Homeschool Unrefined

Latest Episodes:

125: Where We Go Our Own Way with Saira Siddiqui Dec 02, 2019

Show notes

One of our favorite Instagram follows is here! Saira Siddiqui (@confessionsofamuslimmom) is a perspective-shifting writer and digital parent educator. If you haven't met Saira yet, allow us to introduce you. Pull up a chair (and pull out a notepad!)—you'll want to give this conversation your full attention and catch every bit of Saira's wisdom. Listening to Saira will challenge your ideas about education and embolden you to go your own way with whatever method of learning and living your family embraces.

In this episode:

Saira Siddiqui is a Digital Parent Educator, advocating critically thinking, anti-bias, self-directed education (unschooling), and stronger emotional health for parents and children: "The goal of education is critical thinking."
We talk a lot about unschooling and what it means to Saira: "Unschooling and self-direction isn't just how we learn, it's a mindset. It's a lifestyle."
We touch on deschooling ourselves and unlearning our educational backgrounds, including questioning the idea that work and home have to be separate: "What are my passions? What am I pursuing? What am I contributing?"
Saira also explains how unschooling changed her own path: "It wasn't until I really truly embraced unschooling that my own trajectory took off."
Plus, we talk about the value of self-direction in learning: "A lot of what makes us successful as adults has to be very intrinsic."
Lastly, Saira shares about their family's choice to live abroad: "When you live in a place, you see people for how they see themselves, not how you see them."

Connect with Saira on Instagram, Facebook, and her website.

Get the Extended Interview!

Patrons get our extended interview where we talk about some of Saira's favorite books (your TBR pile is about to get a lot taller!). We also get her take on the Homeschool Unrefined signatures: "What We Don't Do" and "Giving Ourselves Credit"–join now to listen!

Speaking of Patreon...

We're capping our closed Voxer group, which is currently available to all Super Squad supporters ($8/month level). This means that if you want in on this amazing group of homeschool mamas, JOIN NOW! We're closing the group to new members on December 9, 2019. Don't miss your chance to get in! https://www.patreon.com/homeschoolunrefined

Show Some Love

Leave us an iTunes review! Your reviews help more people find the podcast. When new people find us, they'll see how much YOU love the podcast and want to listen, too!

Secure your spot on the "Nice" list

Want to give Homeschool Unrefined a (FREE!) gift this holiday season? Use our affiliate link! Every time you're shopping on Amazon, use our magical link FIRST and we'll get a small kickback on whatever you purchase. Every little bit adds up, especially when all of you use the link! https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined

Classes

Put our Personalities & Homeschool classes on your wish list this year! Each class is $10, with all four classes bundled for just $30. (Psst... Patrons get an additional discount on the four-class package. Join us at the Squad or Super Squad levels to access these exclusive savings now!)

Merch!

It's a great time to treat yourself to Homeschool Unrefined totes, hoodies, mugs, and more in our Merch Shop!

Loving This Week

Maren: Disney+

Angela: Splendid Women's Thermal Wrap Hooded Cardigan

Before You Go...

Share this episode with a friend and let's keep the conversation going in our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.⁣

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.

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.

Bonus: A Holiday Gift Guide for YOU Nov 19, 2019

Show notes

This holiday season, let's all get better at saying, "This is what I want." Don't get stuck with gifts you don't want (we're looking at you, decorative hand towels and clunky desk calendars). Let our Gift Guide inspire you to invest in YOURSELF. You deserve it!

Want to give Homeschool Unrefined a (FREE!) gift this holiday season? Use the affiliate links and referral codes included in our show notes! Every time you're shopping on Amazon, use our magical link FIRST and we'll get a small kickback on whatever you purchase. Every little bit adds up, especially when all of you use the link! https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined

LTWs

Check out alllll our LTWs on our website and in our Amazon Shop. Do you love this conversation and these recommendations? We do a whole episode like this every month for our Super Squad on Patreon!

Classes

Merch!

It's a great time to treat yourself to Homeschool Unrefined totes, hoodies, mugs, and more in our Merch Shop!

