Homeschool Talks: Ideas and Inspiration for Your Homeschool

Being a single parent comes with its challenges. But Kim Ransom, state house representative of Colorado's 44th district, didn't let that stop her from homeschooling her four children. Kim found the strength to be both a leader of her own home—and later, of her state. This week on Homeschool Talks, Kim shares how regardless of the circumstances, homeschooling is an option for anyone. But how can a single parent balance working full-time and homeschooling? Tune in to hear Kim's answer to this question and more.

This week on Homeschool Talks we're chatting with Dr. Crystal Ladwig—a special education teacher, professor, author, speaker, and homeschool mom—about teaching your kids to write. How can you teach writing with confidence? How can you encourage your child to become a continuously self-educating and self-editing writer? And why is writing so important in the first place? Tune in to hear Crystal answer these questions and more!

If you've been homeschooling more than one child for any amount of time, you're probably well aware of the challenges that come with teaching multiple children at once. The more children you're teaching, the harder it is to keep everything on track and make sure every child has what he or she needs. So what's the solution? Tune in to hear HSLDA Educational Consultant Vicki Bentley share her favorite ideas and strategies for multi-level teaching.

Many parents dread the three-letter acronym: SAT. It often seems that the College Board's college entrance test exists only to frustrate students and break parents' bank accounts with expensive prep courses. But Jean Burk, a homeschooling mom and author of CollegePrep Genius SAT curriculum, discovered that the SAT is not an obstacle, but rather a path to affordable college education. Learn how on this week's Homeschool Talks.

When it comes to preparing your kids for the future, often your student's intended career path will determine what skills she should focus on developing. But what if there was a skill that transcends all careers—one that helps kids succeed at whatever they end up doing? Listen now to hear homeschool grad and entrepreneur Matt Johnson explain what he thinks is the #1 most important skill, regardless of career choice—and why homeschooling is one of the best ways for kids to develop that skill.

Are you wanting to customize your child's curriculum to fit her needs, but aren't sure how to do it—or even where to start? In this week's episode of Homeschool Talks, homeschool veteran and special education expert Peggy Ployhar shares all her best tips for customizing curriculum and giving your child a truly individualized education.

If you're homeschooling a high schooler, chances are, college is on the radar for your teen. But applying to colleges and figuring out which one is right for your teen can be a tricky process, especially for homeschoolers. Tune in as HSLDA's high school consultants help guide you through the process, pointing out the most important things to know along the way.

These days, the pressure to be "normal"—or to have your children be seen as "normal"—seems stronger than ever. We are often afraid to embrace our children for who they are, focusing instead on who the world thinks they should be. Today we want to encourage you by sharing the story of Nathan Clarkson, a young man who has been seen as "different" for practically his whole life. If you are homeschooling a child with a learning disability or mental health struggle, or you want to know more about what it's like to face these challenges, this is a message you need to hear.

Telling kids to go play outside is often an attempt to release their extraneous energy, or to give Mom or Dad a much-needed rest. But did you know that playing outside also has significant mental and physical benefits for children? Today, Diane Kummer is chatting with a pediatric occupational therapist who says that unstructured outdoor play time isn't just an outlet for childhood dynamism—it's actually vital for a child's physical and mental development.

It's easy to talk about the importance of serving your community, but most of the time it takes more than just words to make a difference. Today we want to introduce you to someone who talks the talk and walks the walk. Not only does she homeschool all five of her children—two of whom have special needs—but she also serves as a state senator and regularly volunteers in various service projects in her community. She's truly a remarkable woman, and we hope you'll find her story as inspiring and encouraging as we have. That's today on Homeschool Talks.

We all love a good story. But have you ever wondered why that is? What is it that makes stories so compelling? Why do we learn so well through them? And how can you, as a homeschooling parent, harness the power of stories to help your children learn and develop? Hear the answer to these questions and more from musician, author, and homeschooling dad Andrew Peterson—this week on Homeschool Talks.

In today's social media–saturated world, there's little doubt that digital technology is becoming a bigger and bigger part of everyday life. With that technology comes powerful tools as well as potential dangers. So how can you help your children understand these tools and use them well while avoiding the pitfalls? How can you raise digitally responsible young adults? Hear tips and ideas from homeschooling veteran and digital tech expert Leah Nieman on this week's episode of Homeschool Talks!

If you're a homeschooling parent, chances are the phrase "end-of-year testing" doesn't exactly give you warm and fuzzy feelings. But many states require some type of standardized testing, and it's always good to be tracking your child's progress so you can know the best ways to help him improve. So what do you need to know about end-of-year testing? Hear the answer on the newest episode of Homeschool Talks with HSLDA Special Needs Consultant Krisa Winn.

Does your child have a passion for making a difference through politics? Then you won't want to miss this interview with Rachel Wagley, a former homeschooler and current foreign policy advisor to a U.S. Congresswoman. Rachel is doing some great work in Washington—and today we're taking a look at her exciting career and learning how homeschooling helped her get to where she is today.

It's no secret that children who study music can reap great rewards in all areas of life. But what does a good music education actually look like? How can you incorporate great music into your homeschool routine? Tune in to this week's episode for ideas and inspiration from music teacher Kristi Hill.

These days, more and more people don't know seem to their history—they just aren't aware of how the past shapes and influences the present. As homeschoolers, we have an incredible opportunity to reverse this trend. We can teach history in such a way that our children really get it—and enjoy it. So how do we actually accomplish this? How can homeschooling parents make history come alive for their children? Join us on today's episode of Homeschool Talks as we answer these questions and more with Dr. Doug Favelo, a history professor and homeschooling dad.

What does a healthy environment for a child's psychological and emotional development look like? And what happens when the stability of that environment is threatened? Join HSLDA Vice President of Litigation and Development Jim Mason as he talks with family psychologist John Rosemond to answer these questions and examine the effects that CPS investigations have on children.

If you're a homeschooling parent, you know as well as anyone that a homeschool can often seem like the last place in the world to find rest. You might not even have time to think about rest. But for author, blogger, and homeschooling mom Sarah Mackenzie, the idea of teaching from a state of rest has completely transformed the way she thinks about homeschooling—and more importantly, it's helped her make meaningful connections with her kids.

For most people, craziness is like a season—it comes and it goes. But if you're a homeschooling parent, it may seem like crazy is a perpetual state of being. So how can you stay sane even when it seems like things are falling apart and you aren't making and progress? Tune in to hear from blogger and homeschooling mom Tiffany Jefferson.

One of the hardest things that we parents encounter is figuring out how to balance grace and accountability with our children. How do we set the right boundaries, and how do we respond when our child crosses the line? Hear the answer to these questions and more as HSLDA President Mike Smith chats with homeschool dad and college professor Dr. Mike Kucks.