Homeschool Talks: Ideas and Inspiration for Your Homeschool

Latest Episodes:

Q&A: Homeschooling a Child with Special Needs | Dr. Rochelle Matthews-Somerville and Cheri Kay Sessions May 16, 2022

Show notes

Do you have questions about homeschooling a child with special needs? Join HSLDA Special Needs Consultants and homeschooling moms Rochelle Matthews-Somerville, PhD, and Cheri Kay Sessions for a Q&A episode! They'll cover topics like:

Accessibility software/programs for students with disabilities
Resources for homeschooling a child with dyslexia
Helping a child overcome sensory challenges
Creating transcripts for students with special needs

Q&A: Homeschooling 6th–8th Grade | LaNissir James and Carla Fuller May 09, 2022

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Do you have any questions about homeschooling 6th–8th grade? Join HSLDA Educational Consultants LaNissir James and Carla Fuller for a Q&A episode all about the middle school years! As veteran homeschool moms, LaNissir and Carla help answer parents' most-asked questions, like:

What kind of testing should I do for my middle schooler?
I'm feeling stuck with my curriculum—what should I do?
What do I do if my child is "behind" academically?
How should I prepare my middle schooler for high school?

Q&A: Homeschooling Pre-K through 5th Grade | Vicki Bentley and Krisa Winn May 02, 2022

Show notes

Do you have any questions about homeschooling Pre-K through 5th grade? Join HSLDA Educational Consultants Vicki Bentley and Krisa Winn for a Q&A episode all about homeschooling in the early years. As homeschool veterans, Vicki and Krisa help answer your most-asked questions, offering encouragement and practical tips for your journey!

"It seems like when our kids turn about 5 years old, we panic and it feels like life has to turn upside down. . . . I like to ask parents, 'If nobody told you when your child turned 5 that he had to go to school, what would you be doing with him? What have you been doing with him?'"—Vicki Bentley

Discovering Your Child's Inner STAR (and Other Homeschool Ideas) | An Interview with Anita Gibson Apr 25, 2022

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Join HSLDA Vice President Jim Mason and HSLDA Educational Consultant Anita Gibson as they discuss a chapter Anita has written in Homeschooling Black Children in the U.S., a recently published anthology that provides contemporary perspectives on black homeschooling. Anita unpacks the chapter and offers heartfelt wisdom and encouragement for homeschoolers, drawing on her many years of experience as a homeschool mom and educational consultant.

Homeschooled LEGO Masters | An Interview with Mark and Steven Erickson Apr 18, 2022

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Get your big tub of LEGO bricks out of the attic for this one! Join HSLDA Vice President Jim Mason in a conversation with LEGO Masters Season 2 winners Mark and Steven Erickson. Mark and Steven explain how they managed to make careers out of playing with LEGO bricks, and homeschooling how contributed to their success.

Researching the Effects of Homeschooling | An Interview with Dr. Steven Duvall Apr 04, 2022

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Join HSLDA Vice President Jim Mason and HSLDA Director of Research Dr. Steven Duvall for a conversation about a recent study regarding homeschool students. As a licensed school psychologist and consultant for homeschooling families, Dr. Duvall brings context to the researchers' findings, criticizing and elevating various aspects of the study.

"In my experience, dealing with the whole school population over the last 28 years, it is generally a very wholesome family situation that we're dealing with. You know, they want the best for their kids and they're striving in that direction, regardless of income level, whether the family only makes 25,000 [dollars] a year or 100,000 [dollars] a year. People love their kids, and they want the best for them. And that's what I've generally found."—Steven Duvall, PhD

Military Enlistment for Homeschool High Schoolers | An Interview with Nathan from The Homeschool Project Podcast Mar 21, 2022

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Do you have a high schooler interested in joining the military after they graduate? Join HSLDA's Military Outreach Coordinator Natalie Mack and Nathan from The Homeschool Project Podcast for a discussion about everything you and your high schooler need to know about military enlistment. Nathan is a homeschool dad and military service member with lots of insights on the process and how to support your student!

Living a Tech-Wise Life with Your Teen | An Interview with Andy & Amy Crouch Mar 07, 2022

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How do we use technology wisely in a tech-obsessed world? Join HSLDA Vice President Jim Mason in a conversation with father-daughter duo Andy and Amy Crouch about their book My Tech-Wise Life: Growing Up and Making Choices in a World of Devices. As a college student, Amy provides a refreshing perspective on issues surrounding social media and digital entertainment, sharing her gratitude for her parents' deliberate approach to the use of technology in their family. "As trite as it might sound, I do think that awareness and personal reflection has to be the starting point, because what you will realize as you look at your life—and this is something I realize about my life every day—is just how much screens are slipping [into our lives] in ways that you never could have even imagined."—Amy Crouch

The Essential Mission of Parental Rights.org | An Interview with Will Estrada Feb 07, 2022

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Introducing the new president of ParentalRights.org, Will Estrada! Join HSLDA Vice President Jim Mason in a conversation with Will about the mission of ParentalRights.org and the importance of defending parents' primary role in raising and educating their children. "Now is a time that our country and everyone, regardless of their political backgrounds, are all engaged on the issue of education. They're realizing that the fundamental question is who is going to make these decisions [for children]? [Is it] going to be parents or . . . bureaucrats sitting hundreds or even thousands of miles away from the classroom and from the home? . . . It's a moment I haven't seen in quite a while." — Will Estrada

Understanding Remote Education Programs Offered by Public Schools | An Interview with Tj Schmidt Jan 24, 2022

Show notes

What are the legal and practical implications of remote education programs offered by the public schools, and how do they differ from private homeschooling? Join HSLDA Vice President Jim Mason and HSLDA Staff Attorney Tj Schmidt as they clear up various misunderstandings surrounding these remote education programs.

"As the parents, we have the opportunity to provide a homeschooling program that's tailored to their needs and abilities, and their strengths and weaknesses. I think the public school programs, unfortunately, are directed at control of both the education and curriculum, and the method of how it's provided. And while some parents find it meets their needs, most parents find they're not going to have the flexibility that they really need to meet the needs of their child in a public school program." —Tj Schmidt