Show Some Love

Leave us an iTunes review! Your reviews help more people find the podcast. When new people find us, they'll see how much YOU love the podcast and want to listen, too!

HURRY! Don't miss Coffee Hour Live!

We're doing an online Coffee Hour Live on Wednesday, November 20 from 3:00-4:00pm Central! Plan out your beverages of choice and a movie/documentary/video game for your kids. We're gonna chat about the holidays and answer your questions. This event is exclusive to our Patreon Squad and Super Squad.

Our Holiday Gift Guide for YOU

Grocery Delivery: Instacart | Shipt | Amazon Prime
Clothes & Shoes: Athleta leggings (and the knockoffs) | Boots
Haflinger Unisex Clog
Self-Care Membership: Float Pod | Movies | Yoga | Headspace
Kayak
Gear: Smart Water Bottle | Apple Watch | Yoga Mat | Art Supplies | Walking Stick
Airpods
Plane ticket / Airbnb
Kindle Paperwhite: older version and newer version
Babysitter cash and set up

Want more ideas for you or your family? Browse our Amazon Shop! And check out our "Simple Holiday Gift Guide" episode!

Before You Go...

Share this episode with a friend and let's keep the conversation going in our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.⁣

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com

124: Simple Holiday Gift Guide Nov 18, 2019

Show notes

Do you tend to overthink holiday shopping? Us too. But good news: We've done all the hard work for you! We've asked our kids, looked around our houses, and reviewed our Amazon histories to bring you a curated list of gifts our kids have LOVED over the years. Yep, ONE-CLICK SHOPPING. So sit back and enjoy knowing your shopping experience can be a little bit less stressful this year. All of the items mentioned can be found in our Amazon shop at www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined.

MORE gift ideas!

Last year's Patreon episode "More Holiday Gift Ideas" is available for Patreon supporters. We talked about our favorite gift subscriptions, gifts for parents (and what we're asking for this year), and our favorite homeschool-specific books for kids. To hear that episode and many more we've recorded just for supporters, go here.

Secure your spot on the "Nice" list

Want to give Homeschool Unrefined a (FREE!) gift this holiday season? Use the affiliate links included in our show notes! Every time you're shopping on Amazon, use our magical link FIRST and we'll get a small kickback on whatever you purchase. Every little bit adds up, especially when all of you use the link! https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined

HURRY! Don't miss Coffee Hour Live!

Classes

Merch!

It's a great time to treat yourself to Homeschool Unrefined totes, hoodies, mugs, and more in our Merch Shop!

Show Some Love

Leave us an iTunes review! Your reviews help more people find the podcast. When new people find us, they'll see how much YOU love the podcast and want to listen, too!

Simple Holiday Gift Guide

Below you will find links to every item mentioned in our episode. You can also find ALL of the items in our Amazon Shop at www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined. Don't forget to click here to browse our list of Holiday Books.

Play

Legos - aircraft carrier, architecture buildings here, here and here.

Magic Set

Tumble Trax Magnetic Marble Run

Citiblocs

Rain Cloud Tub Toy

Army Men Play Bucket

Dress Up Clothes - Capes, Capes, Playsilks

Indoor Gym

Mini Trampoline

Snap Circuits

Fidget Spinner, Fidget Cube

Microscope and Prepared Slides

Bacteria Plates Kit

Harrisville Designs 10" Potholder Loom Kit

Art

Coloring Books - Gretchen Rubin, Harry Potter

Sketch Books - 9x12, 5x8

Slime Ingredients - Gallon Glue, Shaving Cream, Contact Lens Solution, Baby Oil

Spirograph

Play Dough and Kit

Spin Art

Candle Making Kit

Paint By Sticker - younger kids, older kids

Tech

Osmo (*often goes on sale on black Friday)

DSLR Camera

Echo Dot

Games

Skiwampus (Out of print! Alternative: Sleeping Queens)

Mancala

No Stress Chess

Wooden Tetris Puzzle

One Person Puzzles - here, here and here.

