry walks us through what it really looks like to trust your child—and yourself.If you’ve ever wondered whether kids can really learn without being “taught”, this conversation is for you.We also dive deep into the growing microschool movement and show you why so many families are stepping outside the system to build something better. 🖋️If you’d like to connect with Kerry, you’ll find her at her podcast website. You can also buy her new book Joyful Learning available TODAY!If you found this episode helpful, please give us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others find us!🔥BONUS! Downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, journal prompts, and more! Exclusively for my favorite people👇Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

Listen above or on Apple, Spotify, or Pocketcasts✨Are you homeschooling kids with dyslexia and wondering if they'll ever thrive as readers and learners? Meet Jessica Kulynych —a mom who accidentally fell into homeschooling and ended up transforming the lives of her three dyslexic children. Faced with delayed reading, dysgraphia, and emotional sensitivities, Jessica refused to give up. Instead, she became an expert - researching relentlessly, embracing Orton-Gillingham, and crafting a flexible classical-eclectic approach that met her kids exactly where they were. Today, her children are thriving adults in love with reading.Jessica is a warrior mom whose story left me in awe of what dedicated homeschooling can achieve. If you're dealing with dyslexia, Jessica’s story will give you hope, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose.🖋️Connect with Jessica Kulynych on her Substack An Unexpected Difficulty or enjoy her article Homeschooling Dyslexia: Lessons from 20 Years of Trial and Triumph. 🔥BONUS! Downloadable show notes with key takeaways, inspiring quotes, resource recommendations, journal prompts, and more! Exclusively for my favorite people👇If you found this episode helpful, please give us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others find us!Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

If you are listening outside my website, head over to clarified.life for workshops, courses, lesson plans, and more. ✨Are you worried that your messy, imperfect life will get in the way of homeschooling?Today's guest tells reassures us that it’s not perfect conditions, but teaching strength of character and responsibility, that shapes strong, capable adults.Let’s dive into the extraordinary story of Von, a homeschooling dad six and grandfather to 25, who, alongside his wife, educated their kids in remote African mission fields. Facing challenges like delayed curricula shipments, his wife’s illnesses, and raising kids in a high-stakes, sometime dangerous environments, Von prioritized character and practical skills. His approach—rooted in obedience, great books, and real-world responsibility—produced six successful adults, all now homeschooling their own kids or thriving in careers like programming and running their own construction companies.🖋️His Key Advice to Homeschooling Parents👉Focus on Character First: Teach obedience and responsibility early to manage chaos and build lifelong resilience.👉Use Great Books for Critical Thinking: Read classics together, discuss values, and spark curiosity to teach kids how to learn.In this episode, you’ll learn👇* Homeschooling in Crisis: How Von’s family kept learning during his wife’s bed rest by training kids to manage the household.* Raising Responsible Kids: Strategies like “two-year-old obedience” and “hierarchical obedience” to handle large families.* Building Work-Ready Teens: Why early jobs (like dairy work at 14) created resumes that outshine college degrees.* Using Classic Books for Values: How discussions around Little Britches and other stories shaped character and critical thinking.* Language Learning Regrets and Tips: Why bilingualism matters and how to use free resources and cooking shows to teach Spanish effectively.PS: Don’t miss the last 10 minutes when Von gives practical advice on teaching kids a 2nd language!Von inspired me to think more deeply about the importance of raising responsible children with high character. His approach my not be for everyone, but I encourage you to listen with an open heart. As Aristotle says it is the mark of “an educated person to consider an idea without immediately accepting or rejecting it.”Favorite Quote: “You’re not a grade, you’re a person.”If you’d like to connect with Von, you can find him at his website.Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.Know someone who would benefit from hearing this podcast? Please share! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

Listen above or on Apple, Spotify, or Pocketcasts✨Do you worry you’re not enough to give your kids a great education? Today's guest, Melissa, homeschooled her four kids through unthinkable challenges. A single mom, she earned her master's degree while homeschooling, she teaches online and recently bought her own business. Yet somehow she also managed to give her kids an exceptional education and her oldest is currently attending West Point. Melissa is living proof that you don't need perfect conditions to give your kids a powerful education. She shares honest, practical wisdom on juggling work, fostering independence, and trusting your instincts even when the odds are stacked against you. Melissa’s story is a masterclass in resilience, adaptability, and trusting your instincts as a parent.On a personal note, it was a blog by a single homeschool mom that convinced me that I could do this. And I hope Melissa's story does the same for you. 🌸In This Episode, You’ll Learn:* How to Homeschool as a Working Mom: How Melissa juggled full-time tech jobs and homeschooling.* Raising Academic Kids: What does it take academically to help your kids into one of the most rigorous institutions in the country.* Navigating College Admissions: Tips for tackling transcripts and why the PSAT was a game-changer for scholarships and military academies.* Making It Work on a Budget: How the public library became their classroom and HSLDA grants saved the day.* Balancing Discipline and Love: Melissa’s approach to raising teens who are respectful and resilient. Favorite Tip: Go to the library, pick one history & one science book every week and watch their knowledge explode!Connect with Melissa: Find her on X at @MelissaAmaya32 If you are new to homeschooling, you might like my You Can Homeschool Course and workshops like Socratic Method for Beginners.Become a paid subscriber to get access to courses, workshops, masterpiece lesson plans, and detailed post. The annual membership is on SALE for the summer $5/month — cheaper than one (1!) Frappuccino. Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is simply to present real families and their experiences. For my own advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.Know anyone who’d like this, please share! It helps us grow and support more families. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

✨Wondering how to homeschool with limited resources and still raise confident, capable adults? Today, we'll learn from a pioneer homeschool mom who has made it work through creativity and community. I had the absolute pleasure of talking with Dawnita Fogleman. She navigated significant challenges, such as raising six children, managing chronic illness, and facing natural disasters like wildfires, all while homeschooling in rural Oklahoma. Despite feeling like she failed at times, her success lies in raising independent, capable, and grounded adults who pursue their passions and maintain a strong faith and character.Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or outcome—my goal is simply to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.A heartfelt thank you to the paid subscribers who make this podcast possible.Your support fuels everything I create—conversations, resources, and tools to help parents. If this podcast (or anything I share) has been valuable to you, please become a paid subscriber to support my work. If you are interested in supporting the podcast and picking up some great benefits along the way, head over to clarified.life This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.clarified.lifeDid you know that Language Arts is not one, not two, but SEVEN distinct subjects! Lucky for us, they can generally be split into Reading and Writing. Today we’ll tackle the 3 subjects of Reading → Learning to Read, Literature, and Vocabulary. Today’s Workshop Will Teach You👇* When to Start Teaching Reading? (Hint: Not When You Think!)* The BEST Way to Teach Reading (There IS a wrong way!)* How to Raise Kids Who Love to Read* The 3 Must-Read Book Types for Kids* Making the Leap from Reading to Literature* How to Really Read a Book (More Than Finishing the Words)* Are Formal Vocabulary Lessons Worth It?* My Top Picks for Reading Curriculum & ResourcesWant More? Here’s a link to ALL reading posts 👇This is part of my You Can Homeschool series—short, sweet videos tailored for new homeschool parents or anyone that feels uncertain about helping their child succeed in their education.Subscribe below for access.No More Uncertainty, Just Thriving Kids♥️