Episodes

  • Simple Homeschool Ep #126: Jamie's Homeschool Day with a 7-, 8-, & 9-year-old (UPDATED!)
    Apr 1 2024

    This year I'm doing monthly Then and Now Reflections on the podcast - looking back over my 15 year homeschooling career and sharing what I've learned along the way AND what I'd do differently if I could go back. Welcome!
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    • This episode is sponsored by Sonlight K-12 Curriculum and Dyslexia Connect
    • Take Jamie's quiz, What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality?

    In Episode 126, you'll hear me and my daughter Trishna (20-yrs-old, homeschool graduate, special needs) discuss:

    • I introduce the special guest who's new to the podcast, my daughter Trishna!
    • What I feel I would change about our homeschool routine if I could go back to this point in our family's journey
    • We go down the rabbit trail of remembering Trishna's favorite TV shows from this time
    • Who used to do all the cooking, compared to who does it these days
    • Activities that were NOT Trishna's favorite from our daily routine
    • The bedtime routine that the kids loved and I found exhausting (& soon stopped!)
    • My advice when it comes to using screen time for moms of littles

    To read the original article I wrote in 2013 and/or check out links & photos mentioned in this episode, head here.

    Listen in for a dose of homeschooling inspiration!

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    34 mins
  • Simple Homeschool Ep #125: Then & Now, Jamie's Homeschool Day with a 6-, 7-, & 8-year-old
    Mar 5 2024

    How often do you wish you could have a homeschool do-over? Well, now you can, through revisiting Jamie's mistakes instead of having to make your own!
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    • This episode is sponsored by Ivy Kids and TJEd's Young Statesmen/Stateswomen Society!
    • Take Jamie's quiz, What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality?

    This year I'm doing monthly Then and Now Reflections on the podcast - looking back over my 15 year homeschooling career and sharing what I've learned along the way.

    In Episode 125, you'll hear me and my son Jonathan (19-yrs-old, homeschool graduate) discuss:

    • The details of our homeschool routine back with a 6, 7, and 8-year-old, having just moved to a house in the countryside
    • Our experiment having "Yes" Day on Mondays
    • How having greater access to nature influenced the flow of our days
    • When homeschool moms manage to find time to eat
    • How bloggers with three young kids have to make sure the photos in a post are "fair"
    • What made this one of my favorite years of homeschooling

    Come listen in and be encouraged!

    To read the original article I wrote in 2012 and/or check out links mentioned in this episode, head here.

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    26 mins
  • Simple Homeschool Ep #124: Then & Now, Jamie's Homeschool Day with a 5-, 6-, & 7-year-old (UPDATED!)
    Feb 5 2024

    How often do you wish you could have a homeschool do-over? Well, now you can, and in the best way possible - without having to make mistakes of your own!

    • This episode is sponsored by FORM Fitness!
    • Take my quiz, What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality?

    This year I'm doing monthly Then and Now Reflections on the podcast - looking back over my 15 year homeschooling career and sharing what I've learned along the way.

    In Episode 124, listen in with me and my son Jonathan (currently 19) as we chat about the past, specifically re: 2011 in our homeschool (when he was six-years-old)!

    What we remember fondly, what we'd rather not remember (LOL), and what we might do differently if we could have a do-over.

    To read the original post I wrote in 2011 and/or check out links mentioned in this episode (including that circle time video, which is a doozy!), head here.

    In this episode, you'll hear:

    • I welcome Jonathan back to the podcast after he's been away touring with the Jonas Brothers
    • my initial homeschooling philosophy of focusing on relationships rather than academics as top priority, and what I think about that now looking back
    • our daily homeschool rhythm from 2011 including morning routines, books, a few structured activities, "sections" time, and what Jonathan remembers fondly (or not!)
    • we reminisce about highlights of their 2011 days: walks, circle time, and the library
    • how we used screens, quiet time, and outings to make it through the days
    • what Jonathan thinks now about how our homeschool style has influenced him as a young adult

    Listen in and be encouraged!

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    37 mins
  • Simple Homeschool Ep #123: Then and Now - Lessons from a Veteran Homeschool Mom
    Jan 23 2024

    Note: If you'd prefer to read instead of listen to this episode, head here.

    • This episode is sponsored by My Fun Science and Oak Meadow!

    Fifteen years ago as a new, insecure homeschooler, one thing comforted me like no other: Clinging to the words of a few veteran homeschool mothers who I followed online.

    Now I want to be that voice for you!! Listen in to discover what I have planned...I'm excited about it!

    • Take my quiz, What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality?
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    17 mins
  • Simple Homeschool Ep #122: Motivation for the Winter-Weary Homeschool Mom
    Dec 27 2023

    This December Jamie is taking a break from podcasting, so we are revisiting top episodes from the podcast's history - enjoy your winter break!

    This episode was written by Kari Patterson, and if you'd prefer to read instead of listen, head here. 

    Check out Kari's personal site, podcast, and book - Sacred Mundane!

    * Today's episode is sponsored by Dyslexia Connect and Sonlight's K-12 Curriculum.

    * What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie's quiz and get your free personality report at simplehomeschool.net/quiz/ 

     

    "I can feel my body tense up as I say the words with forced enthusiasm: “Ok, time for school!”

    They say what I know they’ll say: "Do we have to?!" And if I’m honest, that’s exactly what I’m saying in my own mind: "Do we have to?!"

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    10 mins
  • Simple Homeschool Ep #121: The Homeschool Hack That Saved My Sanity
    Dec 6 2023

    This December Jamie is taking a break from podcasting, so we are revisiting a top episode from the podcast's history - Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    *****

    If you'd prefer to read this post instead, head here. And for more current snapshots of how this hack has worked in our family, check out my day in the life posts over the years. 


    Today's episode is sponsored by Ivy Kids and the Young Stateswomen/Statesmen Society from Thomas Jefferson Education!

    What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie's quiz and get your free personality report at simplehomeschool.net/quiz

    So I don’t know if you have noticed, but kids can be LOUD.

    Confession: I don’t particularly care for loud.

    Desperate times call for desperate measures, and I knew I had to make life at home at least a little quieter if I was going to survive it, as well as add homeschooling to the mix.

    My own conundrum led to an idea. One that’s gone on to save my sanity and allowed me to continue homeschooling for 15 years - listen in and be encouraged!

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    12 mins
  • Simple Homeschool Ep #120: Our Homeschool Experiment Year
    Nov 6 2023

    This episode was written by Kari Patterson, and if you'd prefer to read instead of listen, head here. Check out Kari's personal site, podcast, and book - Sacred Mundane!

    Today's episode is sponsored by Buddy Books and Write the World's College Essay Course!

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    What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie's quiz and get your free personality report at simplehomeschool.net/quiz/ 

     

    This year I ditched most of what we’d done before, and decided to take a Homeschool Experiment Year.

    That is, a year to try new things, refuse to stress, return to JOY, and recover our lost love of learning. Listen in to find out what happened next!

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    16 mins
  • Simple Homeschool Ep #119: Are You Brave Enough to Homeschool?
    Sep 26 2023

    This episode was written by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholar, and if you'd prefer to read instead of listen, head here. 

    Today's episode is sponsored by My Fun Science and Generous Students Curriculum!

    * What's Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie's quiz and get your free personality report at simplehomeschool.net/quiz

    Hyping myself up to make a phone call is not out of the norm for this introvert. I’d much rather be trampled by wild rhinos.

    Bravery is acting even when fear is present. Acknowledging the fear and moving past it into action is what bravery is all about. And oh was I fearful to homeschool...

    Listen in for an uplifting reminder of just how brave you are!

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    11 mins