Blokus

Outdoor

Spider Swing

Swiss Army Knife

Bow and Arrow Sets - here and here

Slackline

Big Scooters

Pogo Stick

Butterfly Growing Kit

Kitchen

tea - here and here

Music

ukulele, picks, case, holder and strap

harmonica

music stand

egg shakers

Want more ideas for you or your family? Browse our entire Amazon Shop! And check out our bonus episode (dropping 11/19/19) "A Holiday Gift Guide for YOU"!

Loving This Week

Angela: Catlick (mentioned: Blue Babies Pink)

Maren: Greenlight debit card

Before You Go...

Share this episode with a friend and let's keep the conversation going in our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.⁣

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com

123: What's Saving Our Homeschool + Personalities: Four Tendencies Nov 04, 2019

Show notes

What if what saves your homeschool isn't anything you can order on Amazon or put on a report card? We're talking about the ways nature and self-care are totally saving the day for us. PLUS we're sharing a snippet from our class on The Four Tendencies. This is *THE* framework that's helped make our relationships and homeschool better, day after day.

Four Tendencies & Homeschool

This might be the most practical of all personality profiles. While other profiles focus on ideas and theories, the Four Tendencies focuses on the here and now. How do you meet expectations? How do your kids meet expectations? When we know how our kids best meet expectations, we can reduce homeschool conflict and help motivate our kids to be efficient, effective, and purposeful. This class will help you pinpoint how you best respond to expectations, giving you techniques to have a more productive and positive homeschool. And just as importantly, you'll learn how to work with your kids' different Tendencies. Win/Win!

Check out all our classes at homeschoolunrefined.com/classes.

Each class is $10, with all four classes bundled for just $30. (Psst... Patrons get an additional discount on the four-class package. Join us at the Squad or Super Squad levels to access these exclusive savings now!)

Fall Call to Action

Leave us an iTunes review! Your reviews help more people find the podcast. When new people find us, they'll see how much YOU love the podcast and want to listen, too!

Coffee Hour Live

SAVE THE DATE! We're doing an online Coffee Hour Live on Wednesday, November 20 from 3:00-4:00pm Central! Plan out your beverages of choice and a movie/documentary/video game for your kids. We're gonna chat about the holidays and answer your questions. This event is exclusive to our Patreon Squad and Super Squad.

Mentions

The Weekly (episode 16)

The Daily podcast

United Shades of America

Fleabag

10 Things to Tell You podcast episode on Fleabag

**Love this conversation and these recommendations? We do a whole episode like this every month for our Super Squad on Patreon!**

How to Raise a Wild Child series (episodes 78, 80, 82, and 84)

Loving This Week (LTW)

Angela: TILEMALL Bathtub Caddy & Laptop Bed Desk

Maren: Urban Float (Float Tanks/Pods)

Before You Go...

Share this episode with a friend and let's keep the conversation going in our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.⁣

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com

122: What's Saving Our Homeschool + Enneagram Oct 21, 2019

Show notes

We're continuing our fall mini-series on what's saving our homeschool RIGHT NOW. This week, we're talking about the e-reader that's changing reading for one of our kids and the master homeschool plan we can't homeschool without. PLUS we're sharing an excerpt from our Enneagram & Homeschool Class! We look at Enneagram numbers 1, 2, and 3, and talk about how they might show up in homeschooling. Embracing Enneagram in our homeschool has empowered us to be ourselves. That kind of freedom can change your homeschool, too!

Enneagram & Homeschool Class

Enneagram is our new love. We think about it often, and the more we live, the more we see it show up as an important factor in understanding how each of us process and learn. In this class, we not only go through each number, but we teach you how each number thrives. We talk about what might be perceived strengths and weaknesses, and we equip you with ways to use them both for life-long skills. Again, the goal is not to get you to know your (or your child's) exact number, but to set you on the path. Giving you the right questions to ask yourself, helping you notice things in your life that will give you clues to each number's habits, needs, and interests.

Check out all our classes at homeschoolunrefined.com/classes.

Fall Call to Action

Leave us an iTunes review! Your reviews help more people find the podcast. When new people find us, they'll see how much YOU love the podcast and want to listen, too!

