Tried and True Homeschooling

What happens when a radically unschooled child looks at her free-range childhood and says… “I want to go to public school”?Hello everybody! I’m Dr. Claire Honeycutt of ClarifiEd and this is Tried & True Homeschooling where we talk with real parents who have actually graduated their kids. They are filled with the most incredible wisdom.Today I’m talking with the wonderful, incredible Camilla — an unschooling graduate, homeschool mom, former public school teacher, and one of the most thoughtful people I’ve ever talked to about education.Camilla grew up in the 90s on a small family farm. She was raised by a deeply independent mother who influenced by the ideas of John Holt let her spend her childhood roaming outdoors and doing whatever she pleased. But Camilla wanted more. She taught herself to read and then did the unthinkable … she put herself in public school.If you’ve ever wondered whether unschooling actually works — or if children need more structure — you are going to love this conversation.Camilla shares what it was really like transitioning from unschooling into middle school, becoming the first of her siblings to attend college, finding herself a a public school teacher, and finally navigating homeschooling her own children.But that’s just where we start.We talk about:* Which kinds of children naturally thrive with freedom — and which may need more support* How unschooling affects motivation, confidence, and independence* Why modern technology has fundamentally changed the unschooling * How to raise teenagers who truly take ownership of their lives🌺Thoughtful, honest, funny, and full of nuance — this one is for every parent trying to balance freedom and formation.I want to take a quick moment to thank all my paid subscribers. Your support means the world to me – and without which this podcast would not exist. Your help allows me to pay for equipment, editing software, and my time creating new content every week.ClarifiEd is for parents who are serious about raising thinkers, leaders, and lifelong learners. We support you through my You Can Homeschool course, this podcast, and weekly essays going deep into how children learn best.If you’d like to join our phenomenal community of thousands of parents who are giving their kids not just a great education — but a truly remarkable life. Subscribe for free below!Finally, a quick note. Tried and True shares real parents stories without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach presented in these discussions — my goal is to present real families and their experiences so you can decide what’s best for your children. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.~Dr. Claire 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 post was incorrectly marked paid only. The podcast is always free - especially this episode! I’ve deleted the prior post. My apologies for the mistake and the second email in your inbox. 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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.clarified.lifeListen above or on Apple, Spotify, or Pocketcasts✨What happens when you ditch traditional schooling and fold your child into the rhythms of real life? I had the pure pleasure of sitting down with Peter, a music producer, author, and homeschooling dad, to explore the unique and beautiful way he educated his son.Peter and his wife integrated their son John into their music business, fostering his independence and diverse skills. Peter’s son was running the cash box by 8. Later he ran sound checks, managed security and ticket booths. He tried his hand at blacksmithing and learning to fly a plane. Peter’s “curriculum” was anything but conventional. Peter’s philosophy emphasizes following a child’s interests, embracing individuality, and learning through real-world experiences. He’ll even share what happened when his son decided to go back to public high school.If you're feeling boxed in by traditional education, this conversation will stretch your thinking and inspire new possibilities.🖋️If you’d like to connect with Peter, you can find him on his website and X. 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.✨INTRODUCING ClarifiEd Show Notes!I kept finding myself relistening to episodes to remember precisely what resources these incredible veterans recommended or their beautiful quotes, so I decided to write a short, snappy, summary of each episode with my favorite takeaways, inspirational quotes, things I plan to try, thought prompts, and ALL the recommended resources from each episode - all in a nice downloadable pdf.I’m crafting these show notes as a thank you to my paid supporters. Your help covers video, editing tools, all my time recording and editing these podcasts (it’s a lot of hours friends!). Any level of support comes with access to my You Can Homeschool course. Thank you friends. Truly♥️ClarifiEd Show Notes👇