Mentions

Athleta Leggings

Amazon Essentials Women's 2-Pack Classic-Fit Short-Sleeve V-Neck T-Shirt

Women's Striped Short Sleeve Side Tie T-Shirt from Target

Athleta Brooklyn Ankle Pant

Kindle Paperwhite

Master Homeschool Plan (Sign up for our newsletter. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers. | Email us at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com)

Loving This Week (LTW)

Angela: The Great Believers: A Novel

Maren: AeroPress Coffee Maker

Before You Go...

Share this episode with a friend and let's keep the conversation going in our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.⁣

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com

121: What's Saving Our Homeschool + Myers-Briggs Oct 07, 2019

Show notes

About the time you think you've got homeschool figured out, it's time to adapt again. So we're talking about What's Saving Our Homeschool RIGHT NOW. Give yourself credit for being adaptable and finding what works for you! We're also sharing an excerpt from our Personalities + Homeschool classes. This week, we're talking through the differences between S/N (Sensing/Intuition) in the Myers-Briggs 16-types personality system. You'll hear our insights as a Sensor (Angela) and an Intuitive (Maren) and discover how understanding the S/N dynamic can impact your homeschool.

Myers-Briggs & Homeschool Class

This personality profile was our first love in the personality world. We have studied it for years, and it's long been part of our everyday conversations. In this class we'll go into each of the eight letters in the Myers-Briggs and how each one might affect the parent and the homeschooler. Our goal is not to get you to understand your exact letter combination (although you'll probably come out with some ideas), but to set you on the right path to self-awareness and child-awareness. This class will change your mindset about how all of our brains are wired, and you will rest assured that you can work with whatever combination of letters you have in your home. There is no ideal homeschool personality. Homeschool can work for ANYONE! We'll show you how!

Check out all our classes at homeschoolunrefined.com/classes.

Meet Up with Maren in Seattle!

Maren @unrefinedmaren is hosting a Seattle-area meet up while she's roadschooling in your fabulous city. Bring your friends and let's hang out!⁣ ⁣ Tuesday, October 15⁣ 6pm⁣ Meet the Moon Cafe ⁣ RSVP by sending us a DM or email us at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com.

Fall Call to Action

Leave us an iTunes review! Your reviews help more people find the podcast. When new people find us, they'll see how much YOU love the podcast and want to listen, too!

Mentions

Audiobooks and a Bluetooth speaker

Brave Writer classes

Loving This Week (LTW)

Angela: Calm-a-Mama Calm drops

Maren: Ello Travel Mug

Before You Go...

Share this episode with a friend and let's keep the conversation going in our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.⁣

Don't forget to shop our Non-Traditional Homeschool Resources Guide!

We have a goal of getting to 10K followers on Instagram and we're SO CLOSE! Spread the word about Homeschool Unrefined by following and sharing us on Instagram. Not on Instagram? Share us IRL. Word of mouth is the BEST way to help our podcast grow!

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com

120: What's Saving Our Homeschool + Personalities Sep 23, 2019

Show notes

It's back to homeschool season and we're back with a new series: What's Saving Our Homeschool Right Now. We'll share the hacks, apps, and must-haves that are helping us get into the swing of things as we start a new homeschool year. PLUS we're sharing an excerpt from our BRAND NEW Personalities & Homeschool Class. We break down the introvert/extrovert differences and dynamics in homeschool. Knowing—and leveraging—this one thing about yourself and your kids could change everything about your homeschool.

Personalities + Homeschool Class

This class is a MUST-SEE (or hear) to get you started thinking about personalities and homeschool. We will share personal stories and examples of how learning about personalities has blown our minds and changed our lives. You will walk away from this class seeing yourself and your kids in a new, more positive light. You will be on the right road to understanding your kids' strengths and weaknesses and what to do with them. You'll also gain more self-awareness, which is sometimes the most important part of this homeschool life! This is the hinge. Let us help you swing open the door to a whole new homeschool experience!

Check out all our classes at homeschoolunrefined.com/classes.