✨Overwhelmed by Homeschooling? This Mom’s Peaceful Approach Will Recenter YouToday’s guest, Brooke Z, homeschooled her two sons for 15 years—then watched them transition seamlessly into private high school, earn scholarships, and thrive. Her approach? Relaxed, but purposeful. She built a joyful home where curiosity ruled, independence grew, and learning happened everywhere—from picture books to science centers.Brooke’s biggest advice👇✨Trust your gut. No one knows your kids better than you.✨Have a plan—but stay flexible. A missed day isn’t a failure. It’s life.This episode is a breath of fresh air if you’re feeling the pressure of high school, transcripts, or “keeping up.” You’ll leave encouraged, grounded, and reminded that homeschooling really does work.Favorite Quote: “You’ll get there. Day by day, you’ll get there.”✨If you want to connect with Brooke, check out her substack The Pondering Scottie and stay tuned for Friday’s guest post!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: Tried and True Homeschooling shares real parents stories without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach presented in these discussions—my goal is to present real families and their experiences so you can decide what’ best for your children. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.~Dr. Claire Honeycutt♥️Know anyone who’d like this, please share! It’d an incredible way to support the podcast and my work. 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 on Apple, Spotify, or Pocketcasts✨Are you wondering how to meet the needs of wildly different learners—from gifted to struggling readers, to ADHD—all under one roof?Today’s guest, Cornelia homeschooled four VERY different children. But she guided each of them through a unique learning path, helping them uncover their gifts and grow into confident, grounded young adults.Cornelia provides the clearest, most powerful take on truly personalized education I’ve heard. Her story is packed with wisdom including how to release fear and live in the joy of the present moment. Whether you’re just starting out or knee-deep in the homeschool trenches, this episode will encourage you, challenge you, and remind you that it’s okay to do things differently.PS. Don’t miss the last 7 minutes - Cornelia gives the most incredible and simple way to let go of fear of failure and just be present with your kids.Favorite Quote: I think I read to her until she left to get married.✨In this episode, we talk about👇* Teaching the Child in Front of You: How she shaped totally different educations for each of her kids. She said My style is to figure out what was perfect for each child!* When Reading Felt Impossible: Her third son’s slow start, the sister who stepped in, and how he became a college standout for his writing.* Rethinking College Prep: Practical, outside-the-box advice for getting into college—with scholarships—and FIGHTING for your kids to college counselors.Cornelia was one of my favorite interviews! She talks about her children with reverence and respect. She’s incredible and I hope you love her as much as I do. 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’d an incredible way to support the podcast and my work. 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

✨Introducing Tried & True Homeschooling: Real Parents, Real Stories, Real Results. What happens after homeschooling? This podcast goes beyond the day-to-day to explore how real families made it work—and how it all turned out. Hosted by Dr. Claire Honeycutt, a former professor turned homeschool mom, Tried & True Homeschooling features honest conversations with veteran parents who’ve successfully graduated their kids.Each episode offers practical strategies, mindset shifts, and lessons learned from years of experience—so you can homeschool with confidence, clarity, and purpose. Discover how different homeschooling philosophies shape adult outcomes—from college and careers to family, faith, and fulfillment. Subscribe now to get the wisdom you wish you had from the start—and walk away inspired, equipped, and reassured that you can do this. 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.lifeThere are few subjects that strike fear in a parent’s heart like math. In this video, I break down everything you need to know to teach math with confidence. After this workshop, you will know👇* The best way to teach math* The progression from kindergarten to 12th grade* How to handle math anxiety & resistance* How much testing and assessment is necessary and when to do it* How to pick the right curriculum (and the ones I recommend)* Simple ways to make math come alive with creative supplementsThis is part of my new You Can Homeschool series—quick, focused videos to take the uncertainty out of homeschooling.My newsletter will remain DEEP dives into the nitty-gritty of education but these short, sweet videos are tailored for new homeschool parents or anyone that feels uncertain about helping their child succeed in their education.Subscribe below for access.Want More? Link to ALL my posts on Math👇No More Uncertainty, Just Thriving Kids♥️~Dr. Claire Honeycutt