Mentions

-Let's Play Math

-Multiplication & Fractions: Math Games for Tough Topics (Math You Can Play)

-AmazonBasics Thermal Laminator Machine

-AmazonBasics Thermal Laminating Plastic Laminator Sheets

-Learning Resources Cuisenaire Rods Small Group Set: 155 Piece Wood Set

-Back-to-School Supplies

-New books (Check out BOOKS! in our Amazon Shop)

-Small whiteboards

Loving This Week (LTW)

Angela & Maren: Lizzo (mentioned Tiny Desk Concert)

Angela: City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

Maren: So Good So You

Before You Go...

Share this episode with a friend and let's keep the conversation going in our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.⁣

Don't forget to shop our Non-Traditional Homeschool Resources Guide!

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com

Bonus: The "Unruffled by Skeptics" Chat Sep 13, 2019

Show notes

As the poet once said: "The haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate. But we're just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake. Shake it off, shake it off!" Every homeschooler will inevitably encounter a homeschool skeptic at some time--be it the Target cashier, your neighbor lady, Aunt Myrtle at Thanksgiving, or a stranger who asks why your kids aren't in school on a random Tuesday morning. So we're giving you our best advice for how to think about and answer those curious questioners.

Share this episode with a friend and let's keep the conversation going in our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.⁣

Call to Action

Patreon

Want even more content? Get additional episodes and access to a fantastic community of like-minded homeschoolers when you join us on Patreon!

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com

119: Your Guide to Non-Traditional Homeschool Resources Sep 09, 2019

Show notes

Our kids are learning all the time, right? So we're taking a look at the resources we ALREADY have that help support our amazing learners beyond traditional curriculum. From kitchen tools to cozy corners, our homes are outfitted to support and encourage real-life learning. Check out our Non-Traditional Homeschool Resources Guide on Amazon to get links to what we talked about and get inspired about all the non-traditional homeschool resources you're already using everyday.

Share this episode with a friend and join our closed Facebook group Unrefined Homeschoolers to share more suggestions for non-traditional homeschool resources!

Patreon

Want even more content? Get additional episodes and access to a fantastic community of like-minded homeschoolers when you join us on Patreon!

Call to Action

Angela on Instagram

For the first time in 9 years of homeschooling, Angela has a kid in full-time public school! Follow along with Angela's new parenting and homeschooling adventures on Instagram @unrefinedangela.

Maren's Year of Travel!

Follow Maren's travels on Instagram @unrefinedmaren and keep up with how it's going in our monthly Check-In episodes on Patreon. Wanna do a meet up in one of the cities Maren is visiting? Let us know!

Don't forget to shop our Non-Traditional Homeschool Resources Guide!

Loving This Week (LTW)

Angela: Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies (mentioned: recipe for Homemade Elderberry Syrup)

Maren: Nixit

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com

Bonus: Favorite IG Follows Excerpt Aug 30, 2019

Show notes

Hi friends! In this clip from our Patreon feed, we're chatting about some of our favorite Instagram accounts for humor, food, inspiration, and more! You can get this entire episode (and 30+ more episodes) when you join us on Patreon. Patrons get Check-In and LTW Extra episodes every month, as well as extended interviews with guests like Julie Bogart, Jamie Martin, Debbie Reber, and Candace Cameron Bure!

Summer Bonus Episodes

We're dropping bonus episodes like this all summer long, so make sure you're subscribed to our podcast so you don't miss a thing!

Call to Action

We have a goal of getting to 10K followers on Instagram and we need your help! Spread the word about Homeschool Unrefined by following and sharing us on Instagram. Not on Instagram? Share us IRL. Word of mouth is the BEST way to help our podcast grow!

Summer Favorites Guide

To kick off summer, we've curated a list of our Summer Favorites in our Amazon Shop! It's like a gift guide for your summer filled with childhood essentials, backyard gear, and "it's-too-hot-to-go-outside" activities. Using our affiliate link to purchase anything on Amazon supports our podcast!

Connect with us!

Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers.

Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren

Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com

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